An Arbitrary ILM Road Map: Final Edit

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1945 Joe Liggins, “The Honeydripper”
1946 Lennie Tristano, “What is This Thing Called Love”
1947 Louis Armstrong, “(What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue”
1948 The Orioles, “It’s Too Soon to Know”
1949 Louis Jordan, “(You Dyed Your Hair) Chartreuse”
1950 Roy Byrd & His Blues Jumpers [a.k.a. Professor Longhair]: “Bald Head”
1951 Wynonie Harris, “Bloodshot Eyes”
1952 Moondog, “Theme”
1953 The “5” Royales, “Laundromat Blues”
1954 Lonnie Donegan Skiffle Group “Rock Island Line”
1955 Elvis Presley, “Mystery Train”
1956 Stan Freberg, “Heartbreak Hotel/Rock Island Line”
1957 Milt Franklyn et al., What’s Opera Doc? OST
1958 Huey “Piano” Smith and the Clowns, “Don’t You Just Know It?”
1959 The Flamingoes, “I Only Have Eyes For You”
1960 Karlheinz Stockhausen, “Kontakte (Edit)”
1961 Tod Dockstader, “Apocalypse Pt. 2”
1962 The Trashmen, “Surfin’ Bird”
1963 Ray Charles, “Ol’ Man River”
1964 John Coltrane, “Acknowledgement”
1965 Bob Dylan, “Desolation Row”
1966 The Shangri-La’s “Past, Present and Future”
1967 The Beatles, “Strawberry Fields Forever”
1968 Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, “You’re All I Need to Get By”
1969 Glen Campbell, “Wichita Lineman”
1970 The Stooges, “TV Eye”
1971 The Beach Boys, “Til I Die”
1972 Roxy Music, “Virginia Plain”
1973 T. Rex, “20th Century Boy”
1974 Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Sweet Home Alabama”
1975 Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers, “Road Runner (Once)”
1976 The Sex Pistols, “Anarchy in the UK”
1977 Althea & Donna, “Uptown Top Ranking” 1978 Kraftwerk, “The Robots”
1979 M, “Pop Muzik”
1980 Motorhead, “Ace of Spades”
1981 Funky 4 + 1, “That’s the Joint”
1982 Michael Jackson, “Billie Jean”
1983 The Smiths, “Hand in Glove”
1984 Shannon, “Let the Music Play”
1985 The Fall, “L.A.”
1986 New Order, “Bizarre Love Triangle”
1987 M/A/R/R/S, “Pump Up the Volume”
1988 The Pixies, “Debaser”
1989 Public Enemy, “Fight the Power”
1990 My Bloody Valentine, “Soon”
1991 Nirvana, “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
1992 The Magnetic Fields, “100,000 Fireflies”
1993 The House Crew, “Euphoria (Nino’s Dream)”
1994 UK Apachi/Shy FX, “Original Nuttah”
1995 Pulp, “Common People”
1996 Spice Girls, “Wannabe”
1997 The Beta Band, “Dry the Rain”
1998 Britney Spears, “…Baby One More Time”
1999 Eminem, “My Name Is”
2000 OutKast, “B.O.B.”
2001 Missy Elliott: “Get Ur Freak On”

M Matos, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I decided to use the 1999-2001 Focus Group winners (or my favorites of them) for those years, though I think it would've been more interesting to choose, say, Sweet Female Attitude over "B.O.B." no matter how much I love the latter (don't know the former). Also, I tried to keep my own taste out of it as much as possible with the exception of the pre-1962 hole-plugs; I was going for archetypal ILM picks, or at least my interpretation of them. That's why "Uptown Top Ranking" is 1977 rather than "I Feel Love"--the former has been the topic of lots of discussion lately, the latter hasn't. (Does this make me New ILM? Just wondered.)

So, arguments? Bugaboos? Who-do-you-think-you-ares? Let's hear 'em.

M Matos, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Hmm... bit miffed that Svefn-G-Englar got the elbow in favour of Eminem, but I suppose he had greater impact in a way..

Other than that - is there really not anything that could represent 2000 better than B.O.B.? And the fact that the last three years are all rap just seems a touch dodgy...

Mr Swygart, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I was going for archetypal ILM picks

Well done me (first visit to ILM - 4 days ago) for failing to spot that - perhaps yap-shutting might have been a reasonable idea...

Mr Swygart, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Not at all. It's all about zeitgeist, baby.

Ned Raggett, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

If the purpose is to construct a mushy ILM canon rather than reflect individual tastes (I don't know if that is a useful purpose), "I Feel Love" is the better pick for 1977, and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is way off.

Ian, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Is "Pump Up the Volume" really the best that could be done for 1987? Hell, that's the year Sister came out! How about "Schizophrenia"? Or does that conflict too much with ILM's anti-indie posturing?

o. nate, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Also wasn't "Billie Jean" released as a single in 1983, making room for "Don't You Want Me?", "Party Fears Two", or "Planet Rock"

Ian, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Yes "Pump Up The Volume" is better than Sonic Youth.

Ian, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I prefer "I Feel Love" to "Uptown Top Ranking" myself, but (a) the next two picks are also robo-discoid, and I didn't want to overload it and (b) there was no other reggae, a huge omission. (I feel bad enough there's only one Jamaican record here.)

M Matos, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

ILM likes robo-discoid better than reggae. Didn't you read Tom's piece?

Ian, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Songs are represented by first appearance evah. If "Born Slippy" had made the list it'd be 1994 and not 1996; ditto "Billie Jean" in '82 rather than '83.

M Matos, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

ILM likes LOTS of things. I wanted as many of those things as I could reasonably fit within this framework. I'd love to see an alternate version of this if someone wants to construct it.

M Matos, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

and you're right: were I to have thought about it some more, "Unfinished Sympathy" would have been the 1991 pick. mea culpa

M Matos, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It's all about zeitgeist, baby.

Huh? It (that list) is HALF about zeitgeist... for instance, the Stockhausen sympathy is suspect of revisionism (not to mention a glaring cred-grab).

The tail-end reeks of Pop-supremacism/"safe" conventionality... a roadmap all right, to Viacom global headquarters.

http://gygax.pitas.com, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Although it's a half decent list, if I knew anyone who liked every song on that list, I'd urge them to kill themselves.

And can we stop pretending "B.O.B." was a good song now?

Dom Passantino, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

not a "cred-grab," a disc-grab: looking for something to plug into the year, grabbed a copy of the OHM box (since Varese had been nominated a couple years before) and found a couple songs. no one else offered anything else for that list, so there it stands.

Dom: no, because it is.

M Matos, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

excuse me, that YEAR. as far as Viacom HQ goes, take it up with the Focus Group

M Matos, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I like this canon. It's a happy canon.

