Tom Lane's Music Blog

RIP Dolly Parton

2026-08-25T12:21:22.559-07:00

Back in 2023, I published a list of the 100 Most Loved, Living Musicians And it was a real toss-up at #1 between Paul McCartney and Dolly Parton. Ultimately Dolly came in at #2.

This what I wrote:

“ Thanks to her philanthropy she has become known as Saint Dolly. Not just confined to the Country genre, she long ago became an icon known throughout the world.”

I first heard Dolly Parton in the early 70’s because my Dad listened to Country radio a lot in that time. And because he was an Army soldier stationed in Fort Bragg, NC in the 60’s/early 70’s, I went to my Country music shows. Sadly, I was too young to remember the shows. But I do remember being there. My Dad said we went and saw Haggard, Pride, Jones, Wynette, Lynn and Porter and Dolly.

My favorite era of Dolly’s remains the pre-crossover years from the late 60’s to mid-70’s. Some of her most authentic recordings came from these years. This is what made her a genius. Especially “Coat of Many Colors”.

But Dolly was always destined to be bigger than just a Country star. And crossing over to the Pop charts was only a matter of time by the late 70’s. She was no dumb blonde. A savvy business woman who knew how to market her brand. Remember, Dolly grew up poor. Her ambition was to always break free of whatever restraints weren’t her way.

Not only an incredible musician/singer/songwriter, she was also one of our greatest humanitarians. It’s why always said she was one of the most beloved people in the world.

This is a good time to dig into Dolly’s recorded legacy. Start at the beginning. Check out the Porter duets. All her albums prior to her 1077 Pop chart breakthrough. The 1987 Trio album she made with Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris. Check out her 90’s bluegrass records. And her “Rock” record from 2023 that celebrated her much deserved induction into the Rock Hall. Take it all in. Her movies too. She was a singular artist. A genius.

Here's some albums by Dolly I recommend:

Coat of Many Colors

Jolene

Trio (w/Linda Ronstadt & Emmylou Harris)

Trio II (w/Ronstadt & Harris)

Just Because I'm A Woman

Love Is Like A Butterfly

The Bargain Store

All I Can Do

Little Sparrow

Grass is Blue

9 to 5 and Odd Jobs

Rockstar

White Limozeen

Here You Come Again

New Harvest...First Gathering

My Tennessee Mountain Home

Dolly (Box set)

Porter Wayne and Dolly Rebecca -(Porter Wagoner & Dolly Parton)

Playlist for 8/20

2026-08-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

Mike Campbell - Mission of Mercy

Jack White - Goodbye Charlotte

Madonna - Confessions II

Dailey & Vincent - A Beautiful Life

Rodney Crowell - Then Again

Swamp Dogg - Contemplates the Afterlife

Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted (2025 Documentary)

Carter Sisters - Voices From the Ridge - Final Sessions

Del McCoury Band - Del & the Boys

Allison Russell - In The Hour of Chaos

Ranking: Songs from Elvis Is Back

2026-08-16T03:28:00.000-07:00

Elvis' first studio album released in 1960 after his stint in the Army. The original version of this album had 12 tracks. But such great singles like "It's Now or Never", "Are You Lonesome Tonight", "Fame and Fortune", "Stuck on You" and " A Mess of Blues" were not included on the album. Although added in the 1990's on the deluxe version. Elvis is Back is one of his greatest albums as it shows his range and depth on a wide variety of songs. Elvis is in great voice, committed to the material and ready to show the world he hasn't lost any of his talent since leaving the Army. I'm only ranking the original 12 track album.

1. Reconsider Baby

2. Such A Night

3. Girl of My Best Friend

4. Fever

5. Dirty, Dirty Feeling

6. Thrill of Your Love

7. Make Me Know It

8. Like A Baby

9. It Feels So Right

10. Soldier Boy

11. Girl Next Door Went A'walking

12. I Will Be Home Again

RIP Dave Marsh

2026-08-15T11:28:00.254-07:00

Dave Marsh was one of the first music critics who shaped my listening habits. I first noticed his name when I took out my first subscription to Rolling Stone magazine in the late 70's. His column, American Grandstand, became a must read. Then came his first book on Elvis Presley in 1982. This was the first book on Elvis I read. After that I purchased the first Rolling Stone record guide, which he edited, as well as the Book of Rock Lists. There were other books: Springsteen, the Who.

The best of all was 1989's The Heart of Rock & Soul: 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. It was his best book. I also subscribed to his monthly Rock & Roll Confidential (later Rock & Rap Confidential), from the 80's through the 90's.

Marsh was fan of 70's R&B. That's what made me a long time reader. Spinners, Stylistics, Teddy Pendergrass. Philly Soul especially. His love of this era made him stand out against other critics from that era.

Marsh was one of the earliest members on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's nominating committee. He championed many R&B acts while on the NomCom. For me, most notably, was getting Joe Tex nominated five times.

He was also a champion of human rights, civil rights and other progressive causes. Again, another reason I read him.

And I can't forget the weekly show he had on SiriusXM, Kick Out the Jams. Essential listening. He hosted other show on SiriusXM too.

