Top 350 songs in my 50 years of music – 280-261:

280. Get Ready – Rare Earth. … Smokey Robinson wrote this song for the Temptations, but I prefer the rocking version of it that reached No. 4 on the charts in 1970.

279. Takin’ Care of Business – Bachman Turner Overdrive. … Randy and the boys from Winnipeg were workin’ overtime.

278. Ain’t Even Done With the Night – John Cougar Mellencamp. … Mr. Mellencamp is more known for epic songs such as “Jack & Diane” and “Pink Houses,” but I liked this soulful piece best from him along with “Justice and Independence.”

277. Dancing with tears in my eyes – Ultravox. … “Dancing with tears in my eyes, weeping for the memory of life gone by. Dancing with tears in my eyes, living out the memory of love that died.” Electric rock from the band led by the under-appreciated Midge Ure, who played a big part in Live Aid along with Bob Geldof.

276. Saturday in the Park – Chicago. … I can dig it. The band’s early stuff was outstanding, including “Beginnings,” “Colour My World,” and “Just You and Me,” along with another much later on the list.

275. Thinking of you – Loggins & Messina. … One of the great short tunes (2:19) of all time and a big hit in 1972 for Kenny and Jimmy. “This is it” from Kenny was also the best intro music for an NCAA Tournament ever (1980).

274. Like a Hurricane – Neil Young. … One of the most versatile artists ever could produce such wonderful songs with the acoustic guitar and record epic pieces like this with the electric flowing. “You are like a hurricane. There’s calm in your eyes.”

273. Save Me – Aimee Mann. … This beautiful song ends the compelling, but sometimes crazy go nuts, movie “Magnolia.”

272. You Might Think – The Cars. … One of the greatest videos of all time, especially when Ric Ocasek knocks the guy out of the prom photo. “You might think I’m crazy. All I want is you.”

271. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond. … This one is dedicated to Mike Corcoran and A.J. Calabro, who absolutely love this song. LOL. The tune was featured on a terrific live album called “Hot August Night.”

270. Luka – Suzanne Vega. … Sad song, somewhat ahead of its time, about a woman hiding domestic abuse. Made it to No. 3 on the billboard chart in 1987.

269. Fight the Power – Public Enemy. … Released in 1989, the song still resonates today. Sometimes we don’t fight the right power in this country.

268. Gonna Fly Now – Bill Conti. … Makes you want to drink an egg and run for miles and miles like Rocky.

267. Magic Man -- Heart. … Classic, hard-rocking tune from the wonderfully talented Wilson sisters.

266. Bitch – Meredith Brooks. … One-hit wonder Brooksie belted it way out of the park with this memorable grammy-nominated tune that reached No. 2 on the billboard chart in 1997.

265. Down to the Waterline – Dire Straits. … Magnificent guitar work here from Mark Knopfler and the boys. Second only to Sultans.

264. You Better You Bet – The Who. … From one of their best albums in my opinion, “Face Dances.”

263. Dig Down Deep – Marc Cohn. … He walked in Memphis, but this acoustic number resonated with me more. “I don’t wanna go up the mountain. I don’t need to go down to the sea. I’m gonna sit right here till we unravel, this mystery.”

262. Times Like These – Foo Fighters. … “It’s times like these you learn to live again. It’s times like these you give and give again. It’s times like these, you learn to love again. It’s times like these, time and time again.”

261. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynard Skynard. … The guy at the turn table played this song as Alabama-Huntsville was finishing up a victory in the UConn Hockey Classic final many years ago. While the Chargers tapped their sticks on the ice in approval, Huskies coach Bruce Marshall had steam coming out of his ears. LOL.