In this very special bonus episode, Tim and Chris put their heads together and come up with their shared top-10 albums of all-time, in advance of the WXPN (AAA public radio station 88.5 FM in Philadelphia) 2021 All-Time Greatest Albums countdown. (Tim and Chris are both members of this station, whose 2020 songs countdown led to Hall of Songs.)
Plus, the pair invite Ted Koerth, a friend of the podcast and a pretty knowledgeable guy himself, so they can all reveal their personal top-10 albums. And we’ll talk at length about the XPN countdown – what we expect, predictions, and other thoughts.
It’s a fun conversation that you’ll not want to miss.
We had to narrow down an insane pool of contenders from 1971 to 12 nominees for the Hall of Songs.
This is the year of landmark releases by Marvin Gaye, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, the Who, and Sly and the Family Stone. Plus there’s Harry Nilsson, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Joni Mitchell, and David Bowie. And that’s just scratching the surface.
In this episode, you’ll hear the 12 songs we feel are the best of an incredible year of music.
After listening, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1971, plus tunes from 1970, ’69, ’68 and ’67 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! Vote now and come back on December 3 to find out which song or songs get in!
Our 1971 nominees:
“Angel From Montgomery” as performed by John Prine
Written by John Prine; recorded winter 1970; released January 1971
“What’s Going On” as performed by Marvin Gaye
Written by Al Cleveland, Renaldo Benson and Marvin Gaye; recorded summer 1970; released January 1971
“Ain’t No Sunshine” as performed by Bill Withers
Written by Bill Withers; recorded spring 1971; released May 1971
“River” as performed by Joni Mitchell
Written by Joni Mitchell; recorded spring 1970; released June 1971
“Won’t Get Fooled Again” as performed by The Who
Written by Pete Townshend; recorded May 1971; released June 1971
“Baba O’Riley” as performed by The Who
Written by Pete Townshend; recorded April 1971; released August 1971
“Imagine” as performed by John Lennon
Written by John Lennon; recorded spring 1971; released September 1971
“Family Affair” as performed by Sly and the Family Stone
Written by Sly Stone; recorded spring 1970; released October 1971
“Without You” as performed by Harry Nilsson
Written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans; recorded summer 1971; released October 1970
“Let’s Stay Together” as performed by Al Green
Written by Al green, Willie Mitchell and Al Jackson Jr.; recorded summer 1971; released November 1971
“Stairway to Heaven” as performed by Led Zeppelin
Written by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant; recorded December 1970; released November 1971
“Life on Mars?” as performed by David Bowie
Written by David Bowie; recorded summer 1971; released December 1971
Listen to the full episode for more, and then vote for the songs that you think are the greatest of all-time. Scroll down or click here to vote. Then, come back on November 19, 2021 to find out the voting results, and November 21, 2021 for our discussion on 1971.
It’s a thrilling episode of Hall of Songs, in which Tim and Chris discuss the results of the latest round of voting.
One song definitely gets into the Hall, and that makes one of us very happy. Any more songs? You’ll have to listen to find out.
Okay. Don’t scroll if you want to be spoiled.
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Alright. Let’s congratulate the following songs on making the Hall of Songs …
My Girl / The Temptations – 66.67% (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay / Otis Redding – 66.67% Let It Be / The Beatles – 66.67%
Continuing to the next round of voting
Hey Jude / The Beatles – 53.33% (3rd round) Suspicious Minds / Elvis Presley – 53.33% (2nd round) Layla / Derek and the Dominos – 53.33% (1st round) (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman / Aretha Franklin – 43.33% (4th round) All Along the Watchtower / The Jimi Hendrix Experience – 40% (3rd round) Here Comes the Sun / The Beatles – 40% (2nd round) Fire and Rain / James Taylor – 40% (1st round) Suite: Judy Blue Eyes / Crosby, Stills & Nash – 36.67% (2nd round) Ohio / Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – 36.67% (1st round)
Eliminated from the ballot
Paranoid / Black Sabbath – 33.33% (1st round) I’ll Be There / The Jackson 5 – 30% (1st round) Move on Up / Curtis Mayfield – 30% (1st round) Sympathy For the Devil / The Rolling Stones – 26.67% (3rd round) Big Yellow Taxi / Joni Mitchell – 26.67% (1st round) Lola / The Kinks – 26.67% (1st round) Proud Mary / Creedence Clearwater Revival – 23.33% (2nd round) Fortunate Son / Creedence Clearwater Revival – 23.33% (2nd round) Heartbreaker / Led Zeppelin – 23.33% (2nd round) A Day in the Life / The Beatles – 20% (4th round) Iron Man / Black Sabbath – 20% (1st round) Sweet Jane / The Velvet Underground – 20% (1st round) War / Edwin Starr – 13.33% (1st round)
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Big songs, but we didn’t nominate them for the Hall of Songs before. Now we have.
