Talking about my favorite music is triggering because I have eclectic tastes, making it hard to pinpoint which songs I love. For me, saying which songs are my faves depends on many factors, some being the lyrics, the era in which the song was released, and where I was physically and mentally during that time—to name a few. But, if you ask me right now to name a couple of my favorite songs, without hesitation, I’d say ‘Angie’ by the Rolling Stones and ‘Billie Jean’ by Michael Jackson.
Eclectic as all get out, right? Yep. I’m the same about movies. See, I don’t have a ‘Top Five Favorite Movies’ because I need to divide them into genres and sub-genres, then sub-genres on top of sub-genres.
It’s the movie nerd in me, which isn’t helped by the fact that I majored in film AND worked in the movie biz for over a decade. It’s exhausting, and I get stressed out JUST THINKING ABOUT WHAT MOVIES I’D PUT ON THOSE LISTS.
But I digress.
This list includes songs that made me appreciate the composition, lyrics, and artists involved. I studied the liner notes of the albums stacked in the family room's hidden cabinets and looked at the behind-the-scenes photos of the artists and their crews in the recording studios or out and about in their towns/cities. At my young age, I'd imagine that I was the band’s bestie (um, not in THAT way. Rude.) and would maybe sing backup or play the tambourine or the like—in my Andy Gibb concert t-shirt.
Since this was pre-social media and smartphones, I scoured ‘music’ magazines like Tiger Beat (shut UP) and 16 Magazine. But, I must say that many of those issues featured heartthrobs like Donny Osmond, David Cassidy, Bobby Sherman, and the DeFranco Family. Sure, these dudes were considered.. um.. cute (‘foxy’ was the term du jour) with their floppy pre-Lady Di haircuts, toothy grins, and wide lapels.. ahem, but their music was saccharine at best. I didn’t listen to their songs (well, maybe David Cassidy—’I Think I Love You’ is a bitchin’ tune and I play a mean air-keyboards when I hear it).
I loved the good stuff, like ‘Peg’ by Steely Dan. It was first released on the band’s Aja album in 1977 and featured musical heavy hitters like lead guitarist Jay Graydon, bassist Chucky Rainey, drummer Rick Marotta, and, of course, lead vocalist Donald Fagen—lyrics by Fagen and Walter Becker. You can’t miss Michael McDonald’s background vocals, either. Over the years, I’ve heard music critics/aficionados claim that ‘Peg’ is perhaps the most perfect song ever composed and/or that it’s one of those songs that ‘breaks color barriers’ because of its blues undertones and funky bass line. I get the ‘perfect song’ tome because each track is complicated and creative, and when mixed together, well, it just works. Perfectly. ‘Peg’ is so revered that Donny Osmond covered it in 2014, but my favorite love letter to this song is De La Soul’s ‘Eye Know’ from 1989’s 3 Feet High and Rising LP (another album on my life list). DLS samples songs like no one else. They NAIL IT.
Next up, ‘Chuck E’s In Love,’ by Rickie Lee Jones from her self-titled album released in 1979.
My very hip and cool older sister, Liza, introduced me to Rickie Lee Jones when her album was first released. I remember asking Liza what RLJ was smoking, and she said to me, sotto voce so our mother wouldn’t hear, “She’s smoking pot.” Daaaaamn was my response, but it was also cooooool. Here’s a woman who’s smoking a doobie on the cover of her album, which contains songs about broken hearts, missed opportunities, and the challenges of growing up. I know I’m simplifying it here, but I’m sure y’all get the idea.
‘Chuck E’s in Love’ was co-written by Jones and her then-beau Tom Waits about their mutual pal Chuck E. Weiss, who became known as ‘Chuck E.’ One day, Chuck E. went up and disappeared, and neither Jones nor Waits knew his whereabouts. Long story short, Weiss had moved to Denver because he had fallen in love with his cousin (eww) there, hence, ‘Chuck E.’s in Love.’ Actually, that’s what Waits said as soon as he hung up the phone with Weiss after hearing of Weiss’ location and reason for moving. Jones thought, ‘Well, that’s way cool Jesus. I’m gon’ write a song about it.’ So she did. The rest, as they say, is history.
