Favorite songs

 Like most everyone else, I really love music. This is a list of my all time favorite songs. I could add a few more and my list would change with my moods but these would always be in my list of top songs.
These are not in any particular order.


1. The Zombies; Tell Her No
Teenie Bopping screaming girls at concerts, British Invasion, Cool Brits with long hair from the days when I wanted long hair. The Zombies were an underrated band from the 60s but in reality maybe they were rated just about right because they had about 3 or 4 good songs and then dropped out.
Collin Bluestone was a suave lead singer much in fashion with many bands from his country and his time period. I could have picked any number of songs from this day and age and would have been all right with the choice but this one just means a little more to me.

2. Stevie Ray Vaughn- Mary Had a Little Lamb
Do I really need a reason to love this song?  Stevie Ray Vaughn was a legend. The man could play the guitar with the best of them and his life tragically ended in a helicopter crash way too early. This song celebrates a man's life that was one of the best at what he did.
I think I liked all of Stevie Ray's songs and that's a rare thing for me.


3. Santana-Europa
Carlos Santana is another legend with the guitar. Not many better than this man, ever.
Europa is my favorite song of his, but you can throw in Samba Pa Ti because it's really similar
These songs take me back to a simpler and easier time in my life.
Santana could play with Britney Spears and I would instantly like the song, that's how good he is. 

4. Creedence Clearwater Revival- Lodi
Everybody gets stuck somewhere sometimes. It's a matter of whether you stay stuck. Obviously, CCR didn't remain in Lodi, California for long all those many years ago.  Truly one of the greatest bands ever.
Fogerty had one of the greatest rock voices of all time.

5. CCR- Long as I Can See the Light
Play this one at my funeral, not that I will be around to hear but the 5 people that are will enjoy this song and if you know me you will know my love for CCR.
I never really thought of Creedence as a Blues band when I was growing up, nor Led Zeppelin, but they both had a really great blues sound. This one exemplifies that blues sound.

6. CCR-Someday Never Comes
This is a really sad song made even more sad after I learned something of the history of CCR and of the sibling rivalry. 

7. Fortunate Son
This may be my all time favorite CCR song and possibly my favorite all around. Vietnam song. If I was doing this list in order, Fortunate Son would probably be number one. 

8. The Hollies- He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
 This song is incredible. I know the song is about mankind and not about your own brother. But, to me it is about my own brother. Wish I could pick up my brother right now and carry him through his hardships. But, I can't.
If this song doesn't choke you up just a little bit, then you have a stone in the place of your heart.

9. Guns N Roses- Since I don't Have You
Cover song of a 1958 masterpiece by the Skyliners. I like Axyl Rose's and Guns N Roses version of this song the best. Hey, I like cover songs, what can I say.
Rose has an excellent heavy metal voice that really works well on this less than heavy metal song. 

10. Muse- Can't Take My Eyes Off of You
Another outstanding cover song. This song was first done by Frankie Valli in 1967. The original was outstanding in itself. Something about this song brings a smile to my face. If you don't like Rock music all that much I would recommend the original version.
I like a lot of songs that start off slow and get a little to a lot faster. 

11. Muse- Feeling Good
This one is a cover of a Nina Simone song. Muse is not a cover band, but they do at least a couple that I really like.

12. Led Zeppelin- Dyer Maker
I read that one of the members of the band detested this song and it's not like most of their others. But, I love it probably as much or more than any of their outstanding music.
There are several others that covered this one and I like most of them. Zeppelin has to be one of the best bands ever.


13. Stone Temple Pilots- Dancing Days
Led Zeppelin song. As far as I know the Stone Temple Pilot version is the only acoustical one out there and I really like it a lot. I love the original as well and it may be a toss up between the two. But, the Stone Temple Pilots did a slightly different version of this classic that caught my attention and I listen to it quite a bit.  

14. The Ataris- Boys of Summer
The Eagles version was good, but I like this one better. Once again, going with the cover over the original.
It's just picked up the pace of the original and is a fun song to listen to. 

