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I think it's fair to say that I have fairly eclectic tastes in music. The reasons that we love music must be very complex... a mix of brain chemistry, memory association and our chronological age, for example. I tend to be a fan of specific songs, rather than particular artists. Anyway...I'm always SAYING "that's one of my all-time favorites"...but it made sense to actually post my iPod playlist... since that is objective evidence of music I care about enough to have ripped it from my CD collection or bought the track downloads. Initially, I am posting this without comments, but over time, I intend to write a bit about why I love each of these pieces so much. And, of course, I continue to add tunes occasionally...but probably less than you think. I am not on a great hunt to discover new music...although I do love to stumble across something new that really turns me on from time to time. |
SONG TITLE |
ARTIST |
COMMENTS |
| Kathy's Waltz |
David Benoit |
|
| Katrina's Little Bear |
David Benoit |
|
| Keep Me Runnin' |
Randy Stonehill |
Infectious little groove about trying to flee from The Hound of Heaven. |
| Keep On Shining |
The Second Chapter of Acts |
Great memories of this one...especially Phil Keaggy's tasty guitar solo. |
| Kei's Song |
David Benoit |
|
| Kid Charlemagne |
Steely Dan |
I never understand a thing Donald Fagen says. I get the words, just never the meaning. But I guess I've never cared that much. He's got that "cool vibe" down, and for a few years there, "The Dan" churned out some of the most amazingly compelling and sophisticated music I've ever heard...not to mention their incredible stable of players and singers (Larry Carlton, Michael McDonald, Michael Omartian and so many more). |
| King Of Hearts |
Randy Stonehill |
James Taylor is the prototypical singer-songwriter. Maybe the greatest ever. But while I love his music and find it just a tad more musically sophisticated than Randy Stonehill's best stuff (of course, James had probably 100 times Randy's budget for production and players!), Randy still weaves beautiful melodies and packs an incredible emotional punch into his music. I haven't kept up with Randy in recent years, but I sure love his classic stuff, and I was honored to cover a couple of his songs on my Grace Project album. A real gem! |
| Kiss From A Rose |
Seal |
I'm not sure I have a clue what this song is about...and yes, I've read the lyrics. I still don't quite get it. But Seal's voice, and the melody and production are just exquisite. My friend Steve Bashaw says that most great music is derivative in some ways from great old music. And that's certainly true of this...they went back and mined some impressive old territory, hundreds of year old, for this classic. |
| Kiss Me |
Sixpence None the Richer |
I just love Leigh Nash's voice. Ocean Size Love is probably my favorite song by her, but Kiss Me is just a sweet little pop song. Sort of a blend of innocence and desire. Despite the fact that it's been played to death on the radio, I've never tired of this song. |
| Lady |
Kenny Rogers |
Man...this is something close to the perfect love song. Kenny Rogers was at his peak vocally...and you can't tell me that Nicole Richie's mom and dad didn't have some kind of serious spark or longing between them when they wrote this song. Simply breathtaking! Dated or not, everything about this song just melts me. |
| Lamplight |
Tom Howard Ensemble |
Tom Howard is pure musical magic. I never ever grow weary of his music. |
| Layla |
Derek & The Dominos |
The greatest rock song ever? If not, it's in every discussion/argument. And it certainly has among the best back stories...from the inspiration (Eric's love for Patti Harrison) to the creation (two songs wedded into one) to the players (Duane Allman not long before his death, Jim Gordon, who suffered from schizophrenia and who's still serving a life sentence for murdering his mother). |
| Lead Me On |
Amy Grant |
One of the more sophisticated of Amy's pop confections. Great energy. I especially love the drumming, but the production is just perfect. And I still get chills from her voice from time to time. |
| Leap |
Jeff Wofford |
From the Strawberry Fields-style production at the beginning, the author of the computer game Phit sings about gratitude and his journey of faith. Very tasty. Download it free here. |
| Learn a Curtsey |
Annie Herring |