Keiko, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

list isn't bad, i like about a third of it (much higher than music mag lists which is usually about 5%)

however i must agree with gygax about the year 2000, i feel sweet female attitudes flowers would have been a better choice than outkast, but that may be my UK focus (you should check it out matos)

cant disagree with any list that has euphoria (ninos dream) on it, greatest record ever made, no question

faux-populist coming to terms with mathrock guilt, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I have to admit that I was surprised NOT to see Kid 606 "Attitude" mix on list...

nor Destiny's Child? Is Beyonce NOT "a survivor"? For shame!

You want a happy canon? "Don't Worry, Be Happy" over "Fight the Power" then...

http://gygax.pitas.com, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I like the 1945-1981 section of the list better than the 1982-2001 section - it's much more diverse. The last 20 years seem to be pretty much only alternative or chart pop.

o. nate, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

kid 606 isn't very popular around here gygax, i'm abivalent about him myself, i like cexs stuff a lot more (going to see him live in 10 days!)

gareth, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I love a lot of this list, and I like that it goes so far back - the Prof Longhair and Huey Smith choices are great.
I think the post- 1976 part is a little less interesting - but only because it's more familiar.

it would also be interesting to devise an ILM roadmap made up of the songs most fervently disagreed over rather than consensus choices? andrew wk & the clash being the recent champs...

, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I think any canonical list which features both Stockhausen and Britney Spears is well worth investigating. In fact this would make a great CD, don't suppose anyone has got all 56 songs.

I would have liked to have seen Little Junior & the Blue Flames - feeling good for 53, some Little Richard for 55, and a few of the 60's choices I'd change (no Dusty, no Who etc). I'd change 83 and 86 (Blue Monday and Panic), and it's disappointing no Chic who are probably the archetypal ILM artist. However it gives a pretty good flavour of the ILM experience.

Billy Dods, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i love the fall, but something from the 80-82 position would have been better in my book, leaving 85 open for Wayne Smiths' Under Mi Sleng Teng

gareth, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

'can we stop pretending': who's pretending?

Josh, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

i am

faux-populist coming to terms with mathrock guilt, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

What the hell is this?

Just remember dudes that the "Rock Island Line" is on here twice...

Why didn't Big Chief make it? What about Brass Monkey? What about the Doors?

Steve K, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Resist making lists.

Avoid this mania at all costs.

Spears? Eminem? Spice Girls? Michael Jackson?

Are you sure you want to show everyone your underwear?

Jack Cole, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Michael Jackson! heavens!

Sterling Clover, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

If only Gary Glitter had as much money as Michael Jackson for legal expenses.

Jack Cole, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

What about 1978?

suzy, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I suppose Louis Jordan is too pop for this list too?

Sterling Clover, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

If only Gary Glitter had as much money as Michael Jackson for legal expenses.

and plastic surgery...

I don't think ILM's roadmap is ready for this jelly.

http://gygax.pitas.com, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

look at the end of 1977 Suzy

M Matos, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I suppose Louis Jordan is too pop for this list too?

You're right. Louis Jordan never did anything as good as the Spice Girls. I concede.

Jack Cole, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

hobble hobble hobble hobble

Tracer Hand, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Giving credit where it's due, I must admit that making one of these lists is harder than it looks. I think maybe I could wing a list for 1965-2001, but it wouldn't probably wouldn't be as good as this one, at least for the pre-1980 stuff.

o. nate, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

yeah, I can't do these at all (though here matos has the help of guessing at what other people think, based on ILM, rather than what he thinks). still I assume that people who can make big long lists use satanic methods at some point.

Josh, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

hello? little red corvette?!

chaki, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Can we talk about I Feel Love some more then.

[It's amazing that after all these years it still manages to sound relevent. I would say it's a timeless record. In fact they don't make records like that anymore]

The truth is I was afraid what I really want to say about it would come out sounding like that.

I Feel Love still does the release part of dance music as well as anything I can think of and it's the Higher State of Consciousness of pop.

Ronan, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

No "I Feel Love" and no ABBA (!!!) - can we stop pretending (ahem) that this list is some kind of pop monolith? I quite like it. The question now is, who wants to write about each of these?

Tom, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I love the fact that the Fall pick is the Fall song Fall fans (supposedly) hate - I think it's marvellous. Worst picks - 1991 and 1997 (1991 is forgiveable, 1997 is ????? - not the best indie or rock or anything track and *certainly* not the best Beta Band track - it sounds like Gomez for fucks sake! And I luv the Betas. But that's what makes the list fun.)

Tom, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Hats off to Matos for going through all of that though. Even if any list that doesn't contain "Little Red Corvette" is inherently pointless.

Personally, if ILM's going to write about each one, I'd advise people to only write about songs that they don't actually like.

Dom Passantino, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Where's "Rollin' with Kid 'n' Play"? Anyhow, great list. "Strawberry Fields Forever", "Billie Jean", and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" are maybe a tad too obvious, and slightly unrepresentative considering how little discussion the Beatles, Michael Jackson, and Nirvana provoke here, but choosing "L.A." to represent the Fall is a classic ILM move. Anyhow, a box set of these songs with liner notes discussing why they suck is something I'd like to see; does Time-Life have Ethan's phone number?

J Blount, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Obv. the list is not the point here - the writing is.

(agreed though re the Sweet Female Attitude v Outkast debate)

(i suspect that The Beta Band are included to break up the monolith that would be Spice Girls + Britney)

Tim, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"I love the fact that the Fall pick is the Fall song Fall fans (supposedly) hate"

My fault. It's like one of two or three Fall songs I've heard and I thought it was cool enough, so I suggested it as the ILM Obligatory Fall Song. And I got it wrong! I'm a genius.

Nate Patrin, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It's like when Pollock spilt the paint.

J Blount, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Speaking of paint, the only Fall song I really like is "Paint Work," which I think is great. Much of their other music has very interesting textures, but Mark E. Smith gets on my nerves.

DeRayMi, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Change "Mark E. Smith" to "Jad Fair" and you have my reaction to Half Japanese.

J Blount, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

a few of these I don't even KNOW: T. Rex, the Fall, Shangri-Las, Glen Campbell. (Know = recall offhand; I'm sure I've heard them all several times and just can't remember them.) But the operative word here is ARBITRARY. Could've been more, could've been less, is what it is. And I still think someone else should do a counter-list.

M Matos, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Tom: I think my long-ago-bred rockism came to fore w/"Anarchy" rather than "Dancing Queen," but there was so much pop later on I wanted to balance it some. And even though I think "Teen Spirit" is one of the five best singles ever, I should have made the 1991 pick "Unloved Symphony": not nearly enough Brit post-hip-hop. But I could batter myself/this list forever, and will stop now.

