Top 10 CDs on Jim & Sherry’s IMachines 2013

1 Willie Nile  – American Ride– he’s been making great music since the 80s, and this pledgemusic funded one finds him at the top of his game

2 The Kinks –  Kinda Kinks– In one of my favorite songs from last year, Dr. Pants’ “The Cassette Song”, David Broyles claims the first five Kinks albums are their best, and as a fan of singer-songwriter  Ray Davies, and someone who only owned a “best of ” their early days, I had to check it out. Played a lot of Kinks this year.

3 Jon Emery Sings the Songs of Gene Clark– Gene Clark is one of my favorite singers and songwriters, and Jon Emery does him complete justice on this beautiful album.

4 Kacey Musgraves –  Same Trailer Different Park– Yes, she’s popular in the Country world, but her songs are among the best. Texas woman from just up the road from us.

5 Craig Marshall –  Hiding In The Doorway– former popmeister Marshall makes a move toward singer-songwriter with terrific, well defined results. He’s still Pop, his country is like Elvis Costello singing country, but he’s found a sound that suits him well. 

6 Ron Sexsmith –  Long Player Late Bloomer underrated pop songwriter with a couple songs on this CD that continually break my heart. Lovely music.

7 John Fogerty – Wrote a Song for Everyone– I didn’t really expect to like this album. Those songs are so ingrained in my head and heart that I wasn’t sure I needed to hear duets of them 40 years later. But Fogerty hasn’t sounded so alive in years, at least five or six of the songs are redefined and reenergized, Miranda Lambert does the best “Wrote A Song For Everyone” ever, Fogerty has two new songs that are also his best in years, and nobody seems to have phoned anything in. And the songs are as great as ever.

8 Grateful Dead – Live Rarities– Most of what I like on here is a lot from 71-73, my favorite Dead period. Also released was Europe ’72, part two, including a beautiful “Looks Like Rain”.

9 The Byrds – The Byrds [BOX SET] [Disc 1] – I have no idea how this CD got this much play, except that I still love the Byrds and play them a lot. More than I thought, apparently.

10 Ian Hunter – When I’m President – 70+ year old Ian Hunter continues to make great, rocking albums

Almost in the top 10 and worth mentioning:

Chris Wall – El Western Motel,  Willie Nelson – Country Music,  Amanda Shires – Down Fell the Doves,  Jason Isbell – Southeastern

Top 21 Most Played Songs on Jim & Sherry’s ITunes, IPods, IPhones, etc 2013

1 When I’m President Ian Hunter When I’m President
2 Follow Your Arrow Kacey Musgraves Same Trailer Different Park
3 This is Our Time Willie Nile American Ride
4 Get In Line Ron Sexsmith Long Player Late Bloomer
5 Faith and Gasoline Hilary Claire Adamson
6 Silver Lining Kacey Musgraves Same Trailer Different Park
7 Tried So Hard Jon Emery Sings the Songs of Gene Clark
8 Long Emotional Ride Graham Parker Three Chords Good
9 Late Bloomer Ron Sexsmith Long Player Late Bloomer
10 Wasted and Rollin Amanda Shires Down Fell the Doves
11 One Guitar V2.0 Willie Nile American Ride
12 Changing Heart Jon Emery Sings the Songs of Gene Clark
13 Paint It, Black The Coal Porters Find The One
14 Wrote a Song For Everyone John Fogerty; Miranda Lambert Wrote a Song for Everyone
15 As The Story Goes Craig Marshall Hiding In The Doorway
16 A Long Way From Home The Kinks Lola vs Powerman
17 Its Gonna Be Alright Gerry and the Pacemakers
18 Tell Me What’s Wrong Ron Flynt Tell Me What’s Wrong – Single
19 Hold On The Biters All Chewed Up
20 Poor Man John Wort Hannam Toronto Bound
21 Company of Friends Danny Schmidt Little Grey Sheep

Your questions preemptively answered:

1. Why 21 songs? Fits on one CD

2. Gerry and the Pacemakers? I’ll bet you didn’t know they could rock this hard. Or maybe even rock. We sure didn’t.

3. Since you use shuffle play so much, why does this list matter? These are the songs that we went to again and again, maybe to play for each other, maybe to play for friends, maybe to put in our current “top 40 or so” playlist to listen. The list of bands played reflects our shuffle listening, but the songs and albums almost always reflect what’s new (to us).

4. Who are the Biters?  We have no idea. Found both them and the Gerry & the Pacemaker’s tune through Tom Petty’s radio show on satellite radio.

5. Why is that great Ron Flynt single at the bottom of the charts? Give us a break, it didn’t come out until November.

6. Isn’t Kacey  Musgraves, like, popular? Yes, she is, giving hope to popular song. Here at WJIM (or WSBP, depending on the time of day), we don’t play a song because it’s popular or not popular (how would we even know?) but because we think it’s a good song.