Rolling Stones Top 500 Songs of All-Time - "Move On Up" by Curtis Mayfield

 

Randon Number Generator selected 474, which happens to be Move On Up" by Curtis Mayfield from 1970.  Haven't heard this one in a while, so this was a good selection.  So you can enjoy it like I did, I have placed "Move On Up" here.

Best Attribute:  Funkiness and use of instrumentation, especially the bongos.
Worst Attribute:  Regular version misses a lot compared to the extended version.  (I attached the extended version.)

Best Line: "Just move on up, toward your destination.  You may find from time to time complication." - So true.

Worst Line:  "Bite your lip and take the trip.  But there may be wet road ahead, and you cannot slip."  Too many metaphors that don't match.

Would I listen again: Absolutely.

Rolling Stone Ranking:  474

My Current Ranking:  2

Projected Final Ranking:  375

Top 500 Songs of All-Time

1.  Rosalita (Come Out Tonight, Bruce Springsteen

2.  Move on Up, Curtis Mayfield

3.  Goodbye Earl, The Dixie Chicks

4.  Cruel Summer, Taylor Swift

5.  Rapper's Delight, Sugar Hill Gang

6. I Wanna Be Your Dog, The Stooges

Rolling Stones Top 200 Rap Albums of All-Time - Daytona by Pusha t

I received number 108 from the random number generator which happens to be Daytona by Pusha-T.  Like many hip-hop-heads I know of my generations, we are not as conversant in the last decade or so as the previous 4, so I am interested in listening to this one.

First Track:  If You Know You Know

Start:  Not a really strong start as this song just keeps ending line-after-line-after-line with "boy."  But, the song gathers steam after the first verse and is actually quite good.

Best Attribute:  Production, especially the incorporation of the drums and horns.

Worst Attribute:  The length of the album; 7 songs and 21 minutes long.

Best Song:  Infrared - Easily the best song on the album - best lyricism and flow, with a nice beat.

Worst Song:  If You Know You Know - I still can't get past that first verse.

Most Interesting Song:  The Games We Play - This song incorporates a sitar!

Most Interesting Quality:  A SITAR!

Would I listen again: For sure, especially if I just had a limited amount of time.

Who would I like to Re-Make/Re-Imagine this Album:  Post Malone.  His rapping vibe would be true to the album, but his rock sound and presence would make this album different and interesting.

Rolling Stone Ranking:  108

My Current Ranking:  4

Projected Final Ranking: 108

Top 200 Rap Albums of All-Time

1.  Illmatic, Nas

2.  Room 25, Noname

3.  400 Degreez, Juvenile

4.  Daytona, Pusha T

5.  Bandana, Freddie Gibbs and Madlib

6.  Enta Da Stage, Black Moon

Rolling Stones Top 500 Albums of All-Time - DOGGYSTYLE by Snoop Doggy Dogg

I was soooo happy about with the randomizer this time as it spit out number 340, which happens to be Doggystyle by then Snoop Doggy Dogg.  When this album was released in 1993 - while I was in college - we knew it was a gamechanger.  Definitely excited to give it a listed from a different, older perspective.

First Track:  G Funk Intro
Start:  Strong for an intro track, as it contains funky beats, Dr. Dre, Lady of Rage, but, not a song.

Real First Track:  Gin and Juice

Start:  The strongest!

Best Attribute:  Dre's funky beats!

Worst Attribute:  Too much actual Barking

Best Song:  Ain't No Fun (If the Homies Can't Have None) - Younger me would have said Gin and Juice no doubt, but older me appreciates the depth of the funkiness in this one.

Worst Song: Pump! Pump!  The aforementioned barking!

Most Interesting Song:  Tha Shiznit - Because of the cymbals.

Most Interesting Quality:  G-Funk production.  Not just the beats, but the drums, horns, everything.

Would I listen again: Hellz Yeah!

Who would I like to Re-Make/Re-Imagine this Album:  Bruno Mars.  This was a tough one, because it is so eclectically iconic, but Bruno could do the instrumentation and make it his own, even if it wasn't rapped.

Rolling Stone Ranking:  340

My Current Ranking:  2

Projected Final Ranking:  189

Top 500 Albums of All-Time

1.  Love Deluxe, Sade

2.  Doggystyle, Snoop Doggy Dogg

3.  Pearl, Janis Joplin

4.  Ramones, The Ramones

5.  Beyonce, Beyonce

6.  John Prine, John Prine

Rolling Stones Top 500 Songs of All-Time - "Cruel Summer" by Taylor Swift

 

Time to hear number 400, which is the 2019 hit from Taylor Swift, "Cruel Summer".  I can only imagine this is the first of a few by Ms. Swift.  For your listening pleasure, here is Cruel Summer.

Best Attribute:  Production value is quite good.  The underlying beat, works.  It's fun and directional for the song.
Worst Attribute:  Too poppy.

Best Line: "Devils roll the dice, angels roll their eyes." - I love the dichotomy.

Worst Line:  "But ooh, woah - oh, it's a cruel summer with you.  I am sure Taylor could come up with something better than this.

Would I listen again: Sure, if it's a mixed-company, all-ages event, and I need some new-ish pop - it works.

Rolling Stone Ranking:  400

My Current Ranking:  3

Projected Final Ranking:  427

Top 500 Songs of All-Time

1.  Rosalita (Come Out Tonight, Bruce Springsteen

2.  Goodbye Earl, The Dixie Chicks

3.  Cruel Summer, Taylor Swift

4.  Rapper's Delight, Sugar Hill Gang

5. I Wanna Be Your Dog, The Stooges

Rolling Stones Top 200 Rap Albums of All-Time - ROOM 25 by Noname

The number generator gave me number 56, which is Room 25 by Noname.  I know nothing of Noname (which isn't uncommon for me of the last 10 years of rap - except Kendrick and a few others).  I don't know if it is a group or a solo artist, but I am game.  Let's go...

