From 10 to 1: The final countdown

Posted On February 20, 2023

OK, one more time … here are the details.

Way back in 1989, a group of friends did a countdown of our top 100 songs, then shared them with each other on cassette tapes (yes, mixtapes!).

Now 32 years later, we’re doing it again. But with more technology at our fingertips. Also, I’ve made mine less of a rock critic’s “greatest” and more of a “these are my favorites, the stuff I listen to a lot.”

And now we’re down to the Top 10. Enjoy.

(If you’re wondering about the full parameters and what we’re doing, you can find them HERE)

10: Bob Dylan – “Highway 61 Revisited”

Is there a better open verse anywhere than this one?

Oh God said to Abraham, “Kill me a son”
Abe says, “Man, you must be puttin’ me on”
God say, “No.” Abe say, “What?”
God say, “You can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me comin’ you better run”
Well Abe says, “Where do you want this killin’ done?”
God says, “Out on Highway 61”

 

9: Sweet – “Ballroom Blitz”

Sweet was my favorite high school band (well, maybe tied with the Beach Boys). This song had an energy to it that was nowhere else to be found on the American pop charts in 1975; I later found out it had actually been a massive hit in England two years before in 1973!

 

8: Otis Redding – “Satisfaction”

I think even Mick Jagger would agree Otis kicks his butt on this song. I was introduced to it in the WSBU record library via the live album from the Monterey Pop festival that he shared with Jimi Hendrix (each got a side).  Below is the studio version, which is great, too.

7: The Blasters – “American Music”

There are a few other Blasters songs that could have made it (“Marie Marie,” “So Long Baby Goodbye” and “Border Radio” to name three), but this one really says it all for me.

6: Peter Case – “Two Angels”

This is one of the most beautiful songs I know, and I was introduced to it by the Pine Dogs, which did a simply gorgeous live version of it … which has never been recorded, to the best of my knowledge. Pine Dog Jim Whitford was a former bandmate of Peter’s from their days at Hamburg (N.Y.) High School. … Since getting to know the song from the Pine Dogs, I’ve gotten to know Peter himself. He’s one of my favorite performers.

5: Sex Pistols – “God Save the Queen”

The Sex Pistols didn’t record a whole lot of music, but this song alone justifies their entry into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. “Anarchy in the U.K.” was nearly as good, but this one changed the world.

 

4: Beach Boys – “Do It Again”

I know some Beach Boys fans loathe this song, but I love the combination of Beach Boys harmonies with the big beat.

3: Andy Kim – “Rainbow Ride”

How many people are even aware of this song. It should have been a monster when it came out in 1969. It’s perfect in every way.

2: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band – “Born to Run”

Bruce’s best. I bought this on 45 in 1975, but it took a few years … and seeing Springsteen live at St. Bonaventure in 1978 … to fully appreciate just how great this is.

 

1: The Ramones – “Rockaway Beach”

This one hit me the first time I heard it, on a midnight album hour on 97 Rock (I think) over Christmas Break 1977. I managed to make it into Buffalo to catch their show about two weeks later (Lip Service opening, BTW), and I can say that show changed my life. This was punk, but it was also perfect pop with harmonies echoing the Beach Boys over a jackhammer beat. It doesn’t get any better than this … I guess that’s why it’s No. 1.