The return of the Music List Project

A little over two years ago, I posted about my ongoing interest in the question, "if I were to make a list of my favorite songs, what would they be, and in what order?" I wrote, in part...

"I started to compile such a list…and took a break when I noticed it had grown to 448 entries...the task seemed daunting...I returned to a different idea. What if I could make a "best of" playlist for just one year? Such compilations exist, and most of them I’ve found to be disappointing. Simply put, I’m not interested in what sold the most. I just want to hear what I want to hear.

I found a site that listed virtually every song released by year...I’ve worked on this on and off when I could make a few moments. It could be the best method might be for me to work on each year separately, then eventually combine all the lists into one. Talk about a long term project."

(And if you want to review my list for 1973, go here.)

I didn't claim then, and I'm not claiming now, that these were the "best" songs of the year, just a ranking of what I like. And so without further ado, I now give you my favorite music from...

1969

1. Sea Of Joy – Blind Faith
First of all, find the “Blind Faith” album with the “B” cover, the one with the photograph of the band. The “A” cover I will not describe here, except to say it was a terrible choice, and turned off a lot of people from listening to the album. Pity, they missed some great music. I enjoy the first five songs almost equally well, but I’m a bit more likely to listen to this one. Maybe it’s the electric violin.
2. Ramble On – Led Zeppelin
My favorite of theirs, I like both the music and the Lord Of the Rings references.
3. Badge – Cream (with George Harrison sitting in).
My favorite song from the “Goodbye” album.
4. Can’t Find My Way Home – Blind Faith
Steve Winwood’s vocals are great here.
5. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – The Band
A great song, and this original version is the one I like most.
6. Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
My favorite from “Abbey Road”.
7. You Never Give Me Your Money – The Beatles
Then again, this might be my favorite from “Abbey Road”…it’s a close call. The piano intro and vocals here just might be John Lennon’s best moment.
8. (tie) Oh Well – Fleetwood Mac
Before the Beginning – Fleetwood Mac
I can’t choose, they’re both great. Before the Beginning (the last track on the US release of “Then Play On”) is the same music as “Blues in B Flat Minor”, an earlier release - but with lyrics this time. And nothing else quite sounds like Oh Well. You might have heard that before, at least the first couple of minutes. Most radio stations cut off the slower, more quiet part 2, with the Spanish guitar. Peter Green wrote this, and I’ve read that it’s about his conversion from Judiasm to Christianity.
9. Cinnamon Girl – Neil Young
One of his best. Listen all the way to the end to hear that nice guitar harmonic (often cut off on the radio).
10. Black Magic Woman - Fleetwood Mac
You’re more familiar with the Carlos Santana cover, but this original is great too. It has much more of a traditional blues ending.
11. Green River – Creedence Clearwater Revival
To me, this is the definitive CCR sound.
12. With a Little Help From My Friends – Joe Cocker
His best, in my opinion (they used this for the TV show “The Wonder Years”). The original by The Beatles is great of course, but if anything, I like this cover a little bit better.
13. What a Bringdown – Cream
Another great song from “Goodbye”.
14. Dreams – Allman Brothers Band
One of their best.
15. Baby It’s You – Smith
I like this “one hit wonder” a lot. The original is good too, but this cover is another song that doesn’t quite sound like anything else.
16. Coming Your Way – Fleetwood Mac
“Then Play On” was quite the experimental album, and while some of the tracks didn’t do much for me, this is another one I really like.
17. (tie) Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End medly – The Beatles
Sun King / Mean Mister Mustard / Polythene Pam /
She Came In Through the Bathroom Window medly – The Beatles
“Abbey Road” strikes again – I like these two medlys equally well.
“Sunday’s on the phone to Monday, Tuesday’s on the phone to me, oh yeah.”
18. Albatross – Fleetwood Mac
An obscure instrumental, and perhaps the smoothest song I’ve ever heard; from Peter Green, the king of sustain. If this one doesn’t relax you, well I’m sorry, I can’t help you. Probably not a good choice for driving music, if you need help staying alert behind the wheel.
True story…one evening in September 1977, a local rock station was airing an early Fleetwood Mac special, and this song came on. I was enthralled, but was called away before I could hear the title. It was the evening of the great Plaza flood. While we weren’t in a low lying area, we were on our way to 16 ½ inches of rain in 24 hours, and the ground was more than saturated. The sump pump was backing up, and I spent the rest of the night taking turns with my mom and dad, frantically bailing the basement. 30 years later, I made a lucky guess on the song title, heard a clip from the internet, checked out a CD from the library, and was able to enjoy the entire song again.
19. The Israelite – Desmond Decker and the Aces
One of the first – if not the first – reggae song on “Top-40” radio. It’s fun, I like it, and “I don’t want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde” either.
20. Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Another great Creedence song.
21. (tie) Something – The Beatles
Oh! Darling – The Beatles
More fun from “Abbey Road”.
22. Presence Of The Lord – Blind Faith
Another great song from the album. Eric Clapton expresses his Christian faith here.
23. Had To Cry Today – Blind Faith
First track on the album.
24. Living In the Past – Jethro Tull
One of their better early efforts, I think.
25. Well…All Right – Blind Faith
A good, if unusual, cover of a Buddy Holley song.
26. Doing That Scrapyard Thing – Cream
If you don’t recognize the title, you’re not alone. You’d have to have gotten deep into the “Goodbye” album – the next to the last track. Fun song.
27. Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’ – Crazy Elephant
More “top-40” fun from another “one hit wonder”. I have this one on a 45 rpm record.
