Here’s a list of memorable music that has enriched my existence in my time on this planet, or at least from 1951 to 2020.
I put this together prepping for an hour-long guest DJ stint on the air with a radio friend.
The idea is like “Desert Island Discs,” where I talk a little about why this piece is important to me and then play it. As I searched YouTube for corresponding videos, I thought about what to say for each. There’s a story behind each that’s part of my story. That’s all to come.
The list gets spotty after the ’80s, when I quit trying to keep up, and dived back into the previous 80-90 years, where I still find lots that’s new to me.
Meanwhile, let me be clear about me and this list: I’m not a hipster, I’ve never been cool. If I ever tried to be, it was an abject failure that reminded me I wasn’t cool. I’m not loading this up with obscure stuff just to be obscure. Yeah, maybe these choices are mainstream. So what? If you want to judge me on that, rest assured I don’t care. I did this for me, and for my kids to (perhaps) enjoy after I’m gone, not to meet anyone’s expectations. If you enjoy any of these also, fine. If not, feel free to make and post your own list somewhere.
You could call this the author’s cut; not sure what will make the final hour.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
Chopin Etude op. 10 no. 3 “Tristesse” – Vladimir Horowitz, piano (1951)
(could fade after 1:27…)
Benny Goodman Orchestra “Sing, Sing, Sing” Gene Krupa – Drums, from “Hollywood Hotel” film (1937) (2:11)
Les Paul & Mary Ford How High the Moon (1951) (2:07)
Fess Parker Ballad of Davy Crockett (1955, 2:14)
Johnny Mathis Chances Are (3:02)
Wonderful Wonderful (2:49)
Jerry Lee Lewis Great Balls Of Fire (Saturday Night Beechnut Show Feb. 14, 1958, Dick Clark) (start at 1:08 “His name is Jerry Lee Lewis…”) (TT: 3:05)
Dave Brubeck Quartet Take 5 (1959, 5:20)
Marty Robbins El Paso With Jim Glaser (1960, 4:32)
Elvis Presley Stuck on You (2:18)
Elvis Presley Little Sister (2:32)
Maynard Ferguson – Ultimate Rejection Maynard 61 (6:02)
The Beach Boys Catch a Wave (2:10)
Dusty Springfield I Only Want to Be With You (2:40)
The Beatles I Want to Hold Your Hand Sullivan 02/09/64 (2:36)
The Rolling Stones Satisfaction (3:43)
The Byrds Feel a Whole Lot Better (Action) (2:30)
Bob Dylan Like a Rolling Stone (6:09)
Bob Dylan Positively 4th Street (4:08)
Bob Dylan Rainy Day Women (4:35)
The Yardbirds Happenings 10 Years’ Time Ago (2:57)
The Beach Boys/Brian Wilson (Pet Sounds)
Caroline No (2:16)
God Only Knows (2:51)
Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention Freak Out!
Hungry Freaks, Daddy (3:30)
Trouble Every Day (5:50)
The Beatles Tomorrow Never Knows (2:57)
The Beach Boys Good Vibrations (3:37)
The Beach Boys Good Vibrations (w/ synced vid 4:23)
The Byrds Time Between (1:54)
The Byrds Renaissance Faire (1:51)
Jimi Hendrix Foxey Lady (Gulfstream Race Track, May 1968; 4:28) (seeing with Charlie and Rainy Day Dream Away story)
Linda Ronstadt & The Stone Poneys Different Drum (2:39)
Buffalo Springfield On the Way Home (2:30)
Allman Brothers Band Trouble No More/Not My Cross to Bear (7:18)
Jimi Hendrix Voodoo Child Slight Return (… in the West 5-25-69 SD; this is Rainbow Bridge, 1970) (6:14)
Neil Young The Loner (3:52)
[TO COME] John Lennon Imagine rehearsal (1:26)
w/Nicky “that’s a good one” at end
shorter vsn on “Imagine: John Lennon” movie ST
longer vsn on LLT #89-39 #87 week of 9/18/89 seg 5
NO YT VIDEO!!
Grateful Dead Anthem of the Sun (excerpt start at 1:26 play thru 5:45, fade)
Flying Burrito Brothers Sin City (4:09)
Joni Mitchell Help Me (3:22)
Bob Dylan Tangled Up in Blue (5:43)
Bruce Springsteen 10th Avenue Freezeout BTR (1975, 3:10)
Waylon Jennings Lonesome, On’ry and Mean (3:39)
Willie Nelson Time of the Preacher (2:27)
Willie Nelson Whisky River/Stay a Little Longer (from Willie & Family Live 1978) (7:01)
Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson Luckenbach, Texas (3:29)
Grateful Dead Estimated Prophet (Berdoo 2/26/77 – FIRST – 6:36)
Grateful Dead Estimated Prophet (Cornell 5/8/77 – FAVE 8:48)
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Breakdown (2:38)
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Breakdown (live 9/25/17 last show 14:15)
Steel Pulse Ravers (12” vsn – 5:56) (Joe Smith rooftop story)
Steel Pulse Blues Dance Raid (7:55) (Live Paris 1984)
Dexter Gordon ‘Round Midnight (live 13:10) (reed story)
Dexter Gordon ‘Round Midnight (1974) (4:46)
Miles Davis So What (live tv 9:06)
Miles Davis So What (KOB, 9:23)
Tommy Emmanuel and Billy Strings duet Guitar Boogie & Working Man Blues (Live, 7/xx/20; 10:43)
CLOSERs:
John Lennon Watching the Wheels (3:33 — stripped – LLT story)
Endless Summer Theme – The Sandals (1964) (3:28)
Neil Young Emperor of Wyoming (2:18) (into the sunset)
Quicksilver Messenger Service Happy Trails (1:29)
Roy Rogers & Dale Evans (1952, 2:55)
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
Stephen K. Peeples was raised in Miami and Los Angeles in the ’50s and ’60s by career newspaper journalists and music lovers. Based in Santa Clarita, California, he semi-retired in 2021 after a 46-year multi-media career. Along the way he earned numerous awards and honors including a Grammy nomination in 1994 as co-producer of the “Monterey International Pop Festival” box set. For more info, see the “About” page on Peeples’ website. You’ll find more of his original stories and exclusive interviews posted on his site and on his YouTube channel.
Article: Music of My Life: Peeples’ Choices (1951-2020)
Category: News and Reviews
Author: Stephen K. Peeples
Article Source: stephenkpeeples.com
