Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan (1965)

Voted the best something song by Rolling Stone, (magazine) ! It's a bit hard to argue with given it's massive influence on everything and everyone. Personally I was a bit too young to really like this when it was released. It was only much later (years) that I really got to like it. Everybody really got it together in the studio and Bob was certainly in his prime and not a bit self-conscious with his personal trip. Tell it like it is Bob, don't hold back!  Listen in YouTube 

Tubular Bells - Mike Oldfield (1974)

Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells is a standout in popular music history. A friend had the tape - a reel tape - and we sat transfixed listening to it. The world had certainly been given a shake. But Oldfield's challenge was never met by anyone else and TB proved to be a freakish event which later landed in a freak's movie, The Exorcist. The album could never had happened had it not been for the advent of the multi-track recorder but MO is an accomplished musician and went on to record many albums, some very creative pieces like Amarok. YouTube Listen.

Moonlight shadow - Mike Oldfield (1983)

Hated by some, loved by others including me this was such a fresh sound with great production value that I fell for it right away. Silly how some words can have an effect on some people and not others, like 'Four a.m. in the morning, carried away by a moonlight shadow...' I always visualize this.  Youtube Listen.

Us and Them - Pink Floyd (1973)

The Great Gig in the Sky may have the greatest recorded improvised wailing session but Us and Them has the best Sax in PF's Dark Side of the Moon. When I listen to that after the long guitar intro I know I'm in for something great. Then the pace of delivery of the words confirm that other worldliness feeling you get from the beginning. PF dabbled with music of the psyche and the less mundane in their previous work but for me this piece is masterly. Best line : "Us and them, and after all we're only ordinary men"

A Whiter Shade Of Pale - Procol Harum (1967)

PH had some nice hits with Homburg and also Conquistador and 'Salty Dog' but an unforgettable fretting organ (Matthew Fisher) winding it's way led by a great voice (Gary Broker) make A Whiter Shade Of Pale my choice for their best song.

Oh Pretty Woman - Roy Orbinson (1964)

Fifty's style was never my cup of tea and therefore RO goes with that except for this song. As a young-in, the opening riff of this song got me pretty early on but I could never take this song seriously enough to adopt it wholly into my list. Music was pretty important to me, it defined my friends and who I would consider for a girlfriend! Of course life is not like that.

That Lucky Old Sun - Ray Charles (1962)

Done by many before and after Ray Charles' version, it is this one I heard first and impressed me even as a young teenager. The message of this song is simple and it touches a nerve. The backing choral voices complete what is a touching delivery by a musical genius.

Summer Breeze - Seals and Crofts (1972)

They say this song talks about the everyday things in life and how they give us the security we all need to get through in life. In the seventies I only heard the words about the summer breeze and the jasmine. I just liked the initial guitar chords and the melody and harmonies and the flute as it mimics the breeze. Everything is alright.

Sounds of Silence - Simon and Gartfunkel (1966)

When I first heard this I could not believe that any of the contemporaries could have written such a beautiful song. I mean this is on par with Silent Night and both these songs stir up powerful emotions. But Paul Simon went on to prove that this was no fluke when he penned America and some other lesser ones. I don't think I have heard any other duo bring harmony and song composition to such high standard (Unless you're used to classical music lol). Though later to our loss Paul went off the rails without Art - musically speaking. This song needs no introduction but here it is.

Stuck In The Middle With You - Stealers Wheel (1972)

This is not a great song, its not even a serious song. Infact it was actually written as a Dylan mock. But it is infectious and uninhibited fun and even though I never sought it out I enjoyed it immensely every time I heard it. This video is fun too.

Hide In Your Shell - Supertramp (1974)

Growin up is never easy and in this song Supertramp tap into late developers (and not so late developer) blues. 'Hide in your shell for the world is out to take you for a ride' or something like that. But apart from the words, all of Supertramp's music arrangement was thoughtful and elaborate. All that said however, for me most of the songs meld into each other but maybe its because I didn't spend much time with them. This one though I remember listening to in my own bluesy times.

The Queen and the Soldier - Suzanne Vega (1985)

Vega's music is definitely not pop oriented even though she had hits with Luka and to a lesser extent with Tom's Diner. She leans heavily in the folk tradition of the sixties and I have enjoyed all her work however, some more some less and my head was turned around with Luka too. This song I choose from all her work as the one I would like to listen over and over even though Luka is immensely catchy. I would be unhappy to have to leave behind any of her music for my deserted island.