Annie and I have a very special relationship...in my head, of course. There's just something about her that I find terribly intriguing. She can do things that no one else has ever done or could ever get away with musically....and somehow, I am seduced time and again into her childlike world. On so many levels, she's very black-and-white...I've been there...but she's also acquainted with deep pain in her life...and her vulnerability is right out there on display with everything else. Buck Herring and Mike Omartian did some very cool things with the production on this. 25 years old and, yes, it sounds dated...but, heck, it sounded dated back then, cuz it's so funky and weird. This is just Annie's heart, and I love it. |
| Let's Stay Together |
Al Green |
I wasn't cool enough to like Al Green when he was hot. But I love so many of his songs. One of THE signature voices in all of music, and still sounds amazing to this day! |
| Let Everything Else Go |
Phil Keaggy |
One of Phil's most sophisticated compositions. I once told Phil that listening to him play guitar was...it was like he plugged it directly into his spirit...it's more than about technique or speed or melody. He's unlike anyone I've ever heard. Maybe not the best...but probably still my favorite, at least on the old stuff with which I'm most familiar. |
| Let It Be |
Beatles |
How can you be a Beatles' fan and not just completely LOVE this song? This song seems to stand for something huge and never really spelled out...hopefulness, faith, longing. I don't know. I just love it. And it seems that it came out of one of the most chaotic and discordant periods in the band's history. Love the organ and electric piano contributions by Billy Preston. |
| Let It Rain |
Eric Clapton |
Maybe not as great as Layla, but still a great signature riff...and a terrific melody. I've always loved this song. Sort of bittersweet and yet still energetic. |
| Let The Children Come |
Tom Howard Ensemble |
|
| Let The Old Man Die |
Parable |
Wow, this is so dated...but I still love it. Really clean, fun Seventies production. Joy Strange and Chuck Butler on vocals, Don Kobayashi on drums....and John Wickham was a real pop/rock axeman. Lots of memories associated with this album....I was so happy to find it on iTunes after all these years. It looks like Chuck is now a chaplain at Scripps Memorial Hospital in California....and of course, his son is a member of Switchfoot. |
| Liberty Bird |
Annie Herring |
Quirky, funky and massively dated. But still....something really sophisticated about it. Annie vision of God's heart and presence in the world. |
| Lift The Wings |
Riverdance |
Never heard the Riverdance album? Get it. No, right now...go get it. I'm forever indebted to my late friend Linda Krakoff for turning me on to it. There's really not a weak song on the album. |
| Light Of The World |
The Grace Project |
I wrote the lyrics to this song in the mid-Eighties, and Tom Niehus knocked out the music (can't remember anymore which came first!). When we recorded it in 1997-8 on the Grace Project album, we decided to place it into a smoky blues club. It's got a nice touch of funk and some energetic vocals from Cynthia Hale. Neal Havener was responsible for the setting in which the jewel was placed, however. I still really enjoy this one. D. Skite played the part of the rapping preacher. You can download the song for free here. |
| Light Up Your World |
Glad |
When they were good, they were really good. I was never a fan of the lead singer (not that he was bad...just never really turned me on that much), but the harmonies, melodies and jazz sensibilities of their best stuff...yeah...really, really sweet. I mostly only know their stuff from '78 to about '83. Cool lyrics, too. |
| Like Sweet Music |
Roby Duke & Michele Pillar |
From one of two albums of great wedding music from Maranatha back in the Eighties. Two of the most perfect pop voices I've ever heard. And in addition to being stunningly beautiful (I saw a recent picture of her that reminds me of one of my childhood crushes...Bridget Hanley from Here Come the Brides), Michele Pillar happens to be married to Larry Carlton, one of the greatest guitarists of the past...oh, 50 years or so. I had the pleasure of spending an hour or so with her back in the Eighties when she did an in-store appearance at a record store I managed. A really sweet lady. |
| Lisa, Listen To Me |
Blood, Sweat & Tears |
What can I say? It's David Clayton-Thomas and BS&T. Done deal. |
| Living In America |
James Brown |
From the soundtrack of Rocky IV. I was never a James fan...but something about this stinkin' song is so infectious....I can't get enough!! |
| Locust Years |
Vigilantes Of Love |
My favorite Bill Mallonee album ever (Slow Dark Train). The writing, vocals and production throughout are very cool...and such energy. This one just crackles with it! |
