Original Post Date 13 January 2011
Okay, I think I might have done this once upon a time, but I don't really remember. Still a fun exercise. Oh, and if you're reading this and I didn't tag you, please don't be offended. Hard to think of everyone that would care in the heat of the moment.
Here's the game:
(1) Turn on your MP3 player or music player on your computer.
(2) Go to SHUFFLE songs mode.
(3) List the first 15 songs that come up (song title and artist) NO editing/cheating, please. Even if you might skip the song when it comes up or be embarrassed for people to know that it's in your collection, you still must list it.
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01. "Incident on 57th Street" by Bruce Springsteen from the album "The Wild The Innocent &The E-Street Shuffle" (7:45) -- Is there a better way to start off? A great and often overlooked song in the Springsteen canon. Back then Bruce was a real storyteller, and not only did his lyrics provide imagery so vivid standard authors would be jealous, he also enlightened the listener even further when introducing these older songs in live performances. There was a time when what Bruce had to say was as good as what he sang. No kidding. One last thing, I DO categorize Springsteen fans: there are the "pre-Hungry Heart fans" and the "post-Hungry Heart fans." You know which one you are and if you don't know if you are in the cool faction, then you're not really a fan after all, are you then?
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02. "Four Minutes" by Roger Waters from the album "Radio Kaos" (4:00) -- a GREAT album and a wonderful concept but when you only hear one song, and it is the second-to-last-song of said concept album, well, it's like getting dessert before the main course, only not as tasty.
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03. "Steal My Kisses" by Ben Harper from the album "Burn To Shine" (4:05) -- I liked this song when everyone else liked it, which is italicized me saying to myself "I'm a bandwagon jumper." Now this is me telling you in my italicized voice how overrated and over-repetitive this song is. "It's overrated and over-repetitive." There I said it.
![]()
04. "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" by Billy Joel from the album "The Stranger" (7:33) -- Just when the record label was about to drop his ass, Joel released the monstrous "The Stranger" and followed it with the even better "52nd Street," after which insane record sales of both apparently afforded him to make less than stellar music for the next two decades. But those two albums are definitely keepers and "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" is arguably the best song from either.
![]()
05. "One Sweet World (live) by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds from the album "Live At Luther College" (5:43) -- When this CD came out I had no idea who Dave Matthews was. I got this CD because I forgot to send in my Columbia House selection-of-the-month card by the cut-off date, and I have to admit, it has been one of my favorite CDs for the past 11 years. Now I have almost all of his live CDs, which are tons and tons better than the studio versions of these songs, but you knew I'd say that. This is a great CD to get over a lost love, or to get over someone who no longer wants to have sex with you. Just sayin'.
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06. "96 Tears" by The Stranglers from the album "Peaches......The Best Of The Stranglers" (3:04) -- I love The Stranglers but this is the worst cover I have ever heard of this song. Maybe the fact that I am not that big a fan of the original has something to do with that. Or the fact that I absolutely detest whiny songs. I have a question. Why is she only crying 96 tears over him and what is the significance of the number? I just don't like whiny songs, but I gotta be honest, if she would have made it to one-hundred tears she probably would have slept a whole lot better. Again, just sayin'.
![]()
07. "Fools In Love/For Your Love (live)" by Joe Jackson from the album "Afterlife" (7:19) -- LOVE LOVE LOVE. What makes this song so great is that is a completely different arrangement from the original studio version and please, disregard what I said above about the whiny thing for one second, because at first listen you will say "Hey Mike, this is a whiny song and you just mentioned, like 16 seconds ago, that you have a strong distaste for whiny songs." Point taken. But first, I think Joe is trying to imply that he doesn't consider himself the victim of this sordid affair and he even gets a little confident and mean-spirited when he segues into "For Your Love" , a down-tempo cover of the Yardbirds hit song. Joe is like, "hey.... you can kiss my ass, you think you're in love with him but you're still in love with me and you could have had all this but now you aren't getting shit." Yes, I love this song. Amen, Joe Jackson.
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08. "Warehouse (live)" by The Dave Matthews Band from the album "The Best Of What's Around Volume 1, Disc 2" (10:58) - my favorite Dave Matthews song whenever he performs live, and a great version here. Almost made me feel like it was summer again. Almost. Then I saw the outside temperature was TWENTY THREE DEGREES.
