Features

David Bowling's 101 Favorite Songs

(More Or Less)

by David Bowling

I realized several things while contemplating my favorite songs. First, I’m really getting old. Second, I prefer older music. Third, I am somewhat mainstream, but there are exceptions. Fourth, my tastes have changed with the passage of time.

I have approached this article by years beginning with the first record I purchased with my own money. That means nothing before 1964. So here is my 57-year journey of favorite songs.

1964
Jan & Dean -- “Little Old Lady From Pasadena”jananddean_littleoldlady_150
The first record I ever bought with my own money, so it has to be on the list.

Roy Orbison  -- “Oh, Pretty Woman”
The first artist I ever collected, so his biggest hit has to be on the list.

The Temptations -- “My Girl”
“Sunshine on a cloudy day.”

The Beach Boys -- “All Summer Long”
This title song from the Beach Boys is the ultimate ode to the eternal summer.

The Beatles -- “I Feel Fine”
This song had me from the guitar feedback.

1965
Bob Dylan -- “Like A Rolling Stone”
God bless Bob Dylan and Al Kooper.

The Byrds -- “Mr. Tambourine Man”
God bless Bob Dylan and Roger McGuinn’s 12-string guitar.

The Stone Poneys -- “Different Drum”
Perfect pop from Linda Ronstadt’s initial group.

1966
Phil Ochs -- “The Highwayman”
Angry folkie Phil Ochs shows a different side by fusing his music with a poem by Alfred Noyes.

The Byrds -- “Eight Miles High”
Psychedelic music takes flight.

Jefferson Airplane -- “Somebody To Love”  jeffersonairplane_pillow_150
I wish I could say it was only Grace Slick’s voice.

The Spencer Davis Group -- “Gimme Some Lovin’”
First great performance by a young Stevie Winwood.

The Beach Boys -- “God Only Knows”
Sometimes simple is best, even for The Beach Boys.

1967
The Jimi Hendrix Experience -- “The Wind Cries Mary”
I saw Hendrix perform twice. This one still resonates.

Cream -- “Tales Of Brave Ulysses”
Great early song by Cream.

Rolling Stones -- “2000 Light Years From Home”
Rare psychedelic foray by The  Stones.

1968
The Human Beinz -- “Nobody But Me”
This one made me want to dance, almost.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience -- “Crosstown Traffic”
Frenetic, even for Hendrix.

Blood, Sweat & Tears -- “You Made Me So Very Happy”
So popular and so underrated.

The Velvet Underground -- “White Light/White Heat”
A searing 17 minutes that was in no way connected to the summer of love.

1969
Led Zeppelin -- “Whole Lotta Love”
I still anticipate the guitar solos.

Rolling Stones -- “Midnight Rambler”
Mellow blues by the world’s greatest rock and roll band.

Zager & Evans -- “In The Year 2525”
The ultimate one hit wonder.

1970
Ten Years After -- “Sugar The Road”
Obscure track from a somewhat obscure album.

Led Zeppelin -- “Immigrant Song”
I was the only person in my college dorm who liked Led Zeppelin’s third album better than the first two.

Derek And The Dominos -- “Layla”
Duane Allman and Eric Clapton.

Rolling Stones -- “Love In Vain”
Mick Taylor pushes the Stones to one of the great blues performances of their career.

Joni Mitchell -- “The Circle Game”
Simple and profound folk music by Joni Mitchell.

Brook Benton -- “Rainy Night In Georgia”
Beautiful ballad in the midst of a changing musical landscape.

Simon & Garfunkel -- “Bridge Over Troubled Water”simongarfunkel_bridge
And the voices soar.

1971
Rolling Stones -- “Brown Sugar”
The Rolling Stones in rock ‘n’ roll mode.

The Doors -- “Riders On The Storm”
Jim Morrison at his ominous best.

1972
Eagles -- “Take It Easy”
“A girl in a flat-bed ford slowing down to take a look at me.” Well, not me but I could dream.

Yes -- “Roundabout”
The editor of The Daily Vault worships Yes, so I must include at least one of their songs. This is also a great one.

Bob Seger -- “Turn The Page”
A weary rock classic.

1973
The Allman Brothers -- “Ramblin’ Man”
Dickie Betts’ guitar solo makes you ache.

Eagles -- “Already Gone”
The Eagles has perfect harmonies. These are better.

Deep Purple -- “Rat Bat Blue”
Another obscure track that not many people, besides me, remember.

Judy Collins -- “Secret Gardens”
I always wish Judy Collins had written more songs. The older I get, the more this song speaks to me.

Elton John -- “Crocodile Rock”
Just a simple and enjoyable pop rocker.

1974
Bob Dylan -- “Forever Young”
Dylan at his simple best.

Linda Ronstadt -- “When Will I Be Loved”
Great cover of an Everly Brothers song.

Elton John -- “The Bitch Is Back”
Tough and up-tempo.

1975
Bob Seger -- “Katmandu”
Early rocker from Seger.

The Doobie Brothers -- “Take Me In Your Arms”
The Doobies as they should always be.

Joan Baez -- “Diamonds & Rust”
It’s all about the imagery.

1976
Gordon Lightfoot -- “Summertime Dream”
Title song from my favorite Gordon Lightfoot album.

Boston -- “More Than A Feeling”boston_s-t
Still can’t get enough of this song.

Thin Lizzy -- “The Boys Are Back In Town”
Guys I would like to hang out with.

Rod Stewart -- “Tonight’s The Night”
Great ballad; oh yeah!

1977
Dave Edmunds -- “I Knew The Bride”
Could have been autobiographical.

Billy Joel -- “Only The Good Die Young”
Great rocker, plus Catholic girls.