| Londontown |
Jeff Wofford |
Another great little piece from Jeff. Sort of an Eighties "euro" sensibility to it, but without the crappy Eighties production style. Download it free here. |
| Long Ago & Far Away |
James Taylor |
How is it that this didn't make it onto James' best-of album. Harmony vocals from (his girlfriend at the time) Joni Mitchell. This is so sweet...one of his best! |
| Long and Winding Road |
Beatles |
One of the best of the Beatles melodies. I'm assuming Paul wrote it, because it seems to suit his musical sensibilities. Not one of his best vocals, but again...just majestic. Sort of a similar sentiment to Fogelberg's Netherlands, with a melody just as strong....but I'm not sure the production quite matches up. Produced by Phil Spector, I believe. |
| Long for You |
Tom Howard |
The world needs more of Tom Howard's music. |
| Look What You've Done |
Jet |
I don't know a thing about this band (OK, I just looked them up and their Aussies), but I've really fallen for this song. Very, very, very Beatlesque. Nice lead vocal and clean, simple production. |
| Looking Over Eastlake |
David Benoit |
In a career that has seen an amazing amount of amazing music...this is among the most amazing. When he's "on"...Benoit is incredible. This song is a visual dance. If you love instrumental music, you need to hear it. One of the most compelling melodies and arrangments I've ever heard. Has a sort of movie soundtrack sensibility to it. The whole album is great! Whew! |
| Lord! |
Bob Ayala |
I heard 2-3 of Bob's albums, but Joy By Surprise is the one that totally bowled me over. I'd like to have hired him to follow me around and write songs for me all day long. What a writer and singer! |
| Love |
Matthew Ward |
Matt Ward has a signature voice. You've never heard anything like it, and you never will again, I suspect. It's a little on the thin side, but so beautiful, airy and facile....but such energy and range!! Between his solo stuff and his work with his sisters Annie and Nellie in the Second Chapter of Acts, he's one of my all-time faves. This is a very cool song about the nature of love...including an image of him walking past his mother's bedroom and seeing her praying for him. Their parents were killed in a car accident when Matt was very young. When Matt and I were both in our teens, he spent the night at my house (I was part of the team that put together the concert). My mom had just died earlier that year as well. |
| Love And Happiness |
Al Green |
Gospel Al before he was Preacher Al. So soulful and dirty (the groove). What a master! |
| Love Is Here To Stay |
Roby Duke |
One of my most prized albums ever. Roby Duke has something approaching a perfect pop voice. I once said I'd pay 50 bucks to get a copy of this album on CD. Finally found it and it only cost about $25! I just found out that Roby died of a heart attack in late '07. I didn't know him, but his music impacted me again and again over the last 25 years. He'll be missed. |
| Love is the Answer |
England Dan & John Ford Coley |
Todd Rundgren wrote this pop masterpiece...and while this is a somewhat "canned" arrangement, it can't cover up the raw power of the song. I LOVE this song. I had considered recording it on The Grace Project album. I'd still like to hear a GREAT arrangement of this done with a great black gospel choir and some killer lead vocalist. |
| Lucretia MacEvil |
Blood, Sweat & Tears |
Great signature riff from the trumpets. My junior high stage band (under the direction of Jim Swearingen) played this (I was on trombone) back in the early 70s. We even made a record of it. This version is MUCH better. ;-) |
| Macedonian Morning |
Riverdance |
Haunting melody from Bill Whalen. What? You haven't got this album yet? |
| Magic Man |
Heart |
One of my all-time favorite rock songs. Ann and Nancy Wilson. Need I say more? Some GREAT lead guitar on this one. Nancy plays some lead, too... but I think she was mostly responsible for looking amazing on this one. |
| Majoring in the Minors |
Chuck Brown |
One of my more popular piano compositions. Unlike anything else I've ever written or played...a light jazz groove. |
| Mannix (Theme) |
Billy May & His Orchestra |
One of my all-time favorite TV themes. Terrific melody and energy. Typical 60s music on some levels, but really sweet and sophisticated. |
| March of the Clouds |
Phil Keaggy |
One of Phil's best ever. Heroic, anthemic guitar. Really interesting textures. It gets really powerful as he doubles and then trebles the lead. Cool dynamics. You WILL be swept away. I would love to have been in the studio when he recorded this. In fact, I'd love to hear him record it again today with live accompaniment and maybe even some vocalists. Turn it up! |
