It’s basketball season, the time of the year that I used to love, with the college seasons for both men and women are heating up for conference championships and tournament seedings. In Indiana, high school for girls began their tournament to determine the four classes’ champions (I honestly am conflicted by class basketball even though that argument has been long settled of the decades. And the boys are gearing up for their own tournament for State Champions in the four classes. It’s usually an exciting time, but since I have been removed from the excitement, I no longer harbor my intensity for the game. Unfortunately, I may have lost my life or death competitive nature in the intervening years of disability due to my back issues.
This is a double-edged sword. I am kind of relieved by this lack of competitive drive while kind of depressed due to my missing the sport. No pressure, no fight back, no care. That’s why I trying to get back in the habit of writing so I can help myself.
With the “woe-is-me” garbage out of the way, here is the next 25 (!) artists in my countdown. Peace!
50. Aerosmith* – Best Album: Toys in the Attic (1975)
Album Gem: Pump (1989)
Best Song: “Walk This Way” (1975)
Deep Cut: “Seasons of Wither” (1974)
49. Parliament*/Funkadelic*/Bootsy’s Rubber Band/George Clinton’s empire
Best Album: Mothership Connection – Parliament (1975)
Album Gem: Maggot Brain – Funkadelic (1971)
Best Song: “Flashlight” (1977)
Deep Cut: “Mommy, What’s a Funkadelic?” – Funkadelic (1970)
48. Rush * – Best Album: Moving Pictures (1981)
Album Gem: Snakes & Arrows (2007)
Best Song: “The Spirit of Radio” (1980)
Deep Cut: “La Villa Strangiato” (1978)
47. Chic – Best Album: Risqué (1979)
Album Gem: It’s About Time (2018)
Best Song: “Le Freak” (1979)
Deep Cut: “My Feet Keep Dancing” (1979)
46. Neil Young* – Best Album: Rust Never Sleeps (1979)
Album Gem: Homegrown (2020)
Best Song: “Harvest Moon” (1992)
Deep Cut: “This Old Guitar” (2005)
45. Tina Turner* – Best Album: Private Dancer (1984)
Album Gem: Foreign Affair (1989)
Best Song: “Let’s Stay Together” (1983)
Deep Cut: “Steamy Windows” (1989)
44. The Who* – Best Album: Who’s Next (1971)
Album Gem: Quadrophenia (1973)
Best Song: “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (1971)
Deep Cut: “Sister Disco” (1978)
43. The Beach Boys* – Best Album: Pet Sounds (1966)
Album Gem: The SMiLE Sessions (2011)
Best Song: “Good Vibrations” (1967)
Deep Cut: “Surf’s Up” (1971)
42. Stevie Wonder* – Best Album: Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
Album Gem: Hotter Than July (1980)
Best Song: “Sir Duke” (1976)
Deep Cut: “I Ain’t Gonna Stand for It” (1980)
41. Duran Duran*/The Power Station/Arcadia/Andy Taylor –
Best Album: Rio (1982)
Album Gem: Danse Macabre (2023)
Best Song: “The Reflex (The Nile Rodgers Remix)” (1984)
Deep Cut: “The Chauffer” (1982)
40. Kiss* – Best Album: Destroyer (1976)
Album Gem: Creatures of the Night (1982)
Best Song: “Rock & Roll All Nite (live)” (1975)
Deep Cut: “Rocket Ride” (1977)
39. Heart* – Best Album: Dreamboat Annie (1975)
Album Gem: Fanatic (2012)
Best Song: “Crazy on You” (1975)
Deep Cut: “How Can I Refuse” (1983)
38. Styx* – Best Album: The Grand Illusion (1977)
Album Gem: Crystal Ball (1976)
Best Song: “Renegade” (1978)
Deep Cut: “Mademoiselle” (1976)
37. Pink Floyd – Best Album: The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Album Gem: Piper at the Gates of Dawn (1967)
Best Song: “Wish You Were Here” (1975)
Deep Cut: “When the Tigers Broke Free” (1982)
36. Donna Summer* – Best Album: Bad Girls (1979)
Album Gem: The Wanderer (1980)
Best Song: “I Feel Love” (1977)
Deep Cut: “Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)” (1982)
35. Madonna* – Best Album: Like a Prayer (1989)
Album Gem: Ray of Light (1998)
Best Song: “Borderline” (1983)
Deep Cut: “Justify My Love” (1990)
34. John (Cougar) Mellencamp* – Best Album: The Lonesome Jubilee (1987)
Album Gem: No Better Than This (2010)
Best Song: “Cherry Bomb” (1987)
Deep Cut: “Play Guitar” (1983)
33. George Michael*/Wham! – Best Album: Faith (1987)
Album Gem: Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1 (1990)
Best Song: “Father Figure” (1987)
Deep Cut: “Fastlove” (1996)
32. Chicago* – Best Album: Chicago II (1970)
Album Gem: Chicago 17 (1984)
Best Song: “Saturday in the Park” (1972)
Deep Cut: “Dialogue Parts 1 & 2” (1972)
31. Guns N’ Roses* – Best Album: Appetite for Destruction (1987)
Album Gem: Chinese Democracy (2008)
Best Song: “Sweet Child o’ Mine” (1987)
Deep Cut: “Catcher in the Rye” (2008)
30. Paul Simon*/Simon & Garfunkel* – Best Album: Graceland (1986)
Album Gem: So Beautiful or So What (2011)
Best Song: “Bridge Over Troubled Water” – Simon & Garfunkel (1970)
Deep Cut: “Late in the Evening” (1980)
29. The Band* – Best Album: The Band (1969)
Album Gem: Before the Flood – The Band with Bob Dylan (1974)
Best Song: “The Weight” (1968)
Deep Cut: “Stage Fright” (1970)
28. The Clash*/Big Audio Dynamite/B.A.D. II – Best Album: London Calling (1979)
Album Gem: Sandinista! (1980)
Best Song: “Train in Vain (Stand by Me)” (1979)
Deep Cut: “Straight to Hell” (1982)
27. Bee Gees*/Andy Gibb – Best Album: Main Course (1975)
Album Gem: Odessa (1969)
Best Song: “Run to Me” (1972)
Deep Cut: “One” (1989)
26. Billy Joel* – Best Album: The Stranger (1977)
Album Gem: Songs in the Attic (1981)
Best Song: “Sometimes a Fantasy” (1980)
Deep Cut: “Captain Jack” (1973)
We are getting closer to the end! Only two more entries for this topic.
If My Records Could Talk 