Here’s an obsessive task we might be suited to complete for the rock nerd community at large: Can we complete a rock ‘n roll timeline in song titles, beginning from 1954 (ie, the release of Elvis Presley’s “That’s All Right” b/w “Blue Moon of Kentucky”)? In other words, how many song titles including a specific year from 1954 to now can we list?
We’re talking songs with a year from 1954 to the present right in the title, not buried in the lyrics. There’s no credit for song titles with years already cited, but you can feel good about yourself for providing an additional option for whatever use future rock nerds might have.
Partial credit will be given to song titles specifying a particular decade from the 1950s to our present decade.
Townspeople will be welcome to revisit this thread in the year 2525 to gain credit for a song title that is not eligible today.
Filling in rock ‘n roll songs with titles involving dates from 1954 to even 2000 is likely an impossible task, but how many times have you heard that before?
Can I just say, first, that that’s about what I always figured Zager and Evans looked like?
Of course you can say that!
1985 by Paul McCartney and Wings
A couple of em by the Stooges 1969 and 1970.
Indeed! I should have mentioned: in the interest of sharing the nerdiness, we should try to limit ourselves to one date-based song title per comment.
I think I just did.
December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night) – The Four Seasons
Bob Dylan, “I’m Not There (1956).”
Jimi Hendrix, “1983 (A Merman I Should Turn to Be)”
1999 by Prince
1977, the B-side to The Clash’s White Riot.
David Bowie, “1984.”
“Disco 2000” by Pulp
It’s just outside the arbitrary endpoints of this survey, but 1952 Vincent Black Lightning by Richard Thompson.
Robyn Hitchcock, “1974.”
1985, Manic Street Preachers
James Brown, “Think ’73.”
2001, Gilberto Gil
We’ll allow this as long as someone can cite a songs with 1953-1955 in the title.
1979 smashing pupkins
Early 1970 by Ringo Starr and 1959 by Patti Smith. Also, I Wish It Could be 1965 Again by the Barracudas.
Great ones, Frank, and welcome to the fray!
I’m not proud, but 1971 by James Blunt.
The Rutles, “Back in ’64.”
I don’t think we can go back to 1921 by the Who.
No, and the first Townsperson who tries to slip in that mining disaster song by The Bee Gees will feel the sharp talons of The Eagle!
Against The 70’s by Mike Watt
Blur – “1992”
“April 29, 1992 (Miami)” by Sublime – a band that I surprisingly do not hate.
If I may weigh in again, Saturday Mornings in 1962 by Rickie Lee Jones and the Stones’ 2000 Man.
1975 by Gene Clark
Keep ’em coming, Frank. You and fellow Townspeople are off to a fantastic start at completing this once-thought impossible task!
James Brown, “Sex Machine ’76”
I’m enjoying the fact that perhaps the most obvious one, by a diminutive Minnesotan partial to purple, has not been used yet.
I was going to post it, but then I held off in hopes of packaging it with date-citing songs by ELO and ZZ Top.
THIS is a bad trend: citing the cheapo [Insert Year] remix edition. However, since the rules did not state anything against it and since it may be the only way we can complete this task I will allow it. Well played, misterioso!
If it’s 1999, I responded to something else with it earlier.
The Beach Boys — Disney Girls (1957)
This is sometimes listed as only Disney Girls, but I think they listed it the right way on Surf’s Up.
Thus totally ruining the chance for a discussion of the great, great Bryan “Summer of ’69” Adams.
Ramones – Planet Earth 1988
Jackie Greene — 1961
Actually — not a bad song — came out in 2010 on the album Till the Light Comes.
Bryan Adams – Summer of ’69
1974 — Ryan Adams
A rocking little number off 2003’s Rock N Roll album — celebrating the year of his birth — “. . . just like the year I born — nineteen seventy four . . . “
We’ve already covered 1965, but ’65 Love Affair by Paul Davis came to mind and now no amount of bashing my head against the wall is going to help shake that chorus loose from my skull.
Someone help me here–is the ’68’ in The Alarm’s “68 Guns” a reference to 1968? Cripes, I detest those fist-pumping phonies.
