Here we go.
We are proud to present the top 10 of our Top 100 Drinking Songs.
We couldn't have done this without the hundreds of suggestions that poured in from all y'all back in January. And we certainly couldn't have done this without the help and expertise of our panel of judges. Please, once again, raise a toast to Kip, Sean, Kyle, Andy, and Rev. Frost.
For the record, and for your edification, the following songs, in no particular order, scored the number one slot in each of the ballots.
"Dim Lights, Thick Smoke, And Loud, Loud Music (Various/Vern Gosdin)
"There's A Tear In My Beer" (Hank Williams)- 2 votes
"Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee" (various)
"The Wild Rover" (Traditional)
"Sally MacLennane" (The Pogues)
I was particularly pleasantly pleased and surprised by numbers 10 and 8 making it so high up on the list. Both artists are favorites of mine, and have a strong catalogue of great drinking songs. One has moved on to different, and perhaps stronger, themes, while the other we still say a silent prayer for every night.
Wynonie Harris (numbers 6 and 7)issued a strong smackdown to the competition for best shout/jump Blues belter.
Number 9 was the top Country weeper, and number 5 makes its case for the moonshine still in Americana culture/myth.
Congratulations to Ireland (numbers 8 and 3). These songs are not so much a validation of a stereotype, but more a testament to the Emerald Isle's gift for song and storytelling.
Number 4 was the clear winner 'til the last ballots came in. You know the song, and everyone has their favorite version of it. The Mountain's personal preference is The Lightnin' Hopkins version.
Number 2 was another surprise, and a very good one. The ultimate teetotaler's lament to their wayward partner.
And number 1. The only song to receive votes from every judge, it placed in 3 top 10's, 2 top 20's, and 1 top 30. It covers all the bases, and I think very deserving of it's prime position. Having been covered exhaustively, with the title switched around and the lyrics altered in some cases, it's one of the few drinking songs that can boast versions in the widest amount of genres. Everyone has their favorite rendition, but we recommend the Milburn version. Just happens to be our favorite.
So. Thanks for joining us. The list will move over to it's new home at Barstool Mountain on Monday. We'll get a proper, easily downloadable version of the Top 100 up over there. And every song on the list will get, eventually, it's own personal post. If you've been holding off on calling us out about the songs we missed, now is your chance. Hell, give us your personal Top 100. We'll post it. Music taste is malleable and subjective, so we want to know what you think.
The Big Rock Candy Mountain Top 100 Drinking Songs, Part 10
10. "The Piano Has Been Drinking (Not Me)" - Tom Waits
9. "There Stands the Glass" - Various/Webb Pierce
8. "Streams of Whiskey" - The Pogues (mp3)
7. "Quiet Whiskey" - Wynonie Harris
6. "Don't Take My Whiskey Away From Me" - Wynonie Harris (mp3)
5. "White Lightning" - George Jones (mp3)
4. "Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee" - Various Artists
3. "Whiskey In the Jar" - Traditional/The Dubliners
2. "Don't Come Home A Drinkin'(With Lovin' On Your Mind)" - Loretta Lynn (mp3)
1. "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer" - Amos Milburn (plus every other musician in the world)(mp3)
24 comments:
The end of a great and culturally enriching endeavour. Surprised Drinkin' Wine Spo Dee O Dee didn't take the crown but their is no shame in being beaten by Milburn and Lynn.
Still think there should've been a place for Born Slippy.. all together now...
"Lager,lager,lager..."
Not to take too much away from Webb, but I think that the version of "There Stands The Glass" by Ted Hawkins could have placed this song a few notches higher.
Perhaps I should have chimed in sooner? My bad.
Mr. Mountain, thanks again for being our curator (and occasional nudge) on this journey.
My loyalties on #3 are mixed -- I grew up with the traditional up-tempo versions, but now swear by the darker Thin Lizzy version (from one of their 1970s Peel Sessions). The opening guitar bit sounds like pipers leading troops on the march -- very special stuff. Yet another contribution on the next peak.
Nice...but don't forget "Vertigo" by The Libertines:
"Was it the liquor, or was it my soul?"
