Goobers Top 500 Songs of All Time!

[apetersvt]

My comments:

 

Since you know I have to comment on the Grateful Dead selections: Glad to see you have The Other One so high. It's definately near my top. Agree with Dark Star but you need to have St Stephen and The Eleven with it. I'm not big on Estimated Prophet and would also need to add in Terrapin Station and Bird Song (which I like better than Box Of Rain and UJB).

 

-Would have liked to see Machine Gun in with Hendrix/Band Of Gypsies

-Too many cliche Zeppelin songs (makes me think you have the Greatest Hits album)

-Yes - what about Gates Of Delirium (my favorite Yes tune)

-Glad to see La Villa so high.

-Biggest ommission to me: No Allman Brothers or Derek And The Dominoes. Live at Fillmore East and Layla are must haves.

[treeduck]

QUOTE (tjtull @ Apr 25 2011, 01:11 PM)

I'm a huge Tull fan but I gotta say, Living in the Past and Bouree wouldn't crack my top 1000 songs.

+1

[tjtull]

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Apr 25 2011, 01:23 PM)

QUOTE (tjtull @ Apr 25 2011, 11:11 AM) I'm a huge Tull fan but I gotta say, Living in the Past and Bouree wouldn't crack my top 1000 songs. Maybe I'm jaded... What would be your top 10 or so Tull songs? That's difficult but here goes (in no particular order):   Baker St. Muse Reasons for Waiting Heavy Horses Journeyman Cold Wind to Valhalla With You there to Help Me Up the Pool (always love the quirkier side of Tull) Salamander (sublime acoustic guitar work) Only Solitaire Wind Up   I would have included Thick as a Brick and A Passion Play but those are both album-long songs.   There are also a ton of short songs (like Wond'ring Aloud and Slipstream) that I could easily pick in my top 10 Tull. LitP...not so much and I got burned out on Bouree after hearing it live one too many times.

Edited April 25, 2011 by tjtull

[rushgoober]

I listened to a few of the tracks you suggested. My comments are in BOLD.

 

QUOTE (ghostworks @ Apr 25 2011, 06:55 AM)

where is: 1980 Romani (Mike Rutherford) lots of cheesy 80's synths, mediocre vocals and super poppy 80's music.  sorry, didn't do much for me. 1981 Matte Kudasai (King Crimson) somewhat lackadaisical and boring - borders on adult contemporary IMHO. 1982 Down By The Sea (Men At Work) i actually saw men at work in the 80's.  someone gave me free tickets.  probably the most boring and unmemorable concert i've ever seen.  i have to say, the song was somewhat boring and unmemorable to me too, but the drumming was cool and the parts that sped up a little were the most interesting. Airwaves (Thomas Dolby) i remember this song now.  pretty good song -  bit 80's/adult contemporary for my tastes - reminds me of solo sting.  i greatly prefer she blinded me with science. Time Again (Asia) Much better.  Between this song and Heat of the Moment, you almost have me curious enough to check out this album.  But still... I don't really like the direction most prog musicians went with prog in the 80's making it more poppy.  Most of it I find bland in comparison with the 70's vintage stuff.  The song has lots of great elements, but overall I'm not that moved.  The weakest aspect for me is the vocals.  Heat of the Moment is much better. Blade Runner Blues (Vangelis) This is a great song from a great soundtrack.  There are several Vangelis tracks I'd rate higher though, from this album, from Spirals, Albedo 0.39, etc. Dunwich Beach (Brian Eno) Ah, I lied, I have heard this.  I do have Ambient 4.  It's a very pleasant track, though it would be far from the top of the heap for me in terms of Eno tracks.  I would never have pegged it as a particular standout if for no other reason than its repetitive nature, but it works well in context. Outside (The Fixx) I actually really like some Fixx tracks.  Red Sky and One Thing Leads to Another are standouts.  This one just kind of laid there for me - kept waiting for it to go somewhere, and it wasn't very melodic. I Want Eyes (Level 42) Oy, could barely get through this one.  Kind of catatonic, and again somewhat cheesy 80's with a somewhat adult contemporary feel to me.  "Adult contemporary" is not a positive adjective for me.

I was planning on listening to all the tracks you had listed, but I tried a few and wasn't really finding anything that even closely resembled my tastes outside of the stuff I already knew/had. If I listened to them all, I might find a gem or two perhaps, but alas, I think we just have different tastes when you start going in this direction.