15. Faith No More- I Started a Joke
This old BeeGees song has been done by a couple of people. Bob Dylan's boy, Jakob, did this but it sounded a lot like the original. Faith No More did it with a different twist and I like it.

16. Faith No More- Easy
Mike Patton is one of my favorite singers. Commodore remake, and I love the Commodores and Lionel Richie but really love this cover more. 

17. Chris Rea- Fool if You Think It's Over
I don't know a lot about Chris Rea, but he's got a few good songs. I like this one the best. 

18. Lemonheads- Mrs Robinson. Cover song of the immortal Simon and Garfunkel song from the equally immortal movie The Graduate. I doubt many have even heard of the Lemonheads. Bon Jovi covered this song as well and it's really good. But, I like the Lemonheads version.
I stumbled across this song accidentally and I don't know if I like any of their other songs. But, I do like this song a lot.
Like some others on this list, it is a modernized, possibly more punk version of this classic.

19. Van Halen- Right Now
I had to have one Van Halen song on here and I love this song way more than most of their overplayed stuff.
They can't make up their minds if they want David Lee Roth or Sammy Hagar as their lead vocalist, but I've liked them with either.

20. Pearl Jam- Dock of the Bay
Eddie Vedder is one of my very favorites. I liked the original version of this song by Otis Redding a lot but Pearl Jam makes it special to me as they do a lot of their cover songs.
Otis tragically died before this song was released in 1967.

21. Radiohead- Creep
As a creep myself, I can really relate. This song has been covered by almost everyone because it's such a cool song, but Radiohead is the original and to me the best.
The guy sings this with so much pain and passion and I always find it moving. Most songs on my list move me in one way or another which is why they are on my list mostly. Creep moves me considerably no matter if it's Radiohead, or Pearl Jam, or any number of others performing it.


22. The Doors-Peace Frog
The Doors have many more well known songs that overshadow this one. But, I love Peace Frog as much if not more than the others. This song pretty much covers the times and the movement that went along with the times. Blood on the streets.

23. The Doors-People are Strange
Boy, are they. This song reminds me of myself in that nobody ever remembers me or my name. But, it's much more than that.
There were many good bands in these times but the Doors possibly stood out more than anyone. They had a rather unique brand and sound.

24. The Doors-Love Me Two Times
Hard to explain since I am not into drugs but a strange connection with Jim Morrison. Like Hendrix, I wish he had lived past 27 years old. He was nothing near the talent level of Hendrix but he was huge in his day.

25. Procol Harum- Conquistador
I've loved this song for something like 40 years. A true classic. 

26. Procol Harum- Whiter Shade of Pale.
Who of my age doesn't like Whiter Shade of Pale? Rednecks?
Like Conquistador, I have loved this song forever. But one question remains in my mind. What is a Vestal Virgin? 

27. Elvis- A Little Less Conversation.
My personal favorite Elvis song. I detest Elvis impersonators mostly because it is so overdone, but Elvis was cool. Elvis was the king, what else needs to be said.

28. Maroon 5- Pure Imagination
I think it's a killer cover of a Willa Wonka song performed by Gene Wilder. I'm not a huge Maroon 5 fan, but I'm glad they covered this song.

29. The Bangles- Hazy Shade of Winter.
Talk about the 80s and all girl bands and big hair. This song is that.
I can't say as I was a huge fan of The Bangles but I did like this song a lot. Hazy Shade of Winter was first done by Simon and Garfunkle back in the 60s and The Bangles covered it in the late 80s. The original was kind of slow but Bangles version was not and I liked it much better.

29. Me First and the Gimme Gimme's  Rainbow Connection.
These guys are hilarious and do nothing but covers as far as I know. They have a lot of fun and I enjoy them having a lot of fun.
They do the old Kermit the Frog song with much more edge to it. I even kind of liked the old Kermit version.

30. Reel Big Fish- Drunk Again
This song is very powerful to me. The singer of this song is in a lot of pain and I can relate very well to his words. 