As with any critic, be it movies, television or whatever, I didn't agree with every opinion by Marsh. But more often than not he opened my ears to artists and records that I would have never heard.

Back in 2006 I came up with the idea for a Music Critics Hall of Fame. But it wasn't until 2019 that I actually published it. I updated it in 2021 (Music Critics Hall of Fame) The thought was music critics might get into the Rock Hall someday. That hasn't happened and probably never will. But it was fun recognizing some of the great music critics of yesterday.

Of course Dave Marsh would be a first time inductee into any critics hall of fame. One of music's first and influential critics.

Playlist for 8/10

2026-08-10T07:32:00.000-07:00

Brook Benton - My Country

Ricky Nelson - Bright Lights & Country Music

George Jones - We Found Heaven Right Here On Earth

Kay Adams - Wheels & Tears

Dick Curless - Soul of

Bobby Bare - Streets of Baltimore

Ray Price - Another Bridge to Burn

Porter Wagoner - Confessions of A Broken Man

Esther Phillips - Country Side of

Jack Greene - There Goes My Everything

Tom's Top Albums of 1986

2026-08-03T09:47:00.000-07:00

Anita Baker - Rapture

Aretha Franklin - Aretha

B52's -Bouncing Off the Satellites

Bangles - Different Light

Beastie Boys - Licensed to Ill

Billy Joel - The Bridge

Billy Ocean - Love Zone

Black Flag - Wasted Again

Bob Seger - Like A Rock

Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet

Boston - Third Stage

Bruce Hornsby & the Range - The Way It Is

Bruce Springsteen - Live 75-85

Cameo - Word Up

Crowded House - s/t

Cyndi Lauper - True Colors

Daryl Hall - Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine

David & David - Boomtown

David Lee Roth - Eat 'Em and Smile

Duran Duran - Notorious

Dwight Yoakam - Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc, Etc

El DeBarge - s/t

ELO - Balance of Power

Elvis Costello - Blood and Chocolate

Elvis Costello - King of America

Eurythmics - Revenge

Fabulous Thunderbirds - Tuff Enuff

Feelies - Good Earth

Freddie Jackson - Just Like The First Time

Genesis - Invisible Touch

Georgia Satellites - s/t

George Strait - #7

Huey Lewis & the News - Fore

Husker Du - Candy Apple Grey

Indestructible Beat of Soweto - Various

Jackson Browne - Lives in the Balance

Janet Jackson - Control

Jesus and Mary Chain - Psychocandy

Journey - Raised on Radio

Kool & the Gang - Forever

Lionel Richie - Dancing on the Ceiling

Luther Vandross - Give Me The Reason

Madonna - True Blue

Megadeth - Peace Sells

Metallica - Master of Puppets

Moody Blues - Other Side of Life

Motorhead - Orgasmatron

New Order - Brotherhood

Nu Shooz - Poolside

Pat Metheny/Ornette Coleman - Song X

Patti LaBelle - Winner In You

Paul Simon - Graceland

Pet Shop Boys - Please

Peter Gabriel - So

Phil Alvin - Unsung Stories

Pretenders - Get Close

Pretty in Pink Soundtrack - Various

Prince - Parade

Public Image Ltd. - Album

Queen - A Kind of Magic

Randy Travis - Storms of Life

Reba McEntire - Whoever's In New England

R.E.M. - Life's Rich Pageant

Robert Cray - Strong Persuader

Rod Stewart - Every Beat of My Heart

Run DMC - Raising Hell

Salt-n-Pepa - Hot, Cool and Vicious

Slayer - Reign in Blood

Smiths - The Queen Is Dead

Sonic Youth - Evol

Sonny Sharrock - Guitar

Steve Earle - Guitar Town

Steve Winwood - Back in the High Life

Talking Heads - True Stories

Teena Marie - Emerald City

Timbuk 3 - Greetings from Timbuk 3

Tina Turner - Break Every Rule

Top Gun Soundtrack - Various

Stevie Ray Vaughan - Live Alive

Wham - Music from the Edge of Heaven

Willie Nelson - Promiseland

XTC - Skylarking

Playlist for 8/1

2026-08-01T00:41:00.000-07:00

Shania Twain - Little Miss Twain

Marisa Anderson - Anthology of UnAmerican Folk Music

Highwomen - Live at the Gorge 2023

Don Williams - Epilogue:The Cellar Tapes

Sara & Maybelle the Original Carters - An Historic Reunion

Buck Owens - Open Up Your Heart

Everly Brothers - Two Yanks in England

Osborne Brothers - Up This Hill and Down

Poll: July 1967 Songs

2026-07-27T07:55:00.000-07:00

July 1967. I'm 3 years old. But some of these songs make up my earliest musical memories: The Doors, Procol Harum, "Groovin'".

