Monthly Archives: November 2008

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Song of the Day #103: ‘All I’ve Got to Do’ – The Beatles

I consider With The Beatles the worst album by the Fab Four (though it does sport the second most-famous of their album covers). Now, admittedly, saying “this is the worst Beatles album” is kind of like saying “this is the worst nude photo of Eva Mendes.” But I’m big on lists, so there you have it.

The album’s best-known song is ‘All My Loving,’ which is a great song indeed. Their excellent take on ‘You Really Got a Hold On Me’ is another classic, while Paul’s take on the showtune ‘Till There Was You’ is a little corny for my taste. The rest is a mix of cover tunes and simple Beatles rockers.

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Song of the Day #102: ‘There’s a Place’ – The Beatles

I’ve gone 101 songs without once picking The Beatles, so I’m remedying that now by dedicating a whole theme week to the world’s greatest band.

Today through Friday, I will highlight a song from each of The Beatles’ first five albums, in order. These are the albums that preceded Rubber Soul, Revolver and Sgt. Pepper’s, and for my money they contain many of the greatest songs ever written.

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Song of the Day #101: ‘Under African Skies’ – Paul Simon

Here’s another entry in that Greatest Albums Ever sweepstakes, and this one might just be the easy winner. Paul Simon’s Graceland was a revelation when it was released in 1986 and it remains a revelation today. Blending African rhythms with his city-boy pop aesthetic, Simon crafted a masterpiece that artists are still drawing inspiration from 25 years later (see: Vampire Weekend).

This is an album that never gets old. Even ‘You Can Call Me Al,’ which got more than its share of airplay on radio and MTV, still sounds fresh today. It’s that potent combination of the infectious rhythm tracks and Simon’s brilliant lyrics… you can always find something new in these songs.

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Song of the Day #100: ‘Miami 2017’ – Billy Joel

For my 100th Song of the Day, I wanted to do something special. I was digging through my collection looking for songs that contained the number ‘100’ (without success) when I happened upon this great Billy Joel track. And it felt epic and important enough to warrant this place of honor.

‘Miami (2017)’ was first released on the Turnstiles album, but the version I’ve always loved best is the live recording found on Songs in the Attic. The song is about a future skirmish that wipes out New York City, and this version was performed in Manhattan in front of an electrified crowd that screams in unison at every mention of a New York landmark.

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