We come together as the Veterans Committee to put four more tunes on the ballot for the Hall of Songs. Join us as we discuss these songs from 1967 to ’70, then talk about some personal favorites … including the Beatles and the Grateful Dead.
Come back on November 21, 2021, for our episode on 1971. Then, we’ll start voting for the 17th class of the Hall of Songs.
We’re in a new decade on Hall of Songs, the podcast that attempts to determine the greatest songs of all-time.
1970 brings us new fare from artists we’ve previously featured, like the Beatles and the Jackson 5. It also showcases some new sounds in music, from the bulky heavy rock of Black Sabbath to the rhythmic vibes of Curtis Mayfield.
After listening, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1970, plus tunes from 1969, ’68, ’67, ’66, and ’65 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! Vote now and come back on November 19 to find out which song or songs get in!
Our 1970 nominees:
“Fire and Rain” as performed by James Taylor
Written by James Taylor; recorded December 1969; released February 1970
“Big Yellow Taxi” as performed by Joni Mitchell
Written by Joni Mitchell; recorded January 1970; released April 1970
“Let it Be” as performed by The Beatles
Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney; recorded January 1969; released May 1970
“War” as performed by Edwin Starr
Written by Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield; recorded May 1970; released June 1970
“Ohio” as performed by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Written by Neil Young; recorded May 1970; released June 1970
“Lola” as performed by The Kinks
Written by Ray Davies; recorded April 1970; released June 1970
“Paranoid” as performed by Black Sabbath
Written by Tommy Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward; recorded June 1970; released August 1970
“I’ll Be There” as performed by The Jackson 5
Written by Berry Gordy, Bob West, Willie Hutch and Hal Davis; recorded June 1970; released August 1970
“Iron Man” as performed by Black Sabbath
Written by Tommy Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward; recorded June 1970; released September 1970
“Move on Up” as performed by Curtis Mayfield
Written by Curtis Mayfield; recorded June 1970; released September 1970
“Sweet Jane” as performed by The Velvet Underground
Written by Lou Reed; recorded June 1970; released November 1970
“Layla” as performed by Derek and the Dominos
Written by Eric Clapton and Jim Gordon; recorded September 1970; released November 1970
Listen to the full episode for more, and then vote for the songs that you think are the greatest of all-time. Scroll down or click here to vote. Then, come back on November 19, 2021 to find out the voting results, and November 21, 2021 for our discussion on 1971.
It’s time to induct new songs into the Hall of Songs, bringing the total to 36.
Is it finally time for the Temptations’ “My Girl”? Did the Beatles or Elvis Presley get a third song in? What about Otis Redding or Aretha Franklin? Maybe The Jackson 5?
Join Tim (and only Tim) for this results show. That’s right, Chris isn’t around for this one. We’ll talk about it.
Okay. Don’t scroll if you want to be spoiled.