However, this part ain’t true:
But that's not her
I know what's wrong
'Cause Chuck E.'s in love
With the little girl singin' this song
I must preface that I did not grow up in a Beatles household. Sure, my parents had their albums, but they were rarely played. We grew up listening to Janis Joplin (my dad’s fave and one of mine, too), the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Wilson Pickett, Aretha, Al Green, Neil Diamond (mainly Hot August Night), Herb Alpert, Cat Stevens, Carole King and MORE!
The first time I really heard this song was when it was performed on Sesame Street. I knew who Stevie Wonder was because he’s one of my mom’s fave—they were born on the same day, yet a few years apart. Plus, if ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)’ is playing in her presence, Mom can’t help but DANCE, and neither can any of us, really. (side note: I was in Grant Park on Election Night 2008, and this song was one of the songs played after Obama won, so I get chills when I hear it.)
Back to ‘Superstition.’ It’s from the Talking Book album, released in 1972. It has everything—horns, keyboards, percussion, drums, gee-tars, bass gee-tar, and… Jeff Beck. Jeff was a huge fan of Wonder’s music (and vice versa & wise choice) and let him know (very smart indeed). Wonder played most of the instruments on his albums but always employed guitarists to perform. A deal was made: Beck would collaborate on Talking Book if Wonder would, in turn, write a song for him. It was Beck who suggested the song's opening drum beats. The song that Wonder ‘gave’ to Beck was ‘Superstition.’ Beck released it first, then came Talking Book, which sold a buttload of copies. And the rest, as the saying goes, is history.
The first rock concert I attended was Elton John at the now-defunct Chicago Stadium. I was a wee one but a HUGE EJ fan, and so was the rest of my family. He and Bernie Taupin created some of the best music EVER, and all his albums were on heavy rotation at home. So, my older sister, parents, and four cousins trekked in the summer heat to Chicago to see our favorite—and he did not disappoint. I did get gum in my hair, but that’s another story. And it was the first time I ever smelled Mother Nature’s Hair —something I bragged to my friends about afterward. ‘I SMELLED POT, AND YOU DIDN’T! NEENER NEENER I’M COOLER THAN YOU’ kind of taunt, you know—typical kid crap.
Elton’s opening song was ‘Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding’ from his epic Goodbye Yellow Brick Road double album with the cool as FUCK album art (as did the equally awesome Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy album). Before the show, I had heard this song over and over because we played it over and over in our house. After all, the tune is hypnotic, crazy, and FUN thanks to Elton’s feverish piano playing, Davey Johnston’s guitar riffs/solo, Dee Murray on bass (or ‘slappin’ da bass’-I can’t think of a witty phrase for playing bass at the moment), and Nigel Olsson drumming away, much like Animal.
I was too young to glean the song's meaning, but I later realized that it was about heartbreak—as are most of Elton’s and Bernie’s songs. What draws me in every damn time is the slow yet intense buildup of the music, which gets crazier, louder, and stronger as the song progresses. AND it never really ENDS. It just keeps going and is probably STILL going somewhere in some parallel Elton universe.
I'm thinking 'bout when I was a sailor
I spent my time on the open sea
When we'd stay off the coast of Jamaica
I'd secretly steal ashore
The natives were waiting for
The boy with the lazy soul
To sing with the sailor..
You do.
Yes, you do. And if you DON’T, this is the time to learn it, know, it and live it.
Loggins and Messina wrote some of the hippest, slickest shit back in the day.
This song was played at eleven—it’s one louder—usually in the summer, usually at night after a day or evening out, or after my parents had one of their EPIC parties. We’d all dance, play pretend steel drums, and sing LOUD and would always fuck up the bridge:
Every night in Jamaica, I'd sing with the lady
And drink with the men 'til the morning appear
Healthy sunshine is fresh on my face
As the song of the night would still ring in my ear
But we didn’t care. Kenny and Jim could belt ‘em out like no other, and I doubt they cared about us being off-key and sans-rhythm. Plus, the use of the ‘exotic’ instruments in a rock tune that, at the time, was mainly associated with ‘island music’ was groundbreaking for us upper-middle-class suburban White kids living in a small town. We couldn’t get enough and fell asleep to the song …ringing in our ears.
Coming soon, more music!
You’d better be back on board by break of day-
Love you, skanks!
j
xoxoxo
I wore out 2 copies of the Steely Dan album. There's a great doc somewhere that pulls apart all of their tracks and gives background on them.
Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding--The BEST. Played it to death. Heh. Your selections are great!