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Everybody can sometimes use a pick me up on the way to school or to work.  It is hard to come up with a depressing sunshine song  (although Fiddler on the Roof is close).  So, we play these on just about every morning when we are not feeling all that excited about the day.  And, it works!

SONGARTIST
Close to YouThe Carpenters
Here Comes the SunThe Beatles
Tomorrow (Annie)Alicia Morton, Audra McDonald, Kathy Bates & Victor Garber
My GirlThe Temptations
I Can See Clearly NowJohnny Nash
Sunshine On My ShouldersJohn Denver
You Are the Sunshine of My LifeStevie Wonder
Walking on SunshineKatrina & the Waves
Good Day SunshineThe Beatles
I Was Made For Sunny DaysThe Weepies
Sunrise, SunsetJohn Williams (Fiddler on the Roof)
Another Sunny DayBelle & Sebastian
Lost in the SunIvy
Brighter Than The SunColbie Caillat
Chasing the SunsetImaginary Cities
Distant SunCrowded House
Walking In the SunTravis
Where the Road Meets the SunKatie Herzig & Matthew Perryman Jones
Don't Let the Sun Go Down on MeElton John
I'll Follow the SunThe Beatles
Facing the SunTreelight for Sunlight
Honey in the SunCamera Obscura
Summer SunshineThe Corrs
In the SunShe & Him


To make this (NOT ALL INCLUSIVE) list, the song must demonstrate a mind-blowing bass line of some sort.  It can't just be a simple repeat bass beat, like Seven Nation Army (too obvious).  It does not matter whether it is a famous bass player or a session player. The song also must be fairly decent, if not immediately recognizable.  Above all else, one may not have realized that the awesome bass line was always there. . .

SONGARTIST<15 WORDS
I WonderRodriguezRight?  Unbelievable bass throughout the whole thing.  Almost silly.  Without 60 minutes, never would have known.
Dream WeaverGary WrightSurprise.  For such an unbelievably cheesy song, the bass line surrounding the chorus is amazing!
It's My LifeTalk, TalkNot a big secret, but poor dude is killing it for about four minutes and probably never had a proper gig again in his life.
25 or 6 to 4ChicagoTake your pick, but you played this in your high school jazz band for a reason, with your conductor yelling at the bassist to keep up.
Grey Cell GreenNed's Atomic DustbinTough call between this and Cut Up, but picked this one to meet criteria.  Band had low-octave and high octave bass players.  You can hear both ends clearly.
Long Distance RunaroundYesOk, not a fair fight.  Christopher Squire is ridiculous.  God rest his soul.
By the WayRed Hot Chili PeppersFlea.  Mind blowing.  Ask him his inspiration (hint, he is referenced herein)
Billie JeanMichael JacksonSort of an obvious pick, but who is this and how did they get so lucky?  Beat It, as well. (If only there was some way to find out)
Feel Good Inc.GorillazThis song would be nothing without the sneaky good bass line.  Plus, it is a funny song.
I Want You BackJackson 5Dude just absolutely kills it on bass while Michael sings it!  Is it Tito? 
Ain't No Mountain High EnoughMarvin Gaye & Tammi TerrelHave to listen carefully, but the bass line is incredible.  The song is great too.
BadgeCreamSo, not a big Cream fan necessarily, but hard to argue with the bass in this one.
Higher GroundStevie WonderSo could go with Flea's version just as easily, but let's give credit where credit is due for this mind blowing bass line.
The Unforgettable FireU2A hidden bass gem and a decent song.  Listen carefully, Adam Clayton can play the bass (New Year's Day too)
Hand in GloveThe SmithsDon't normally associate bass virtuosity with the Smiths, but there is sufficiently consistent bass shredding going on here.
Bad GirlsDonna SummerGet the dance funk out.  So, again, take your pick, but her bassist holds it all together.
You Can Call Me AlPaul SimonI hate myself for this one.  But, it is good.  The fact that Chevy Chase gets the video credit is a shame.
ManeaterHall & OatesSome random band-mate got this gig.  A little plodding, but the song does not work without that bass line.
New World Man (Live, Replay X 3, Disc 4)RushAgain, not a fair fight, but the uniqueness of this song and this album (Signals) is that Geddy shreds the melody and harmony on bass throughout.  Plus, it was one of their few top 40 hits (to meet the criteria).  This version (from the Grace Under Pressure tour, has the best sound quality)
Seven WondersFleetwood MacThere are others, e.g., the Chain, etc., but this subtle bass line is really great.  (Have to listen carefully)
Shining StarEarth Wind & FireTake your pick.  They just crush it and the bass line really picks up after the first chorus.
Brown Eyed GirlVan MorrisonAnother sort of obvious bass line, but people get lost in the great lyric and forget the dude pushing the bass clef -all 3 minutes worth.
Some Like It HotThe Power StationNo one is saying that the bassist is great here, but the bass line absolutely is.
Where I End and You Begin (The Sky Is Falling In)RadioheadSo, an uber depressing song, but also a bass playing expose from the get-go.  Listen again at about the 2:50 mark, where the bass takes over the melody underneath it all.
Rebel YellBilly IdolA little surprising and little plodding, but it is there...
China GirlDavid BowieCould this song even be made today?  Ok, but the bass is awesome.
New Year's DayU2Great.
Holding OnThe War On DrugsThe bass line glues this entire, magnificent arrangement together.  David Hartley is not flashy, but an incredibly critical piece to this band's compositions.