First Track:  Self

Start:  OK, so I was caught off-guard.  My first initial thought - other than I love the cover art - is that, Whoa, this is a female artists.  Not because females can't rap, but just the percentages are low.  And I mention this because this song contains a line, "And ya'll thought a bitch couldn't rap, huh?  Maybe this your answer for that."  This is a very smooth song - and the piano addition is amazing!

Best Attribute:  Her flow.  Right up there with the best of all time.  For the record by flow I mean the rhythm in which she raps.

Worst Attribute:  This album only has 10 - mostly short - songs.  Would love to hear more.

Best Song:  Ace! - This song features Smino and Saba, her cohorts in the group Ghetto Stage.  Their musical chemistry is fantastic.

Worst Song:  Window - This is actually a really good song, as I am just splitting hairs for consistency among my reviews.  This one is worst because it just takes a while to get moving.  The ending is fire, though.

Most Interesting Song:  Montego Bay - This one is the most interesting because of the upright bass, which I love.

Most Interesting Quality:  The jazziness, and the quality and feel of the production.  And, as stated earlier, her flow!!!

Would I listen again: Hell Yeah!!!  In fact, I have a weekend of listening to more Noname and Ghetto Stage ahead of me.

Who would I like to Re-Make/Re-Imagine this Album:  So a little bit of a story here, My first instinct was D'Angelo (RIP), but then during the album Noname literally raps, "Somebody get D'Angelo.  I think I need him on this one!"  So apparently Noname thinks he would work on her songs also.  So, I have three others:  The first person I thought of was Doechii, who  might give it an edgier feel - but I didn't want to get caught up in the fact that I have to find a female rapper to remake this album. Then I thought De La Soul because of the jazz, social-conscious rap type of feel.  But in reality, to re-imagine this album, but keep some of its feel and intent, the answer for me is Nas.

Rolling Stone Ranking:  56

My Current Ranking:  2

Projected Final Ranking: 31

Top 200 Rap Albums of All-Time

1.  Illmatic, Nas

2.  Room 25, Noname

3.  400 Degreez, Juvenile

4.  Bandana, Freddie Gibbs and Madlib

5.  Enta Da Stage, Black Moon

Rolling Stones Top 500 Albums of All-Time - PEARL by Janis Joplin

 

This time I was given number 259 from the random number generator, which just so happens to be "Pearl" from Janis Joplin.  Released in 1971.  I know songs from this album, but if I have listened to this entire album, I don't remember how long ago that was.  Let's get into this.

First Track:  Move Over
Start:  Really strong start.  A driving snare beat which meshes well with Joplin's captivating voice.  Lyrics are strong also.

Best Attribute:  the combination of blues, folk, jazz and rock.

Worst Attribute:  Not really sure what I should put here.  I would say perhaps that her voice sounds the same in every song, but with each song carrying different hits of blues, folk, jazz and rock, it still sounds different (which is good!)

Best Song:  Half-Moon - A very jazzy, fast-swing, type of accompaniment makes this song amazing.

Worst Song: Mercedes Benz. Go figure, one of the songs I have heard endlessly is the worst on this album.  Too preachy without some of the musicality of the other songs.

Most Interesting Song:  Cry Baby - The song sounds like it is supposed to be a really slow song, but isn't.

Most Interesting Quality:  The guitar solos interspersed into many of the songs.  High quality playing, rhythm, sound - just everything about the guitar solos hits.

Would I listen again: Definitely, and I enjoyed the entire album more than I thought I might.

Who would I like to Re-Make/Re-Imagine this Album:  Mariah Carey.  It would bring the album a completely different feel, but I want quality re-imagination, not just an impersonation.

Rolling Stone Ranking:  259

My Current Ranking:  2

Projected Final Ranking:  211

Top 500 Albums of All-Time

1.  Love Deluxe, Sade

2.  Pearl, Janis Joplin

3.  Ramones, The Ramones

4.  Beyonce, Beyonce

5.  John Prine, John Prine

Rolling Stones Top 500 Songs of All-Time - "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" by Bruce Springsteen

 

The Randon number generator gave me number 446 which is "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" by Bruce Springsteen, which was released in 1973.  What a fun song, but I haven't heard it in a LONG time.  If it is the same for you, take a listen here: "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)"

Best Attribute:  Fun - Sounds like a great party is going on!  Also, the piano, guitar, bass, sax and drums are all heard, but none overshadow any of the others.
Worst Attribute:  Some lyrics are a little nonsensical, but I am being picky here to be honest.

Best Line: "Mama, she's home in the window waitin' up for us.  She'll be in that chair when they wrestle her upstairs.  'Cause you know we ain't gonna come." 

Worst Line:  "Windows are for cheaters, chimneys for the poor.  Oh closets are for hangars, winners use the door." - Huh?

Would I listen again: Oh yeah! - Great for at a beach party, or a day drinking affair.

Rolling Stone Ranking:  446

My Current Ranking:  1

Projected Final Ranking:  284

Top 500 Songs of All-Time

1.  Rosalita (Come Out Tonight, Bruce Springsteen

2.  Goodbye Earl, The Dixie Chicks

3.  Rapper's Delight, Sugar Hill Gang

4. I Wanna Be Your Dog, The Stooges