M Matos, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I think my long-ago-bred rockism came to fore w/"Anarchy" rather than "Dancing Queen,"

No, no, that was right. If the Sex Pistols aren't quite on the same tier with Abba, they're at least close. The real misstep was to use "Roadrunner" instead of "S.O.S." (Incidentally I like every single on the list.)

Ian, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

"Unloved Symphony"=Moby=1993=Not British
"Unfinished Sympathy"=Massive Attack=1991=British

(An understandable mistake tho)

Nate Patrin, Friday, 7 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Matos: that Shangri-La's song is gonna blow your mind. Sadder than Tex Ritter's "Daddy's Lost Letter". Sadder than Joy Division's "Atmosphere" even.

J Blount, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

No Prince at all is hard to take.

bnw, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Tom: assign them randomly as with 102 beats.

Sterling Clover, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I like the list a lot, but I'd pick 'This Charming Man' (was that 1983?) over 'Hand In Glove,' which sounds weary and dull to me.

Justyn Dillingham, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I dont think the list should be changed AT ALL Matos just because there is some rubbish on it. The method of making it was excellent - free-for-all suggestions on a first-come first-served basis - and to tinker at all would kill that spontaneity.

Tom, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I'd like to do Billie Jean.

I wish Nirvana wasn't on the list, I can't remember the year well enough to say what should be there instead though.

Ronan, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Altenative 91, Cola Boy 7 ways to love. Why don't 15 year olds walk around wearing cola boy t-shirts, instead of Kurt Cobain looking grumpy?

Billy Dods, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Is there are general distaste for soul (as a genre) among ILM posters? To me it is very striking that there doesn't seem to be any listed for the 70's. I know, the list can be endlessly questioned, but this is particularly notewrothy to me since much of my favorite music from the 70's is soul (though I couldn't give you exact years for much of it).

DeRayMi, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Don't think so DeRayMi - check the articles for discussion (I think one of the big issues has been Stax vs Motown).

Tim, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

meant to say "check the archives...

Tim, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I call dibs on the Stooges please please please

Yes I know this is being childish, but at least it will not fall into the wrong hands

(PS Wrong hands=Julio)

Nate Patrin, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Well, I'm up for "Laundromat Blues", "Surfin Bird", "Roadrunner", or "Smells Like Teen Spirit".

J Blount, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

y'all know which one i want

gareth, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

If no-one else wants Pop Muzik, I'll be in there...

Mr Swygart, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

This list is divided roughly between songs I know and more or less like and songs I don't know. (Quite a bit I don't know here, actually, especially pre-60 and post-91.)

DeRayMi, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Tom, if I were worried about rubbish I'd have gotten rid of Britney, not Nirvana

M Matos, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I can definitely do "Anarchy." I'd do "Roadrunner (Once)" if I could actually find a copy of it.

Justyn Dillingham, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Stuff I'd be interested in writing about: The Flamingoes, Ray Charles, The Beatles, Glen Campbell, M, New Order, M/A/R/R/S, maybe Public Enemy

Stuff I wouldn't want to write about: anything I already have but also the Presley, Trashmen, Dylan and Britney songs - too difficult.

Tom, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

So what we need to do now is make a bootleg using samples from all these tracks.

phil, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

A completely alternate (and highly personal) list. Counting backwards: 2001 Freelance Hellraiser, "A Stroke of Genius"
2000 All Saints, "Pure Shores"
1999 The Magnetic Fields, "Take Ecstasy With Me"
1998 Mercury Rev, "Holes"
1997 Quad City D.J.'s, "C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)"
1996 BLACKstreet feat. Dr. Dre, "No Diggity"
1995 The Dead C, "Outside"
1994 Disco Inferno, "Next Year"
1993 Omni Trio, "Renegade Snares"
1992 Blame, "2 Bad Mice Take You"
1991 Joey Beltram, "Energy Flash"
1990 The B-52's, "Roam"
1989 Ten City, "That's the Way Love Is"
1988 Public Enemy, "Night of the Living Baseheads"
1987 Rhythim is Rhythim, "Strings of Life"
1986 Sonny Sharrock, "Devil's Doll Baby"
1985 Prince & the Revolution, "Raspberry Beret"
1984 Chaka Khan, "I Feel For You"
1983 Michael Jackson, "Billie Jean"
1982 Elvis Costello & The Attractions, "Beyond Belief"
1981 Kool and the Gang, "Celebration"
1980 Talking Heads, "Once In A Lifetime"
1979 Neil Young, "Thrasher"
1978 Wire, "Sand in My Joints"
1977 Donna Summer, "I Feel Love"
1976 Pere Ubu, "Final Solution"
1975 The Electric Eels, "Cyclotron"
1974 Al Green, "Let's Get Married"
1973 The O'Jays, "Love Train"
1972 Johnny Nash, "I Can See Clearly Now"
1971 Milton Nascimento, "San Vicente"
1970 Stevie Wonder, "Heaven Help Us All"
1969 Clarence Carter, "Making Love (At the Dark End of the Street)"
1968 The Banana Splits, "The Tra La La Song"
1967 James Brown, "Cold Sweat"
1966 Anon. Gamelan Orchestra, "Golden Rain"
1965 Steve Reich, "It's Gonna Rain"
1964 The Beatles, "If I Fell"
1963 Chris Kenner, "Land of a Thousand Dances"
1962 The Shirelles, "Soldier Boy"
1961 Elvis Presley, "Can't Help Falling In Love"
1960 Krzysztof Penderecki, "Threnody to the Victims of Hiroshima"
1959 The Skyliners, "Since I Don't Have You"
1958 Jerry Butler and the Impressions, "For Your Precious Love"
1957 Little Richard, "Keep A Knockin'"
1956 Carl Perkins, "Sure to Fall"
1955 The Penguins, "Earth Angel"
1954 Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, "Every Street's A Boulevard in Old New York"
1953 Johnny Ace, "The Clock"
1952 Lloyd Price, "Lawdy MisS Clawdy"
1951 Johnny Ray, "Cry"
1950 Clara Ward & The Ward Singers, "How I Got Over"
1949 Hank Williams, "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry"
1948 Conlon Nancarrow, "Study for Player Piano, 3a"
1947 Roy Brown, "Good Rocking Tonight"
1946 Maddox Brothers and Rose, "I Wish I Was A Single Girl Again"
1945 Johnny Mercer, "Ac-Cent-Tchu- Ate The Positive"

Michael Daddino, Saturday, 8 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

NICE! will do one myself shortly....

M Matos, Sunday, 9 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Pure Shores is a beautiful record. I remember being at home from school sick for the week it came out. It was on MTV constantly and I loved it. I still do.

Ronan, Sunday, 9 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

OK, here’s an alternate list I came up with just for fun. Enjoy....

