I realized several things while contemplating my favorite songs. First, I’m really getting old. Second, I prefer older music. Third, I am somewhat mainstream, but there are exceptions. Fourth, my tastes have changed with the passage of time.
I have approached this article by years beginning with the first record I purchased with my own money. That means nothing before 1964. So here is my 57-year journey of favorite songs.
1964
Jan & Dean — “Little Old Lady From Pasadena”
The first record I ever bought with my own money, so it has to be on the list.
Roy Orbison — “Oh, Pretty Woman”
The first artist I ever collected, so his biggest hit has to be on the list.
The Temptations — “My Girl”
“Sunshine on a cloudy day.”
The Beach Boys — “All Summer Long”
This title song from the Beach Boys is the ultimate ode to the eternal summer.
The Beatles — “I Feel Fine”
This song had me from the guitar feedback.
1965
Bob Dylan — “Like A Rolling Stone”
God bless Bob Dylan and Al Kooper.
The Byrds — “Mr. Tambourine Man”
God bless Bob Dylan and Roger McGuinn’s 12-string guitar.
The Stone Poneys — “Different Drum”
Perfect pop from Linda Ronstadt’s initial group.
1966
Phil Ochs — “The Highwayman”
Angry folkie Phil Ochs shows a different side by fusing his music with a poem by Alfred Noyes.
The Byrds — “Eight Miles High”
Psychedelic music takes flight.
Jefferson Airplane — “Somebody To Love” 
I wish I could say it was only Grace Slick’s voice.
The Spencer Davis Group — “Gimme Some Lovin’”
First great performance by a young Stevie Winwood.
The Beach Boys — “God Only Knows”
Sometimes simple is best, even for The Beach Boys.
1967
The Jimi Hendrix Experience — “The Wind Cries Mary”
I saw Hendrix perform twice. This one still resonates.
Cream — “Tales Of Brave Ulysses”
Great early song by Cream.
Rolling Stones — “2000 Light Years From Home”
Rare psychedelic foray by The Stones.
1968
The Human Beinz — “Nobody But Me”
This one made me want to dance, almost.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience — “Crosstown Traffic”
Frenetic, even for Hendrix.
Blood, Sweat & Tears — “You Made Me So Very Happy”
So popular and so underrated.
The Velvet Underground — “White Light/White Heat”
A searing 17 minutes that was in no way connected to the summer of love.
1969
Led Zeppelin — “Whole Lotta Love”
I still anticipate the guitar solos.
Rolling Stones — “Midnight Rambler”
Mellow blues by the world’s greatest rock and roll band.
Zager & Evans — “In The Year 2525”
The ultimate one hit wonder.
1970
Ten Years After — “Sugar The Road”
Obscure track from a somewhat obscure album.
Led Zeppelin — “Immigrant Song”
I was the only person in my college dorm who liked Led Zeppelin’s third album better than the first two.
Derek And The Dominos — “Layla”
Duane Allman and Eric Clapton.
Rolling Stones — “Love In Vain”
Mick Taylor pushes the Stones to one of the great blues performances of their career.
Joni Mitchell — “The Circle Game”
Simple and profound folk music by Joni Mitchell.
Brook Benton — “Rainy Night In Georgia”
Beautiful ballad in the midst of a changing musical landscape.
Simon & Garfunkel — “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
And the voices soar.
1971
Rolling Stones — “Brown Sugar”
The Rolling Stones in rock ‘n’ roll mode.
The Doors — “Riders On The Storm”
Jim Morrison at his ominous best.
1972
Eagles — “Take It Easy”
“A girl in a flat-bed ford slowing down to take a look at me.” Well, not me but I could dream.
Yes — “Roundabout”
The editor of The Daily Vault worships Yes, so I must include at least one of their songs. This is also a great one.
Bob Seger — “Turn The Page”
A weary rock classic.
1973
The Allman Brothers — “Ramblin’ Man”
Dickie Betts’ guitar solo makes you ache.
Eagles — “Already Gone”
The Eagles has perfect harmonies. These are better.
Deep Purple — “Rat Bat Blue”
Another obscure track that not many people, besides me, remember.
Judy Collins — “Secret Gardens”
I always wish Judy Collins had written more songs. The older I get, the more this song speaks to me.
Elton John — “Crocodile Rock”
Just a simple and enjoyable pop rocker.
1974
Bob Dylan — “Forever Young”
Dylan at his simple best.
Linda Ronstadt — “When Will I Be Loved”
Great cover of an Everly Brothers song.
Elton John — “The Bitch Is Back”
Tough and up-tempo.
1975
Bob Seger — “Katmandu”
Early rocker from Seger.
The Doobie Brothers — “Take Me In Your Arms”
The Doobies as they should always be.
Joan Baez — “Diamonds & Rust”
It’s all about the imagery.
1976
Gordon Lightfoot — “Summertime Dream”
Title song from my favorite Gordon Lightfoot album.
Boston — “More Than A Feeling”
Still can’t get enough of this song.
Thin Lizzy — “The Boys Are Back In Town”
Guys I would like to hang out with.
Rod Stewart — “Tonight’s The Night”
Great ballad; oh yeah!
1977
Dave Edmunds — “I Knew The Bride”
Could have been autobiographical.
