Poll: May 1963 Songs

May 1963. One year before I was born.  About a 1/3 of these songs I had to go back and listen to, as I was unfamiliar with them.  Early 60's a big time for the Girl Group sound, as my #1 pick is a classic of the genre.   

For this latest poll, 40 songs were picked to vote on.  My own rankings are at the end of each title. Listen to this countdown at popgoldradio.com.

"Da Doo Ron Ron (When He Walked Me Home)", Crystals : 1
"On Broadway", Drifters : 2
"It's My Party", Lesley Gore : 3
"Baby Workout", Jackie Wilson : 4
"Surfin' U.S.A.", Beach Boys : 5
"He's So Fine", Chiffons : 6
"Pipeline", Chantay's : 7
"I Will Follow Him", Little Peggy March : 8
"Watermelon Man", Mongo Santamaria : 9
"Another Saturday Night", Sam Cooke : 10
"El Watusi", Ray Barretto Y Su Charanga Moderna : 11
"Come And Get These Memories", Martha & the Vandellas : 12
"If You Need Me", Wilson Pickett : 13
"Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby)", Cookies : 14
"Hello Stranger", Barbara Lewis : 15
"Puff (The Magic Dragon)", Peter, Paul & Mary : 16
"Can't Get Used To Losing You", Andy Williams : 17
"You Can't Sit Down", Dovells : 18
"Still", Bill Anderson : 19
"Sukiyaki", Kyu Sakamoto : 20
"Easier Said Than Done", Essex : 21
"Take These Chains From My Heart", Ray Charles : 22
"Two Faces Have I", Lou Christie : 23
"Reverend Mr. Black", Kingston Trio : 24
"If You Wanna Be Happy", Jimmy Soul : 25
"This Little Girl", Dion : 26
"Hot Pastrami", Dartells : 27
"I Love You Because", Al Martino : 28
"Mecca", Gene Pitney : 29
"Losing You", Brenda Lee : 30
"Charms", Bobby Vee : 31
"Foolish Little Girl", Shirelles : 32
"Tom Cat", Rooftop Singers : 33
"Killer Joe", Rocky Fellers : 34
"Young Lovers", Paul & Paula : 35
"Linda", Jan & Dean : 36
"Young And In Love", Dick & DeeDee : 37
"Till Then", Classics : 38
"Ain't That A Shame!", 4 Seasons : 39
"The Love Of My Man", Theola Kilgore : 40

RIP Tina Turner

  In 1983 Tina Turner pulled off one of music's greatest comebacks.  It began with her cover of "Let's Stay Together" which was released in late '83 and peaked at #26 in the U.S. in early '84.  She would soon follow with the Private Dancer album and reach #1 with "What's Love Got To Do With It".  From there her comeback continued to reach new heights. 

  Free of Ike Turner's iron grip she proved a remarkable solo performer.  Her persona and videos were perfect for the new MTV movement.  She was 44 when she began her comeback but seemed much younger. Her youthful energy clicked with the younger demographic who were MTV's core audience.

  Of course Tina Turner was always a star.  She was just too charismatic, dynamic a presence to ever be forgotten.  Her years with Ike were a nightmare, but there's no denying the records they made in the 60's and 70's were often a perfect mix of R&B and Rock.  The Tina Turner that we will always remember was a combination of the fireball stage persona of the Ike years plus the commanding concert presence of her comeback years.  On that stage she could keep up with any performer that she paired with for a duet. A two time inductee into the Rock Hall: with Ike in 1991 and solo in 2021. Tina always said she had a rough upbringing. Her courage to escape Ike and persevere on her own made her a role model for all women. She was indeed the Queen of Rock & Roll. One of the most beloved entertainers ever. 

  The Ike & Tina years are well preserved in numerous compilations. For studio albums I recommend River Deep-Mountain High, Come Together and Workin' Together. For Tina's solo career start with her great comeback album Private Dancer.  Then go to her various Greatest Hits albums plus Tina Turns the Country On, Acid Queen, Break Every Rule, Foreign Affair and the soundtrack to What's Love Got To Do With It. 

