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I think it's fair to say that I have fairly eclectic tastes in music. The reasons that we love music must be very complex... a mix of brain chemistry, memory association and our chronological age, for example. I tend to be a fan of specific songs, rather than particular artists. Anyway...I'm always SAYING "that's one of my all-time favorites"...but it made sense to actually post my iPod playlist... since that is objective evidence of music I care about enough to have ripped it from my CD collection or bought the track downloads. Initially, I am posting this without comments, but over time, I intend to write a bit about why I love each of these pieces so much. And, of course, I continue to add tunes occasionally...but probably less than you think. I am not on a great hunt to discover new music...although I do love to stumble across something new that really turns me on from time to time. |
SONG TITLE |
ARTIST |
COMMENTS |
A Dream Like Mine |
Bruce Cockburn |
I've been a Cockburn fan since the early Eighties. Saw him in concert once at the Newport in Columbus. One of the great lyricists ever. This song has a great groove. My wife thinks they should use it for the Olympics. |
| A Friend So True |
Kelly Willard |
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| A House Of Gold |
Kenny Rankin |
I first heard this beautiful Cole Porter composition in 1972 on an FM rock station in Central Ohio. Strings by Don Costa. the whole album is beautiful...but this is the gem. |
| A Love Like Yours |
Grace Project |
I am so proud of this song. I wrote the lyrics in 15 mins at the McDonald's on Sawmill Road back in about '85-86...and Tom Niehus wrote the music. Noelle Shearer recorded the vocals when she was maybe 20 years old. WHAT A VOICE. |
| A Rose is a Rose |
Susan Ashton |
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| A Song About Baseball |
Bob Bennett |
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| A Way |
Michael W Smith |
MWS is terrific melody writer and a very solid singer. This is from his second album, and sounds very dated 20 years later. But I still love the groove and energy. |
| A Whisper through the Veil |
Tom Howard |
From one of the all-time great albums in my collection by the Tom Howard Ensemble. Haunting and gorgeous. |
| Abacab |
Genesis |
|
| Adiemus |
Adiemus |
My son turned me on to this. I believe they call it "vocalese" now. It refers to a non-language-based vocal performance. Their are words...but they are chosen for their sound, not their meaning. A stunning vocal performance. |
| Advent Suite |
The Talbot Brothers |
Two beautiful voices, an acoustic guitar and live strings. I'm not even sure how to describe it, but I've loved it for many years. These guys are terrific songwriters, each in his own right (see The Potter's Clay below), but this one is a classic for me. |
| Africa |
Toto |
Toto was sort of the ultimate pop/rock band back in the Eighties. Terrific songs, and every level of performance was great in support of those songs. |
| Afrikaans |
Resurrection Band |
An anti-Apartheid song from many years back. Powerful. For me, one of rock's greatest voices ever (Glenn Kaiser). |
| After All |
Al Jarreau |
Silky smooth. Beautifully written. |
| After the Love Has Gone |
Earth Wind & Fire |
David Foster wrote it. EW&F brought it to life. The version with the sax solo at the end is just amazing. |
| Agree to Disagree |
Susan Ashton |
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| Akkermann's Sombrero |
Jan Akkermann |
The Noise of Art is an incredible instrumental album from guitarist Jan Akkermann (formerly of Focus). One amazing song after another. |
| Albert Flasher |
The Guess Who |
I absolutely love the Guess Who. Saw them in concert back in 75. One amazing song after another. |
| All I Know |
Art Garfunkel |
Written by the amazing Jimmy Webb. Garfunkel's voice really brings this one off beautifully. |
| All The Diamonds In The World |
Bruce Cockburn |
One of my favorite Cockburn compositions. The gospel story in picturesque language. I have performed this live as well. |
| All Things |
Glad |
The first of many great Glad songs in this list. Very dated (their first album), but a killer song nonetheless. |
| All We Need |
Out Of The Grey |
Sleek and sensuous. Christine Dente has a memerizing voice. Scott's guitar work here is flawless. Reminds me a little of David Gilmour's playing style. |
| Allentown |
Billy Joel |
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| America |
Simon and Garfunkel |
It should go without saying...but Paul Simon is the songwriter that every songwriter wishes he could be. Amazing range and versatility. Graphic word pictures, incredible melodies. Just close your eyes and listen. |
| American Tune |
Paul Simon |
Oops...he's back. Cynicism. Sophistication. But somehow resolving with a sincere patriotism. Fascinating stuff. |
