This My Take thing has had me baffled. I've made several attempts in the past but they've never worked out. I'm hoping that this time things will be different.
Here I'd just like to introduce you to 15 of 30 of my favorite songs dealing with love, relationships and romance. The songs are in no particular order of importance because they are all great. Also, many of these songs are album cuts, and not hit singles that the average person would be familiar with. These songs range from simple to complex as love and relationships take on many shapes and colors. For those reasons, I hope that you'll give each of these songs a fair listen. I hope that you'll enjoy these songs as much as I do.
1) Patty Loveless - Timber I'm Falling In Love
You talk about falling head over heals in love? Nobody ever sang the feeling better than this lady does.
2) Jethro Tull - Wond'ring Aloud
This song reminds me so much of my late wife, when we first moved in together, and I still get choked up whenever I listen to it. Does anyone here think that Jethro Tull deserves to be in the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame?
3) Yes - Turn Of The Century
Yes's beautiful song Turn Of The Century based on the story of Pygmalion & Galatea -from the 1977 album Going For The One.
Yes is my favorite band so, of course, I couldn't do this My Take without including at least one song by these five great musicians. This song is pure heavanly magic! For obvious reasons, it's a song that started to remind me of my late wife shortly after she died.
4) Gordon Lightfoot - It's Worth Believin'
So warm and so romantic! If you've never heard the complete Gordon Lightfoot catalog from circa 1966 - 1980 than you're missing out on some of the best songwriting of that era.
5) Renaissance - Day of the Dreamer
Renaissance was once called the best kept secret in rock history. This classic 1970's lineup deserves to be in the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame simply because their albums and live performances were just that amazing! Day of the Dreamer is one of my all time favorite songs performed by one of my all time favorite bands!
6) Mary Chapin Carpenter - You Win Again
Now it's time for an abusive relationship song! I'm sure we've all found ourselves in this situation at least one time in our lives?
7) Steeleye Span - Lovely On The Water
I'm a sucker for traditional Celtic folk music and this timeless classic is as good as it will ever get!
Steeleye Span has had a long musical history going back to the late 1960's. Given the fact that Joan Baez was voted into the Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame last year, Steeleye Span's future induction should be a no-brainer. This band single handedly saved traditional British folk music from being thrown into the dustbin of history. Steeleye Span never sold many albums but they were very important!
8) The Clancy Bros. w/ Tommy Makem - Will Ye Go, Lassie Go ( Wild Mountain Thyme )
This is a famous traditional Irish folk song covered hundreds of bands including Joan Baez, The Strawbs and The Pogues. However, this version is my personal favorite.
The Clancy Bros. w/ Tommy Makem began their musical career back in the late 1950's and Liam Clancy and Tommy Makem both performed as solo artists well into the mid 2000's. These guys single handedly saved traditional Irish music from being memory holed to the same extent that Steeleye Span saved traditional British folk from extinction. For that reason, these guys absolutely deserve to be in the Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame!
9) Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road
The great Bruce Springsteen doing one of his finest performances! If you've never heard this masterpiece before then you're in for a real treat!
10) Blue Jays - Who Are You Now
Is anyone ready for a divorce song?
Blue Jays was a Moody Blues spin-off project by Justin Hayward and John Lodge. I was ecstatic to see that the Moody's were finally inducted into the Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame earlier this year. This honor was long awaited and much deserved.
After my wife died I listened to this song over and over again even though it's a divorce song. The melody just comforted me for some reason and some of the lyrics reminded me of times that I'd spent with her as well as the loss that I was going through. If I could go back in time for just 15 seconds and say one more thing to my wife before she died, it would be an offshoot from a line in this song. I only wish that I'd had the wisdom to say this one thing to my wife before she died:
"You are all there is to know about me."
11) Neil Young - Four Strong Winds
And now we move on to a long distance relationship song. Neil Young's cover of Ian Tyson's "Four Strong Winds" is totally classic!
12) Loreena McKennitt : Never-Ending Road
Loreena McKennitt is a strange ranger! I own all of her albums, but I just can't listen to any of them from beginning to end. The reason being is that she plays world music with some Celtic mixed in. However, on the rare occasion when she goes Celtic she makes it a breathtaking listening experience and that's why I'd advise anyone to check out this talented singer and artist. "Never-Ending Road" was actually composed by Loreena McKennitt. Such a beautiful song!
13) Neil Diamond - Holly Holy
In his day, Neil Diamond could make a simple love song sound Godly and bigger than life! This is shameless Goddess worship, but I absolutely love it!
14) John Denver - Darcy Farrow
Are you ready for a tragic love / suicide song?
I named my first cat Darcy after listening to this song. If "Darcy Farrow" doesn't tug at your heartstrings then nothing ever will!
15) Genesis - Afterglow
Phil Collins of Genesis wrote several songs dealing with his first divorce back in the late 1970's. The poor guy was both heartbroken and devastated. With "Afterglow" Phil Collins pours out his uninhabited emotions for his fans to hear and feel. This is a very powerful song!
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