Matthew’s Top 100 Unskippable Songs
Random Awesome
As I was mowing the lawn yesterday, listening to my iPod, I had a not so profound thought (I had plenty of time to think … the lawn is 60 acres). My 80G iPod is packed to the limit and when I play it on the random setting, I usually skip through half of the songs – not because I don’t like them but because it depends on what kind of mood I’m in. However, there are some songs that I just can’t skip. No matter how many times I listen to them or what kind of mood I’m in. The album and version are important – some songs are much better live some are much better as a cover by another artist. Some are great songs in the history of music, some are mostly unknown, and the rest are just plain corny. I’ll let you be the judge. Here is Matthew’s Top 100 Unskippable Songs:
- (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher by Jackie Wilson on the on the album The Very Best of Jackie Wilson
- 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky on the album 1812 Overture, Marche Slave and Francesca da Rimini in Full Score
- 3 Strange Days by School of Fish on the album School of Fish
- A Fly Girl by Boogie Boys on the album City Life
- All about Soul by Billy Joel on the album Billy Joel – Greatest Hits Vol. 3
- All the Small Things by Blink-182 on the album Enema of the State
- At This Moment by Billy Vera & the Beaters on the album At This Moment: A Retrospective
- Bad to the Bone by George Thorogood & The Destroyers on the album The Baddest of George Thorogood and the Destroyers
- Birdhouse in Your Soul by They Might Be Giants on the album Flood
- Bitter Sweet Symphony by The Verve on the album Cruel Intentions: Music From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
- Blueberry Hill by Fats Domino on the album My Blue Heaven: The Best Of Fats Domino
- Boom Boom by John Lee Hooker on the album The Very Best Of John Lee Hooker
- Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell on the album Love Actually
- Bucky Done Gun by M.I.A. on the album Arular
- Build Me Up Buttercup by The Foundations on the album Build Me Up Buttercup
- Burning Down the House (Live) by Talking Heads on the album Stop Making Sense
- Champagne Supernova by Oasis on the album (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
- Chantilly Lace by The Big Bopper on the album Hellooo Baby!: The Best of the Big Bopper, 1954-1959
- Come Dancing by The Kinks on the album Kinks (The Ultimate Collection)
- Come Monday by Jimmy Buffett on the album Boats, Beaches, Bars & Ballads
- Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd on the album The Wall (Deluxe Packaging Digitally Remastered)
- Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Queen on the album Queen: Greatest Hits III
- Crazy Love (with Van Morrison) by Ray Charles on the album Genius Loves Company
- Cuts You by Up by Peter Murphy on the album Wild Birds 1985-1995: The Best of the Beggars Banquet Years
- Disposable Teens by Marilyn Manson on the album Lest We Forget: The Best of Marilyn Manson
- Do I Ever Cross Your Mind? (with Bonnie Raitt) by Ray Charles on the album Genius Loves Company
- Elegantly Wasted by INXS on the album Elegantly Wasted
- Fearless by Pink Floyd on the album Meddle
- Fever (Adam Freeland Remix) by Sarah Vaughan on the album Verve Remixed, Vol. 3
- Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger on the album Flagpole Sitta
- Flowers on the Wall by The Statler Brothers on the album The Essential Statler Brothers 1964-1969: Flowers On The Wall
- Free Bird (Live) by Lynyrd Skynyrd on the album Skynyrd Collectybles
- Georgia On My Mind by Ray Charles on the album Anthology
- Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys on the album Beach Boys – Vol. 1-Greatest Hits
- Got My Mojo Working by Muddy Waters on the album The Essential Collection
- Hard to Handle by The Black Crowes on the album Shake Your Money Maker
- Heart And Soul by T’Pau on the album T’Pau
- Hey Jude by The Beatles on the album Past Masters, Vol. 2
- Hold On Tight by Electric Light Orchestra on the album The Essential Electric Light Orchestra
- Honeysuckle Blue by Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ on the album Ultimate Collection
- I Love A Rainy Night by Eddie Rabbitt on the album Eddie Rabbitt – All Time Greatest Hits
- It’s Oh So Quiet by Bjork on the album Post
- Jack And Diane by John Mellencamp on the album The Best That I Could Do 1978-1988
- Jeans On by David Dundas on the album David Dundas
- Keep Your Hands To Yourself by Georgia Satellites on the album Georgia Satellites
- Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’ by Charley Pride on the album Anthology
- Landslide (Live) by Fleetwood Mac on the album Landslide CD-Single
- Let’s Pretend We’re Married by Prince on the album 1999
- Lightning Crashes by Live on the album Throwing Copper
- Lights by Journey on the album Journey – Greatest Hits
- Long Tall Sally by Little Richard on the album The Essential
- Love The One You’re With by Stephen Stills on the album Stephen Stills
- Luck Be a Lady by Frank Sinatra on the album Duets II
- Mack The Knife by Bobby Darin on the album The Hit Singles Collection
- Mighty Quinn by Manfred Mann’s Earth Band on the album The Best of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band