popradiogold.com

"Respect", Aretha Franklin : 1
"A Whiter Shade Of Pale", Procol Harum : 2
"Light My Fire", Doors : 3
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough", Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell : 4
"Groovin'", Young Rascals : 5
"Windy", Association : 6
"I Was Made To Love Her", Stevie Wonder : 7
"Somebody To Love", Jefferson Airplane : 8
"Soul Finger", Bar-Kays : 9
"All You Need Is Love", Beatles : 10
"White Rabbit", Jefferson Airplane : 11
"Let's Live For Today", Grass Roots : 12
"Can't Take My Eyes Off You", Frankie Valli : 13
"Little Bit O' Soul", Music Explosion : 14
"Carrie-Anne", Hollies : 15
"Hypnotized", Linda Jones : 16
"Pleasant Valley Sunday", Monkees : 17
"Society's Child (Baby I've Been Thinking)", Janis Ian : 18
"Up-Up And Away", 5th Dimension : 19
"San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)", Scott McKenzie : 20
"Don't Sleep In The Subway", Petula Clark : 21
"Sunday Will Never Be The Same", Spanky & Our Gang : 22
"New York Mining Disaster 1941 (Have You Seen My Wife, Mr. Jones?)", Bee Gees : 23
"A Girl Like You", Young Rascals : 24
"Silence Is Golden", Tremeloes : 25
"Jackson", Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood : 26
"7-Rooms Of Gloom", Four Tops : 27
"The Tracks Of My Tears", Johnny Rivers : 28
"C'mon Marianne", 4 Seasons : 29
"Make Me Yours", Bettye Swan : 30
"Here We Go Again", Ray Charles : 31
"Alfie", Dionne Warwick : 32
"She'd Rather Be With Me", Turtles : 33
"Come On Down To My Boat", Every Mother's Son : 34
"Mercy, Mercy, Mercy", Buckinghams : 35
"There Goes My Everything", Engelbert Humperdinck : 36
"Don't Let The Rain Fall Down On Me", Critters : 37
"I Take It Back", Sandy Posey : 38
"Don't Go Out Into The Rain (You're Going To Melt)", Herman's Hermits : 39
"Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead", Fifth Estate : 40
"My Mammy", Happenings : 41

Ranking: Songs from Randy Travis - Storms of Life

2026-07-15T11:12:00.000-07:00

Released in 1986, Storms of Life was a major release that helped usher in the New Traditionalist movement of the 1980's. Randy Travis came from the Merle Haggard/Lefty Frizzell world of Country music. There was very little Pop crossover moments in his music. He made other strong albums, but none with the impact that his had on Nashville in 1986. Three number one Country singles came from this album.

1, On The Other Hand

2. Diggin' Up Bones

3. Reasons I Cheat

4. 1982

5. No Place Like Home

6. Send My Body

7. There'll Always Be A Honky Tonk Somewhere

8. Storms of Life

9. My Heart Cracked

10. Messin' With My Mind

Playlist for 7/16

2026-07-15T07:45:00.000-07:00

Earth, Wind & Fire - To Be Celestial (2026 Documentary)

War and Treaty - Story of Michael & Tanya

Rolling Stones - Foreign Tongues

Paul McCartney - The Boys of Dungeon Lane

Taj Mahal - Time

Willie Nile - s/t

Old No. 1 Revisited - Various

Dr. Hook - Sloppy Seconds

Dr. Hook - Bankrupt

Earth, Wind & Fire (2026 Documentary)

Cheech & Chong’s Last Movie (2024 Documentary)

Tom's Top Albums of 1976

2026-07-10T08:28:00.000-07:00

Abba - Arrival

AC/DC - Dirty Dees Done Dirt Cheap

AC/DC - High Voltage

Aerosmith - Rocks

Al Green - Full of Fire

Al Green - Have A Good Time

Al Stewart - Year of the Cat

Aretha Franklin - Sparkle

Arlo Guthrie - Amigo

Average White Band - Soul Searching

Bad Company - Run With the Pack

Barbra Streisand & Kris Kristofferson - A Star Is Born Soundtrack

Barry White - Let the Music Play

Bee Gees - Children of the World

Billy Joel - Turnstiles

Billy Swan - s/t

Blondie - s/t

Blue Oyster Cult - Agents of Fortune

Bob Dylan - Desire

Bob Marley - Live

Bob Marley - Rastaman Vibration

Bob Seger - Live Bullet

Bob Seger - Night Moves

Bootsy’s Rubber Band - Stretchin’ Out In

Boston - s/t

Boz Scaggs - Silk Degrees

Brothers Johnson - Look Out for #1

Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey

Car Wash - Soundtrack

Chicago - X

Commodores - Hot on the Tracks

Daryl Hall & John Oates - Bigger Than the Both of Us

David Bowie - Station to Station

Deniece Williams - This Is Niecy

Diana Ross - s/t

Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band - s/t

Don Williams - Harmony

Donna Summer - A Love Trilogy

Doobie Brothers - Takin' It To The Streets

Dwight Twilley Band - Sincerely

Eagles - Hotel California

Earth, Wind & Fire - Spirit

Electric Light Orchestra - A New World Record

Elton John - Blue Moves

Elvis Presley - From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis Tennessee