My last one —
2003 — Nina Gordon (formerly of Veruca Salt)
Off her first solo album 2000’s “Tonight and the Rest of My Life”
A quick glance at the lyrics made me think not. A shared dislike for that band confirmed this decision.
1984 by Van Halen.
TB
Also “Summer Of ’77” by Nada Surf.
Sorry, I’m wrong – the song is 1973!
I bet you were a little happy to know that you were wrong, although not so happy as those of us who had no idea you were wrong, excluding those of us who live for donning the Pince Nez, that is.
Gotta love the self-Pince Nez.
Mr. Mod,
How come we don’t get complaints from you regarding Zager and Evans’ Bullfighting Music?
We used to laugh at that song title — every summer should be the summer of 69!
What’s there to complain about – or more accurately, who is there to complain to? Don’t we all agree that the song blows? My mission, re: Bullfighting Music, is to get some of you to hear the same thing when you listen to Love’s supposed masterpiece.
Ok by me. Doesn’t make me want to punch them any less, though.
“1964” by Too Much Joy
“Bird ’65” by The Trashmen
“68 Nova SS” by Scruffy the Cat.
I am trying SO hard not to have this song get lodged into my brain….damn you!
Since that’s allowed, we can strike 1990 off with a two-fer of Bowie’s “Fame ’90” and sudden, shocking new Rock Town Hall Favo(u)rite Son George Michael’s “Freedom! ’90”.
I trust that, at some point, we’ll get a recap of the years covered and those still needing representation?
Meanwhile, who has the guts to drag the old RTH “Critical Upgrade” feature out of the mothballs for a Critical Upgrade: George Michael post, possibly incorporating some of the points made in the discussion around Duran Duran’s influence on post-’83 rock?
Finally, it’s a shame that Hendrix has 1983 taken, as noted above by misterioso. Not because of the song itself (which I’m a big fan of, as noted several times previously), but because it would have been perfect if we finished this list with every year but ’83 covered, which would require an all-star Townsperson team-up to write and record a song called “1983 (The Year Rock Died)”.
Veruca Salt also had “Spiderman ’79”, though I think ’79 has already been accounted for.
We’re taking remixes? That’s lame. I’m filled with self loathing as I say Strutter ’78 by KISS
I can’t resist helping out with probably the cheapest of super-cheapo song title for 1989: Stars on 45′ “Stars on ’89 Remix,” their Stars on 45 remix of Beatles songs, otherwise known as the demos for the Vegas extravaganza The Beatles’ Love, or whatever that Cirque du Soleil thing was called.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stars_on_45_Medley#1989_Remix
I’m not sure that I’ve found a YouTube audio of the ’89 remix, but I did have the displeasure of stumbling across this horrifying “live” performance from 1983:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6mxMjs1iNo&playnext=1&list=PL4FDAD0F6D14988BC&index=4
Here are the open years, as of the speed of my typing:
53
54
55
58
60
66
67
71
72
80
81
82
86
87
91
93
94
95
96
97
98
02
04
05
06
07
08
09
10
“66” by Afghan Whigs
Public Image Ltd: “1981”
The Anderson Council – “Never Stop being ’67”
Out Hud has a song called 2005: A Face Odyssey.
On the Tranceport album there’s a track by Binary Finary called 1998 [Original Mix/PVD Mix].
On Mr. Music Head Adrian Belew has a track called 1967.
Beck- Whiskeyclone, Hotel City 1997
This is impressive!
All the years I had come up with have already been spoken for, alas. My only offering at this point is in reference to the future: “2080” by Yeasayer on “All Hour Cymbals.”
I’ll keep checking the stacks…
1998 by Rancid – I guess 1977 had already been taken.
XTC – Shore Leave Ornithology (Another 1950) from the “Explode Together” compilation.
Whoops, ok, four years too early.
Hey man, the only thing you could have done cooler (in my book, at least) than to suggest that pre-rock/Charlie Parker (?) entry would have been to have credited it to the original vinyl Mr. Partridge album:)
We’re getting there! Here’s what’s left:
53
54
55
58
60
71
72
80
82
86
87
91
93
94
95
96
02
04
06
07
08
09
10
Tom T. Hall – “Kentucky Feb. 27, ’71”
Randy Travis – “1982”
1972, Josh Rouse
1994, Loudon Wainwright III
Born Late, 58 – Mott the Hoople
(cant play Queen’s ’39)
The ’70s art OFF the board! (I would have thought the ’60s would go first, but 1960 has yet to be cited in a song title.)
