Phil Maq

Here’s the latest unofficial update of the Pandemic Philby Hot 100 Songs of 2020!

The links direct you to the post when the song was announced!

As usual, I have included submission information after the update.

The unofficial Countdown so far is:

21.Don’t Lose Your Way—Laura Rain and The Caesers (Walk With Me)

22.Country Boy—Tony Pace (Gotcha Covered: The Songs of Johnny Williams)

23.Are You Listening?—Billy Brandt and Sarana VerLin (Are You Listening?)

24.Galaxy—The Whiskey Charmers (Lost on the Range)

25.Ascent—Eddie Arjun with Cory Henry (Gravity)

26.Get Right—May Erlewine and The Motivations (In the Night)

27.Tragedy in A Minor—Skinny Lister (The Devil, The Heart, and The Fight)

28.One Way—The Rallies (Serve)

29.Marfa Lights—Jennifer Westwood and The Handsome Devils (Single)

30.Our World to Save—Bob Hausler (Single)

31.Never To Part—Birdsong at Morning (A Slight Departure)

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)

34.What We Breathe In—The Chordaes (What We Breathe In)

35.Alpena Colada—Kathy Wieland (Momma Liked to Fish)

36.Step Right Up—Building Birds (If a Tree Falls…)

37.I Need You Like That—The Bankesters (Nightbird)

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)

40.Every Beat in My Heart—Sharon Tse (The View From Here)

41.Don’t—Larkin Poe (Kin)

42.Phone Call—Kristen Toedtman (Limbo)

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)

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 (Seattle Jazz Musician) (Get It Going!)

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)

55.Change—Mavis Staples (We Get By)

56.Nuages—Deni Bonet (Bright Shiny Objects)

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)

70.Everything She Do—Dog Society (In the Shade)

71.Been Such a Long Time—Greg Nagy (Stranded)

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)

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)

99.Let It Roll—The Garden of Soul (Forsaken)[Language Warning]

100.Dollar Store Christmas—Barker and Broski (Single)

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Here’s a section on submissions:

The album selections are made from a sliding four year pool of music.

This year that pool is 2017-2020.

The song selections are usually from the same range, too, but I’m a little more open to almost anything, since over time, there have been plenty of older songs that have found new life years after they’ve been recorded, even ending up on hit movie soundtracks.

Needless to say, this year is going to be unlike any year.

However, I have arrived at the realization that there will be issues every year no matter what I plan.

One of the reasons that I use a multiple year submission scale is that just getting music out to the world is sometimes difficult for an artist.

A lot of them are not really wired for self promotion.

Making music is totally different than drumming up interest in it, especially for independent musicians.

Yes, there are promoters that can help with that. And nothing against promoters because they have a role to play. But they cost money, and the artist already had to pay to record the music, and may not be prepared for the process of promoting it.

After looking at how some other independent awards are handled, I figured a four year window allows me enough time to serendipitously run across someone’s music.

I have told this story several times, but I try very hard to listen to everything that is submitted.

Although I work on my list, starting literally on January 1st, using a four year sliding window, I carry over what would qualify from the prior years.

Up to this point of the year, I just reached my largest batch of albums.

So, it’s basically a little over the number I used last year.

But let’s talk about this year, which is absolutely the weirdest year ever!

I haven’t even done a show for months!

I haven’t any idea how this will affect either list.

However, I will come up with something that makes sense.

And as large as my working list is, I know I have room for more.

I can never have enough!

Therefore, I am accepting entries for Philby consideration!

So, if you’ve made some music dating back as far as 2017, I will accept that music for consideration.

If you have something older than 2016, send that, too, but identify the release date. I’m always looking for GREAT music.

For the Philbys, I’m looking for full albums.

However, if you only have a single, I’ll accept that, too. Don’t forget that I also have a Philby Hot Songs list, and more artists are releasing singles these days.

But please don’t send me an incomplete album if you have one.

So, please don’t edit for me.

I hate that and I might not even check out the item. I don’t know why anyone would only send selected songs instead of their whole work of art for consideration.

Please don’t send me links to listen to music. That’s not how I listen to music.  And I probably won’t listen to it if you send me a link to stream it. Either send me the album to download or request my mailing address to send a physical copy.

Every year I say that if your item came out later than May, it may not end up on this year’s list. So it’s possible that submissions entered now may only be considered for 2021. (It sounds so good to think of 2020 being finished!)

However, this year will be totally different than other years. I have not received any where near the amount of releases that I normally do.

It might be an excellent year to send a submission.

I will accept any genre of music. I like a variety of styles, even on the same album!

So, please e-mail your mp3s, and please make sure it is an mp3 only, to phil@philmaq.com.

If you want a physical address or have other questions, please e-mail me at the same address. Because selections will be considered for more than a single year, there isn’t an expiration date at the present.

If you want someone who will actually listen to your music, I am that person.

If you want some recognition for working hard and baring your soul, that might be me, too. I can’t make any promises, but I will listen to your music.

If you are reading this and are not a musician but know someone who is, please forward this to them.

Good luck to all who participate!
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My weekly radio show “Prime Time Theme Attic,” can be heard Mondays, 8P-10P ET when it returns.

It almost always includes a weekly countdown of my favorite albums or songs  and some shows feature two countdowns!

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#Philbys #Unofficial2020PandemicPhilbySongUpdates #PhilbyAwards