(Finished January 31st, 2024) The Best Songs of 1954

Hello,

Now that we have survived to 2024, I want to go back 70 years and review the best songs for every 10 years up to today. I'm starting with 1954 as I barely know enough songs to fill up a 17+ song blog. I took a brief look at 1944 and I only knew a few songs. To me the best thing that happened in 1944 was D-Day.

Each decade moving forward I know more songs from that year. I know a lot more songs from 1964 than 1954 for instance. It will probably peak with 1984, one of the greatest years of music ever.

The biggest musical stars of 1954 include Rosemary Clooney, Doris Day and Kitty Kallen. I hadn't heard of Kallen until today. The Chordettes "Mr. Sandman" seemed to be the #1 song of that year. It also is one of the most enduring songs from that year.

1) The Chordettes "Mr. Sandman":

2) The Chords "Sh-Boom (Life Could Be a Dream)":

I just saw Miss Clooney in an early episode of "E.R.", I wonder how she got that gig. I'm sure it didn't have anything to do with her nephew. 3) Rosemary Clooney "Hey There":

4) Perry Como "Papa Loves Mambo":

5) The Penguins "Earth Angel":

6) Bill Haley and His Comets "Shake, Rattle and Roll":

Elvis Presley's first single. 7) Elvis Presley "That's All Right":

8) B.B. King "You Upset Me Baby":

Come on man I grew up watching "Happy Days" so of course I know this song. 9) Bill Haley and His Comets "Rock Around The Clock":

10) Spaniels "Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight":

11) Kitty Kallen "Little Things Mean A Lot":

12) Dean Martin "That's Amore":

13) Tony Bennett "Stranger In Paradise":

One of the greatest singers of any generation. 14) Frank Sinatra "Someone To Watch Over Me":

15) The Robins "Cellblock #9":

16) Elvis Presley "Mystery Train":

I love the Big Band musicians on this song. 17) Patti Page "What A Dream":

18) The Wrens "Come Back My Love":

19) The Mills Brothers "You're Nobody Till Somebody Loves You":

Let's close out this blog with two more songs by one of the King of the Blues. 20) Muddy Waters "Hoochie Coochie Man":

21) Muddy Waters "I'm Ready":

themusicaddict

(Finished January 28th, 2024) Part 28 of themusicaddict's Actual Greatest Songs Of All-Time

Hello,

Another Greatest Songs of All-Time issued from on high by Rolling Stone magazine. I love that magazine and have been a subscriber since the early 80s. I accept that people have different tastes in music and that's the way it should be, but. Just as fervently as I agree with some of their choices I also disagree with some of their choices. Currently I'm working on my Actual Greatest Songs of All-Time and honorable mentions. There are just some songs that I can't not include in the Greatest Songs of All-Time. I started with 100 Greatest Songs of All-Time. That has inched up to several hundred songs and will continue to rise. For this blog I'm going to focus on the actual Greatest Songs Of All Time.

These lists are very fluid. Most of these songs could have also been in my All-Time Top 100 if only I had thought of them earlier. There are probably at least 700 songs that will always be in my GSOAT. 

There are the greatest songs of all-time- as determined by themusicaddict. This is locked in stone and will not change, of course I'm lying. These blogs will be constantly changing as I remember songs, discover new songs, discover old songs, fall out of love with songs, fall in love with songs etc. And the number by the song is no way my personal ranking for that song, it's just a way to help me keep this organized.

