Van Halen: Finish What You Started (1988)

Eddie Van Halen came up with the riff at 2am one morning. He woke up neighbor and band mate Sammy Hagar and the pair penned this song about unfulfilled sex. The song is about blue balls and is quite straight forward.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIlBeqM0mRE

Tom Petty: Learning to Fly (1991)

A coming of age song for Tom Petty at his peak. There's some fun guitar work by Mike Campbell as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5BJXwNeKsQ

Pink Floyd: Lost For Words (1994)

Floyd openly examines the relationship between David Gilmour and Roger Waters in "Lost for Words." The song is openly sarcastic and honest. By the end, Gilmour is admitting that "sometimes you just can't win."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPwucFar9kM

Mother Love Bone: Chloe (1989)

"Chloe/Crown of Thorns" is Mother Love Bone's most famous song. It appeared in Say Anything with John Cusak, but did not break into the public consciousness until Singles three years later. It proved the late Andrew Wood's greatest moment. It also led to a spate of babies named Chloe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH0gnwtSEGI

Little Richard: Long Tall Sally

The song was originally titled "The Thing."  As "Long Tall Sally", Little Richard's classic has been covered hundreds of times. It's a 12 bar blues tune done to a rock n roll beat. It's one of the greatest songs of all time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxNSvFMkag

The Cult: Sweet Soul Sister (1990)

At the time, Ian Astbury said the song was about the Americanization of European culture. Years later, he said it was about Black Panther Angela Davis. It's one of The Cult's best songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNobN73F2JY

David Bowie: Modern Love (1983)

This might be Bowie's most infectious song. He claims Little Richard inspired the song about the battle between God and man. Nile Rodgers produced and played guitar and Stevie Ray Vaughan played lead guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hDbpF4Mvkw

The Doors: People Are Strange (1967)

I think this is the first Doors song I ever heard. I have been hooked ever since.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB67l9velBI

Garbage: Empty (2016)

Garbage's first album in four years is a dark affair. The themes are a reaction to the current pop scene which is shiny, happy, and sucky. The video makes me dizzy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSa_hbutFt0   

Red Hot Chili Peppers: Dark Necessities (2016)

"Dark Necessities" is the 30th RHCP song to reach the Billboard charts. Danger Mouse produced the album marking the first time in 25 years that Rick Rubin did not produce a RHCP album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ_Tw0w3lLA

Top 9 Coldplay Songs

Viva La Vida
Violet Hill
The Scientist
Clocks
Charlie Brown
Yellow
Talk
Speed of Sound
Fix You

Top 10 songs of 1988

My favorites...

1. Desire- U2
2. Pour Some Sugar on Me- Def Leppard
3. Armegeddon It- Def Leppard
4. Orange Crush- REM
5. Finish What Ya Started- Van Halen
6. Black and Blue- Van Halen
7. Tall Cool One- Robert Plant
8. God Part 2- U2
9. Take It So Hard- Keith Richards
10. Bad Medicine- Bon Jovi

Top 30 songs of 1988: #11-20

11. Mine All Mine- Van Halen
12. Sweet Child O Mine- GnR
13. Handle Me With Care- Travelin' Wilburys
14. Spare Parts- Bruce Springsteen
15. Got My Mind Set On You- George Harrison
16. When We Was Fab- George Harrison
17. When It's Love- Van Halen
18. Ragdoll- Aerosmith
19. Heatseeker- AC/DC
20. Hawkmoon 269-U2

Top 30 songs of 1988 (#21-30)

My favorites...

21. Heaven Knows- Robert Plant
22. Angel of Harlem- U2
23. I Used to Love Her- GnR
24. Paradise City- GnR
25. Born to be My Baby- Bon Jovi
26. Cabo Wabo- Van Halen
27. I Hate Myself For Loving You- Joan Jett
28. Say You Will- Foreigner
29. I Don't Wanna Go On With You Like That- Elton John
30. Tougher than the Rest- Bruce Springsteen

The Doors: Five to One (1968)

Jim Morrison experienced a meltdown while performing "Five to One" in Miami. He was arrested for inciting a riot and indecent exposure. STP frontman Scott Weiland said this song inspired him to go into rock n roll. Like Morrison, Weiland died young from drug abuse. In college, a friend put this on at his house parties at 12:55.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tHPsphg9xc

Eric Clapton: Pretending (1989)

"Pretending" features some of Clapton's greatest vocal work. It also contains a great riff and hook. It marked a transition between 80s pop and Clapton's move back to his blues roots.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zm2PvnM7Vds

John Mellencamp: Lonely Ol Night (1985)

The song was inspired by Hud starring Paul Newman. The strained relationship between father and son informed many of the lyrics. The song emotes loneliness especially for a mid-80s teen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQMkRzWT8mo

Cream: SWLABR (1967)

The b-side to "Sunshine of Your Love" stands for "She Walks Like a Bearded Rainbow"--whatever that means...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngIxuGOVGeQ

Pink Floyd: Arnold Layne (1967)

"Arnold Layne" is based on a real person. In the song, the character steals women's clothes from a wash line. In real life, Roger Waters knew someone that stole knickers and bras for fun. This provided inspiration for the tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQTFRq1hjtM

U2: Running to Stand Still (1987)

The song, like "Bad,"  is about heroin addiction. In fact, Adam Clayton called it "Bad Part II." It reminds me of high school and a time now long gone. However, the theme still resonates as drug addiction continues...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvUI-s4Azw4