The Boney Awards For 2020
Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 9:53 am
Yes, 2020 was one crappy year. And music also suffered, with cancellation of live concerts, delays in some album releases,
and such. But there were some reasons to smile musically nonetheless. A Lot of it was as the result of home recordings,
and internet collaborations.
These are the Boney awards for my favorite songs of the year 2020.
We start off the countdown with a tribute to the two deceased members of Emerson, Lake and Palmer.
80. 21ST CENTURY SCHIZOID MAN-TODD RUNDGREN and BRIAN AUGER
Album: A Tribute To Keith Emerson and Greg Lake
From an album featuring various artists performing songs which featured Lake and/or Emerson. This one combines two songs
that were NOT from Emerson, Lake and Palmer but from the two bands they were in prior to ELP. The first is the scorched
earth King Crimson selection that had Lake on vocals and bass. It then morphs into the take on "America" from "West Side
Story" that Emerson recorded as a member of The Nice. A rousing way to kick off this countdown.
79. QUEEN OF THE HOLLYWOOD EXTRAS-The 1957 TAIL-FIN FIASCO
Album: The Harvard Tango
No stranger to my year-end lists, this Steely Dan inspired combo lands another entry for 2020. The Steely Dan
comparison is aided by the singer's eerie vocal similarity to the Dan's Donald Fagen.
78. ORDINARY MAN-OZZY OSBOURNE w/ELTON JOHN
Album: Ordinary Man
A strange combination perhaps, but it works. A strong and, dare I say, pretty and poignant power ballad.
77. SAVANNAH-JOE BONAMASSA
Album: Royal Tea
The kind of midtempo Southern Rock tune that you'd often hear on an Allman Brothers album.
76. YOU CAN'T HURT A FOOL-PRETENDERS
ALBUM: Hate For Sale
Simmering torch song with a brilliant, emotional Chrissie Hynde vocal.
75. LIFE ON MARS?-MORSE, PORTNOY, GEORGE
Album: Cov3r To Cov3r
From an album of cover tunes by the three progressive rock artists, this one is an updating of one of
my favorite David Bowie songs.
74. OUT TO SEA-DALLAS GREENE
Album: The Distance Between
Full disclosure: this is the daughter of a former bandmate. However, I am quite confident that she would occupy
both her spots on this countdown even if that were not the case. Excellent singer-songwriter stuff.
73. WHAT NOW-TEDDY THOMPSON
Album: Heartbreaker Please
His first of FOUR entries on this list. Classy, midtempo pop. Love his voice...I've been a fan for some time now.
72. LET HIM GO-KAI DANZBERG with DEAR STELLA
Album: Rockshow
Pure pop and proudly so, courtesy of this artist from Germany, assisted by the Austrian singer who goes by
the nom de plume Dear Stella. There's another version on the album with Danzberg alone called Let HER Go, but I much
prefer this one.
71. FADOODLE-THE LICKERISH QUARTET
Album: Threesome Vol. 1
This "quartet" is actually a trio, all former members of the short-lived but highly respected pop group Jellyfish.
This is very clever pop, similar to bands like 10cc and, if anyone remembers them, Sparks...with an occasional touch of
Queen when the harmonies kick into high gear. The lyrics on this one are a bit goofy, but the harmonies that answer
them are clever and amusing. This one grew on me.
70. NIGHTS ON BROADWAY-COKE BELDA
Album: Coke Belda 5: A Tribute To The Bee Gees Vol. 2
This remake doesn't stray too far from the original, except for a slightly more punched up sound and brighter
harmonies that sit up closer to the forefront. I like listening to this version, simply put.
69. WHY WAIT-TEDDY THOMPSON
Album: Heartbreaker Please
A very cool soulful 60's R & B style number, complete with the horn section that sounds like it jumped straight
out of a Memphis recording session. Thompson's vocal is a little bit country, a little bit blue-eyed soul. Love this tune,
and yet there are two other songs on the album I love even more.
