Acclaimed Music Forums

Welcome to the October 2019 edition of Biggest Fan. Let me explain for those who only join now. It's about those songs that only got one vote in our recent All-Time Best Song Poll. There were over 13.000 of them! That's too much to get collectively into, but through this series we are going to introduce you to one of them every day. A randomly selected song, so you never know what you're gonna get.

There is also a game element, to make things more interactive. You can give a grade to each song, from 1 (for the worst of them) to 10 (the masterpieces). A 0 will be counted as a 1. Every 100 days I will calculate the average grades and post the current top 100. At the end of each year I'll post the whole list as is.

Some points of note:
- A topic for each song would be a little much, but all songs in one topic too. That's why I make monthly new topics for the entries of that month.
- There will be links to old topics in each new one, so you can easily go back. Once we have collected a decent amount of songs, I will also post a topic with all the songs listed and a link to their initial appearance.
- There is gonna be a Spotify playlist (see below). Each new song will be put atop of the playlist! If songs aren't on Spotify there will be a link to YouTube or any platform it's available on. I will contact the biggest fan through a message if I can't find the song anywhere.
- You can always still vote for each song, even months later. Just go to the right topic.
- You can always change your grade. Again, place it in the right topic.
- You don't have to vote for each song if you don't want to.
- I think this goes without saying but still: always name the artist and title of the song you vote for. I'm not going to guess for which song you vote.
- Comments on the song are more than welcome. Nobody is probably going to review them all, but if you have something to say, please do.
- I know some wanted to go faster. Two songs a day, 10 songs a week, something like that. I'm decided against this, because I wanted to keep it small. We can't deal with over 13.000 songs, so I'm not trying. I just want to give you all one small discovery (or re-discovery) for the day. We'll never get all these songs done before the next All Time Song poll rolls along, but we can have fun getting there.
- I'll try to get each new song up soon after awakening, so in most cases it should be here relatively early.
- Feel free to ask questions or make general comments about this poll if you think it could be better.

You can still vote for the songs of earlier months, but please so do that in it's own topic.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September

The playlist:

The next song ranks on AM at #1268, making it one of the higher ranked songs to show up in this game. It also continues our JamieW double bill with something completely different.

264. T-Bone Walker – Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad)
Year: 1947
Released as a single (B-side to I Know Your Wig Is Gone)
Biggest Fan: JamieW (#301)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!

Rob wrote: ↑Tue Oct 01, 2019 6:28 am264. T-Bone Walker – Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad)

8

What are the chances that a classic blues record from the 1940s came from someone else besides me?

264. T-Bone Walker – Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad)
6 - Good but a bit too slow for me.

Today one of only two songs from Joni Mitchell’s Blue not included on AM:

265. Joni Mitchell – My Old Man
Year: 1971
Album: Blue
Biggest Fan: Fred (#391)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!

Rob wrote: ↑Wed Oct 02, 2019 6:50 am265. Joni Mitchell – My Old Man

3

I don't get why people love this album. Must be about lyrics, because her voice is very grating and there's nothing much to the instrumentation.

Joni Mitchell – My Old Man

8

T-Bone Walker – Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad):6
Based on the ranking at AM this must be one of the great blues classics and listening to it I also get why it has a lot of jazz covers, as it sounds somewhat jazzy. Still, there is something lacking for me. Something of the rawness of my favorite blues. It feels too slow, somehow.

Joni Mitchell – My Old Man: 7
I can see why this isn't one of the Blue songs to rank at AM. The lyrics, while still very good, don't cut as deep as most of the other tracks, and the phrasing isn't as inventive. Other tracks also have stronger music backing. And still, this is a very good song. Mitchell's voice is as evocative as ever and there is clear feeling in this piece.

265. Joni Mitchell – My Old Man
6

264. T-Bone Walker – Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad): 5
265. Joni Mitchell – My Old Man: 7

Thanks!

Today’s song is bubbling on AM:

266. Ben Folds Five - Underground
Year: 1995
Album: Ben Folds Five
Biggest Fan: JohnnyBGoode (#742)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!

Somehow this one didn’t make my list (probably had enough Ben Folds songs already) but Underground is a 9 from me.

Rob wrote: ↑Thu Oct 03, 2019 6:58 am266. Ben Folds Five - Underground

4

Ben Folds Five - Underground: 7

No time for any thoughts, but 'fun'.

266. Ben Folds Five - Underground
5 - Didn't come together in a way I liked

With only one album, Derek & The Dominos have a small music output, but they already appear for the second time here:

267. Derek & The Dominos - Anyday
Year: 1970
Album: Layla & Other Assorted Love Songs
Biggest Fan: Red Ant (#789)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!