120) Kenny Loggins "Footloose":

121) Pet Shop Boys "West End Girls":

122) Dan Seals "Everything That Glitters Is Not Gold":

123) Johnny Duncan featuring Janie Fricke "It Couldn't Have Been Any Better":

124) The Cure "Just Like Heaven":

125) Dan Fogelberg "Auld Lang Syne":

126) Katy Perry "Wide Awake":

127) Elvis Presley vs. JXL "A Little Less Conversation":

128) Sarah Vaughan (Max Sedgley Remix) "Peter Gunn":

From "Rent" 129) "Seasons of Love":

130) Juice Newton "Angel of the Morning":

131) Brothers Osborne "It Ain't My Fault":

132) Frank Sinatra "Luck Be A Lady":

133) Kenny Rogers "She Believes In Me":

134) John Parr "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)":

135) Keith Whitley  "When You Say Nothing At All":

136) Papa Roach "Last Resort":

themusicaddict

(Finished January 29th, 2024) Part 27 of themusicaddict's Actual Greatest Songs Of All-Time

Hello,

Another Greatest Songs of All-Time issued from on high by Rolling Stone magazine. I love that magazine and have been a subscriber since the early 80s. I accept that people have different tastes in music and that's the way it should be, but. Just as fervently as I agree with some of their choices I also disagree with some of their choices. Currently I'm working on my Actual Greatest Songs of All-Time and honorable mentions. There are just some songs that I can't not include in the Greatest Songs of All-Time. I started with 100 Greatest Songs of All-Time. That has inched up to several hundred songs and will continue to rise. For this blog I'm going to focus on the actual Greatest Songs Of All Time.

These lists are very fluid. Most of these songs could have also been in my All-Time Top 100 if only I had thought of them earlier. There are probably at least 700 songs that will always be in my GSOAT. 

There are the greatest songs of all-time- as determined by themusicaddict. This is locked in stone and will not change, of course I'm lying. These blogs will be constantly changing as I remember songs, discover new songs, discover old songs, fall out of love with songs, fall in love with songs etc. And the number by the song is no way my personal ranking for that song, it's just a way to help me keep this organized.

103) Laura Branigan "Self Control":

104) Simon and Garfunkel "Scarborough Fair/Canticle"":

105) Fleetwood Mac "Rhiannon": 

106) U2 "One":

107) Grandmaster Flash "White Lines":

108) Carly Simon "Nobody Does It Better";

109) Lulu "To Sir With Love":

110) Supertramp "Breakfast In America":

111) Led Zeppelin "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You":

112) The Violent Femmes "Add It Up":

113) Phil Collins "In The Air Tonight":

114) The Counting Crows "A Long December":

115) Ed Sheeran "Shape of You":

116) Whitesnake "Still of The Night":

117) Madonna "Buenos Aires":

118) Dua Lipa "Blow Your Mind (Mwah)":

119) Dua Lipa "Hotter Than Hell":

themusicaddict

(Finished January 27th, 2024) Part 2 of The Best Music of 1994

Hello,

My first blog in this series was from March 2023. 1994 was a pretty mediocre year for music.

https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2017/09/the_15_greatest_years_in_music.html- that website rates 1994 as the 11th best year in music. I just might have to disagree. All the writing in the bigger text comes from cleveland.com.

Green Day and The Offspring kickstart pop punk. The Beastie Boys become alt-rock stars. Nine Inch Nails push industrial rock forward. Oasis and Blur become the biggest thing in England since the Beatles. Nirvana goes unplugged. 

Notable albums: Nine Inch Nails – 'The Downward Spiral;" Nas – "Illmatic;" Green Day – "Dookie;" Jeff Buckley – "Grace;" Notorious B.I.G. – "Ready to Die;" Oasis – "Definitely Maybe;" Nirvana – "MTV Unplugged in New York;" Beastie Boys – "Ill Communication;" Pearl Jam – "Vitalogy;" Weezer – Weezer;" Pavement – "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain;" Hole – "Live Through This;" Soundgarden – "Superunknown;" Johnny Cash – "American Recordings;" Portishead – "Dummy;" The Offspring – "Smash".

I have taken the list below from Billboard's Top 100 Songs From 1994.