I want to know if k waited until the 58th comment to post Born Late ’58?
I knew Explode Together was a compilation of sorts, but couldn’t get off my butt to look at my vinyl. Was thinking 3D EP, but wasn’t sure.
If you want to go back to 1950, could also throw in 1952 Vincent Black Lightning. That only leaves 1951.
2002
Golden Smog has a song called 5-22-02. The 02 being 2002
2006
The Pernice Brothers – Grudge Fuck 2006
1986
Death Cab For Cutie – Expo ’86
Can cliff run the table? This is incredible!
Digging thru the my punk lp’s. They generally write about the how pissed off they are in Year (X)
1982
Abrasive Wheels – 1982 ( I forgot about this one).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OLTUV-UsoM
Nine-ty Five by Dolly Parton?
(2010) – Bad Religion – Ten in 2010
(2004) – Reuben Studdard – Sorry 2004
The one I keep wanting to add is Spark’s “It ain’t I918”. I’m sooo close to being relevant to this topic.
(1960) – America – 1960
(1991) – The Membranes – Time Warp 1991
(1987) – Robert Fripp – 1987
(1980) – Gil Scott-Heron – 1980
I think we need to reset the list ’cause I’m starting to repeat myself.
HE COULD GO! ALL! THE! WAY! The ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s are off the board!
cliff, here’s where we stand after your spectacular run:
53
54
55
93
95
96
97
98
05
07
08
09
Come on, Townspeeps, we can do it!
I’ll get to work on that “1983 (The Year Rock Died)” number when I see E. Pluribus over the holidays.
Ol’ 55 by Tom Waits.
1998 was already taken by plasticsun
(1993) Jamiroquai – Revolution 1993
(1954) Captain & Tennille – 1954 Boogie Woogie (uggh)
We can do it! Remember, 1953 is a bonus date that’s only on the board to qualify that Richard Thompson song about Gene Vincent and 1952. There must be some lame Britpop remix to cover one of the remaining dates in the ’50s, something like a last-ditch Jesus Jones effort.
53
95
96
97
98
05
07
08
09
Pince nez: The song 1952 Vincent Black Lightning is about a motorcycle, not Gene Vincent.
(1953) – The Fall – Midwatch 1953
a rather forgettable number from Mark E
Shit! You sure it’s not also about that beret he started wearing?
The ’50s are OFF the board, thanks to cliff sovinsanity. This Townsman deserves a day of thanks and praise. PLEASE do your part in supporting his efforts to complete this Herculean task. The Rock World will one day thank us, but much of the thanks must go directly to cliff.
(1995) Julian Cope – 1995
from the underrated 20 Mothers
(1996) Marilyn Manson – 1996
from the utterly bombastic Antichrist Superstar
(1998) – R. Stevie Moore – 1998 List
from the truly out there Comeback Special
(2005) – Dalida – L’an 2005
par la chanteuse suprème des années 50 et 60
OK I lied — I’m back with one more.
1997 — 1997 by Mason Jennings — a Minnesota song.
Cliff is rocking it!
Check this out! Recently I overheard someone saying, “Rock Town Hall thinks it’s the best, but the fact of the matter is, it’s not.”
I say, “Fuck them! You people ARE the best. Hands down.”
07
08
09
(2007) Los Campenisos! – 2007, The Year Punk Broke My Heart
bonus track to their 2008 lp Hold on Now, Youngster
(2008) Brain Failure – 2008
Beijing’s own ska/punk outfit.
(2009) Loudon Wainright III – Halloween 2009
from his latest Songs for the New Depression
Owwww, my brain hurts !!!!!!! partial credit goes to emusic, itunes, amazon for these last few.
With a HUGE effort by cliff sovinsanity, WE DID IT! As a show of thanks, please watch the following video and imagine a montage of our joint effort.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfHnzYEHAow