The Top Ten of 2006

1. "Love"-The Beatles. Did you really think that the Beatles would be number 2 to anybody? New, exciting, refreshing, cool. A Beatles mash up performed by Sir George Martin and his son, Giles. I can't get this out of my CD player. Hearing these new, mashed up versions of Beatles songs (with the permission of everyone) just makes me feel eleven again. Incredible stuff and so nice to have "new" Beatles stuff to listen to.


2. "4AM"-Stevie Williams. Man, where did this guy come from? A bass player from Manchester England who was marketed to the smooth jazz crowd. He may be the best bass player since Jaco Pastorius. And that's saying something. The CD that single handedly got me through one of the shittiest summers on record. And that's saying something.



3. "Modern Times"-Bob Dylan. What can you say? In my house pre-Beatles, it was three guys, basically. Hank, Johnny and Bob. In my house 45 years later,it's Johnny and Bob anyway, only because Hank isn't around to defend himself. This is an incredible piece of music from the best songwriter of my generation. There's no denying that Bob is the man. Pre, during and now 37 years post Beatles...he is the king of them all. You must buy this disc.


4. "American Five"-Johnny Cash. God, I truly miss this guy. I always will. I will NOT consider myself a resident of Nashville till I
a)visit his grave
b)drive by his house (which is now owned by Barry Gibb(good for him).
His last written piece of work and his heart rendering "If You Could Read My Mind" make this the most important piece of work this year by a man who knew he was dying. This is really one of the people I want to meet when I get to Heaven. My friend Mario has two pictures of him with the man in black..and June. Impressive. God, I truly miss this guy.


5. "The Road To Escondido"-Eric Clapton and J.J. Cale. Perfection and long overdue. Wow, how sweet is this? The perfect driving CD (I oughtta know). Real classy tunes.


6. "All Those Roadrunning" Mark Knopfler/Emmylou Harris. If there is a better pairing of artists in the last few years, I haven't heard it. His sweet unpicked guitar and her beautiful rich voice go together about as well as peanut butter and chocolate. There is so much sweet country rock music on this disc that I can't pick a favorite song. Nice, sweet, uncomplicated great music.


7. "Taking The Long Way"-The Dixie Chicks. They're back and they are pissed. The Dixie Chicks sounded like they had something to prove and to me they proved it well. I don't give a rat's ass about politics. (I like Charlie Daniels, too). They can play and they can sing and they do. Awesome harmonies and and incredible talents. They get better and better.


8. "Under The Sun"-Lindsay Buckingham. My favorite member of Fleetwood Mac. He is quirky, funny, and heartbreaking as well. This may be his best album and I have all of his others. He writes from the heart and paints pictures with words like few can. Nice guy, too.


9."Once Again"-John Legend. I have been following his career since "Standing In The Shadows of Motown". He is Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and James Taylor rolled into a silk smooth delivery. The Al Green of this generation.


10. "Rockford"-Cheap Trick. Summertime fun stuff from one of the best American bands ever. When they are on and clicking (like the show I saw this summer), they can rock the house down. I thought this was one the best Cheap Trick albums ever. It sounds crisp and clean and nice to see that they still have fun live and in the studio.