| An Old Fashioned Love Song |
Three Dog Night |
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| Anywhere I Go |
Glad |
I miss Bob Kauflin. Not that he's dead. I just miss his music. He really shines thru Glad's first 3 albums. This jazz pop piece is just as sweet as the day is long, and his piano solo is superbly tasteful. |
| Arran Boatsong |
Yankee Celtic Consort |
I've known Phil Franck and Doug Rudy off and on for 30 years. Superb musicians. Talented writers. This is a touching rendition of a traditional instrumental. |
| As If I Could Reach Rainbows |
David Benoit |
I have no interest in about 70% of David Benoit's music, which I would classify as "happy jazz"...lightweight stuff. But when he's "on"...he is one of my favorite musicians in the entire world. Fortunately for me, he's very prolific. ;-) |
| As The Ruin Falls |
Phil Keaggy |
Phil treated me to a personal performance of this song in his living room in Ithaca, NY back in 1975. Even though I was a 17-year-old idiot at the time, it's an incredible memory. This is a C.S. Lewis poem written to his wife, Joy Davidman, and set to music by Phil. It's beautiful beyond belief. The lyrics are powerful and deeply revealing of Lewis' personal self-discovery, and the arrangement is gorgeous. |
| Aspen |
Rippingtons |
Much like David Benoit, when Russ Freeman is "on", his music is amazing beyond description. Need proof? Just buy The Rippingtons "Live in L.A.". Sadly, I haven't heard anything worth caring about from Russ since then. But that does nothing to diminish the greatness of this album, nor the band's earlier work. |
| Attitude of Gratitude |
Teri Desario |
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| Awesome God |
Rich Mullins |
Rich Mullins wrote a lot of great music in his way-too-short life. This one, in particular, resonates with the masses in a very unique way. |
| Baby Come Back |
Player |
|
| Bad Fruit |
The Grace Project |
Randy Stonehill's classic composition from The Sky Is Falling, re-recorded by yours truly 20 years later. Love this song. |
| Ballet For A Girl In Buchannon |
Chicago |
I was introduced to this amazing suite by my high school band teacher (the whole band was). He turned out all the lights in the band room and let us listen to the "Live at Carnegie Hall" album. This drew me into a love for the jazz/rock of Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears and Chase which is still burning hot 3 decades later. This is GREAT stuff. |
| Banks of the Lee |
Sue Mogan-Mattison |
I don't know much about Sue. Met her for 30 seconds at the door of her apartment one day while picking up some CDs for work. I know she was/is in a band called Stark Raven. Lovely lady, beautiful song. |
| Battlestar Galactica |
Erich Kunzel & The Cincinnati Pops |
One of the truly great (and often overlooked) space themes. Maybe my favorite. |
| Be Ye Glad |
Glad |
This was a huge hit for Glad. Great lyrics and music by Michael Kelly Blanchard. Add in Glad's accapella vocals at the end. Stunning. |
| Because He Loves Us |
Krystle Murden |
Great song written by Howard McCrary, I believe. Both Larnelle Harris and Krystle had incredible recordings of this. Both can sing the paint off walls as well. Love them both. |
| Believers |
Michael James Murphy |
Hook-y little pop piece from the Eighties. Almost a guilty pleasure listening to it. It's massively dated. But it's a great melody with catchy lyrics. |
| Beloved Planet |
Alison Kitchen |
An all-time classic in my book, written by a good friend and produced by one of my best friends. This is so good, I can't really even come up with words to describe it. But you can hear it for free here. |
| Blackbird |
Arturo Sandoval |
Energetic trumpet instrumental of the Beatles classic. Hot stuff. |
| Bless the Beasts and the Children |
The Carpenters |
I was a huge Carpenters fan back in the day. This was one of their best, from the movie of the same name. |
| Bonnaville |
Jan Akkermann |
Another killer guitar piece from this fretboard master. |
| Brand New Start |
Mylon LeFevre & Broken Heart |
This is one of my favorite albums ever. Only one weak song. Unfortunately, the album is out of print. Some cuts are available on CD. Haunting vocals from one of my favorite Christian artists ever. |
| Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) |
Looking Glass |
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| Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song) |
Amy Grant |
I played a lot of Amy's music on the radio during the Eighties and Nineties. I like a lot of it. But this song may be the closest she ever came to a perfect recording. |
| Breathe into Me |
Big Methusaleh |
Great song. Ted Pearce on vocals. |
| Broken Heart |
Mylon LeFevre & Broken Heart |
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| ON TO THE NEXT PAGE |