My Top Three — The Eagles

The Eagles are an odd group for me. They have some songs I absolutely love, mostly revolving around only a couple of albums. A lot of their classic stuff that a lot of people love just doesn’t do much for me. Songs like Take It Easy, Peaceful Easy Feeling, One of These Nights, and a few others are just kind of blah. But still, they have some songs are in the category of play it loud and now I gotta listen to it again. And again.

Some songs that almost made the cut: The Long Run, Desperado, Pretty Maids In A Row, Wasted Time.

My Top Three

Hotel California

To me, there can be no list of Eagles songs without this at or near the top of the list. In fact, there are no lists of classic rock mustic where this song shouldn’t be at or near the top of the list. This song just reflects everything there is about classic 70s rock, and it still sounds great 45 years later. (And speaking of eggcorns, I’m pretty sure there are eggcorns all through this song.)

The Last Resort

Hotel California is the lead track off of their 1976 album of the same name. The Last Resort is the last song on that album. This was probably the first song I ever heard where I understood just how songs could tell incredible stories, filled with so much. This song and Telegraph Road by Dire Straits are epic tales of civilization, the West, and the failure of the dream. As I write this, I’m listening to the song and chills are creeping across my head and down my spine. It is just so powerful.

Long Road Out of Eden

Another epic tale of civilization and mankind, with so much packed into it. I love these long songs that tell these tales. So much about this song and the other two that I listed is perfect … the tone of voice, the intros into the songs. The build up and the let down. The quality of the lyrics that create images that put me in a place where I can see what they are singing about. So much. Hope you enjoyed them.

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My Best Eggcorn Ever

My last Top Three post was about Hozier. I was listening to one of those songs this morning — Always (Sweet Music). It’s a perfect example of the joy I find in Hozier’s music. The song is such a celebration of music. I was paying closer attention to the lyrics than I usually do while I drove around this morning.

But, let’s stop for a sec before I completely embarrass myself. What is an eggcorn? For those who don’t know, it is a “word or phrase that results from a mishearing or misinterpretation of another, an element of the original being substituted for one that sounds very similar or identical.” The word even has its own wikipedia page. Eggcorns frequently come out in music. You hear something in a lyric and swear it’s one thing only to find out, sometimes years later, that you simply did not hear what you thought you heard.

For years, I thought the ZZ Top line “I’m Bad, I”m Nationwide,” from the song Nationwide, was actually, “I’m bad, I’m Asian-white.” It was only when I saw the name of the song on the screen in my car that I realized I had been living a lie for … decades.

So, back to Hozier and Always (Sweet Music), this joy-filled celebration of music. Here’s what I thought I heard:

Do I hope each kiss to lip and cheek is as soft as chicken skin

I was all set to tweet about this and ask is “as soft as chicken skin” really a thing? Anywhere in the world? I couldn’t imagine it was, I mean who would sing of chicken skin in such a song.

Apparently not Hozier. Here is the actual line:

Do I owe each kiss to lip and cheek as soft
As Chet can sing “Let’s Get Lost”

But I dare you to go listen to the song and tell me you don’t hear “chicken skin” there.

My Top Three — Melissa Etheridge

When I came up with the idea for this Top Three series, I had a few ideas for different musicians I wanted to cover. Melissa Etheridge was not on the list. An artist who I spent a lot of time listening to around 30 years ago, I felt like it wasn’t there for me anymore.

Then, I was reminded of Royal Station 4/16, and decided I wanted to see if I could come up with a top three for Ms. Etheridge. I’ve spent the days since re-experiencing the wonder that is her music. I’m in the process of creating a playlist of my favorites on Spotify. I’m only into her fourth album and already have over 20 songs on the list. This may just be the most challenging selection I’ve had yet. There is just so much good stuff. I keep turning a corner, hearing a new song, and saying “that one,” only to turn the next corner, hear another song and think the same. So, without delving completely into her entire catalog, I’m just going to go with the following three because I gotsta move on.

Royal Station 4/16

Because this song just kicks ass, that’s why…

Bring Me Some Water

Because this was her first hit off of her first album and it still rocks.

Here are a few other songs that didn’t make the final cut. Chrome Plated Heart, Like The Way I Do, Precious Pain, The Late September Dongs, No Souvenirs, You Used to Love To Dance, You Can Sleep While I Drive, 2001, Dance Without Sleepin, Place Your Hand, Must Be Crazy For Me, Keep It Precious, The Letting Go, Come To My Window. And I’m not even done yet putting my playlist together!!!! (Side note: after our first child was born, our first “date” out, a few months after he was born was a Melissa Etheridge concert. I’d love to see her again, all these years later.)

Here you go …

Silent Legacy

I’m not exactly sure why I picked this over all of the other songs, but it just kind of represents the best of Etheridge in a number of different ways.

My Top Three — Sometimes It’s a Struggle

While I delved into U2 for my last post in this series, I came across a non-U2 song that took me down a rabbit hole.

Much like with U2, I also walled in this artist in the late 80s and into the 90s. Melissa Etheredge was one of my favorites back then. I bought every album she put out for quite awhile. And then, eventually, I moved away from her music. A few years ago, I tried to listen to her again and it didn’t last very long.

But my U2 study took me to the song Royal Station 4/16. Bono played the harmonica on the studio recording. It is my favorite Etheridge song. It’s a bit different from most of what she does. It is a seven minute jam that I absolutely love. And there is harmonia!

I decided then that my next Top Three would be Ms. Etheridge and I started going back into her catalog to refresh my memory and make my selections. Damn, it’s difficult. So much good stuff in her early albums. I don’t know if I’ll be able to pick three, but I’m going to try. In the meantime, I leave you with two videos of Royal Station 4/16. The first is a live solo version she recorded in her home almost a year ago and provides a little context for the song before her performance. The second is the studio version.

Volume all the way up!!! Enjoy. (Now, I gotta go back and figure out the two other songs that go with this.)

Song For Today

The guy I refer to as my first Spotify artist, I heard a song of his on satellite radio a number of years ago, then went home and pulled him up on Spotify. I absolutely loved his music, but haven’t listened to him as much over recently. I was fortunate to see him live at a concert in Berkeley a couple of years ago, and would love to see him again some day when concerts become a thing. He puts on a great show.

I decided to listen to him today and pulled up a playlist on Spotify that purports to be his complete discography. This was the first song. It’s magical.

If it’s true we’re all just one
Who do we turn to when the day is done?
Will there be people in the bar? Or should I sleep?