The choo choo songs for those of us who ride with those who love to see trains.  Not an all-inclusive list, but these are the ones with which we've become most familiar.

SONGSARTIST
Midnight Train to GeorgiaGladys Knight & the Pips
Downtown TrainRod Stewart (version)
Long Train Runnin'The Doobie Brothers
Love TrainThe O'Jays
Runaway TrainSoul Asylum
Train In VainAnnie Lennox (version)
Peace TrainCat Stevens
The Train From Kansas CityNeko Case
C'mon 'N' Ride It (The Train)Quad City DJ's
Long Black TrainJosh Turner
Night TrainJason Aldean
City of New OrleansArlo Guthrie
Downbound TrainBruce Springsteen
Chattanooga Choo ChooBarry Manilow (version)
I'm Ridin' This TrainMichael Cleveland and Flamekeeper
Sweet HomeOld Crow Medicine Show
RailroadsHolly Williams
The Jupiter & the 119Railroad Earth
Mystery TrainThe Grascals
The Train I'm OnThe Farm Inc.


This is a long, and inevitably ever-growing, list of great songs by great song-writers of the 70s and 80s. There can only be one song by each artist.  It is not necessarily the artist's most popular.  In general, the artist can't be a flash in the pan. There will be different lists posted here for niche artists that made or continue to influence a genre (e.g. New Wave, Heavy Metal..).  Here, it is about the song-writing from arguably the best time period in popular music.