[rushgoober]

QUOTE (tjtull @ Apr 25 2011, 11:38 AM)

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Apr 25 2011, 01:23 PM) QUOTE (tjtull @ Apr 25 2011, 11:11 AM) I'm a huge Tull fan but I gotta say, Living in the Past and Bouree wouldn't crack my top 1000 songs. Maybe I'm jaded... What would be your top 10 or so Tull songs? That's difficult but here goes (in no particular order):   Baker St. Muse Reasons for Waiting Heavy Horses Journeyman Cold Wind to Valhalla With You there to Help Me Up the Pool (always love the quirkier side of Tull) Salamander (sublime acoustic guitar work) Only Solitaire Wind Up   I would have included Thick as a Brick and A Passion Play but those are both album-long songs.   There are also a ton of short songs (like Wond'ring Aloud and Slipstream) that I could easily pick in my top 10 Tull. LitP...not so much and I got burned out on Bouree after hearing it live one too many times. Some great songs on that list.   Don't get me wrong, I love a lot of Tull, it's just in terms of "best songs of all time," only a few fit the bill for me so far.

[rushgoober]

Edited April 25, 2011 by rushgoober

[tjtull]

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Apr 25 2011, 02:11 PM)

QUOTE (tjtull @ Apr 25 2011, 11:38 AM) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Apr 25 2011, 01:23 PM) QUOTE (tjtull @ Apr 25 2011, 11:11 AM) I'm a huge Tull fan but I gotta say, Living in the Past and Bouree wouldn't crack my top 1000 songs. Maybe I'm jaded... What would be your top 10 or so Tull songs? That's difficult but here goes (in no particular order):   Baker St. Muse Reasons for Waiting Heavy Horses Journeyman Cold Wind to Valhalla With You there to Help Me Up the Pool (always love the quirkier side of Tull) Salamander (sublime acoustic guitar work) Only Solitaire Wind Up   I would have included Thick as a Brick and A Passion Play but those are both album-long songs.   There are also a ton of short songs (like Wond'ring Aloud and Slipstream) that I could easily pick in my top 10 Tull. LitP...not so much and I got burned out on Bouree after hearing it live one too many times. Some great songs on that list.   Don't get me wrong, I love a lot of Tull, it's just in terms of "best songs of all time," only a few fit the bill for me so far. My thing wasn't how many Tull songs you chose but which ones. Even Ian "loathes" LitP...he said so on a live recording.

[rushgoober]

QUOTE (tjtull @ Apr 25 2011, 12:20 PM)

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Apr 25 2011, 02:11 PM) QUOTE (tjtull @ Apr 25 2011, 11:38 AM) QUOTE (rushgoober @ Apr 25 2011, 01:23 PM) QUOTE (tjtull @ Apr 25 2011, 11:11 AM) I'm a huge Tull fan but I gotta say, Living in the Past and Bouree wouldn't crack my top 1000 songs. Maybe I'm jaded... What would be your top 10 or so Tull songs? That's difficult but here goes (in no particular order):   Baker St. Muse Reasons for Waiting Heavy Horses Journeyman Cold Wind to Valhalla With You there to Help Me Up the Pool (always love the quirkier side of Tull) Salamander (sublime acoustic guitar work) Only Solitaire Wind Up   I would have included Thick as a Brick and A Passion Play but those are both album-long songs.   There are also a ton of short songs (like Wond'ring Aloud and Slipstream) that I could easily pick in my top 10 Tull. LitP...not so much and I got burned out on Bouree after hearing it live one too many times. Some great songs on that list.   Don't get me wrong, I love a lot of Tull, it's just in terms of "best songs of all time," only a few fit the bill for me so far. My thing wasn't how many Tull songs you chose but which ones. Even Ian "loathes" LitP...he said so on a live recording.   All I can say is sometimes a group's most popular song or songs is the most popular for a reason. I always loved that song to death.   I can understand the whole overplayed aspect of songs, though. I was VERY tempted to leave Stairway to Heaven off my list as it's just been overplayed to death, but it really is an amazing song.

[rushgoober]

Wow, I forgot about this song. Haven't heard it in ages. Worthy of inclusion for sure.

 

Warning, it's long and slow, and it takes a long time to build, but it's hypnotic as f*ck and pure genius:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDZ5OlldyTY

[rushgoober]

Here's videos for some of the more obscure songs on my top 25 list:

 

Berry Sakharof - The Shining - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0DcCvztW0o

 

Terry Brooks & Strange - Ruler of the Universe -

 

Jean-Michel Jarre - Ethnicolor - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-nI4ax9SAI

 

Popol Vuh - Aguirre II - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtzG-hI15j4

 

The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band - I Won't Hurt You - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFTxQr2cdB0

 

Robert Wyatt - Sea Song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4fFsrnC0ZA

 

Amon Duul II - Syntelman's March of the Roaring 70's - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXcjQAVVQOI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcxHKhJlMbg (part 2)

 

Popol Vuh - Hosianna Mantra - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbT9wHaB-08

 

Pink Floyd - Interstellar Overdrive (Tonite Let's All Make Love In London version) -

(part 2)

 

13th Floor Elevators - Slip Inside This House -

Edited April 26, 2011 by rushgoober

[JohnnyBlaze]

hey goobs, do you know how to pronounce the names of at least half of those bands?