1) Ace of Base "The Sign":

2) Celine Dion "The Power of Love":

3) Ace of Base "Don't Turn Around":

4) Ace of Base "All That She Wants":

5) Lisa Loeb and Nine Stories "Stay (I Missed You)":

6) Madonna "I'll Remember":

7) Salt-n-Pepa featuring En Vogue "Whatta Man":

8) John Mellencamp with Meshell Ndegeocello "Wild Night":

9) Elton John "Can You Feel The Love Tonight":

10) Coolio "Fantastic Voyage":

11) Big Mountain "Baby I Love Your Way":

12) All-4-One "So Much In Love":

13) Salt-n-Pepa "Shoop":

14) Collective Soul "Shine":

15) Enigma "Return To Innocence":

16) Sheryl Crow "All I Wanna Do":

17) Meat Loaf "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)":

themusicaddict

(Finished January 25th, 2024) Part 1 The Best Songs With Two, 2, Double or Second In The Title

Hello,

This blog is inspired by leaving Wal Mart today and hearing "Two Princes".

"Marry him or marry me I'm the one who loves you don't you see?" 1) The Spin Doctors "Two Princes":

2) Grover Washington Jr. featuring Bill Withers "Just The Two Of Us":

3) Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock "It Takes Two":

4) U2 "Two Hearts Beat As One":

5)  Joe Jackson "Breaking Us In Two":

6) Bruce Springsteen "Two Hearts":

7) Phil Collins "Two Hearts":

8) Frankie Goes To Hollywood "Two Tribes":

9) The Police "Synchronicity 2":

10) Iron Maiden "2 Minutes To Midnight":

11) Eddie Money "Two Tickets To Paradise":

12) The Doors "Love Me Two Times":

13) The Band Perry "Better Dig Two":

14) The Deele "Two Occasions":

15) Def Leppard "Two Steps Behind":

16) Dolly Parton "Two Doors Down":

17) Miley Cyrus "Two More Lonely People":

themusicaddict

(Finished January 24th, 2024) Part 6 of The Top 200 90s Rock Songs Countdown 131-115

Hello,

This is the most bizarre rock countdown I've ever seen. It has several songs by Maria McKee (who?), The Allman Brothers (they were okay in the 70s) and Saraya (Who? Part 2). I would much more prefer my Top 200 90s rock countdown, but this one is easier to work with in this context. If you want to look at the website where this countdown resides: https://www.classicrockhistory.com/top-200-rock-songs-of-the-90s/

131) Radiohead "Paranoid Android":

130) Mick Jagger "Wired All Night":

129) Southside Johnny "Coming Back":

128) The Dave Matthews Band "Tripping Billies":

127) Megadeth "Hangar 18":

126) Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers "Mary Jane's Last Dance":

125) Elton John featuring Eric Clapton "Runaway Train":

124) John Mellencamp "Love and Happiness":

123) Mother Love Bone "Stardog Champion":

122) ZZ Top "Pincushion":

121) Stevie Ray Vaughan "The Sky Is Falling":

":

120) Elton John "Believe":

119) Bon Jovi "This Ain't A Love Song":

118) Sheryl Crow "Strong Enough":

117) Stevie Nicks "Blue Denim":

For some reason this bizarre list had Peter Gabriel's song "Sledgehammer", that's not even close to being an 80s songs. It was released in 1986. If "Sledgehammer" had been released in the 90s it would likely be in the Top Ten on this countdown. In its place I will insert 116) Gabriel's duet with Sinead O'Connor "Blood of Eden":

115) Elton John "The One":

themusicaddict

(Finished January 21st, 2024) Part 5 of The Top 200 Rock Songs Countdown of the 90s Songs 131-115

Hello,

This is the most bizarre rock countdown I've ever seen. It has several songs by Maria McKee (who?), The Allman Brothers (they were okay in the 70s) and Saraya (Who? Part 2). I would much more prefer my Top 200 90s rock countdown, but this one is easier to work with in this context. If you want to look at the website where this countdown resides: https://www.classicrockhistory.com/top-200-rock-songs-of-the-90s/

