Top 50 older song discoveries of 2018 (#1-#5)

 

 

 

 

Again, to be clear, #1 to #50 are not ranked, I just grouped the songs as best I could. The only running theme is I loved the music!  Today’s final entry in the series contains a hotchpotch of leftovers, tracks 2, 4-5 were discoveries from Rol’s Saturday Snapshots.  If has any interest, I’ve created a playlist of the top 50 on YouTube, including 15 honorable mentions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1.)
All Flowers In Time Bend Towards The Sun by Jeff Buckley & Elizabeth Fraser (recorded 1995-1996)
(Another great find from Aphoristical’s site. Elizabeth Fraser’s (of Cocteau Twins) vocal is particularly stunning here and the two singers complement each other well on this unreleased track. Apparently they were in a relationship in the mid 90s)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2.)
Don’t Take Away The Music by Tavares (1976)
(A disco tune which has become quite personal to me. I’ve been dealing with ringing in the ears/tinnitus for a few months now, and the chorus “don’t take away, the music” sums up where I’m at. I don’t want the music taken away, but I also have to be sensible and look after myself . The ringing becomes less when I avoid loud, continuous noise. So expect some book reviews instead for 2019)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.)
Wake Up and Make Love with Me by Ian Dury (1977)
Thanks to Stephen at 1001 albums in 10 years for his review which was how I found the album. The cheeky lyrics are probably my least favorite aspect about Dury’s music. Despite that, the musicians are on fire here! Some argue Chaz Jankel was the most talented. The Blockheads were not credited on the sleeve as two members of the band do not play on the album. To me, ‘Wake Up’ eclipses the catchy non-album single Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll which admittedly is great as well)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.)
Reflections of My Life by The Marmalade (1969)
(A melancholy yet hopeful reflection. Nobody is making music like this anymore)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.)
Nothing Rhymed by Gilbert O’Sullivan (1971)
(I know next to nothing about Irish singer/songwriter Gilbert O’Sullivan. The early 1970s is considered his peak. Regarded as a talented lyricist, Nothing Rhymed is among his most popular, about not wanting to conform. O’Sullivan is still releasing new music with an album out in 2018)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you think? As always comments are welcome

Top 50 older song discoveries of 2018 (#6-#10)

 

 

 

6.)
Borrowed Tune by Neil Young (1975)
(This moving ballad is a personal favorite from 1975’s Tonight’s the Night. A darker album, Neil Young’s success collided with personal chaos and loss. There’s a pessimism that stemmed from the idealism of the 1960s not working out)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.)
Oh, Lonesome Me by Neil Young (1970)
(Only Love Can Break Your Heart is the most famous sad song on 1970’s After The Goldrush but the lesser known Oh, Lonesome Me (from Side 2) is impactful as well. About a character who can’t get over a break-up. A cover of a 1957 track by Don Gibson. Despite being covered many times, there’s an earnestness in the vocal delivery that you think Neil has written it and lived it. The opening lyric about staying home or going out is a recurring battle if you are an introvert)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.)
The Painter by Neil Young (2005)
(The album was recommended to me by Aphoristical because I said I was a fan of Young’s two Harvest albums from 1972 and 1992. The Painter is the most moving from 2005’s Prairie Wind, tapping into a very modern problem about multiple choice, with its thought provoking lyric “if you follow every dream, you might get lost”)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9.)
Idiot Wind by Bob Dylan (1975)
(I love the first half of Blood on the Tracks. Idiot Wind is a remarkable new-to-me song with great lyrics. Dylan has stated that “Idiot Wind” is about the expression of willpower.”With strength of will you can do anything. With willpower you can determine your destiny.”
Dylan denied that this or any other song on Blood On The Tracks was about his divorce. However, one of Bob’s and Sara’s children, Jakob Dylan, described the music as “my parents talking”)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10.)
Come into the Open by Penetration (1979)
(This post is a bit of a downer so will end with an upbeat late 70s punk rock/new wave tune I found. A mix of The Cranberries with The Clash is how I would describe the music. The message of Come into the Open is empowering and sort of an answer to the Neil Young lyric mentioned in #7. Then again, if you want a hit the town song you could stick to Neil Young and Come on Baby Let’s Go Downtown from Tonight’s the Night)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you think? As always, comments are welcome

Top 50 older song discoveries of 2018 (#11–#15)

 

 

 

