It's time.
An infinite number of songs can each be THE greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns. That's the central idea of my book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1), which is designed as a collective celebration of 165 of those infinite songs. It is not an attempt to create a comprehensive list of the best songs ever; in fact, it deliberately omits a few of my own top Fave Raves. Instead, it's a heartfelt appreciation of a few selected tunes, all played loud 'n' proud. There are a lot more great songs out there, each one awaiting its turn.
Our favorite records don't live in isolation; each one has a story to tell. The stories are not objective; why would anyone ever want to be objective about pop music? No. This is personal. It should be personal. And these are the stories I intend to tell in The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1):
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FOREWORD
DISCLAIMERS AND DECLARATIONS (A User's Guide To The Greatest Record Ever Made!)
A Fistful Of 45s
OVERTURE THE RAMONES: Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?
BADFINGER: Baby Blue
CHUCK BERRY: Promised Land
DUSTY SPRINGFIELD: I Only Want To Be With You
THE SEX PISTOLS: God Save The Queen
ELVIS PRESLEY: Heartbreak Hotel
WILLIE MAE "BIG MAMA" THORNTON: Hound Dog
PATTI SMITH: Gloria
LITTLE RICHARD: The Girl Can't Help It
NEIL DIAMOND: Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show
CRAZY ELEPHANT: Gimme Gimme Good Lovin'
WILSON PICKETT: In The Midnight Hour
THE HOLLIES: I Can't Let Go
THE HOLLIES: I Can't Let Go
THE ROMANTICS: What I Like About You
LOVE: 7 And 7 Is
TRANSLATOR: Everywhere That I'm Not
LESLEY GORE: You Don't Own Me
THE SHANGRI-LAS: Leader Of The Pack
THE SHIRELLES: Will You Love Me Tomorrow
THE SHIRELLES: Will You Love Me Tomorrow
THE RAMONES: Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
AMY RIGBY: Dancing With Joey Ramone
PINK FLOYD: Wish You Were Here
GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS: Midnight Train To Georgia
THE BOBBY FULLER FOUR: I Fought The Law
MERLE HAGGARD: Mama Tried
THE TEMPTATIONS: Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
BUDDY HOLLY: Peggy Sue/Everyday
JOHNNY NASH: I Can See Clearly Now
SUZI QUATRO: I May Be Too Young
SUZI QUATRO: I May Be Too Young
ALICE COOPER: School's Out
THE RARE BREED/THE OHIO EXPRESS: Beg, Borrow And Steal
OTIS REDDING: (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
ARETHA FRANKLIN: Respect
THE MONKEES: Porpoise Song (Theme From Head)
PRINCE: When You Were Mine
THE 13th FLOOR ELEVATORS: You're Gonna Miss Me
THE ROLLING STONES: Get Off Of My Cloud
PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS: Just Like Me
BOB DYLAN: Like A Rolling Stone
THE KINGSMEN: Louie, Louie
BARON DAEMON AND THE VAMPIRES: The Transylvania Twist
NELSON RIDDLE: The Batman Theme
THE CREATION: Making Time
THE CREATION: Making Time
THE WHO: I Can't Explain
TODD RUNDGREN: Couldn't I Just Tell You
SHOES: Tomorrow Night
THE FLASHCUBES: No Promise
SMOKEY ROBINSON AND THE MIRACLES: The Tears Of A Clown
JUDAS PRIEST: Heading Out To The Highway
ABBA: Dancing Queen
ABBA: Dancing Queen
THE NEW YORK DOLLS: Personality Crisis
MILLIE SMALL: My Boy Lollipop
THE EASYBEATS: Friday On My Mind
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Girls In Their Summer Clothes
THE RONETTES: Be My Baby
KISS: Shout It Out Loud
THE LEFT BANKE: Walk Away, Renee
THE BAY CITY ROLLERS: Rock And Roll Love Letter
THE KNICKERBOCKERS: Lies
THE WONDERS: That Thing You Do!
THE GO-GO'S: We Got The Beat
THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL: Summer In The City
INTERLUDE The Tottenham Sound Of...The Beatles?!