Playlist for 5/23

Yellow Magic Orchestra - Solid State Survivor

Ruston Kelly - Weakness

Wednesday -  Raw Saw God

Justin Hinds - Jezebel

I Wanna Dance With Somebody (2022 Movie)

Jason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed (2023 Documentary)

Personality Crisis: One Night Only (2023 New York Dolls Documentary)

Moonage Daydream (2022 David Bowie Documentary) 

Music Years Of My Life: 1975

You could call this as 1/2 of 1975.  In the Summer of '75, we moved back to the U.S. after living in Germany the previous four years.  Military life can be a burden.  There is lots of moving.  Fortunately by '75 my Dad had the over 25 years of Army service that we didn't bounce around much.  Only once when we were in Germany did we move.
For most of 1975 my music life was like the previous years.  Armed Forces radio was the place.  But the first thing I did when we moved to California was check out all the radio and TV choices.  Hey, there's American Bandstand and Soul Train.  And lots of AM radio choices.  We moved in June, so some songs that were hits earlier in the year were still getting airplay by then:  "Wildfire", "Chevy Van", "Sad Sweet Dreamer", "Fire", "It's A Miracle", "Sad Sweet Dreamer", "Poetry Man", Minnie Riperton's "Lovin' You" and Gloria Gaynor's "Never Can Say Goodbye" are just some that stuck out from those first six months.

You know how they say certain songs can remind someone of what they were doing at that time?    The records I recall hearing when we got to the States that in June '75 are still vivid in my memories: "Philadelphia Freedom", 10CC's "I'm Not In Love", "The Hustle" and "Love Will Keep Us Together".  Elton John was King of the Pop world, and that song was just winding down its chart run,  while the latter was racing to #1.
Also:  Pilot's "Magic", "Get Down Tonight", "Listen to What The Man Said", "Jive Talkin'", Ace's "How Long", "One Of These Nights", "Rhinestone Cowboy", "Walking In Rhythm", "Please Mr. Please", "Bad Luck", "Rockford Files", "Black Superman", "Midnight Blue", "Jackie Blue",  "Why Can't We Be Friends", etc. etc. And who can forget a novelty like "Mr. Jaws".  Jaws was the film of the year (and Summer) and was an originator for all the big blockbusters to come (e.g. Star Wars).

Things tapered off in the Fall as school and sports took hold.  But there was still "Evil Woman", "Bad Blood", "Miracles", "That's The Way I Like It", "They Just Can't Stop It (Games People Play)", "It Only Takes A Minute", etc. etc.

I also wasn't much of a Billboard chart watcher at this point.  That would happen in '76, but my local AM radio Top 40's would put out a weekly chart listing, so I always had an idea of what the big hits were.

Writing about 1975 makes me see how much of a pivotal role it played not only in my musical life but in my own personal life.  We still live in the same area 40 years later, and I still love those songs from that era.

Playlist for 5/16

Eurovision 2023 

Birthright: A Black Roots Music Compendium

Elton John's Rocket Hour (Apple Music Radio Show)

Robbie Fulks - Bluegrass Vacation

Slowthai - Ugly

Dolly Parton Songbook - Various (Ace)

Ann-Margret - Born To Be Wild

Kurt Elling/Charlie Hunter - SuperBlue: Guilty Pleasures

Most Iconic Song From Every Rock Hall Inductee + Specical Categories (Updated 2024 Inductees)

Updated 2024 Inductees

What is the most iconic song by a singer or band?  In some cases that one song is not their biggest seller, biggest chart performer or even their best song.  But it is that one song that springs to mind whenever people talk about their favorite artists.  Some of these choices were easy, others were tougher. A few acts didn't seem to have just one, but a number of iconic songs. 

Below is a listing of the most iconic songs by Rock Hall inductees. Musical Excellence, Influence and non-performer inductees are also included, if they had a recording career (e.g. Herb Alpert). 

AC/DC - "Back In Black"

Abba - "Dancing Queen"

Aerosmith - "Dream On"

Al Green - "Let's Stay Together"

Al Kooper - "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know"

Albert King - "Born Under A Bad Sign"

Alexis Korner - "Gotta Move"

Alice Cooper - "School's Out"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allman Brothers Band ' "Ramblin' Man"

Animals - "House of the Rising Sun"

Aretha Franklin - "Respect"

B.B. King - "Thrill Is Gone"

Band - "The Weight"

Beach Boys - "Good Vibrations"

Beastie Boys - "Fight For Your Right"

Beatles - "Hey Jude"

Bee Gees - "Stayin' Alive"

Bessie Smith - "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out"

Big Joe Turner - "Shake, Rattle and Roll"

Big Mama Thornton - "Hound Dog"

