Perhaps this is getting silly but there are apparently more crusty old songs to not skip.
"Queen of Clubs" by KC and the Sunshine Band (1974)
An early KC single that falls much more on the R/B side than their later Disco hits. Nice.
"Sundown" by Gordon Lightfoot (1974)
A 1974 double feature! This came through on the rotation before Lightfoot's death. The song might have been his most well known one if it hadn't been for a certain epic song about a boat. RIP, Gordo.
"Women & Men" by They Might Be Giants (1990)
The album this, well...sea shanty...(?) came from was the first TMBG I was exposed to. Pop music extreme nerds, extraordinaire.
"Wichita Skyline" by Shawn Colvin (1996)
A song about running away from your problems that goes down smooth.
"Iron Hand" by Dire Straits (1991)
Now this is one I hadn't heard in a long time. It turns out to be about a labor uprising. Sneaky.
"Empty Heart" by The Rolling Stones (1964)
What can I say? Sometimes you have to let a Stones song, er, roll.
"(Nothing But) Flowers" by Talking Heads (1988)
A funny twist on retaking the land from urban sprawl. Will no one think of the Pizza Huts?
"The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac (1977)
One of the better tracks from this ultra/mega/uber pop LP. I'd linger on any of them except perhaps "Don't Stop..." as it still reminds me of the Bill Clinton campaign.
"The Ghost of Tom Joad" by Bruce Springsteen (1995)
You just couldn't resist actually quoting Mr. Joad, could you Bruce?
"Green Book" by Steely Dan (2003)
I don't think, in retrospect, that the material these guys wrote after the re-formed the band was as strong but it was just so damned good to have more of Becker/Fagan after years of drought. I'd even listen to the occasional Becker-sung track once in a while.
"Rio" by Duran Duran (1982)
This may be peak-Duran with its noodling synths and almost comprehensible lyrics.
"Every Time I Think of You" by The Babys (1979)
This might be what you'd get if Phil Spector and Meat Loaf collaborated.
"Private Universe" by Crowded House (1994)
A good, perhaps second rung CH track that feels anything but, um, Crowded.
"Lovely Rita" by The Beatles (mono mix, 1966)
I don't think I've heard the newer stereo remix but the mono version of this song works better for me than the ultra-wide 1966 stereo version, even though I grew up listening to it. The mono holds together better BUT it's amusing to hear the old stereo version where the right channel is just Paul; his vocals and bass. He got the whole channel to himself!
"Heartbreaker" by Pat Benatar (1979)
This one, with its quiet vocal breaks in the chorus, still packs a punch.
"Drivin' With Your Eyes Closed" by Don Henley (1984)
Buried in the gated or synth drums is...a cowbell.
"Space Oddity" by David Bowie (1969)
Bowie missed out on a real marketing opportunity: Major Tom's Protein Pills!
"Brilliant Disguise" by Bruce Springsteen (1987)
What's with all the Bruce on these lists? This song, and the other tracks from "Tunnel of Love", hold up better than I would have expected.
"Let's Go" by The Cars (1979)
You don't want to "break her crown"???
"Down With Disease" by Phish (1994)
This is probably an example of a song that people who aren't into Phish think is good. Well, it is and I am not. And no, I don't know what the hell the song is about. The most amusing thing on the album this song came from is the 30 second instrumental track, "Riker's Mailbox". Go look it up.