1945 Spike Jones and His City Slickers, “You Always Hurt the One You Love”
1946 Dizzy Gillespie Septet, “A Night in Tunisia”
1947 Thelonious Monk, “In Walked Bud”
1948 Charlie Parker All-Stars, “Ah-Leu-Cha”
1949 Miles Davis and His Orchestra, “Move”
1950 Professor Longhair, “Mardi Gras in New Orleans”
1951 John Lee Hooker, “I’m In the Mood”
1952 B.B. King, “Three O’Clock Blues”
1953 Clyde McPhatter & the Drifters, “Money Honey”
1954 Elvis Presley, “Blue Moon of Kentucky”
1955 Chuck Berry, “Maybellene”
1956 Little Richard, “Long Tall Sally”
1957 Fats Domino, “I’m Walkin’”
1958 Link Wray & His Ray Men, “Rumble”
1959 Allen Ginsberg, “America”
1960 Barrett Strong, “Money (That’s What I Want)”
1961 Lee Dorsey, “Ya Ya”
1962 Otis Redding, “These Arms of Mine”
1963 James Brown, “Prisoner of Love”
1964 Carlos Malcolm & His Afro-Jamaican Rhythms, “Bonanza Ska”
1965 Roger Miller, “King of the Road”
1966 The Rolling Stones, “19th Nervous Breakdown”
1967 The Velvet Underground, “Heroin”
1968 Mighty Sparrow, “Sell the Pussy”
1969 Pat Kelly, “How Long”
1970 Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Up Around the Bend”
1971 Augustus Pablo, “East of the River Nile”
1972 The O’Jays, “Back Stabbers”
1973 Lee Perry, “Kentucky Skank”
1974 David Bowie, “Rebel Rebel”
1975 Patti Smith, “Gloria”
1976 Doctor Alimantado & Jah Stitch, “The Barber Feel It”
1977 The Sex Pistols, “God Save the Queen”
1978 Television Personalities, “Part Time Punks”
1979 Kurtis Blow, “Christmas Rappin’”
1980 Loose Joints, “Is It All Over My Face”
1981 Teen Idles, “I Drink Milk”
1982 New Order, “Temptation”
1983 Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers, “The Neighbors”
1984 Cherelle, “I Didn’t Mean to Turn You On”
1985 Wayne Smith, “Under Me Sleng Teng”
1986 Janet Jackson, “When I Think of You”
1987 Prince, “If I Was Your Girlfriend”
1988 Lucinda Williams, “I Just Wanted to See You So Bad”
1989 A Guy Called Gerald, “Voodoo Ray”
1990 Nirvana, “Sliver”
1991 Geto Boys, “Mind Playing Tricks on Me”
1992 The Age of Love, “The Age of Love (Watch Out For Stella Club Mix)”
1993 Asia Born, “Send Them”
1994 Sonic Youth, “Screaming Skull”
1995 Ol’ Dirty Bastard, “Shimmy Shimmy Ya”
1996 Tony Toni Tone, “Let’s Get Down”
1997 Yo La Tengo, “Autumn Sweater”
1998 Stardust, “Music Sounds Better with You”
1999 Le Tigre, “Hot Topic”
2000 Rancid, “Rwanda”
2001 The Avalanches, “Electricity (Harvey’s Night Club Re-edit)”

M Matos, Monday, 10 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I wish you'd write some about how you 'come up' with these lists!

Josh, Monday, 10 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Some of the records listed are bollox. Some are not.

I fear that nothing has been proved; or proven, if you prefer.

the pinefox, Monday, 10 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

oh pinefox I love you I'm glad school's out

Josh, Monday, 10 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It didn't occur to me that I was under any burden to "prove something" or "make a point." I thought I was engaging in a musical parlor game -- albeit one that revealed certain idiosyncratic things about myself and about ILx.

Michael Daddino, Monday, 10 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

do not mind the pinefox, he is the old face of nu-ilm.

michael, yr list makes me very, very happy.

jess, Monday, 10 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

umm...which Michael?

M Matos, Monday, 10 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Josh: I sat down with a notebook and a pen and started thinking of songs. Went to the CD shelves and pretty much wrote down the first ones I really liked for each year that I saw. Simple

M Matos, Monday, 10 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

that still sounds impossibly complicated to me, but ok. (I just don't get how people can do this, I'm not doubting you or anything.)

Josh, Monday, 10 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

no offense taken. I take it you get hung up on definitiveness issues when it comes to stuff like this? I used to do that, but it's much better not to worry too much about it--better results that way

M Matos, Monday, 10 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

putting it that way makes it sound more esoteric than I experience it to be but yes.

Josh, Monday, 10 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I like Michael Daddino's list however the inclusion of Age of Love on your second list Mr Matos is almost enough to sway me. The problem is, I only know the original, is the remix radically different? Perhaps what I say is the "original" is the one you mean. I liked that record when I was 12, so it must have been getting played a few years after its release/

Ronan, Monday, 10 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Ronan, the mix listed is probably the one you heard.

These lists are youth-prejudiced though - how the f*** would I be able to come up with songs 1940-1970???

Tim, Monday, 10 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

listen to jazz

Josh, Monday, 10 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I am working on a personal list and have only finished the 40's by the skin of my teeth. It looks like the 50's are going to be almost as hard. Once I hit the 60's, things should be okay for me.

DeRayMi, Monday, 10 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Finally, here's another list I made up before the last one I posted [ducks]

