A week ago, as a sidebar to the ongoing work on my book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1), I announced that I would be doing a GREM! countdown, posting an updated ranking of the most-viewed GREM! entries among the 36 that have been posted here at Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do). I figured I'd give readers a chance to add a few clicks to their own fave raves, but I also figured the standings wouldn't change much (if at all) in a week.
I was right about that. "Porpoise Song (Theme From Head)" by The Monkees picked up the most fresh support this week, but it wasn't enough to push this great song into the list of my 15 most-viewed GREM! posts to date. Well, I still love it, and it will take its perch of pride alongside other glittery gems in my book. As always, an infinite number of songs can each be THE greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. Here are the 15 that have taken the most turns so far, as determined by Boppin' readers.
15. THE BEATLES: Hey Jude
Originally posted on the day I was going to my first Paul McCartney concert, this and my post about "Walk--Don't Run" by The Ventures are the only GREM! entries posted on this blog that won't appear in the book.
14. THE BEATLES: Rain
The central conceit of The Greatest Record Ever Made! is that there are an infinite number of them taking turns. But if it's gotta be just one, then this is it.
13. KISS: Shout It Out Loud
It amounts to a tempest in a tea cup, but this was the most controversial GREM! entry so far, drawing some ire for my preposterous notion that anything KISS did could possibly be anything other than crass, worthless drek. I like it anyway.
12. THE KINKS: You Really Got Me
Sheer, nonpareil power. The Kinks (like The Beatles and The Ramones) will get two entries in my book, one that's already been posted and one that will debut in the book. (The other Kinks song is, of course, "Waterloo Sunset," and we'll be playing a wonderful new cover of that song this week on This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio.
11. THE RAMONES: Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
After the GREM! book, there are a number of other books I also want to write. One of these would be Gabba Gabba Hey: Conversations With The Ramones, preserving my 1994 Goldmine interviews with Joey, Johnny, Marky, and C.J. The preamble from that book discusses the record that changed my life, and this is that record.
10. MATERIAL ISSUE: Kim The Waitress
Probably the most emotional GREM! entry I've written. Not for the faint of heart.
9. THE LEFT BANKE: Walk Away, Renee
One of the saddest love songs I've ever heard.
8. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Girls In Their Summer Clothes
I like Springsteen, but not quite to the extent that many others like him. But this song...? Oh yeah!
7. BIG STAR: September Gurls
"September Gurls" was the first song ever designated on This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio as The Greatest Record Ever Made, and it's far and away our all-time most-played track.
6. BADFINGER: Baby Blue
And this was the first GREM! ever written up for this blog. Still my favorite song of the '70s.
5. THE DAVE CLARK FIVE: Any Way You Want It
The Tottenham sound of the DC5! This post was originally preceded by an introductory piece called "The Tottenham Sound Of...The Beatles?!," which will also appear right before the DC5 entry in the GREM! book.
4. THE SEARCHERS: Hearts In Her Eyes
Seeing The Searchers at a club show in the early '80s, mixing '60s classics with selections from their two fantastic late '70s/early '80s Sire LPs, provides one of my most cherished concert memories.
3. BARON DAEMON & THE VAMPIRES: The Transylvania Twist
In the '50s and '60s, a lot of local television markets had their very own vampire TV host. Not all of them made a record. And only one--Syracuse's beloved Baron Daemon--did The Greatest Record Ever Made.
2. THE SMITHEREENS: Behind The Wall Of Sleep
The most-recent public GREM! post rocketed up the chart like a Smithereens record oughtta. In fact, the blog's list of Most Popular (All Time) calls this my most-viewed post overall. But whatever metric Google uses to make that determination, it doesn't jibe with how the individual stat totals compare. This Smithereens entry is in my Top Five most-viewed, and it's a solid # 2 in the GREM! standings. But the # 1 spot remains unchanged.
1. THE FIRST CLASS: Beach Baby
Not just my all-time most-viewed GREM!, but my # 2 most-viewed post in any category. Huzzah, Tony Burrows! Actually, it's # 2 in straight stats, but falls to # 3 if we combine the stats for two separate posts of my Everlasting First account of how I became a Kinks fan.
Oh, what's my all-time # 1 most-viewed blog post? Batman Meets The Monkees. Even if "Porpoise Song" didn't make the Top 15 most-popular GREM! list, there's still a lot of Monkees love out there in Boppinville.
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You can support this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon: Fund me, baby! Hey, Carl's writin' a book! The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) will contain 100 essays (and then some) about 100 tracks, plus two bonus instrumentals, each one of 'em THE greatest record ever made. An infinite number of records can each be the greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. Updated initial information can be seen here: THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE! (Volume 1)
Our new compilation CD This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4 is now available from Kool Kat Musik! 29 tracks of irresistible rockin' pop, starring Pop Co-Op, Ray Paul, Circe Link & Christian Nesmith, Vegas With Randolph Featuring Lannie Flowers, The Slapbacks, P. Hux, Irene Peña, Michael Oliver & the Sacred Band Featuring Dave Merritt, The Rubinoos, Stepford Knives, The Grip Weeds, Popdudes, Ronnie Dark, The Flashcubes, Chris von Sneidern, The Bottle Kids, 1.4.5., The Smithereens, Paul Collins' Beat, The Hit Squad, The Rulers, The Legal Matters, Maura & the Bright Lights, Lisa Mychols, and Mr. Encrypto & the Cyphers. You gotta have it, so order it here. A digital download version (minus The Smithereens' track) is also available from Futureman Records.
It would be difficult to find a more rocking song than the DC5's Any Way You Want It.
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