The Essentials..., An Exercise in Summer Boredom Options

[Guest_Van Mundegaarde_*]

So, I bought the recent Elton John Greatest Hits Double Disc set yesterday and spent the greater part of the time spent listening to it complaining about the song selection. It seems this happens far too often in regards to Greatest Hits packages and compilations in general.

Then, at the behest of a close friend, I decided my time would be better spent creating Greatest Hits compilations myself via file sharing programs.

Taking a cue from SonyMusic's Essentials collection, I will limit each compilation to no more than three discs in length. However, in deference to their methods, I will not lethargically sequence my packages in chronological order, but will mix the songs in an arrangement that will increase the effect of the CDs as a whole.

Being that Elton John was the impetus for this exercise, he will be my first subject. If my summer ennui continues, you can be sure that i will be posting further editions on a regular basis.

DISC ONE:

1.) Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
2.) The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909-34)
3.) Candle in the Wind (Original)
4.) Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)
5.) Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
6.) Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
7.) Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
8.) Where Have All the Good Times Gone
9.) Someone Saved My Life Tonight
10.) Your Song
11.) I'm Still Standing
12.) Sacrifice
13.) Take Me to the Pilot
14.) Elderberry Wine
15.) This Song Has No Title
16.) This Train Don't Stop There No More

DISC TWO:

1.) Blessed
2.) Skyline Pigeon
3.) Burn Down the Mission
4.) Madman Across the Water
5.) Country Comfort (Live)
6.) Levon
7.) The Emperor's New Clothes
8.) Nikita
9.) A Word in Spanish
10.) Mama Can't Buy You Love
11.) I Guess that's Why They Call it the Blues
12.) Blue Eyes
13.) Sad Songs (Say So Much)
14.) Believe
15.) Philadelphia Freedom
16.) The Bitch is Back

DISC THREE

1.) Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)
2.) Pinball Wizard
3.) Bennie and the Jets
4.) Island Girl
5.) Little Jeanie
6.) Honky Cat
7.) Daniel
8.) Tiny Dancer
9.) Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters
10.) Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word
11.) Rocket Man
12.) I Want Love
13.) Can You Feel the Love Tonight
14.) Something About the Way You Look Tonight
15.) The One
16.) Harmony
17.) The Last Song

Now, to address what may be to some unforgivable omissions. "Crocodile Rock" and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" bug me. Always Have. The other Lion King songs piss me off. "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" and "I Feel Like a Bullet in the Gun of Robert Ford" are fine, but extraneous.

Any other suggestions will be carefully considered and in select cases, oversights may be admitted.

Anyways, I know a lot of you are just as bored as I and would be just as willing to share what you would consider essential collections from your favorite artists.

Let's Hear it.

[PLAGIARISM!]

I contemplated giving my essential sparks, but I've heard the majority of their 30 year output and the only song I actively dislike is Big Brass Ring which is a throwaway instrumental. Some of the disco stuff isn't excellent, but certainly not as big a dip in form as you'd gather from most people's opinions. Find me better eurodisco.

[starvenger]

Now, to address what may be to some unforgivable omissions. "Crocodile Rock" and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" bug me. Always Have. The other Lion King songs piss me off. "Grow Some Funk of Your Own" and "I Feel Like a Bullet in the Gun of Robert Ford" are fine, but extraneous.

I can't argue with you on The Lion King songs. The ones written specifically for the movie/musical work much better than those that Sir Elton sang himself.

I think that I'm a bit biased against "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", but that's William Shatner's fault for "singing" a cover of it, y'know?

[Guest_Van Mundegaarde_*]

Okie doke, still bored and on a Jacksons kick. Which means you get two sets at once.

The Essential Jacksons

1.) Big Boy
2.) My Girl
3.) I Want You
4.) Who's Lovin' You
5.) La La (Means I Love You)
6.) ABC
7.) Rockin' Robin
8.) The Love You Save
9.) Santa Claus is Coming to Town
10.) I'll Be There
11.) It's Your thing
12.) Ready or Not (Here I Come)
13.) Mama's Pearl
14.) Never Can Say Goodbye
15.) Maybe Tomorrow
16.) Got to Be There
17.) Sugar Daddy
18.) Daddy's Home
19.) Doctor My Eyes
20.) Little Bitty Pretty One
21.) Lookin' Through the windows
22.) I Wanna Be Where You Are
23.) Danging Machine
24.) Ben

DISC TWO:

1.) I am Love Pts. 1 & 2
2.) Get it Together
3.) Hum Along and Dance
4.) All I Do is think of You
5.) Enjoy Yourself
6.) Show You the Way to Go
7.) Blame it on the Boogie
8.) Things i Do for You
9.) Shake Your Body
10.) Lovely One
11.) Can You Feel it
12.) Walk Right Now
13.) Torture
14.) State of Shock
15.) Medley (Live from CBS Special)

The Essential Michael Jackson

1.) Don't Stop Till You Get Enough
2.) Rock With you
3.) Working Day and Night
4.) Get on the Floor
5.) Off the Wall
6.) Girlfriend
7.) She's Out of My Life
8.) Burn this Disco Out
9.) Wanna Be Startin' something
10.) Baby Be Mine
11.) The Girl is Mine
12.) Thriller
13.) Beat It
14.) Billie Jean
15.) Human Nature
16.) P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
17.) Say Say Say

DISC TWO

1.) The Way You Make Me Feel
2.) Speed Demon
3.) another Part of Me
4.) Man in the Mirror
5.) I Just Can't Stop Lovin' You
6.) Dirty Diana
7.) Smooth Criminal
8.) Leave Me Alone
9.) Jam
10.) Why You Wanna Trip on Me
11.) In the Closet
12.) Remember the Time
13.) Black or white
14.) Who is It
15.) Give In To Me
16.) Gone Too Soon