Creating a year end “best of” list is almost impossible for me, since every single song I play is a #1 hit.
In case anyone thinks I’m not on the level, let me set the record straight: I think every song I play is fantastic.
But, listing every song I played in 2008 would be cumbersome, and a dull read, so I’ll tell you about a few #1 number one hits.
Each week I open the show with the song from the previous week’s show that most I want to hear again. I find that 90% of the time there’s a song that I’m simply dying to hear. I call those repeated songs: #1 number one hits.
There’s one for every show, so take a minute a dig around my playlists & check out some of the other #1 number one hits not mentioned here.
Lenny Lacour – Maharishi
This comes from a newly released cd “Walkin’ The Bullfrog” on the Night Train label, which compiles Lenny’s releases from 1956 to ’79. Lenny was a fairly straight forward 50’s rocker whose releases just got weirder & weirder. This song is slightly weird and extremely catchy. LISTEN
The Roustabouts - Fox On The Run
I had songwriter Tony Hazzard as a guest on my show in April 2007.
He made some great solo records and wrote hit songs for folks like The Hollies,
Lulu & Herman’s Hermits. Researching that interview turned me on to some
great songs I had never heard before. His song “Fox On The Run” was first done
by Manfred Mann, a few years later Tom T. Hall adapted it into a Bluegrass
style and had a huge Country hit with it, and it went in to become a Bluegrass
standard, there are about 50 recorded Bluegrass versions, The Roustabouts is
one of the best. You may have noticed that Jonathan Richman also adapted (or
unconsciously stole) part of the song for his “Since She Started To Ride: from
his 1990 “Jonathan Goes Country” album.
LISTEN to The Jonathan Richman version
LISTEN to The Roustabouts version
LISTEN to The Jonathan Richman version
Thursday's Children - You Can Forget About That
This song was the #1 number one hit for about 4 weeks in a row. Songs like this are why I wake up early on Saturday mornings & sift through the bin of new releases in the WFMU record library. This was on a 3 cd set of Texas Garage Rock, and it was far & away the best track on there by miles. By the time it reaches the chorus (which happens 12 seconds into to song), it’s all over.
Frank Bango - Angela Eagleton
This #1 number one hit is from Frank’s latest The Sweet Songs of Decay. This is a heart breaking song, and hearing an audio snippet doesn’t really do it justice, so apologies in advance. I just heard from Mr. Bango, and he’s currently cooking breakfast at a small hotel in Costa Rica.
The Queers - Girl About Town
I love the Queers. They’re a really loud Punk Rock band with
a pop band trapped inside desperately trying to escape. This is evident in
their choice of cover songs and on the one or two pop gems buried on their
albums along side punk rock anthems with titles like “No Tit” and “I Only Drink
Bud” – but trust me: Joe Queer is a master pop songwriter. Their most
recent album “Munki Brain” (which sells for the low Punk Rock price of $8.00 if
you buy it directly from their label) comes as close as I think we’ll ever come
to a Queers Pop album. This #1 number one hit is a cover of a Helen Love song.
LISTEN to The Queers
LISTEN to Helen Love
She & Him - Sweet Darlin'
This very solid album, Volume One has about four #1 hits on it, but this track just blew my mind. For weeks I was addicted to this song like a junkie. I needed a daily fix. It is a timeless pop classic, a masterpiece.
Click here for more WFMU Top 10 lists for 2008
I am running a small internet marketing business as my side business. This has helped me cut time when I’m free from my busy schedule. I really get satisfaction when I am my own boss.
Posted by: Jeff Paul Internet Business | March 12, 2009 at 01:56 AM