Dobber's Take

In 1993 I finished high school and started at the University of Guelph. I turned 19 that April, legal drinking age in Ontario. I was still into Classic Rock, with a lot of Tragically Hip on the playlist. But I was also exposed to Alternative/Grunge and was starting to appreciate it. By the time 1995 began, I was completely into that music. But it was a transition that took a couple of years and I never did lose my love of classic rock. While I got into the Hip album of 1993 (Fully Completely), and Kravitz and Pearl Jam…many of the Alternative songs from that year I got into in ’94. Including ‘Shine’, which to this day is still one of my favorite songs of all time.

Unlike most rankings, I haven’t been simply tossing these up in a numerical order. Because we can all agree that on some days, some songs kick more ass than other songs. A song that is ranked 14th today could very well rank 1st tomorrow – if it suddenly comes on the radio during the perfect moment and I start singing along. So I group them instead of presenting a hard-and-fast order:

Awesome
Great
Pretty Good
Not Bad
…with some inter-group splitting.

1990       1991      1992      1993

1960s          1970s          1980s          1990s

As I reviewed this year it became clear that in terms of music, this was a ho-hum year. I was 18 years old and by this point I was well into Classic Rock and only just getting started with Alternative Rock and Grunge. Only a couple of dozen songs I’d consider as “Great” or “Awesome” with the bulk of the songs merely “Not Bad”. And of those great songs, many of them I got into in future years. Alice in Chains I didn’t get into for another five years. I did like STP, The Black Crowes and of course The Hip right away but even Soul Asylum and Rage took me a couple of years to appreciate. And Nirvana’s Sliver I didn’t get introduced to for another decade. Clearly, 1992 was still heavily Classic Rock when it comes to my personal history of music. You can also see some of the local “Buck and Doe” music here, with several country music entries.

Unlike most rankings, I haven’t been simply tossing these up in a numerical order. Because I know better than anybody that on some days, some songs kick more ass than other songs. A song that is ranked 14th today could very well rank 1st tomorrow, if it suddenly comes on the radio during the perfect moment and I start singing along. You understand. So I group them instead of presenting a hard-and-fast order:

Awesome
Great
Pretty Good
Not Bad
…with inter-group splitting.

1990       1991

1960s          1970s          1980s          1990s

The 144 songs that made the list for 1991 (so far, as I am always adding if I discover a song I’ve missed) gave 1989 a run for its money (148). This is thanks to Nirvana’s timeless Nevermind album (which honestly just gets better over time), and the Hip’s Road Apples – which was an instant favorite of mine. Pearl Jam’s Ten was a huge part of my life, though it took me a year or two to truly appreciate them. Along with the Hip, Lenny Kravitz was my favorite artist at the time and I was waiting to pick up his Mama Said album the day it came out – it didn’t disappoint. And of course – Blood Sugar Sex Magik was another all-time favorite album of mine.

Lots of memories were packed into this music. I was 17. I went to a lot of parties in Stratford and St. Mary’s. This music went with me. And some of the pop music you see towards the bottom of this list were just underrated and underappreciated songs of that year because, to teenagers, they weren’t “cool”. But later in life I can certainly appreciate them. One pop album in particular, Michael Jackson’s Dangerous, was an album that I had no idea was this good until just recently listening through it.

Unlike most rankings, I haven’t been simply tossing these up in a numerical order. Because I know better than anybody that on some days, some songs kick more ass than other songs. A song that is ranked 14th today could very well rank 1st tomorrow, if it suddenly comes on the radio during the perfect moment and I start singing along. You understand. So I group them instead of presenting a hard-and-fast order:

Awesome
Great
Pretty Good
Not Bad
…with inter-group splitting.

1990

1960s          1970s          1980s          1990s

After seeing all the songs that I enjoyed from 1989 (148 of them so far), I figured that this was the year that ushered in my favorite decade. If 1989 brought me 148 quality songs, then each year in the 90s should top 150. Well apparently that isn’t so. Over the last couple of months I have gone through music from 1990 and barely managed to find 80 songs. I was 16 and really into classic rock. Apparently because the quality new rock songs at the time were pretty sparse.

