20. American Pie – Don McClean. … The folk artist from New York penned
this epic tune basically about the tragic death of Buddy Holly – the day the
music died – and the declining civilization. Was No. 1 on the billboard chart for
several weeks in 1972. “Now the halftime air was sweet perfume, while the
sergeants played a marching tune. We all got up to dance, oh, but we never got
the chance.”
19. Ridin’ In My Car – NRBQ. … The New Rhythm and Blues Quartet (previously
Quintet) became a concert favorite in the Northeast during my youth with their
blend of many styles and fun lyrics. Paul McCartney, Keith Richards and Bob
Dylan reportedly were fans. Al Anderson wrote this nifty little love song in
the mid 1970s. “It’s been a year and a day since I talked to you. I don’t know
how I made it, but I sure have been blue.”
18. Any Major Dude Will Tell You – Steely Dan. … Donald Fagen and
Walter Becker produced some amazing songs and may not have been any better than
on “Pretzel Logic,” which was released in 1974. This smooth tune was released
as a B-side from that album and references a mythical creature from Northern
Pennsylvania called a squonk. “Any major dude with half a heart surely will
tell you my friend. Any minor world that breaks apart falls together again.”
17. A Man I’ll Never Be – Boston.
… Never been a huge fan of Wall-of-Sound songs, but this band did it better
than anyone and was on the top of its game with this emotional top-40 hit. The
“power ballad” is basically about how difficult it is to live up to
expectations. “If only I could find a way, I’d feel like I’m the man you
believe I am. And it gets harder every day for me, to hide behind this dream
you see.”
16. The Boys of Summer – Don Henley. … The Eagle with a golden voice
wrote this tune reportedly about “questioning the past” and it recounts the
time he saw a “dead head sticker on a Cadillac.” He won a Grammy for his vocal
performance on the song in 1986 that came from perhaps his best solo effort,
“Building the Perfect Beast.” “I can tell you my love for you will still be
strong, after the boys of summer have gone.”
15. Tiny Dancer – Elton John. … Some songs don’t just work perfectly in
a movie scene, they make you recognize how really good they are. That is the
category this gem, written by Bernie Taupin about California girls, falls into
from a great album named “Madman Across the Water.” “Pretty eyed, pirate smile,
you’ll marry a music man. Ballerina, you must have seen her dancing in the
sand.”
14. Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin. … Not a big fan of Jimmy Page
and Robert Plant, but you have to appreciate their talent and work writing one
of the most iconic, powerful songs of all time. Plant once described the lyrics
as about “a woman getting everything she wanted without giving back,” and not
finding meaning to her life in a way.
13. Hello It’s Me – Todd Rundgren. … If I would ever do Karaoke (fat
chance), this would be the song I would perform. There’s not a better tune I
sing in the car. Really. Todd is a tremendous musician, who I saw later in his
career at the Wolf Den for free!, and this song has always moved me.
12. Hurricane – Bob Dylan. … Some 17 years after Bob’s brilliant and
controversial protest song, I read a captivating story by William Nack in
Sports Illustrated on Rubin “Hurricane” Carter in 1992 that made me appreciate
it even more. The tune tackled racism and privilege like few others.
Unfortunately, racial hate is still way too prominent in our society. In some
ways, it’s more disgusting than ever. “Now all the criminals in their suits and
their ties, are free to drink martinis and watch the sun rise. While Rubin sits
like Buddha in a 10-foot cell, an innocent man in a living hell.”
11. Jungleland – Bruce Springsteen. … The Boss’ near 10-minute epic
story of love and gang violence on the mean streets closes one of the best
albums ever made, “Born to Run.” The late, great Clarence Clemons provided the
best saxophone solo of all time to top it off. “The street’s alive as secret
debts are paid, contracts made, they vanish unseen. Kids flash guitars just
like switch-blades. Hustling for the record machine.”