| Marriage in the Snow |
John Tesh |
I know it's fashionable to hate Teshy, but I love this guy's music. Specifically the classically-influenced piano stuff. I'm not into the bicycling stuff. But this is so cool. Interesting time signatures keep it really fresh. |
| Marta's Dance/The Russian Dervish |
Riverdance |
You cannot sit still and listen to this! |
| Mary Jane's Last Dance |
Tom Petty & The Hearbreakers |
I've always appreciated Tom Petty, but it took me some time to grow past his voice and go back and give the music another shot. He's a great writer with a great band. Two out of three ain't bad! |
| Matters of the Heart |
Bob Bennett |
Sweet sophisticated music from a great singer-songwriter. I had the chance to sit and chat with Bob for a couple hours once back in the Eighties. Great guy. Really passionate. He's written some terrific stuff! |
| Maybe |
Parable |
|
| Maybe I'm Amazed |
Paul McCartney |
Probably Sir Paul's greatest moment post-Beatles. IN-FREAKING-CREDIBLE song. |
| Mexico |
James Taylor |
Just James. Just magic. |
| Midnight At The Oasis |
Maria Muldaur |
I'm not a Maria fan...but this is SUCH a cool song. Funky Hawaiian slide guitar from her husband Geoff, I believe. |
| Midnight at the Oasis |
Renee Oldstead |
This little girl...wow. I guess she's not so little anymore. I think she was 15 when she recorded this. Yes, it's the same song as Maria did. This is so sexy and sophisticated. I'd like to hear her get a real shot. I heard that David Foster was supposed to be working with her. I'd like to hear more. She was on the CBS sitcom Still Standing, I think. I never saw it. What a voice this girl has! My friend Silvia Fleming turned me on to her. |
| Mighty Clouds of Joy |
B.J. Thomas |
B.J. Thomas...what a great voice! This was before he actually became a Christian, I think...despite the lyrics: "Holy Jesus...let your love seize us...oh, let us find sweet peace within....hallelujah...happiness begins when the mighty clouds of joy come rollin' in." LOL... |
| Mighty Love |
The Spinners |
One of the great Philly soul groups. Love these guys! |
| Moody's Mood for Love |
Elliott Yamin |
Great little showcase for Elliott's voice. |
| Moonlight |
Chris Burke |
Stumbled across this guy on MySpace. What a singer! You should really check him out... |
| More |
Mylon LeFevre & Broken Heart |
Really shows the beautiful of Mylon's voice. Sweet and gentle. |
| More Than Words |
Parable |
|
| Morning Sojourn |
David Benoit |
One of the best pieces ever by David. Feels like morning dew at the beginning. Kicks into some of his typical happy jazz (the stuff I don't like), but the arrangment just comes out of nowhere and takes it to a completely new level. It's very dated, but still...just explodes musically! Cool sax playing...the whole orchestration is great. Another song that would be fun to hear recorded again now with today's arrangements and technology. |
| Morning Star |
Mylon LeFevre & Broken Heart |
Plaintive prayer. Mylon breaks every rule about how I think things should be done, but he consistenly won me over anyway. |
| The Morning Sun/set |
Fred Haring |
Great song by one of my best friends. Got that whole train motif happening. Not the strongest for him vocally, but a very hooky tune and strong arrangement. Download it for free here. |
| Morocco (Live) |
Rippingtons |
One of the best songs from one of the greatest albums ever made. THIS is why I love these guys! Everything they've done since...a crushing disappointment. |
| Mountain Cathedrals |
Bob Bennett |
Beautiful imagery. Bob has a beautiful voice and such a way with words. |
| Mourning to Dancing |
James Ward |
James is one of those guys whose music is SO good that it completely overcomes his vocal inadequacies. This album, from the mid-70s, is chock full of killer music. Not sure you can even buy it anymore. Such a talent, though! |
| Movin' On |
Elliott Yamin |
Interesting gospel-tinged tune...one of only 2-3 pieces I liked on Elliott's first album. This one is more about nice little moments than the whole song. |
| My Child |
Big Methusaleh |
Ted Pearce. Great voice. GREAT song about God's love...sung by God in the first person. Makes me cry. So beautiful. Exquisite production. One of those songs I wish the whole world could hear without all their defenses up. |
| My Heart Belongs To Him |
Mylon LeFevre & Broken Heart |
More classic Mylon. Dated, but lush and beautiful. |
| My Pleasure |
Jan Akkermann |
Fun little instrumental from a truly great guitarist. Formerly of Focus. |