Summer In The City - The Loving Spoonfuls (1966)

Loved the collage of sounds. Great memories of beach going in those years, in those hot days.

Candles in the rain - Melanie (1971)

I used to hang out near the radio waiting for this song. I was not sure what it was about and there was no Google to find out what the words read. No matter because Melanie's voice and sincerity was enough and the choral voices of the Hawking singers lent the song something bigger than life. And when she sings: and raise them (candles) higher again it sent shivers up my spine.

Reason to believe - Tim Hardin (1966)

Simply sung Tim Hardin's laid back style and basic acoustic guitar let's the melody win you over. I was sold.

Get back - The Beatles (1969)

Right at their demise they came out with this. I didn't know what to make of it but soon got it. It was back to basics and this song makes me want to get up and dance - and I never dance.

Flesh & Blood - Mary Black (1993)

This song sounds a bit cannibalistic but I think Mary is singing about a family member or someone very close who is in trouble or has problems. It has a terrific upbeat optimism and the chorus builds up to a fitting resolution.

MacArthur Park - Richard Harris (1968)

The first time I heard this I thought someone was having a joke. But really, living in the sixties there were shock-waves after shock-wave so nothing should have surprised us. 'What?' An old man mouthing some weird and possibly 'square' words about a cake in the rain, in the park? And string arrangement to boot and 7 1/2 minutes long to top it up. And the middle stanza with fast moving brass was just the last straw. What could anyone one make of this? Just ignore it! But they played it again on the radio and so that was that I had to sit down and listen to it properly.  Now of course I think this is a masterpiece of melody, lyric, arrangement and interpretation and Jimmy Webb's best song and probably my all time top ten. Please ignore all other versions including Webb's, this is the real deal - with the possible exception of Waylon Jennings version which runs pretty close to perfect. Read heaps about this song at Songfacts.

Spicks and specks - Bee Gees (1966)

This song didn't get off to an immediate start in the charts but I thought it was quality and deserved more appreciation. Eventually it did and now it is considered a sixties standard. The melody had class all over and the voices were unique.

Candle of life - Moody Blues (1970)

Nights in white satin is usually a no-brainer in choosing Moody's best loved song. I was also impressed with it enough to make me go and listen to everything they'd done. I find now however after a lot of years, that the words do contain an irritant, heart-on-the sleeve sort of thing which doesn't wear well over time. Most of MB's other songs fell into a category best fitting as 'Album' or 'Thematic'. But Candle of life fell out of a juke-box in a Greek island cafe for me one lazy morning. It was the B side of Question of Balance and  I played it over and over. Now its the one that survives above the others like, Tuesday Afternoon, Lovely to see you, Never comes the day and most of the Threshold of a dream album, and the others too numerous to mention.

Eve of destruction - Barry Mcguire (1965)

I remember being scared of the bomb and this man expressed it very eloquently. These days we can take our pick or maybe just add Climate Change to the ticking bomb. Listen here.

A Hazy Shade of Winter - Simon & Garfunkel (1966)

Fast paced with a piercing acoustic riff, leading to smashing cymbals to mark 'Time, time, time...'. S&G were never better in their harmony. 

To Sir with Love - Lulu (1967)

A song about the school days from a time of my schools days. Sang beautifully by a very school looking girl.

The Carnival is over - The Seekers (1968)

The picture of wholesome entertainment The Seekers went a bit risque when they did Georgie Girl. an up tempo pop song with lots of whistling which had hit written all over it as soon as it was played. The Carnival is over is not like that  and I don't know which carnival was over but it's always sad when the fun finishes. I'm a sucker for Judith Durham's singing and I get taken in every-time and would happily sing along to this.

Both Sides Now - Judy Collins (1967)

Deeply psychological this song I have tried many times to un-entangle. Sometimes I think I have succeeded other times not. Either way I come back to this song periodically.

Penny Lane - The Beatles (1967)

I have vivid memories of listening to this on the way to school. I was never into Beatle mania but this one won me over. Unusually long verses for the Beatles.

Don't sleep in the subway - Petula Clark (1967)

I was a young teenager when I first heard this and started to enjoy pop music. This was pretty big then and it stood out for me. It now has a lot of baggage and it stirs up a lot of memories. Even so , it has a pretty good flowing melody and it tells the story pretty well and the arrangement even if not totally original it is very sophisticated. According to Wiki it was Petula's favorite Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent song.