31. The Screaming Jets- Folsum Prison Blues
Love the original and love Johnny Cash. Johnny Cash was larger than life and a personal hero. It's funny to hear this song and the Australian guy says 'hello, I'm not Johnny Cash' instant classic to me.

32. The Marmalade; Reflections of my Life
The world is a bad place. This song is about going home. I don't really know where my home is and I am not sure it matters anymore.
Great, great song.

33. Jimi Hendrix; All along the Watchtower
What really needs to be said. Hendrix was Hendrix. Quite possibly the best guitarist ever.
This song almost symbolizes Vietnam to me.

34. Ten Years After- Change the World
Who doesn't want to change the world, the song's good, too

35. The Strokes- Mercy, Mercy Me
The Strokes redid this song of Marvin Gay's and I like both versions. I just like the alternative twist that they gave it. 

36. Simon and Garfunkel- I am a Rock
So am I.
This is one of my favorite types of songs as it starts off slowly and builds up.  There are a lot of musicians that we were cheated out of more music by their untimely deaths. But, there were a lot of others that cheated us by breaking up. Simon and Garfunkel were pretty hot there for a while. Paul Simon did some good things on his own but not like he did when he was with Garfunkel.
Wish they had stayed together a bit longer at least.

37. Lynyrd Skynyrd- Freebird
Wow, what a song. I did not do this list in order but I probably will at some point. Freebird is definitely right up there with the very best of all time. No doubt these guys were the top Southern Rock Band of all time.

38. Lynyrd Skynyrd-Simple Man
I always have to stop what I am doing when this song comes on. 

39, Lynyrd Skynyrd- Tuesday's Gone
They had several songs like Sweet Home Alabama that were way overdone and I don't care for them that much anymore because of that. But, the big three remain of Freebird, Simple Man and Tuesday's Gone. 

40. Cake- I will Survive.
Remake of the old Gloria Gainor song. Cake is one of my favorite bands on a comedic level, not that they don't have musical talent.

41. Shades Apart- Stranger By the Day
Alternative Rock. 

42. Nirvana- About a Girl
Kurt Cobain cheated his fans out of a lot of great music. Morrison and Hendrix, too, as well as Janis Joplin. Every one of those people died when they were 27 years old which is beyond bizarre to me. Every one of them could have made a whole lot more music.
About a Girl sounds like several of Nirvana's songs just probably a little better for me. I could probably interchange a couple of others here.
I missed out on the whole Grunge thing but I do like several groups from this era and Nirvana is probably the best of them.



43. Cold Play- Viva La Vida  Wow, this one hits close to home and definitely is my song. Sweeping the streets you used to own? Nothing more humbling than that.

44. Duran Duran- Come Undone; This song is fantastic. I've come undone myself, and I can relate. Duran Duran were members of the so-called 2nd British Invasion in the 80s. They had several big hits but this was my favorite. Who do you love when you come undone?
Who or what do you turn to? I wish in my own life when I came undone that I had loved the right people and the right things, but unfortunately I did not.

45. Smashing Pumpkins- Disarm
I am a late Smashing Pumpkins fan. I didn't listen to them when they were famous and putting out big hits. But, I am making up ground now.
 
46. The Pogues- Dirty Old Town; I love the Irish and I love the Pogues. Not a pretty bunch of lads but Dirty Old Town is one of my favorites and I could listen to it every day Kind of reminds me of where I live in a lot of ways. I live in a dirty old town.

47. U2- Unchained Melody
The original was outstanding obviously, but there's something really cool with the way that Bono sings it.


48. Flogging Molly- Drunken Lullabies
I love these Irish bands. They do sound a lot alike other than U2, but still fun to listen to.
Drunken Lullabies is probably my favorite song by probably my favorite of these Irish bands.

49. Elvis Costello-Alison
The other Elvis is pretty good in his own right. I like a few of his songs and his nerdy glasses, too. 

50. Men At Work-Overkill
Ghosts appear and fade away. This song hits me to my very core. I struggle to this day with the ghosts of mistakes past. I can't get to sleep sometimes, thinking about the implications. I didn't sleep right for 3 years unless I had some help.