Today marks the final post of 2008 for Bottom Feeders. So instead of starting the letter G and then going on break, let’s take a look back at the first 33 weeks of the series, with what I believe are the ten best, the ten worst, and the ten rarest songs in the series up to this point.
The Best
10. Jimmy Buffett, “It’s My Job” (download)
9. Bee Gees, “You Win Again” (download)
8. Crosby, Stills & Nash, “War Games” (download)
7. The Time, “The Oak Tree” (download)
6. The Cult, “Fire Woman” (download)
5. Dragon, “Rain” (download)
4. Devo, “Theme From Doctor Detroit” (download)
3. Jon Astley, “Jane’s Getting Serious” (download)
2. Joan Armatrading, “Drop the Pilot” (download)
1. The Cure, “Lullaby” (download)
I’ve listened to every song I own in my collection — every track to hit the Hot 100, thousands of tracks on the R&B and dance charts, and album after album, but listening to all of these songs pretty thoroughly while writing them up for Bottom Feeders has opened my ears to some tunes I didn’t realize were so good. Two of those are “You Win Again” by the Bee Gees, which I couldn’t stop listening to weeks after I posted it, and “War Games” by Crosby, Stills & Nash, which I listened to repeatedly only after reading your comments on it.
The Worst
10. Bulletboys, “For the Love of Money” (download)
9. Joyce Cobb, “Dig the Gold” (download)
8. Firefall, “Always” (download)
7. David Foster and Olivia Newton-John, “The Best of Me” (download)
6. Andy Fraser, “Do You Love Me” (download)
5. John Denver & Placido Domingo, “Perhaps Love” (download)
4. All Sports Band, “I’m Your Superman” (download)
3. Boys Band, “Please Don’t Stop Me Baby (I’m on Fire)” (download)
2. Far Corporation, “Stairway to Heaven” (download)
1. Toni Basil, “Shoppin’ From A to Z” (download)
I made a list of my 80 least favorite songs of the ’80s a few years ago, but the Far Corporation’s cover of “Stairway to Heaven” somehow didn’t make the cut. I’m not sure how I missed that giant turd, but I’m glad to include it here and will now need to readjust my list. Over the past few months, as I was writing up each week’s post, I thought the letter F was going to treat us pretty nice. But there are four “F” artists on my “bottom of the Bottom Feeders” list, including two from last week’s entry alone.
The Rarest
10. Arlan Day, “I Surrender” (download)
9. Al Corley, “Square Rooms” (download)
8. Dillman Band, “Lovin’ the Night Away” (download)
7. Big Ric, “Takeaway” (download)
6. Jay Black, “The Part of Me That Needs You Most” (download)
5. Conductor, “Voice on the Radio” (download)
4. Deliverance, “Leaving L.A.” (download)
3. Joe Chemay Band, “Proud” (download)
2. Double Image, “Night Pulse” (download)
1. Cugini, “Let Me Sleep Alone” (download)
These are the songs that make collecting so much fun. Finding all of these was a chore, and it took years of searching to find that Cugini 45. “Takeaway” by Big Ric was another tough one, but since the time I purchased it (probably in 2006), I’ve seen at least four or five more cheap copies around.
That’s it for 2008, folks. A big thanks to all of you for reading and commenting. I’ll see you again in January when we start back up with the letter G and much more from the ass end of the ’80s.
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