Elvis Presley - Sun Sessions

Emmylou Harris - Luxury Liner

Emotions - Flowers

Flamin’ Groovies - Shake Some Action

Freddy Fender - Rock 'N' Country

Funkadelic - Hardcore Jollies

Gary Stewart - Steppin’ Out

Genesis - Trick of the Tail

George Harrison - Thirty Three and 1/3

George Jones - Alone Again

George Jones - The Battle

George Jones & Tammy Wynette - Golden Ring

Graham Parker - Heat Treatment

Guy Clark - Texas Cookin’

Heatwave - Too Hot to Handle

Ian Hunter - All American Alien Boy

Isley Brothers - Harvest for the World

Jackie Wilson - Nobody But You

Jackson Browne - The Pretender

Jacksons - s/t

Jaco Pastorius - s/t

James Taylor - In The Pocket

Jean-Michel Jarre - Oxygene

Jeff Beck - Wired

Jefferson Starship - Spitfire

Joan Armatrading - s/t

Johnnie Taylor - Eargasm

Johnny Cash - One Piece At A Time

Johnny "Guitar" Watson" - Ain't That A Bitch

Joni MItchell - Hejira

Kansas - Leftoverture

Kate & Anna McGarrrigle - s/t

KC & the Sunshine Band - Part 3

Kiss - Destroyer

Kiss - Rock and Roll Over

Kool & The Gang - Open Sesame

Led Zeppelin - Presence

Linda Ronstadt - Hasten Down the Wind

Lou Rawls - All Things In Time

Lou Reed - Coney Island Baby

L.T.D. - Love to the World

Lynyrd Skynyrd - One More From The Road

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Gimme Back My Bullets

Manhattans - s/t

Marvin Gaye - I Want You

Merle Haggard - Roots of My Raising

Merle Haggard - It'a All In The Movies

Michael Hurley/Unholy Modal Rounders - Have Moicy

Michael Franks - Art of Tea

Mighty Diamonds - Right Time

Miles Davis - Agharta

Modern Lovers - s/t

Natalie Cole - Natalie

Norman Connors - You Are My Starship

Ohio Players - Contradiction

O’Jays - Message in the Music

Olivia Newton-John - Come On Over

Parliament - Clones of Dr. Funkenstein

Pat Metheny - Bright Sized Life

Patti Smith - Radio Utopia

Peter Frampton - Frampton Comes Alive

Peter Tosh - Legalize It

Queen - A Day at the Races

Rainbow - Rising

Ramones - s/t

Return to Forever - Romantic Warrior

Rod Stewart - A Night on the Town

Rolling Stones - Black and Blue

Rory Gallagher - Calling Card

Roy Ayers - Everybody Loves the Sunshine

Runaways - s/t

Rush - 2112

Ry Cooder - Chicken Skin Music

Spinners - Happiness is Being With the Spinners

Stanley Clarke - School Days

Steely Dan - The Royal Scam

Steve Miller - Fly Like An Eagle

Stevie Wonder - Songs In The Key of Life

Stills/Young Band - Long May You Run

Sylvers - Something Special

Tavares - Sky High

Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak

Tom T. Hall - Faster Horses

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - s/t

Tom Waits - Small Change

Trammps - Disco Inferno

Warren Zevon - s/t

Waylon Jennings - Are You Ready For The Country

Wild Cherry - s/t

Wild Tchoupitoulas

Willie Nelson - Sound In Your Mind

Willie Nelson - Troublemaker

Waylon Jennings,/Willie Nelson/Jessi Colter//Tompall Glaser - Wanted! The Outlaws

Weather Report - Black Market

Wings - At the Speed of Sound

ZZ Top - Tejas

Songs About Cities, Streets and Towns (Mixtape)

2026-07-04T07:52:00.000-07:00

I was 12 years old in 1976, the 200th anniversary birthday of America. I remember the hype seemed more intense than for the 250th. Still, the weeks leading up to the 200th were spent with TV specials and local town events. Much like the 250th.

In the early 2000's I made a CD mixtape of songs about towns and cities. Remember mixtapes? Before streaming I used to make cassettes and CD's for family and friends. This was one of them. It wasn't a July 4th themed mixtape, but some 20 years later I realize that it was. Towns, streets, cities make up the heart of America. Another reason this could be a July 4th theme? All the artists are Americans.

So hear are 20 songs that I came up with some 20 years ago for this mixtape theme.

1. Simon & Garfunkel - My Little Town

2. Brooks & Dunn - Only In America

3. Bob Seger - Mainstreet

4. George Benson - On Broadway

5. John Mellencamp - Small Town

6. Miranda Lambert - Famous In A Small Town

7. Billy Joel - Allentown

8. Hal Ketchum - Small Town Saturday Night

9. Bruce Springsteen - My Hometown

10. Merle Haggard - Big City

11. John Denver - Take Me Home, Country Roads

12. Pretenders - My City Was Gone

13. Montgomery Gentry - My Town

14. Iris DeMent - Our Town

15. Bobby Bare - Detroit City

16. Eagles - In The City

17. Michael Stanley Band - My Town

18. Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road

19. Arlo Guthrie - City of New Orleans

20. Stevie Wonder - Living for the City

Poll: June 1965 Songs

2026-06-28T08:32:00.000-07:00

June 1965, Beatlemania! Although only one song by them is listed here. This is the biggest of these polls I've voted in: 50 songs. June 1965. I'm a year old. Don't think my musical memories have completely started yet. But I do know my six year old sister liked the Beatles.

