Rate the Songs! Dec. 2

[Dawn]

As promised, Rate the Songs, the feature from earlier this year, is back! I'll be doing this twice-weekly, most likely on Tuesdays and Fridays from this point on. Each post will feature 10 songs. Please feel free to add comments, etc.

Here is the scale we used earlier:

5.0 - A song you absolutely love, one of your absolute favorites
4.0 - While not quite top-tier, a song you enjoy a lot
3.0 - Not a favorite, but you basically like it
2.0 - A "meh" song, you could take it or leave it
1.0 - Yikes! Turn that song off!

****************************************************

1. Show Me the Way - Peter Frampton 3.75
Still a compelling song, although it does tend to be overplayed on stations with a classic rock format. I'm not as fond of the studio version as the live (and most famous one)...it's not bad, but it lacks the energy of the live version.

2. A Beautiful Morning - The Rascals 4.25
Felix Cavaliere was a master of blue-eyed soul. Such a relaxing, perfectly crafted tune.

3. The Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel 4.0
One of the songs I've grown to appreciate more as I've gotten older. Very ethereal and haunting.

4. The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr. 3.5
This is one of the songs that people tend to either like or strongly dislike. I am in the "like" category...yes, it is a bit on the "sweet" side, but I remember it fondly from hearing it as a kid. It's one of those songs that captures the innocence of the past, and could only have been a hit pre-1980s.

5. Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin' - Journey 2.75
I would have ranked this higher were it not for the extended "na, na, na na's" at the end of the song, which drag down the whole thing. Not a bad song, though.

6. Gemini Dream - Moody Blues 4.75
A big favorite of mine when I first heard it in 1981, and remains so to this day. An all-around great song.

7. Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins 1.5
Phil's cover of You Can't Hurry Love succeeded better than this. The tempo is much too slow, and seems to drag on.

8. Rhythm is Gonna Get You - Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine 2.0
So many of Gloria's songs have not aged well unfortunately, and this is one example.

9. Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson 3.5
Ricky's voice had such a maturity to it, it's hard to believe he was barely 18 years old when this was released.

10. Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac 4.25
Great interplay between the keyboard and guitar, and Christine McVie's vocals are top-notch. Not heard as often as Rhiannon or Dreams, but equally good.

What say you?

[Jughead]

1. Show Me the Way - Peter Frampton
3.5

2. A Beautiful Morning - The Rascals
4.0

3. The Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel
4.0 - I agree...I thought the song was too depressing when I first heard it, but it's quite good.

4. The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr.
3.0 - I like it...but I'm not in love with it.

5. Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin' - Journey
1.25 - I hate songs that overuse the non-word of "Na".

6. Gemini Dream - Moody Blues
3.75

7. Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins
2.25 - Normally, Phil Collins does good versions of older songs, but this one wasn't that great.

8. Rhythm is Gonna Get You - Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine
3.0 - I'm grading it a bit higher than you, Dawn, but agree with you on the Miami Sound Machine needing an upgrade.

9. Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson
4.75 - I always loved this song!

10. Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac
4.0

Great songs to start off the feature again!

[H2IZCOOL]

Glad you brought this back, Dawn!

1. Show Me the Way - Peter Frampton 3.3
I prefer the live version as well. It's a good song, but for some reason that I can't explain, I just don't like the "talkin' guitar" in this song.

2. A Beautiful Morning - The Rascals 3.5
Another good song, but I think it pales in comparison to How Can I Be Sure.

3. The Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel 4.6
I've always loved this one. I think it's the best example of good overdubbing from the original 1963 accoustic version. It's #155 in my top 250.

4. The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr. 2.8
Probably if I had been a kid when this came out Iwoould have loved it also. But, alas, I was already 28.

5. Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin' - Journey X.XX
I have to find this on YouTube when I get home, because I'm not remembering it from the title.

6. Gemini Dream - Moody Blues 4.2
Real good one! I've always liked their music, but have gotten deeper into it over the past 5 or so years.

7. Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins 2.0
I just don't really care for Phil's voice - regardless of what he is singing.

8. Rhythm is Gonna Get You - Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine 3.2
Not my favorite by her, but it is OK.

9. Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson 3.7
This is a good song. One of my faves by him. But I've never quite bought into the "Ricky Nelson is a pioneer of Rock Music" mantra. There is not a bit of difference, IMO, between Rick and Frankie Avalon or Bobby Rydell.

10. Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac 4.1
I've always liked this one.