| Myself to You |
Chi Coltrane |
I bought this album because of Thunder and Lightning, one of my all-time favorites....but I got completely seduced by this song as well. It's a somewhat awkward vocal, but really something special. |
| Nara (Theme to Cold Case) |
E.S. Posthumus |
I used to watch Cold Case. Kathryn Morris is pretty easy on the eyes and I liked the cast, but the end of each episode is always so goofy that I finally just gave up on it. This theme song is just killer, though. I need to check out more of this band's music. They have done some really interesting stuff. |
| The Needle and The Damage Done |
Neil Young |
Just classic. Unbelievably powerful in an understated way...and one of Neil's more listenable vocals. |
| Nether Lands |
Dan Fogelberg |
If I had to be marooned on a desert island, THIS is one of the 20 songs I couldn't live without. Dan's magnum opus, as far as I'm concerned. |
| Never Gonna Let You Go |
Sergio Mendes |
Flawless jazz-infused pop. Such an incredible melody, with Joe Pizzulo and Leeza Miller on the vocals. Reached #4 on the Hot 100 in 1983. |
| New Beginnings |
Bob Ayala |
|
| A New Song |
Debby Boone |
Great worship tune from the girl who brought us You Light Up My Life. Terrific arrangement. |
| News for You |
Randy Stonehill |
Timely message music from Randy...still just as true as it ever was. |
| No Other Gods |
The Grace Project |
This is an amazing song by Brian Doerksen. I think we really did it justice...thanks in large part to a powerful lead vocal by Donna Mogavero. The dueling guitar solos at the end by Andy Harrison and Mike Jackson added a ton of energy, and I finished it out on piano. We gave it a bit of a Layla-esque treatment. |
| No Remedy for Love |
Susan Ashton |
Susan is a terrific vocalist, but the key to this strong album is the writing and production of Wayne Kirkpatrick. Not a dud to be found on it. Not surprising from the guy who co-wrote Clapton's big hit "Change the World". |
| No Such Thing |
John Mayer |
I really like John Mayer. Don't know much about him, but I like his songwriting, vocals and guitar work a lot. |
| No Worries |
Yankee Celtic Consort |
Perfect instrumental from Phil Franck and Doug Rudy. Just perfect. |
| Noah's Song |
Matthew Ward |
Written by Phil Keaggy. Fresh melody and really strong vocals. |
| Nobody Knows His Name |
Guess Who |
Nobody has ever heard this song by the Guess Who, either. Based on the story of a real-life guy, as I recall. Love it! |
| Not The Same |
Roby Duke |
|
| Nothing More to Say |
Chris Burke |
One of my favorites from Chris's first album. Terrific voice, but also also a great song! |
| November |
Chuck Brown |
Beautiful little piano melody. One of my son's favorites. |
| Now That I Belong to You |
The Second Chapter of Acts |
I never really liked this song that well back in the day...but it has a certain energy, and I've found that I really like having it around. ;-) |
| O Magnify The Lord |
Roby Duke |
One of the highlights of Roby's best album. |
| Ocean Size Love |
Leigh Nash |
Tragically, this was not the single release off Leigh's album...but it was far and away the best one on there. Perfect production, perfect vocal, beautiful melody. Classic!! |
| October Dawn |
Tom Howard |
|
| Oh Gentle Love |
Kelly Willard |
I still remember getting this album in the mail back in 1976 as part of my membership in a record club. I didn't like it at first, but it's grown over the years to be one of my all-time favorites. Kelly has an incredible voice. And fortunately, she did a lot of recording with both Michele Pillar and Roby Duke, two other vocalists who are "practically perfect in every way" (thanks, Mary Poppins!). Kelly is still around recording after all these years. I haven't kept up with her, but I can tell you that her first album has really stood the test of time for me. |
| Oh Savior |
Andrae Crouch |
Billy Preston starts this one out on synth...and it just takes off like a rocket from there. Andrae has written a lot of great stuff, but none that I like more than this one. Amazing energy!! |
| Old-Fashioned Love Song |
Three Dog Night |
Great pop song written by (that little runt) Paul Williams. I never found him all that funny, but that guy could write some terrific songs (see below). |
| Old Man |
Neil Young |
Another really well-written song from Neil. He's sort of lost me over the years, but his early stuff was really well-crafted. |
| On Golden Pond |
David Benoit |
For me, the definitive version of this song. Yes, it's from the movie. Written by Dave Grusin. |
| On Solid Ground |
Larry Carlton |
Anthemic guitar instrumental from the guitar master. |