Bill Haley & the Comets - "Rock Around The Clock"

Bill Monroe - "Blue Moon Of Kentucky"

Bill Withers - "Lean On Me"

Billie Holiday - "Strange Fruit"

Billy Joel - "Piano Man"

Billy Preston - “Nothing From Nothing”

Black Sabbath - "Paranoid"

Blondie - "Heart of Glass"

Bo Diddley - "I'm A Man"

Bob Dylan - "Like A Rolling Stone"

Bob Marley - "No Woman, No Cry"

Bob Seger - "Night Moves”

Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys - "New San Antonio Rose"

Bobby "Blue" Bland - "Farther Up The Road"

Bobby Darin - "Mack the Knife"

Bobby Womack - "If You Think You're Lonely Now"

Bon Jovi - "Livin' On A Prayer"

Bonnie Raitt - "I Can't Make You Love Me"

Booker T. and the MG's - "Green Onions"

Brenda Lee - “Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree"

Bruce Springsteen - "Born To Run"

Buddy Guy - "Damn Right, I've Got The Blues"

Buddy Holly & the Crickets - "That'll Be The Day"

Buffalo Springfield - "For What It's Worth"

Byrds - "Turn! Turn! Turn!"

Carl Perkins - "Blue Suede Shoes"

Carly Simon - "You're So Vain"

Carole King - "It's Too Late"

Cars - "Just What I Needed"

Cat Stevens - "Wild World"

Chaka Khan - “I’m Every Woman”

Charles Brown - "Please Come Home For Christmas"

Charley Patton - "Pony Blues"

Cheap Trick - "I Want You To Want Me"

Cher - "Believe"

Chet Atkins - "Yakety Axe"

Chicago - "25 or 6 to 4"

Chuck Berry - "Johnny B. Goode"

Clash - "London Calling"

Clyde McPhatter - "Lover Please"

Coasters - "Yakety Yak"

Cream - "Sunshine Of Your Love"

Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Proud Mary"

Crosby, Stills & Nash - "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"

Cure - "Friday I'm In Love"

Curtis Mayfield - "Superfly"

Darlene Love - "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)"

Daryl Hall & John Oates - "You Make My Dreams"

Dave Clark Five - "Glad All Over"

Dave Matthews Band - "Crash Into Me"

David Bowie - "Heroes"

Deep Purple - "Smoke On The Water"

Def Leppard - "Pour Some Sugar On Me"

Del Shannon - "Runaway"

Dells - "Oh What A Night"

Depeche Mode - "Enjoy the Silence"

Dionne Warwick - "Walk On By"

Dinah Washington - "What A Diff'rence A Day Makes"

Dion - "The Wanderer"

Dire Straits - "Money For Nothing"

Dolly Parton - "Jolene"

Donna Summer - "Last Dance"

Doobie Brothers - "Listen To The Music"

Doors - "Light My Fire"

Dr. John - "Right Place Wrong Time"

Drifters - "Under the Boardwalk"

Duane Eddy - "Rebel Rouser"

Duran Duran - “Hungry Like The Wolf”

Dusty Springfield - "Son Of A Preacher Man"

ELO - "Mr. Blue Sky"

Eagles - "Hotel California"

Earth, Wind & Fire - "September"

Eddie Cochran - "Summertime Blues"

Elizabeth Cotten - "Freight Train"

Elmore James - "Dust My Broom"

Elton John - "Your Song"

Elvis Costello & the Attractions - “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding”

Elvis Presley - "Hound Dog”

Eminem - "Lose Yourself"

Eric Clapton - "Layla"

Etta James - "At Last"

Eurythmics - "Sweet Dreams"

Everly Brothers - "Bye Bye Love"

Fats Domino - "Blueberry Hill"

Flamingos - "I Only Have Eyes For You"

Fleetwood Mac - "Dreams"

Floyd Cramer - "Last Date"

Foo Fighters - "Best of You"

Foreigner - "I Want To Know What Love Is"

Four Seasons - "Sherry"

Four Tops - "I Can't Help Myself"

Frank Zappa - "Don't Eat The Yellow Snow"

Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - "Why Do Fools Fall In Love"

Freddie King - "Going Down"

Gene Pitney - (Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance"

Gene Vincent & the Blue Caps - "Be-Bop-A-Lula"

Genesis - "Invisible Touch"

George Harrison - "My Sweet Lord"

George Michael - “Careless Whisper”

