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March 18, 2024


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Gary Pig Gold's Top 40 Most Influential (Pop) Records of the 20th Century!
By: Gary Pig Gold

For any of us coming of age during a certain "Ed Sullivan Show" broadcast circa February 1964, the soundtrack of our very lives has, more often than not, been composed of a series of three-minute, seven-inch, 45-RPM recordings along with, once we got older (or at least negotiated heftier weekly allowances), a few of those great big long-playing stereophonic albums just like the ones Dad kept stashed inside the Home Entertainment Center. Yes indeed, AM Radio was in many respects our tinny, tiny Graduate School in Musical Life, wasn't it? At least back in its pre-demographicized, monophonic Golden Age that is, when unsuspectingly eager ears might encounter, say, Roger Miller, Sam the Sham, and the Singing Nun during one single Friday night Triple-Play.

It is in the Spirit of those long-gone Rock-Poppin' times that I have compiled below a list of records I feel contributed the very most to raising us baby boomers straightly and strongly up beneath our covers late late at night, glued to the nearest six transistors when we all should have been sleeping or studying for some dumb History final.

Why this is, I suppose, my All-Time Top 40 of the (predominately) Top 40! YOUR survey might be far, far different and actually it SHOULD be, lest we've already all forgotten how to follow our own different drums down memory lane.

In Alphabetical Order, then, I hearby humbly nominate:

  • ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
  • "Blowin' In The Wind" by Bob Dylan
  • "Bo Diddley" by Bo Diddley
  • "Bye Bye Love" by The Everly Brothers
  • FREAK OUT! by The Mothers Of Invention
  • "Good Vibrations" by The Beach Boys
  • "Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley
  • "House Of The Rising Sun" by The Animals
  • "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones
  • "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles
  • JOHN WESLEY HARDING by Bob Dylan
  • "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry
  • "Light My Fire" by The Doors
  • "Like A Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan
  • "Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen (etc.!)
  • MUSIC FROM BIG PINK by The Band
  • NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS, HERE'S The Sex Pistols
  • "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" by James Brown
  • PET SOUNDS by The Beach Boys
  • "Proud Mary" by Creedence Clearwater Revival
  • RAMONES by Ramones
  • "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley & his Comets
  • RUBBER SOUL by The Beatles
  • SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND by The Beatles
  • "Shop Around" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
  • "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana
  • SWEETHEART OF THE RODEO by The Byrds
  • "That'll Be The Day" by Buddy Holly & The Crickets
  • "That's All Right" / "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" by Elvis Presley
  • "The Twist" by Chubby Checker
  • TOMMY by The Who
  • TROUT MASK REPLICA by Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band
  • "Tutti Frutti" by Little Richard
  • "What'd I Say" by Ray Charles
  • WHAT'S GOING ON by Marvin Gaye
  • "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On" by Jerry Lee Lewis
  • "Wild Thing" by The Troggs
  • "Wipe Out" by The Surfaris
  • "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks
  • "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" by The Righteous Brothers

Sure, now that I think of it, there's at least forty more slabs-o-vinyl I can think of, off the top of what's left of my head, that bolted us right where it counted and still can cause a powerful pause or two within our, a-hemm, hectic grown-up lives of today. Nevertheless, here's more than hoping you've recognized at least a few of your closest, truest musical friends upon this hasty, virtual survey.

Oh yeah! Better Stay Tuned though: I hear there's ANOTHER Century of Song just itchin' to get underway!

Please Keep Your Ears OPEN, won't you?

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