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09. "Batdance" by Prince from the album "The Batman Original Soundtrack" (6:14) -- I love the voice samples by Jack Nicholson and Michael Keaton but the best part is when Kim Bassinger says "Vicky Vale!" and then Prince busts out with "Ooh yeah, Ooh Yeah, I'm gonna bust that body. Ooh Yeah, Ooh Yeah, I'm gonna bust that body right." And of course he did, because he allegedly dated Basinger during and after the filming of the movie. I'll take "Sloppy Seconds" for $500, Alex, and my answer is "Who is Alec Baldwin?" Indeed.
![]()
10. "What Jail Is Like" by The Afghan Whigs from the album "Undeniable: A Retrospective 1990-2006" (3:31) -- This is the Afghan Whigs trying to sound like The Replacements but without the sordid history of booze, drugs and wild sexual escapades it just doesn't work. I bet if I listen to it more the song will grow on me, but, if I can quote Patrick Fugit from the movie "Almost Famous," (and I will, not sure why I am asking), "in their newer stuff they try to sound too much like The Replacements. They should just be themselves."
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11. "Solsbury Hill" by Peter Gabriel from the album "Peter Gabriel 1" (4:22) -- this is a significant song because it represents the exact moment in the musical history of Peter Gabriel that he changed from prog-rock icon to mainstream hit machine. I guess those competitive juices really went into full-throttle when he read that his former band, Genesis, selected Phil Collins to be its new front man. Surely he must have thought that was a misprint. The rest of us were just hoping it was a misprint.
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12. "Vince The Lovable Stoner" by The Fratellis from the album "Costello Music" (3:14) -- Okay, I have to admit that I bought this CD because I love the song "Chelsea Dagger" that is played every time the Chicago Blackhawks score a goal and I have to admit that I have yet to listen to any other songs on the album, though I always intended to give it a full once-over. It's not a bad song. But hey, those royalties checks have to be huge the way the Blackhawks have played the past three seasons, so I am sure The Fratellis could care less if I like anything else on here.
![]()
13. "79th & Sunset" by Humble Pie from the album "Rock On" (2:15) -- two minutes and fifteen seconds of lyrical genius, if only because Humble Pie had the courage to not take the politically correct, moral high road here. This is not poetry, this is bar room gutter talk, and I love it. Let me give you an example. "Well this yellow haired snake sits smug as a bug/Got more angle than a toby jug/Underneath her red sweater she's a big deal go-getter/There'll be some dramas inside your pajamas tonight/Yes, there's red-eyed Ruby with her built up hips/She's got nut crushing tits and jam tart lips." Boo-yeah.
![]()
14. "You Know I'm No Good" by Amy Winehouse from the album "Black And Blue" (4:16) -- Wouldn't you want to, just once, if you were absolutely, positively 100% sure that no one could ever find out about it? Yup. Me too.
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15. "Let It Loose" by The Rolling Stones from the album "Exile On Main Street" (5:19) -- I don't want to get into the argument that "Sticky Fingers" is actually better than "Exile On Main Street" because the elitist, yuppie, pseudo-Stones fans will try to sway your opinion that "Exile" is better because Rolling Stone Magazine declared it so. "Sticky Fingers" is better and you should just believe me. Period.
I know the Stones roots are steeped in traditional blues music and this was their epic, we-want-to-get-back-to-our-roots recording. But to you, me, that funny looking dude down the street and everyone else, the Rolling Stones are a rock and roll band. In fact, they subtitle themselves as the greatest rock and roll band ever, and "Sticky Fingers" is the best of that bad-ass, rock and roll formula that we all know and love.
You can listen through your noise-eliminating headphones for those subtle blues and roots music nuances that are the meat and potatoes of "Exile On Main Street", or you can drop the top, crank that shit to eleven, and cruise around listening to "Brown Sugar", "Can't You Hear Me Knockin'?" and "Bitch" and feel a whole lot better about your choice. Hmmm, I guess I did argue my point after all. Regardless, The Stones remind me of Scorsese, so now I am going to watch "The Departed" and have a beer or two before heading to bed.