- New York, New York (With Tony Bennett) by Frank Sinatra on the album Duets
- Nobody Knows by The Tony Rich Project on the album Words
- Not Enough Time by INXS on the album Welcome to Wherever You Are
- O Fortuna by Apotheosis on the CD-Single O Fortuna
- One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer by John Lee Hooker on the album The Very Best Of John Lee Hooker
- One Night In Bangkok by Murray Head on the album Murray Head – Greatest Hits
- Only Time by Enya on the album Only Time: The Collection
- Papa Loves Mambo by Perry Como on the album The Very Best of Perry Como
- Paradise By The Dashboard Light by Meat Loaf on the album Bat out of Hell
- Pepper by Butthole Surfers on the album Electriclarryland
- Piano Sonata No. 14 by Beethoven on the album The Best of Beethoven
- Promises by Eric Clapton on the album The Cream of Clapton
- Proud Mary by Ike & Tina Turner on the album Proud Mary: The Best of Ike & Tina Turner
- Ramble On by Train on the CD-Single Ramble on
- Ring The Bells by James on the album Alternative NRG: Greenpeace Compilation
- Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) by Michael Jackson on the album Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection
- She Blinded Me With Science by Thomas Dolby on the album The Golden Age of Wireless
- Should I Stay Or Should I Go by The Clash on the album London Calling
- Since You’re Gone by The Cars on the album Cars – Complete Greatest Hits
- Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder on the album Stevie Wonder – The Definitive Collection
- Someday We’ll Be Together by The Supremes on the album The #1’s
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole on the album Facing Future
- Summer Girls by LFO on the album LFO
- Swinging On A Star by Bruce Willis on the album Hudson Hawk: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
- Sympathy For The Devil (Live) by Natalie Merchant on the CD-Single Jealousy
- Synchronicity II by The Police on the album Synchronicity [Digipak]
- Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go by Soft Cell on the album The Very Best of Soft Cell
- The Chauffeur by Duran Duran on the album Rio
- The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash on the album American IV: The Man Comes Around
- The Rubberband Man by Spinners on the album The Very Best of the Spinners
- The Safety Dance by Men Without Hats on the album Collection
- The Time Warp by Charles Gray on the album The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975 Film)
- Think by Aretha Franklin on the album The Blues Brothers: Original Soundtrack Recording
- Tiny Dancer by Elton John on the album Elton John – Greatest Hits 1970-2002
- Touch Me by The Doors on the album The Best Of The Doors
- Turn Me On by Norah Jones on the album Come Away with Me
- Twilight Zone by Golden Earring on the album The Continuing Story of Radar Love
- Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers on the album Greatest Hits
- Undercover of the Night by The Rolling Stones on the album Forty Licks
- Valotte by Julian Lennon on the album Valotte
- Waiting On A Friend by The Rolling Stones on the album Tattoo You
- Walk Of Life by Dire Straits on the album Private Investigations: The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler
- What a Wonderful World by Joey Ramone on the album Don’t Worry About Me
- When Love Comes To Town (With B.B. King) by U2 on the album The Best of 1980-1990
- You Never Even Called Me by My Name by David Allan Coe on the album 16 Biggest Hits
good list… a lot of them are my faves too… but not one bee gees song? really?? too much heaven … night feever.. stayin’ alive.. matt.. i am shocked.. :O)
80% 🙂
“Chantilly Lace!” by The Big Bopper. Ewwwww.. Firstly isn’t that song about “teenie boppers” and sung by an old guy who calls himself the “Big Bopper”. We have a name for that Matt. I find the idea of a bunch of people our parents age frolicing and gyrating to this song about a guy that calls himself the “the big bopper” nauseating.
“Love the one you’re with” Oh isn’t that Romantic! So like “if you can’t be with the one you love”, well then, by all means STILL get your rocks off man, “love the one you’re with”. This is the Hippy Mantra isn’t it? I mean totally forget:
“What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the East, and Juliet is the sun!
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon
It is my lady! O, it is my love!
O, that she knew she were!
She speaks, yet she says nothing.
What of that? Her eye discourses; I will answer it.
…Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven
Hey man, if Romeo can’t love Juliet well then, love the whore next door!
Ok Matt just joking dude…there are a lot of songs that I do like on your list. But for me what songs that I listen to have a lot to do with my mood. There are some great songs that I would pass by if the mood wasn’t right.
Love them all! But where are the Beastie Boys?
i haven’t heard 3 strange days in forever!!!! I love that song! I have to agree with all the ones I know on the list (most of them) except Free Bird. Really, Free Bird?????
Oh yeah, I agree with Susan- Beastie Boys are missing…Sabotage!