THE DAVE CLARK FIVE: Any Way You Want It
JAMES BROWN: Please, Please, Please
THE MARVELETTES: I'll Keep Holding On
GRAND FUNK: We're An American Band
TOOTS AND THE MAYTALS: Pressure Drop
THE ONLY ONES: Another Girl, Another Planet
HEART: Kick It Out
DEEP PURPLE: Highway Star
THE ONLY ONES: Another Girl, Another Planet
HEART: Kick It Out
DEEP PURPLE: Highway Star
THE FIRST CLASS: Beach Baby
THE ISLEY BROTHERS: Summer Breeze
THE RUBINOOS: I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
THE PANDORAS: It's About Time
P. P. ARNOLD: The First Cut Is The Deepest
THE BEVIS FROND: He'd Be A Diamond
THE BEVIS FROND: He'd Be A Diamond
BIG STAR: September Gurls
SAMMY AMBROSE: This Diamond Ring
PAUL COLLINS: Walking Out On Love
LINDA RONSTADT: You're No Good
DONNA SUMMER: I Feel Love
ENTR'ACTE THE BEATLES: Yesterday
DONNA SUMMER: I Feel Love
ENTR'ACTE THE BEATLES: Yesterday
THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET: Take Five
RAY CHARLES: Hit The Road Jack
THE MUFFS: Saying Goodbye
MARVIN GAYE: I Heard It Through The Grapevine
THE FLAMIN' GROOVIES: Shake Some Action
THE CARPENTERS: Only Yesterday
THE CARPENTERS: Only Yesterday
MATERIAL ISSUE: Kim The Waitress
THE JACKSON FIVE: I'll Be There
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE: Everybody Is A Star
THE DANDY WARHOLS: We Used To Be Friends
EMITT RHODES: Fresh As A Daisy
EMITT RHODES: Fresh As A Daisy
THE BANGLES: Live
THE SEARCHERS: Hearts In Her Eyes
THE MYNAH BIRDS: I Got You (In My Soul)
THE MYNAH BIRDS: I Got You (In My Soul)
RICK JAMES: Super Freak (Part 1)
THE FLIRTATIONS: Nothing But A Heartache
THE SPINNERS: I'll Be Around
TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS: American Girl
THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: I Woke Up In Love This Morning
THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY: I Woke Up In Love This Morning
LED ZEPPELIN: Communication Breakdown
THE BANDWAGON: Breakin' Down The Walls Of Heartache
DON HENLEY: The Boys Of Summer
BEN E. KING: Stand By Me
GENE PITNEY: Twenty Four Hours From Tulsa
RUFUS: Tell Me Something Good
THE SPONGETONES: (My Girl) Maryanne
THE TRAMMPS: Disco Inferno
HAROLD MELVIN AND THE BLUE NOTES: Don't Leave Me This Way
GRANDMASTER AND MELLE MEL: White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND: I'll Be Your Mirror
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND: I'll Be Your Mirror
THE BYRDS: I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better
DEL SHANNON: Runaway
THE EVERLY BROTHERS: Gone, Gone, Gone
THE COCKTAIL SLIPPERS: St. Valentine's Day Massacre
FREDDIE AND THE DREAMERS: Do The Freddie
SAM AND DAVE: Soul Man
BIG BROTHER AND THE HOLDING COMPANY: Piece Of My Heart
ARTHUR CONLEY: Sweet Soul Music
T. REX: 20th Century Boy
T. REX: 20th Century Boy
THE RUNAWAYS: Cherry Bomb
AMERICA: Sister Golden Hair
THE KINKS: Waterloo Sunset
THE KINKS: You Really Got Me
HOLLY GOLIGHTLY: Time Will Tell
THE BUZZCOCKS: Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)
THE BUZZCOCKS: Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've)
THE SMITHEREENS: Behind The Wall Of Sleep
THE COWSILLS: She Said To Me
ELVIS COSTELLO AND THE ATTRACTIONS: (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding?
THE FOUR TOPS: Reach Out I'll Be There
INTERLUDE Old Time Rock 'n' Roll
THE BOB SEGER SYSTEM: 2 + 2 = ?