| On Wings of the Wind |
Terry Talbot |
Terry Talbot has had some magic moments musically over the years. For me, this is one of them. |
| One |
Three Dog Night |
Written by Harry Nilsson. |
| One Dream at a Time |
David Benoit |
So beautiful it makes me want to weep. And I don't want the song to end. |
| One Life |
Olly Hite |
Found him on MySpace. Just gorgeous....great dynamics. Download it free here. |
| One Out of One Another |
Howard Smith & Blanca Vega |
More Maranatha wedding music....just beautiful. I've done this at a few weddings myself. |
| One Summer Night In Brazil (Live) |
Rippingtons |
Still one of the great albums ever. |
| One Sweet Word |
Honeytree |
Bad disco....but a great song. Honeytree holds a special place in my heart, and this album (The Melodies in Me) is full of really special music. I wish this song were a different musical style, but I can't stop listening anyway. Even the lyrics aren't that strong, and I still love it! Great little hook. |
| One Thing |
The Grace Project |
Aside from my instrumental stuff, this is probably the song that's touched more people than all the other stuff I've written. Composed at night, in 1978, sitting my my car. Adapted from Psalm 27. Recorded in 1998. Sung here by Kim Rattan, not long after major dental surgery, but she knocked it out. And Andy Harrison (guitar tech for Sherryl Crow's band) tears it up on the guitar solo at the end. |
| One True Love |
The Grace Project |
A Randy Stonehill song, sung by John Bolzenius. Guitar solo by Jerry Loos. |
| Only Hope |
Mandy Moore |
Another exquisite pop song, written by Jon Foreman of Switchfoot and performed by Mandy Moore. From the film A Walk to Remember (never seen it). I can't imagine it being performed more beautifully. |
| Ordinary World |
Katherine McPhee |
Yes, OK...she's gorgeous. But she can also SING. Sadly, she really blew it with her first album. Told Clive Davis to go suck it...she's young and wants to sing HER kind of music. Promptly bombed and got dropped by the label. There were about 3 good songs on that album, though. This is one of them. Maybe she'll grow up and listen to folks who know something about selling music one of these days. In the meantime, I have pictures. ;-) |
| Our Desire |
Mylon LeFevre & Broken Heart |
Man, what a great song. So soulful...and taken up several notches by Phil Driscoll's trumpet work. Wow, wow, wow!! I can't vouch for his haircut, but the dude knows how to blow (and sing, too, if you ever get to hear him....he's Joe Cocker without the drug damage!!) |
| Our Love |
Roby Duke & Kelly Willard |
Another Maranatha wedding song. Such voices! |
| Out in the Country |
Three Dog Night |
Another classic Paul Williams composition. |
| Out of My Head |
Fastball |
Great hooky little pop song. Love the melody. |
| Over And Over Again |
The Richie Furay Band |
Such memories! Richie is now a pastor in Colorado, and has been since the early 80s. I had a chance to see the band live in the mid-70s at the Agora in Columbus (now Newport Music Hall). My friend Bill Gray and I went and interviewed the band after the concert. Also, Richie's band was mostly the players from Love Song (Jay Truax and John Mehler). I drove those guys around Pittsburgh in 1976 when they were in town for a LS concert (Chuck Girard was with us, too). This song was produced by Michael Omartian and Bill Schnee. Tons of energy. I have listened to it many thousands of times...including scores of times back to back to back. |
| Over The Rainbow |
Eva Cassidy |
One of the great voices of our time. Snuffed out by cancer in the mid-90s. Incredible performance of this classic. |
| Overjoyed |
Stevie Wonder |
There can't be too much Stevie in the world. One of my faves of his. |
| Paint a Picture |
Resurrection Band |
Glenn Kaiser tears it up. Such a voice...and a guy who really lives it. |
| Paint My Life |
Silvia Fleming |
A song I wrote some years back that's really connected with some people. I love it, too. |
| Painted Desert |
David Benoit |
Beautifully textured jazz/pop from Dr. Benoit. Gorgeous. |
| Pardon Me |
Larry Norman |
Sounds like something from a Forties movie soundtrack. But really, from Only Visiting This Planet (1973). A beautiful story of vulnerability, using and being used, and loneliness. When "love" is so shallow that it no longer means anything. |
| Peace |
Bob Ayala |
|
| Peg |
Steely Dan |
Hot jazz rock. The distinctive voice of Michael McDonald on backing vocals. A perfect guitar solo by Jay Graydon! |
| Penny Lane |
The Beatles |
I'm out of superlatives. Great song! |
| Perfect Union |
Matthew Ward |
|
| Philadelphia Freedom |
