Despite these crazy times, we are approach our annual countdown for my Top 20 songs that turn 30 years old this year.  Just like last year, starting on April 1 I will begin to countdown a song each day until my birthday on April 20 when I announce the #1 30-year old song.  Now this is the criteria of how I determine my lists: – No covers or re-releases of tunes.  The song had to be released originally, and in the US, during this countdown year.  So, that means even though Nothing Compares 2 U by Sinead O’Conner was one …..more →

And my #1 1989 is…”alright stop what you’re doing, cuz I’m about to ruin…” Yeah, come on, this song was the bomb back then, and it still is now. When you read how the track was created, it’s genius, the bass groove and funky beat, just awesome. And the lyrics are classic! I used to rap to this song every time it came on. It is undeniably my favorite song released in 1989, and my #1 song of my 30-years-old countdown – The Humpty Dance by Digital Underground!

And my #1 1979 song is a R&B and funk classic. It’s also a tune my daughter loves, which always helps. For some reason, I wasn’t able to hear the song for a long time, but when I did, I couldn’t get enough of it, so I didn’t stop till I got enough, hehe! Again, say what people will these days about MJ, but he and Quincy Jones wrote some of the best R&B pop songs ever, and this one is no exception. My #1 song that turned 40-years-old, from 1979, is Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough by Michael …..more →

It’s a shame this song didn’t get to the top of the list because I love it so much. The production, synth pads, and haunting vocals of Don Henley make this tune such a great track. It doesn’t hurt either that Bruce Hornsby is a co-writer and performer of this track that I had on my mix tape for a long time. The song coming in at #2 is The End of the Innocence by Don Henley.

It’s one of the most iconic 8-note piano riffs in rock and roll history, and when you hear it, you know exactly what it is. The song made a comeback thanks to the movie Risky Business, but it was originally released in 1979, and therefore makes it onto this list. The song still gets airplay today proving that people still love that Old Time Rock & Roll by Bob Segar, the #2 track on this list.

The last Tom Petty entry to this countdown is my favorite song off of Full Moon Fever and is a song I love to play to this day. It’s such a simple song with a simple message that it resonates with everyone. That was Petty’s gift as a songwriter, and not many have that kind of natural skill to make such simple lyrical songs so meaningful. I wish it was higher but as you will later understand, it could only go here, at #3 – I Won’t Back Down by Tom Petty.