As a fan of a wide variety of popular (and not-so-popular) music from the 1950s (and sometimes even earlier) up through the present, one of my bucket list projects for years has been to put together a list of my 100 favorite songs of all time. At some point I decided that, once I got around to figuring that out, I could put it out on a blog, for the infinitesimally small proportion of the Internet world that might be interested. So, here we are. While the Top 100 will be a major focus, I also plan to post on a variety of other musical (and occasionally non-musical) topics, in which you may or may not be interested. (If a particular posting doesn’t ring your bell, you’re only a few clicks away from a dancing cat video on YouTube.)

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Favorite Best-Of Albums: Bruce Cockburn – Waiting For A Miracle

Folk-rocker Bruce Cockburn (COH-burn) is not particularly well-known in the U.S., although “Wondering Where The Lions Are” was a modest hit in 1980, and a couple other tracks got some FM radio airplay. He’s a much bigger figure north of the border, where he’s a member of the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame and has won numerous Juno awards (the Canadian equivalent of the Grammies). While many of his self-written songs address political, environmental, and social justice issues, many of his best efforts are more personal in nature.

 

While this 18-track compilation only includes the beginning of Cockburn’s still-active career – its full title is Waiting for a Miracle: Singles 1970-1987 – it does nicely cover the period of his greatest success, especially in this country. (“If A Tree Falls”, from 1989, is the only later song of his that I’m familiar with.)

 

Favorite Tracks:

If I Had A Rocket Launcher

Wondering Where The Lions Are

Lovers In A Dangerous Time

Mama Wants To Barrelhouse All Night Long

The Coldest Night Of The Year

 

You Pay Your Money And You Take Your Chance

Burn

Silver Wheels

The Trouble With Normal

Waiting For A Miracle

 

3 comments:

  1. Sirius XM Billboard's Top Ten Hits of the 60s that peaked in December:
    10. Lion Sleeps Tonight - Tokens (61)
    9. Turn, Turn, Turn - Byrds (65)
    8. Come See About Me - Supremes (64)
    7. Telstar - Tornados (62)
    6. Leaving on a Jet Plane - Peter, Paul, and Mary (69)
    5. Dominique - Singing Nun (63)
    4. Winchester Cathedral - New Vaudeville Band (66)
    3. Daydream Believer - Monkees (68)
    2. I Heard It Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye (68)
    1. I'm a Believer - Monkees (66)

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    Replies
    1. That's quite a collection!

      My favorites would be Grapevine, Turn, and Jet Plane. Winchester Cathedral didn't age all that well, IMHO.

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    2. I didn't think it aged well in 1966.

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