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Flat out great songs

Been looking around on this site and I hear a lot of mentions of different artists and there's that great songwriters thread and all, but I'd like to find out more specifically what are some of the greatest songs, in your opinion? A handful at a time would be nice so we can stay real selective and only hear about your top choices. For me when I think about it a few songs have stood out over the years as strangely ageless, unique, maybe haunting or they have some other quality which just connects. Anyway I plan on listening to as many as possible...

Here's what comes to mind for me without scouring my collection or anything:

Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground - Willie Nelson
Pancho and Lefty - Townes Van Zandt
Levelland - James McMurtry
Not a Drop of Rain - Robert Earl Keen
The Front Porch Song - Robert Earl Keen & Lyle Lovett

Tags: great, songs, songwriters

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Permalink Reply by Henry Jasen on October 20, 2010 at 6:32am

My favorite train 'songs' are the classics: Wabash Cannonball and Orange Blossom Special. I don't think that any of these are great. Even Men Who Love Women Who Love Men isn't great in my mind. It just tickles me. He's just more of a tickler than a heart tugger.

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Permalink Reply by Jack on October 20, 2010 at 7:14am

Don't forget the classic "On the Atchison Topeka and the Santa Fe".

Steve Goodman wrote and recorded a little ditty called Go Cubs Go. It's played on WGN after Cub wins. The royalty checks to Steve's estate can't be much.

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Permalink Reply by captroy on April 18, 2011 at 3:19pm

Fred Eaglesmith 'I Like Trains' !

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Permalink Reply by Scott Barrance on October 20, 2010 at 4:02am

Wow Very 'High Fidelity' ,I have been giving this some serious thought ,I would struggle to give my 10 favourite artists ! So will give my 5 and my alternative 5 ......

My 5

Thunder Road /Racing In The Street-Bruce Springsteen

Small Town/Longest Days-John Mellencamp

Splendid Isolation/Laywers ,Guns and Money-Warren Zevon

Positively 4th Street/Like a Rolling Stone-Bob Dylan

Needle and the Damage Done/Keep on Rocking In The free World-Neil Young

Also battered and bruised -Chuck Prophet,La Cienga Just Cried-Ryan Adams and Beeswing -Richard Thompson worthy of a mention .

This is soooo hard !

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Permalink Reply by Scott Barrance on October 20, 2010 at 5:36am

Forgot to add -Del Amitri-Nothing ever happens !

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Permalink Reply by Scott Barrance on October 21, 2010 at 1:14pm

..........and Sam Baker-Broken Fingers...........:)

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Permalink Reply by Rudyjeep on October 20, 2010 at 4:52am

Let the Day Begin - the Call

Did anyone know Michael Been died? I just heard yesterday that he had a heart attack in August while he was on tour with his son's band. He was a great talent that led a powerful live band.

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Permalink Reply by Bree Schultz on October 20, 2010 at 8:09am

Those which bubble quickly to the surface for me are:

1962 Vincent Black Lightning - Richard Thompson
Every Little Bit - Patty Griffin
Elvis Presley Blues - Gillian Welch
Destiny Blues - Eric Bibb

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Permalink Reply by Bree Schultz on October 20, 2010 at 8:11am

and, of course, Boots of Spanish Leather.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Moore on October 20, 2010 at 11:08am

Waco Moon- Todd Snider
Dear Someone- Gillian Welch
Blue Umbrella- John Prine
Oh My Sweet Carolina- Ryan Adams
Goddamn Lonely Love- Drive-By Truckers
A Thing Called Rain- Jackie Greene

and about 1,000 others

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Permalink Reply by Fred Arnold on October 21, 2010 at 10:52am

Great idea but impossible to pin down just 5. Can't even think of 5 favourite artists so to think of 5 favourite songs .... but the following currently float my boat and are on rotation constantly

Better off Broke - Danny Schmidt
Like a Hurrican - Kris Delmhorst
Guadelupe - Tom Russell
Heavenly day - Patty Griffin
Americans in Corduroys -Jeffrey Foucault