Craig’s Friday Countdown - Replacements Songs

If there are two, ten-hour solo drives between any given two Fridays, there’s an 83% chance the Countdown will be something to do with songs.  The original idea of two Countdowns this week requires further work as I continue to sort through where to place Michelle Branch’s new “Best I Ever” on the list of sultriest vocal performances.  (nice problem to have, btw)

So, in the somewhat surprising this hasn’t been done yet category, here are the top ten Replacements songs (on my iPod). Your ranking may vary, but there’s a 83% chance I’m right.  Or 8.3%.  Always hard to tell. 

10.  One Wink At A Time – From the last studio album, All Shook Down. 

9.  Skyway – Answering the question; are they from Minneapolis?

8.  Asking Me Lies

7.  Talent Show – The fully produced version.

6.  I Don’t Know – Neither did we, which made it all the more fun.

5.  I’ll Be You – And … there you have it.  The highest charting Replacements song ever on the Billboard 100.  Go back and look at the 50 songs that were ahead of it (seriously, here).  Apologies to Tone Loc, but there’s only one song ahead of it that is in the same league in terms of songcraft.  To be a Replacements fan is to understand the irony of … well, most everything.   

4.  I Will Dare – Because being risk adverse is no way to live. 

3. (tie)  Lovelines / The Ledge – You want a band with range.  Here you go. 

2.  Talent Show (demo) – The not so fully produced version. 

1. (tie - you saw at least one of these coming, right?)

Alex Chilton – Alternate Version – The messed up start.  There's your metaphor.   

Left Of The Dial - Big guitars, almost perfectly matching the ringing in my ears, and warm reminiscence / hopeful longing, accompanying the heart on my sleeve.

Can’t Hardly Wait – Looking forward, and Memphis Horns.  Not a bad way to make your way through this mortal coil.