​A list of masterpieces

As promised, here is the list of masterpiece songs as suggested by our readers and friends in response to my April 1 editorial, “The Masterpiece Challenge.”

This is not a complete list. And it includes plenty of tunes that others would never dream of calling a masterpiece. We included every suggestion sent to us, with the exclusion of instrumental and classical pieces, as well as some songs that were from a person who suggested several. I had to cut the list somehow so it would fit for print.

The point of this editorial is to help people discover some of the greatest music ever made, new and old. Truly, many of the songs people suggested are brilliant pieces of art, some of which you’ve already heard. As for the songs and artists you don’t recognize, we dare you to hear them out. If they’ve electrified someone else, there’s chance they may electrify you too. If any of them do, please share your experience.

Frankly, I was surprised to see how many people suggested tunes as new as the 2000s. (Awesome!) I was also pleased to see people suggest artists’ songs that are less popular or well known. This is not to say artists’ most cliche songs can’t be masterpieces.

Perhaps we can find better suggestions from some big media’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list. What’s special about this list is that it speaks to our area’s tastes -- not completely, but to a notable degree. We were pleased to get responses from musicians, radio personalities, photographers, a CEO, a funeral director and plenty more folks who listed some of their all-time favorite songs ...

1930s

“Strange Fruit” by Billie Holiday

1950s

"Drown in My Own Tears" performed by Ray Charles (written by Henry Glover)

1960s

“Georgia on my Mind” by Ray Charles (written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell)

“At Last” by Etta James

“Don't Think Twice, It’s Alright” by Bob Dylan

“Change Is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke

“The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll” by Bob Dylan

“Feelin' Good” by Nina Simone (written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse)

“I've Been Loving You Too Long” by Otis Redding

“It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)” by Bob Dylan

“Early Morning Rain” by Gordon Lightfoot

“I Just Wasn't Made For These Times” by The Beach Boys

“Day In The Life” by The Beatles

“Little Wing” by Jimi Hendrix

“Omaha” by Moby Grape

“The Wind Cries Mary” by Jimi Hendrix

“These Days” by Nico (written by Jackson Browne)

“What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong (written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss)

“Beside You” by Van Morrison

“Rainy Day, Dream Away” by Jimi Hendrix

“Sittin On The Dock (Of The Bay)” by Otis Redding

“So Hard To Share” by John Mayall

“You Showed Me” by The Turtles

“Suite: Judy Blue Eyes” by Crosby, Stills and Nash

“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” by The Band

“With A Little Help From My Friends” by Joe Cocker (written by The Beatles)

1970s

“Fire and Rain” by James Taylor

“If Not For You” by Bob Dylan

"Since I’ve Been Loving You" by Led Zeppelin

“Station Man” by Fleetwood Mac

"American Pie" by Don McLean

“Blue” by Joni Mitchell

“Gonna Take A Miracle” by Laura Nyro and Labelle

“Have You Ever Seen The Rain” by Creedence Clearwater Revival

“Hocus Pocus” by Focus

“Imagine” by John Lennon

“Mercy, Mercy Me” by Marvin Gaye

“Sam Stone” by John Prine

“Stairway To Heaven” by Led Zeppelin

“When I Paint My Masterpiece” by The Band (written by Bob Dylan)

“Carry Me, Carrie” by Dr. Hook And The Medicine Show

“Close To The Edge” by Yes

"Pink Moon" by Nick Drake

“Operator” by Jim Croce

“Out On The Weekend” by Neil Young

“20th Century Boy” by T. Rex

“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John

“Living For The City” by Stevie Wonder

“Love Hurts” by Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons (written by Boudleaux Bryant)

“Chelsea Hotel No. 2” by Leonard Cohen

"Come Monday" by Jimmy Buffett

“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen

“Franklin's Tower” by Grateful Dead

“Free Money” by Patti Smith

“Thunder Road” by Bruce Springsteen

“Carry On My Wayward Son” by Kansas

"Dogs" by Pink Floyd

“Racing In The Street” by Bruce Springsteen

“Don't Stop Me Now” by Queen

1980s

“Redemption Song” by Bob Marley and The Wailers

“Break My Stride” by Matthew Wilder

“Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now” by The Smiths

“Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes” by Paul Simon

“Graceland” by Paul Simon

“You Can Leave Your Hat On” by Joe Cocker (written by Randy Newman)

"Slow Love" by Prince

“They Dance Alone” by Sting

“Tweeter and the Monkey Man” by Traveling Wilburys

“Fight The Power” by Public Enemy

"Voices On The Wind" by Little Feat

“Waiting Room” by Fugazi

“Achin’ To Be” by The Replacements

1990s

“Ghost” by The Indigo Girls

“Yellow Ledbetter” by Pearl Jam

“You” by Radiohead

“A Song for You” by Ray Charles (written by Leon Russell)

“It Ain't Hard To Tell” by Nas

“Lover, You Should've Come Over” by Jeff Buckley

“Hallelujah” by performed by Jeff Buckley (written by Leonard Cohen)

“I Don't Think So” by Dinosaur Jr

“Goodbye” by Steve Earle

“Fake Plastic Trees” by Radiohead

“The Diamond Sea” by Sonic Youth

“10's” by Pantera

“Come On Up To The House” by Tom Waits

“Magic” by Ben Folds Five

2000s

“3030” by Deltron 3030

“Death Letter” by The White Stripes (written by Eddie James “Son” House)

“Chop Suey!” by System Of A Down

“A Better Son/Daughter” by Rilo Kiley

“Adrian” by Mason Jennings

“The Exploding Psychology” by Squarepusher

“If You Could Save Yourself (You'd Save Us All)” by Ween

“Maple Leaves” Jens Lekman

“Breathe Me” by Sia

“Down Here” by Stateless

“Arms Of A Woman” by Amos Lee

“Hide And Seek” by Imogen Heap

“So Come Back, I Am Waiting” by Okkervil River

“Blue Veins” by The Raconteurs

“Not Ready To Make Nice” by Dixie Chicks

“Stripped” by Shiny Toy Guns

"Tetragrammaton" by The Mars Volta

“The Other Side Of Mt. Heart Attack” by Liars

“Up To the Mountain (The MLK Song)” by Patty Griffin

“You Are My Face” by Wilco

“Wide Eyes” by Local Natives

2010s

“Learn From The Landscapes” by JP Cooper

“Undertow” by Ane Brun

“Nakamarra” by Hiatus Kaiyote

“The Curse” by Agnes Obel

“Elephant” by Jason Isbell

“Song For Zula” by Phosphorescent

“Take Me To Church” by Hozier

“You Missed My Heart” by Sun Kil Moon

“Golden Halls Pt. 2” by Adolescent

“Archie, Marry Me” by Alvvays