Bruce Springsteen, "Because The Night"

As I mentioned a while back, Darkness on the Edge of Town was recently re-released with a bunch of previously unreleased material.  This is one of my favorite songs from that new album -- called The Promise -- which you may recognize from previous covers by Patti Smith or 10,000 Maniacs.

The Beatles, "Fool On The Hill"

This is definitely one of the more underrated Beatles songs.  The video is a little corny, but what can you do... it was shot in the '60s after The Sound of Music.

Trini Lopez, "If I Had A Hammer"

Sure, you could listen to the Peter, Paul & Mary version--but why do that when you can listen to Trini Lopez covering it half-assed:

Saturday Night Live, "Sloths"

I needed a laugh.  And here it is:

Rolling Stones, "You Can't Always Get What You Want"

This one goes out to Greg Koelfgen, who passed away Monday.  He was a mentor and a great journalist--and even as the highest manager of a San Antonio newsroom, he wasn't afraid to pick up a camera and head into the field when a story needed to be told.  He gave me opportunities on the first day of my internship that probably would have taken weeks elsewhere.  I'll always be grateful for that and for teaching me how to be a better person.

I knows he's partying with Edward R. Murrow & Walter Cronkite in heaven right now!

Greg Koelfgen: 1957-2011

Mason Williams, "Classical Gas"

What I love about the '60s is that a song like this was mainstream.  There just isn't enough music-only stuff on the radio these days; honestly, there are lots of songs that would be so much better without the lyrics.

I also didn't know that Mason Williams lives in Oregon and has a comedy background.  Learning is fun!

Black Box, "Everybody Everybody"

I pretty much forgot about this song until I saw a reference to it on an episode of "Family Guy."  Good stuff.

Will Smith, "Miami"

Remember this song?  Classic.  ¡Bienvenido a Miami!  Miami actually sounds pretty awesome right now.

Best Coast, "Crazy For You"

Cats directing a music video: I could get used to a world like this.

Janis Ian, "Fly Too High"

Janis Ian dancing with a mannequin in a room full of mannequins might just replace Samantha Sang in my nightmares.

The Hollies, "Carrie Anne"

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I don't think the The Hollies get enough respect.  Kind of like Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, it seems like they have a lot of great hits -- but it doesn't seem like they ever reached a level that a lot of other bands of their era did.  Anyway, here's an early classic that you might recognize:

Sam Cooke, "You Send Me"

It's been a while since I've posted anything from Sam Cooke--too long, really.  So hopefully this can help make up for some lost time:

Peter, Bjorn & John, "Breaker, Breaker"

This appears to be a new song on the group's upcoming album, Gimme Some.  It's no secret that I'm a fan of this group -- and Swedes in general -- so I'm happy to give my Scandinavian friends a shout-out when the time is right.

R.E.M., "Shiny Happy People"

I kind of grew up listening to this song, but these days it's a little too happy and a wee shiny for me.

Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock, "It Takes Two"

Wanna know what 1988 was like?  You're looking at it.

Wilson Phillips, "Hold On"

This is a shoutout to Justin's List's dog, Cash.  He threw his back out of whack overnight.  When we took him to the vet, the doc said that while he doesn't appear to be injured, he's just getting old and may get around more slowly from now on.  We're pumping him full of doggy drugs in hopes that he'll be back to normal soon, but I'm still a little sad about the whole thing.

So this song is for Cash.  Or for me, maybe.  Either way, here's hoping Wilson Phillips can help fix whatever doggy drugs can't.  I mean, look at them... they're on top of a rock on top of a mountain -- they can do anything!

The Band, "The Weight"

I recently acquired the album ("Music From Big Pink") that includes this song; Rolling Stone magazine calls it the 34th best album of all time.  Not sure about that.  Maybe it'll sink in over time for me, but other than this song and maybe a few others, I'm having a hard time putting it in the top 50.  Still, though, this is probably one of the best tunes of its era.

Juice Newton, "Angel Of The Morning"

This one comes at the recommendation of my good buddy Aaron.  I'll let him explain the magic in his own words:


"it's classic. the gutarist's hair looks like it's taped inside of the hat, like it's a single unit.  speaking of units they seem to get every guy's moose knuckle perfectly framed, like the keyboardists at 2:46.  also, the entire thing looks like what i imagine the early 80's were like."


Well put.  And remember, all of this was sung by a woman named Juice.

UB40, "The Way You Do The Things You Do"

Did anyone ever like UB40?  I always kinda figured they were one of those bands that existed to play the music you hear in restaurant bathrooms, but somehow they got radio play.  Huh.

Kwoon, "I Lived On The Moon"

Thanks to my good buddy Josh for recommending this video--which is pretty trippy.

Expose, "Seasons Change"

It's like watching "Sex and the City" without any of the sex or the city.

John Lennon, "Instant Karma"

There's been a lot of needless violence so far in 2011 -- both on a local and national level.  Here's hoping things turn around soon.

Girl Talk, "No Pause"

I'm a little behind the times, but I'm just now getting into Girl Talk.  If you don't about Girl Talk already, it's like this: Take every awesome song that you know, and blend them all together to make a bunch of new  even more awesome songs.  It's like the Voltron of music.

Aqua, "My Mamma Said"

It turns out that Justin's List has quite the following in Denmark.  So for all the Danish folks out there, here's a little treat for you (at least, this is the first thing that pops up when I type "Denmark music video" into YouTube--and it didn't seem so bad).  Hej, og tak!

Oregon Power Ballad by Sebastian Bach

Sebastian Bach is hilarious.  He's the reason I sing "Hollaback Girl" at karaoke, and this clip of him laughing on "Celebrity Fit Club" still makes me giggle a year later.  So kudos to him and to Jimmy Fallon for having some fun with this.

And I'm hoping this power ballad means that "Return of the Quack" will go away forever (it's horrible in every single way).

Boney M, "Daddy Cool"

Boney M never disappoints.  Things really heat up at around the two-minute mark, when he removes his vest and starts talking in a creepy voice that sounds like Barry White with a pocketful of roofies.  I won't ruin the rest of the video for you, but if you're a teacher or legal guardian, you may want to keep the volume down.

And don't forget: The man knows his way around an aluminum foil stage.

Gerry Rafferty, "Right Down The Line"

RIP Gerry Rafferty, 1947-2011.  I unfortunately couldn't find any good live performances of this song, so this "video" will have to do.  But there's also "Baker Street" in case you wanted to see something a little more video-tastic.  I used to listen to both of these songs on vinyl & 8-track.  Classic stuff.

Neil Diamond, "Heartlight"

Do you see how effortlessly this man can walk into a studio -- sweater draped over his shoulders -- and whip out a song like this?  No one's heartlight shines more brightly than Mr. Diamond's.

The Dream Academy, "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want"

I was listening to an album by The Smiths, and this song came on.  It sounded vaguely like the music from the scene in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," when Cameron is staring at the painting in the museum.  It turns out it is the same song, just sung by The Dream Academy.  So the next time you're studying pointillism, just remember this tune.

John Mayer, "Wait Until Tomorrow"

This is a cover of a great Jimi Hendrix song.  I can't find a good video version of the original song -- so if you can, just imagine Jimi jamming out to this tune.  The original version is rad. (Sorry that I couldn't do any better than that, but John Mayer's not so bad.... right...?)

The Beatles, "Hello Goodbye"

Hello 2011, Goodbye 2010!