Songs You Probably Don't Have On Your iTunes

(...But Totally Should)

So there are songs that you have on your iTunes regardless of whether you're an amateur rock aficionado (The Beatles - "Revolution") and there are songs that only you & your select group of cool friends have on your iTunes,  (Uncle Tupelo - "Before I Break").

Well, regardless of which group to which you belong, I'm here to tell you there are songs and groups you might be missing.  That's right.  Stuff that is amazing.  Wicked sweet.  Kinda nerdy.  Occasionally rocking yet possibly ridiculously hilarious or totally ironic at the same time.  That's right...awesome songs.  And, just like the female classmate that developed a cute smile & sneaky-nice boobs in 6th grade, but you never noticed 'em until Senior Skip Day 6 years too late, I'm here to point out those under-the-radar, kick-ass-sex-pot songs to you now...so you can totally brag that you knew about them all along.

"What songs are those?" you might ask. "I don't want to miss out on the well-endowed musical bosom of my childhood any longer!!"  Well, you impatient bastard, luckily, the Wood is here for you.  He's here to scoop up those songs that were only cool in their perspective groups, those songs that were awesome to those that knew them, but otherwise have gone overlooked by society, or looked at as nerdy and/or ironically cool by those who were swell enough to know those tracks from jump street.

So, without further adieu, here's the list.  You may disagree, but it's only because your hipster scarf is too tight, or your ironic glasses aren't quite in focus.

1)  Katrina & the Waves - Walking on Sunshine
A basic song on the list of dorky songs you should have, and yet, still a contender.  Often overlooked for more commercial 80's songs like "Let's Go Crazy" or "Footloose", "Walking on Sunshine has become the Revenge of the Nerds of 80's songs, becoming cool for not being cool (and also because the bass player's name was "Booger" - ok, I might have made that up).  Seriously, if you can listen to this song without wanting to dance, then you might be the devil, or a closely associated relative.  This song shot all the way to #9 in the US before fading into obscurity.  But not before Katrina and her fellow Waves held on to publishing rights, and enjoyed the song allegedly earning approximately $1million a year from 2000 - 2011.  Bet MC Hammer wishes 2 Legit 2 Quit was still paying like that.

2) REO Speedwagon - Roll With the Changes
From the platinum album You Can Tune a Piano but You Can't Tuna Fish, "Roll With the Changes" was the lesser single to "Time for Me to Fly".  Except for when it came to rockin' drums and sick break-downs.  For example, after the first verse, but the 8-count right before the 2nd verse, it has a sweet pause that was written for the ages, and then kicks right into the 2nd verse. That was the very precise moment when they went from  REO Motor-scooter to Speedwagon.  P.S. Fuck you if you don't like the previous sentence.

3) Rod Stewart - Do Ya Think I'm Sexy
Oh, what? You hate this song?  Well, I guess you hate children, huh?  Since royalties from this song were initially donated to UNICEF.  Rod's foray into disco wasn't all that bad, considering all the other horse-crap that came after it in 1978.  Not to mention, any Stones fan can hear the obvious influence of "Miss You" on the bass line break down in this song; and if you can't hear the 'Stones influence in this one, maybe try looking for it in Jimmy Fallon's "Idiot Boyfriend".

4) The Monkees - Last Train to Clarksville
Hey, hey, they're the Monkees...keep in mind that Jimi Freakin' Hendrix once opened for them.  Any questions?  Sure, Jimi blew them off the stage and, yeah, I know they were a Nick at Nite phenomenon to most of us, but back in 1966, they were viewed as America's answer to the Beatles.  That's good enough to make this list.

5) The Commodores - Easy
Sure, it's a sappy ballad, but that's not why it made the list.  It made the list off straight-up awesome street-cred.  That's right, the boys of Faith No More covered the song and released it as a b-side during the studio sessions of Angel Dust, and it was later featured in an ad for Levi's jeans.  What?  Your songs need to be cooler than blue jeans to be featured in commercials?  Yeah, that's right...I didn't think so.  Moving on.

6) Neil Diamond - Forever in Blue Jeans
Speaking of the Jewish Elvis, I DO need to add him to this list.  "Forever in Blue Jeans" is one of many songs in in which Neill sings about the physical act of love and how to incorporate it into your life.  If you don't like that, well, your love might just be on the rocks.  I'll move on.

7) ZZ Top - Sharp Dressed Man
Many will argue that ZZ Top's best album musically was Tres Hombres, or maybe even Deguello, and if you're a big fan of blues guitar and awesomeness, then maybe you're right.  But, if you like 30's style hot rods, early MTV, ladies in videos, and beards, then you liked Eliminator. 
But, as entertaining as the "Legs" and "Gimme All Your Lovin" videos were, it's this cover of Sharp Dressed Man by an awsomely-over-the-top wedding band that entertains us the most,  and inspires the #7 spot on our Top 10 list.  Sweet Jesus, that drummer is pretty much the bossest, most hard core, awesomest som' bitch this side of the Mississippi.  And also, where can I get a gold, glittered coat?

8) The Bangles - Hazy Shade of Winter
Sure, most of you are probably aware of the original by Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel, recorded in 1966.  But I'm not talking about that one.  Sure it's great, but can you really tell me that the original is better than the cover done by the Bangles in 1987 for the film Less Than Zero.  Go ahead...I'm so confident that it's superior, that I'll wait.  Yeah, Susanna Hoffs is the one that dazzles your mind's eye while humping your ear vag.  If that imagery was too graphic for you just now, then this track was probably too much for you back in '87. 

9) The Bee Gees - Jive Talkin'
This song hit the charts in the summer of '75, and was largely regarded as their "comeback hit" after their success of the late 60's & early 70's.  If only critics knew what was headed their way on the Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack (along with John Travolta's hair and underpants'd torso).  Though the Bee Gees are mostly remembered for their contributions to that Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, they did have earlier music that topped the charts, and this particular song hit #5 on the UK charts.  Think I'm Jive Talkin'? Hey, screw you.  Ok, that was a dumb joke.  I'm sorry.

10) Blue Oyster Cult - The Red & The Black
The opening track off the 1973 album Tyranny and Mutation by Blue Oyster Cult, it's a re-titled, re-recorded version of the band's "I'm On The Lamb But I Ain't No Sheep", from their first studio album.  They were referred to as the American Black Sabbath for a reason, as they rocked the shit out of this one, along with many more, on their way to being known as the band to inspire the SNL sketch "More Cowbell". 
FYI, they also toured with the ACTUAL Black Sabbath in 1980 as part of the Black & Blue Tour, so in case you were doubting their chops, well...chops they certainly do have.  Even if the famous-ness of those chops faded after "Burnin' For You" and all you remember is that you could've used a little more cow bell.