You have been truly wonderful.![]()
Okay, I think I might have done this once upon a time, but I don't really remember. Still a fun exercise. Oh, and if you're reading this and I didn't tag you, please don't be offended. Hard to think of everyone that would care in the heat of the moment.
Here's the game:
(1) Turn on your MP3 player or music player on your computer.
(2) Go to SHUFFLE songs mode.
(3) List the first 15 songs that come up (song title and artist) NO editing/cheating, please. Even if you might skip the song when it comes up or be embarrassed for people to know that it's in your collection, you still must list it.
01. "Incident on 57th Street" by Bruce Springsteen from the album "The Wild The Innocent &The E-Street Shuffle" (7:45) -- Is there a better way to start off? A great and often overlooked song in the Springsteen canon. Back then Bruce was a real storyteller, and not only did his lyrics provide imagery so vivid standard authors would be jealous, he also enlightened the listener even further when introducing these older songs in live performances. There was a time when what Bruce had to say was as good as what he sang. No kidding. One last thing, I DO categorize Springsteen fans: there are the "pre-Hungry Heart fans" and the "post-Hungry Heart fans." You know which one you are and if you don't know if you are in the cool faction, then you're not really a fan after all, are you then?
02. "Four Minutes" by Roger Waters from the album "Radio Kaos" (4:00) -- a GREAT album and a wonderful concept but when you only hear one song, and it is the second-to-last-song of said concept album, well, it's like getting dessert before the main course, only not as tasty.
03. "Steal My Kisses" by Ben Harper from the album "Burn To Shine" (4:05) -- I liked this song when everyone else liked it, which is italicized me saying to myself "I'm a bandwagon jumper." Now this is me telling you in my italicized voice how overrated and over-repetitive this song is. "It's overrated and over-repetitive." There I said it.
04. "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" by Billy Joel from the album "The Stranger" (7:33) -- Just when the record label was about to drop his ass, Joel released the monstrous "The Stranger" and followed it with the even better "52nd Street," after which insane record sales of both apparently afforded him to make less than stellar music for the next two decades. But those two albums are definitely keepers and "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" is arguably the best song from either.
05. "One Sweet World (live) by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds from the album "Live At Luther College" (5:43) -- When this CD came out I had no idea who Dave Matthews was. I got this CD because I forgot to send in my Columbia House selection-of-the-month card by the cut-off date, and I have to admit, it has been one of my favorite CDs for the past 11 years. Now I have almost all of his live CDs, which are tons and tons better than the studio versions of these songs, but you knew I'd say that. This is a great CD to get over a lost love, or to get over someone who no longer wants to have sex with you. Just sayin'.
06. "96 Tears" by The Stranglers from the album "Peaches......The Best Of The Stranglers" (3:04) -- I love The Stranglers but this is the worst cover I have ever heard of this song. Maybe the fact that I am not that big a fan of the original has something to do with that. Or the fact that I absolutely detest whiny songs. I have a question. Why is she only crying 96 tears over him and what is the significance of the number? I just don't like whiny songs, but I gotta be honest, if she would have made it to one-hundred tears she probably would have slept a whole lot better. Again, just sayin'.
07. "Fools In Love/For Your Love (live)" by Joe Jackson from the album "Afterlife" (7:19) -- LOVE LOVE LOVE. What makes this song so great is that is a completely different arrangement from the original studio version and please, disregard what I said above about the whiny thing for one second, because at first listen you will say "Hey Mike, this is a whiny song and you just mentioned, like 16 seconds ago, that you have a strong distaste for whiny songs." Point taken. But first, I think Joe is trying to imply that he doesn't consider himself the victim of this sordid affair and he even gets a little confident and mean-spirited when he segues into "For Your Love" , a down-tempo cover of the Yardbirds hit song. Joe is like, "hey.... you can kiss my ass, you think you're in love with him but you're still in love with me and you could have had all this but now you aren't getting shit." Yes, I love this song. Amen, Joe Jackson.
08. "Warehouse (live)" by The Dave Matthews Band from the album "The Best Of What's Around Volume 1, Disc 2" (10:58) - my favorite Dave Matthews song whenever he performs live, and a great version here. Almost made me feel like it was summer again. Almost. Then I saw the outside temperature was TWENTY THREE DEGREES.