68. SONG FOR SAM COOKE (HERE IN AMERICA)-DION w/PAUL SIMON
Album: Blues With Friends
The 81 year-old hitmaker of the 50's and 60's still makes records, mostly in the blues genre. Here he is joined by
another Rock Hall of Fame member for an ode to a 3rd inductee. It explores the lunacy of being a huge star yet still being
relegated to "for whites only" restrictions, in the days where black entertainers would be booked to perform at fancy hotels
but have to hunt down a different place to sleep because they weren't allowed to stay at the very place they performed. As an
act on many multiracial tours, Dion saw a lot of this firsthand.
67. SOMETIMES-JIM TRAINOR
Album: Glass Half Full
The vocal makes this sounds a little like an Oasis track. In other words, melodic with a definite Beatleish vibe.
66. DIDN'T FIX ME-DAWES
Album: Good Luck With Whatever
This band has shown up often in my year-end countdowns. This track is a very emotional one. The lyrics describe the man's
search for quick and easy answers to overcome his pains, to discover that only time and a determination to take one step
at a time....and if you're lucky enough, someone who loves you warts and all, can eventually ease the hurt.
65. BURNED-KELLY JONES
Album: Big Dogs Die Young
California Pop. This was written as a response to a songwriter's club challenge to come up with the best song possible
about summer love using only two chords and lyrics that didn't rhyme. I think she did pretty well, personally.
I couldn't find a video for this one, so here's an audio link.
https://kellyjones77.bandcamp.com/track/burned
64. GHOSTS-BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Album: Letter To You
If you don't care for The Boss, this won't convert you, as it touches the usual bases for
a Springsteen tune. If you like Bruuuuce, however, this one should appeal to you just fine.
63. RADIO CLOUD-RUSTON KELLY
Album: Shape & Destroy
Sweet, or more accurately, bittersweet melody with some country-ish flavoring.
62. LETTERS-DALLAS GREENE
Album: The Distance Between
Another one from the considerably talented daughter of an old bandmate of mine. A fiery takedown of a love
that done the narrator of the song wrong. Keeping it in the famiy, her brother Nevada plays bass on this track.
61. LET'S START OVER AGAIN-VANILLA
Album: Digital Track
Hoo Boy. This is a straight-up Paul McCartney inspired "silly love song". Simple, lovely innocence.
Entries 60-41 coming up next Thursday, April 8th.
and such. But there were some reasons to smile musically nonetheless. A Lot of it was as the result of home recordings,
and internet collaborations.
These are the Boney awards for my favorite songs of the year 2020.
We start off the countdown with a tribute to the two deceased members of Emerson, Lake and Palmer.
80. 21ST CENTURY SCHIZOID MAN-TODD RUNDGREN and BRIAN AUGER
Album: A Tribute To Keith Emerson and Greg Lake
From an album featuring various artists performing songs which featured Lake and/or Emerson. This one combines two songs
that were NOT from Emerson, Lake and Palmer but from the two bands they were in prior to ELP. The first is the scorched
earth King Crimson selection that had Lake on vocals and bass. It then morphs into the take on "America" from "West Side
Story" that Emerson recorded as a member of The Nice. A rousing way to kick off this countdown.
79. QUEEN OF THE HOLLYWOOD EXTRAS-The 1957 TAIL-FIN FIASCO
Album: The Harvard Tango
No stranger to my year-end lists, this Steely Dan inspired combo lands another entry for 2020. The Steely Dan
comparison is aided by the singer's eerie vocal similarity to the Dan's Donald Fagen.
78. ORDINARY MAN-OZZY OSBOURNE w/ELTON JOHN
Album: Ordinary Man
A strange combination perhaps, but it works. A strong and, dare I say, pretty and poignant power ballad.
77. SAVANNAH-JOE BONAMASSA
Album: Royal Tea
The kind of midtempo Southern Rock tune that you'd often hear on an Allman Brothers album.
76. YOU CAN'T HURT A FOOL-PRETENDERS
ALBUM: Hate For Sale
Simmering torch song with a brilliant, emotional Chrissie Hynde vocal.
75. LIFE ON MARS?-MORSE, PORTNOY, GEORGE
Album: Cov3r To Cov3r
From an album of cover tunes by the three progressive rock artists, this one is an updating of one of
my favorite David Bowie songs.