Elton John |
|
| Piano in the Dark |
Brenda Russell |
|
| Place In This World |
Michael W Smith |
Michael writes such GREAT melodies. And he has a great heart...or the ability to fake it REALLY WELL...when he's writing lyrics. This is a great one about the cry of the human heart. |
| Pool Of Siloam |
Tom Howard Ensemble |
|
| Potters Clay |
Terry Talbot |
Probably my favorite Terry Talbot song ever. A perfect little piece. I emailed Terry about it a few years back to ask what album it was on so I could track it down on ebay. He'd forgotten all about the song. LOL...but still, exquisite melody and lyrics. |
| Praise Him |
The Grace Project |
I wrote this song in a few minutes during the time we were recording the Grace Project in 1997. It became a duet with John McCollum and Cynthia Hale (he sounds as black as she does, but he's white). I really love it...just a simple little praise song. Nice little rap in the middle. Download it for free here. |
| Pretty Lady |
Lighthouse |
Skip Prokop and the boys from up north. There's just something about this song that I've always loved. Nothing fancy. Just fun and a great melody. |
| Prima Donna |
Jan Akkermann |
|
| Prologue & The Great Adventure |
Steven Curtis Chapman |
SCIII is a wonderfully gifted writer. I haven't heard any of his stuff for many years, but there were a bunch of songs in the Eighties that really connected with me. This is a good song, but I really, really love the prologue at the beginning. Very inspiring...and you can almost see the Western movie footage running as you listen. |
| Promised Land |
Roby Duke |
One of Roby's most comfortable and reassuring songs. I'll often find this banging around in my head when things aren't going particularly well. |
| Psalm 57 |
Honeytree |
In the Seventies, Honeytree crafted one poignant melody after another...sort of a sanctified Janis Ian. I had the chance to drive her around for a few hours here in Columbus when we sponsored her in concert with Phil Keaggy and Mike Warnke. Just a very sweet spirit. And no matter how dated some of her music may sound now, there's an undeniable richness. I never grow weary of her music. She's still out there 30 years later, making music and connecting with people...especially in the area of missions and outreach to women. |
| Psalm 61 |
Matthew Ward |
A simple, but incredibly powerful cry for deliverance. Co-written by Richard Souther, I believe...who I'm still in touch with on MySpace. Such a beautiful piece! |
| Psalm 63 |
The Second Chapter of Acts |
This is one of those songs that I don't love in the way that I love a lot of songs. It's very simplistic, but it's beautifully sung, and I guess it's a bit like a comfy old shoe. I just don't want to let it go. |
| Put It Where You Want It |
The Crusaders |
One of the most fun little instrumental grooves I've ever heard. Larry Carlton just milking a plaintive electric guitar for all it's worth...the guitar sound is pretty lame (which is not like Larry...), but must have been a function of the time when it was recorded to some degree. I'd love to hear this re-recorded now. |
| The Question Is |
The Winans |
Oh my, Oh my, Oh my. What can you say about this song? Just so beautiful. It's what R&B gospel SHOULD sound like...instead of the junk gets turned out again and again and agian. A beautiful marriage of voices and soul. Classic! |
| Questions 67 & 68 |
Chicago |
It's hard to beat early Chicago. I was never a Pete Cetera fan, but he's still a solid singer. Such fun energy in their melodies and arrangements. Some really sweet little guitar runs from Terry Kath on this one. |
| Quiet Storm |
Jan Akkermann |
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| Racing the Northern Lights |
David Nevue |
I've know David from a distance for several years. I haven't heard a lot of his music, but this one connected with me instantly. My song, Remind Me to Breathe, appears with this one on the soundtrack album for "'Aurora - Alaska's Great Northern Lights". |
| Radical |
Catie Curtis |
I fell in love with this years back. I guess it's sort of a modern version of Society's Child. I didn't realize until sometime later that it was a love song from one girl to another. I guess that's the nature of love songs, eh? Unless you know the object of affection personally, all you do is identify with the sentiments. Anyway...it's a great, hooky little piece, nicely performed. |
| Rainbow In Your Eyes |
Leon & Mary Russell |
It took me FOREVER (and a pretty penny) to get my hands on this album again. It's only available on vinyl and I found it on ebay. It's sung by Leon Russell and his ex-wife Mary. I loved it back in the Seventies, and I still love it today. |