popradiogold.com

"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction", Rolling Stones : 1
"Ticket To Ride", Beatles : 2
"It's Not Unusual", Tom Jones : 3
"Sitting In The Park", Billy Stewart : 4
"I Can't Help Myself", Four Tops : 5
"Help Me, Rhonda", Beach Boys : 6
"For Your Love", Yardbirds : 7
"What The World Needs Now Is Love", Jackie DeShannon : 8
"I've Been Loving You Too Long (To Stop Now)", Otis Redding : 9
"Mr.Tambourine Man", Byrds : 10
"Land Of 1000 Dances", Cannibal & the Headhunters : 11
"Yes, I'm Ready", Barbara Mason : 12
"Back In My Arms Again", Supremes : 13
"Wooly Bully", Sam the Sham & the Pharoahs : 14
"Crying In The Chapel", Elvis Presley : 15
"She's About A Mover", Sir Douglas Quintet : 16
"Seventh Son", Johnny Rivers : 17
"Just Once In My Life", Righteous Brothers : 18
"(I Cry) Just A Little ('Cause I Love You So)", Beau Brummels : 19
"What's New Pussycat?", Tom Jones : 20
"I Do", Marvelows : 21
"Nothing Can Stop Me", Gene Chandler : 22
"Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter", Herman's Hermits : 23
"I'll Never Find Another You", Seekers : 24
"Count Me In", Gary Lewis & the Playboys : 25
"Engine Engine #9", Roger Miller : 26
"Concrete And Clay", Unit Four Plus Two : 27
"Cast Your Fate To The Wind", Sounds Orchestral : 28
"L-O-N-E-L-Y", Bobby Vinton : 29
"Nobody Knows What's Goin' On (In My Mind But Me)", Chiffons : 30
"I'm A Happy Man", Jive Five : 31
"Cara - Mia", Jay & the Americans : 32
"Concrete And Clay", Eddie Rambeau : 33
"A Walk In The Black Forest", Horst Jankowski : 34
"Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte", Patti Page : 35
"Baby The Rain Must Fall", Glen Yarbrough : 36
"Last Chance To Turn Around (Last Exit To Brooklyn)", Gene Pitney : 37
"Before And After", Chad & Jeremy : 38
"Darling Take Me Back", Lenny Welch : 39
"I'm Henry VIII, I Am", Herman's Hermits : 40
"Theme From "A Summer Place"", Lettermen : 41
"Marie", Bachelors : 42
"Laurie (Strange Things Happen)", Dickey Lee : 43
"You Were Made For Me", Freddie & the Dreamers : 44
"You Turn Me On (Turn On Song)", Ian Whitcomb & Bluesville : 45
"True Love Ways", Peter & Gordon : 46
"Wonderful World", Herman's Hermits : 47
"Queen Of The House", Jody Miller : 48
"Silhouettes", Herman's Hermits : 49
"Do The Freddie", Freddie & the Dreamers : 50

Playlist for 6/25

2026-06-25T14:18:00.000-07:00

Dale Watson - Unwanted

Social Distortion - Born to Kill

Margaret Glaspy - Golden Heart Protector

Keith Urban - Flow State

Charley Crockett - Clovis

Olivia Rodrigo - You Seem Pretty Sad For A Girl In Love

Neil Diamond - Wild at Heart

Ricky Nelson - Sings For You

RIP Clive Davis

2026-06-22T09:15:05.829-07:00

I often thought of Clive Davis as the "Last Record Man". But there were others that could claim that title like Berry Gordy. He certainly represented an era of music moguls that no longer exists. While head of Columbia or Arista he wasn't against signing artists that didn't have top of the chart potential, he's mostly remembered for his "golden ears". Clive knew a hit when he heard it. But there's no doubting his legend. The names he had at his labels reads like a who's who of Hall of Famers. Joplin, Santana, Whitney, Manilow, Aretha, Springsteen, etc.

Clive also signed acts that weren’t big sellers but were critically acclaimed: Gil Scott-Heron, Laura Nero and Patti Smith. All three are in the Rock Hall. He revived the sagging chart fortunes of the Kinks, Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick and Santana. Not everything sold and many releases stiffed. But that’s how it is with every record executive.

I first knew about him when I was a teenager just getting to know the music business. Those were the 70’s, when he first started running Arista Records. What stood out until his last years was his devotion to the music industry and how many people loved working for him.

