Songs to Hear

Category: Opinion/Recommendation

I have compiled a list of songs, all of which are album cuts, B-sides, and failed singles, to introduce to the world as exceptional songs. This idea has been floating around in my head for some time in various incarnations.

Here is the layout: there are fifty songs in all. They are divided equally between country and, shall we say, non-country (some pop, some folk, some rock). I have the songs in alphabetical order by genre and the genres alternating weeks. This week will start with a country song and rotate between country and rock weekly. The rock/pop/folk songs will be posted at the other blog. No artist is repeated, so there will be 50 different performers.

What this is NOT: this is not a list of the only 50 great songs on earth. There are just 50 great songs that I feel should get much wider exposure. I tried to avoid albums that are huge sellers. For instance, two great songs I would recommend in rock are "Songbird" by Fleetwood Mac (off Rumours) and "The Last Resort" by the Eagles (from Hotel California); however, it is a little difficult to assume that people have not heard songs included on albums that each sold 17 million copies. On the other hand, someone like John Hartford never sold 17 million copies in his entire lifetime, so it's much easier to justify including one of his songs.

I hope you enjoy the songs. If nothing else, I hope it encourages you to dig a little deeper for the incredible music that is out there, waiting to be discovered.

The list will start here tomorrow night with a twisted masterpiece.