Jeff Tweedy's book World Within a Song

Jeff Tweedy: World Within a Song

Here’s the description on Amazon of this book by Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy, full title World Within a Song: Music That Changed My Life and Life That Changed My Music: “An exciting and heartening mix of memories, music, and inspiration from Wilco front man and New York Times bestselling author Jeff Tweedy, sharing fifty songs that changed his life, the real-life experiences behind each one, as well as what he’s learned about how music and life intertwine and enhance each other.” “What makes us fall in love with a song? What makes us want to write our own songs? Do songs help? Do songs help us live better lives? And do the lives we live help us write better songs?” I’ve provided the list here of the 50 songs Tweedy writes about. They are not ranked or listed in chronological order. They are simply listed in the order in which they appear in the book. It should also be noted that these are not necessarily songs Tweedy loves. For example, he despites “I Will Always Love You” and “Wanted Dead or Alive.” Click here to see other lists from critics and individuals and here to see other lists from publications and/or organizations. Spotify Playlist: You can listen to all these songs via the Spotify playlist World Within a Song. Deep Purple “Smoke on the Water” (1973) Leo Sayer “Long Tall Glasses (I Can Dance)” (1974) Bachman-Turner Overdrive “Takin’ Care of Business” (1974) Bob Dylan “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright” (1963) Paul McCartney & Wings “Mull of Kintyre” (1977) Aphrodite’s Child “Loud, Loud, Loud” (1972) Joni Mitchell “Both Sides Now” (1968) Lene Lovich “Lucky Number” (1978) Patti Smith “Gloria (In Excelsis Deo)” (1976) Slovenly “As if It Always Happens” (1987) Over the Rainbow” (1939) The Clash “Death or Glory” (1979) The Knack “My Sharona” (1979) Randy Newman “In Germany Before the War” (1977) Abba “Dancing Queen” (1976) Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five “The Message” (1982) Volcano Suns “Balancing Act” (1985) Suicide “Frankie Tearrdrop” (1977) 10cc “I’m Not in Love” (1975) The Rolling Stones “Connection” (1967) The Undertones “Forever Paradise” (1981) Uncle Tupelo “Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down” (1975) The Replacements “God Damn Job” The Allman Brothers Band “Ramblin’ Man” (1973) The Minutemen “History Lesson Part 2” (1984) Television “Little Johnny Jewel” (1975) John Cage “4:33” (1952) Michelle Shocked “Anchorage” (1988) Otis Redding “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” (1968) Jimmie Davis “You Are My Sunshine” (1940) Dolly Parton “I Will Always Love You” (1974) Bon Jovi “Wanted Dead or Alive” (1986) Souled American “Before Tonight” (1996) Junior Walker & the All Stars “Shotgun” (1965) The Band “The Weight” (1968) The Shirelles “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (1960) Lynyrd Skynrd “Free Bird” (1973) Francis Scott Key (words), John Stafford Smith (music) “The Star-Spangled Banner” (1814) R.E.M. “Radio Free Europe” (1981) Ramones “I’m Against It” (1978) Rosalía “Bizcochito” (2022) The Beatles (no particular song noted) Arthur Russell “Close My Eyes” (2008) Patty S. Hill & Mildred J. Hill (songwriters) “Happy Birthday to You” (1893) Diane Izzo “Love Like a Wire” (2014?) Billie Eilish “I Love You” (2019) Velvet Underground “Who Loves the Sun” (1970) Herman’s Hermits “I’m into Something Good” (1964) Duke Ellington “I’m Beginning to See the Light” (1944) The Staple Singers “I’ll Take You There” (1972) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: lists from critics and individuals Dave’s Music Database: lists from publications and/or organizations Jeff Tweedy (11/7/2023). World Within a Song. Dutton/Penguin Radom House. First posted 1/22/2024.