The Sinead O’Connor song may seem out of place here, but man it was a big part of my teenage years. In my head a lot! By the way, if you’re not from Canada and you’re reading this – The Grapes of Wrath were a very underrated and under-exposed band. Love their songs even to this day. And now I see that I enjoy Crash Vegas too, though 20 years ago I was only into their ’94 tune Pocahontas (Neil Young cover).

Unlike most rankings, I haven’t been simply tossing these up in a numerical order. Because I know better than anybody that on some days, some songs kick more ass than other songs. A song that is ranked 14th today could very well rank 1st tomorrow, if it suddenly comes on the radio during the perfect moment and I start singing along. You understand. So I group them instead of presenting a hard-and-fast order:

Awesome
Great
Pretty Good
Not Bad
…with inter-group splitting.

1990

1960s          1970s          1980s          1990s

I gathered up all the songs I rated “awesome” in a decade – this time from the 80s. And while the individual years weren’t ranked in numerical order, this decade summary is. Once again, this order is based on how I feel right now. Today. Sitting at a computer. Whereas my preference while driving around town would probably result in a different order…and sitting on the deck in the sun with a beer would generate yet another order.

The 80s started off very weak according to my tastes. I hated the fake drums – that may have been the worst part of 80s music. And 1981 had just 44 songs rated “not bad” or better, 1985 and 1986 each had just two songs rated “awesome”. But as I put each year’s list together I was astonished to realize how many songs I love. In the mid-80s there were a lot of great slow songs. And in the late 80s some rock’n roll greats emerged. And without having yet looked at the 90s, I wondered if 1989 was my favorite year for music.

In forcing myself to give a ‘hard’ ranking of these songs – I found it to be a real struggle once I got to the final 40. These 40 songs I truly love and they differ to widely in style and rhythm. Now I remember why I don’t give ‘hard’ rankings in the year-by-year lists! Oh man, by the time I got into the Top 20 I may as well have thrown darts. Elite, elite tunes of several genres.

Here are all of the songs from the 1980s that I consider “awesome”:

1 New Orleans Is Sinking – The Tragically Hip
2 Patience  – Guns N’ Roses
3 Blow at High Dough – The Tragically Hip
4 Let Love Rule  – Lenny Kravitz
5 Boots or Hearts – The Tragically Hip
6 You’re the Inspiration  – Chicago
7 Sweet Child O’ Mine  – Guns N’ Roses
8 Every Rose Has Its Thorn  – Poison
9 Oh Sherrie  – Steve Perry
10 When Doves Cry  – Prince
11 Beds Are Burning  – Midnight Oil
12 Rosemary – Lenny Kravitz
13 Paradise City  – Guns N’ Roses
14 Girl I’m Gonna Miss You – Milli Vanilli
15 Love Bites  – Def Leppard
16 Hey, Hey, What Can I Do – Led Zeppelin
17 Pour Some Sugar On Me  – Def Leppard
18 Does Anybody Out There Even Care – Lenny Kravitz
19 Glory Of Love  – Peter Cetera
20 What It Takes  – Aerosmith
21 Keep On Loving You  – REO Speedwagon
22 Here I Go Again  – Whitesnake
23 Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)  – Phil Collins
24 You Shook Me All Night Long  – AC/DC
25 Buffalo Soldier  – Bob Marley & the Wailers
26 I Love Rock And Roll – Joan Jett
27 Wanted Dead Or Alive  – Bon Jovi
28 Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey
29 Redemption Song  – Bob Marley
30 Billie Jean –  Michael Jackson
31 Red Red Wine  – UB40
32 Sister Christian  – Night Ranger
33 Total Eclipse Of The Heart  – Bonnie Tyler
34 Money For Nothing  – Dire Straits
35 Epic  – Faith No More
36 Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield
37 Start Me Up – The Rolling Stones
38 Hurts So Good – John Mellencamp
39 Rock N’ Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution  – AC/DC
40 Wild Flower  – The Cult
41 Gimme All Your Lovin’  – ZZ Top
42 Every Breath You Take  – The Police
43 With Or Without You  – U2
44 One More Night  – Phil Collins
45 Straight Outta Compton  – N.W.A
46 What I Am  – Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
47 Born In The U.S.A.  – Bruce Springsteen
48 In The Air Tonight – Phil Collins
49 Back In Black  – AC/DC
50 Traveling Riverside Blues –  Led Zeppelin
51 Just Like Paradise  – David Lee Roth
52 Eternal Flame  – Bangles
53 Coming Home  – Cinderella
54 Hard Habit To Break  – Chicago
55 Super Trouper  – ABBA
56 Stand  – R.E.M.
57 Last American Exit – The Tragically Hip
58 Alone  – Heart
59 Hysteria  – Def Leppard
60 Islands in the Stream  – Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton
61 Sharp Dressed Man  – ZZ Top
62 They Don’t Know  – Tracey Ullman
63 All Through The Night  – Cyndi Lauper
64 Another One Bites The Dust  – Queen
65 The Tide Is High  – Blondie
66 Touch Of Grey  – Grateful Dead
67 The Way You Make Me Feel  – Michael Jackson
68 Father Figure  – George Michael
69 Brilliant Disguise  – Bruce Springsteen
70 Rag Doll  – Aerosmith
71 Angel  – Aerosmith
72 Slow and Low – Beastie Boys
73 Jack & Diane –  John Mellencamp
74 Blister In The Sun –  Violent Femmes
75 Legs  – ZZ Top
76 Push It  – Salt N Pepa
77 Need You Tonight  – INXS