SONGSARTISTS
Blue SkyThe Allman Brothers
On the Road to Find OutCat Stevens
Sweet SeasonsCarole King
Danny's SongAnne Murray
Babe Styx
Getting In TuneThe Who
At The ZooSimon & Garfunkel
LightsJourney
DreamsVan Halen
Time And A WordYes
I Got A NameJim Croce
Take It EasyEagles
Rhymes And ReasonsJohn Denver
Sara SmileHall & Oates
I Saw The LightTodd Rundgren
Don't Do Me Like ThatTom Petty & The Heartbreakers
The WeightThe Band
Your Smiling FaceJames Taylor
Doctor My EyesJackson Brown
Keep On Loving YouReo Speedwagon
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm YoursStevie Wonder
Country ComfortElton John
Dancing In The DarkBruce Springsteen
Now More Than EverChicago
SailingChristopher Cross
EasyThe Commodores
Long Train Runnin'The Doobie Brothers
Strange DaysThe Doors
LaylaDerek & The Dominoes
Carry On/QuestionsCrosby, Stills & Nash
(They Long To Be) Close To YouThe Carpenters
Nobody Does It BetterCarly Simon
Sister Golden HairAmerica
ReminiscingLittle River Band
The Guitar ManBread
Leader of the BandDan Fogelberg
Rhinestone CowboyGlen Campbell
Cat's In The CradleHarry Chapin
Take The Long Way HomeSupertramp
ShambalaThree Dog Night
Dust In The WindKansas
Gimme ShelterThe Rolling Stones
JoleneDolly Parton
Hitch A RideBoston
Right Down The LineGerry Rafferty
Human NatureMichael Jackson
ImagineJohn Lennon
Always On My MindWillie Nelson
You're My Best FriendQueen
Make You Feel My LoveBob Dylan
Wish You Were HerePink Floyd
Fortunate SonCreedence Clearwater Revival
Just What I NeededThe Cars
Road to NowhereTalking Heads
Sweet ThingVan Morrison
Sweet Home AlabamaLynyrd Skynyrd
More Than A WomanThe Bees Gees
I've Loved These DaysBilly Joel
I BelieveR.E.M.
Every Little Thing She Does Is MagicThe Police
Show Me Pretenders
Young AmericansDavid Bowie
Help MeJoni Mitchell
Reeling In The YearsSteely Dan
Me and Bobby McGeeJanis Joplin (Kris Kristofferson)
Lido ShuffleBoz Scaggs
Cracklin' RosieNeil Diamond
Closer To The HeartRush
Caught Up In You.38 Special
With Or Without YouU2
Sultans of SwingDire Straits
Somewhere Down The RoadBarry Manilow
Lean On MeBill Withers
Touch Me In The MorningDiana Ross
PanicThe Smiths
Don't Change INXS
Heat WaveLinda Ronstadt
Waiting For a Girl Like YouForeigner
Crazy For YouMadonna
You're The First, The Last, My EverythingBarry White
Love TrainThe O'Jays
Land of ConfusionGenesis
You Got ItRoy Orbison
Two Out of Three Ain't BadMeat Loaf
Coward of the CountyKenny Rogers
Small TownJohn Mellencamp
Magic Carpet RideSteppenwolf
December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)Franki Valli & The Four Seasons
I'll Be AroundThe Spinners
Reach Out (I'll Be There)The Four Tops
MargaritavilleJimmy Buffett
KokomoThe Beach Boys
Midnight Train to GeorgiaGladys Knight & The Pips
I Would Die 4 UPrince & The Revolution
In Between DaysThe Cure
Time After TimeCyndi Lauper
Love the One You're WithThe Isley Brothers
Hit Me With Your Best ShotPat Benatar
Heart and SoulHuey Lewis & The News
Cruisin'Smokey Robinson
Carefree HighwayGordon Lightfoot
Heart of GlassBlondie
Long Cool Woman (In a Black Dress)The Hollies
MiraclesJefferson Starship
A Well Respected ManThe Kinks
Show Me The WayPeter Frampton
Feelin' AlrightTraffic
AfricaToto
Shooting StarBad Company
Handle With CareThe Traveling Wilburys
In Your EyesPeter Gabriel
Jet AirlinerSteve Miller Band
The End of the InnocenceDon Henley
MagicOlivia Newton John
I'm Not in Love10cc
Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)Marvin Gaye
A Song For YouGram Parsons
Ol' 55Tom Waits
Go All The WayRaspberries
Don't You (Forget About Me)Simple Minds
GloriaLaura Branigan
FaithGeorge Michael
What I AmEdie Brickell & The New Bohemians
Give Me The NightGeorge Benson
Never Gonna Let You GoSergio Mendes
Stuck On YouLionel Richie
Over YouRoxy Music
TonightDavid Bowie/Tina Turner
Stuck In The Middle With YouStealers Wheel
Don't Dream It's OverCrowded House
Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My CarBilly Ocean
No TimeThe Guess Who
Can You Feel ItThe Jacksons
Ooh La LaFaces
Ramble OnLed Zeppelin
DreamFleetwood Mac
Northern SkyNick Drake
SeptemberEarth, Wind & Fire
Sweet Talkin' WomanElectric Light Orchestra
Band on the RunWings
Last DanceDonna Summer
Main StreetBob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
Don't Fear The ReaperBlue Oyster Cult
Summer BreezeSeals and Croft
AlisonElvis Costello & the Attractions
Moonlighting (Theme)Al Jarreau
Sugar MagnoliaGrateful Dead
JoannaKool & the Gang
Smoke on the WaterDeep Purple
HallelujahLeonard Cohen
Train In VainThe Clash
Crazy LovePoco
I Feel LoveDonna Summer
Love Will Find A WayPablo Cruise
So Into YouAtlanta Rhythm Section
The Love I LostHarold Melvin & The Blue Notes & Teddy Pendergrass
Drift AwayDobie Gray
Jackie BlueThe Ozark Mountain Daredevils
Strawberry Letter 23The Brothers Johnson
I Will SurviveGloria Gaynor
Eye In The SkyAlan Parsons Project
Oh YeahRoxy Music
Mr. Blue SkyElectric Light Orchestra
I Keep Forgettin'Michael McDonald
Piano ManBilly Joel
Let It BeThe Beatles


