My 100 Songs

My 100 Songs | My SECOND 100 Songs | My THIRD 100 Songs

My FOURTH 100 Songs | My FIFTH 100 Songs

My intent here is to make my personal version of Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time with the knowledge that there is really NO TOP 100 or 500 rock 'n roll songs, it's all individual preference. 

This first group of 100 will be the easiest because each song has a deep personal meaning to me. Many of these songs also have some long-term memory moment in time like listening to The Rolling Stones, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction on my transistor radio in 1965 on my front yard grass. 

Also, I have not rated my list, "Best 1-100" but in this series I will always start and end a set of 100 with my favorite band of all-time, The Beatles.

The first album that I ever owned, I actually stole, The Beatles ‎– A Hard Day's Night (Original Motion Picture Sound Track). It was taken by me from my grandfather's record collection that I found in his wooden console record player at his house. I believe my dad told me he belonged to the Columbia Record Club and must have gotten this one thrown in as a bonus because I knew he didn't listen to it. I guess I'm explaining my childhood rationalization for stealing this album and even now feel I took it more as a need than a want. And boy, what an album it was and still is. I'm listening to George Martin produce the boys and won't even know who he is until several years later!

Playing records was something my parents never really did at our house, so this record was my start and made me feel that I was part of something different from my parents point of view. I'm actually visiting the childhood house now on Tunnell St. (Santa Maria, CA) where I started to play my own 45's and albums, in my room. 

I lived in a home where rock 'n roll was not embraced. I vividly remember my parents and church friends, The Reyburns, over at our old house on Sunset St. on a memorable Sunday evening. The parents were putting down The Beatles during their performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, as my brother, sister and I (along with the Reyburn children) were trying to tune the adults out and tune into the wonderful Beatles and their screaming fans on our black and white TV.

In 1967, my grandfather passed away and that wooden stereo console and his record collection, including Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra came to our house. I think like most American homes, the stereo console was off limits to the children, but we all sneaked our albums onto the best sound system in the house when our parents were gone.

At a certain point, my parents gave up and let us play our records on the console until the vacuum tubes got heated up and eventually were worn out by the early 70's. What a time, Buffalo Springfield on the stereo console and the Vietnam War live on the TV console. These two beasts of technology played across from each other in our converted garage to family room with our new indoor/outdoor blue/green carpet.

From junior high 1966, music was a big part of my friends lives and thus became a big part of my life. As I moved into high school and through college, there were the larger than life bands, the break-ups, the new bands, the new single artist's, all with the blending of acoustic, electric and American musical genres. 

From the car radios, the new portable stereo systems and the concert experiences, music was right there for all my friends and me. Today, we still never stop talking about all the music- old and new. Here in this playlist, you are going to hear mostly 60's and 70's songs that I bonded with and are a part of me today. I'm sure if you read my blog on a regular basis, there are more than a few songs here that have always stayed with you too.

 As I write this, it's starting to rain right now on the family room roof and that's a good memory too. The old forced-air heater has just whirled on and it's time for some Thanksgiving pie for breakfast. Take care my friends.

My 100 Songs

1. Hard Days Night, The Beatles
2. Penny Lane, The Beatles
3. Sweet Baby James, James Taylor
4. Like A Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan
5. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, The Rolling Stones
6. The Boys of Summer, Don Henley
7. The Heart of the Matter, Don Henley
8. Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys
9. The Water Is Wide, Karla Bonoff
10. This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody), Shawn Colvin
11. Light My Fire, The Doors
12. Both Sides Now, Joni Mitchell
13. I Can See For Miles, The Who
14. The Sounds Of Silence, Simon and Garfunkel
15. I Should Have Known Better, The Beatles
16. Doolin-Dalton / Desperado (Reprise), Eagles
17. All Along The Watch Tower, Jimi Hendrix
18. Ruby Tuesday, The Rolling Stones
19. In My Room, The Beach Boys
20. Rock & Roll Woman, Buffalo Springfield
21. Bye Bye Love, The Everly Brothers
22. Here, There and Everywhere, The Beatles
23. Mary Jane's Last Dance, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
24. Faithless Love, Linda Ronstandt
25. Cinnamon Girl, Neil Young
26. Lake Marie, John Prine
27. It's Too Late, Carole King
28. She Loves You, The Beatles
29. Bad Moon Rising, Creedence Clearwater Revival
30. Sugar Mountain, Neil Young
31. Cecilia, Simon and Garfunkel
32. Levon, Elton John
33. Nowhere Man, The Beatles
34. Blowing In The Wind, Bob Dylan
35. Street Fighting Man, The Rolling Stones
36. Spare Me A Little Of Your Love, Fleetwood Mac
37. Vincent, Don McLean
38. Running Down A Dream, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
39. Green Onions, Booker T. & The MG's
40. Wooden Ships, Crosby, Stills & Nash
41. Wake Up Everybody, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes
42. Lovers Of The Sun, The Jayhawks
43. Revolution, The Beatles
44. Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Neil Young
45. Fly Me To The Moon, Tony Bennett
46. Gimme Shelter, The Rolling Stones
47. Wichita Lineman, Glen Campbell
48. I Want To Hold Your Hand, The Beatles
49. Carry On, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
50. On Step Up, Bruce Springsteen
51. Crossroads, Cream
52. Here Comes The Sun, The Beatles
53. Learning To Fly, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
54. Tell Me Why? Neil Young
55. Ride My See-Saw, The Moody Blues
56. Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters, Elton John
57. Instant Karma, John Lennon
58. Eight Miles High, The Byrds
59. American Tune, Paul Simon
60. Ol' 55, The Eagles
61. Bargain, The Who
62. Blackbird, The Beatles
63. Badge, Cream
64. Harmony, Elton John
65. Prisoner In Disguise, Linda Ronstadt
66. Day Tripper, The Beatles
67. Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness, John Prine
68. Scarborough Fair/Canticle, Simon and Garfunkel
69. Under Pressure, Queen and David Bowie
70. If I Fell, The Beatles
71. Sultans Of Swing, Dire Straits,
72. Wandering, James Taylor
73. The Late Show, Jackson Browne
74. Let It Rain, Eric Clapton
75. You Make Loving Fun, Fleetwood Mac
76. My Back Pages, The Byrds
77. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
78. Lonesome Town, Ricky Nelson
79. Ventura Highway, America
80. To The Morning, Dan Fogelberg
81. And Your Bird Can Sing, The Beatles
82. A Song For You, Leon Russell
83. Without You, Harry Nilsson
84. Catch The Wind, Donovan
85. Hello It's Me, Todd Rundgren
86. Circus, Eric Clapton
87. Cause We've Ended As Lovers, Jeff Beck
88. Song For Julie, Jesse Colin Young
89. Sunny Came Home, Shawn Colvin
90. Mr. Blue Sky, Electric Light Orchestra
91. Hello In There, John Prine
92. I'll Be Back, The Beatles
93. Sail Away, Randy Newman
94. Silver Blue, J.D. Souther
95. Eleanor Rigby, The Beatles
96. Losing My Religion, REM
97. You Can Close Your Eyes, James Taylor and Joni Mitchell
98. Monday Monday, The Mamas & The Papas
99. All You Need is Love, The Beatles
100. Satie: Gymnopedie No. 1, Christopher Parkening

My 100 Songs Playlist