"Compile"

com=pile – a: to gather into a single book. b: to put together or compose from materials gathered from several sources.

So I was talking to my co-worker “B” the other day about what her Top 10 all-time songs would be? She said that “it would be too hard to choose. That there are too many factors and you have to break it down to top country songs, or love songs, or rock songs, etc.” I told her that “let’s say you had to pick your top 10?” I mean, there are factors in every Top 10 list. For example, if you ask me to pick my Top 10 women, are you talking about Top 10 brunettes, blondes, red-heads, celebrities, girls I know, girls I could actually date, by looks, all-around girls??? So, every Top 10 list has factors.

So I have decided to put together a compilation of my Top 10 songs ever! As you can probably guess, this takes some considerable thought. When talking about a Top 10 all-time list of songs, you must include songs that have some emotional value to you. There has to be reasons that a song makes the list. This list will be in no particular order. (It’s hard enough to list a Top 10, but to rank them is near impossible) So actually, I have put these songs in the order I would burn them on a CD. This is no easy task, but I do feel I need to prove to “B” that it can be done.

What you won’t see on this list is your garden variety greatest songs, such as: Smells Like Teen Spirit/Nirvana, Stairway To Heaven/Led Zeppelin, Hotel California/The Eagles, Freebird/Lynyrd Skynyrd, Wonderwall/Oasis, American Pie/DonMcLean, One/U2, Livin’ On A Prayer/Bon Jovi, Jack and Diane/John Cougar Mellencamp, or Like A Virgin/Madonna. All of these songs are regulars on "all-time greatest song" lists.

So to use the words of John Cusack in High Fidelity, “The making of a great compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do and takes ages longer than it might seem. You gotta kick off with a killer, to grab attention. Then you got to take it up a notch, but you don't wanna blow your wad, so then you got to cool it off a notch. There are a lot of rules.”

So here goes:

Track 1 – You Shook Me All Night Long/ACDC – This song brings me back to my high school days. It was one of those songs that just made you turn up the radio. Whenever this song plays in a bar it’s hard to find someone that is not singing along. This song has been known to be on a lot of “Greatest Songs” lists.

Track 2 – Every Rose Has It’s Thorn/Poison – This song would be in a strong running as my favorite all-time song. Bret Michaels does an excellent job at producing a rock ballad.

Track 3 – Far Behind/Candlebox – An excellent song with a great rhythm. Candlebox was one of my favorite cd’s when I was in high school. This song reminds me of regret and loss and the thought of not getting to say what you want to someone you lose.

Track 4 – Brown Eyed Girl/Van Morrison - A very catchy tune. Another one of these songs that when played in public everyone joins in on the chorus. It’s a great summer song.

Track 5 – Jane Says/Jane’s Addiction – I love the way this song sounds. Jane’s Addiction has a great sound and actually put on an excellent concert. This song is actually about a girl (Jane) the band lived with for a while in LA. She battled a heroin addiction. It actually hits kind of hard for me because of a good friend of mine that battled a drug addiction for several years before she passed away 5 years ago. L

Track 6 – Patience/Guns N Roses – #1 This song is my all-time favorite song and that is why it lands on Track 6. The key to making a great compilation cd is to have the best song towards the middle of the cd. Guns N Roses has a few songs that have been listed on “greatest hits” lists. I believe that this is their greatest work. It’s just an excellent slow, soothing song. The whistle solo definitely makes the song!

Track 7 – Shimmer/Fuel – I love the way this song sounds. It has a deep meaning about trying to remain friends with an ex when one of the involved parties wants more. Sometimes it’s hard to go back to the way things were in a relationship when there are still those feelings.

Track 8 – Jesse’s Girl/Rick Springfield – Yep, you guessed it – another great song that everyone joins in on. This song actually was a top 10 song on VH1’s greatest songs ever!

Track 9 – Old Blue Chair/Kenny Chesney – This song is my favorite to listen to while I’m on the boat during the summer. It’s just a very relaxing song. Kenny Chesney has some other good songs, but this would have to be my top one from him.

Track 10a – Its Tricky/Run DMC – Old-school rap at it’s best! Run DMC has produced some of the best rap ever and this song definitely does not disappoint. Many people would think of Walk This Way when you bring up Run DMC, but this song is my favorite.

Track 10b – Iris/Goo Goo Dolls – This is an excellent written song. The Goo Goo Dolls actually wrote this song for the movie City of Angels. I love the way this song sounds. It talks a lot about wanting to be with someone you can’t have. I think it is an excellent way to end the compilation cd.

So there you have it.... My Top 10 All-Time Greatest Songs! (okay, maybe you noticed that there were 11, but I came close!) But seriously, you can make a top 10 list about anything. The top 10 books of all-time, the top 10 movies, the top 10 bands, the top 10 things I miss about someone special, the top 10 movie quotes, the top 10 moments of our lives, etc., etc. In fact, each week I may try and put together a Top 10 list about something.

I hope you enjoyed the list! (You can also enjoy the songs below) What would be on your Top 10 songs???

Keep on, keepin' on
-J