For physical and mental reasons, I hope I never have to go through another year like last year!
I have to think that everybody was affected by the pandemic situation in some manner.
It certainly had an impact on the weekly Phil’s Faves Lists which, therefore, impacted the Philby year end list as well.
I treat my weekly shows as if I am the music programmer at my own radio station.
From those shows, I construct my weekly Fave Song lists, just like in the radio days, when almost every station had a music guide of what songs they played.
A song cannot appear on my year end list without having been played on one of my shows.
Since the station stopped broadcasting all shows in March except for a classical feed, and since I wouldn’t have any idea when or if, I could return to my show, I would have to resort to a backlog of songs that were played but hadn’t made my weekly lists yet.
Those same lists then get analyzed for my year end list.
Would I have enough songs to make a year end list?
As it turns out, it wasn’t a problem at all!
I even had enough songs to carry through the first quarter of 2021 and I could have continued!
So, here we are.
I like to think that the songs I select are a piece of someone’s heart, or soul, if you will.
They certainly are much more than a song!
My putting them together in this list is more an effort to rank how I, as well as other listeners, reacted to the songs.
The songs cover such a variety of styles, it would be impossible to say that one is better than another. But where I felt that someone exceeded at what they did on their project, I gave them a special award.
Those awards are truly mine!
I had fun assigning them, and I hope you will enjoy my serious yet somewhat playful categories.
This makes the list, in a sense, it’s own piece of art. It makes it a fresh and breathing list!
There are 38 first time song winners!
95 of the tracks are represented, and I tried to find them all! I didn’t time it out, but I’m sure it would take 5 to 6 hours to explore the songs on it that have links.
Regardless, this will be a list for further exploration!
Since I probably spent plenty of time even more isolated than usual, I have to think that this year’s Philby Song Winners means even more to me than other years!
So here they are!
This year’s songs of brilliant musical achievement!!!
1. Bottomless Heart—The Ragbirds (The Threshold and The Hearth) [Best Song][Best World Song][Best Spontaneous Combustion Song]
2. We’ve Got Hate on the Run—Tosha Owens (Detroit Strong) (Single) [Best Female Vocal][Best Gospel Vocal][Best Classical Vocal][Best Classical Song][Best Gospel Song][Best Song Arrangement][Best Classical Arrangement][Best Uplifting Song][Best Song About Detroit]
3. Blessed Be the Nation—Judy Banker (Single) [Best Folk Song][Best New Pete Seeger Song][Best Folk Vocal][Best Choir Vocals]
4. Bad Reputation—Angela Perley and The Howlin’ Moons (Hey Kid!) [Best Rock Song][Best Female Rock Vocal][Best Rock Guitar: Chris Connor][Best Short Drum Fill]
5. Stir Me Up—Sarah Morris (All Mine) [Best Americana/Rock Song]
6. Just One Clue—Mark Jewett (Love Has No Heart of Its Own) [Best Rock/Americana Song][Best Percussion][Best Cowbell][Best Confused Guy Lyrics]
7. Heart Stops Beating—Nick Piunti (Beyond the Static) [Best Pop/Rock Song][Best Pop/Rock Arrangement][Best Backup Vocals][Best Synth Solo][Best Hand Claps]