1945 Dizzy Gillespie, "Salt Peanuts"
1946 Slim Gaillard, "Slim's Jam"
1947 Stick McGhee, "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee"
1948 Lonnie Johnson, "Tomorrow Night"
1949 Louis Jordan, "Saturday Night Fish Fry Pt. 1 & 2"
1950 Wynonie Harris, "Good Morning Judge"
1951 Hank Williams, "Hey, Good Lookin'"
1952 Thelonious Monk, "Let's Cool One"
1953 The Orioles, "Crying in the Chapel"
1954 Chet Baker, "My Funny Valentine"
1955 Frank Sinatra, "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning"
1956 Bo Diddley, "Who Do You Love"
1957 Buddy Holly & the Crickets, "That'll Be the Day"
1958 Kippie Moekestis & the Marabi Kings, "Goli Kwela"
1959 Ornette Coleman, "Lonely Woman"
1960 Ray Charles, "Georgia on My Mind"
1961 The Marvelettes, "Please Mr. Postman"
1962 James Brown, "I've Got Money"
1963 Prince Buster, "Ten Commandments (from Man to Woman)"
1964 Lee Morgan, "The Sidewinder"
1965 Sam Cooke, "A Change is Gonna Come"
1966 The Jimi Hendrix Experience, "Stone Free"
1967 Bob Andy, "I've Got to Go Back Home"
1968 The Rolling Stones, "Street Fighting Man"
1969 Miles Davis, "Miles Runs the Voodoo Down"
1970 Led Zeppelin, "Immigrant Song"
1971 Funkadelic, "Maggot Brain"
1972 Al Green, "I'm Glad You're Mine"
1973 Big Youth, "I Pray Thee Eternally"
1974 Stevie Wonder, "Boogie on Reggae Woman"
1975 Augustus Pablo, "King Tubby's Meets Rockers Uptown"
1976 Ramones, "Blitzkrieg Bop"
1977 Fela & Afrika 70, "Zombie"
1978 Elvis Costello & the Attractions, "(I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea"
1979 Public Image Ltd., "Poptones"
1980 Talking Heads, "Seen and Not Seen"
1981 Laurie Anderson, "O Superman"
1982 Afrika Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force, "Planet Rock"
1983 Marshall Crenshaw, "One Day with You"
1984 The Staple Singers, "Slippery People"
1985 Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force, "I Wonder If I Take You Home"
1986 Sonic Youth, "Expressway to Yr Skull"
1987 Prince, "U Got the Look"
1988 Criminal Element Orchestra, "Put the Needle to the Record"
1989 De La Soul featuring Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest & Monie Love: "Buddy (Native Tongues Decision)"
1990 Primal Scream, "Loaded"
1991 R.E.M., "Near Wild Heaven"
1992 Roxanne Shante, "Big Mama"
1993 Aerosmith, "Cryin'"
1994 M People, "Excited"
1995 Luna, "Rhythm King"
1996 Stereolab, "Motoroller Scallatron"
1997 Ivy, "Get Out of the City"
1998 Fatboy Slim, "The Rockafella Skank"
1999 The Cinematic Orchestra, "Channel 1 Suite"
2000 B15 Project featuring Chrissy D & Lady G, "Girls Like Us"
2001 Basement Clash [Soulwax] [2 Ugly DJ's], "The Magnificent Romeo"

M Matos, Tuesday, 11 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

1953=Worst Year in Music Ever

DeRayMi, Wednesday, 12 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

1945--James Baskett: Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Da
1946--Nat King Cole: The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)
1947--Dean Martin: Walkin’ My Baby Back Home
1948--Thelonious Monk: Around Midnight
1949--Hank Williams: My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It
1950--Oum Kalthoum: Robbaiyat Al Khayam
1951--Bill Thompson (playing the White Rabbit): I’m Late
1952--Billie Holiday: Easy to Love
1953--Doris Day: Ain’t We Got Fun
1954--The Crew Cuts: Shboom Shboom
1955--Johnny Cash: I Walk the Line
1956--Screamin’ Jay Hawkins: I Put a Spell on You
1957--Jimmy Reed: Honest I Do
1958--Farid el Atrache: Wehyat Eineiki
1959--Joao Gilberto: A Felicidade
1960--John Coltrane: Giant Steps
1961--Fairouz: Ishar
1962--Sun Ra: We Travel the Spaceways
1963--El Gran Combo: La Muerte
1964--Beatles: I Feel Fine
1965--Bob Dylan: Mr. Tambourine Man
1966--Steve Reich: Come Out
1967--Dionne Warwick: I Say a Little Prayer for You
1968--Jimi Hendrix: 1983 - A Merman I Should Turn to Be
1969--Rolling Stones: Gimme Shelter
1970--Carpenters: They Long To Be (Close to You)
1971--Bill Withers: Ain’t No Sunshine
1972--Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway: Where is the Love
1973--Stevie Wonder: Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing
1974--Rufus: Tell Me Something Good
1975--Spinners: Games People Play
1976--Jose “Cheo” Feliciano: Anacaona
1977--X-Ray Spex: Oh Bondage Up Yours!
1978--Louie Ramirez/Azuquita: En Un Beso la Vida
1979--Fred Frith: Slap Dance
1980--X: White Girl
1981--Mikey Dread: Beyond World War III
1982--XTC: Yacht Dance
1983--Human League: Fascination
1984--Husker Du: Eight Miles High
1985--Frankie Ruiz: La Cura
1986--Prince: Kiss
1987--Scram: Here Tonite
1988--Butthole Surfers: I Saw an X-Ray of a Girl Passing Gas
1989--Red Hot Chili Peppers: Knock Me Down
1990--Kazem al-Saher: Sallamtak
1991--Coil: Further Back and Faster
1992--Master Musicians of Jajouka: A Habibi Ouajee T’Allel
1993--Bjork: Human Behaviour
1994--Africando: Yay Boy
1995--Abdelli: Imanza
1996--La India: Mi Primera Rumba
1997--Tito Nieves: Somnambulo
1998--Eddie Palmieri: Malaguena Salerosa
1999--Carlos Vives: Fruta Fresca
2000--Willie Rosario w/ Gilberto Santa Rosa: El Apartamente
2001--Pedro Conga: Regresa


I found this list extremely difficult to put together. There are a number of songs (mostly Arabic or Latin) I would like to have included, but was unable to identify their recording or release dates. I don't have the energy to comment more now.

DeRayMi, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

One thing that struck me most while I was making this list was the fact that most of the (Anglophone) songs I was exposed to as a kid were songs from movies &/or Christmas songs. (Incidentally, I strongly disagree with what seemed to be the consensus on another thread: I think there are an overwhelming number of really good Christmas songs, religious and otherwise.) In some cases, the songs are more familiar to me from members of my family singing them than from the originals, but they were there in the background in some form.

In making this list, I tried to stick to songs that I not only like but that there is a good chance I would actually want to listen to. I could have included a lot more indie that I still like but not that much; and I could have included some hip-hop that I still like, but I hardly ever listen to it. I would like to have had entries for Neil Young, The Velvet Underground, Roxy Music, Burning Spear, and some others, but the songs I wanted came out in years which were already taken.

I lost sleep making this stupid list, but I was already primed to be obsessive about something--anything--this week.

DeRayMi, Friday, 14 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

That Shangri-La's song... wow. Thank you very much.

Mr Swygart, Friday, 14 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

I like your list (what I know of it) DeRayMi. You obviously gave it a lot of thought. Any chance of a tape of the choices from the last 10 years?

Jeff W, Tuesday, 18 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Jeff W,

Trying to get a free tape, eh? ;) Thanks. I thought about it too much. I had to rely on internet searches to track down dates much more than I had expected.

The truth is all I have is a cheap boom-box which doesn't tape very well, but I might be able to put something together (if I can figure out how to use my dance teacher's stereo) given enough time.

DeRayMi, Tuesday, 18 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

It's really a drag not being able to make tapes. I am feeling a dangerous impulse to go out and by a real stereo.