Billy Joel — “Only The Good Die Young”
Great rocker, plus Catholic girls.
Meat Loaf — “Bat Out Of Hell”
Meat Loaf at his bombastic best, and don’t forget Todd Rundgren’s guitar work.
1978
Dire Straits — “Sultans Of Swing”
Mark Knopfler was one of very few guitarists who could create a Clapton sound.
1979
Eagles — “Heartache Tonight”
Memorable beginning and perfect harmonies.
The Pretenders — “Brass In Pocket”
It was all about Chrissie Hyde’s imagination.
1980
Bob Seger — “Betty Lou’s Getting Out Tonight”
One of Seger’s best rockers.
Bob Seger — “Against The Wind”
Seger trying so hard.
Journey — “Anyway You Want It”
Catchy power pop.
1981
The Stray Cats — “Rock This Town”
Rockabilly for the modern age.
J. Geils Band — “Freeze Frame”
Just a catchy rocker, which in this case is enough.
1982
John Mellencamp – “Jack And Diane”
Any song that has “sucking on a chili dog” in the lyrics has got to make the list.
Men At Work — “Down Under”
Quirky beat that stays with you.
1983
John Mellencamp — “Pink Houses”
Some of the best rock this side of Bruce Springsteen.
The Pretenders — “2000 Miles”
Chrissie Hyde at her best.
1984
Bruce Springsteen — “Born In The USA”
Ringing anthem by The Boss.
Bruce Springsteen — “Glory Days”
A song for anyone at least 10 years out of high school.
1985
John Mellencamp — “Small Town”
Gritty rock for the common man or woman.
Dire Straits — “Walk Of Life”
This one just percolates along.
1986
Bob Seger — “American Storm”
Seger saves a blah music year.
1987
Mark Knopfler — “Once Upon A Time – Storybook Love”
From the Princess Bride. I watched the movie so many times with my daughters that the songs stayed with me.
1988
The Style Council — “The Garden Of Eden”
My musical tastes take an odd turn.
Steve Earle — “Copperhead Road”
Country music takes an odd turn.
1989
Carole King — “City Streets”
The video works better. Eric Clapton provides the lead guitar and produces one of the purest sounds of his career.
Pat Benatar — “Suffer The Little Children/Hell Is For Children”
This is the live version and a career defining performance.
1990
Lou Reed and John Cale — “A Dream”
Former Velvet Underground bandmates are mellowing a bit.
1991
Mary Chapin Carpenter — “Down At The Twist And Shout”
Just a joyful dance tune.
Bob Dylan — “Blind Willie McTell”
How many great songs has Bob Dylan produced?
1992
Mary Chapin Carpenter — “Passionate Kisses”
This one (written by the great Lucinda Williams) would make my top 10 list.
1993
Meat Loaf — “Wasted Youth”
Still bombastic after all these years.
Sting — “Fields Of Gold”
Pastoral song of beauty.
1994
Martina McBride – “Independence Day”
McBride’s voice just soars.
John Mellencamp — “Wild Night”
Mellencamp pulls off a great cover of a Van Morrison song.
1995
Martina McBride — “Wild Angels”
McBride’s voice continues to soar.
1996
Lou Reed – “Set The Twilight Reeling”
I miss Lou Reed.
1997
Sarah Brightman — “Alleluia”
Mozart and Brightman’s voice: who could ask for anything more.
1998
Faith Hill — “This Kiss”
Perfect fusion of pop and country.
Aretha Franklin — “A Rose Is Still A Rose”
One of dozens of great songs by the Queen Of Soul.
1999
Mary Chapin Carpenter — “The Shirt”
Great, if somewhat unknown, story song.
Richard Thompson — “Cocks Ferry Queen”
Best work outside of Fairport Convention.
2000
Joni Mitchell — “Both Sides Now”
Reimagining her classic folk song with a light jazz touch.
2001
The Velvet Underground — “Heroin”
A live version of what rock is all about surfaces.
2002
Bruce Springsteen — “The Rising”
He just keep producing great song after great song.
2003
Procol Harum — “The Question”
An underappreciated band creates a perfect rock song.
2004
Kelly Clarkson — “Breakaway”
Pop perfection.
2005
Rolling Stones — “This Place Is Empty”
The ultimate Keith Richards vocal.
2006
Eric Burdon — “Soul Of A Man”
Song epitomizes a half-century of his music.
Bruce Springsteen — “O Mary Don’t You Weep”
Some songs are just waiting to be covered.
2007
Gary Moore — “Eyesight To The Blind”
Modern electric bluesman channeling Sonny Boy Williamson.
2008
Kid Rock — “All Summer Long
Great party song.
2009
Ana Popovic — “Blues For M”
The woman can play and sing the blues!
2011
Lady Gaga — “Born This Way”
What can I say, even I like this song.
2012
Mumford & Sons — “I Will Wait”
It’s all about the pause in the middle.
Fun. — “Some Nights”
Another perfect pop tune.
2014
Meghan Trainor — “All About That Bass”
I enjoy the cleverness of it all.
2015
Lindsay Sterling — “Hallelujah”
The official video works best.
2016
Pentatonix – “Hallelujah”
Listening to a lot of Pentatonix lately.
2019
Pentatonix — “The Sound Of Silence”
Perfect harmonies.
