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.)

Saturday, May 24, 2025

Land of Hope and Dreams

Buy or stream the album, and spread the word. If you’re not a Springsteen fan now, you may be once you listen to it.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2025/05/22/bruce-springsteen-ep-trump-criticism/

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12 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 26, 2025 at 8:29 AM

    The early 70s have a bad reputation (probaby deservedly so) of being a desert for pop music.
    However, listeing to the top 40 this week in May, 1974 (we had just completed our junior year at LVC), I found, with the obvious exception of the song at the top of the chart, so pretty decent tunes. Perhaps we underrated the early 70s before Bruce was declared "the future of rock and roll'.

    1 THE STREAK –•– Ray Stevens
    2 DANCING MACHINE –The Jackson 5
    3 THE ENTERTAINER –Marvin Hamlisch
    4 THE SHOW MUST GO ON –Three Dog Night
    5 BAND ON THE RUN –Paul McCartney and Wings
    6 YOU MAKE ME FEEL BRAND NEW –The Stylistics
    7 MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS –Maria Muldaur
    8 THE LOCO-MOTION –•– Grand Funk
    9 (I’ve Been) SEARCHIN’ SO LONG –Chicago
    10 HELP ME –Joni Mitchell
    ...and Lightfoot's Sundown at #12.

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    1. Mike RhoadsMay 27, 2025 at 10:42 PM

      I'll take the M's on this one -- McCartney, Muldaur, and Mitchell. Definitely not the best efforts from 3DN, Grand Funk, and Chicago, IMO.

      This is the semester I spent at AU. Will always remember "Seasons in the Sun" at #1 for 3 weeks, which was nearly as lame as Ray Stevens.

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  2. AnonymousMay 29, 2025 at 8:16 AM

    Okay, here's another.
    Pop music evolved during the 1960s, but did it necessarily progress? Take a look at the Top Ten from Memorial Day 1961 and Memorial Day 1969.
    1961
    1. Mother-in-Law - Ernie K-Doe
    2. Runaway - Del Shannon
    3. Daddy's Home- Shep and the Limelights
    4. A Hundred Pounds of Clay - Gene McDaniels
    5. Travelin' Man - Ricky Nelson
    6. Mama Said - Shirelles
    7. Running Scared - Roy Orbinson
    8. Breakin' in a Brand New Heart - Connie Francis
    9. Hello Mary Lou - Ricky Nelson
    10. I've Told Every Little Star - Linda Scott
    1969
    1. Get Back - Beatles
    2. Love (Can Make You Happy) - Mercy
    3. Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In - 5th Dimension
    4. Oh Happy Day - Edwin Hawkins Singers
    5. Hair - Cowsills
    6. These Eyes - Guess Who
    7. Atlantis - Donovan
    8. Gitarzan - Ray Stevens (!)
    9. In the Ghetto - Elvis Presley
    10. Grazing in the Grass - Friends of Distinction

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    1. Mike RhoadsJune 1, 2025 at 2:38 PM

      For whatever it's worth, 4 of my "favorite 200" songs are from 1961, vs. 7 (plus one album) from 1969. Admittedly, a few of the '69 ones are pretty obscure, either album tracks or singles that barely charted (if at all).

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    2. AnonymousJune 1, 2025 at 5:50 PM

      Orpheus's Can't Find the Time was released in '67 but charted in '68 (as our original "obscure classic.").
      What are the four from '61 and seven from '69 (though I suspect R. Nelson get a mention - or two)?

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    3. Mike RhoadsJune 2, 2025 at 9:33 AM

      1961: Michael Row the Boat Ashore, Trust in Me (Etta James), Mama Said, Where the Boys Are
      1969: More Today Than Yesterday, Ramblin' Gamblin' Man, Going in Circles, Someday Soon (Judy Collins), Sunlight (Youngbloods), Tryin' Times (Roberta Flack), True Love Travels on a Gravel Road (Elvis P)
      The '69 album was the eponymous debut by Cold Blood.
      And no Ricky. I'm as surprised as you are.

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    4. AnonymousJune 3, 2025 at 8:19 AM

      Only your first choice in '61 surprises me.
      All solid choices.
      Ah, the Spiral Staircase.
      Do not remember Cold Blood.
      Will do the research.

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    5. Mike RhoadsJune 3, 2025 at 9:09 AM

      There's a story behind that choice:
      https://ramblingrhoads.blogspot.com/2016/04/113-michael-row-boat-ashore-highwaymen.html
      It's the only one of the 4 1961 songs that I remember from when it came out.

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  3. AnonymousJune 6, 2025 at 7:25 AM

    I do remember quite a few songs from that year. My mom listened pop music on the radio both at home and in the car, and my older sister by three years constantly had the radio on in her room, which was next door to my and my brother's.
    My memory goes back to Westward Ho the Wagons (the flip side of the Davey Crockett theme - I had the 45 that my mom bought for me). This was a Disney movie from 1956.
    And I think I recall your first record was How Much is That Doggie in the Window?

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    1. Mike RhoadsJune 7, 2025 at 5:50 PM

      I believe the one you're thinking of is Que Sera, Sera. ;-)
      Others I remember include Stupid Cupid (Connie Francis) and Round and Round (Perry Como).
      With no older siblings, the music I heard around the house was a little different.
      And I definitely remember Westward Ho.

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  4. AnonymousJune 8, 2025 at 11:01 AM

    By coincidence, yesterday's 60s Satellite Survey focused on this week in 1961.
    My goal was to try to determine how many of these songs I remember from that time.
    The answer was only one, "Mother-in-Law," by Ernie K. Doe.

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    1. Mike RhoadsJune 9, 2025 at 8:56 AM

      Well, I looked through the entire Billboard Hot 100 for that week. Might have heard Never on Sunday, but that would be it.

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