'90s On 9
- Prayer For The Dying-Seal (One of Seal's most gripping songs; somber lyrics, sung with exactly the right degree of emotion.)
- In My Life-The Beatles (Some of the most thoughtful lyrics about appreciating one's past and present; the Baroque harpsichord solo fits perfectly with the song's blend of sentimentality and nostalgia. For years, I've said that "Rubber Soul" is my favorite Beatles album, and this reflective tune is the best of the bunch, in my opinion.)
- Santeria-Aimee Allen (No disrespect to the band Sublime, but Allen's thoughtful acoustic cover gives the lyrics more heartfelt delicacy. Her approach to the vocals reminds me of Ani DiFranco.)
- Strawberry Letter 23-The Brothers Johnson (The Brothers Johnson put some gloss on this strong Shuggie Otis tune, resulting in a big hit 40 years ago. The more I hear this, the more I appreciate how difficult it must be to sing. As in "Across The Universe" by The Beatles, there isn't a true chorus; both songs keep building lyrically on what they've started and don't allow much room for the singer to take a breath.)
- Gold-Andra Day (Honestly, powerfully sung lyrics about the consequences of choosing the wrong partner in life.)
- Book Of Dreams-Suzanne Vega (We can all be strong and resilient in our dreams, if not in everyday life.)
- The Woods (Exclusive)-Tom Petty (Sadly, when quality musicians pass away, you sometimes notice aspects of their music you wish you'd appreciated more when they were alive. That's the case for me with "The Woods." Listening to this acoustic version now, I hear elements of The Beatles, Eric Clapton, and "Wake Up Little Susie" by The Everly Brothers; that's a respectable trio of influences, to say the least.)
