Showing posts with label Stereo Console. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stereo Console. Show all posts

Sunday, November 27, 2016

My 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