NEW! DJ Dave's CRAZY list! (850-826)

[djdave]

Just gimme time.
I love doing this list, but it does take me time.
You're all enjoying this coumtdown,no?
Let's move on!

850. CHINA GROVE-Doobie Brothers(73)(#15-B'board, #3-DJD)
I know, many are burnt out on it, but not me! This and "Music" have always been my 2 faves of them! Strange that neither one hit top 10, but they're both solid classic rock winners. It's the guitar that makes it! Not to mention fine harmonies and that piano!

849. IF-Janet Jackson(93)(#4-B'board, #4-DJD)
Haven't heard this on radio in a while...hmmm...Great guitar, nasty groove, and super sampling of "Someday we'll be together".

848. NOTORIOUS-Duran Duran(86/87)(#2-B'board, #3-DJD)
I don't listen to DD music too much today, maybe I'll give this one a listen again soon. Just kept their string of 80's hits going!

847. NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE-Gloria Gaynor(74/75)(#9-B'board, #5-DJD)
Also loved it in my senior year of HS. No one did this tune better. For a while, she was THE disco diva! Super procuction from Meco Menardo!

846. PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ-Taco(83)(#4-B'board, #2-DJD)
Another 80's tune I LOVED from Day 1, and I've never gotten siock of it. Indonesian-born Dutch citizen TYaco Ockerse, great rendition of old 30's song--LOVE the synth & interpolation of "Gotta dance" as well. One of my fave one-HOT 100 hit wonders of the 80's.

845. SCHOOL DAY-Chuck Berry(57)(#3-B'board, #1-1 wk-DJD)
A rock 'n roll original. Many have covered this, and even Chuck himself used the same melody for "No particular place to go" (love both equally, just different lyrics). Great to hear the word "(roll lips)Dr-r-r-r-op the coin..."! BTW, it's DAY, not DAYS.

844. PARENTS JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND-DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince(88)(#12-B'board, #1-5 wks-DJD)
One of the smartest rap jams ever devised-it won the first Grammy ever for Best Rap erformance/. Even ,my mom LOVES it! To me, nothing said the summer '88 like this! Ah, those butterfly collars...

843. SIGNS-Five Man Electrical Band(71)(#3-B'board, #1-3 wks-DJD)
Great slice of 70's Canadian rock, sort of in the vein of the Guess Who. But lead singer Les Emmerson had a voice all his own. Great powerful protest I can definitely relate to. Sorry, don't have my penny...

842. TIME AFTER TIME-Cyndi Lauper(84)(#1-2 wks-B'board, #3-DJD)
Only have liked it because it was a big hit. Never even heard it until a brief spot on "Entertainment Tonight" saying it was #48 (or so) with a bullet. Like "No one is to blame", this tune is still played to the ground after all these years; hearing it at work on the "PA" certainly doesn't help!

841. WHEN I DIE-Motherlode(69)(#18-B'board, #1-2 wks-DJD)
Another Canadian act, and their only US hit. There is a magical yet haunting presence about this tune for me. I played it about 20 years ago off my sister's records, and fell right away in love with it. Such wonderful blue-euyed soul, p[op & rock! Too bad radio ignores this today. RIP William "Smitty" Smith.

840. HITCHIN' A RIDE-Vanity Fare(70)(#5-B'board, #1-2 wks)
Another of my all-time faves because of a GREAT use of an electric piano, also DIG the organ in the instrumental breakdown! A somewhat Billy Joel/Dennis DeYoungish vocal, this has been a solid fave of mine since I can remember. No short ending, please!

839. I'LL TAKE YOU THERE-Staple Singers(72)(#1-1 wk-B'board, #1-2 wks-DJD)
Not too well known today vs. other 70's soul acts like Barry White and Al Green, they had much R & B success and even 2 pop #1's, both placing in my top 1000. Nothing tops Mavis' voice! Great, almost reggae-ish rhythm. RIP Pops.

838. LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID-Paul McCartney & Wings(75)(#1-1 wk-B'board, #2-DJD)
I just might get unanimous approval with this. Has always been one of my fave Wings tunes, great shuffle groove! Great bass, I must say! LOVE the ending!

837. THE OTHER WOMAN-Ray Parker Jr.(82)(#4-B'board, #2-DJD)
His first hit outside his band Raydio, this really ROCKS! Don;'t say that much for an R & B artist, but good for Ray broadening his pop/mellow funk horizons. I just LOVED watching this on Solid Gold!

836. SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT-Nirvana(91/92)(#6-B'board, #12-DJD
The song that started a whole new movement that hasn't quit after more than a decade. It was so nice (really!) of this tune to set the pace, but all others were copycats. To me, a solid grunge anthem. Nevermind may have been overrated, but it's still a great album. RIP Kurt.