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Top 30 Songs

Lynryd Skynyrd Top 30 Songs

Southern-rock group formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1964. They named themselves after founding members’ junior high school gym teacher, Leonard Skinner. Group disbanded in 1977 after Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gaines were killed in a plane crash. Rossington, Collins Powell and Wilkeson formed the Rossington Collins Band in 1979, which lasted until 1982. Ronnie’s younger brother, Johnny, revived Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987. Members: Highlighted names indicate which members of the band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Ronnie Van Zant (vocals: 1964-77). Died 1977. Gary Rossington (guitar: 1964-77,1987-2023). Died 2023. Allen Collins (guitar: 1964-77). Died 1990. Bob Burns (drums: 1964-71, 1972-74). Died 2015. Larry Junstrom (bass: 1964-71). Died 2019. Billy Powell (keyboards: 1972-77, 1987-2009). Died 2009. Rickey Medlocke (drums, vocals, mandolin: 1971-72), (guitar vocals, mandolin: 1996-present) Greg T. Walker (bass: 1971-72) Leon Wilkeson (bass: 1972-77, 1987-2001). Died 2001. Ed King (bass: 1972-75, 1987-96). Died 2018. Artimus Pyle (drum: 1975-77, 1987-91) Steve Gaines (guitar: 1976-77). Died 1977. Cassie Gaines (backing vox). Died 1977. Johnny Van Zant (vocals: 1987-present) Randall Hall (guitar: 1987-93) Kurt Custer (drums: 1991-94) Mike Estes (guitar: 1993-96) Owen Hale (drums: 1994-98) Hughie Thomasson (guitar: 1996-2005). Died 2007. Jeff McAllister (drums: 1998-99) Kenny Aronoff (drums: 1999) Michael Cartellone (drums: 1999-present) Ean Evans (bass: 2001-09). Died 2009. Mark Matejka (guitar, backing vocals: 2006-present) Peter Keys (keyboards: 2009-present) Robert Kearns (bass: 2009-12) Johnny Colt (bass: 2012-17) Keith Christopher (bass: 2017-present) For a complete list of this act’s DMDB honors, check out the DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry. Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists. Spotify Podcast: Check out the Dave’s Music Database podcast episode Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 10 Best Songs based on this list. Premiere: March 7, 2023 at 7pm CST. New episodes based on Dave’s Music Database lists are posted every Tuesday at 7pm CST.

Awards:

Top 30 Songs Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists, appearances on compilations and live albums by the featured act, and songs’ chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. DMDB Top 1%: 1. Sweet Home Alabama (1974) 2. Free Bird (1973) DMDB Top 5%: 3. What’s Your Name (1977) DMDB Top 10%: 4. Simple Man (1973) 5. Saturday Night Special (1975) 6. Gimme Three Steps (1973) 7. Call Me the Breeze (1974) DMDB Top 20%: 8. You Got That Right (1977) 9. Tuesday’s Gone (1973) 10. That Smell (1977) 11. Don’t Ask Me No Questions (1974) 12. Red, White and Blue (2003) 13. Gimme Back My Bullets (1976) 14. Swamp Music (1974) Beyond the DMDB Top 20%: 15. Brickyard Road (Johnny Van Zant, 1990) 16. Double Trouble (1976) 17. The Ballad of Curtis Loew (1974) 18. Workin’ for MCA (1974) 19. Truck Drivin’ Man (1973) 20. I Ain’t the One (1973) 21. I Know a Little (1977) 22. Workin’ (1999) 23. Smokestack Lightnin’ (1991) 24. Heartbreak Hotel (1994) 25. Travelin’ Man (live, 1976) 26. Who’s Right or Wrong (Johnny Van Zant Band, 1981) 27. Help Somebody (Van Zant, 2005) 28. Preacher Man (1999) 29. Good Lovin’s Hard to Find (1993) 30. Keeping the Faith (1991) Resources and Related Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Lynyrd Skynyrd Dave’s Music Database: “Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists” First posted 3/7/2023; last updated 3/8/2023.