8. Your Dreams—The Dirk Kroll Band (This Broken Play) [Best Ska Song][Best Horn Arrangement]
9. Hard Times in the Land of Plenty—Kenny Parker (Hellfire) [Best Blues Song][Best Male Blues Vocal] [Best Blues Guitar Solo: Jim McCarty][Best Live Performance]
10. Sugar—Lindsay Lou (Southland) [Best Country Funk Song][Best Female Country Funk Vocal]
11. Smartphone—The Bayonets (Crash Boom Bang!) [Best Rock/Pop Song][Best Smart Song]
12. She’s a Devil—The Wag (We Carry On) [Best Devilish Rock Song][Best Use of Cymbals]
13. Same Old 45—Sarah Borges and The Broken Singles (Silver City) [Best Swamp/Rock Song][Best Swamp/Rock Vocal][Best Drums]
14. Love Isn’t Fair—Suzi Quatro (No Control) [Best Latin/Pop Song][Best “Unfair” Song]
15. Crazy—The Slackers (Peculiar) [Best Ska/Punk Song][Best Impending Doom Song]
16. Declined—The Claudettes (High Times in the Dark) [Best Alt/Rock Song][Best Alt/Rock Vocal] [Best Piano: Johnny Iguana][Best “Kiss Off” Song]
17. Lead Me On—J.C. And The Disciples (Hammered) [Best Classic Rock Song]
18. Bluestring—Mick Clarke (Diggin’ Down) [Best Instrumental]
19. Leave Me Here—The Liquid Scene (Revolutions) [Best Psychedelic Song][Best Prog/Rock Song]
20. Someone to Pull the Trigger—Chris Richards and The Subtractions (Altered Sweet: The Songs of Matthew Sweet) [Best Cover Song][Best Unrequited Love Song] [Best Unrequited Vocal]
21. Don’t Lose Your Way—Laura Rain and The Caesers (Walk With Me) [Best R&B Track][Best R&B Vocal][Best Bass]
22. Country Boy—Tony Pace (Gotcha Covered: The Songs of Johnny Williams) [Best “Real Country” Song][Best “Real Country” Vocal]
23. Are You Listening?—Billy Brandt [Hall of Fame] and Sarana VerLin (Are You Listening?) [Best Duet]
24. Galaxy—The Whiskey Charmers (Lost on the Range) [Best “Out of This World” Song][Best “Out of This World” Vocal]
25. Ascent—Eddie Arjun with Cory Henry (Gravity) [Best Rock Instrumental]
26. Get Right—May Erlewine and The Motivations (In the Night) [Best Guitar Hook]
27. Tragedy in A Minor—Skinny Lister (The Devil, The Heart, and The Fight) [Best Celtic Punk Song]
28. One Way—The Rallies (Serve)
29. Marfa Lights—Jennifer Westwood and The Handsome Devils (Single) [Best Female Blues Vocal]
30. Our World to Save—Bob Hausler (Single) [Best Political Song]
31. Never To Part—Birdsong at Morning (A Slight Departure) [Best String Arrangement]
32. I Got Love If You Want It—Lindsay Beaver (Tough As Love)
33. When the Bloom Falls From the Rose—Sarah Jane Scouten (When the Bloom Falls From the Rose)[Best Country Barn Burner and Foot Stomper]
34. What We Breathe In—The Chordaes (What We Breathe In)
35. Alpena Colada—Kathy Wieland (Momma Liked to Fish) [Best Song About Michigan]
36. Step Right Up—Building Birds (If a Tree Falls…) [Best Lyrics]
37. I Need You Like That—The Bankesters (Nightbird) [Best Harmonies]
38. I Think I Came Too Late to the Party—Michael on Fire (Where Dreamers Only Go Soundtrack)
39. Poor Old Me—Annie and Rod Capps (When They Fall) [Best Zydeco Song]
40. Every Beat in My Heart—Sharon Tse (The View From Here)
41. Don’t—Larkin Poe (Kin)
42. Phone Call—Kristen Toedtman (Limbo) [Best Female Pop Vocal]
43. Come On to Me—Paul McCartney (Egypt Station)
44. Marching Orders—The New Pornographers (Brill Brusiers)
45. The Piper in the Cave/An Ghaoth Aniar Aneas (The South-West Wind)—Altan [Hall of Fame] (The Gap of Dreams) [Best Celtic Song]