| Reachin' For The Sky |
Liberation Suite |
I finally got my hands on this on CD a few years back. This Lib Suite album is filled with really dated, but really tasty music. They were one of the early Christian bands that incorporated a lot of horn work in their stuff...and some terrific guitar work as well. |
| Reel Around The Sun |
Riverdance |
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| Reelin' In The Years |
Steely Dan |
I used to hate this song back in about 1973-74, when I played it on the radio. I didn't like Fagen's voice and I didn't understand the lyrics. I was too young to understand how cool it really wasand to connect with Skunk Baxter's very sweet guitar work. It's still nowhere near my favorite Dan song, but it's a classic nonetheless. |
| Rejoice |
Phil Keaggy |
Phil has so many great songs, but this is one of the most accessible from his one-man album project, What A Day! Recorded in 36 hours in 1973, he played all the instruments (guitars, bass, drums, percussion, organ, etc). To this day, one of most interesting albums I've ever heard. Phil is completely unique in all the world. He's not everyone's cup of tea, but he's one of the sweetest guys I've ever met...and one of the world's most amazing guitar players. He's influenced me in more ways than I can describe. |
| Remember Not |
Susan Ashton |
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| Remind Me To Breathe |
Chuck Brown |
Probably the most popular song I've ever written. I truly love this piece. I wrote a simple melody that I felt was really creative. My buddy, Fred Haring, suggested that it needed a counter-melody and my producer, Mike Jackson, went out and found a cello player to complete the picture. It's about as close as I've ever gotten to musical perfection. The only complaint I've ever heard is that it's too short! And yes...you can download it for free here. |
| Rested In Your Love |
Roby Duke |
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| Reunion |
Eric Marienthal |
Great piece by a great sax player. I have never seen Eric play live, but I did end up chatting with him briefly online one night in a David Benoit chat room. This is a really tasty jazz piece with a sweet little "dirty" guitar solo break in the middle. |
| Rikki Don't Lose That Number |
Steely Dan |
Another one that had to grow on me. But it's pretty doggone good. |
| Ripp It Up |
Chuck Brown |
Inspired by The Rippingtons back when they were my favorite band in all the world. Not the greatest production value, but I put it together on a digital workstation back in '95. I really love it. I also got a chance to share it with (Ripps sax player) Jeff Kashiwa back in the day...and he told me that he liked it...especially the arrangement....and he was going to share it with the whole band. I knew then I could die a happy man. LOL. And, by the way, they recorded a song called Ripp It Up an album or two later. I don't think it was my song...but I can always pretend! Download it for free here. |
| Riverdance |
Riverdance |
Incredibly beautiful vocal piece. Just gorgeous. Do you own this album yet? |
| Riverdance Remix |
Riverdance |
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| Rock and Roll Lullaby |
B.J. Thomas |
Classic stuff from a terrific singer. |
| Rock The Range |
Chuck Brown |
From the same sessions that produced "Ripp It Up" back in '95. This is sort of a western pop-rocker. Again...mediocre production values. But I love the melody and I don't think the performance is half bad, either. I'd love to hear this recreated by real live players. Download it for free here. |
| Rock This Town |
Stray Cats |
Man...Brian Setzer can REALLY play guitar! |
| Rosanna |
Toto |
I've been "inspired" by Rosanna Arquette a time or two myself. ;-) Great riffs!! |
| A Rose is a Rose |
Susan Ashton |
Sounds like a hymn. I can't tell you how many times I've listened to this album all the way through. |
| Rubber Band Man |
Spinners |
Maybe my favorite Philly Soul song ever. Incredible groove. Amazing lead vocal. Utterly infectious melody. This song OWNS me. |
| Ruby Jean & Billie Lee |
Seals & Crofts |
The only Ba'hai followers I know anything about...Jimmy Seals and Dash Crofts. They made some really cool music once upon a time. This is one that alway stuck with me. Beautiful melody. |
| Run Run Lucifer |
Liberation Suite |
LOL...this song is SO cool. Got that minor thing going...sounds so serious. Timing is really sloppy, but great energy....and then the Mamas and Papas-style vocal breaks just MAKE the song. GREAT!! |
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