1980  1981  1982  1983  1984  1985  1986  1987  1988  1989

1960s          1970s          1980s          1990s

I do go through the old lists and add songs if I stumble on them, though that’s been rare. But as of this post I had 131 songs on the 1987 list and 150 songs on today’s (1989) list…but only 85 songs on the 1988 list. And the best of 1988 consisted mostly of great slow songs. I wonder why the lack of rock greats that year?

In 1989 I was 15 years old and still into rap music. My favorite band was the Beastie Boys but I also loved Public Enemy. However, in 1990 I started to love The Tragically Hip and the other members of our high school’s “Big 3”: The Cult and Lenny Kravitz. The transition to rap to rock was a smooth one, as for a good year or two I loved both music types. I even made mixed tapes that rotated – one rock song, one rap song. Weird, right?

So while 1989 was a year in which I didn’t yet know the Hip, Cult, or Kravitz – it is a year in which a lot of their great songs were released. So they appear on this list.

Wow…150 songs. Could 1989 have been my favorite year of all time for music? I suspect not, but until I go through the 90s I honestly won’t know. (Update: Nope, 1994 topped it)

Unlike most rankings, I haven’t been simply tossing these up in a numerical order. Because I know better than anybody that on some days, some songs kick more ass than other songs. A song that is ranked 14th today could very well rank 1st tomorrow, if it suddenly comes on the radio during the perfect moment and I start singing along. You understand. So I group them instead of presenting a hard-and-fast order:

Awesome
Great
Pretty Good
Not Bad
…with inter-group splitting.

1980  1981  1982  1983  1984  1985  1986  1987  1988  1989

1960s          1970s          1980s          1990s

More great classic slow songs, plus we’re getting into the heart of my hip hop phase. But as with most 80s songs, nearly half of the ones worth noting are merely “not bad”. I’m curious to see how the 90s do when I go through those. Because at the start of all this, I felt that the 90s was my favorite decade for music. Soon we shall see.

Unlike most rankings, I haven’t been simply tossing these up in a numerical order. Because I know better than anybody that on some days, some songs kick more ass than other songs. A song that is ranked 14th today could very well rank 1st tomorrow, if it suddenly comes on the radio during the perfect moment and I start singing along. You understand. So I group them instead of presenting a hard-and-fast order:

Awesome
Great
Pretty Good
Not Bad
…with inter-group splitting.

