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.