[edehl]

1. Show Me the Way - Peter Frampton 3.0
Yeah, I agree that it's overplayed. However, it's a fun tune.

2. A Beautiful Morning - The Rascals 4.50
Reminds me of the summer sunshine.

3. The Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel 4.5
Is there nothing that Simon/Garfunkel did that wasn't awesome? One of my faves. It reminds me of being a little kid.

4. The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr. 2.0
Who can take a rainbow? Only Sammy can..

5. Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin' - Journey 2.0
Never been a huge fan of this song.

6. Gemini Dream - Moody Blues 4.5
For the longest time, I didn't know what song this was until I posted the lyrics online somewhere. Since then, I made sure I had it handy -- I've got it on a compilation CD. A great early 80s song.

7. Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins 1.5

8. Rhythm is Gonna Get You - Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine 1/0

9. Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson 3.0

10. Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac 3.0

[Ken]

1. Show Me the Way - Peter Frampton 4.75
Yes, classic rock overplays it, but I still really love it!
I totally agree Dawn, the studio version really lacks the punch heard on the live version.

2. A Beautiful Morning - The Rascals 4.75
I'm a huge fan of The Rascals, among their best.

3. The Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel 4.75
A real haunting quality to it, I like it, very, very much.

4. The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr. 3.5
I'm also in the "like" category as well. I don't listen to it a lot, but when I do it also transports me back to when I heard it as a kid.

5. Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin' - Journey 4.0
I've always enjoyed this.

6. Gemini Dream - Moody Blues 4.75
I remember recording this off the radio, back in '81, still a terrific track

7. Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins 3.0
I thought Phil, did a pretty good job with it, however I agree it's downfall is that he slowed it down just a bit too much.

8. Rhythm is Gonna Get You - Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine 2.0
I was never a huge fan, it was ok.

9. Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson 4.0
Great stuff!

10. Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac 4.75
A killer track from Christine, I've always loved her voice. Great drumming from Mick on this as well!

[m c dornan]

1. Show Me the Way - Peter Frampton 2.5
Only thing I liked by him was "Do You Feel Like We Feel"

2. A Beautiful Morning - The Rascals 4.0


3. The Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel 5.0
In a poetry group I used to go to, one person mentioned this as an example of poetry in popular music, and everyone agreed.

4. The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr. 2.0


5. Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin' - Journey 1.0
Lovin' Touchin' Screechin'


6. Gemini Dream - Moody Blues 3.0
Maybe one of the better ones in the post-Classic 7 era.

7. Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins 1.0
Where's the grooviness? There are funeral dirges more cheerful than this.

8. Rhythm is Gonna Get You - Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine 3.0
I like the wordless vocal bridge in the middle (and where else would a bridge be?)

9. Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson 3.5


10. Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac 3.75
One of the best in the pop-ified Buckingham Nicks era. The ending instrumental is very lovely and reflective.

[Dawn]

Dec 2, 2009 15:48:02 GMT -5 Jughead said:

1. Show Me the Way - Peter Frampton
3.5

2. A Beautiful Morning - The Rascals
4.0

3. The Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel
4.0 - I agree...I thought the song was too depressing when I first heard it, but it's quite good.

4. The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr.
3.0 - I like it...but I'm not in love with it.

5. Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin' - Journey
1.25 - I hate songs that overuse the non-word of "Na".

6. Gemini Dream - Moody Blues
3.75

7. Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins
2.25 - Normally, Phil Collins does good versions of older songs, but this one wasn't that great.

8. Rhythm is Gonna Get You - Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine
3.0 - I'm grading it a bit higher than you, Dawn, but agree with you on the Miami Sound Machine needing an upgrade.

9. Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson
4.75 - I always loved this song!

10. Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac
4.0

Great songs to start off the feature again!

Thanks Juggie!

I agree about overusing the "na"'s...a little of those goes a long way.

[Dawn]

Dec 2, 2009 16:33:12 GMT -5 H2IZCOOL said:

Glad you brought this back, Dawn!

1. Show Me the Way - Peter Frampton 3.3
I prefer the live version as well. It's a good song, but for some reason that I can't explain, I just don't like the "talkin' guitar" in this song.

2. A Beautiful Morning - The Rascals 3.5
Another good song, but I think it pales in comparison to How Can I Be Sure.

3. The Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel 4.6
I've always loved this one. I think it's the best example of good overdubbing from the original 1963 accoustic version. It's #155 in my top 250.

4. The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr. 2.8
Probably if I had been a kid when this came out Iwoould have loved it also. But, alas, I was already 28.

5. Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin' - Journey X.XX
I have to find this on YouTube when I get home, because I'm not remembering it from the title.

6. Gemini Dream - Moody Blues 4.2
Real good one! I've always liked their music, but have gotten deeper into it over the past 5 or so years.

7. Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins 2.0
I just don't really care for Phil's voice - regardless of what he is singing.

8. Rhythm is Gonna Get You - Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine 3.2
Not my favorite by her, but it is OK.

9. Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson 3.7
This is a good song. One of my faves by him. But I've never quite bought into the "Ricky Nelson is a pioneer of Rock Music" mantra. There is not a bit of difference, IMO, between Rick and Frankie Avalon or Bobby Rydell.

10. Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac 4.1
I've always liked this one.

Thanks Ed!

I will have to check out the acoustic version of The Sounds of Silence.

[Dawn]

Dec 2, 2009 23:34:46 GMT -5 edehl said:

1. Show Me the Way - Peter Frampton 3.0
Yeah, I agree that it's overplayed. However, it's a fun tune.

2. A Beautiful Morning - The Rascals 4.50
Reminds me of the summer sunshine.

3. The Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel 4.5
Is there nothing that Simon/Garfunkel did that wasn't awesome? One of my faves. It reminds me of being a little kid.

4. The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr. 2.0
Who can take a rainbow? Only Sammy can..

5. Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin' - Journey 2.0
Never been a huge fan of this song.

6. Gemini Dream - Moody Blues 4.5
For the longest time, I didn't know what song this was until I posted the lyrics online somewhere. Since then, I made sure I had it handy -- I've got it on a compilation CD. A great early 80s song.

7. Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins 1.5

8. Rhythm is Gonna Get You - Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine 1/0

9. Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson 3.0

10. Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac 3.0

My parents had Simon & Garfunkel's Greatest Hits album when I was growing up, so a lot of those songs remind me of childhood, too. Always nice to hear their music.

[Dawn]

Dec 3, 2009 1:08:29 GMT -5 Ken said:

1. Show Me the Way - Peter Frampton 4.75
Yes, classic rock overplays it, but I still really love it!
I totally agree Dawn, the studio version really lacks the punch heard on the live version.

2. A Beautiful Morning - The Rascals 4.75
I'm a huge fan of The Rascals, among their best.

3. The Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel 4.75
A real haunting quality to it, I like it, very, very much.

4. The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr. 3.5
I'm also in the "like" category as well. I don't listen to it a lot, but when I do it also transports me back to when I heard it as a kid.

5. Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin' - Journey 4.0
I've always enjoyed this.

6. Gemini Dream - Moody Blues 4.75
I remember recording this off the radio, back in '81, still a terrific track

7. Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins 3.0
I thought Phil, did a pretty good job with it, however I agree it's downfall is that he slowed it down just a bit too much.

8. Rhythm is Gonna Get You - Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine 2.0
I was never a huge fan, it was ok.

9. Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson 4.0
Great stuff!

10. Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac 4.75
A killer track from Christine, I've always loved her voice. Great drumming from Mick on this as well!

I'm the same way with "Candy Man." I think it would lose some of its appeal if I listened to it really often, but it never fails to bring back memories on the occasions I do hear it.

[Dawn]

Dec 3, 2009 14:32:41 GMT -5 m c dornan said:

1. Show Me the Way - Peter Frampton 2.5
Only thing I liked by him was "Do You Feel Like We Feel"

2. A Beautiful Morning - The Rascals 4.0


3. The Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel 5.0
In a poetry group I used to go to, one person mentioned this as an example of poetry in popular music, and everyone agreed.

4. The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr. 2.0


5. Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin' - Journey 1.0
Lovin' Touchin' Screechin'


6. Gemini Dream - Moody Blues 3.0
Maybe one of the better ones in the post-Classic 7 era.

7. Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins 1.0
Where's the grooviness? There are funeral dirges more cheerful than this.

8. Rhythm is Gonna Get You - Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine 3.0
I like the wordless vocal bridge in the middle (and where else would a bridge be?)

9. Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson 3.5


10. Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac 3.75
One of the best in the pop-ified Buckingham Nicks era. The ending instrumental is very lovely and reflective.

I agree, I think the person who described The Sounds of Silence as poetry hit the nail right on the head. Great songwriting.

[Dawn]

Ok, let's see how these songs fared in our rankings:

1. Show Me the Way - Peter Frampton 3.47

2. A Beautiful Morning - The Rascals 4.17

3. The Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel 4.48

4. The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr. 2.8

5. Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin' - Journey 2.2

6. Gemini Dream - Moody Blues 4.16

7. Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins 1.88

8. Rhythm is Gonna Get You - Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine 2.37

9. Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson 3.74

10. Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac 3.98

****************************************************

Our top three: The Sounds of Silence, A Beautiful Morning, Gemini Dream

Our bottom three: A Groovy Kind of Love, Lovin', Touchin', Squeezin', Rhythm is Gonna Get You

Thanks for voting and commenting!! Another round of songs will be up shortly.

