Soundtrack4Life Festive Fifty 2013: Part Three 15-1

This Festive Fifty is indeed an eclectic bunch of tunes and the Top 15 is no exception. I don't feel the need to explain any of the choices as they were the things that moved me, I hope in some small way you might find something among the whole 50 that thrills you a little.

If I could make one comment though regarding the #1 song that I chose then I'll say this: For the past two years on this blog I have followed from afar The Wrecking Ball Tour by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band and each show I posted about excited me more and more about the possibility of catching at least one show in person. To my delight he returned to Glasgow in June and my wife lovingly purchased tickets as a 50th Birthday present and it was one of the musical highlights of the year for me. 'Thunder Road' was the final song of a set that lasted almost three and a half hours and the intimacy of the song done acoustically was mesmerising. Personally I didn't get what some folks were complaining about on the various Bruce forums about his ending the shows in this way because it was like the song that crowned the whole set for me. Even watching the video again of it sends chills down my spine and warms my heart with great memories of a brilliant night of rock and roll music.

Hope you have enjoyed it. Hopefully we can do it all again in 2014.

15. Say Hello - Jelly (From 'Troubadour, Wizard, The Queen and the Machine').
14. If I Only Could - The Godfathers (From 'Jukebox Fury').
13. Bo Diddley Special - Eric Burdon (From ''Til Your River Runs Dry').
12. It Ain't Over - The 45's (From the Single 'It Ain't Over/Devil of a Woman').
11. Talk About the Good Times - Elvis Presley (From 'Elvis at Stax').
10. Walk Us Uptown - Elvis Costello and the Roots (From 'Wise Up Ghost and Other Songs').
09. I Will Steal You Back - Jimmy Eat World (From 'Damage').
08. Lose The Reason - The Primitives (From the 7" Single 'Lose The Reason').
07. Cakewalk - Tankus the Henge (From 'The Last Days Are Coming').
06. Soulmates to Strangers - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (From 'Unvarnished').
05. Fortunate Son - John Fogerty with Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters (From 'Wrote A Song For Everyone').
04. Smiling Culture - Ruts DC (From 'Rhythm Collision Volume 2').
03. Rosalita - Ian Prowse (From the single 'Rosalita/Cecilia').
02. This Hard Land (Acoustic) - Bruce Springsteen (From 'Wrecking Kilkenny Bootleg 28/07/13).
01. Thunder Road (Acoustic) - Bruce Springsteen (From 'Wrecking Glasgow Bootleg 18/06/13').

Soundtrack4Life Festive Fifty 2013: Part Two 30-16

The next block of music that made me move my feet, contemplate the meaning of life, and cause me to smile in wonder is a real eclectic bunch of tunes. From Punk to Pop and Country to Gospel, it throws up some gems that have been given the reissue treatment via Boxsets and Anniversary Editions. There's a number of cover versions that span the Old Black Gospel Churches to the New York Bowery Disctrict via The Midlands! It's music originally from the 1950's, diving into the late 70's, the 80's and 90's are represented as is the current year. A few surprises included as well (hey, it's Christmas Day after all and who doesn't like surprises?).


30. A Dollar Short of Happy - Nick Lowe (From 'Quality Street').
29. Handyman Blues - Billy Bragg (From 'Tooth and Nail').
28. Brickfield Nights - The Boys (From 'Alternative Chartbusters Deluxe Version').
27. The Highway - Holly Williams (From 'The Highway').
26. He's On The Beach - Kirsty MacColl (From 'A New England - The Very Best of Kirsty MacColl').
25. World Leader Pretend - R.E.M. (From 'Green 25th Anniversary').
24. Far Far Away - The Wonder Stuff (From 'Oh No It's...The Wonder Stuff 2CD Edition).
23. Road To Nowhere - Jars of Clay (From 'Eastside Manor Sessions').
22. Amazing Grace - Aaron Neville (From 'The Best of Aaron Neville Gospel').
21. The Only One - The Letter Black (From 'Rebuild').
20. Long Time Gone - Billie Joe and Norah (From 'Foreverly').
19. Dream Baby Dream - Bruce Springsteen (From forthcoming album 'High Hopes').
18. Gates of the West - The Clash (From 'Sound System').
17. Getting Away From It - Electronic (From 'Electronic Deluxe Edition').
16. Make It Back - Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (From 'Unvarnished').

Next up 15-1

Soundtrack4Life Festive Fifty 2013: Part One - 50-31

Over the next couple of posts I will be sharing with you the Soundtrack4Life Festive Fifty for 2013. Not all the songs are necessarily from this year as some older songs have appeared on a Soundtrack or a new Compilation. but these are the songs that made a real impression and there's not a Daft Punk song on the list!!

Click on the links to enjoy the music.

50. Life on Bleeker Street - Willie Nile (From 'American Ride').
49.  Careful - Television (From the 'CBGB's Soundtrack').
48. Landslide of Love - Transvision Vamp (From 'Velveteen Re-Presents').
47. Blue Collar Jane - The Strypes (From 'Snapshot').
46. When You Get to Asheville - Steve Martin and Edie Brickell (From 'Love Has Come For You').
45. Running Scared - Roy Orbison (From 'Dream Baby 3CD Set').
44. We Want the Airwaves - The Ramones (From 'The Sire Years 1976-1981').
43. Still Into You - Paramore (From 'Now').
42. Ballad of the Lower East Side - Michael Monroe (From 'Horns and Halos').
41. They Don't Know - Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs (From 'Under the Covers Vol. 3').
40. Many Rivers to Cross - Jimmy Cliff (From 'The KCRW Session').
39. Gun Control - The International Swingers.
38. I Believe That Jesus Brought Us Together - The Horrible Crowes (From 'Live at the Troubador').
37. We Shall Not Overcome - Frank Turner (From 'Tape Deck Heart').
36. Springsteen/Born To Run - Eric Church (From 'Caught in the Act (Live)').
35. Rose Tattoo - Dropkick Murphy's and Bruce Springsteen (From 'Rose Tattoo EP').
34. When The Music's Over - The Doors (From 'The Doors Infinite Boxset').
33. The Stars Are Out Tonight - David Bowie (From 'The Next Day').
32. From This Valley - The Civil Wars (From 'T he Civil Wars').
31. Someone's Looking At You - Boomtown Rats (From 'Back To Boomtown').

Next up 30-16