835. SKY HIGH-Jigsaw(75)(#3-B'board, #3-DJD)
What's with 1975 and these Paul soundalikes? Another song that should meet unanimous approval! This is absolutely perfect (notwithstanding I've LOVED this a LOT after nearly 28 years!), great disco feel, super strings, as well as Des Dyer's great vocal. From a little known film "The dragon flies".

834. VALLERI-Monkees(68)(#3-B'board, #1-1 wk-DJD)
Never klnew this song too much until around '87. But from then, it's been nowhere but up with this! I just may have to investigate the "alternate" version I've been "hearing" about! Fine Boyce & Hart writing, this tune was over a year old when it finally hit.

833. BANG A GONG (GET IT ON)-T. Rex(72)(#10, B'board, #3-DJD)
I thought it was quite OUTSTANDING for a
"glam" or "glitter" rock tune to hit hit US top 10 back in the earlier 70's. The scene was very rampant in the UK, and this tune is truly a glitter masterpiece. A great 1-2 punch with this and the Power Station versions. RIP Marc.

832. SPECIAL LADY-Ray, Goodman & Brown(80)(#5-B'board, #1-2 wks-DJD
Boy did I LOVE this in the spring '80! Trio formerly known as the Moments. Just so nice. "Cause you gotta be sitting on top of the world!"

831. THE POWER OF LOVECeline Dion-Celine Dion(94)#1-4 wks-B'board, #23-DJD)
She made this Jennifer Rush (via Laura ranigan) tune her own. After 3 previous top 10 hits, she finally became HUGE in the US, a position I'm sure she won't relinquish soon, now that she's got it goin' in Vegas. Seriously, I really warm up to this tune!

830. SEXUAL HEALING-Marvin Gaye(82/83)(#3-B'board, #3-DJD)
Couldn't believe it at first when this debuted in the top 40 at #19! But the song got good pop airplay, and it's all right not to hear it so much in the last 2 decades. Good for a relaxing evening.

829. FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME-Foreigner(77)(#4-B'board, #3-DJD)
A BIG 3 WOOOO HOOOO's for this!!! #3 on my very firsty song list ever, I've never stopped going crazy for this, perhaps the all time best debut hit EVER!!! LOVE to DEATH the synth (by Ian McDonald, I believe), especially in the bridge. KILLER guitar opening from Mick, not to say the least of Lou's POWERFUL vocals. One of the best ever. Forever in my top 1000. NO single edit!!! (as on Rhino's 70's box set and "Records")

828. EVERLASTING LOVE-Carl Carlton(74)(#6-B'board, #2-DJD)
I've heard so many people say they like this version equally wioth Robert Knight's original. Not me! Much snappier feel good style! Almost disco in sound, and better vocal too!

827. EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL-Main Ingredient(72)(#3-B'board, #3-DJD)
Another great one that should be locked in my top 1000 forever. Some of the 70's best soul, bar none. Great vocal by Cuba Gooding (Yes, THE father of "Jr."!). Cute xylophone hook, as well as a fine production and orhestration. Solid.

826. SHINING STAR-Earth, Wind & Fire(75)(#1-1 wk-B'board, #3-DJD)
Hard to believe their only pop #1, yet they had several R & B #1's. Used a lot on one computer ad a while back (lasted maybe 2 months). Super horns, LOVE the way Maurice says "big and strong". Top-notch!

More on the way!

[Ken]

Hey Dave - Love the list

850 - Still get a great feeling when I hear the intro! Heard this alot around the house growing up.

847 - I had this (well I still have it) on a K-tel comp when I was little - Superstars

846 - I didn't mind this one - I've started to hear this on the radio again recently.


845 - LOVE it! easily one of Chuck's best - I remember listening to it alot back in the 80's.

844 - Even though I hate rap - I have to admit that looking back, there was a lot of humour
in his lyrics and videos.


843 - Killer track Dave! I've always loved it!


842 - IMO her best song - It has such a great feel to it. Loved it since first hearing it in '84.

841 - I remember hearing this every so often as a kid my brother had it on an 8 - track of K-tel's Canadian Mint album - Good tune!

840 Me too Dave - I've loved it ever since I can remember such a great "feel good" song Love that cowbell, and piano as well. It was included on the soundtrack to the movie Now and Then:)


839 - Can you say Funky? what a groove baby

838 - Remember buying the 45 back in '75 - along with The Eagles One of These Nights ! - Still have the Picture sleeve as well . Looooove it , it brings back great memories of that time.