This list is f---ing genius. You could make an absolute killing if you could get the top 100 mp3's on a disc somehow. You should look into it.
Excellent, excellent list! Thanks to you and the judges for putting it together!
Excellent list.
I am sad to see "The Drinking Song" by Moxy Früvous is missing, however.
no love for chumbawamba either.
kidding...
Excellent!
Some faves and some surprises (mainly due to ignorance on my part).
I was sure that the Pogues would show with "The Boys From County Hell" but there we go.
There'll be a few discussions raging into the night about this list, I bet.
Kudos to You boss. ":~)
I like the idea. Years ago, there was an LP on Stash Records that featured a whole mess of songs about drinking and drugs. It was called "Tea songs" I think, and most of the songs were R&B songs from the 30's and 40's. Great fun.
This list has been THE BEST! All respect to the judges for their wisdom. I would have chosen "There Stands The Glass" as number one, but I guess that's why I'm not a judge. Thanks so much for attempting a project as large as this. There are many people who think that this is a full-time job, rather than a labour of love. You have all done VERY WELL! A suggestion for your next undertaking - the best sleezy/sex songs of all time. After all, what goes better with booze than sleezy women?
I would have put “There Stands The Glass” at #1 (in the Webb Pierce version, not the Ted Hawkins version), but all in all, it’s a very good list. Another song that would have been near the top of my list is “Seven Drunken Nights” by the Dubliners, easily the funniest drinking song ever. Also Hank Thompson had several other worthies including "Smoky The Bar" and "I See Them Everywhere" that are not to missed
Great list, but where is "Big Rock Candy Mountain" -- "...and the little streams of alcohol come a-trickling down the rocks"? For shame.
Lyle
This list was a lot of fun, great work!
I was surprised how low Margerittaville was on it..and maybe I would consider Fairytale of New York as a drinking song...but I suppose that is pushing it. I imagine a lot of drinking happens with Outkasts' Bombs Over Baghdad too although there is not literal mention of booze in the lyrics...which seems to be a prerequisite in the list.
http://www.rwjf.org/programareas/resources/grantsreport.jsp?filename=030127.htm&pid=1144
Good gravy, folks, thanks for all the kind words. And all the suggestions for songs we missed. It was a tough slog, and about half my personal ballot didn't make the Top 100. But that's why I brought in some extra opinions and voters, to help keep the list from being just my taste.
For every song we included on the list, there must have been 20 great ones that had to be left off.
Hopefully I'll make it up to y'all over at the Barstool Mountain site.
We want BigRock for our leader
BigRock is a man of class
We Want BigRock for our leader
all stand and raise your champagne glass
^_^
So how did "Tear in My Beer" get two votes for #1 yet end up #17?
One of the judges voted it at #99, and one didn't vote for it all. It was number 1 on my ballot. But, hey, that's the nature of lists, opinions are all over the place, and the gentlemen who didn't rate "There's a Tear" voted for some great tunes that may not have made the list otherwise, so it all evens out. I'm pretty pleased how the list turned out.
Hey Mr. Big Rock,
Thanks to you and your "drinking buddies".
It is a very cool list. I like the fact there are a wide range of tunes. The list has provided me with some new tunes I was not familiar with.
Your blog is always an education.
Cheers,
John (from Brew City)
haze of drink by slobberbone is a pretty good one, i don't know if it is the best by my account but it is up there
I thought it was THINKING songs. I was going to vote for "existential blues".
Oh, BTW:
Guess what? “you’re it baggy eyes” Hey, don’t blame me, blame Carina http://riverwalkyarns.blogspot.com/2007/05/8-random-things-huh.html she started this!
Brent said " You're it baggy eyes!"
Well that's it, then 7 random things:
ahem
One Scotch
One Bourbon
One Beer
that should get you off to a flying start
";~)
I get a message "no shared files/folders found" when I try to listen.
Am I missing something?
As I read this the thrumbing bass of Knoxville's own Sassy Ann's Blues club www.sassyanns.com is shaking the windows at my house. Fun. I need a drink.
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