…
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Alright. Let’s congratulate the following songs on making the Hall of Songs …
Gimme Shelter / The Rolling Stones – 75% The Weight / The Band – 66.67%
Continuing to the next round of voting
Suspicious Minds / Elvis Presley – 58.33% (1st round) My Girl / The Temptations – 54.16% (5th round) (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman / Aretha Franklin – 50% (3rd round) Hey Jude / The Beatles – 50% (2nd round) All Along the Watchtower / The Jimi Hendrix Experience – 50% (2nd round) Suite: Judy Blue Eyes / Crosby, Stills & Nash – 50% (1st round) Here Comes the Sun / The Beatles – 50% (1st round) (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay / Otis Redding – 45.83% (2nd round) Proud Mary / Creedence Clearwater Revival – 45.83% (1st round) Sympathy For the Devil / The Rolling Stones – 41.66% (2nd round) Fortunate Son / Creedence Clearwater Revival – 41.66% (1st round) A Day in the Life / The Beatles – 37.5% (3rd round) Heartbreaker / Led Zeppelin – 37.5% (1st round)
Eliminated from the ballot
When a Man Loves a Woman / Percy Sledge – 33.33% (4th round) Mrs. Robinson / Simon and Garfunkel – 33.33% (2nd round) Paint It Black / The Rolling Stones – 29.16% (4th round) I Want You Back / The Jackson 5 – 25% (1st round) Walk on By / Isaac Hayes – 20.83% (1st round) Both Sides, Now / Joni Mitchell – 16.66% (1st round) Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) / Sly and the Family Stone – 16.66% (1st round) Piece of My Heart / Big Brother and the Holding Company – 12.5% (2nd round) I Wanna Be Your Dog / The Stooges – 12.5% (1st round)
You may have some questions after our 1969 picks for Hall of Songs nominees.
Sure, you’ll hear some of the biggest songs of all-time, including selections by the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and new stars like Creedence Clearwater Revival and Led Zeppelin, but we had to throw in some controversy this time around.
Get ready for a year of big rock and pop hits, massive soul jams, and pioneering folk rock and singer-songwriter fare.
After listening, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1969, plus tunes from 1968, ’67, ’66, and ’65 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! Vote now and come back on October 29 to find out which song or songs get in!
Our 1969 nominees:
“Proud Mary” as performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Written by John Fogerty; recorded late 1968; released January 1969
“Both Sides, Now” as performed by Joni Mitchell
Written by Joni Mitchell; recorded late 1968; released May 1969
“Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” as performed by Crosby, Stills & Nash
Written by Stephen Stills; recorded February 1969; released May 1969
“Walk On By” as performed by Isaac Hayes
Written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David; recorded early 1969; released June 1969
“I Wanna Be Your Dog” as performed by The Stooges
Written by Dave Alexander, Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton and Iggy Pop; recorded April 1969; released July 1969
“Suspicious Minds” as performed by Elvis Presley
Written by Mark James; recorded January 1969; released August 1969
“Here Comes the Sun” as performed by The Beatles
Written by George Harrison; recorded July 1969; released September 1969
“Fortunate Son” as performed by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Written by John Fogerty; recorded August 1969; released October 1969
“I Want You Back” as performed by The Jackson 5
Written by Berry Gordy, Freddie Pirren, Alphonso Mizell and Deke Richards; recorded July 1969; released October 1969
“Heartbreaker” as performed by Led Zeppelin
Written by John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant; recorded summer 1969; released October 1969
“Gimme Shelter” as performed by The Rolling Stones
Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards; recorded February 1969; released December 1969
“Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” as performed by Sly and the Family Stone
Written by Sly Stone; recorded late 1969; released December 1969
Listen to the full episode for more, and then vote for the songs that you think are the greatest of all-time. Scroll down or click here to vote. Then, come back on October 29, 2021 to find out the voting results, and October 31, 2021 for our discussion on 1970.
Recently, and for the first time, Tim opted not to reward the Doors’ “Light My Fire” with entrance into the Hall of Songs via the Golden Vote. “Prove me wrong,” he told listeners, who were tasked with another election including songs from 1968, ’67, ’66, and ’65.
So … did the listeners prove Tim wrong?
Okay. Don’t scroll if you want to be spoiled.
