65 Years of Music

65 Years of Music
65th Bday Goal

My Favorite Songs Through the Years 

In 1965, my grandparents gave me my first album.  It was the Beatles' Rubber Soul album.  I loved, loved, loved this album.  I still have it.  I have nothing to play it in years but it comes with me every time I make a big move to another local.  I think it will come with me in the coffin.

I am 65 now and for my 65th birthday goal, I am going to study music.  I am going to make lists of music.  And here is my list of my favorite songs through the years:

1955- Unchained Melody- Al Hibbler-  I thought the Righteous Brothers wrote this song.  But I was wrong.  This song is a favorite and one that I hum or sing obsessively.

1956- Que Sera Sera (What Will Be Will Be)- Doris Day-  everyone sang this song for years.

1957- Kisses Sweeter Than Wine- Jimmie Rodgers

1958- Mack The Knife- Bobby Darin

1959- I Only Have Eyes For You- The Flamingos- I know Art Garfunkel's version of this song and this version is just as enjoyable

1960- A Summer Place Theme Song- Percy Faith- I didn't see the movie but I listened to this song for years.  It may be the first instrumental that captured my attention.

1961- Traveling Man- Rick Nelson- My sister used to sing me this song every night as we laid in bed.  She would sing it until my mother yelled up to us from the living room to go to sleep.

1962- Monster Mash- Bobby Pickett and the Crypt Kickers

1963- Dominque- The Singing Nun

1964- On Broadway- The Drifters

1965- This Diamond Ring- Gary Lewis and the Playboys

1966- Bus Stop- The Hollies

1967- Summer Rain- Johnny Rivers

1968- Young Girl- Gary Puckett and the Union Gap

1969- In The Year 2525- Zager and Evans- I thought this song was so cerebral, so sophisticated.

1970- Lay Down (Canfles in the Rain)- Melanie

1971- Maggie May- Rod Stewart- this song still brings me great joy every time I hear it. It came out in the fall, just as we were all returning to school.

1972- The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face- Roberta Flack

1973- You're So Vain- Carly Simon

1974- Car On The Hill- Joni Mitchell- I wore out this entire Court and Sparks album but this was my favorite on the album.

1975- Loving You- Minnie Ripperton- this woman has an incredible voice and range.  This song was a smash hit and then she died of breast cancer shortly thereafter.  I don't think she had any more hits.

1976- Don't Go Breaking My Heart- Elton John and Kiki Dee- elton John really knows how to sing a duet.  He has some great songs.

1977- Night Moves- Bob Segar- This was my favorite college bar song.  I particularly remember dancing to this song in the Brewery in State College, PA.  It just couldn't be played loud enough. And every time I hear this song, I long to go back to being 21 years old.

1978- You Needed Me- Anne Murray

1979- What A Fool Believes- Doobie Brothers- this was a summer song for me.  I was out of college, in a dead end job and mostly dissatisfied with my life.  But during the summers, I retreated to the beach for the weekend and that seemed to heal everything.  

1980- We Don't Talk Anymore- Jimmy Cliff- 

1981- Under Pressure- David Bowie

1982- Always on My Mind- Willie Nelson

1983- I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues- Elton John- There are lots of his songs that I really like. He seemed to have a long period of time where he just released one enjoyable hit after another.  It's easy to sing along with his songs which may be why I like him so much.

1984- What's Love Got To Do With It- Tina Turner- I think this song became an anthem song for women in lousy relationships.

1985- Holding Back The Years- Simply Red

1986- Broken Wings- Mr. Mister

1987- I've Had The Time Of My Life- Bill Medley- I loved the movie and the song.  Now, I don't care about the movie so much but I still love to listen to this song.

1988- Fast Car- Tracey Chapman- this song hit the public by storm. It's understated but she sings of everyone's moment when you just know you have to escape your life at all cost.  You just have to get the hell out of town and start over and dream bigger.

1989- Love Shack- The B-52's- this is a great, crazy ass song that needs to be played at full volume and you have to get up and move with exaggerated, spastic movement.

1990- We Didn't Start the Fire- Billy Joel-  I have listened to this song hundreds of times and every time I hear it, I hear a new line.

1991- Two Grey Rooms- Joni Mitchell- I am a huge JM fan.  I have a recording of everything she has released. And she has released some masterpieces and she has released some duds.  This is a masterpiece of a song.  She sings of the longing and obsession of a fantasy.

1992- Constant Craving- KD Lang- this was the first time I started listening to KD.  This whole album was spectacular

1993- I Dont Wanna Fight- Tina Turner

1994- Circle  of Life- Elton John

1995- The Last Chance Texaco- Rickie Lee Jones

1996- Ironic- Alanna Morrisette

1997- Builidng a Mystery- Sarah McLaughin

1998- Sweet Surrender- Sarah McLaughlin

1999- Back On Top- Van Morrison

2000- A Beautiful Day- U2

2001- A Matter of Minutes- Shawn Colvin

2002

2003- Red Light- Jonny Lang;  Honey and the Moon- Joseph Arthur

2004- Steady On- Shawn Colvin

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009- I Gotta Feeling- Black Eye Peas- this is a damn, happy song and I always like to hear it.

2010- 

2011- Video Games- Lana Del Ray

2012- Ho Hey- Lumineers

2013- I'm Happy- Pharell Williams- It's a very campy song but the whole world embraced it and it made me happy to listen to it.

2014- Stay With Me- Sam Smith

2015- Hello- Adele

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020- Let Me Be A Woman to You- Lana De Ray