Meat Loaf -- “Bat Out Of Hell”
Meat Loaf at his bombastic best, and don’t forget Todd Rundgren’s guitar work.

1978
Dire Straits -- “Sultans Of Swing”
Mark Knopfler was one of very few guitarists who could create a Clapton sound.

1979
Eagles -- “Heartache Tonight”
Memorable beginning and perfect harmonies.

The Pretenders -- “Brass In Pocket”
It was all about Chrissie Hyde’s imagination.

1980
Bob Seger -- “Betty Lou’s Getting Out Tonight”
One of Seger’s best rockers.

Bob Seger -- “Against The Wind”
Seger trying so hard.

Journey -- “Anyway You Want It”
Catchy power pop.

1981
The Stray Cats -- “Rock This Town”
Rockabilly for the modern age.

J. Geils Band -- “Freeze Frame”
Just a catchy rocker, which in this case is enough.

1982
John Mellencamp – “Jack And Diane”
Any song that has “sucking on a chili dog” in the lyrics has got to make the list.

Men At Work -- “Down Under”
Quirky beat that stays with you.

1983
John Mellencamp -- “Pink Houses”
Some of the best rock this side of Bruce Springsteen.

The Pretenders -- “2000 Miles”pretenders_learning
Chrissie Hyde at her best.

1984
Bruce Springsteen -- “Born In The USA”
Ringing anthem by The Boss.

Bruce Springsteen -- “Glory Days”
A song for anyone at least 10 years out of high school.

1985
John Mellencamp -- “Small Town”
Gritty rock for the common man or woman.

Dire Straits -- “Walk Of Life”
This one just percolates along.

1986
Bob Seger -- “American Storm”
Seger saves a blah music year.

1987
Mark Knopfler -- “Once Upon A Time – Storybook Love”
From the Princess Bride. I watched the movie so many times with my daughters that the songs stayed with me.

1988
The Style Council -- “The Garden Of Eden”
My musical tastes take an odd turn.

Steve Earle -- “Copperhead Road”
Country music takes an odd turn.

1989
Carole King -- “City Streets”
The video works better. Eric Clapton provides the lead guitar and produces one of the purest sounds of his career.

Pat Benatar -- “Suffer The Little Children/Hell Is For Children”
This is the live version and a career defining performance.

1990
Lou Reed and John Cale -- “A Dream”
Former Velvet Underground bandmates are mellowing a bit.

1991
Mary Chapin Carpenter -- “Down At The Twist And Shout”
Just a joyful dance tune.

Bob Dylan -- “Blind Willie McTell”
How many great songs has Bob Dylan produced?

1992
Mary Chapin Carpenter -- “Passionate Kisses”marychapincarpenter_comeon_150
This one (written by the great Lucinda Williams) would make my top 10 list.

1993
Meat Loaf -- “Wasted Youth”
Still bombastic after all these years.

Sting -- “Fields Of Gold”
Pastoral song of beauty.

1994
Martina McBride – “Independence Day”
McBride’s voice just soars.

John Mellencamp -- “Wild Night”
Mellencamp pulls off a great cover of a Van Morrison song.

1995
Martina McBride -- “Wild Angels”
McBride’s voice continues to soar.

1996
Lou Reed – “Set The Twilight Reeling”
I miss Lou Reed.

1997
Sarah Brightman -- “Alleluia”
Mozart and Brightman’s voice: who could ask for anything more.

1998
Faith Hill -- “This Kiss”
Perfect fusion of pop and country.

Aretha Franklin -- “A Rose Is Still A Rose”
One of dozens of great songs by the Queen Of Soul.

1999
Mary Chapin Carpenter -- “The Shirt”
Great, if somewhat unknown, story song.

Richard Thompson -- “Cocks Ferry Queen”
Best work outside of Fairport Convention.

2000
Joni Mitchell -- “Both Sides Now”
Reimagining her classic folk song with a light jazz touch.

2001
The Velvet Underground -- “Heroin”
A live version of what rock is all about surfaces.

2002
Bruce Springsteen -- “The Rising”
He just keep producing great song after great song.

2003
Procol Harum -- “The Question”
An underappreciated band creates a perfect rock song.

2004
Kelly Clarkson -- “Breakaway”kellyclarkson_breakaway_150
Pop perfection.

2005
Rolling Stones -- “This Place Is Empty”
The ultimate Keith Richards vocal.

2006
Eric Burdon -- “Soul Of A Man”
Song epitomizes a half-century of his music.

Bruce Springsteen -- “O Mary Don’t You Weep”
Some songs are just waiting to be covered.

2007
Gary Moore -- “Eyesight To The Blind”
Modern electric bluesman channeling Sonny Boy Williamson.

2008
Kid Rock -- “All Summer Long
Great party song.

2009
Ana Popovic -- “Blues For M”
The woman can play and sing the blues!

2011
Lady Gaga -- “Born This Way”
What can I say, even I like this song.

2012
Mumford & Sons -- “I Will Wait”
It’s all about the pause in the middle.

Fun. -- “Some Nights”
Another perfect pop tune.

2014
Meghan Trainor -- “All About That Bass”
I enjoy the cleverness of it all.

2015
Lindsay Sterling -- “Hallelujah”
The official video works best.pentatonix_xmas_150

2016
Pentatonix – “Hallelujah”
Listening to a lot of Pentatonix lately.

2019
Pentatonix -- “The Sound Of Silence”
Perfect harmonies.


All content © The Daily Vault unless otherwise stated. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any article or any portion thereof without express written consent of The Daily Vault is prohibited. Album covers are the intellectual property of their respective record labels, and are used in the context of reviews and stories for reference purposes only.