09. "Batdance" by Prince from the album "The Batman Original Soundtrack" (6:14) -- I love the voice samples by Jack Nicholson and Michael Keaton but the best part is when Kim Bassinger says "Vicky Vale!" and then Prince busts out with "Ooh yeah, Ooh Yeah, I'm gonna bust that body. Ooh Yeah, Ooh Yeah, I'm gonna bust that body right." And of course he did, because he allegedly dated Basinger during and after the filming of the movie. I'll take "Sloppy Seconds" for $500, Alex, and my answer is "Who is Alec Baldwin?" Indeed.
10. "What Jail Is Like" by The Afghan Whigs from the album "Undeniable: A Retrospective 1990-2006" (3:31) -- This is the Afghan Whigs trying to sound like The Replacements but without the sordid history of booze, drugs and wild sexual escapades it just doesn't work. I bet if I listen to it more the song will grow on me, but, if I can quote Patrick Fugit from the movie "Almost Famous," (and I will, not sure why I am asking), "in their newer stuff they try to sound too much like The Replacements. They should just be themselves."
11. "Solsbury Hill" by Peter Gabriel from the album "Peter Gabriel 1" (4:22) -- this is a significant song because it represents the exact moment in the musical history of Peter Gabriel that he changed from prog-rock icon to mainstream hit machine. I guess those competitive juices really went into full-throttle when he read that his former band, Genesis, selected Phil Collins to be its new front man. Surely he must have thought that was a misprint. The rest of us were just hoping it was a misprint.
12. "Vince The Lovable Stoner" by The Fratellis from the album "Costello Music" (3:14) -- Okay, I have to admit that I bought this CD because I love the song "Chelsea Dagger" that is played every time the Chicago Blackhawks score a goal and I have to admit that I have yet to listen to any other songs on the album, though I always intended to give it a full once-over. It's not a bad song. But hey, those royalties checks have to be huge the way the Blackhawks have played the past three seasons, so I am sure The Fratellis could care less if I like anything else on here.
13. "79th & Sunset" by Humble Pie from the album "Rock On" (2:15) -- two minutes and fifteen seconds of lyrical genius, if only because Humble Pie had the courage to not take the politically correct, moral high road here. This is not poetry, this is bar room gutter talk, and I love it. Let me give you an example. "Well this yellow haired snake sits smug as a bug/Got more angle than a toby jug/Underneath her red sweater she's a big deal go-getter/There'll be some dramas inside your pajamas tonight/Yes, there's red-eyed Ruby with her built up hips/She's got nut crushing tits and jam tart lips." Boo-yeah.
14. "You Know I'm No Good" by Amy Winehouse from the album "Black And Blue" (4:16) -- Wouldn't you want to, just once, if you were absolutely, positively 100% sure that no one could ever find out about it? Yup. Me too.
15. "Let It Loose" by The Rolling Stones from the album "Exile On Main Street" (5:19) -- I don't want to get into the argument that "Sticky Fingers" is actually better than "Exile On Main Street" because the elitist, yuppie, pseudo-Stones fans will try to sway your opinion that "Exile" is better because Rolling Stone Magazine declared it so. "Sticky Fingers" is better and you should just believe me. Period.
I know the Stones roots are steeped in traditional blues music and this was their epic, we-want-to-get-back-to-our-roots recording. But to you, me, that funny looking dude down the street and everyone else, the Rolling Stones are a rock and roll band. In fact, they subtitle themselves as the greatest rock and roll band ever, and "Sticky Fingers" is the best of that bad-ass, rock and roll formula that we all know and love.
You can listen through your noise-eliminating headphones for those subtle blues and roots music nuances that are the meat and potatoes of "Exile On Main Street", or you can drop the top, crank that shit to eleven, and cruise around listening to "Brown Sugar", "Can't You Hear Me Knockin'?" and "Bitch" and feel a whole lot better about your choice. Hmmm, I guess I did argue my point after all. Regardless, The Stones remind me of Scorsese, so now I am going to watch "The Departed" and have a beer or two before heading to bed.
You have been truly wonderful.