46. Riding Low (And Flying High)—Dan Sheehan (Tales From Earth, Inc.)
47. I Like Your Hair—Kid Gulliver (Spree)
48. Cruel World—Billy W. Brandt and The Thing and Stuff Band (Get It Going!) [Best Jazz Song]
49. Say a Prayer—Dave Boutette and Kristi Lynn Davis (Easy As Pie)
50. What You’re Made Of—Davy Knowles (Three Miles From Avalon)
51. Bones of Saints—Robert Plant (Carry Fire)
52. Kimmie’s Song—The Pennock/Stephens Project ( The Pennock/Stephens Project)
53. Tell Me—The Forty Nineteens (Single)
54. The Ride—Dave Solo (December 32nd) [Best Motorcycle Song]
55. Change—Mavis Staples [Hall of Fame](We Get By)
56. Nuages—Deni Bonet (Bright Shiny Objects) [Best Jazz Instrumental][Best Violin]
57. End of the World—Flamin’ Groovies (Fantastic Plastic)
58. Hoodwink—Steve Leaf and The Ex—Pats (Lightspeed)
59. You and Me and the Sun—Annie Fitzgerald (You and Me and the Sun)
60. Sanctified—Ellie Zwart (Toward Home)
61. Not About You—Joanna and The Jaywalkers (The Open Sea Before Me)
62. Dirt Roads and Dandelions—Mike Gentry (Mike Gentry)
63. The Next Big Thing—Jeff Scott (NOLA to New York)
64. Anthem—Ed Dupas (Tennessee Night)
65. Winter’s Bone—Lee Anna Atwell, Allison Edberg Nyquist, Linda Hicks, Joe Peters (A Night at the Delphi Opera House)
66. Friend of Mine—Courtney Yasmineh (Red Letter Day)
67. Before the Lights Go Out—C.J. Ramone (American Beauty)
68. Hey Buddy—Phil Lee (…And the Horse He Rode In On)
69. Upbeat—Deane Nesbitt, Jr. (Soundtracks in the Sand) [Best World Instrumental]
70. Everything She Do—Dog Society (In the Shade)
71. Been Such a Long Time—Greg Nagy (Stranded) [Best Funky Blues Song]
72. Honey, I Love You—The Dustbowl Revival (The Dustbowl Revival)
73. Shines—The Donkeys (Ride the Black Wave)
74. Who Wants Cilla?—The Hangabouts (Single)
75. Whispers and Moans—Sugar Snow (Woodface Reimagined)
76. Your Version of the Truth—Bill Edwards (Sounds Like Love)
77. Secret Recipe—Joe Kidd and Sheila Burke (Everybody Has a Purpose)
78. You Better Stop—Will Ludford (Addicted)
79. Aimless Knowledge—Cindy Ruenes (Please Don’t Tell Me How to Dance)
80. Soldier of Love—Ben Reel (Land of Escape)
81. (Don’t) Give Up on Love—Car City (Car City)
82. Happy New Year—Annie and Rod Capps (Where They Fall)
83. Rich Man Blues—Michael Snyder—Barker (Tales of Whoa!)
84. Patient Man—Where’s Keith? (Living On Mars)
85. Rescue Me—Amy Helm (Didn’t It Rain?)
86. Flying High—Desert Dragon (Before the Storm)
87. Heaven On Earth—Nick Urb and Olivia Dear (Millerschin)(Until the End of Days)
88. Think About You—M French (Matthew French)(Sweet Love)
89. Colors of Christmas—The Hangabouts (Single) [Best Holiday Song]
90. Sand—Chris Meck and The Guilty Birds (It’s 4AM Somewhere)[Language Warning]
91. Boxes—Circus of the West (We’ll See Ourselves Out)
92. It’s That Time Again—Mark Jewett (Single)
93. The Fall—Goodbye Motel (If)
94. Olivia—Go Fever (Daydream Hawker)[Language Warning]
95. Hurt’s All Gone—Samantha Fish (Chills and Fever)
96. Can’t Go On Like This—Native Harrow (Happier Now)
97. The Get Up and Go—Heather Pierson Acoustic Trio (Singin’)
98. Walk You Home—Phil Ayoub (Arrivals and Departures) [Best Accordion]
99 . Let It Roll—The Garden of Soul (Forsaken)[Language Warning] [Best Hard Rock Song]
100. Dollar Store Christmas—Barker and Broski (Single)
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My weekly radio show “Theme Attic,” can be heard Wednesdays, 2P-4P ET!
The show can be heard on WHFR 89.3 FM in the Dearborn-Detroit area of Michigan, or it can be streamed with this link: https://www.whfr.fm/streamer/!
It almost always includes a weekly countdown of my favorite albums or songs and some shows feature two countdowns!
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