131) Radiohead "Paranoid Android":

130) Mick Jagger "Wired All Night":

129) Southside Johnny "Coming Back":

128) The Dave Matthews Band "Tripping Billies":

127) Megadeth "Hangar 18":

126) Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers "Mary Jane's Last Dance":

125) Elton John featuring Eric Clapton "Runaway Train":

124) John Mellencamp "Love and Happiness":

123) Mother Love Bone "Stardog Champion":

122) ZZ Top "Pincushion":

121) Stevie Ray Vaughan "The Sky Is Falling":

":

120) Elton John "Believe":

119) Bon Jovi "This Ain't A Love Song":

118) Sheryl Crow "Strong Enough":

117) Stevie Nicks "Blue Denim":

116) Elton John "The One":

115) Journey "Message of Love":

themusicaddict

(Finished January 20th, 2024) Part 4 of The Top 200 Rock Songs Countdown of the 90s Songs 148-132

Hello,

This is the most bizarre rock countdown I've ever seen. It has several songs by Maria McKee (who?), The Allman Brothers (they were okay in the 70s) and Saraya (Who? Part 2). I would much more prefer my Top 200 90s rock countdown, but this one is easier to work with in this context. If you want to look at the website where this countdown resides: https://www.classicrockhistory.com/top-200-rock-songs-of-the-90s/

148) Garland Jeffreys "Hail Hail Rock 'n' Roll":

147) Stevie Nicks "Destiny":

146) Fleetwood Mac "Love Is Dangerous":

145) The Steve Miller Band "Wide River":

144) The Dropkick Murphys "10 Years Of Service":

143) The Smithereens "Miles From Nowhere":

142) The Rolling Stones "Love Is Strong":

141) Mother Love Bone "Come Bite The Apple":

140) Iron Maiden "Be Quick or Be Dead":

139) Paul McCartney "The World Tonight":

138) Joan Jett "Backlash":

137) The Rolling Stones "Sparks Will Fly":

136) Little Steven "Born Again Savage":

135) Allman Brothers "Loaded Dice":

134) Bruce Springsteen "Gloria's Eyes":

133) Bruce Springsteen "Lucky Town":

132) Billy Falcon "Power Windows":

themusicaddict

(Finished January 20th, 2024) Part 3 of The Top 200 Rock Songs Countdown of the 90s Songs 165-149

Hello,

This is the most bizarre rock countdown I've ever seen. It has several songs by Maria McKee (who?), The Allman Brothers (they were okay in the 70s) and Saraya (Who? Part 2). I would much more prefer my Top 200 90s rock countdown, but this one is easier to work with in this context. If you want to look at the website where this countdown resides: https://www.classicrockhistory.com/top-200-rock-songs-of-the-90s/

149) Beth Hart "Spiders In My Bed":

150) Coverdale/ Page "Pride and Joy":

151)  Allman Brothers Band "Kind of Bird":

152) Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimmie Vaughan "Hard To Be"::

153 Saraya "Hitchin' A Ride":

154) Van Halen "Amsterdam":

155 Foghat "Jump The Train":

156) Bob Seger "Lock and Load":

157) Donald Fagen "Tomorrow's Girls":

158) Guns N' Roses "Right Next Door To Hell":

159) John Mellencamp "Your Life Is Now":

160) Allman Brothers "Bad Rain":

161) Maria McKee "The Way Young Lovers Do"

I'm sparing you from the 15:00 minute live version. Although this is a very good song, I haven't ever paid much attention to Gov't Mule. 162) Gov't Mule "Blind Man In The Dark":

163) 162) Bikini Girl "Rebel Girl":

164) Yes "Lift Me Up":

165) Rush "Nobody's Hero":

themusicaddict

(Finished January 18th, 2024) Part 1 of The Top 200 Rock Songs of the 90s: Songs 200-184