DeRayMi, Tuesday, 18 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

eight months pass...
Must post before I waste any more time with this. I can't do an album list, but I can do a single list or three. Here are two semi-personal lists. But only semi. Canonical because that's what I know. Canonical because that's what I like. Live/jam/boogie-heavy, big surprise. Sentimental-if-not-reactionary and escapist-if-not-flighty more disturbing. I included all genres despite varying deficiencies of knowledge (there'd be more country, for example, if I'd heard more or remembered what the stuff I like is), though I focused on things with pop/rock (or rock 'n roll) character. These are tracks, not singles. And I think I stuck to date rules, though they were molded as I went along.

Rough cut...

1945 – Louis Jordan, "Caldonia Boogie"
1946 – Louis Armstrong, "Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans"
1947 – Thelonious Monk, "Ruby My Dear"
1948 – Dizzy Gillespie and His Big Band, "Manteca"
1949 – Flatt & Scruggs, "Foggy Mountain Breakdown"
1950 – The Weavers, "Tzena, Tzena, Tzena"
1951 – Guys and Dolls Original Cast, "Fugue for Tinhorns"
1952 – Kitty Wells, "It Wasn’t God Who Made Honky Tonk Angels"
1953 – The Quintet (Mingus, Bird, Gillespie, Roach, Powell), "Perdido"
1954 – The Chordettes, "Mr. Sandman"
1955 – Elvis Presley, "Mystery Train"
1956 – Chuck Berry, "Roll Over Beethoven"
1957 – The Dell-Vikings, "Whispering Bells"
1958 – Ritchie Valens, "C’mon Let’s Go"
1959 – Miles Davis, "All Blues"
1960 – Ray Charles, "Georgia On My Mind"
1961 – The Marvelettes, "Please Mr. Postman"
1962 – The Impressions, "Little Young Lover"
1963 – Antonio Carlos Jobim, "Aguas de Marco"
1964 – The Beatles, "If I Fell"
1965 – Bob Dylan, "Highway 61"
1966 – Bob Dylan, "Visions of Johanna"
1967 – Velvet Underground, "I’m Waiting for the Man"
1968 – James Brown, "Say it Loud (I’m Black and I’m Proud)"
1969 – Grateful Dead, "Dark Star"
1970 – Crosby Stills Nash & Young, "Ohio"
1971 – Sly and the Family Stone, "Thank You For Talking to Me Africa"
1972 – Joni Mitchell, "Cold Blue Steel and Sweet Fire"
1973 – The Allman Brothers Band, "Jessica"
1974 – Joni Mitchell, "The Same Situation"
1975 – The Band, "It Makes No Difference"
1976 – Jimmy Cliff, "Struggling Man" (live)
1977 – Television, "Marquee Moon"
1978 – Bob Marley, "Kaya"
1979 – Chic, "My Feet Keep Dancing"
1980 – The Clash, "Clampdown"
1981 – [I haven’t heard enough. Provisionally, Rolling Stones, "Waiting on a Friend"]
1982 – The Clash, "Rock the Casbah"
1983 – B-52s, "Song For a Future Generation"
1984 – Prince, "The Beautiful Ones"
1985 – Franco & Rochereau, "Lisanga Ya Ba Nganga"
1986 – Madonna, "Open Your Heart"
1987 – Los Lobos, "One Time One Night"
1988 – Poison, "Fallen Angel"
1989 – Public Enemy, "Fight the Power"
1990 – Phish, "Reba"
1991 – Hal Ketchum, "Small Town Saturday Night"
1992 – Hootie and the Blowfish, "The Old Man and Me"
1993 – Wu-Tang Clan, "Wu Tang: 7th Chamber, Pt. 2"
1994 – Nirvana, "Plateau"
1995 – Tricky, "Black Steel"
1996 – Sleater-Kinney, "Call the Doctor"
1997 – Notorious B.I.G. w/ Jay-Z, "I Love the Dough"
1998 – Sonic Youth, "Wildflower Soul"
1999 – Lucinda Williams, "2 Kool 2 B 4-Gotten"
2000 – Outkast, "B.O.B."
2001 – Bob Dylan, "High Water (For Charley Patton)"
2002 – Freelance Hellraiser, "Smells Like Booty"/Mekons, "Thee Olde Trip to Jerusalem"

Alternate take, late start...

1949 – South Pacific Original Cast, "There is Nothing Like a Dame"
1950 – Patti Page, "Tennessee Waltz"
1951 – The Weavers, "Rock Island Line"
1952 – Frankie Laine, "Lucky Old Sun"
1953 – Professor Longhair, "Tipitina"
1954 – Louis Armstrong, "St. Louis Blues"
1955 – Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers, "Why Do Fools Fall in Love"
1956 – Sonny Rollins, "Moritat"
1957 – Charles Mingus, "Haitian Fight Song"
1958 – Jerry Lee Lewis, "Great Balls of Fire"
1959 – The Flamingos, "I Only Have Eyes for You"
1960 – The Shirelles, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow"
1961 – Linda Scott, "I’ve Told Every Little Star"
1962 – John Coltrane, "The Inch Worm"
1963 – Bob Dylan, "I Shall Be Free"
1964 – Betty Everett , "The Shoop Shoop Song (It’s In His Kiss)"
1965 – The Rolling Stones, "Everybody Needs Somebody to Love"
1966 – Bob Dylan, "I Want You"
1967 – The Beatles, "With a Little Help From My Friends"
1968 – Bob Dylan & The Band, "Million Dollar Bash"
1969 – Creedence Clearwater Revival, "Green River"
1970 – Grateful Dead, "Uncle John’s Band"
1971 – Duke Ellington, "Chinoiserie"
1972 – Al Green, "I’m Still In Love With You"
1973 – Bob Marley, "Small Axe"
1974 – Joni Mitchell, "You Turn Me On, I’m a Radio" (live)
1975 – Patti Smith, "Gloria"
1976 – The Bee Gees, "You Should Be Dancing"
1977 – Parliament/Funkadelic, "Let’s Take it to the Stage" (live)
1978 – Chuck Brown, "Bustin’ Loose"
1979 – Neil Young, "Sedan Delivery"
1980 – David Murray, "Dewey’s Circle"
1981 – [I haven’t heard enough. Provisionally, just for fun, Van Halen, "So This is Love"]
1982 – King Sunny Ade, "Ma Jaiye Oni"
1983 – Talking Heads, "This Must Be the Place"
1984 – Bruce Springsteen, "Darlington County"
1985 – The Cult, "She Sells Sanctuary"
1986 – Pet Shop Boys, "West End Girls"
1987 – Public Enemy, "Bring the Noise"
1988 – Randy Newman, "Dixie Flyer"
1989 – Aerosmith, "Love in an Elevator"
1990 – Madonna, "Vogue"
1991 – Nirvana, "Come As You Are"
1992 – Celine Dion, "Love can Move Mountains
1993 – Souls of Mischief, "’93 til Infinity"
1994 – M People, "Movin On Up"
1995 – KRS-One, "MCs Act Like They Don’t Know"
1996 – A Tribe Called Quest, "Keeping it Moving"
1997 – Erykah Badu, "On & On"
1998 – Aaliyah, "Are You That Somebody"
1999 – Steve Earle w/ the Del McCoury Band, "Texas Eagle"
2000 – RZA, "Samurai Showdown"
2001 – De La Soul, "Trying People"
2002 – Mekons, "Thee Olde Trip to Jerusalem"

gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 7 March 2003 06:40 (twenty-two years ago)