…
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Alright. Let’s congratulate the following songs on making the Hall of Songs …
Light My Fire / The Doors – 69.56% I Heard It Through the Grapevine – 69.56%
Continuing to the next round of voting
The Weight / The Band – 65.21% (1st round) (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay / Otis Redding – 65.21% (1st round) Hey Jude / The Beatles – 65.21% (1st round) (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman / Aretha Franklin – 56.5% (2nd round) All Along the Watchtower / The Jimi Hendrix Experience – 56.52% (1st round) My Girl / The Temptations – 52.17% (4th round) When a Man Loves a Woman / Percy Sledge – 47.82% (3rd round) Piece of My Heart / Big Brother and the Holding Company – 47.82% (1st round) Sympathy For the Devil / The Rolling Stones – 47.82% (1st round) A Day in the Life / The Beatles – 43.47% (2nd round) Paint It Black / The Rolling Stones – 39.13% (3rd round) Mrs. Robinson / Simon and Garfunkel – 39.13% (1st round)
Eliminated from the ballot
Turn, Turn, Turn / The Byrds – 34.78% (2nd round) Everyday People / Sly and the Family Stone – 34.78% (1st round) Strawberry Fields Forever / The Beatles – 30.43% (2nd round) Ain’t No Mountain High Enough / Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell – 26.08% (2nd round) Eleanor Rigby / The Beatles – 21.73.% (2nd round) Street Fighting Man / The Rolling Stones – 17.39% (1st round) Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud / James Brown – 4.34% (1st round) Israelites / Desmond Dekker and the Aces – 0% (1st round)
Goldstein talks at length about the music that he loves. Then, we chat about songs that he would entertain for the Hall of Songs, along with the tunes he’d strike off the list completely. Consider Kevin our palate cleanser, coming in to lay down some home truths concerning our nomination process.
It’s a fun conversation that you’ll not want to miss.
After listening, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1968, plus tunes from 1967, ’66, and ’65 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! Vote now and come back on October 15 to find out which song or songs get in!
We’re returning to our roots in this episode of Hall of Songs.
We talk about a number of artists who, after all the experimentation and studio trickery of the mid-1960s, start looking backwards and create old-fashioned rock and or roll. For example, we present songs by the Rolling Stones, The Band and Big Brother and the Holding Company.
We nominate 12 songs for the Hall of Songs in this episode; along with the artists above, you’ll hear from Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Otis Redding, and the Beatles. And you’ll also hear the beginning of a new genre out of the Caribbean.
After listening, VOTE for the greatest songs of all time! Songs from 1968, plus tunes from 1967, ’66, and ’65 are up for a shot to make the Hall of Songs! Vote now and come back on October 15 to find out which song or songs get in!
Our 1968 nominees:
“(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” as performed by Otis Redding
Written by Otis Redding and Steve Cropper; recorded December 1967; released January 1968
“Mrs. Robinson” as performed by Simon & Garfunkel
Written by Paul Simon; recorded February 1968; released April 1968
“The Weight” as performed by The Band
Written by Robbie Robertson; recorded January 1968; released August 1968
“Street Fighting Man” as performed by The Rolling Stones
Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards; recorded May 1968; released August 1968
“Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud” as performed by James Brown
Written by James Brown and Alfred Ellis; recorded August 1968; released August 1968
“Piece of My Heart” as performed by Big Brother and the Holding Company
Written by Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns; recorded March 1968; released August 1968
“Hey Jude” as performed by The Beatles
Written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney; recorded August 1968; released August 1968
“All Along the Watchtower” as performed by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Written by Bob Dylan; recorded summer 1968; released September 1968
“Israelites” as performed by Desmond Dekker and the Aces
Written by Desmond Dekker and Leslie Kong; recorded summer 1968; released October 1968
“I Heard it Through the Grapevine” as performed by Marvin Gaye
Written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong; recorded spring 1967; released October 1968
“Everyday People” as performed by Sly and the Family Stone
Written by Sly Stone; recorded summer 1968; released November 1968
“Sympathy For the Devil” as performed by The Rolling Stones
Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards; recorded June 1968; released December 1968
Listen to the full episode for more, and then vote for the songs that you think are the greatest of all-time. Scroll down or click here to vote. Then, come back on October 15, 2021 to find out the voting results, and October 18, 2021 for our discussion on 1969.
