by Gus Torrey
This little pet project of mine was crafted with one goal in mind: to unify. Now, what does such a broad goal entail? What does unity mean throughout one’s lifetime? Between one’s family? Across eras? Across artistry?
For me, this all started with my mom. Growing up in my house, one would never fail to experience the sweet sounds of music cascading from our speakers. Whether you were slicing pork tenderloin to Tom Petty, watching the birds fly by to the Doobie Brothers, or swimming to Steve Miller Band, you were always enjoying a unique auditory experience curated by my mom. As the years of my childhood flew by, others in my family began to adopt their own musical niches. My sister treated me to weekend seacliff drives set to the melodies of Fleetwood Mac and Billy Joel. My aunt and uncle flew in from Boston to fill the room with Jimi Hendrix. My grandma ensured that Don McLean’s “American Pie” and Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” were played during every family visit to Lake Tahoe. Even I, originating as a film enthusiast, pulled from the soundtracks of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy and Quentin Tarantino’s various films to join in on the fun.
I’m sure you can already make some sense of the wide array of artists that touched parts of my life thus far. This is part of the reason why I’ve loved contributing to TCU eleven40seven. When all is accounted for, the journal really is a celebration of the wide pool of artistry in which we are able to dive. So – in general – if one is to curate a musical experience, why should there be limits imposed on mixing eras? Give me a little bit of Elvis Presley with TOTO any day.
And why should Elvis Presley and TOTO find a home on the same playlist? Because music is a timeless journey which continually feeds into itself, inspiring new artists and sounds alike. Even the King of Rock and Roll himself can attribute his work to the influences of R&B and gospel artists of decades past. Without Chuck Berry, B.B. King, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, there is no Elvis Presley.
This musical seamlessness which I describe is what allows my “Classics” project to stand on its own two feet. Because there is such unity within the evolution of music throughout the decades, the playlist can be allowed to function. If you listen close enough, you will quickly notice that I have pinpointed the uniform sound which bridges each of the 110 featured songs. There are no breaks and the transitions are minimally abrupt. Half of the 20th century is represented, as are the musical tastes spanning many of my family ties. The latter is of special note because even though distance may separate my family, music can unify. For me, this is especially true when it is bridged together in a cohesive, curated experience partly inspired by the joy my family has brought me throughout my life.
Below, I have organized my “Classics” playlist in somewhat of a vinyl format. Dividing albums into “sides” of a phonograph record used to serve a very specific purpose: to fit the entire album onto one physical copy. For our purposes in 2021, this was the best way to consolidate a 7.5 hour playlist on our website. I hope you enjoy it, as I most certainly enjoyed creating it.
| Side A
1. Tusk – Fleetwood Mac 2. Twist and Shout – The Beatles 3. Uptown Girl – Billy Joel 4. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell 5. I Want You Back – The Jackson 5 6. Magic Carpet Ride – Steppenwolf 7. Burning Love – Elvis Presley 8. I’m a Believer – The Monkees 9. Our House – Madness 10. Dancing in the Moonlight – King Harvest 11. Take it Easy – Eagles 12. Stuck in the Middle With You – Stealers Wheel 13. I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty 14. Hotel California – Eagles 15. Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac 16. Layla – Derek & The Dominoes 17. All Along the Watchtower – Jimi Hendrix 18. Slow Ride – Foghat 19. Mary Jane’s Last Dance – Tom Petty 20. Fly Like an Eagle – Steve Miller Band 21. Take the Money and Run – Steve Miller Band 22. Jungle Love – Steve Miller Band 23. Crocodile Rock – Elton John 24. Hit Me With Your Best Shot – Pat Benatar 25. Hungry – Paul Revere & The Raiders 26. Black is Black – Los Bravos 27. Roxanne – The Police |
Side B
28. Paint It, Black – The Rolling Stones 29. We Didn’t Start the Fire – Billy Joel 30. Magic – Pilot 31. Centerfold – The J. Geils Band 32. Time Has Come Today – The Chambers Brothers 33. One of These Nights – Eagles 34. Don’t Stop Me Now – Queen 35. More Than a Feeling – Boston 36. Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd 37. Gimme Three Steps – Lynyrd Skynyrd 38. Long Cool Woman – The Hollies 39. Satisfaction – The Rolling Stones 40. Fire – Jimi Hendrix 41. My Sharona – The Knack 42. I’m Alright – Kenny Loggins 43. Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival 44. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown – Jim Croce 45. Movin’ Out – Billy Joel 46. Danger Zone – Kenny Loggins 47. Surrender – Cheap Trick 48. 867-5309 / Jenny – Tommy Tutone 49. Glory Days – Bruce Springsteen 50. Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield 51. Miss You – The Rolling Stones 52. Smooth – Santana, Rob Thomas 53. Jet Airliner – Steve Miller Band 54. Carry on Wayward Son – Kansas |
| Side C
55. Long Train Runnin’ – The Doobie Brothers 56. Free Ride – The Edgar Winter Group 57. Your Love – The Outfield 58. Hold the Line – TOTO 59. Here I Go Again – Whitesnake 60. Don’t Ask Me No Questions – Lynyrd Skynyrd 61. Go All the Way – Raspberries 62. Fox on the Run – Sweet 63. Spirit in the Sky – Norman Greenbaum 64. Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival 65. Good Thing – Paul Revere & The Raiders 66. Daydream Believer – The Monkees 67. The Longest Time – Billy Joel 68. Mr. Blue Sky – Electric Light Orchestra 69. Vienna – Billy Joel 70. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John 71. “Cheers” Theme – Gary Portnoy 72. Werewolves of London – Warren Zevon 73. That’s All – Genesis 74. Give a Little Bit – Supertramp 75. Hooked on a Feeling – Blue Swede, Björn Skifs 76. O-o-h Child – The Five Stairsteps 77. Dreams – Fleetwood Mac 78. Come and Get Your Love – Redbone 79. Down Under – Men At Work 80. Come on Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners 81. Rich Girl – Daryl Hall & John Oates 82. The Joker – Steve Miller Band |
Side D
83. Escape – Rupert Holmes 84. Wham Bang Shang-A-Lang – Silver 85. Brandy – Looking Glass 86. Sister Golden Hair – America 87. Sultans of Swing – Dire Straits 88. Doctor My Eyes – Jackson Browne 89. Don’t Stop – Fleetwood Mac 90. Reelin’ in the Years – Steely Dan 91. Jolene – Dolly Parton 92. Listen to the Music – The Doobie Brothers 93. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond 94. Killer Queen – Queen 95. Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen 96. Rocket Man – Elton John 97. Moonage Daydream – David Bowie 98. Tiny Dancer – Elton John 99. Runaway – Jefferson Starship 100. The Air That I Breathe – The Hollies 101. Piano Man – Billy Joel 102. Lake Shore Drive – Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah 103. Come a Little Bit Closer – Jay & The Americans 104. California Dreamin’ – The Mamas & The Papas 105. Right Down the Line – Gerry Rafferty 106. You Don’t Know How it Feels – Tom Petty 107. The Chain – Fleetwood Mac 108. Black Water – The Doobie Brothers 109. American Pie – Don McLean 110. Baba O’Riley – The Who |