1. Fine Young Cannibals, "She Drives Me Crazy." Recently covered by Dolly Parton. It's better than her cover of "Stairway to Heaven." The gossip fans will be sorry to hear that Dolly removes "she" from the title.
2. Barrence Whitfield and the Savages, "Rockin' the Mule in Kansas." Whitfield is a great, unknown treasure. His live shows are legendary, or would be if anyone had ever heard of him. I see by his web site that he plays weddings. Wonder if my wife would like to renew our vows? (The video is of "Stop Twistin' My Arm.")
3. The B-52's, "Roam." "Take it hip to hip, rock it through the wilderness." Arguably their most listenable song, thanks to great vocals from the gals (and, to be honest, the absence of Fred). Amazing factoid: Kate is 60!
4. Julee Cruise, "Falling." It's safe to say that for people of a certain age, the first notes of this one bring on the memories. Amazing factoid: Cruise spent a couple of years singing with the B-52's.
5. De La Soul, "Me, Myself and I." One response to the rise of gangsta rap.
6. The Stop the Violence Movement, "Self-Destruction." Another response.
7. Emmylou Harris, "Heaven Only Knows." To the best of my knowledge, Emmylou Harris has never recorded a rap song.
8. Tone Lōc, "Wild Thing." Marvin Young was born in England to Jamaican parents, moved to America, and got a B.A. in economics at USC in 1989. As Young MC, he wrote "Wild Thing: for Tone Lōc.
9. Madonna, "Express Yourself." Pussy rules the world. OK, I said it.
10. Beastie Boys, "Shake Your Rump." I don't think the Beasties were responding to gangsta rap, but who knows. I hope shuffle play turns up a Paul's Boutique track every "1989 edition," because it's an amazing album. I used to say that there would never be another album like Paul's Boutique, because the rules regarding sampling have changed. But I didn't think about underground music. Amazing factoid: this song last 3:19. According to Wikipedia, in those 199 seconds, the Beasties sample 12 different songs (from Led Zeppelin to the Supremes) and include pop culture references to 9 different items (from Fred Flintstone to Patty Duke).
Bonus track:
My Trusted MOGs
Madonna does make profound statements, doesn't she? I'm glad she's cleared up why she bares her bra in the manner she does on the Board Room table. I never realised she was mimicking how men do it.