Awesome – 1 – Beds Are Burning  – Midnight Oil
Awesome – 1 – Every Rose Has Its Thorn  – Poison
Awesome – 1 – Patience  – Guns N’ Roses
Awesome – 4 – Coming Home  – Cinderella
Awesome – 4 – Eternal Flame  – Bangles
Awesome – 4 – Just Like Paradise  – David Lee Roth
Awesome – 4 – Stand  – R.E.M.
Awesome – 4 – Straight Outta Compton  – N.W.A
Awesome – 4 – What I Am  – Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
Great – 10 – Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)  – Cinderella
Great – 10 – End Of The Line  – The Traveling Wilburys
Great – 10 – Jane Says  – Jane’s Addiction
Great – 10 – The Flame  – Cheap Trick
Great – 14 – All I Want Is You  – U2
Great – 14 – American Dream  – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Great – 14 – Handle With Care  – The Traveling Wilburys
Great – 14 – Gypsy Road  – Cinderella
Great – 14 – I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)  – The Proclaimers
Great – 14 – Orange Crush  – R.E.M.
Great – 14 – The Look  – Roxette
Great – 14 – Used To Love Her  – Guns N’ Roses
Pretty Good – 22 – Copperhead Road  – Steve Earle
Pretty Good – 22 – Angel Eyes  – The Jeff Healey Band
Pretty Good – 22 – Angel Of Harlem  – U2
Pretty Good – 22 – Bad Medicine  – Bon Jovi
Pretty Good – 22 – Cult of Personality  – Living Colour
Pretty Good – 22 – Desire  – U2
Pretty Good – 22 – Pop Song ’89  – R.E.M.
Pretty Good – 22 – There She Goes  – The La’s
Pretty Good – 30 – A Little Respect  – Erasure
Pretty Good – 30 – Funky Cold Medina  – Tone-Loc
Pretty Good – 30 – Big League  – Tom Cochrane & Red Rider
Pretty Good – 30 – Chains of Love  – Erasure
Pretty Good – 30 – Devil Inside  – INXS
Pretty Good – 30 – Finest Worksong  – R.E.M.
Pretty Good – 30 – Kokomo  – The Beach Boys
Pretty Good – 30 – Lay Your Hands On Me  – Bon Jovi
Pretty Good – 30 – Never Tear Us Apart  – INXS
Pretty Good – 30 – One  – Metallica
Pretty Good – 30 – Tall Cool One  – Robert Plant
Pretty Good – 30 – When It’s Love  – Van Halen
Pretty Good – 30 – Five Long Years – Colin James
Pretty Good – 30 – Fuck the Police – N.W.A
Not Bad – 44 – Fast Car  – Tracy Chapman
Not Bad – 44 – Don’t Worry Be Happy  – Bobby McFerrin
Not Bad – 44 – Fat  – Weird Al Yankovic
Not Bad – 44 – I Hate Myself For Loving You  – Joan Jett
Not Bad – 44 – Kissing A Fool  – George Michael
Not Bad – 44 – Make Me Lose Control  – Eric Carmen
Not Bad – 44 – Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)  – Enya
Not Bad – 44 – Roni  – Bobby Brown
Not Bad – 44 – Simply Irresistible  – Robert Palmer
Not Bad – 44 – Where Is My Mind?  – Pixies
Not Bad – 44 – Hands Up – Sway
Not Bad – 44 – My Song – Glass Tiger
Not Bad – 44 – Voodoo Thing – Colin James
Not Bad – 44 – Chick and Cars (and the Third World War) – Colin James
Not Bad – 44 – I’m Your Pusher – Ice T
Not Bad- 59 – Colors – Ice T
Not Bad- 59 – Bring Me Some Water  – Melissa Etheridge
Not Bad- 59 – Doctorin’ The Tardis  – The Timelords
Not Bad- 59 – Don’t Be Cruel  – Bobby Brown
Not Bad- 59 – Every Little Step  – Bobby Brown
Not Bad- 59 – Forever Young  – Rod Stewart
Not Bad- 59 – Gimme Hope Jo’anna  – Eddy Grant
Not Bad- 59 – Helter Skelter  – U2
Not Bad- 59 – I Know You’re Out There Somewhere  – The Moody Blues
Not Bad- 59 – I’m Your Man  – Leonard Cohen
Not Bad- 59 – In Your Room  – Bangles
Not Bad- 59 – It Takes Two  – Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
Not Bad- 59 – Like the Way I Do  – Melissa Etheridge
Not Bad- 59 – Look Away  – Chicago
Not Bad- 59 – My Prerogative  – Bobby Brown
Not Bad- 59 – Nothin’ But a Good Time  – Poison
Not Bad- 59 – Parents Just Don’t Understand  – DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
Not Bad- 59 – Perfect World  – Huey Lewis & the News
Not Bad- 59 – Plug Tunin’  – De La Soul
Not Bad- 59 – Potholes in My Lawn  – De La Soul
Not Bad- 59 – Roll With It  – Steve Winwood
Not Bad- 59 – Straight Up  – Paula Abdul
Not Bad- 59 – The Living Years  – Mike + the Mechanics
Not Bad- 59 – Two Hearts  – Phil Collins
Not Bad- 59 – What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy)  – Information Society
Not Bad- 59 – Wild Thing  – Tone-Loc
Not Bad- 59 – Wild Wild West  – The Escape Club
Not Bad- 59 – I’m Still Searching – Glass Tiger
Not Bad- 59 – Love Changes Everything – Honeymoon Suite