 

And no Bob Marley? Shameful !

[The Owl]

Great List Gary, but you didn't put any Swedish death metal on your list? What's up?

[ghostworks]

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Apr 25 2011, 10:26 PM)

Wow, I forgot about this song. Haven't heard it in ages. Worthy of inclusion for sure. Warning, it's long and slow, and it takes a long time to build, but it's hypnotic as f*ck and pure genius: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDZ5OlldyTY

absolutely one of the best things to listen to alone, in the dark, really loud, late at night/early in the morning

 

soul-destroying (in a good way)

[rushgoober]

QUOTE (ghostworks @ Apr 26 2011, 07:31 AM)

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Apr 25 2011, 10:26 PM) Wow, I forgot about this song.  Haven't heard it in ages.  Worthy of inclusion for sure. Warning, it's long and slow, and it takes a long time to build, but it's hypnotic as f*ck and pure genius: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDZ5OlldyTY absolutely one of the best things to listen to alone, in the dark, really loud, late at night/early in the morning   soul-destroying (in a good way) Dude, that was low.

[Silas Lang]

Can't believe 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' is nowhere to be found. Yet you include 'Learning To Fly' (a rather lightweight shallow pop tune unworthy of the Pink Floyd name), 'Heart Beat Pig Meat' (not much of a song but an experimental soundtrack doodle of an idea and kinda aimless imo) and 'Paint Box' (Point Me At The Sky is better). 'Time' should be there as well.

 

I agree that the Allman Brothers should've been included and The Hollies too. And I must ask again: where's My Generation, Good Vibrations, Wild Thing? ('Love Is All Around' is a nice tune but c'mon this is the song)

 

Cool to see all those Eric Burdon & The Animals, Byrds and Buffalo Springfield tunes there along with 'Let's Go Together' (Mau Mau is awesome too though), 'Sugar Mountain' & 'After The Gold Rush' (surprising there isn't more Young/Springfield/CSNY), Mind Flowers , 'Rainy Day Mushroom Pillow' and 'Voodoo Chile' (mindblowing, powerful and hea-vy, maan ...but where's Stone Free, The Wind Cries Mary and Machine Gun, heck the entire Band of Gypsys album).

 

Oh and did you ever consider this one:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJQ561LzGX4

Edited April 27, 2011 by Silas Lang

[rushgoober]

QUOTE (Silas Lang @ Apr 26 2011, 09:18 PM)

Can't believe 'Shine On You Crazy Diamond' is nowhere to be found. Yet you include 'Learning To Fly' (a rather lightweight shallow pop tune unworthy of the Pink Floyd name), 'Heart Beat Pig Meat' (not much of a song but an experimental soundtrack doodle of an idea and kinda aimless imo) and 'Paint Box' (Point Me At The Sky is better). 'Time' should be there as well. I agree that the Allman Brothers should've been included and The Hollies too. And I must ask again: where's My Generation, Good Vibrations, Wild Thing? ('Love Is All Around' is a nice tune but c'mon this is the song) Cool to see all those Eric Burdon & The Animals, Byrds and Buffalo Springfield tunes there along with 'Let's Go Together' (Mau Mau is awesome too though), 'Sugar Mountain' & 'After The Gold Rush' (surprising there isn't more Young/Springfield/CSNY), Mind Flowers , 'Rainy Day Mushroom Pillow' and 'Voodoo Chile' (mindblowing, powerful and hea-vy, maan ...but where's Stone Free, The Wind Cries Mary and Machine Gun, heck the entire Band of Gypsys album). Oh and did you ever consider this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJQ561LzGX4

I could easily have added in Shine On. I guess I'm somewhat prejudiced against post-Dark Side Floyd. I've always thought their best period (1966-1973) gets ignored while their easily accessible period (1973-1979) gets almost all of the glory. I tend to not listen to those albums as much, consequently, and therefore forget how good some of those songs truly are. Learning to Fly I always thought was really powerful, especially the chorus. Gets me every time.