This one is pretty silly

1949 – Miles Davis, "Boplicity"
1950 – Anton Karas, "Third Man Theme"
1951 – [a convenient guess; don’t know the year] Ebenezer Calender and his Malingar Band, "The Stolen Chicken"
1952 – Tex Ritter, "High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me)"
1953 – Frank Sinatra, "London Town"
1954 – Big Joe Turner, "Shake, Rattle & Roll"
1955 – Bo Diddley, "Bo Diddley"
1956 – Duke Ellington & His Orchestra, "Take the A-Train" (live)
1957 – Count Basie, "One O’Clock Jump" (live)
1958 – Jimmy Lloyd, "I Got a Rocket in My Pocket"
1959 – Phil Phillips and the Twilights, "Sea of Love"
1960 – Marty Robbins, "El Paso"
1961 – Dion, "Runaround Sue"
1962 – The Drifters, "Up on the Roof"
1963 – Doris Troy, "Just One Look"
1964 – Tommy Tucker, "Hi-Heel Sneakers"
1965 – The Beatles, "Nowhere Man"
1966 – Nancy Sinatra, "These Boots Are Made for Walkin"
1967 – Aretha Franklin, "I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You)"
1968 – James Taylor, "Something in the Way She Moves"
1969 – Sly and the Family Stone, "Hot Fun in the Summertime"
1970 – Randy Newman, "Uncle Bob’s Midnight Blues"
1971 – Miles Davis, "Right Off"
1972 – Arlo Guthrie, "City of New Orleans"
1973 – The Who, "Drowned"
1974 – Neil Young, "For the Turnstiles"
1975 – Steely Dan, "Doctor Wu"
1976 – Fela Kuti, "Zombie"
1977 – Sex Pistols, "Pretty Vacant"
1978 – Willie Nelson, "Stardust"
1979 – Sister Sledge, "We Are Family"
1980 – Etoile 2000, "Boubou N’Gary"
1981 – Prince, "Controversy"
1982 – George Winston, "Thanksgiving"
1983 – DeBarge, "Time Will Reveal"
1984 – The Fat Boys, "Fat Boys"
1985 – The Replacements, "Kiss Me on the Bus"
1986 – Mr. Fingers, "Can U Feel It"
1987 – Ornette Coleman and Prime Time, "Feet Music"
1988 – Lyle Lovett, "If I Had a Boat"
1989 – Rickie Lee Jones, "Flying Cowboys"
1990 – Fugazi, "Turnover"
1991 – Downtown Science, "Catch The Wave"
1992 – Boyz II Men, "End of the Road"
1993 – Jerry Garcia Band with David Murray, "Shining Star" (live)
1994 – Alan Jackson, "Gone Country"
1995 – PJ Harvey, "Send His Love to Me"
1996 – DJ Shadow, "Midnight in a Perfect World"
1997 – Coteau, "Acadian Two-Step"
1998 – ani difranco, "Pulse"
1999 – Branford Marsalis Quartet, untitled memorial cut for Kenny Kirkland
2000 – Deltron 3030, "Things You Can Do"
2001 – Blink-182, "Anthem Pt. 2"
2002 – Spoon, ‘The Way We Get By"

gabbneb (gabbneb), Friday, 21 March 2003 05:34 (twenty-two years ago)

i should dig out my old list for this that i never posted. keep the thread warm.

jess (dubplatestyle), Friday, 21 March 2003 05:37 (twenty-two years ago)

do it!

M Matos (M Matos), Friday, 21 March 2003 18:54 (twenty-two years ago)

Two Rock Island Lines yet, neither done by Leadbelly? For shame, ILM, for shame.

David Allen, Friday, 21 March 2003 20:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Three Rock Island Lines actually

do it!

1972 - Steely Dan, "Do It Again"
1973 - Blackbyrds, "Do It Fluid"

gabbneb (gabbneb), Saturday, 22 March 2003 05:59 (twenty-two years ago)

gabbneb, you need to hear more music from 1981. It was a good year, in my opinion. (Of course, I was a young teenager at the time with very omnivorous ears.)

Rockist Scientist, Saturday, 22 March 2003 16:40 (twenty-two years ago)

i am having a devil of a time filling in a few years in the 50s. back possibly later.

jess (dubplatestyle), Saturday, 22 March 2003 16:43 (twenty-two years ago)

okay, here goes: 45-60 filled with lots of "non-pop" mostly because that's always what I've been more interested in - in that time period - than blues or emergent rock&roll. maybe that will change in a few years. i am glad i will never have to do this again:

1945 – Charlie Parker – “Salt Peanuts”
1947 – Thelonious Monk – “Nice Work If You Can Get It”
1948 – Pierre Schaeffer – “Etude Pathetique”
1949 – Conlon Nancarrow, "Study for Player Piano, 3d"
1950 – Les Paul & Mary Ford – “Tiger Rag”
1951 – Les Baxter – “Jungle River Boat”
1952 – John Cage – “Imaginary Landscape No. 5”
1953 – Muddy Waters – “Mad Love”
1954 – Howlin’ Wolf- “Smokestack Lightin’”
1955 – Elvis Presley – “Mystery Train”
1956 – Little Richard – “Good Golly, Miss Molly”
1957 – Charles Mingus – “Haitian Fight Song”
1958 – Esquivel and his Orchestra – “Granada”
1959 – Richard Maxfield - "Sine Music (A Swarm of Butterflies Encountered Over the Ocean)"
1960 – John Coltrane – “My Favorite Things”
1961 – Morton Feldman – “The Straits of Magellan”
1962 – Ellington/Mingus/Roach – “Money Jungle”
1963 – Bob Dylan – “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright”
1964 – The Ronnettes – “Be My Baby”
1965 – Miles Davis – “E.S.P.”
1966 – Toots & The Maytals – “Bam Bam”
1967 – The Beatles – “Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite”
1968 – Blue Cheer – “Summertime Blues”
1969 – Sonny Sharrock – “Black Woman”
1970 – James Brown – “Bewildered”
1971 – John Fahey – “America”
1972 – Herbie Hancock – “Rain Dance”
1973 – Led Zeppelin – “Dancing Days”
1974 – Faust – “Jennifer”
1975 – Burning Spear – “Garvey’s Ghost”
1976 – AC/DC – “Rock’n’Roll Singer”
1977 – Brian Eno – “By This River”
1978 – Wire – “I Am The Fly”
1979 – Gary Numan – “Cars”
1980 – Derek Bailey – “Nigata Snow”
1981 – Black Flag – “Depression”
1982 – ABC – “All Of My Heart”
1983 – Robert Wyatt – “Shipbuilding”
1984 – Stockholm Monsters – “Decalogue”
1985 – Tenor Saw – “Ring The Alarm”
1986 – Prince – “Kiss”
1987 – BDP – “The Bridge Is Over”
1988 – Nuno Canavaro – “Wask”
1989 – Public Enemy – “Night of the Living Baseheads”
1990 – 4hero – “Mr. Kirk’s Nightmare”
1991 – X-101 – “Sonic Destroyer”
1992 – The Dead C – “Sky”
1993 – Foul Play – “Open Your Mind (Foul Play Remix)”
1994 – Disco Inferno – “It’s A Kid’s World”
1995 – Oval – “Store Check”
1996 – Aaliyah – “One In A Million”
1997 – Future Bible Heroes – “Lonely Days”
1998 – Mercury Rev – “The Funny Bird”
1999 – Coil – “Are You Shivering”
2000 – All Saints – “Pure Shores”
2001 – Beenie Man – “Moses Cry”
2002 – No Doubt – “Underneath It All”

jess (dubplatestyle), Saturday, 22 March 2003 17:22 (twenty-two years ago)

The 50's were very hard for me in some cases.

Rockist Scientist, Saturday, 22 March 2003 17:31 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought It Takes a Nation of Millions came out in 1988.

Rockist Scientist, Saturday, 22 March 2003 17:34 (twenty-two years ago)

did it? fuck, you're probably right. well, i don't want to lose the track from "plux quba" so just put an early house track in it's place then.

yes, doing this made very acutely aware of where the deficiencies in my listening were

jess (dubplatestyle), Saturday, 22 March 2003 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

gabbneb, you need to hear more music from 1981. It was a good year, in my opinion. (Of course, I was a young teenager at the time with very omnivorous ears.)

I need to hear more music from lots of years. But for instance, I've never heard "That's the Joint", "Heartbeat", "Adventures on the Wheels of Steel", or anything from Stands for Decibels. I think I heard "TV Party" once and liked it but don't really recall.

Then again I think it's pretty obvious that I'm not really an '80s guy. Maybe because I wasn't exposed to much until circa '88 .

gabbneb (gabbneb), Sunday, 23 March 2003 03:09 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...
I'm not entirely sure what possessed me to do this, but here is an alternate take. Partly, I wanted to see if the earlier years would now be easier for me, as I suspected, which turned out to be true. My selections for 45-59 are much tighter this time around, almost all things I actually really like. No dubious Doris Day tracks. (In some cases I like the song itself more than the particular recording.) I still am unable to track down release dates (or in some cases artists and titles) for a lot of Arabic things I would like to have included.

My 88-93 choices are more representative of what I like of what I was listening to at that time, but maybe not very representative of where my taste has headed since.

The dominance of salsa club music between 97-01 reflects what my life was like at the time.

Most of the list (starting after I'm born in 65) put things I listened to at the time next to things I have since discovered, which sometimes looks a little jolting to me.

1945--Oum Kalthoum: Ghaneli Showaia Showaia
1946--Dizzy Gillespie: A Night in Tunisia
1947--Thelonious Monk: Well You Needn’t
1948--Coleman Hawkins: Picasso
1949--Hank Williams: Mind Your Own Business
1950--Farid el Atrache: Ana Wel Bahebou
1951--John Cage: Sonata VIII (for prepared piano)
1952--Nat King Cole: Unforgettable
1953--Ella Mae Morse: It Ain’t Necessarily So
1954--Billie Holiday: What a Little Moonlight Can Do
1955--Frank Sinatra: Love is Here to Stay
1956--Ella Fitzgerald: Anything Goes
1957--Fairouz: Marrayt
1958--Cortijo y su Combo [canta: Ismael Rivera]: Negro Bembon
1959--Abbey Lincoln: Afro Blue
1960--Ray Charles: Georgia on My Mind
1961--Patsy Cline: Crazy
1962--Little Eva: Loco-Motion
1963--Joe Cuba Sextette [canta: Cheo Feliciano]: Aprieta (Oye Como Va)
1964--The Beatles: It Won’t Be Long
1965--John Coltrane: My Favorite Things [Selflessness/Newport 1963 version]
1966--The Mamas & the Papas: California Dreamin’
1967--The Easbybeats: Friday on My Mind
1968--La Lupe: Amor Gitano
1969--Pink Floyd: The Narrow Way
1970--Sun Ra: Somewhere in Space
1971--El Gran Combo: Don Goyo
1972--Stevie Wonder: Superwoman
1973--David Bowie: Panic in Detroit
1974--Dionne Warwick/The Spinners: Then Came You
1975--Neil Young: Barstool Blues
1976--Bryan Ferry: 2HB
1977--Yes: Going for the One
1978--Tipica 73: Balia Que Baila
1979--Chic: Good Times
1980--Marcel Khalife: Children and the Wolf
1981--Robert Fripp: 1984
1982--Kate Bush: Sat in Your Lap
1983--Willie Colon/Hector Lavoe: Juanito Alimana
1984--Prince: Let’s Go Crazy
1985--The Fall: Paint Work
1986--Ruin: Great Divide
1987--Frankie Ruiz: Desnudate Mujer
1988--Psychic TV: Your Body [live, from TOPY042]
1989--Technotronic: Pump up the Jam
1990--Eric B. & Rakim: Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em
1991--Public Enemy: Shut ‘Em Down
1992--Tarika Sammy: Hana
1993--Positive K: I Got a Man
1994--The Boredoms: Tomato Synthesizer
1995--Cornershop: 7:30 A.M. Jullander Shere
1996--Chico Science & Nacao Zumbi: Maracatu Atomico
1997--Victor Manuelle: Asi es la mujer
1998--Monchy y Alexandra: Hijo en Blanco
1999--Grupo Niche: Han Cogida la Cosa
2000--Fruko y sus Tesos: Cali de Rumba
2001--Gilberto Santa Rosa: La Agarro Bajando
2002--Susie Ibarra: Azul
2003--Matthew Shipp: Equilibrium
2004--Sonora Poncena: Caprichosa

Rockist_Scientist (rockist_scientist), Saturday, 9 October 2004 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)


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