[H2IZCOOL]

Dec 4, 2009 12:30:48 GMT -5 Dawn said:

Dec 2, 2009 16:33:12 GMT -5 H2IZCOOL said:

Glad you brought this back, Dawn!

1. Show Me the Way - Peter Frampton 3.3
I prefer the live version as well. It's a good song, but for some reason that I can't explain, I just don't like the "talkin' guitar" in this song.

2. A Beautiful Morning - The Rascals 3.5
Another good song, but I think it pales in comparison to How Can I Be Sure.

3. The Sounds of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel 4.6
I've always loved this one. I think it's the best example of good overdubbing from the original 1963 accoustic version. It's #155 in my top 250.

4. The Candy Man - Sammy Davis Jr. 2.8
Probably if I had been a kid when this came out Iwoould have loved it also. But, alas, I was already 28.

5. Lovin', Touchin' Squeezin' - Journey X.XX
I have to find this on YouTube when I get home, because I'm not remembering it from the title.

6. Gemini Dream - Moody Blues 4.2
Real good one! I've always liked their music, but have gotten deeper into it over the past 5 or so years.

7. Groovy Kind of Love - Phil Collins 2.0
I just don't really care for Phil's voice - regardless of what he is singing.

8. Rhythm is Gonna Get You - Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine 3.2
Not my favorite by her, but it is OK.

9. Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson 3.7
This is a good song. One of my faves by him. But I've never quite bought into the "Ricky Nelson is a pioneer of Rock Music" mantra. There is not a bit of difference, IMO, between Rick and Frankie Avalon or Bobby Rydell.

10. Over My Head - Fleetwood Mac 4.1
I've always liked this one.

Thanks Ed!

I will have to check out the acoustic version of The Sounds of Silence.

Dawn, when I read your answer, I went to do a little research on the song, and found some interesting things. My mention of the original version coming out in 1963 was incorrect, I believe it was 1964. The Wiki article on the song en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sounds_of_Silence claims that it was written in the aftermath of the JFK assassination, implying that it was written about the assassination. I know that that theory was never raised back in the day., or at least I never heard it, and I was in college at the time, where I think I certainly would have heard it. Other articles don't even mention JFK, and in a couple, Paul Simon is quoted as saying that he really didn't intend any meaning for the song; it just all came together.

[Dawn]

Dec 4, 2009 13:09:59 GMT -5 H2IZCOOL said:

Dec 4, 2009 12:30:48 GMT -5 Dawn said:

Thanks Ed!

I will have to check out the acoustic version of The Sounds of Silence.

Dawn, when I read your answer, I went to do a little research on the song, and found some interesting things. My mention of the original version coming out in 1963 was incorrect, I believe it was 1964. The Wiki article on the song en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sounds_of_Silence claims that it was written in the aftermath of the JFK assassination, implying that it was written about the assassination. I know that that theory was never raised back in the day., or at least I never heard it, and I was in college at the time, where I think I certainly would have heard it. Other articles don't even mention JFK, and in a couple, Paul Simon is quoted as saying that he really didn't intend any meaning for the song; it just all came together.

That's interesting about the Wikipedia claim - I wonder what their source was? I've read that several pop songs were written in response to the event, but The Sounds of Silence wasn't one of them, at least not that I recall.

[H2IZCOOL]

Dec 4, 2009 13:22:22 GMT -5 Dawn said:

Dec 4, 2009 13:09:59 GMT -5 H2IZCOOL said:

Dawn, when I read your answer, I went to do a little research on the song, and found some interesting things. My mention of the original version coming out in 1963 was incorrect, I believe it was 1964. The Wiki article on the song en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sounds_of_Silence claims that it was written in the aftermath of the JFK assassination, implying that it was written about the assassination. I know that that theory was never raised back in the day., or at least I never heard it, and I was in college at the time, where I think I certainly would have heard it. Other articles don't even mention JFK, and in a couple, Paul Simon is quoted as saying that he really didn't intend any meaning for the song; it just all came together.

That's interesting about the Wikipedia claim - I wonder what their source was? I've read that several pop songs were written in response to the event, but The Sounds of Silence wasn't one of them, at least not that I recall.

Wiki claims this as the source: Victoria Kingston, Simon and Garfunkel : the definitive biography, London, Sidgwick & Jackson, 1995.

Now, the Wiki article never says that Simon wrote it because of the assassination, just in the aftermath of it. But the Wiki author never goes back to elaborate on that sentence. Very strange.