“Box of Rain?” "China Doll?’’ Boy, those are some of my favorites by the Dead. On the other hand, you can keep “Row Jimmy” (“Time for a bathroom and beer break,” says I. “Don’t smoke it all while I’m gone.”) “Throwing Stones” was also one that I’d just as soon never have to hear again.
As to “I Shot the Sheriff” and “Good Lovin’,” is it that you don’t like those versions (after all, Bob Marley wrote “Sheriff” and the Young Rascals first performed “Good Lovin’”), or you don’t like the songs at all?
I also happen to like “Down by the Seaside,” by Led Zeppelin. I guess I’m in the minority.
Actually, I’m getting to like China Doll now that Joan’s singing it. But before? Nah.
I suspect Throwing Stones might be on people’s list purely because they heard it so much during 1987 or so when it came out on the CD (much like Touch of Gray). That and the fact that Bobby sang it almost every night for a while there …
plnnr, for me it’s the Dead version of “Good Lovin” live that sends me to the bathroom. Love the Young Rascals version. That “Ico Ico” one is another live version that drives me crazy.
Most of the songs on here I disagree with (I happen to love Angie and Mrs. Robonson, for example) but to each their own.
My votes go to:
“Jack and Diane” by John Mellencamp
“Michelle” by the Beatles (but I think I’m the only one on this)
This is supossed to about songs that get played on the radio a lot, but there’s one that I absolutely must mention.
“Schoolboy Blues” (aka “Cocksucker Blues”) by the Stones is absolutely the worst song I have ever heard. To my knowledge, it is not on any of their albums and has never been played on the radio. I’ve only ever heard it once, at http://www.keno.org/Songlistnlyrics.htm#C
Oh come on! They were drunk out of their minds when they did that - it is hilarious.
Grateful Dead: Me and Bobbie McGee. ("Nothing left to choose? Get the damn lyrics right, chumps!)
S&G: Bridge over Troubled Water.
Elton John: Levon. (I agree with Crocodile Rock, but only because it played every five minutes on the radio while we were driving to Florida when it came out.)
Beatles: Long and Winding Road - and Sir Paul will agree. Phil Spector ruined it. I have a bootleg of it without the strings, and it isn’t nearly so bad.
Dylan: all the religious stuff. Lay Lady Lay bugs me also. Joey is just evil.
Stones. I’ll agree with Angie. Lady Jane ain’t too great either, as is most (but not all) of the stuff on Satanic Majesties Request.
Hyperelastic, photopat. jesleigh & The Great Zamboni I just have a disdain for formulared fluff. I tried to list songs that went Top 10 US/UK and agree Styx & Cyndi don’t fit into the good artist category.
Threre are few others have listed that I like, but the only one I take total umbrage with is Pink Floyd’s “Echoes” which I like for the shear creepiness of.
But alas, similar to faith, artistic opinions cant be debated or changed.
I also agree with every title listed on MMI’s SNL link.
Actually, it is goo-goo-ga-joob, Mrs. Robinson – he admitted to stealing that phrase from “I am the Walrus” by John Lennon
Personally I always found the "Hello, Lampost, what cha knowin’, I’ve come to watch your flowers growin’, ain’t cha got now rhymes for me? dootin’ da doo doo, feelin’ groovy
Voyager, I have to ardantly disagree with your opinion on S&G’s Bridge Over Troubled Water. I cry a little every time I hear it–and in a good way. 'Course, I like Clay Aiken’s version a little bit better, but I think BOTW is an incredible song.
I also disagree with the comments regarding Cyndi Lauper–I think the songs listed here are wonderful, and if we’re listing BAD songs by her, how about She Bop?
Now, Voyager. (ha!) Lost cause. They frequently missed lyrics. But this lyric site has “nothing left to lose” and “nothing left to do” as two variants for that song.
IIRC, it was Sinatra whose version of Mrs. Robinson could be legitimately classified as a total waste. He went through a period of doing some right lousy stuff, including the unfortunate duet with Nancy on “Somethin’ Stupid.”
It was during that period when Frank had a duet with Dagmar on something I’ve only read about (thankfully) but that appears to be something even Weird Al wouldn’t touch.
Well, then there’s a problem, because, 1. Simon told the story of taking it from I AM THE WALRUS and 2. My (Now nearly 30 year old) Copy of The Complete Paul Simon has the lyrics listed as goo-goo-ga-joob.
So, I guess it is a matter for the ages to decide.
This topic only proves that taste is a matter of taste. Some of the greatest songs in recording history are listed here. Mrs. Robinson. Do it in the Road. Revolution #9. LA Woman. Damn, next thing you know someone will complain that Sympathy for the Devil is bad.
For the Dead, my choice would be What’s Become of the Baby? The other mediocre songs are overplayed covers, and I can actually manage to sit through them without wishing for death.
