1. Da Doo Ron Ron – The Crystals – born to a full-blooded Native American mother and an African-American father, lead singer Delores “LA La” Brooks didn’t only sing this, she also sang “Then He Kissed Me” so down into history she goes and I’ve heard many versions, but this is both detailed and far away with the definition of a hook to take you there, The ineluctable just a nonsense rhyme- A+
2. Wheels Off – Old 97’s – the line where she makes him feel like a God is good, the one where he asks for some Jameson asks for some rocks is better – A
3. Da Doo Ron Ron – Darlene Love – EDM version, thankfully she doesn’t play it live – C-
4. Ain’t That Peculiar – Marvin gaye – Inspired use of an obtuse adjective – A
5. I’ll Be Doggone – Marvin Gaye – Note the Merseybeat riff and note the rhyme (one of those is pure Smokey who co-wrote it)- A
6. Your Graduation – Modern Baseball – Made them stars – A
7. Faces In the Crowd – Panda Bear – Disjointed jazz imagined (though not sounding) jigsaw puzzle and it comes together once the voice comes in- B+
8. Barrier Reef – Old 97’s – Impotence has never been more fun – A
9. 19th Nervous Breakdown – The rolling Stones – If you’ve ever played it, the best thing about the song is the way the opening line trips (haha) off your tongue: “you’re the kinda person you meet at certain dismal dull affairs…”
10. You Can’t Always Get What You want – The Rolling Stones – Remains the Stones standard bearer, after this they could do anything they wanted – A+