835 - It gets my stamp of approvel Dave ! I had it on a ktel album at the time as well as on CD but my cousin got it on disc before I did . Back in the early 90's I was at his house and he had just bought a 2 CD set of 60's / 70s british rock and we both hadn't heard it in along time and when it got to this song he cranked up the stereo and he must have played it about 8 times in a row. A good time was had by all LOL!


834 - Remember this well of course from the TV show
love both versions but still haven't found those Missing Links CD Collections (I'm still on the lookout).


833 - It still really suprises me that he didn't have more hits in the U.S.? I remember hearing Jeepster then later on finding a copy of it on 45 in the 80's and just took it for granted that it was a huge it and was shocked to find out it wasn't. I love Bang a Gong very , very much.


830 - Such a tragic end for a guy with so much talent - remember hearing it quite often at the time.

829 - One of rocks best intro's of all time, just a rockin' tune all the way . Killer stuff.


827 - A great song that I didn't hear till much later. You're so right Dave , a very solid tune .I recently included it on a two volume CD set I made of Soul / R + B tunes.

826 - Although My #1 fave is September - This is in my top 3 faves of their's .

[55dodger]

Lots of good songs here. My Favorites
China Grove - Could never get burnt out this song
Never Can Say Goodbye
Putting on the Ritz - Great song, love the way the used it in Young Frankenstein
School Day
Signs
Time after Time
When I Die/Hitchin' A Ride/I'll Take You There - three great AM rock songs from the early 70s
Listen to What the Man Said - A favorite from Sir Paul
Sky High
Valleri
Bang a Gong
Sexual Healing/Feels Like the First Time/Everlasting Love - three pretty good love songs
Everybody Plays the Fool
Shining Star

[SAT-I need more room!!]

Sorry I've missed quite a few sections Dave. I just don't seem to get much time on here all at once.

843. YES! Great one! I like Tesla, but gotta stick with the original here.

839. Good tune.

838. OH, great one from Paul! 70s memories......*SIGH*

837. Not a bad one.

835. YES, total Paul soundalike! How could you go wrong trying to sound like Paul in 75?? Love this tune, and it's one that I THINK I heard back then, but not sure! LOL!

834. The 1967 version, recorded for the TV show is so much better. Raw, more garage band like, and not as "controlled" sounding. I bet this is the way the Monkees WANTED to sound!

829. Even worse then the single edit, is the VIDEO edit! Cut down even MORE!! Ever seen that Dave?

826. An all time fave! My wife and I used to dance to this. In my top 10 I believe.

[Dawn]

850. CHINA GROVE-Doobie Brothers(73)
A classic! I remember this well from back in the day.

848. NOTORIOUS-Duran Duran(86/87)
One of my favorite Duran songs - very catchy!

847. NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE-Gloria Gaynor(74/75)
Oh, childhood memories! I've loved it since first hearing it in late '74.

846. PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ-Taco(83)
I didn't like this at all back in '83, but it's grown on me.

842. TIME AFTER TIME-Cyndi Lauper(84)
Wonderful song from Cyndi, but I agree, a little overplayed.

841. WHEN I DIE-Motherlode(69)
I first heard this in 1999, and loved it immediately. A true "lost" classic!

840. HITCHIN' A RIDE-Vanity Fare(70)
Great early 70's pop!

838. LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID-Paul McCartney & Wings(75)
Absolutely superb, one of Paul's best! Love it! Brings back lots of memories of summer '75.

837. THE OTHER WOMAN-Ray Parker Jr.(82)
Very overlooked today, but I've always liked it.

836. SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT-Nirvana(91/92)
I disliked this song until VERY recently - like 3 weeks ago! But I heard it on the radio one morning, and it sort of "spoke" to me, I guess, and I realized I did like it after all.

835. SKY HIGH-Jigsaw(75)
Love this! Another one that really brings back memories.

834. VALLERI-Monkees(68)
I first heard this one in fall 1987. One of my favorites of theirs.

832. SPECIAL LADY-Ray, Goodman & Brown(80)
Absolutely wonderful! Loved this back in the day, and still do!

830. SEXUAL HEALING-Marvin Gaye(82/83)
Great Marvin tune - I've always liked it.

829. FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME-Foreigner(77)
One of their best! Excellent guitar work.

828. EVERLASTING LOVE-Carl Carlton(74)
I don't care much for Robert Knight's version, but this one is great.

826. SHINING STAR-Earth, Wind & Fire(75)
Thumbs up on this one! Very funky groove and great horns!

[Triple J]

DJ said:

848. NOTORIOUS-Duran Duran
846. PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ-Taco
844. PARENTS JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND-DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
838. LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID-Paul McCartney & Wings
836. SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT-Nirvana
834. VALLERI-Monkees
831. THE POWER OF LOVE-Celine Dion
830. SEXUAL HEALING-Marvin Gaye
827. EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL-Main Ingredient

