Five Songs You Can't Live Without Hearing...

[kidpoco]

Please list five songs you can't live without hearing occasionally and a brief explanation why. These are in no particular order: "All That You Dream" - Little Feat - while not considered by some to be a "classic" Little Feat song, this song is a killer. Everything about this song is a masterwork - the bass line, the keyboards, the guitars, and the drums (Richie was the best). Written by Paul Barrere (sp.?) but sung by Lowell George. "Cinnamon Girl" - Neil Young and Crazy Horse - this song combines elements of Young's early whimsical (for lack of a better word) lyrical style ("Broken Arrow"/"Expecting to Fly") with the thunder of Crazy Horse. Turn this song up with the headphones on and you will see God. "Tangled Up in Blue" - Bob Dylan - no one could beat Dylan at his own game. This song lopes along melodically while delivering some of his most bitter / uplifting lyrics, sometimes in the same line. "Heart of the Night" - Paul Cotton (with Poco) - What can you say about Paul Cotton? An unappreciated huge talent - while Rusty was the glue, Paul was the man. With songs like "Bad Weather" and "Ride the Country" Paul was a main creative force in Poco. While the guitars/steel/sax are all superb, it is the bass line (Charlie Harrison ?) that still kills me from "Heart of the Night". "Comfortably Numb" - Pink Floyd. Great creepy lyrics and David Gilmour's guitar what else do you need? Honorable Mentions: Van Morrison - "Wild Night" / Jackson Browne "Before the Deluge".

[bigpocofan]

Tough one but what the hell:

Ian Matthews Seven Bridges Road
Gordon Lightfoot Sundown
Poco Sagebrush Serendade
James McMurtry Choctaw Bingo
Rolling Stones Dead Flowers

I guess no all time classics in there but to each his/her own.

[ctkeith]

A little Rain
Night train, I like the both the Ray Brown version and the Dianna Krall versions
Goin' to NY, Climax Blues band
Music Goes Round & Round, NRBQ
I'm an old cowhand. Dan Hicks & his hot licks, Niaomi can really sing!
Route 66, Asleep at the Wheel
Suite Judy Blue Eyes, Steven Stills
Ride the Country

Sorry gave 3 more but they are all essential

Keith

[Tabasco]

This is hard for me, as there are so many songs, including Poco compositions, that I couldn't imagine living without.

However, I can come up with some that I NEVER want to hear again ...

Stairway to Heaven Led Zepplin (and most of their stuff ... killed by radio)
We Didn't Start the Fire Billy Joel
Anything on Dark Side of the Moon Album Pink Floyd ... ENOUGH!
Anything by Yes
Highway to Hell AC/DC

[Palestra Jon]

That's one of the best lists I have ever read. I have often put Stairway as among the worst "great" songs of all time---if I am driving down the road listening to the radio and the first note comes, "CLICK." Yes makes me cringe. I doubt many POCO fans like AC/DC and I don't smoke dope anymore, so Pink Floyd is like the old joke about the Dead....what does a Dead fan say when the dope wears off? "What is that horrible music." (I actually like the Dead on record....which is to say I am not a Dead Head because I always hated the endless jams). Billy Joel I actually like (despite the critical hatred) but that song clearly is his worst. So I am with you on this list.

[laramie]

Man I don't know. I can think of some other just horrible Billy Joel songs. Uptown Girl comes to mind immediately and I don't want to think about the many others I can't stand!
In fact after about the first 2 or 3 LP's you can keep Billy Joel for my money............ and time. Same with Chicago. Tend to agree with the rest of the statements although I always DID like "Roundabout" (Yes) and occasionally that song I still enjoy on an odd moment. I tend to enjoy a simpler musical approach and YES (and others) just have too much going on for me. Not enough aural space for all those sounds!

[mcdtj]

Several of my all-time favorites (Sagebrush Serenade, All That You Dream, Seven Bridges Road, Cinnamon Girl, Suite: Judy Blue-eyes, Sundown) have been mentioned already, and this thread hasn't hit ten replies yet. Great minds think alike, I guess.

But I can throw one more song into the mix.

I still drop whatever I am doing whenever I hear Clapton's Let it Rain. From the catchy, ringing guitars in the intro to the buoyant finish, there's no part of the song I don't immensely enjoy.

And I appreciate simple, straightforward rock and country rock, especially with three-part harmony, and suspect I will until the day I die.

But I do enjoy listening to something a bit more aurally complex every now and then. Steely Dan, with their jazz-tinged rock (or maybe it's rock-tinged jazz) use complex chords and musical transitions that are a nice break from my standard musical fare. But they usually don't stray too far from the familiar rock and roll sound

Listen to their song FM, for example. You'll hear NY's Down by the River in the music beneath the verses. But the bridge and chorus are something completely different. I like that.

[fanjack12]

Like to throw in my favorite Poco song, especially the original version; but all have been good ----- Keep on Tryin.... a classic to me.

[Bogeyfire]

Kind of sad, but I don't know what I have to have anymore. Over the years, I think I can distinguish my likes among three points and my dislikes centered on commercialism.

Elton John sucks. If I hear "Crocodile Rock" or "Benny and the Jets", I get violent.

I like Progressive and Instrumental expertise. So, I can easily listen to Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd seamlessly along with Al DiMeola and so many other unsung virtuosos.

I like vocals. From Eagles, Beatles, CSN, Poco, and Beach Boys... I don't listen to them often anymore, but I consider it the fabric of my life, to coin a corny phase.

Most recently, (last 15 years?), Americana. Vocals aren't always great. Musicianship? meh... Simple and raw from the heart. I guess this must be my current playground. Crossover roots from folk, blues, bluegrass, and outlaw country seem to tug at my soul these days.

[brinash]

That's Stephen Stills with that not little solo break midway through "Let It Rain."