Hello,

This is the most bizarre rock countdown I've ever seen. It has several songs by Maria McKee (who?), The Allman Brothers (they were okay in the 70s) and Saraya (Who? Part 2). I would much more prefer my Top 200 90s rock countdown, but this one is easier to work with in this context. If you want to look at the website where this countdown resides: https://www.classicrockhistory.com/top-200-rock-songs-of-the-90s/

184) Van Morrison "Raincheck":

185) Texas "In Our Lifetime":

186) The Ramones "I Don't Want To Grow Up":

187) Van Morrison "Lonely Avenue/ You Give Me Nothing But The Blues":

One of the wimpiest songs of all-time. 188) Hootie and the Blowfish "Let Her Cry":

189) Sting "Hung My Head":

190) Donald Fagen "Trans Island Skyway":

191) Bob Dylan "Love Sick":

192) Phish "Fast Enough For You":

What a wimpy song. 193) Eric Clapton "Pilgrim":

194) Paul Simon "The Obvious Child":

195) Todd Rundgren "Change Myself":

This song has no right to be on this countdown. The W. Axl Rose whining and profanity make this song nearly unlistenable. Out of the 30 songs on the two disc "Use Your Illusions" discs this is the 30th best song. 196) Guns N' Roses "Get In The Ring":

197) Tom Waits "Such a Scream":

198) Bob Dylan "Not Dark Yet":

I'm sorry but the man can't sing at all. 199) Bob Dylan "World Gone Wrong":

I didn't think there would be anything worse than the Bob Dylan songs, I was wrong. Somehow this song I never heard of landed at #38 on Classic Rock History's countdown. Just because someone hasn't heard a song doesn't mean it's not good. But now that I have heard this song it's still not good. 200) Tom Waits "Earth Died Screaming":

themusicaddict

(Finished January 20th, 2024) Part 2 of The Top 200 Rock Songs Countdown of the 90s

Hello,

This is the most bizarre rock countdown I've ever seen. It has several songs by Maria McKee (who?), The Allman Brothers (they were okay in the 70s) and Saraya (Who? Part 2). I would much more prefer my Top 200 90s rock countdown, but this one is easier to work with in this context. If you want to look at the website where this countdown resides: https://www.classicrockhistory.com/top-200-rock-songs-of-the-90s/

166) Bruce Springsteen "Local Hero":

167) The Allman Brothers "Nobody Knows":

168) Allman Brothers Band "Seven Turns":

169) Coverdale/ Page "Shake My Tree":

170) Van Morrison "Real Real Gone":

171) David Lee Roth "Slam Dunk":

172) Joe Satriani "Summer Song":

173) Saraya "Queen of Sheba":

174) Maria McKee "Life Is Sweet":

175) Judas Priest "Painkiller":

176) Maria McKee "I'm Gonna Soothe You":

177) Warren Haynes "Soulshine":

178) Korn "Freak On A Leash":

179) Ani Difranco "Worthy":

180) Gov't Mule "Thorazine Shuffle":

181) Gov't Mule "Rocking Horse":

182) Paul McCartney "Beautiful Night":

183) Black Sabbath "TV Crimes":

themusicaddict

(Finished January 14th, 2024) The Best Rock Songs of 2019, Part 2

Hello,

Last blog I reviewed the best rock songs of 1979, This time I'm going to jump ahead 30 years to 2019. Although rock music no longer has the cultural impact that it did as back in the day, it's still thriving. It's not as easy as to find it as before, but it's still out there. Rock on!!

I started this blog series over three years ago. Now in early 2024 I barely remember any of these songs. Then I listen to a lot of these songs and I understand how I forget some of these songs.