Diamonds and rust - Joan Baez (1975)

Nothing JB ever wrote was as inspired as this. Especially strong knowing that this is about Bob Dylan. The opening guitar intro has a really special tone and the opening line 'Well I'll be damned here comes your ghost again' hooked me immediately. I never heard this until many years after it's release and I wonder sometimes what else is as good as this and is out there undiscovered.  “Beauty is truth, truth beauty.” and this is both.

Hello in there - John Prine (1971)

Without a doubt this is John Prine's best song, though I prefer Joan Baez's version, she sings it more matter of fact without added pathos in her voice which is totally unnecessary in this instance. Bette Midler adds all that drama to it, quite uncalled for.

If you could read my mind - Gordon Lightfoot (1970)

Gordon wrote hundreds of songs and I enjoyed most of them. Among my favourites were 'Saturday clothes', 'Circle of steel', 'Miguel', 'Summer side of life', 'The Watchman's Gone', and more recently 'End Of All Time'. In the end however If you could read my mind was the first I remember and with the biggest baggage. I like the way the lyrics describe the failed relationship in theatrical terms thus magnifying their personal significance: 'I'd walk away like a movie star who gets burned in a three-way script' And the outstanding acoustic guitar riffs make it worthy of a classic standard, its been covered by just about every one.

Tie a yellow ribbon - Dawn (1973)

I never liked this song when it came out. It was much later that the cleverness of the melody and words sunk in. I could picture the man on the bus freshly out of gaol nervously waiting to see if his girlfriend is still waiting for him. Will the yellow ribbon be tied to that tree? Stay tuned to find out.

Starman - David Bowie (1973)

I don't know where I was when this song was released, maybe in space but it was some years later that I remember hearing it for the first time. Excellent acoustics on that steel string and David at the peak of his creativity.

It don't matter to me - Bread (1970)

processed bread

The height of soap for yours truly, all Bread consumables were taken very personally. Take the line : It don't matter to me if you take up with some one who is better than me, cause your happiness is all I want'. Believe it or not youthful romantic love is like that, in one's mind  It is totally self-less. The songs now all sound a bit much the same but David Gates was a very accomplished song writer and this one is still enjoyable.

So long, Marianne - Leonard Cohen (1968)

This song lives on and I enjoy it anew every time. Leonard's words still sound fresh, eg. she held on to me like I was a crucifix. I like the way the girls help with that haunting chorus, it was the first thing I looked forward to hearing again. I remember the first time I was shown LC's music. I was staying with some hippy couple back in 1970. in a farm they were renting, They had all LC's albums and I sat up late listening to them while they next door made, ahem... funny noises. It was the sort of thing Cohen wrote about. One day I bought one of his books, forget which, but my gf at the time read it all in one long sleepless night.

Riders on the storm - The Doors (1970)

This song gets into my list for the mood it creates and the words : Into this world we're thrown like a dog without a bone'. They could have expanded a little with the lyrics and maybe created a bit more of a beginning and an end. It feels a bit too improvised and could just as easily have been four or fifteen minutes long. . I like the base line best, should be listened to on a good sound system, nice and voluminously.

Desolation Row - Bob Dylan (1965)

If  I were allowed only one song by Dylan to take to that deserted island it would be this one. There was many an hour I spent jamming to this song and enjoying the collage of imagery as it passed by. I think I could do that again.  

On the Border - Al Stewart (1976)

Don't know what inspired Al to write about gun smugglers but the picture he paints here coupled with Peter White's Spanish guitar gives me an incomprehensible chill, that's not to say goose-pimples. There are many Stewart songs that could make my list but this one is can't be ignored.

No frontiers - Mary Black (1989)

'Heaven knows no frontiers and I 've seen heaven in your eyes'. If there were no other words in this song that would be enough. Listen to Mary sing it like it is and make immediate connection with your soul. Here for a  public performance and here for the studio version but Mary in her day (not today alas!) could shoot you down with one note at ten paces. I saw her with her band in her prime and surely I saw heaven. From the band not a note out of place. Her voice measured yet passionate if that's possible. Do yourself a favour, get to know her work and the body of Irish music out there. You'll be glad you did. Here is an alternate version from the Corrs, the song stands up well without Mary.

Pamela Pamela- Wayne Fontana (1967)

Another song about passing time and the old school days, where most of out memories are most vivid. At the time I just liked the melody but later the act of reminiscing became more important. Still I enjoy this though it really is a pretty basic song.