Lynyrd Skynyrd: A Retrospective, 1971-1977

Lynyrd Skynyrd A Retrospective: 1971-1977

Overview: Southern-rock group formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1964. They named themselves after founding members’ junior high school gym teacher, Leonard Skinner. They disbanded in 1977 after Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and Cassie Gaines were killed in a plane crash. Rossington, Collins Powell and Wilkeson formed the Rossington Collins Band in 1979, which lasted until 1982. Ronnie’s younger brother, Johnny, revived Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987. Note: This page focuses only on the classic years up through 1977. The Players: Highlighted names indicate which members of the band were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. Ronnie Van Zant (vocals: 1964-77). Died 1977. Gary Rossington (guitar: 1964-77,1987-2023). Died 2023. Allen Collins (guitar: 1964-77). Died 1990. Bob Burns (drums: 1964-71, 1972-74). Died 2015. Larry Junstrom (bass: 1964-71). Died 2019. Billy Powell (keyboards: 1972-77, 1987-2009). Died 2009. Rickey Medlocke (drums, vocals, mandolin: 1971-72), (guitar vocals, mandolin: 1996-present) Greg T. Walker (bass: 1971-72) Leon Wilkeson (bass: 1972-77, 1987-2001). Died 2001. Ed King (bass: 1972-75, 1987-96). Died 2018. Artimus Pyle (drum: 1975-77, 1987-91) Steve Gaines (guitar: 1976-77). Died 1977. Cassie Gaines (backing vocals). Died 1977. On the Web: LynyrdSkynyrd.com (official site) Facebook Wikipedia Lists: DMDB podcast: Top 10 Songs Top 30 Songs

Awards:

The Studio Albums:

Compilations: GP Gold & Platinum (1972-77, released 1979) IN Skynyrd’s Innyrds (1973-77, released 1989) ES The Essential (1971-77, released 1998) 20 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection (1973-77, released 1999) AT All Time Greatest Hits (1972-77, released 2000) GH Greatest Hits (1972-77, released 2008) IC Icon (1972-77, released 2010) Under each album snapshot, songs featured on the anthologies are noted. If the song charted, the date of the song’s release or first chart appearance and its chart peaks are noted in parentheses. Click for codes to charts.

Skynyrd’s First…and Last

Rating: 2.886 out of 5.00 (average of 8 ratings)

Released: September 5, 1978 Recorded: 1971-72 Peak: 15 US, 50 UK, 35 CN, 89 AU Sales (in millions): 1.0 US Tracks: Down South Jukin’ GP, GH Preacher’s Daughter White Dove Was I Right or Wrong? ES, IC Lend a Helpin’ Hand Wino Comin’ Home GP, ES, AT, IC The Seasons Things Goin’ On Total Running Time: 36:36

Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd Lynyrd Skynyrd

Rating: 4.445 out of 5.00 (average of 15 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more). Notes: See the DMDB page here.

Released: August 13, 1973 Peak: 27 US, 4 UK, 47 CN, 14 DF Sales (in millions): 2.0 US Tracks: I Ain’t the One (20 CL, 21 DF) GP, IN, ES, 20, GH, IC Tuesday’s Gone (6 CL, 7 DF) GP, ES, GH, IC Gimme Three Steps (11/5/73, 2 CL, 5 DF) GP, IN, ES, 20, AT, GH, IC Simple Man (1 CL, 7 DF) GP, ES, AT, GH, IC Things Goin’ On (25 DF) Mississippi Kid (25 DF) Poison Whiskey Free Bird (11/16/74, 19 US, 25 CB, 24 GR, 31 HR, 23 RR, 1 CL, 21 UK, 47 CN, 1 DF) GP, IN, ES, 20, AT, GH, IC Total Running Time: 43:03

Second Helping Lynyrd Skynyrd

Rating: 4.425 out of 5.00 (average of 19 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more). Notes: See the DMDB page here.