 

I know Heart Beat, Pig Meat is just a sound collage (in a vaguely similar vein to Revolution 9), but I always thought it was really cool and evocative. Point Me At the Sky is also an amazing song, but I slightly prefer Paint Box. It always reminds me of my drug days long ago somehow (I opened a door, to an empty room, then I forget......). Point Me at the Sky and Shine On You Crazy Diamond are obviously great songs.

 

In terms of the Hollies, the biggest contender was Bus Stop, but it didn't quite make the cut. Also Carrie Ann is a classic, as well as a few amazing songs on their lesser known Butterfly album.

 

My Generation is a great Who song, but it's never been one I've listened to a lot. I think they really surpassed that with a lot of material on The Who Sell Out, Who's Next & Quadrophenia.

 

Good Vibrations and Wild Thing are great songs, but have never been my favorites. Like My Generation, they were early rock classics and great, but I guess I like what they influenced more than the songs themselves. I really do enjoy Love Is All Around more than Wild Thing.

 

In terms of Hendrix, all great songs, but you know, my top 500 can only include so much! In the end it's all gonna come down to personal preference.

 

I never heard that Beach Boys song you linked me to. It was interesting, but didn't make much of an impact on me. I really should have put God Only Knows on my list. Maybe after this thread has lasted for awhile, I'll add in a handful of songs people have suggested or that I forgot that should have made my list.... that is if I can. For every song that gets added in, another has to come off. Not always easy to do!

Edited April 27, 2011 by rushgoober

[rushgoober]

QUOTE (JohnnyBlaze @ Apr 26 2011, 05:46 AM)

hey goobs, do you know how to pronounce the names of at least half of those bands? And no Bob Marley? Shameful !

I do, actually!

 

Bob Marley was great at what he did, and he definitely made several classics that I enjoy from time to time, but reggae isn't really my genre.

[rushgoober]

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Apr 26 2011, 05:16 AM)

Here's videos for some of the more obscure songs on my top 25 list: Berry Sakharof - The Shining - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0DcCvztW0o Terry Brooks & Strange - Ruler of the Universe - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV8Pz8Al-jc Jean-Michel Jarre - Ethnicolor - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-nI4ax9SAI Popol Vuh - Aguirre II - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtzG-hI15j4 The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band - I Won't Hurt You - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFTxQr2cdB0 Robert Wyatt - Sea Song - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4fFsrnC0ZA Amon Duul II - Syntelman's March of the Roaring 70's - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXcjQAVVQOI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcxHKhJlMbg (part 2) Popol Vuh - Hosianna Mantra - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbT9wHaB-08 Pink Floyd - Interstellar Overdrive (Tonite Let's All Make Love In London version) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iA7wdO00VI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LvkjqkAgsE (part 2) 13th Floor Elevators - Slip Inside This House - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dli0QWO3rUY

Anyone check out any of these songs that they haven't heard before? Would love to get thoughts/opinions...

[In A Tidewater Surge]

Hosianna Mantra

[ghostworks]

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Apr 25 2011, 01:23 PM)

...when I was in my early to mid-teens I was very into what was then contemporary heavy metal.  Then I discovered drugs when I was 15 and with that I befriended Deadheads who would always be playing live Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, etc.  That got me quickly and seriously into psychedelic music and classic rock in general.  By age 17 I had almost completely abandoned any current music (and thankfully I abandoned drugs as well), and within a year or two my musical researching led me to progressive rock and krautrock.  And that's kind of where I stayed.  I've had periods of time in the 90's when I got really into ambient, shoegaze, trip hop, etc., but I always come back to 60's psych, 70's prog, electronic, krautrock and classic rock as my main staples.  I also really dig avant-garde jazz, free jazz and fusion...

well, at least you explained what happened

 

 

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Apr 25 2011, 01:23 PM)

...I truly think that there was a musical renaissance that took place roughly from the mid 60's to the late 70's that has been unmatched before or since...

(forgive me a little melodrama for what follows...) ^ that statement has me worried

 

it sounds like you arrived at that conclusion some time ago and have since cemented it in

 

and it's my contention that your personal 'musical renaissance' has left you no room for growth

 

oh sure, you could mine the depths of that period for 'undiscovered' gems and so forth almost indefinitely (and I'm sure you will ), but pursuing only that avenue will come at the expense of any opportunity for expanding your musical breadth

 

you'll be deep, my brother but not wide

 

it's been my personal experience that breadth is the keystone of the 'divine musical experience' (I told you there'd be melodrama... ) - really, I'm at the limits of language to define what I mean without sounding overly sentimental or corny

 

I have been rewarded with every conceivable corridor of emotion and aural appreciation by making sure no channel was/is ever closed

 

there are many who will often say 'all rap is crap' and 'I like every kind of music except country' - that way lies stagnation

 

consider Norwegian punk - Armenian duduk - West Coast jazz of the 50's - 80's AOR - underground free hip hop - noise - Weather Channel music - neo-classical - children's folk records of the 60's - the list is literally endless...