Lazy Sunday - Small Faces (1967)

My single

Shock horror, news flash: The Small Faces were a cockney act. Someone on Youtube noticed Steve Marriot drop the cockney accent in the last word of the song : 'away'. Actually I did notice , I just never realised it's significance. But Steve did come from a working class background though he went to a institute of drama. But back to the song, with it 's energy and strong melody as well as it's humour it was my personal number one for a long time, in my teens.

Itchicoo Park - Small Faces (1967)

Where was Itchicoo Park? It was just down from my school where my friends and I escaped to on sunny days. Who wants to go and learn the word of fools when you could be sharing laughter and hot chips at a picnic in the park? (actually it was bush, but that's just details). No, it was nothing more than that, except for the odd forbidden cigarette. Another favourite song from the time.

By the Time I Get to Phoenix - Glen Campbell (1967)

How cities are made famous in songs!. Jimmy Webb must have got a hand out from the Phoenix City Hall tourist department after this hit! The melody provides the initial attraction like sex appeal. When you get to know it then the lyrics come into it and you develop the emotional connection. At least that's what Sophie (Drew Barrymore) in Music and lyrics (2007) tells Alex (Hugh Grant).With this song it was the opposite. The melody of this was a little slow to get to like but in the end grows and the words fit in  like a glove and Glen delivers perfectly.

Society's child - Spooky tooth (1968)

Highly developed arrangement of this Janis Ian song it raises the temperature with Gary Wright's unique voice,  and a bass line that doesn't take a back seat. Ian's anti-racist story is poignant making this song distinct and memorable.

I Hear You Now - Jon & Vangelis (1980)

'Ooh to get that feeling on and on, ooh just to get that feeling' Oh what on earth is he talking about?!
After the first impression of this song I went out and got J&V's album and played it through but in the end its this song I wanted to hear over and over.I think they managed to transfer that feeling. 

Me And Bobby McGee - Kris Kristofferson (1969)

This song was certainly done to death in the sixties and seventies and even when I hear it today I think 'What clever words' but I look for alternate versions to KK just to give it a boost. It is a little worn out but I find it difficult to omit this classic. I remember spending time debating the value and meaning of the word freedom. The young Christian club asserted that the kind of freedom KK talks about here is quite the opposite to true freedom. Anyhow that's philosophy . But the thought of freedom from responsibility appealed to us young-ins and the image of 'thumbing a diesel down' and landing where it may was bold and exciting. ...and 'we sang every song the driver knew', and indeed songs were the basis of our foundation. All great revolutions have their music to identify with and this was one for the sixties.

If You're Going To San Francisco - Scott McKenzie (1967)

To use a well hackneyed phrase this song 'blew me away' when I first heard it. Unlike today when you can have an instant download I had to wait beside the radio for hours waiting for them to play it again. And they never would, or that's how it felt. The voice, the acoustic sound with it's many instruments, the idea of men wearing flowers, it was all too much. I was an immediate convert, to what I don't know. But I knew I was going somewhere with that song. To San Francisco? Not sure, 

Bellingen

 maybe. I just had to go. As soon as I could drive I took off to find that something. I picked up some hippies who were thumbing a ride to Byron Bay and stayed overnight at their...but I divert. This song is part of the sixties folklore that permeated the world at the time, well some of it.

I'll Be Your Lover - Paul Kelly (1998)

Kelly admitted of being a great Dylan fan but I'm sure Dylan would be envious of this effort. I love the line 'You crossed your mouth to keep mine shut my timing was never that good'. The video here is fun too though they should have included a card playing scene in some smoky dungeon bar, with an archetypal 'broad' leaning on some big-shot's shoulder. Kelly paints a wonderful scene and that wailing guitar gets right under my skin.

In the year 25 25 - Zeger and Evans (1969)

Who can ignore this foreboding warning of this song in the closing years of the sixties? This song races ahead at a time of great social change and impending technology breakthroughs. It captures the popular mood in a nutshell and it still sounds good.

Magic carpet ride - Steppenwolf (1968)

One of the greatest rock recording of all time this song starts promising something major with distorted guitars threatening to fly through your roof. Though these days it's a tiny tame you can make up for that by turning it right up. Let that base by Rushton Moreve and organ shake and rattle your wall with great vocals by John Kay. Is the song about sex, drugs?  Who cares? Just go with it.

Memories - 10 cc (1981)

10CC sound so boring these days except perhaps for 'Rubber bullets' and this song. Memories of youth and the lines still ring true : 'The summers were longer they went on forever Oh and the sky so blue' ' We were so wrapped up in all of our dreams, we didn't care what the future would bring' and a nice melody.