I was listening to some old cassette tapes I had made a number of years ago, (yes cassette) and heard a bunch of songs I haven’t heard in years. Since the hottest thing going on the internet right now is “lists”, I thought it might be fun to give you, “Bob’s top 5 songs that should have made it higher on the Billboard charts. These are written in no particular order. This is just the way they showed up on the tape. Interesting fact on Led Zeppelin at the end.

“Outside a Small Circle of Friends” – Phil Ochs. The protest singer responded to the murder of Kitty Genovese who was stabbed to death in 1964 in New York. It is said her cries for help were heard by dozens of people but no one helped. “Monopoly is so much fun I’d hate to spoil the game”. To insult the witnesses even more it was produced in a style of an old saloon song featuring piano and banjo. It was a region hit in some parts of the country but barely cracked the top 100 overall.

There were a few old blues tunes that still make my spine tingle when I hear those riffs. Harmonica, guitar, blues piano. Just listening to some of these classics, you hear why so many of the bands from the 60’s were inspired by these greats. Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Sonny Boy Williamson, Son House, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Buddy Guy… They all deserve a second life with a shot on radio.

“I Couldn’t Spell !!@!$% – Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs. This novelty song was cool and funny. The group that gave us “Wooly Bully” had this response to the breakup of dating youngsters. “I would have wrote you a letter but I couldn’t spell !!@!$%” (it’s actually a Bronx cheer). I couldn’t find a chart number for it but it was covered by a couple of different artists who would use “Yuck” as a substitute for the Bronx cheer. Hilarious and to the point

“Quick Joey Small”- Kasenatz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus. We all hated “bubblegum music’ right? In my mind this one was the exception. It’s the story of an inmate escaping prison, with the help of a file put in a cake by his girl Mary Jane. The dogs are called out, the sheriff’s got his shotgun and a blackjack and the search for the escapee is over in less the two minutes and 30 seconds.

“Absolutely Right”- Five Man Electrical Band. This Canadian band had a megahit called “Signs” that was covered by the group “Tesla” more than 20 years later. “Absolutely Right” is a song that women around the country could have made some kind of anthem. This up-beat rock and roller gave females the words they always wanted to hear from men. …”You’re absolutely right and I was wrong.” Hit only 26 on the charts in the U.S. Now if we only could have had a song like this for the men. Right?

Tough to believe but of all the music produced by the legendary band Led Zeppelin only one song, from the source I’ve been using, got into the top ten singles chart. “Whole Lotta Love” at number 4.

This was fun. Any thoughts drop me a note and we’ll share in a future column.