848 - Their first comeback hit after "Power Station" & "Arcadia."
846 - Always loved it! Back then it was retro from the 30's, now it's retro from the 80's.
844 - LOVE IT!!! Probably my fave rap song.
838 - My fave track from "Venus & Mars."
836 - Classic album! Way ahead of its time. No wonder it started this revolution.
834 - #69 on my countdown! If it helps, the TV version is in the episode "Captain Crocodile" in the Monkees Season 1 box set on DVD in stores now. ;D
831 - One of my faves from her. I don't care what anyone says, I like it.
830 - Always liked the blond backup singer in the video.
827 - I can relate to it. (LOL)

[rabbit46]

Howdy, Dave!
Best this time around:

847. Never can say goodbye
846. Puttin' on the ritz
845. School day
842. Time after time
840. Hitchin' a ride
839. I'll take you there
838. Listen to what the main said
835. Sky high
834. Valleri (probably the best one today)
832. Special lady
831. The power of love
828. Everlasting love (Another super tune!)
827. Everybody plays the fool
826. Shining star

You know I love this countdown! Don't stop now!

BR

[H2IZCOOL]

847. NEVER CAN SAY GOODBYE-Gloria Gaynor(74/75) I'm not a disco fan, but of the several interpretations of this song, I like this one best.

846. PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ-Taco(83) Always liked this one. Very good cover. (The only cover I like better is the one by Gene Wilder and Peter Boyle in "Young Frankenstein". )

845. SCHOOL DAY-Chuck Berry(57) Yeah, I know its "Day" even though I wrote "Days" myself answering another post recently. Great song! Hail Hail Rock N Roll !!

844. PARENTS JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND-DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince(88) This is about the only rap I'll listen to.

843. SIGNS-Five Man Electrical Band(71) Good song, although somewhat overplayed in its day. Also never liked the way that radio stations would edit out the intro.

842. TIME AFTER TIME-Cyndi Lauper(84) A reasonable song from Sister Orange Hair

841. WHEN I DIE-Motherlode(69) I think this song got buried a little by the fact that BS&T's And When I Die was out at the same time.

840. HITCHIN' A RIDE-Vanity Fare(70) Good song, but another one that was overplayed.

839. I'LL TAKE YOU THERE-Staple Singers(72) Yes!!!

838. LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID-Paul McCartney & Wings(75) Pretty good song. I kinda lump it, however, with a lot of other Wings songs from that era. They were all similar in that they were all unusual (if that makes any sense).

836. SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT -Nirvana(91/92) I actually like this song -- but I like Weird Al's spoof better.

835. SKY HIGH-Jigsaw(75) - Oh yeah! Love that echo. One of my faves from 75.

834. VALLERI-Monkees(68) - Didn't know the song was a year old when it hit. I do know that stations were first playing the flip (Tapioca Tundra) for a few weeks, and I remember someone saying that the other side was better. Then they started playing Valleri - and it was better.

833. BANG A GONG (GET IT ON)-T. Rex(72) I like the T Rex much better than Power Station. Good song!

832. SPECIAL LADY-Ray, Goodman & Brown(80) I didn't know they were the Moments. Not a bad song.

829. FEELS LIKE THE FIRST TIME-Foreigner(77) I do like this one, although probably not as enthusiastically as Dave.

828. EVERLASTING LOVE-Carl Carlton(74) I really don't find that much difference between the two versions, and with the little difference there is, I like Knight's better.

827. EVERYBODY PLAYS THE FOOL-Main Ingredient(72) Cuba Gooding SENIOR ?? Wow! That's a great piece of trivia. This one's Top 100 in my book! - No exception to the rule.

[Kat]

China Grove - I could never get tired of this song, never!

Never Can Say Goodbye - One of the radio stations down here used to play disco hits every Friday or Saturday night, and this is one of the songs I always sang along to.

Puttin' On The Ritz - Have absolutely loved this song since first hearing it in '83. I remember dropping everything I was doing if MTV was playing the video.

Parents Just Don't Understand - I agree, Dave! Cool song, one of my faves from that year.

Time After Time - Overplayed, but I always liked it.

I'll Take You There - Love it!

Listen To What The Man Said - Can't go wrong here.. A favorite of mine, definately!

Smells Like Teen Spirit - Gotta agree with Rali here. *lol*

Bang a Gong (Get It On) - Another favorite.

Sexual Healing - Perfect when you're with the one you love, and there's a fire going. Excellent song!

Everlasting Love - Heard this on the radio a while back and had to tape it.

Shining Star - Kick *ss song! One that makes me wanna get up and dance.