Songs for times of profound sadness and songs for those "best" days.  There are too many and the list will grow, but these are some that have had special meaning.

SONGSARTISTS
Please, Please, Please, Let MeThe Smiths
She Sells SanctuaryThe Cult
SundialWanderlust
In Between DaysThe Cure
MistressRed House Painters
PromenadeU2
Nothing is AloneToad the Wet Sprocket
It's My LifeTalk Talk
SlideGoo Goo Dolls
OneU2
A Murder of OneCounting Crows
After MeMarillion
Cut UpNed's Atomic Dustbin
LavenderMarillion
Girl From MarsAsh
Space Age Love SongA Flock of Seagulls
It's All I Can DoThe Cars
If I CouldPhish
Half A World AwayR.E.M.
The Heart of the MatterDon Henley
Never My LoveThe Association
The Air That I BreatheThe Hollies
All Mixed UpThe Cars
Your MoveYes
Childhood's EndMarillion
PrestoRush
Don't Dream It's OverCrowded House
Rooms On FireStevie Nicks
TangerineLed Zeppelin
Only the YoungJourney
Windows Are Rolled DownAmos Lee
Beggar In the MorningThe Barr Brothers
If You Fail We All FailFields
EmptyRay LaMontagne
Love LostThe Temper Trap
Same ChangesThe Weepies
Queen of the LotThe Spring Standards
Good to be HomeThe Everybody Fields
25 DaysHello Saferide
Where I End and You BeginRadiohead
Wish You WellKatie Herzig
Whiskey and Chewing GumLori McKenna
BloodThe Middle East
Twenty MilesDeer Tick
Sometime Around MidnightThe Airborne Toxic Event
TwoRyan Adams
Chasing the SunsetImaginary Cities
The Hardest PartColdplay
Me & TennesseeTim McGraw & Gwyneth Paltrow
Amor FatiWashed Out
Dance All NightRyan Adams
Adventures in SolitudeThe New Pornographers
Always DoAnnuals
Down in the ValleyThe Head and the Heart
Do I WaitRyan Adams
JaneThe Silver Seas
Goodbye LoveThe Redlands Palomino Co.
Nothing To FindThe War on Drugs
CleanRyan Adams
H.W. RunningPalace Winter
Finish LineFanFarlo
Someday SomewherePalace
Some People Stay In Our Hearts ForeverMiddle Kids