Gladys Knight & The Pips - "Midnight Train to Georgia"

Go-Go's - "We Got The Beat"

Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five - "Message"

Grateful Dead - "Truckin'"

Green Day - "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)"

Guns 'N Roses - "Sweet Child O' Mine"

Hank Ballard & the Midnighters - "Finger Poppin' Time"

Hank Williams - "Hey, Good Lookin'"

Harry Belafonte - "Banana Boat"

Heart - "Barracuda"

Herb Alpert - "Rise"

Hollies - "Long Cool Woman"

Howlin' Wolf - "Smokestack Lightnin'"

Ike and Tina Turner - "Proud Mary"

Impressions - "People Get Ready"

Ink Spots - "If I Didn't Care"

Isaac Hayes - "Theme From Shaft"

Isley Brothers - "Who's That Lady"

Jackie Wilson - "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher"

Jackson 5 - "I Want You Back"

Jackson Browne - "Doctor My Eyes"

James Brown & the Famous Flames - "I Got You (I Feel Good)

James Taylor - "Fire and Rain"

Janet Jackson - "Nasty"

Janis Joplin - "Me and Bobby McGee"

Jay-Z - "Empire State of Mind"

Jeff Beck - "Beck's Bolero"

Jefferson Airplane - "Somebody To Love"

Jelly Roll Morton - Black Bottom Stomp"

Jerry Lee Lewis - "Great Balls of Fire"

Jimi Hendrix Experience - "Purple Haze"

Jimmie Rodgers - "In The Jailhouse Now"

Jimmy Buffett - "Margaritaville"

Jimmy Cliff - "You Can Get It If You Really Want"

Jimmy Reed - "Big Boss Man"

Jimmy Yancey - "Yancey Stomp"

Joan Baez - "Night They Drove Old Dixie Down"

Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - "I Love Rock 'N Roll"

John Lee Hooker - "Boom Boom"

John Lennon - "Imagine"

John Mayall - "Room To Move"

John Mellencamp - "Jack and Diane"

Johnny Cash - "Folsom Prison Blues"

Johnny Otis - "Willie and the Hand Jive"

Joni Mitchell - "Big Yellow Taxi"

Journey - "Don't Stop Believin'"

Judas Priest - "You've Got Another Thing Coming"

Kate Bush - “Running Up That Hill”

King Curtis - "Soul Twist"

Kinks - "Lola"

Kiss - "Rock and Roll All Nite"

Kool & the Gang - "Celebration"

Kraftwerk - "Autobahn"

LL Cool J - "Mama Said Knock You Out"

Laura Nyro - "Stoned Soul Picnic"

Lavern Baker - "Jim Dandy"

Lead Belly - "Where Did You Sleep Last Night"

Led Zeppelin - "Stairway to Heaven"

Leon Russell - "A Song For You"

Leonard Cohen - "Hallelujah"

Les Paul - "Vaya Con Dios" w/Mary Ford

Linda Ronstadt - "You're No Good"

Link Wray - “Rumble”

Lionel Richie - "All Night Long"

Little Anthony & The Imperials - "Tears On My Pillow"

Little Richard - "Tutti Frutti"

Little Walter - "My Babe"

Little Willie John - "Fever"

Lloyd Price - "Stagger Lee"

Lou Reed - "Walk On The Wild Side"

Louis Armstrong - " What A Wonderful World"

Louis Jordan - "Caldonia"

Lovin' Spoonful - "Do You Believe In Magic"

Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Sweet Home Alabama"

Ma Rainey - "Runaway Blues"

Madonna - "Like A Virgin"

Mamas and the Papas - "California Dreamin'"

Martha Reeves and the Vandellas - "Dancing In The Street"

Marvin Gaye - "What's Going On"

Mary J. Blige - "Family Affair"

MC5 - "Kick Out the Jams"

Metallica - "Enter Sandman"

Michael Jackson - "Billie Jean"

Miles Davis - "Blue in Green"

Missy Elliott - “Get Ur Freak On”

Moody Blues - "Nights In White Satin"

Moonglows - "Sincerely"

Muddy Waters - "Mannish Boy"

N.W.A. - "Fuck Tha Police"

Nat "King" Cole - "The Christmas Song"

Neil Diamond - "Sweet Caroline"

Neil Young - "Heart Of Gold"

Nile Rodgers - "Good Times" w/Chic

Nina Simone - "Feeling Good"