28. Cowgirl In the Sand – Neil Young
Ranked here more for the combination of the sound of the music with the lyrics, than for the lyrics just by themselves. If that makes any sense.
29. (tie) It Came Out Of the Sky – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Down On the Corner – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Commotion – Creedence Clearwater Revival
All good, fun Creedence music.
30. Proud Mary – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Probably the most recognizable CCR song to most people, and maybe the most copied. I rank it a hair behind the others; nothing wrong with it, but it’s been played So Much.
31. Pinball Wizard – The Who
From the rock opera “Tommy”, of course.
32. Eli’s Coming – Three Dog Night
One of their better efforts, I think.
33. Born On the Bayou – Creedence Clearwater Revival
34. Rock Me – Steppenwolf
35. The Court Of the Crimson King – King Crimson
Yes, it has an oppressive feel…not what you’d call cheerful. Interesting moment in progressive rock / art rock though; I figured it ought to make my list right about here even though I listen to it very rarely these days. Nothing else that I’ve heard sounds like this one. I read once somewhere that the band toyed with the idea of recording this as a country song…that would have been something to hear.
36. Astronomy Domine – Pink Floyd
While on the subject of progressive rock / art rock / space rock, this is early Floyd from two years into their tenure. Bought the Ummagumma album right after it came out; thought this was pretty wild. Still have the album. By the way, I’ve heard “Domine” here pronounced as three syllables “Dah-min-ee”.
37. Whipping Post – The Allman Brothers Band
As I’ve revised this list several times, this one has floated up and down a couple of points. I’ll peg it here at number 37.
38. Feeling Allright – Joe Cocker
“…Cause every night I have the strangest dream”
39. She Came In Through the Bathroom Window – Joe Cocker
His cover of The Beatles (see list number 17, above). 1969 really was his year.
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It might be a bit of a stretch to call the rest of this list "favorites" for the year, but I like them well enough that if they come on the radio, I don't turn down the volume or change stations, at least not usually. They're worth mentioning here, anyway.
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40. Come Together – The Beatles
I used to like this more…it’s another song that’s been played a Whole Lot.
41. You Can’t Always Get What You Want – The Rolling Stones
I’ll admit I’m not much of a Stones fan. But this one from “the bad boys” is listenable.
42. Hawaii Five-O – Ventures
A great TV show theme.
43. (tie) The Last Steam Engine Train – Leo Kottke
Crow River Waltz / Jesu, Joy Of Man’s Desiring – Leo Kottke
Easter and the Sargasso Sea – Leo Kottke
I didn’t hear these until maybe 1972 or 1973, when I became a Leo Kottke fan and listened to any record of his I could get my hands on. I like some of his later stuff better.
44. (tie) I’m Free – The Who
Amazing Journey – The Who
Go To the Mirror! – The Who
Three more I like equally well from “Tommy” (see note number 31).
45. (tie) Lodi – Creedence Clearwater Revival
The Midnight Special – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Poorboy Shuffle / Feelin’ Blue – Creedence Clearwater Revival
More good Creedence music.
46. I’m So Glad (live version) – Cream
The only reason I don’t rate this higher is that I prefer the studio version.
47. Trouble No More – The Allman Brothers Band
48. Marrakesh Express – Crosby, Stills & Nash
49. Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye – Steam
50. I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Marvin Gaye
Creedence would go on to cover this later, for another excellent version.
51. One – Three Dog Night
52. Bouree – Jethro Tull
53. This Magic Moment – Jay and the Americans
I once had a conversation with a college friend who worked at a radio station. The subject “which year had the most change in rock and roll” came up. I suggested 1969, starting early in the year with “This Magic Moment” and ending with the “Led Zeppelin II” album. He agreed I might have something there…maybe.
54. Evil Ways – Santana
If Carlos Santana hadn’t done anything else, I’d rate this higher…but in my mind, I can’t help comparing it with some of his other songs I like a lot better.
55. Up On Cripple Creek – The Band
“…we had Spike Jones on the box, she said ‘I can’t stand the way he sings, but I love to hear him talk’”
56. Communication Breakdown – Led Zeppelin
57. A Saucerful Of Secrets (live version) – Pink Floyd
Floyd’s early “space rock” was…different. I have to be in the right mood these days to want to hear this one.
58. Nothing Is Easy – Jethro Tull
59. I’m a Man – Chicago
60. Get Together – Youngbloods
61. Leaving On a Jet Plane – Peter, Paul and Mary
Nice.
62. Atlantis – Donovan
I used to like this more; have it on a 45 rpm record.
63. I Say a Little Prayer – Aretha Franklin
64. Both Sides Now – Joni Mitchell
65. I Can’t Get Next To You – Temptations
66. Smile a Little Smile For Me – The Flying Machine
Another one hit wonder. As my tastes – especially back then – ran more towards classic rock than pop, I don’t really know and can’t explain why I like this one, but I do.
67. Crimson and Clover – Tommy James and the Shondells
At the end of the song (the”over and over” part), close your eyes and imagine that you and the band are under water. Yes I know…that was ornery of me.
68. Ma Cherie Amour – Stevie Wonder

Honorable mention:

All You Need Is Love (re-release) - The Beatles
I will put this on my 1967 list when I get around to that one.

Like Crying – Fleetwood Mac

Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley

Kentucky Woman – Deep Purple

Wait a Million Years – Grassroots

Hot Fun In the Summertime – Sly and the Family Stone

Somebody To Love – Jefferson Airplane

Barabajagal (Love Is Hot) – Donovan

Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head – B. J. Thomas

Someday We’ll Be Together – Diana Ross and the Supremes

Galveston – Glen Campbell

Kozmic Blues – Janis Joplin

Crystal Blue Persuasion – Tommy James and the Shondells

Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

Ruben James – The First Edition