My 100 Songs

My 100 Songs | My SECOND 100 Songs | My THIRD 100 Songs

My FOURTH 100 Songs | My FIFTH 100 Songs

My intent here is to make my personal version of Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time with the knowledge that there is really NO TOP 100 or 500 rock 'n roll songs, it's all individual preference. 

This first group of 100 will be the easiest because each song has a deep personal meaning to me. Many of these songs also have some long-term memory moment in time like listening to The Rolling Stones, (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction on my Sony transistor radio in 1965 on my front yard grass. 

Also, I have not rated my list, "Best 1-100" but in this series I will always start and end a set of 100 with my favorite band of all-time, The Beatles.

The first album that I ever owned, I actually stole, The Beatles ‎– A Hard Day's Night (Original Motion Picture Sound Track). It was taken by me from my grandfather's record collection that I found in his wooden console record player at his house. I believe my dad told me he belonged to the Columbia Record Club and must have gotten this one thrown in as a bonus because I knew he didn't listen to it. I guess I'm explaining my childhood rationalization for stealing this album and even now feel I took it more as a need than a want. And boy, what an album it was and still is. I'm listening to George Martin produce the boys and won't even know who he is until several years later!

Playing records was something my parents never really did at our house, so this record was my start and made me feel that I was part of something different from my parents point of view. I'm actually visiting the childhood house now on Tunnell St. (Santa Maria, CA) where I started to play my own 45's and albums, in my room. 

I lived in a home where rock 'n roll was not embraced. I vividly remember my parents and church friends, The Reyburns, over at our old house on Sunset St. on a memorable Sunday evening. The parents were putting down The Beatles during their performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, as my brother, sister and I (along with the Reyburn children) were trying to tune the adults out and tune into the wonderful Beatles and their screaming fans on our black and white TV.

In 1967, my grandfather passed away and that wooden stereo console and his record collection, including Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra came to our house. I think like most American homes, the stereo console was off limits to the children, but we all sneaked our albums onto the best sound system in the house when our parents were gone.

At a certain point, my parents gave up and let us play our records on the console until the vacuum tubes got heated up and eventually were worn out by the early 70's. What a time, Buffalo Springfield on the stereo console and the Vietnam War live on the TV console. These two beasts of technology played across from each other in our converted garage to family room with our new indoor/outdoor blue/green carpet.

From junior high 1966, music was a big part of my friends lives and thus became a big part of my life. As I moved into high school and through college, there were the larger than life bands, the break-ups, the new bands, the new single artist's, all with the blending of acoustic, electric and American musical genres. 

From the car radios, the new portable stereo systems and the concert experiences, music was right there for all my friends and me. Today, we still never stop talking about all the music- old and new. Here in this playlist, you are going to hear mostly 60's and 70's songs that I bonded with and are a part of me today. I'm sure if you read my blog on a regular basis, there are more than a few songs here that have always stayed with you too.

 As I write this, it's starting to rain right now on the family room roof and that's a good memory too. The old forced-air heater has just whirled on and it's time for some Thanksgiving pie for breakfast. Take care my friends.

My 100 Songs

1. Hard Days Night, The Beatles
2. Penny Lane, The Beatles
3. Sweet Baby James, James Taylor
4. Like A Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan
5. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, The Rolling Stones
6. The Boys of Summer, Don Henley
7. Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys
8. The Water Is Wide, Karla Bonoff
9. This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody), Shawn Colvin
10. Light My Fire, The Doors
11. Both Sides Now, Joni Mitchell
12. I Can See For Miles, The Who
13. The Sounds Of Silence, Simon and Garfunkel
14. I Should Have Known Better, The Beatles
15. Doolin-Dalton / Desperado (Reprise), Eagles
16. All Along The Watch Tower, Jimi Hendrix
17. Ruby Tuesday, The Rolling Stones
18. In My Room, The Beach Boys
19. Rock & Roll Woman, Buffalo Springfield
20. Bye Bye Love, The Everly Brothers
21. Here, There and Everywhere, The Beatles
22. Mary Jane's Last Dance, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
23. Faithless Love, Linda Ronstandt
24. Cinnamon Girl, Neil Young
25. Lake Marie, John Prine
26. It's Too Late, Carole King
27. She Loves You, The Beatles
28. Bad Moon Rising, Creedence Clearwater Revival
29. Sugar Mountain, Neil Young
30. Cecilia, Simon and Garfunkel
31. Levon, Elton John
32. Nowhere Man, The Beatles
33. Blowing In The Wind, Bob Dylan
34. Street Fighting Man, The Rolling Stones
35. Spare Me A Little Of Your Love, Fleetwood Mac
36. Vincent, Don McLean
37. Running Down A Dream, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
38. Green Onions, Booker T. & The MG's
39. Wooden Ships, Crosby, Stills & Nash
40. Wake Up Everybody, Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes
41. Lovers Of The Sun, The Jayhawks
42. Revolution, The Beatles
43. Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Neil Young
44. Fly Me To The Moon, Tony Bennett
45. Gimme Shelter, The Rolling Stones
46. Wichita Lineman, Glen Campbell
47. I Want To Hold Your Hand, The Beatles
48. Carry On, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
49. On Step Up, Bruce Springsteen
50. Crossroads, Cream
51. Here Comes The Sun, The Beatles
52. Learning To Fly, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers
53. Tell Me Why? Neil Young
54. Ride My See-Saw, The Moody Blues
55. Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters, Elton John
56. Instant Karma, John Lennon
57. Eight Miles High, The Byrds
58. American Tune, Paul Simon
59. Ol' 55, The Eagles
60. Bargain, The Who
61. Blackbird, The Beatles
62. Badge, Cream
63. Harmony, Elton John
64. Prisoner In Disguise, Linda Ronstadt
65. Day Tripper, The Beatles
66. Speed Of The Sound Of Loneliness, John Prine
67. Scarborough Fair/Canticle, Simon and Garfunkel
68. Under Pressure, Queen and David Bowie
69. If I Fell, The Beatles
70. Sultans Of Swing, Dire Straits,
71. Wandering, James Taylor
72. The Late Show, Jackson Browne
73. Let It Rain, Eric Clapton
74. You Make Loving Fun, Fleetwood Mac
75. My Back Pages, The Byrds
76. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology), Marvin Gaye
77. Lonesome Town, Ricky Nelson
78. Ventura Highway, America
79. To The Morning, Dan Fogelberg
80. And Your Bird Can Sing, The Beatles
81. A Song For You, Leon Russell
82. Without You, Harry Nilsson
83. Catch The Wind, Donovan
84. Hello It's Me, Todd Rundgren
85. Circus, Eric Clapton
86. Cause We've Ended As Lovers, Jeff Beck
87. Song For Juli, Jesse Colin Young
88. Sunny Came Home, Shawn Colvin
89. Mr. Blue Sky, Electric Light Orchestra
90. Hello In There, John Prine
91. I'll Be Back, The Beatles
92. Sail Away, Randy Newman
93. Silver Blue, J.D. Souther
94. Eleanor Rigby, The Beatles
95. Losing My Religion, REM
96. The Heart of the Matter, Don Henley
97. You Can Close Your Eyes, James Taylor and Joni Mitchell
98. Monday Monday, The Mamas & The Papas
99. All You Need is Love, The Beatles
100. Satie: Gymnopedie No. 1, Christopher Parkening

My 100 Songs Playlist