Nine Inch Nails - "Hurt"

Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit"

Notorious B.I.G. - "Hypnotize"

O'Jays - "Love Train"

Orioles - "Crying In The Chapel"

Otis Redding - "(Sittin' On) the Dock of the Bay"

Ozzy Osbourne - "Crazy Train"

Parliament-Funkadelic - "Give Up The Funk" (Parliament)/"One Nation Under A Groove" (Funkadelic)

Pat Benatar - "Hit Me With Your Best Shot"

Patti Smith - "Because The Night"

Paul Butterfield Blues Band - "Born In Chicago"

Paul McCartney - "Maybe I'm Amazed"

Paul Simon -"You Can Call Me Al"

Pearl Jam - "Alive"

Percy Sledge - "When A Man Loves A Woman"

Pete Seeger - "Where Have All The Flowers Gone"

Peter Frampton - "Show Me The Way" (live)

Peter Gabriel - "Sledgehammer"

Pink Floyd - "Another Brick In The Wall, Pt. 2"

Platters - "Only You"

Police - "Every Breath You Take"

Pretenders - "Brass In Pocket"

Prince - "Purple Rain"

Professor Longhair - "Tipitina"

Public Enemy - "Fight The Power"

Queen - "Bohemian Rhapsody"

Quincy Jones - "Soul Bossa Nova"

Rage Against the Machine - “Killing In The Name”

R.E.M. - "Losing My Religion"

Randy Newman - "I Love L.A."

Randy Rhoads - "Crazy Train" w/Ozzy Osbourne

Ray Charles - "Georgia On My Mind"

Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Under The Bridge"

Ricky Nelson - "Garden Party"

Righteous Brothers - "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"

Ringo Starr - "It Don't Come Easy"

Ritchie Valens - "La Bamba"

Robert Johnson - "Cross Road Blues"

Rod Stewart - "Maggie May"

Rolling Stones - "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"

Ronettes - "Be My Baby"

Roxy Music - "More Than This"

Roy Orbison - "Oh, Pretty Woman"

Run DMC - "Walk This Way" w/Aerosmith

Rush - "Tom Sawyer"

Ruth Brown - "Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean"

Sam Cooke - "A Change Is Gonna Come"

Sam and Dave - "Soul Man"

Santana - "Oye Como Va"

Sex Pistols - "Anarchy In The U.K."

Sheryl Crow  - “All I Wanna Do”

Shirelles - "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow"

Simon & Garfunkel - "Bridge Over Troubled Water"

Sister Rosetta Tharpe - "Rock Me"

Sly and the Family Stone - "Everyday People'

Small Faces/Faces - "Itchycoo Park" (Small Faces/"Stay With Me" (Faces)

Smokey Robinson & the Miracles - "Tracks Of My Tears”

Solomon Burke - "Cry To Me"

Soul Stirrers - "Wade In The Water"

Spinners - “I’ll Be Around” 

Staple Singers - "I'll Take You There"

Steely Dan - "Rikki Don't Lose That Number"

Steve Miller - "The Joker"

Stevie Nicks - "Edge of Seventeen"

Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble - "Pride and Joy"

Stevie Wonder - "Superstition"

Stooges - "I Wanna Be Your Dog"

Supremes - "Stop! In The Name of Love"

Sylvia Robinson - "Love Is Strange" w/Mickey Baker

T-Bone Walker - "Call It Stormy Monday"

T. Rex - "Bang A Gong (Get It On)"

Talking Heads - "Burning Down The House"

Temptations - "My Girl"

Tina Turner - "What's Love Got To Do With It"

Todd Rundgren - "Hello It's Me"

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - "Refugee”

Tom Waits - "Ol' 55"

Traffic - "Dear Mr. Fantasy"

A Tribe Called Quest - "Can I Kick It"

Tupac Shakur - "California Love"

U2 - "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For"

Van Morrison - "Brown Eyed Girl"

Velvet Underground - "Sweet Jane"

Ventures - "Walk, Don't Run"

Wanda Jackson - "Let's Have A Party"

Whitney Houston - "I Will Always Love You"

Who - "Baba O'Riley"

Willie Nelson - “On The Road Again”

Wilson Pickett - "In The Midnight Hour"

Woody Guthrie - "This Land Is Your Land"

Yardbirds - "For Your Love"

Yes - "Owner Of A Lonely Heart"

ZZ Top - "La Grange"

Zombies - "Time Of The Season"

