I Will Light Your Way, originally uploaded by twoblueday.
A few days ago I mentioned my brother and his top 100 songs list. He reminded me in the interim that this notion emerged from conversations at his favorite watering hole in Peoria, The Wine Experience. When I visited him over the last few years, it became my favorite, too. I even played a gig there. Sadly, like unto most favorite spots, it has closed. I have not been back to Peoria since then, and when I go, late in September, I’ll have to see how my brother is adjusting.
Anyway, songs. No crooners or standards (unless some cool pop-oriented remake exists, perhaps like Ricky Lee Jones doing “My Funny Valentine”), no Beatles (I forget why). No imperatives in terms of what pop critics, or even other individuals, might put on their lists.
I was trying to think of my first entry, and I think I’m going to make it Jimi Hendrix doing “All along the Watchtower.” This version of the Bob Dylan song just grabs me by the scruff of the neck if it pops up on the radio or my iPod mix. I’m not a lyrics guy, but the words are highly evocative and impart an air of mystery, of some long-forgotten place and time perhaps. I think Hendrix was a master of the electric guitar, and his style was sui generis. Played a right-handed guitar left-handed (or was it the other way around). A whole new vocabulary of playing emerged with him, and, in some ways, died with him. Of course, all that happy horse hockey would mean nothing in this context if the song didn’t move me. I’m not an intellectual appreciator of music, it’s gotta get under my skin. So, this song is going to have its place on my Top 100, I’m not sure as #1, for that matter, I’m not at all sure I’m intending a pecking or ranking order as the list grows.
I’ve never tired of this number, and doubt if I ever will.
