A Return Trip Back in Time to Original, Captivating Music ◦ MusicQuest RetroOriginals Mix ◦ 138 Essential Songs

This extended mix showcases "some" of the best, most original music from the earlier days of Rock 'n' Roll into and through the Golden Era of American Top 40 Radio, which, in my opinion, culminated in the late 1980s, losing much of its stylistic coherency by the middle of the 1990s. This is arguably the time period between 1955-1995. I think many of us enjoyed these types of songs because they were not as genre specific as much as they were melodically interesting and, therefore, pleasing, and they tended to utilize relatively short playtimes. Several of the songs that make up this mix were initially broadcast on AM and then FM stations, and most of these artists experienced high levels of commercial success and popularity. I also think these songs are special because they are so musically vibrant and enduring. Musical tastes are, of course, in the main subjective -- much like a person's ice cream, coffee, or tea preferences. Nevertheless, one can identify, and I think this mix has done that, a set of songs that showcase outstanding compositional and lyrical skills within the scope of popular music -- songs my generation repeatedly listened to in their daily lives. Over the years, I developed a recurring, memory-rich friendship with the songs on this playlist and am thankful to the artists, bands, and producers for their work. I hope you enjoy these tracks, discovering some new-to-you favorites. One last thought: I did not include songs from The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Earth, Wind, and Fire, Pink Floyd, or Yes because I have already showcased their extensive discographies. I did include songs from Steely Dan, Elton John, Tears for Fears, and Stevie Wonder (all of whom I have also previously showcased at length) simply because I thought they complemented well the main theme of this mix.

Charles Calvin Best

Billy Joel Movin' Out (Anthony's Song), Only the Good Die Young, Allentown The Doobie Brothers What a Fool Believes, Minute by Minute, Black Water  Emerson, Lake, & Palmer From the Beginning, Lucky Man Elton John Rocket Man (I Think It's Going To Be A Long, Long Time), Harmony, Honky Cat, Bennie and the Jets, The Ballad of Danny Bailey (1909-1934) Harry Nilsson The Moonbeam Song, Me and My Arrow, Remember (Christmas) James Taylor Her Town Too, Mockingbird (with Carly Simon) Mamas and the Papas Dedicated to the One I love, Monday, Monday, I Saw Her Again Seals & Crofts Summer Breeze, Hummingbird Donovan Mellow Yellow, Sunshine Superman The 5th Dimension Up, Up and Away, Stoned Soul Picnic America I Need You, Ventura Highway Paul McCartney Band on the Run, Maybe I'm Amazed, Too Many People, Let 'Em In, Hi Hi Hi Supertramp Give a Little Bit, Goodbye Stranger, Take the Long Way Home Kenny Loggins Vox Humana, Loraine Elvis Presley Don't Be Cruel, All Shook Up, Hound Dog The Ozark Mountain Daredevils Jackie Blue Pilot Magic The Manhattan Transfer Birdland, Twilight Zone, A Tisket, A Tasket 10cc I'm Not in Love, Life Is a Minestrone The Monkees I'm a Believer, Last Train to Clarksville George Harrison When We Was Fab, Wah-Wah Leon Russell Tight Rope Peter, Paul, and Mary I Dig Rock and Roll Music Climax Blues Band I Love You Bread Guitar Man, Make It with You The Cyrkle The Visit (She Was There), I Wish You Could Be Here Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 The Fool on the Hill, The Look of Love Chicago Saturday in the Park, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? Blood, Sweat, & Tears Spinning Wheel, And When I Die Gilbert O'Sullivan Alone Again (Naturally), Claire John Lennon Jealous Guy, Watching the Wheels, (Just Like) Starting Over Todd Rundgren Hello It's Me, Wolfman Jack, The Night the Carousel Burned Down Carly Simon You're So Vain, Anticipation Fleetwood Mac Sara, Dreams, Gypsy The Beach Boys Good Vibrations, Wouldn't It Be Nice, All Summer Long Ringo Starr You're Sixteen (You're Beautiful and You're Mine), I'm the Greatest Bee Gees How Deep Is Your Love, Too Much Heaven, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart Al Jarreau Mornin', I Keep Callin', Murphys' Law Donald Fagen I.G.Y., New Frontier, Walk Between the Raindrops The Moody Blues You're Wildest Dreams, I Know You're Out There Somewhere Ambrosia Biggest Part of Me, How Much I Feel Level 42 Lessons in Love, Something about You TOTO Rosanna, Georgy Porgy The Doors Riders on the Storm, People Are Strange, Love Her Madly Gino Vannelli Brother to Brother, Wheels of Life Orchestral Manoeuvers in the Dark (Forever) Live Tears for Fears Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Who Killed Tangerine, Sowing the Seeds of Love, Schrodinger's Cat Mike and the Mechanics Silent Running, The Living Years Genesis Tonight, Tonight, Tonight Starship Sara Gary Wright Love Is Alive, Really Want to Know You Boz Scaggs Lowdown, Lido Shuffle The Hollies The Air That I Breathe, Bus Stop Steely Dan FM, Aja, Peg, I Got the News, Haitian Divorce Stevie Wonder Power Flower, He's Misstra Know-It-All, Bird of Beauty, I Wish, Summer Soft, Isn't She Lovely Peter Gabriel Big Time, Sledgehammer Don Henley Boys of Summer, Dirty Laundry Mr. Mister Broken Wings

MUSICQUEST RETROORIGINALS MIX ◦ 138 ESSENTIAL SONGS ◦ 9 HOURS

Please Check-out the Representative YouTube Playlist Below and the Embedded Documentaries and Interviews.