 

^ I've found hours of untold pleasure in the gatefold LP's, unlabeled cassettes, import CD's and free downloads from every one of those genres and a thousand more

 

I appreciate your passion, and take the time to type this because your appetite and passion for music comes through loud and clear despite the fact I've only come to know this through messageboard posts

 

I 'hate' to see fellow music aficionados almost unknowingly fencing in walls around their preferences when there's so much more to discover outside the gate

 

 

 

[Mystic Slipperman]

I want to attempt this type of list for myself, but I have no idea where I'm going to find the time!!! Am thinking about it though:

 

 

I can tell you one thing: if I ever finish a 500 Favorites list, it's going to cross genres something fierce and a lot of people here will be going WTF?

 

 

Only thing I can comment on, Goobs: CSN - Carry On is actually CSNY--it's on the Deja Vu album. Unless Neil's not on that track.. is that why you labeled it only CSN?

 

 

 

 

Edited April 28, 2011 by Mystic Slipperman

[Mara]

QUOTE (rushgoober @ Apr 24 2011, 10:11 AM)

QUOTE (Good @ bad,andrush,Apr 23 2011, 10:55 PM) I disagree with a lot, but thanks for the effort    It's actually a great list and i say you have a great taste of music and a wide one too...I need to expand my musical library more  I actually agree with a lot, just not the way it is ranked. I can't believe Natural Science, Hemispheres, and A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers are not at leat in the top 100, and Hemi not in the top 25. But I'm still glad they are there. Now where the hell was Telegraph Road by Dire Straits, and Thick as a Brick and A Passion Play by Jethro Tull  And I am angry that VDGG aren't represented more...also...you forgot March of the Black Queen by Queen. Believe it or not, Natural Science was a very late entry, and almost missed the list entirely. I always thought it was a very good song, but only in the last few years has its brilliance really grown on me.   VDGG is also a group I've only gotten into in very recent years, and I still am. A Plague of Lighthouse Keepers is an easy standout. Perhaps as I get to know their albums more, more songs of theirs will rank higher. They're just a tough group to get into. They take a LOT of listens to appreciate and then love. It's often pretty dark stuff.   With Jethro Tull, Thick As A Brick is great, but I have yet to be incredibly wowed by it like so many progheads are. Part of the problem is I just haven't listened to it enough, but also I just find my mind wandering during certain parts when I have. Parts of A Passion Play are truly brilliant, but then there's the Hare Who Lost His Spectacles, which I find pretty . Kind of puts a damper on the rest of it.   I've never heard that Queen song (some of the early Queen albums are gaping holes in my collection, I admit), or the Dire Straits one, but Dire Straits was never a group I was too wild about.   Part of the problem is obviously I haven't heard everything out there, or been able to give everything I have its proper due and enough listens. This list is pretty much a snapshot of where I am right now with what I've heard. Get me in five years, and maybe 100 songs would be gone, replaced by 100 other songs. Or maybe it would only be 50 songs or less.   Listening to that Queen song now - great, but not immediately grabbing me as a top-500. I do need to get the first 3 Queen albums, however. Hmmm, that just reminded me, maybe I should have fit The Prophet's Song on there somewhere. I sure love that one. I seriously considered Bohemian Rhapsody, but I must admit that it's been so overplayed that I'm a little jaded on that song. "Bohemian Rhapsody" is overplayed and you're jaded on it. . .but, but, but "Stairway To Heaven" gets a high ranking?   Not that I was worried, but glad to see there are NO EAGLES on that list!   Also very surprised to see that you are a Cocteau Twins fan! I kind of thought they might be a little too 80's for your taste.

[rushgoober]

QUOTE (Mystic Slipperman @ Apr 28 2011, 10:05 AM)

I want to attempt this type of list for myself, but I have no idea where I'm going to find the time!!! Am thinking about it though: I can tell you one thing: if I ever finish a 500 Favorites list, it's going to cross genres something fierce and a lot of people here will be going WTF? Only thing I can comment on, Goobs: CSN - Carry On is actually CSNY--it's on the Deja Vu album. Unless Neil's not on that track.. is that why you labeled it only CSN?

There are definitely a handful of mistakes on my list. At some point perhaps I'll re-post it (with possibly a handful of additions/removals based on some of the conversations on this thread, and I'll fix the errors...

[rushgoober]

[rushgoober]