18) Rob Thomas "Early In The Morning":

19) Rmblr "Next Time":

20) Papa Roach "Better Than Life":

21) Motley Crue featuring Machine Gun Kelly  "The Dirt":

22) Killer Hearts "Do Your Thing":

23) Volbeat "Die To Live":

24) Wolf Jaw "Piece of Me":

25) Joyous Wolf "Said Too Much":

26) Jeff Lynne's ELO "One More Time":

I really like Kenny Wayne Shepherd, his band and the songs they make. I've liked nearly all of the KWS songs I've heard. I really like their "Blue on Black", "Diamonds and Gold", "Palace of the King" and "True Lies". Truly one of rock's most underrated bands. 27) Kenny Wayne Shepherd "Woman Like You":

Taking a Taylor Swift song and rocking it out. 28) First To Eleven "Lover":

29) Skillet "Victorious":

30) Set It Off "Different Songs":

31) Dr1v3 "Not For Sale":

This song I remember very well and that whole CD is great. 32) The Dark Element "Not Your Monster":

33) Badflower "Wide Eyes":

I had thought Avril's career was over until she came back with this great song. I'm glad I was wrong. 34) Avril Lavigne "Head Above Water":

themusicaddict

(Finished January 14th, 2024) Part 1 of The Best Songs About Defiance, Revolution and Standing Up For Yourself

Hello,

Are you looking for inspiration, courage, catharsis or self-confidence? If you are then this is the blog for you. Get inspired, gain courage, stress releasing catharsis or self- belief through the words and music of some of our greatest musicians. 

1) Rachel Platten "Fight Song":

"You could stand me up at the gates of Hell, but I won't back down." 2) Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers "I Won't Back Down":

They're not gonna take it and neither should you. 3) Twisted Sister "We're Not Gonna Take It": 

4) Gary Clark Jr. "This Land":

5) The Clash "London Calling":

6) Public Enemy "Fight The Power":

7) Rush "Subdivisions":

8) The Clash "I Fought The Law":

9) Green Day "American Idiot/Holiday":

10) U2 "Bullet The Blue Sky":

11) Muse "Resistance":

12) The Violent Femmes "Children of The Revolution":

13) Christina Aguilera "Fighter":

14) John Mellencamp "Authority Song":

15) Sinead O'Connor "No Man's Woman":

16) Patty Smyth "The Warrior":

17) Kelly Clarkson "Stronger":

themusicaddict

(Finished January 12th, 2023) Part 1 of The Best 68 Songs from 41 years Ago February 19th, 1983's Billboard Hot 100

Hello,

These countdowns are from Billboard Hot 100 countdowns. By best songs, obviously that's subjective. I'll include the band, name of song and where that song ranked that week. Those places I skipped a song that indicates that I didn't think that wasn't a good enough song for that countdown. On this blog I've decided to go with all the great songs on that week's countdown. These are the best songs for one week, not the entire year.

1) Patti Austin and James Ingram "Baby, Come To Me" (1):

2) Men At Work "Down Under" (2):

3) Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band "Shame On The Moon" (3):

4) The Stray Cats "Stray Cat Strut" (4):

5) Toto "Africa (5)":

6) Michael Jackson "Billie Jean": (6):

7) Eddie Rabbitt with Crystal Gayle "You and I" (7)":

8) Culture Club "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" (8):

9) Duran Duran "Hungry Like The Wolf" (9):

One of the very first videos I remember seeing on MTV, back when they were new and relevant. 10) Phil Collins "You Can't Hurry Love" (10):

11) Little River Band "The Other Guy" (11):

12) Adam Ant "Goody Two Shoes" (12):

The first song I didn't deem worthy enough to be on this countdown was at 13, Musical Youth's  "Pass The Dutchie". Ironically I saw the remnants of that band in concert this past summer. "Dutchie" is a good enough song, but not quite up with "Billie Jean" or Phil Collins "You Can't Hurry Love". 

13) Sammy Hagar "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy" (14):

14) Kenny Loggins "Heart To Heart" (15):

15) Christopher Cross "All Right" (16):

16) Billy Joel "Allentown" (17):

themusicaddict