Released: April 15, 1974 Peak: 12 US, UK, 9 CN, 14 DF Sales (in millions): 2.0 US Tracks: Sweet Home Alabama (6/24/74, 8 US, 7 CB, 4 GR, 8 HR, 4 RR, 1 CL, 31 UK, 6 CN, 56 AU, 1 DF) GP, IN, ES, 20, AT, GH, IC I Need You Don’t Ask Me No Questions (4/74, 8 CL, 9 DF) IN Workin’ for MCA (19 CL, 21 DF) IN, ES, GH, IC The Ballad of Curtis Loew (11 CL, 9 DF) ES, AT, IC Swamp Music (3/26/88, 36 CL, 16 AR, 21 DF) IN, ES, 20, AT, IC The Needle and the Spoon (12 CL) Call Me the Breeze (3 CL, 9 DF) IN, ES, AT, GH, IC Total Running Time: 37:15

Nuthin’ Fancy Lynyrd Skynyrd

Rating: 2.843 out of 5.00 (average of 6 ratings)

Released: March 24, 1975 Peak: 9 US, 43 UK, 17 CN, 91 AU Sales (in millions): 1.0 US Tracks: Saturday Night Special (5/19/75, 27 US, 41 CB, 34 GR, 46 HR, 5 CL, 6 DF) GP, IN, ES, 20, AT, GH, IC Cheatin’ Woman Railroad Song I’m a Country Boy On the Hunt (12 CL) GP, GH Am I Losin’ Made in the Shade Whiskey Rock-a-Roller GP, ES, GH, IC Total Running Time: 37:34

Gimme Back My Bullets Lynyrd Skynyrd

Rating: 3.375 out of 5.00 (average of 2 ratings)

Released: February 2, 1976 Peak: 20 US, 34 UK, 73 CN Sales (in millions): 0.5 US Tracks: Gimme Back My Bullets (1976, 8 CL, 21 DF) GP, ES, AT, GH, IC Every Mother’s Son Trust I Got the Same Old Blues Double Trouble (2/2/1976, 80 US, 86 CB, 25 CL, 31 UK) IN, ES, 20, GH, IC Roll Gypsy Roll Searching Cry for the Bad Man All I Can Do Is Write About It ES, AT, IC Total Running Time: 34:57

Street Survivors Lynyrd Skynyrd

Rating: 4.089 out of 5.00 (average of 17 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more). Notes: See the DMDB page here.

Released: October 17, 1977 Peak: 5 US, 13 UK, 3 CN Sales (in millions): 2.0 US Tracks: What’s Your Name? (11/26/77, 13 US, 17 CB, 14 GR, 16 HR, 14 RR, 2 CL, 6 DF) GP, IN, ES, 20, AT, GH, IC That Smell (6 CL, 9 DF) GP, IN, ES, 20, AT, IC One More Time I Know a Little (11 CL, 21 DF) GP, ES, IC You Got That Right (10/17/77, 69 US, 68 CB, 6 CL, 9 DF) GP, ES, 20, AT, GH, IC I Never Dreamed (16 CL) ES Honky Tonk Night Time Man Ain’t No Good Life Total Running Time: 35:26

Gold & Platinum

Rating: 3.965 out of 5.00 (average of 10 ratings)

Released: December 1979 Covers: 1972-77 Peak: 12 US, 49 UK, 56 CN Sales (in millions): 3.0 US Genre: Southern rock Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Down South Jukin’ (2) Saturday Night Special (3) Gimme Three Steps (live) (4) What’s Your Name (5) You Got That Right (6) Gimme Back My Bullets (7) Sweet Home Alabama (8) Free Bird (live) Tracks, Disc 2: (1) That Smell (2) On the Hunt (3) I Ain’t the One (live) (4) Whiskey Rock-a-Roller (5) Simple Man (6) I Know a Little (7) Tuesday’s Gone (8) Comin’ Home Total Running Time: 84:09

Skynyrd’s Innyrds

Rating: 3.774 out of 5.00 (average of 8 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Released: April 30, 1989 Covers: 1973-77 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): 5.0 US Genre: Southern rock Tracks: (1) Sweet Home Alabama (2) Swamp Music (3) I Ain’t the One (4) Gimme Three Steps (5) Double Trouble (outtake version) (6) Free Bird (7) Truck Drivin’ Man * (8) Saturday Night Special (9) Workin’ for MCA (10) What’s Your Name? (11) That Smell (12) Don’t Ask Me No Questions (13) Call Me the Breeze * tracks not on previously noted albums Total Running Time: 62:37

The Essential

Rating: 3.696 out of 5.00 (average of 8 ratings)

