I like the songs, # 11-20

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11. Longhaired Redneck - David Allan Coe - we have a long-standing American tradition of people who are famous for being famous: Zsa Zsa Gabor, Paris Hilton, and current veep nominee Zsa Zsa Palin. But David Allan Coe got out of an Ohio prison, bought some sort of old Cadillac hearse and put decals all over it billing himself as the Legendary Stardust Cowboy. It got him a certain amount of attention, and for a while he cut and wrote some pretty good songs, such as this one, but today as he ekes out a living touring the biker bar circuit, he's back to where he began when he left the Big House: famous for WANTING to be famous.

12. Highway to Hell - AC-DC "May I first point out, St. Peter, that I in no way liked the message of nihilism espoused in that song? That bantam-sized lead singer Ronald "Bon" Scott made the lyrics come hauntingly true when he drank himself into a early grave? You see, St. Peter, all I liked about that song was the vocal performance and the amazing chunky guitar of Angus Young. So may I come in now, please?"

13. Roundabout - Yes - A long one, and a bit close to the dreaded Art Rock of the early 70's, but something about a wonderful world where mountains come out of the sky and they just stand there dragged me along. In or around the lake, it sounded good.

14. Bristol Stomp - The Dovells - Ibid

15. Buddy Holly - Weezer - I liked Weezer doing their song "Buddy Holly" and it made me wonder if Buddy, were he still alive, could be doing a song called "Weezer." The Beatles got their name as a tribute to The Crickets, Buddy's band, and of course Weezer got their name from the derisive nickname applied to leader Rivers Cuomo, a childhood asthma victim. They made a great video of this one, a takeoff on Happy Days.

16. The Other Side - Aerosmith - You have to admit that for being almost twenty years old, this song still sounds great on the way to work in the morning. I don't know if Steven Tyler can still scream the line "I'm looking for another kind of loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove" in quite the original fashion anymore, but don't ever count out a Toxic Twin.

17. Young Americans - David Bowie - After Bowie got out of his epicene cross dressing glam rock glitter phase, he started putting out some records that really had something to say, and then he quickly stopped doing that and put out dance hits. So my favorite Bowie era was when he was writing stanzas such as
Scanning life through the picture windows She finds the slinky vagabond He coughs as he passes her Ford Mustang, but Heaven forbid, she'll take anything But the freak, and his type, all for nothing He misses a step and cuts his hand, but Showing nothing, he swoops like a song She cries "Where have all Papa's heroes gone?"

and then it ended.

18. Life - Sly and the Family Stone - "Life! Life! Clouds and Clowns! You don't have to die before you live!" It's a book's worth of wisdom in a quick pop song. You talk about a wasted talent. Sly Stone was a DJ, he produced those hits by the Beau Brummels ("Laugh Laugh" and "Just A Little") and then he formed the Family Stone, the first integrated, gender-diverse group ( except for Lawrence Welk, but you know...) So many great songs, and then he looked down at his nose at everything and lost it all. He had to look down his nose so he could shove drugs up it. Pity.

19. Dance To The Music - Sly and the Family Stone - I couldn't choose between these two by Sly, so I squeezed them both on my list. This was their first hit, and probably their most well-known. Like very few other hits from 1968, this one would still sound like it was recorded today if you listened to it tomorrow. So why don't you?

20. In Dreams - Roy Orbison - there are some voices that no one else's voice sounds a bit like. Roy Orbison, Burl Ives, totally unique. The "Big 'O'" (!) from Wink, Texas, did not sound like anyone else ever has or will, and this wistful one from the early 60's must be a sweet balm to any yearning heart.