11.)
Certain Kind of Fool by Eagles (1973)
(I listened to almost the entire Eagles discography this year (except 2007’s Long Road Out of Eden) so here goes with a trio of favorite discoveries. Certain Kind of Fool is a hidden gem on 1973’s Desperado with a memorable riff. The story of rise to fame is self-indulgent yet a revealing cautionary tale. The LP might be viewed as a concept album with the Eagles comparing themselves to outlaws)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12.)
The Last Resort by Eagles (1976)
(The closer on their 1976 mega-selling album Hotel California. Intended or not, the song actually makes me feel like I’m in paradise, especially the ending. Lyrics about mankind destroying every place he/she finds beautiful)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13.)
King of Hollywood by Eagles (1979)
(The track with the most substance on 1979’s The Long Run, eerily reminding me of Harvey Weinstein and the recent #MeToo scandals. The drum and guitar work is quite seductive. A guilty pleasure)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

14.)
Solitude by Black Sabbath (1971)
(2-3 years ago I fell in love with the Black Sabbath ballad Changes (from 1972) and thanks to a happy accident on YouTube discovered another slow song they recorded. The flute is reminiscent of Jethro Tull and the guitar is just as distinctive. I like playing it softly in the background without paying attention to the words. From 1971’s Master of Reality)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15.)
You`re Too Much by The Eyes (1966)
C at Sun Dried Sparrows included this one in her enjoyable series My bestest most favouritest songs ever ever, and it really is a great B-side.  Relatable lyrics as most of us have times when a partner/friend is “too much”!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you think? As always. comments are welcome

Top 50 older song discoveries of 2018 (#16–#20)

 

16.)
I Want More by Can (1976)
(Thanks to C at Sun Dried Sparrows for the recommendation. I didn’t know Can could be so funky! Looking forward to exploring their albums)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

17.)
Starless by King Crimson (1974) (Mandy opening credits sequence) 
(Not familiar with King Crimson at all. This track (with its ominous mood and iconic Robert Fripp guitar intro) instantly grabbed me from the new Nicolas Cage horror film Mandy. A great music choice which fits well with Jóhann Jóhannsson’s score)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18.)
Xanadu by Rush (1977)
(Farewell to Kings is a patchy Rush album but the instrumental work on the 11 minute prog rock epic Xanadu is beautiful, and I didn’t want it to end. The lyrics are about eternal life. Superior to the 21 min 2112 (on their 1976 LP) which has a great intro yet I find a bit overpraised. Of their other longer songs, I admire the technical ability on La Villa Strangiato (from their 1978 album) and over time I may grow to love those other Rush songs more. For now, I prefer Xanadu)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19.)
Circumstances by Rush (1978)
(Rush also had a talent for composing great shorter songs such as this hard rock tune from 1978’s Hemispheres, which showcases Geddy Lee’s fiery vocals)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

20.)
Right Down the Line by Gerry Rafferty (1978)
(Nice melody and I like his vocal performance. Besides the use of Stuck in the Middle with You from the controversial scene in Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs, I was not familiar with this guy. Should look up his work, suggestions are welcome)

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you think? As always, comments are welcome

Top 50 older song discoveries of 2018 (#21–#25)

 

 

 

 

 

21.)
The Deceiver by The Alarm (1984)
(Powerful. The harmonica is almost shedding tears at the start. My interpretation is the lyrics are a cathartic release for the singer, to empty himself of negativity that has been thrown his way. By a post-punk/alternative rock band I had never heard of. Curious to check out the album!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22.)
Loved By The Sun by Tangerine Dream and Jon Anderson (1985) (Legend soundtrack)
(A vocal version of “Unicorn Theme” with lyrics written and sung by Jon Anderson, lead singer of the prog rock band Yes. Cheesy and syrupy maybe to some listeners, I love it. There’s a sense of magic and innocence going on. Tangerine Dream did a lot of good work on soundtracks in the 80s)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

23.)
Sleeping Bag by ZZ Top (1985) (I, Tonya soundtrack)
(The breathtaking ice skating dance sequence 20 minutes into the film I Tonya (2017) gave me chills. Figure skater Tonya Harding actually picked the non-conformist song for her actual performance in the 90s. A movie moment that could inspire you to take up skating. You can read more about the music Tonya Harding skated to at Ultimate Classic Rock)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

24.)
Love Wars by Womack & Womack (1983)
(Not sure if I’d label it funk or soul. An album by a husband and wife duo, plus a few other Womack’s such as Bobby Womack as co-songwriter. The beat is really groovy. I agree with a Youtuber who said it’s about how “the divide between love and hate is so small”. A discovery from Rol’s Saturday Snapshots #53. If you haven’t tried his weekly quiz, you should. Set your alarm clock, each Saturday morning at about  9.30 CET)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25.)
I Love L.A. Randy Newman (1983) (The Naked Gun soundtrack)
( love the ebbs and flows, you don’t get that very often in contemporary music. Starts off as a distinctly 70s song and builds into the 80s sound. Really fun and uplifting. For obvious reasons, was popular during the 1984 Olympic games in Los Angeles)

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you think? As always, comments are welcome