Released: August 25, 1998 Covers: 1971-1977 Peak: -- Sales (in millions): 1.0 US Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Sweet Home Alabama (2) I Ain’t the One (3) Was I Right or Wrong? (4) Gimme Three Steps (5) Workin’ for MCA (6) Simple Man (7) Swamp Music (8) The Ballad of Curtis Loew (9) Saturday Night Special (10) Mr. Banker (11) Comin’ Home (12) Call Me the Breeze (13) Free Bird Tracks, Disc 2: (1) What’s Your Name? (2) Whiskey Rock-a-Roller (live) (3) Tuesday’s Gone (4) Double Trouble (5) I Know a Little (6) Four Walls of Railford (7) I Never Dreamed (8) Gimme Back My Bullets (live) (9) You Got That Right (10) All I Can Do Is Write About It (acoustic version) (11) That Smell (12) Free Bird (live) Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums: Mr. Banker (recorded 1973) ES, IC Four Walls of Railford (recorded 1976) ES, IC Total Running Time: 2:10:47

20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection

Rating: 3.892 out of 5.00 (average of # ratings)

Released: March 9, 1999 Covers: 1973-1977 Peak: 60 US Sales (in millions): 2.9 US Tracks: (1) Sweet Home Alabama (2) What’s Your Name? (3) Gimme Three Steps (4) Double Trouble (5) You Got That Right (6) Saturday Night Special (7) That Smell (8) Swamp Music (9) I Ain’t the One (10) Free Bird Total Running Time: 47:02

All Time Greatest Hits

Rating: 4.107 out of 5.00 (average of 6 ratings) Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Released: March 14, 2000 Covers: 1972-1977 Peak: 56 US Sales (in millions): 1.0 US Tracks: (1) Sweet Home Alabama (2) Gimme Three Steps (3) Simple Man (4) Saturday Night Special (5) Swamp Music (6) The Ballad of Curtis Loew (7) Call Me the Breeze (8) Comin’ Home (9) Gimme Back My Bullets (10) What’s Your Name? (11) You Got That Right (12) All I Can Do Is Write About It (acoustic version) (13) That Smell (14) Free Bird (live) Total Running Time: 74:56

Greatest Hits

Rating: 3.510 out of 5.00 (average of 7 ratings)

Released: August 18, 2008 Covers: 1972-1977 Peak: -- US, 16 UK Sales (in millions): 0.5 US, -- UK Tracks: (1) Sweet Home Alabama (2) Free Bird (3) Saturday Night Special (4) Gimme Three Steps (5) Double Trouble (6) What’s Your Name? (7) Gimme Back My Bullets (8) I Ain’t the One (9) Whiskey Rock-a-Roller (10) Simple Man (11) Down South Jukin’ (12) You Got That Right (13) On the Hunt (14) Workin’ for MCA (15) Tuesday’s Gone (16) Call Me the Breeze Total Running Time: 76:17

Icon

Rating: 3.305 out of 5.00 (average of 6 ratings)

Released: August 31, 2010 Covers: 1973-1977 Peak: 145 US Sales (in millions): 0.5 US Tracks, Disc 1: (1) Sweet Home Alabama (2) Comin’ Home (3) I Ain’t the One (4) Mr. Banker (5) Tuesday’s Gone (6) Gimme Three Steps (7) The Ballad of Curtis Loew (8) Simple Man (9) Swamp Music (10) Was I Right or Wrong? (11) Workin’ for MCA (12) Free Bird Tracks, Disc 2: (1) Call Me the Breeze (2) Saturday Night Special (3) Double Trouble (4) All I Can Do Is Write About It (acoustic version) (5) Gimme Back My Bullets (6) Four Walls of Raiford (7) Whiskey Rock-a-Roller (live) (8) That Smell (9) I Know a Little (10) You Got That Right (11) What’s Your Name? (12) Free Bird (live)

Resources and Related Links: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Lynyrd Skynyrd Dave’s Music Database: Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists Wikipedia page for Gold & Platinum Wikipedia page for Icon First posted 3/8/2023.