Playlist for 5/6

Harry Belafonte - Calypso

Harry Belafonte - At Carnegie Hall

Gordon Lightfoot Deep Cuts (Spotify Playlist)

Boygenius - Record

Luke Combs - Gettin' Old

She's Got The Power! Female Power Pop, Punk & Garage - Various (Ace)

This Is Flying Dutchman 69-75 - Various (Ace)

2023 CMT Music Awards 

Grammy Salute to The Beach Boys (TV Special)

My Appearance on Rock In Retrospect Podcast

 Check out my latest appearance, with 4 other folks, on the Rock In Retrospect podcast.  We spend nearly 2 hours talking about the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees. 

2023 Rock Hall Inductees Rock In Retrospect Podcast

Tom’s Rock Hall Wish List: Performers (Updated 2024 Inductees)

Updated for the 2024 inductees.

For those of you on Spotify, here's a link to my playlist:  Rock Hall Wishlist,  which has a song by every act listed below.

Aaliyah 

Alanis Morissette

Ashford & Simpson

B-52's
Bad Company/Free 
Bangles
Barry White     
Beck

Big Star

Billy Idol
Billy Ward & The Dominoes

Bjork

Black Crowes 

Britney Spears 

Chantels
Chuck Willis
Clovers

Coldplay
Commodores     

Cyndi Lauper

Daft Punk

De La Soul

Devo

Eric B. & Rakim

Fanny

Fiona Apple

Garth Brooks
Glen Campbell

Gloria Estefan & The Miami Sound Machine 
Gram Parsons
Harry Nilsson

INXS

Iron Maiden
Ivory Joe Hunter
J. Geils Band

Jerry Butler

Jethro Tull

Joe Cocker
Joe Tex
John Prine
Johnny Burnette & The Rock & Roll Trio
Johnny Winter
Kris Kristofferson

Lauryn Hill

Lenny Kravitz

Little Feat

Los Lobos
Luther Vandross

Mariah Carey

Marvelettes

Melissa Etheridge 

Merle Haggard

Monkees
Motorhead
Neil Sedaka
Neville Brothers/Meters
New Order/Joy Division
New York Dolls

No Doubt

Oasis
Ohio Players
Outkast
Patsy Cline

Patti LaBelle
Pet Shop Boys
Pixies
Pointer Sisters

Procol Harum

Queen Latifah
Replacements
Richard Thompson & Linda Thompson/Fairport Convention
Rick James
Roberta Flack

Runaways 

Salt-N-Pepa
Shangri-La's

Shania Twain 

Sinead O'Connor

Smashing Pumpkins
Smiths

Sonic Youth

Tears for Fears
Teddy Pendergrass/Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes
Thin Lizzy

Tito Puente
Toots & The Maytals

Tracy Chapman
War
Warren Zevon

Waylon Jennings

Wilco

Wynonie Harris

RIP Gordon Lightfoot

  It took the singer-songwriter boom of the early 1970's to finally break Gordon Lightfoot's unique brand of Canadian Folk-Pop.  Before putting out his first album in 1966, Lightfoot found success as a songwriter.  "Early Morning Rain" and "For Lovin' Me" were early classics that were oft-covered.  And Marty Robbins had a #1 Country hit in 1965 with "Ribbon of Darkness".  But the recording stardom that Lightfoot wanted didn't happen until 1971, when "If You Could Read My Mind" finally gave him his own hit peaking at #5. A string of strong albums followed, but Lightfoot didn't have another hit until 1974 with possibly his greatest song, the perfect Folk/Rock confection "Sundown" which went to #1. The wonderful follow-up, "Carefree Highway" peaked at #10. A shoulda been a bigger hit in 1975 called "Rainy Day People" got to #26.  

Lightfoot had one more chart moment in 1976 when the ultimate epic story song, "Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" got to #2. 

  Save for a #33 song in 1978, Lightfoot's Top 40 days were over.  But he didn't stop recording, putting out quality albums all the way into the 90's.  But health issues began to pop up and in the 2000's he only released two albums.  But he never stopped performing.  Still doing concerts through the last year of his life. Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2012, Lightfoot has the credentials for a Rock Hall induction too.  Despite his success and praise from peers like Bob Dylan, Lightfoot seems underrated compared to others from the glory days of 70’s singer-songwriters. Check out his 2019 Documentary, If You Could Read My Mind, for a deeper look at his life.