cryptique

You raise a fair point, sir. Given that the history of recorded music is limited to the last hundred years or so, I see no reason to limit this thread to "rock-n-roll." However, I do wish to confine it to "songs," and further to songs with lyrics that are sung. So, if you really love something Robert Johnson recorded many decades ago, that's fair game. Glenn Gould playing the Goldberg Variations? No. Astrud Gilberto singing "The Girl From Ipanema"? Go for it. (And yes, I'd noticed that the thread had strayed away from the question I initially posed, but not so horribly as to worry. Van Mor

Nothing against Otis, but that lead vocal by David Ruffin can't be beat. I have to give the nod to the Temptations version, string section and all. Nice choice. I'd be lying if I said I haven't re-thought my original pick a few times already.

I would put "My Girl" up in my top 5, probably. For me, the reason it's not # 1 is the string arrangement. I would love to hear that same recording with the strings stripped out in favor of a guitar solo, or even just a single violin playing the same part -- the string section is just too much. In the end, that's a pretty minor complaint, though. That's definitely one of the great records of all time.

Jon Brion - Meaningless

Billie Holiday's version, I assume?

Dylan scores three quick entries. I should probably have been a bit more explicit ... when I said "song," I meant "recording of a song." So, not necessarily the lyrics and melody, but the whole package, as recorded by a particular artist. (I'll fix my initial post to reflect that.) Are you Dylan fans voting for Dylan's recordings of those songs? Or do you prefer someone else's? What's the one recording you prize above all others?

Not just in terms of songwriting -- this is all about THE RECORDED SONG -- the whole package, as represented by a single recording by a specific artist. Here's my pick: Dion - "Runaround Sue" This record has everything you need ... great vocals (lead and backing), danceable beat, punchy instrumentation, saxophone solo ... I defy you to name a better record. ...and that's the point. What do you think is better? ONE SONG ONLY, AS RECORDED BY ONE ARTIST -- you have to pick your ultimate, absolute favorite record. No hedging by posting a list. Take a stand, make a decision!

Minneola Tangelo Pomelo

Does this have anything to do with Beandip?

We'll be there!

There's this. Lighting designers who think it's somehow "artistic" to keep switching up the colors of the lights during a song should be shot.

Is your avatar Samantha Brown? I envy her job. Talk about a charmed life.

Happy Birthday to both a' youse!

Congress occasionally gets testy and threatens to remove those exemptions. I think they've mostly been idle threats, but maybe something like this (combined with a Democratic congress) could prod them into real action. Yeah, I'm just dreaming here. But still.

I sleep on my side, but not curled up catlike. Also, I roll to the other side about every half hour. How Melissa gets any sleep at all is beyond me.

According to this page, for 2006 it was $79.95 for MLB.tv for the full season, and if you bought the "All Access" package that included GameDay Audio (which I'm assuming are audio-only feeds), it was $99.95. They'll probably goose the prices a bit for 2007, but that should give you an idea.

Fixed it for you.

Yeah, I forgot about Izturis. He and Cede

Or for The Reaper himself, at any rate.

The Plame thing, egregious as it was, is small potatoes, and barely even registers among the truly fucked-up and evil things that Cheney has done, if he even was involved with that at all (though I suspect he was).

So, I see the Cubs signed Cliff Floyd. That could be kind of a scary lineup this year. I still don't think they have enough decent pitching, though. What's their batting order going to be? Something like this? 1. Alfonso Soriano CF 2. Mark DeRosa 2B 3. Derrek Lee 1B 4. Aramis Ramirez 3B 5. Cliff Floyd LF 6. Michael Barrett C 7. Jacque Jones RF 8. Ronny Cede

When I read the thread title my first thought was "What's a 'silent but deadly' version?"

The Colts didn't move to Indiana until 1984. What, people aren't supposed to keep on cheering for their favorite teams when a new one moves in next door? I'm guessing the drunk guy was too young to remember the Colts playing in Baltimore.

That happened to me this morning, but it's the first time I've seen it in a while.

And what days those were, eh? Those heady Crystal Pepsi days...