I was listening to the radio today and thinking about the fact that some really great songs, sometimes even by artists who get frequent radio airplay, rarely (if ever) get played on the radio. Meanwhile, some really awful songs get played ALL THE TIME. This is of course just my personal opinion, and really just my personal opinion right at this moment. My taste in music changes subtly pretty much every day. So here it is...ten songs that don't get nearly enough credit.
10. Walk on the Wild Side by Lou Reed: Now, I include this as my number 10 because I know that most folks my age have NEVER heard this song. It plays fairly frequently on my local classic rock station, but I hadn't heard it until I started listening to that station. This song is great. Lou Reed's voice is effortlessly charming and sexy, and I love the line about "and the colored girls sing doo doo doo..." Adorable.
9. Hats off to Larry by Del Shannon: I have no idea why, but I love this song with all my heart. I have NEVER heard it on the radio, and I can't for the life of me figure out why. I love falsetto, and this song uses it perfectly. Not too much (*cough cough Earth Wind and Fire cough cough*) but just enough.
8. Two Faces Have I by Lou Christie: Ok, I know I just criticized Earth Wind and Fire for too much falsetto, but for some reason I find this song adorable and it makes me smile every single time I hear it. So sue me. Another one I've never heard on the radio, and I think deserves more credit than it gets.
7. And When I Die by Blood Sweat and Tears: I grew up loving this song. I would make my dad play it over and over and over as a child, and to this day I think it is way better than Spinning Wheel. And although I've seen Chicago in concert and I recognize that they are a more comercially appealing band, I prefer BS&T hands down.
6. And Your Bird Can Sing by the Beatles: I truly believe this song would have been a huge hit had it not had the misfortune of being recorded on the album Revolver. With such hits as Eleanor Rigby and Yellow Submarine, this one tends to get lost in the shuffle a bit. Is it better than those songs? Well, I'd argue it's better (albeit less catchy and fun) than Yellow Submarine, but regardless, this song doesn't get the credit it deserves.
5. Being Cool by Kimya Dawson: Kimya Dawson did the music for Juno, and is (rightly so) not a big name star. Her music is very simple, and definitely not the average person's cup of tea. This song is really lovely though, and it's got some lines in it that just really hit hard.
4. Unrequited by Ani Difranco: I think just about everything by Ani Difranco is underrated. She's a self-made superstar, so she isn't well known by the majority of the population...she mostly appeals to feminists and lesbians...lol. But this song is one that I think just about anyone can relate to. It's from her 20th(?) album, and she has clearly really mastered her own voice. She has been called the next Bob Dylan, and I'd say that's not too inaccurate.
3. And So it Goes by Billy Joel: Now I am aware Billy Joel is NOT underrated, but this song sure is. I have never heard it on the radio, and to me, this is almost certainly the most beautiful song he's ever written. Maybe not the BEST song, but the most beautiful for sure.
2. Spill the Wine by Eric Burdon and War: Now, I need to qualify this by saying that this song is underrated because of the studio recording of it. The radio version is great no doubt, but the live version here is AMAZING. Burdon's energy and charm really just make this performance, and I love the fro on that flute player.
1. Dreidel by Don Mclean: This song is absolute perfection in my book, easily rivaling American Pie, and in some ways also topping Mclean's other big hit, Vincent (Starry Starry Night). From the great lyrics to the awesome tempo changes, this song is tops in my book. Get it? Dreidel? Tops? 
So that's my list for now. Thrown together rather haphazardly as I'm pressed for time. I may update it and rework it when I have more time for it, because some of those are a little too much of my own personal taste, and not necessarily things I expect others to really "get". Hope I introduced at least a couple of you to at least a couple songs you either didn't know, or had forgotten about.
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Hooks
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Sep 16 @ 5:30PM
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Great Blog! 
Being a musician I have quite an eclectic collection of music, and have often wonered why so many great songs, and musicians never got the airplay they deserved.
Recently I have been going back and getting into Eva Cassidy. Her story is such a sad one that, while she was alive she never recieved much attention. Fortunately there were friends that recognized her great talent, and recorded it. Eva died in 1996 from cancer at the young age of 33. After her death a couple of cds were released. One of these titled "Songbird" wound up in the hands of a BBC radio 2 dj, who began to champion her music in Europe. In 2000 over a million copies were sold. As it gained popularity there, it slowly made it's way back to her home here in the US. Kristi Yamaguchi skated to one of the songs, movies started to use her work, but most still don't know her. Her acoustic versions of "At Last" & "Over The Rainbow" are incredible! She wrote very few songs, but her arrangements, and performances of pop, jazz, traditional, and blues covers are outstanding! I'm going to link to her music that you can stream, I'm not sure if you can play without registering for sure, but if you can't it is a free site. Eva Cassidy Since I'm a blues guy  I'll recommend you check out her doing "Blues In The Night" too!
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