1980  1981  1982  1983  1984  1985  1986  1987  1988  1989

1960s          1970s          1980s          1990s

It has come to my attention that the source I was using for song releases almost completely ignored Canadian songs unless they were hits in America. Man, I’d be missing a ton of great songs if I didn’t fix that. Going back to 1980, I added a song or two each year until 1984 when I found several songs to add. And in 1986 I added a dozen! I mean – Boy Inside the Man? Fantastic tune! Anyway, going forward I’m using two sources for the songs and making sure the Canadian stuff gets on these lists. It was late 80s and into the 90s that Canadian rock really hit it’s stride.

Looking at the songs from 1987, I’m starting to think that the 80s weren’t so bad. Some of the best slow songs in history were released this year, and we also had Guns N’Roses Appetite For Destruction and Def Leppard’s Hysteria albums.

Unlike most rankings, I haven’t been simply tossing these up in a numerical order. Because I know better than anybody that on some days, some songs kick more ass than other songs. A song that is ranked 14th today could very well rank 1st tomorrow, if it suddenly comes on the radio during the perfect moment and I start singing along. You understand. So I group them instead of presenting a hard-and-fast order:

Awesome
Great
Pretty Good
Not Bad
…with inter-group splitting.

1980  1981  1982  1983  1984  1985  1986  1987  1988  1989

1960s          1970s          1980s          1990s

Another prototypical 80s year for me – 86. Filled with tons of songs that were okay…but very few songs that I love.

Unlike most rankings, I haven’t been simply tossing these up in a numerical order. Because I know better than anybody that on some days, some songs kick more ass than other songs. A song that is ranked 14th today could very well rank 1st tomorrow, if it suddenly comes on the radio during the perfect moment and I start singing along. You understand. So I group them, instead of present a hard-and-fast order:

Awesome
Great
Pretty Good
Not Bad
…with inter-group splitting.

1980  1981  1982  1983  1984  1985  1986  1987  1988  1989

1960s          1970s          1980s          1990s

The year 1985 was the prototypical 80s year for me. An abundance of songs that I liked, but very few songs that I loved. In fact, that two songs given an ‘Awesome’ rating here I think I was being generous with the definition given the songs in prior years that hold that rating.

Unlike most rankings, I haven’t been simply tossing these up in a numerical order. Because I know better than anybody that on some days, some songs kick more ass than other songs. A song that is ranked 14th today could very well rank 1st tomorrow, if it suddenly comes on the radio during the perfect moment and I start singing along. You understand. So I group them, instead of present a hard-and-fast order:

Awesome
Great
Pretty Good
Not Bad
…with inter-group splitting.

1980  1981  1982  1983  1984  1985  1986  1987  1988  1989

1960s          1970s          1980s          1990s