THE JIVE FIVE: What Time Is It
THE JIVE FIVE: What Time Is It
LULU: To Sir, With Love [Museum Outings Montage]
FREDA PAYNE: Band Of Gold
FREDA PAYNE: Band Of Gold
EARTH, WIND AND FIRE WITH THE EMOTIONS: Boogie Wonderland
THE CONTOURS: Do You Love Me
BLONDIE: (I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence, Dear
THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS: All For Swinging You Around
THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS: All For Swinging You Around
WHAM!: Freedom
THE SUPREMES: You Keep Me Hangin' On
THE BEACH BOYS: God Only Knows
JOAN ARMATRADING: Me Myself I
NICK LOWE: So It Goes
NICK LOWE: So It Goes
THE SELECTER: On My Radio
MANNIX: Highway Lines
THE DRIFTERS: On Broadway
THE DRIFTERS: On Broadway
FIRST AID KIT: America
THE MC5: Kick Out The Jams
THE FIVE STAIRSTEPS: O-o-h Child
THE FIVE STAIRSTEPS: O-o-h Child
SOLOMON BURKE: Everybody Needs Somebody To Love
CHEAP TRICK Surrender
THE JAM: That's Entertainment!
DAVID BOWIE: Life On Mars?
THE O'JAYS: Put Your Hands Together
THE GRATEFUL DEAD: Uncle John's Band
THE PRETENDERS: Back On The Chain Gang
EDDIE AND THE HOT RODS: Do Anything You Wanna Do
STEVIE WONDER: I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)
MARYKATE O'NEIL: I'm Ready For My Luck To Turn Around
EYTAN MIRSKY: This Year's Gonna Be Our Year
THE JAYHAWKS: I'm Gonna Make You Love Me
An Infinite Number
INTERLUDE Underrating The Beatles
ENCORE! THE BEATLES: Rain
ENCORE!! THE T-BONES: No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)
Cruisin' Music
CODA THE RAMONES: Blitzkrieg Bop
AFTERWORD
Is this the book's final set list? Given how often the Table of Contents has changed while I've been tweaking my plans over the last year and a half, it's possible (and some would say likely) that I'll continue to adjust and amend things until the book's on its way to the printer. So: I dunno. BUT! This is the Table of Contents that will appear with the book proposal that prospective publishers see. The intent, at least, is for this to be the final word.
It's time.
TIP THE BLOGGER: CC's Tip Jar!
You can support this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon: Fund me, baby!
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, and on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/ You can read about our history here.
The many fine This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio compilation albums are still available, each full of that rockin' pop sound you crave. A portion of all sales benefit our perpetually cash-strapped community radio project:
Volume 1: download
Volume 2: CD or download
Volume 3: download
Volume 4: CD or download
Waterloo Sunset--Benefit For This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio: CD or download
Carl's writin' a book! The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) will contain 155 essays about 155 tracks, 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).
Is this the book's final set list? Given how often the Table of Contents has changed while I've been tweaking my plans over the last year and a half, it's possible (and some would say likely) that I'll continue to adjust and amend things until the book's on its way to the printer. So: I dunno. BUT! This is the Table of Contents that will appear with the book proposal that prospective publishers see. The intent, at least, is for this to be the final word.
It's time.
TIP THE BLOGGER: CC's Tip Jar!
You can support this blog by becoming a patron on Patreon: Fund me, baby!
This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl airs Sunday nights from 9 to Midnight Eastern, on the air in Syracuse at SPARK! WSPJ 103.3 and 93.7 FM, and on the web at http://sparksyracuse.org/ You can read about our history here.
The many fine This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio compilation albums are still available, each full of that rockin' pop sound you crave. A portion of all sales benefit our perpetually cash-strapped community radio project:
Volume 1: download
Volume 2: CD or download
Volume 3: download
Volume 4: CD or download
Waterloo Sunset--Benefit For This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio: CD or download
Carl's writin' a book! The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1) will contain 155 essays about 155 tracks, 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).
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