10 Ultimate Shore Songs (And Whether I Ever Want to Hear Any of Them Again)
First of all, I am not talking about “shore” songs like “Surfer Girl” or “Summer Wind.” The songs I’ll be discussing are songs that you have been hearing at clubs and restaurants for decades, either by a solo musician with just an acoustic guitar or a full band. Tunes that you should have been sick of 30 years ago, but without a doubt if you were on your deathbed on 96th Street, you’d still be hearing them in the distance. And digging it. These songs are every bit as essential to Avalon and Stone Harbor as Circle Pizza. Mind you, the “youngest” song on this list is 32 years old!
Now, before I start, allow me to point out that even though it might sound like I’ll be dissing a few of these tunes, I respect how difficult it is to write a classic that hangs around as long as these babies have.
Here are 10 in alphabetical order:
“LIVIN’ ON A PRAYER” (Bon Jovi, 1986): C’mon, this is the JERSEY shore, so you have to have a Jersey band on here, right? I once did a TV show where all of a sudden there were hundreds of women, of all ages, rushing toward me. I’m thinking, “Damn, I got it all going on today.” I didn’t realize that Jon Bon Jovi had stepped onto the stage behind me, and well, let’s just say, I very quickly morphed into the invisible man. There’s not a Jersey shore cover band that doesn’t come to a grinding halt when the chorus comes, giving everyone in the club an opportunity to scream out the lyric. In fact, most of the “band” songs on this list have a similar sing-along moment.
“MARGARITAVILLE” (Jimmy Buffett, 1977): This really IS a shore song, the only one on this list. I admire Buffett’s treatment of his Parrothead fans. He has cultivated them over the years and treats them with much respect. I respect Buffett. But I’ve just never been a big lover of his music and this song in particular has always gotten on my nerves. Don’t ask me why, it just does. There’s nothing wrong with the tune, it’s well-crafted, but I just got sick of it almost immediately. And being the beach bum that I am, I feel like I’ve heard it 158,436 times!
“HEY! BABY” (Bruce Channel, 1961): What a life this cut has had. A hit way back in 1961, the Beatles picked up on it in their Cavern period because the original version has a harmonica on it, an instrument that John Lennon played and loved. (The harmonica on “Hey! Baby” is played by Delbert McClinton, with whom I once did a live radio show.) Then “Dirty Dancing” placed the song back on top and then a DJ, from Austria no less, by the moniker of DJ Otzi adds the “Uhh, Ahh” and the rest is history. The oldest song on this list and still so much fun!
“SWEET CAROLINE” (Neil Diamond, 1969): To quote Bill Murray’s character from “What About Bob?” when he is asked to talk about his divorce, he replies: “There are two types of people in this world. People who like Neil Diamond and those who don’t.” And “Bob” was released 27 years ago. The Boston Red Sox didn’t start using it for another six years. So, imagine how many times you’ve heard the song since 1991 when Bill Murray utters this line. So, what are you? Someone who likes Neil Diamond or not?
“DREAMS” (Fleetwood Mac, 1977): Give a woman an acoustic guitar and you’re guaranteed to hear this number or “Rhiannon” or “Me and Bobby McGee” or anything by Melissa Etheridge.
“I WILL SURVIVE” (Gloria Gaynor, 1978): My daughter Keely once sang this with the Exceptions when she was 16 and, as proud as I was of her, I couldn’t help but think to myself, “Guess I’m gonna have to listen to this damn song for another 40 years.”
“DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’ ” (Journey, 1981): Thirty-seven years old, and thanks to “The Sopranos,” it’s gonna hang around another 37. Definitely done better with a full band, but I’ve also seen plenty of solo musicians perform it admirably as well.
“BROWN EYED GIRL” (Van Morrison, 1967): The power of music. Not even Van in his wildest dreams could have imagined that this song would be performed as much as it is today as it was 51 ago. Fifty-one! By the way, how many love songs have the word “stadium” in it? Just wondering.
“THUNDER ROAD” (Bruce Springsteen, 1975): Dag, I remember lugging the vinyl album down the shore with me the day it was released. Everything about the “Born to Run” masterpiece screams summer, but it barely saw its birth before Labor Day as it wasn’t released until Aug. 25.
I don’t think we put another record on the turntable till that summer was over. Another tune that works well solo or with a band and Bruce’s best lyric ever. (By the way, what’s better: side two of “Born to Run” or side two of “Abbey Road?”
“BABA O’RILEY” (The Who, 1971): Bands today “sample” the original synthesizer sound that opens this track, so from the second you hear it, you immediately know what’s coming. And despite the fact that the opening synth riff has been used in a hundred TV shows, commercials, and movies, it still grabs me in the gut every single time after 47 years. Here’s a little tidbit: Until recently, I thought this synth was a “loop” just endlessly going around and around. But it turns out Pete Townshend plays every note of it from the beginning of the track till the end.
Believe me, there’s room for at least another 50 songs. Meat Loaf’s “Paradise by the Dashboard Light,” Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold,” Cat Stevens’ “Father and Son,” and other tunes like James Taylor’s “Fire and Rain.”
What song makes you scream out “Enough!”?