Derek & The Dominos - Anyday: 6

Like most Derek & the Dominos tracks I think something is missing to make it really special, but on the whole this is a fine song.

Rob wrote: ↑Fri Oct 04, 2019 8:00 am267. Derek & The Dominos - Anyday

4

Derek & The Dominos - Anyday

8

My typical score for a good album track on a great album.

267. Derek & The Dominos - Anyday - 7

A few words from the vinyl district:http://www.thevinyldistrict.com/storefr ... ove-songs/

But “Anyday,” with its thrilling verses and transcendentally inspired choruses, makes me forget all about “I Am Yours.” Once again Clapton and Whitlock take turns on the vocals, that is when they’re not singing together, and as for the guitar riff the song hinges on, it’s a miracle. This is one you’ll want to crank up to 11, even if the guitar solo isn’t all that. What makes it so great is that it’s working on all cylinders—Derek and the Dominos are in total lockstep, and every time that delirious chorus circles round you get to lose yourself in pure musical bliss. Clapton and Whitlock outdid themselves on this one.

268. Vonda Shepard – Rainy Days
Year: 2002
Album: Chinatown
Biggest Fan: Wezzo (#851)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!

Rob wrote: ↑Sat Oct 05, 2019 8:19 am268. Vonda Shepard – Rainy Days

4

Vonda Shepard – Rainy Days: 3

I understand and accept that not all songs here can be memorable and there have been a few that haven't stuck in the mind. Still, even with that in mind this one is bland. It feels like a million other songs, none of which has likely made an impact.

269. The White Stripes – Why Can’t You Be Nicer to Me
Year: 2000
Album: De Stijl
Biggest Fan: Ordinaryperson (#705)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!

Rob wrote: ↑Sun Oct 06, 2019 8:44 am269. The White Stripes – Why Can’t You Be Nicer to Me

5

Sounds like they listened to Zep.

The White Stripes – Why Can’t You Be Nicer to Me: 7

That typical White Stripes sound I have come to expect and love. That there are even better songs in their backlog is something I barely hold against this one.

I'll get up-to-date with the last couple of weeks of Biggest Fan soon but there's no way I can bypass a track from the finest White Stripes album (to my ears)!

I'm conscious that this may well be my most common score but Why Can't You Be Nicer to Me?, earns an 8, which is my baseline for most songs on De Stijl (Truth Doesn't Make a Noise would be a 10, A Boy's Best Friend 9).

The band (they make too huge a sound to be called a duo) already have their patented sound with Meg giving the drums a wallop on Jack's accented notes and the stop-start of both instruments but it doesn't feel formulaic, only as edgy in atmosphere as the lyrics. The electric violin at the end cuts through all the tension. While plenty of excellence lay ahead for Jack'n'Meg, they couldn't replicate this album's air of mystery.

267. Derek & The Dominos - Anyday - 5
268. Vonda Shepard – Rainy Days - 6
269. The White Stripes – Why Can’t You Be Nicer to Me - 6

270. Strangelove – The Sea of Black
Year: 1996
Album: Love and Other Demons
Biggest Fan: Spiritualized (#Unranked)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!

264. T-Bone Walker – Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad) - 5
265. Joni Mitchell – My Old Man - 6.5
266. Ben Folds Five - Underground - 5.5
267. Derek & The Dominos - Anyday - 5
268. Vonda Shepard – Rainy Days - 9.5 [from my list]
269. The White Stripes – Why Can’t You Be Nicer to Me - 6
270. Strangelove – The Sea of Black - 7

1 | T-Bone Walker | Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad) | 9
2 | Ben Folds Five | Underground | 8
3 | Joni Mitchell | My Old Man | 7
4 | The White Stripes | Why Can't You Be Nicer to Me | 7
5 | Derek & The Dominos | Anyday | 7
6 | Strangelove | The Sea of Black | 6
7 | Vonda Shepard | Rainy Days | 5

Strangelove – The Sea of Black: 7
A good track with good replay value, although with a bit more feel for atmosphere it might have been a masterpiece, but atmosphere is not really a key element of most brit-pop.

Rob wrote: ↑Mon Oct 07, 2019 6:30 am270. Strangelove – The Sea of Black

2

Terrible monotone singing, depressing, and WAY too long.

264. T-Bone Walker – Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad): 6
265. Joni Mitchell – My Old Man: 7
266. Ben Folds Five - Underground: 3
267. Derek & The Dominos - Anyday: 5
268. Vonda Shepard – Rainy Days: 5
269. The White Stripes – Why Can’t You Be Nicer to Me: 7
270. Strangelove – The Sea of Black: 7

270. Strangelove – The Sea of Black
8 - Hell yeah, monotone+depressing+long, my favourite!

266. Ben Folds Five - Underground: 7
267. Derek & The Dominos - Anyday: 7.25
268. Vonda Shepard – Rainy Days: 4.5
269. The White Stripes – Why Can’t You Be Nicer to Me: 7.25
270. Strangelove – The Sea of Black: 7

Thanks!

