Playlist: Numbers
January 19, 2008
What’s in a number? Obviously inspiration for many of the artists below. Enjoy the top five and two mp3s after the jump.
19: Rolling Stones‘ 19th Nervous Breakdown. Not any great “10″ songs, so why not jump up to this classic?
9: The Temptations‘ Cloud Nine. Sorry Damien Rice, neither the album nor the song cut it.
8: Tapes ‘n Tapes‘ Crazy Eights. This was possibly the hardest head-to-head pick I had to make between this rockin’ ditty and The Beatles’ Eight Days a Week.
7: Bob Dylan’s Seven Days. I knew he’d find his way on the list somehow. Off the Bootleg recordings.
6: Toots and the Maytalls‘ Six and Seven Books of Moses. Could knock off two numbers with this one song, but when we’re talking music lists, less is not more.
5: Dave Brubeck’s Take Five. Easiest decision to make on this playlist.
4: The Clash’s Four Horsemen.
3: Kenny Rogers’/The Commodores‘ Three Times a Lady. Well, probably lost half our readership there by mentioning Kenny Rogers, but that’s like a “half-the-distance-to-the-goal” penalty when you are already on your own 1-yard line. Well worth it. Take either version; both are excessively sentimental and wonderful.
2: Sondre Lerche’s Two Way Monologue. A song in three many acts, sharing the same name as the album from which it emerges, this schizophrenic song changes instrumentation and tempo more than Whoopi changes costumes at the Oscars (that reference is a little old, no?).
1: Three Dog Night’s One. A tough one, since I had to strike Basie’s One O’Clock Jump, Sergie Mendes’ One Note Samba, Blondie’s One Way, Sleater Kinney’s All Hands on the Bad One, and Jimmy Buffet’s One Particular Harbour. But these simple little ivory/ebony chords starting off the tune, followed by a bass played with impending doom takes the cake.
Think I’m an idiot? Leave the ones I missed in the comments section.
Buy Three Dog Night/MP3: One
Entry Filed under: Playlist (Max). Tags: Bob Dylan, Dave Brubeck, Feist, Kenny Rogers, Sondre Lerche, Tapes 'n' Tapes, The Clash, The Rolling Stones, The Temptations, Three Dog Night, Toots and the Maytalls.
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1.
maxwellpage | January 19, 2008 at 6:17 pm
For the record, I wrote this post quite a while ago and have since dug up some “10″s that are doozies:
M.I.A.’s “10 Dollar”
The Black Keys’ “10 A.M. Automatic”
Tapes ‘n’ Tapes’ “Ten Gallon Ascots”
Bob Dylan’s “I Shall Be Free #10″
Ella Fitzgerald’s “Ten Cents a Dance”
2.
Carl Carpenter | January 20, 2008 at 2:36 pm
I’d like to cite several inaccuracies on this list, most of which are painfully obvious, and will surely discredit Max Page entirely.
One of the most flagrant over sights is that Coolio’s ’94 single “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin’ New)” off the Gangsta’s Paradise album should have easily slid in to any of the top 4 four spots.
“Me Plus One” by Norwegian pop star Annie I think is a given for most sensible rock list compilers number one slot, though “Number One” off Pharrell’s solo album is also a strong candidate, as is “One Fine Day” by the Chiffons.
Better luck next time Max.
3.
maxwellpage | January 20, 2008 at 8:06 pm
I’m surprised you didn’t call me out on number 4, Carl:
the Kings of Leon’s “Four Kicks” off of Aha Shake Heartbreak
4.
Oscarrodriquez | January 21, 2008 at 7:07 am
Pretty Solid, except you missed 5ves by the Heiruspecs. I’m glad you remembered 10 Gallon Ascots.
5.
Oscarrodriquez | January 21, 2008 at 7:22 am
Also “Song 2″ by Blur