Great Father’s Day Songs

2026-06-19T04:43:00.000-07:00

Great Father's Day Songs:

Alan Jackson - Drive (For Daddy Gene)
Beyonce & Chicks - Daddy Lessons
Brad Paisley - He Didn't Have To Be

Bread - Everything I Own

Bruce Springsteen - Independence Day

Bruce Springsteen - My Father's House
Cat Stevens - Father and Son

Conway Twitty - That's My Job

Dallas Burrow - My Father's Son

Dan Fogelberg - Leader Of The Band
Dolly Parton - Daddy's Working Boots
Drive-By Truckers - Outfit
Elton John - Last Song
Elvis Presley - Don't Cry Daddy
Eric Clapton - My Father's Eyes
Everclear - Father of Mine

George Strait - Best Day

George Strait - So Much Like My Dad

Harry Chapin - Cat's In The Cradle

Holly Dunn - Daddy's Hands

Jack Ingram - Measure Of A Man

James Blunt - Monsters

James Brown - Papa Don't Take No Mess

Jerry Jeff Walker - My Old Man

Jimmie Rodgers - Daddy and Home
John Lennon - Beautiful Boy
John Prine - Paradise
Johnny Cash - Boy Named Sue
Keith Urban - Song For Dad
Loudon Wainwright III - Father and A Song

Luke Combs - My Old Man Was Right
Luther Vandross - Dance With My Father
Madonna - Oh Father
Madonna - Papa Don't Preach
Marc Cohn - Silver Thunderbird
Mike & The Mechanics - Living Years
Nas - Daughters

Paul McCartney - Put It There

Paul Overstreet - Seein' My Father In Me

Paul Simon - Father and Daughter

Queen - Father To Son
Reba McEntire - Greatest Man I Never Knew

Rod Stewart - Touchline
Simon & Garfunkel - Silver Haired Daddy of Mine

Slaid Cleaves - Welding Burns

Steve Goodman - My Old Man
Temptations - Papa Was A Rollin' Stone
Tori Amos - Winter

Waylon Jennings - Between Fathers and Sons
Will Smith - Just The Two Of Us
Winstons -Color Him Father

Zac Brown Band - My Old Man

Ranking: Songs from Fleetwood Mac & Rumours

2026-06-16T09:41:00.000-07:00

This month two albums. Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks joining Fleetwood Mac in 1975. And putting them on the Top 40 singles chart for the first time ever. Rumours was an even bigger classic. It's the greatest breakup album ever? It's up there for sure. These are my 2 favorite Buckingham/Nicks era albums.

Fleetwood Mac

1. Rhiannon

2. Landslide

3. Over My Head

4. Say You Love Me

5. Monday Morning

6. World Turning

7. I'm So Afraid

8. Crystal

9. Warm Ways

10. Sugar Daddy

11. Blue Letter

Rumours

1. Go Your Own Way

2. Dreams

3. The Chain

4. Don't Stop

5. Gold Dust Woman

6. You Make Loving Fun

7. Never Going Back Again

8. Songbird

9. Second Hand News

10. I Dont' Want To Know

11. Oh Daddy

Playlist for 6/10

2026-06-10T11:50:00.000-07:00

Ashley McBryde - Wild

Ella Langley - Dandelion

Carter Faith - Cherry Valley

Rolling Stones - Foreign Tongues

U2 - Easter Lily

Paul Clifford Weekly Mixcloud Shows

Paul Collins Weekly Mixcloud Show

Mickey Bo's Rock 'n' Roll Revue Weekly Show

Tracks Of My Life Spotify Playlist

2026-06-07T08:25:00.000-07:00

Eleven years ago I started a crazy playlist project on Spotify called "Tracks of My Life". The playlist would consist of every song that I liked or meant something to me or I just somewhat remember liking once hearing it somewhere somehow. You know memories. Because that's what's always been great about music listening. The memories, good or bad, that they bring up. So, here I am eleven years later with a Spotify playlist that is 6465 songs, over 401 hours long (as of this posting date). Just when I think no more songs will be added I'll hear something that I haven't added.

Here's a link to my playlist. Search for your favorite song or artist. Chances are I've liked a song by them at some point in my 62 years of life.

Tracks of My Life Playlist

Favorite Summer Songs

2026-06-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

Consider this a never-ending list of my favorite Summer songs. I've also included songs that may not be about Summer, but have the feel of the season.

All Summer - Little Big Town

All Summer Long - Beach Boys
All Summer Long - Kid Rock

Beach Baby - First Class
Beautiful Morning - Rascals

Boys Are Back In Town - Thin Lizzy
Boys of Summer - Don Henley
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
California Girls - Beach Boys
California Sun - Rivieras

Constructive Summer - Hold Steady

Cool For The Summer - Demi Lovato
Cruel Summer - Bananarama

Cruel Summer - Taylor Swift

Cruise - Florida Georgia Line
Crystal Blue Persuasion - Tommy James & The Shondells
Dancing In The Moonlight - King Harvest
Dancing In The Street - Martha and the Vandellas
Daydream - Lovin' Spoonful

Doin' Time - Lana Del Rey
Everybody Loves The Sunshine - Roy Ayers
Fourth of July - Dave Alvin
Fun, Fun, Fun - Beach Boys
Good Times - Chic
Good Vibrations - Beach Boys
Grazing In The Grass - Friends of Distinction
Groovin' - Rascals