Fun fact: I was listening to Opeth’s new album when Random.org drew this song for us:

271. Opeth – Epilogue
Year: 1998
Album: My Arms, Your Hearse
Biggest Fan: Depeche Mode (#191)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!

Opeth – Epilogue: 7

Opeth is an albums band and they are not known for stand-alone songs. The title of this one already hints that this is going to be the case here. That's why I listened to it both on it's own and in context of the album. It works better, the latter way, as a somewhat tranquil coda after a huge tumultuous wave of sound. On it's own it is just a good instrumental that never elevates itself above more of the same. Still, this is a song by instrumental masters and there is some magic here, even in this form. It also doesn't contain the grunting vocals of other tracks on the album, which is a huge plus.

264. T-Bone Walker – Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad)
Of course it's excellent. A magnificent blues and a superb voice. 8/10

265. Joni Mitchell – My Old Man
My feminine Dylan 4/10

266. Ben Folds Five - Underground
Well, this thing is funny, I don't know if they're trying to be serious or not, but it's very catchy anyway. 7/10

267. Derek & The Dominos - Anyday
Another classic album that leaves me totally cold. 4.5/10

268. Vonda Shepard – Rainy Days
5/10

269. The White Stripes – Why Can’t You Be Nicer to Me
That's so good! 8/10

270. Strangelove – The Sea of Black
Not bad... not bad at all! 6.5/10

271. Opeth – Epilogue
4.5/10

Rob wrote: ↑Tue Oct 08, 2019 6:49 am271. Opeth – Epilogue

3

264. T-Bone Walker – Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad) (6)
265. Joni Mitchell – My Old Man (2) I really don't like Joni Mitchell.
266. Ben Folds Five - Underground (7)
267. Derek & The Dominos - Anyday (3)
268. Vonda Shepard – Rainy Days (5)
269. The White Stripes – Why Can’t You Be Nicer to Me (7)
270. Strangelove – The Sea of Black (10) - felt like ages before one of my nominations turned up again Strangelove were a rather unknown brit-pop band heavily influenced by the Smiths. Epic,bleak, dramatic, sprawling, The Sea of Black features heavily on my rotations and is a brilliant closer for their masterpiece "Love & Other Demons" which I strongly encourage my fellow forumers to listen to !
271. Opeth – Epilogue (6)

264. T-Bone Walker – Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad)
Year: 1947
Released as a single (B-side to I Know Your Wig Is Gone)
7
265. Joni Mitchell – My Old Man
Year: 1971
Album: Blue
7
266. Ben Folds Five - Underground
Year: 1995
Album: Ben Folds Five
Bouncy, fun, hooky song. Love the falsetto.
8

264. T-Bone Walker – Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad) 6 (Was going to be 7 until the annoying horn came blaring in towards the end)
265. Joni Mitchell – My Old Man 4
266. Ben Folds Five - Underground 5.5
267. Derek & The Dominos - Anyday 5
268. Vonda Shepard – Rainy Days 2
269. The White Stripes – Why Can’t You Be Nicer to Me 7.5
270. Strangelove – The Sea of Black 5
271. Opeth – Epilogue 6

The next song ranks on AM at #9696

272. Q-Tip – Vivrant Thing
Year: 1999
Album: Amplified
Biggest Fan: Slick (#812)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!

Rob wrote: ↑Wed Oct 09, 2019 6:41 am272. Q-Tip – Vivrant Thing

4

Q-Tip – Vivrant Thing: 7
A very propulsive rap song.

264. T-Bone Walker – Call It Stormy Monday (But Tuesday Is Just As Bad) 6
265. Joni Mitchell – My Old Man 6.5

271. Opeth – Epilogue 6.5
272. Q-Tip – Vivrant Thing 6

Thanks!

And then… along comes Hymie, after a devastatingly long absence (but what happened to Zombeels?). This song ranks on AM at #6998:

273. The Association – Along Comes Mary
Year: 1966
Album: And then… Along Comes the Association
Biggest Fan: Hymie (#727)

Don’t forget you can always vote for earlier songs or change your vote!

The Association - Along Comes Mary 7.5 very pleasant Beatlesesque song
Q-Tip - Vivrant Thing 5.5
Opeth -Epilogue 6 I would have preferred to hear the story first (rather than just the epilogue)
Strangelove - The sea of Black 7 a good song that maybe drags a little too much in the end
Vonda Shepard - Rainy Day 7
Derek & the Dominos - Anyday 7.5
Ben Folds Five - Underground 8 a very creative song that I didn't know