74. OUT TO SEA-DALLAS GREENE
Album: The Distance Between
Full disclosure: this is the daughter of a former bandmate. However, I am quite confident that she would occupy
both her spots on this countdown even if that were not the case. Excellent singer-songwriter stuff.
73. WHAT NOW-TEDDY THOMPSON
Album: Heartbreaker Please
His first of FOUR entries on this list. Classy, midtempo pop. Love his voice...I've been a fan for some time now.
72. LET HIM GO-KAI DANZBERG with DEAR STELLA
Album: Rockshow
Pure pop and proudly so, courtesy of this artist from Germany, assisted by the Austrian singer who goes by
the nom de plume Dear Stella. There's another version on the album with Danzberg alone called Let HER Go, but I much
prefer this one.
71. FADOODLE-THE LICKERISH QUARTET
Album: Threesome Vol. 1
This "quartet" is actually a trio, all former members of the short-lived but highly respected pop group Jellyfish.
This is very clever pop, similar to bands like 10cc and, if anyone remembers them, Sparks...with an occasional touch of
Queen when the harmonies kick into high gear. The lyrics on this one are a bit goofy, but the harmonies that answer
them are clever and amusing. This one grew on me.
70. NIGHTS ON BROADWAY-COKE BELDA
Album: Coke Belda 5: A Tribute To The Bee Gees Vol. 2
This remake doesn't stray too far from the original, except for a slightly more punched up sound and brighter
harmonies that sit up closer to the forefront. I like listening to this version, simply put.
69. WHY WAIT-TEDDY THOMPSON
Album: Heartbreaker Please
A very cool soulful 60's R & B style number, complete with the horn section that sounds like it jumped straight
out of a Memphis recording session. Thompson's vocal is a little bit country, a little bit blue-eyed soul. Love this tune,
and yet there are two other songs on the album I love even more.
68. SONG FOR SAM COOKE (HERE IN AMERICA)-DION w/PAUL SIMON
Album: Blues With Friends
The 81 year-old hitmaker of the 50's and 60's still makes records, mostly in the blues genre. Here he is joined by
another Rock Hall of Fame member for an ode to a 3rd inductee. It explores the lunacy of being a huge star yet still being
relegated to "for whites only" restrictions, in the days where black entertainers would be booked to perform at fancy hotels
but have to hunt down a different place to sleep because they weren't allowed to stay at the very place they performed. As an
act on many multiracial tours, Dion saw a lot of this firsthand.
67. SOMETIMES-JIM TRAINOR
Album: Glass Half Full
The vocal makes this sounds a little like an Oasis track. In other words, melodic with a definite Beatleish vibe.
66. DIDN'T FIX ME-DAWES
Album: Good Luck With Whatever
This band has shown up often in my year-end countdowns. This track is a very emotional one. The lyrics describe the man's
search for quick and easy answers to overcome his pains, to discover that only time and a determination to take one step
at a time....and if you're lucky enough, someone who loves you warts and all, can eventually ease the hurt.
65. BURNED-KELLY JONES
Album: Big Dogs Die Young
California Pop. This was written as a response to a songwriter's club challenge to come up with the best song possible
about summer love using only two chords and lyrics that didn't rhyme. I think she did pretty well, personally.
I couldn't find a video for this one, so here's an audio link.
https://kellyjones77.bandcamp.com/track/burned
64. GHOSTS-BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Album: Letter To You
If you don't care for The Boss, this won't convert you, as it touches the usual bases for
a Springsteen tune. If you like Bruuuuce, however, this one should appeal to you just fine.
63. RADIO CLOUD-RUSTON KELLY
Album: Shape & Destroy
Sweet, or more accurately, bittersweet melody with some country-ish flavoring.
62. LETTERS-DALLAS GREENE
Album: The Distance Between
Another one from the considerably talented daughter of an old bandmate of mine. A fiery takedown of a love
that done the narrator of the song wrong. Keeping it in the famiy, her brother Nevada plays bass on this track.
61. LET'S START OVER AGAIN-VANILLA
Album: Digital Track
Hoo Boy. This is a straight-up Paul McCartney inspired "silly love song". Simple, lovely innocence.
Entries 60-41 coming up next Thursday, April 8th.