Heat Wave - Martha & the Vandellas

Heat Waves - Glass Animals
Hot Fun In The Summertime - Sly & The Family Stone

Hot In Herre - Nelly
I Live For The Sun - Sunrays
In The Summertime - Mungo & Jerry
Island In The Sun - Harry Belafonte
It's A Great Day To Be Alive - Travis Tritt
Lazy Day - Spanky and Our Gang
Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett

Melting In The Sun - ELO
Miserlou - Dick Dale

Mr. Blue Sky - ELO

Night Moves - Bob Seger

No, Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems - Kenny Chesney

One Summer Dream - ELO

Other Side of Summer - Elvis Costello
Palisades Park - Freddy Cannon

Pontoon - Little Big Town

Rock Lobster - B-52's
Rockaway Beach - Ramones

Saints - Breeders
Saturday In The Park - Chicago
Sealed With A Kiss - Brian Hyland
See You In September - Happenings
School's Out - Alice Cooper
(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay - Otis Redding
Sitting In The Park - Billy Stewart

Sleep All Summer - Neko Case & Eric Bachmann
Sleepwalk - Santo & Johnny

Smooth - Santana & Rob Thomas
Soak Up The Sun - Sheryl Crow
Southern Nights - Glen Campbell
Steal My Sunshine - Len
Stoned Soul Picnic - Fifth Dimension

Suddenly Last Summer - Motels

Summer and Lightning - ELO
Summer Song - Chad & Jeremy
Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra
Summer Nights - John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John

Summer - Bobby Goldsboro
Summer - War
Summer Breeze - Isley Brothers
Summer Breeze - Seals & Crofts

Summer Looks Good On You - Cheap Trick
Summer In The City - Lovin' Spoonful
Summer Madness - Kool & The Gang

Summer Means Fun - Bruce & Terry
Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams
Summer Rain - Johnny Rivers
Summertime - Billy Stewart

Summer's Comin' - Clint Black
Summertime - DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran

Summertime Girls - Y&T
Summertime Sadness - Lana Del Rey
Summertime Summertime - Jamies
Sunny Afternoon - Kinks

Sunroof - Nicky Youre & Dazy

Sunshine On My Shoulders - John Denver
Surf City - Jan & Dean
Surfin' U.S.A. - Beach Boys

That Summer Feeling - Jonathan Richman

Theme From "A Summer Place" - Percy Faith

Theme From "Summer of '42" - Peter Nero
Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer - Nat King Cole
Thunder Island - Jay Ferguson

Toes - Zac Brown Band

Under The Boardwalk - Drifters

Vacation - Connie Francis
Vacation - Go-Go's

Ventura Highway - America
Walking On Sunshine - Katrina & The Waves
Watermelon Sugar - Harry Styles

Wipe Out - Surfaris

Playlist for 5/31

2026-05-31T08:48:00.000-07:00

Willie Nelson - Dream Chaser

Black Keys - Peaches

BTS - Arirang

Robyn - Sexistential

Ashley Monroe - Dear Nashville

Charley Crockett - Age of the Ram

Arlo Parks - Ambiguous Desire

Billy Idol Should Be Dead (Documentary)

Smokey Robinson Songbook - Various (Ace)

Poll: May 1982 Songs

2026-05-25T09:59:00.000-07:00

May 1982. One month away from graduating. Not the strongest list I've voted on. But brought back memories of my last months in High School.

popradiogold.com

"Don't You Want Me", Human League : 1

"Get Down On It", Kool & the Gang : 2
"Rosanna", Toto : 3
"I Love Rock 'N Roll", Joan Jett & the Blackhearts : 4
"The Other Woman", Ray Parker, Jr. : 5
"We Got The Beat", Go-Go's : 6
"Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go", Soft Cell : 7
"Edge Of Seventeen (Just Like The White Winged Dove)", Stevie Nicks : 8
"Don't Talk To Strangers", Rick Springfield : 9
"'65 Love Affair", Paul Davis : 10
"Open Arms", Journey : 11
"Heat Of The Moment", Asia : 12
"It's Gonna Take A Miracle", Deniece Williams : 13
"Love's Been A Little Bit Hard On Me", Juice Newton : 14
"If It Ain't One Thing...It's Another", Richard "Dimples" Fields : 15
"One Hundred Ways", Quincy Jones featuring James Ingram : 16
"Do You Believe In Love", Huey Lewis & the News : 17
"Always On My Mind", Willie Nelson : 18
"Chariots of Fire (Titles)", Vangelis : 19
"867-5309/Jenny", Tommy Tutone : 20
"Did It In A Minute", Daryl Hall & John Oates : 21
"Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)", Elton John : 22
"Freeze-Frame", J. Geils Band : 23
"Make A Move On Me", Olivia Newton-John : 24
"Circles", Atlantic Starr : 25
"That Girl", Stevie Wonder : 26
"Man On Your Mind", Little River Band : 27
"Run For The Roses", Dan Fogelberg : 28
"Key Largo", Bertie Higgins : 29
"Ebony And Ivory", Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder : 30
"Hang Fire", Rolling Stones : 31
"Pac-Man Fever", Buckner & Garcia : 32
"Should I Do It", Pointer Sisters : 33
"You're My Everything", Santa Esmeralda : 34
"Crimson And Clover", Joan Jett & the Blackhearts : 35
"Making Love", Roberta Flack : 36
"Goin' Down", Greg Guidry : 37
"Friends In Love", Dionne Warwick & Johnny Mathis : 38
"Body Language", Queen : 39
"(Oh) Pretty Woman", Van Halen : 40
"The Beatles' Movie Medley", Beatles : 41

"I've Never Been To Me", Charlene : 42

Bob Dylan 85 Years Old

2026-05-24T08:59:34.337-07:00

Back in 2014, I participated in an online poll ranking Bob Dylan's songs/albums/cover versions by other artists. Now on his 85th birthday I'm gonna repost my rankings. I've decided to keep the rankings as they were originally published. Maybe on his 90th birthday, I'll update it.

Songs

1. Like A Rolling Stone

2. Positively 4th Street

3. Tangled Up In Blue

4. Knockin' On Heaven's Door

5. Don't Think Twice, It's Alright

6. Lay Lady Lay

7. Masters of War

8. Subterranean Homesick Blues

9. Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall

10. It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding

11. Highway 61 Revisited

12. Shelter From The Storm

13. I Want You

14. Ballad of A Thin Man

15. It Ain't Me Babe

16. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere

17. Mr. Tambourine Man

18. Blowin' In The Wind

19. Maggie's Farm

20. Just Like A Woman

21. I Shall Be Released

22. All I Really Want To Do

23. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight

24. If Not For You

25. All Along The Watchtower

26. Visions of Johanna

27. Stuck Inside of Memphis

28. Love Minus Zero/No Limit

29. My Back Pages

30. Tombstone Blues

31. Simple Twist of Fate

32. Tomorrow Is A Long Time

33. Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll

34. She Belongs To Me

35. You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome

36. Chimes of Freedom

37. Desolation Row

38. Blind Willie McTell

39. To Ramona

40. Gotta Serve Somebody

41. Brownsville Girl

42. Times They Are A-Changin'

43. Tight Connection To My Heart

44. Dirty World

45. Things Have Changed

46. Hurricane

47. Forever Young

48. Tweeter and the Monkey Man

49. Rainy Day Woman #12 & 35

50. Isis

Top 20 Albums

1. Highway 61 Revisited

2. Blonde On Blonde

3. Blood on the Tracks

4. Another Side of Bob Dylan

5. Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

6. John Wesley Harding

7. Basement Tapes

8. Bringing It All Back Home

9. Love and Theft

10. Nashville Skyline

11. Desire

12. New Morning

13. Bootleg Series Vol. 4 (Live 1966)

14. Times They Are A-Changin'

15. Slow Train Coming

16. Time Out Of Mind

17. Bootleg Series Vol. 1-3

18. Modern Times

19. Before The Flood

20. Bob Dylan s/t (1962)

Covers by Other Artists

1. All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix

2. Mr. Tambourine Man - Byrds

3. Tomorrow Is A Long Time - Elvis Presley

4. I Shall Be Released - Band

5. You Ain't Going Nowhere - Byrds

6. If Not For You - George Harrison

7. It Ain't Me Babe - Johnny Cash & June Carter Cash

8. Blowin' In The Wind - Stevie Wonder

9. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue - Them

10. Mighty Quinn - Manfred Mann

11. Tomorrow Is A Long Time - Rod Stewart

12. She Belongs To Me - Ricky Nelson

13. Emotionally Yours - O'Jays

14. Make You Feel My Love - Adele

15. Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Warren Zevon

16. Highway 61 Revisited (Live 30th Anniversary) - Johnny Winter

17. Absolutely Sweet Marie - Jason & The Scorchers

18. All I Really Want To Do - Byrds

19. Tears of Rage - Band

20. Masters of War (Live 30th Anniversary) - Eddie Vedder

Playlist for 5/15

2026-05-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

Kacey Musgraves - Middle of Nowhere

Ringo Starr - Long Long Road

Band of Heathens - Country Sides

Black Crowes - A Pound of Feathers

Lemon Twigs - Look For Your Mind

Tedeschi Trucks Band - Future Soul

Luke Combs - The Way I Am

New Pornographers - Former Site of

Ranking: Songs from Billy Joel - The Stranger

2026-05-12T07:49:00.000-07:00

It took Billy Joel 3 albums on Columbia before number four broke him in a big way. Today The Stranger is a diamond selling album. Its fate when first released in 1977 was far away from those sales projections. But the lead single, "Just the Way You Are" peaked at #3 and the album had three more top 40 singles. The momentum carried over in to 1978 when 52nd Street became his first number one album. Never a critics favorite, Joel's music was often dismissed by critic during his peak as slight. But listeners, including me, disagreed. The Stranger remains my favorite Billy Joel album.

1. Only The Good Die Young

2. Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)

3. Just The Way You Are

4. Vienna

5. Songs From An Italian Restaurant

6. She's Always A Woman

7. The Stranger

8. Get It Right the First Time

9. Everybody Has A Dream