32 Comments

I had no idea Peter Gabriel released an album last year!!! Excellent news, thanks for sharing.

The only Rush song I can think of with "four" in the title is "Freeze" from VAPOR TRAILS -- its subtitle is "Fear: Part IV". Beyond that, Soundgarden had a real banger in "4th of July"!

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Fantastic list Steve! While I’m familiar with most of the artists, I’m not familiar with most of these songs.

Love seeing Nina Simone on here, she’s absolutely marvelous! In 2021 Ledisi had a fantastic album of Nina Simone covers (“Ledisi Sings Nina”) which made my AOTY list. It’s worth five minutes of your time to check out this otherworldly live performance of the song with Metropole Orkest at the Royal Albert Hall in 2019: https://youtu.be/r132Hdela6M

The one song I would add to your list is by Cake - “Friend is a Four Letter Word” from their phenomenal second album Fashion Nugget.

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Ha- I own Fashion Nugget and this didn’t appear in my search! See, computers do make errors….I’ll check out the Ledesi album and video when I get home later. Thanks, Mark!

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What a great list! Aesop Rock AND Nina Simone on the same list is a thing of magic.

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Both speak to their truth and the world at large so uniquely

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Really taken with both the Peter Gabriel and Crowded House songs.

Great list, Steve.

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Yes they are both so gorgeous and emotionally rich.

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For reasons unbeknownst to me, the only song I can think of right now is "Sixteen Tons". I guess I'm going to have to wait a couple more weeks, unless you're willing to accept 4 times 4? 🤣

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you must be concerned about aging and money…;) I do have a teenage number playlist coming in a few months— that one will definitely make the cut!

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Great list! Here's one more "four":

Foxtrot - "Four Long Days"

https://open.spotify.com/track/4IMoptJSAOww8XNxRrcRAp?si=xTpmtyY9Sp-wV16z7MgyBw

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"Group Four" by Massive Attack.

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Excellent! I don't know if I am familiar with this one. I'm sure I've heard Mezzanine, but only recall the "hits." A good reminder to return to the full album.

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Ok, so not technically using "4" in the traditional way but this one definitely uses it!: I'll Tumble 4 Ya - Culture Club...

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one of my all time favorite songs! It’s kind of an obscure reference but one scene I remember most about the movie Billy Madison is this one.

https://youtu.be/we_VyBVrq7I?si=muUqbiGzBcXwuKmy

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Lol. I remember that.

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Ha! Love it! I thought maybe he'd do a nice "tumble" down the stairs!

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I know- wasted opportunity!

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How about Def Leppard's "Four Letter Word"? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5HR4VudjjY

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Great choice! I don’t own Hysteria so it didn’t appear in my search. Not even my internet one, which is kind of surprising. I’ll add to the bonus playlist. Thanks, Jackie!

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On their X album along with their gorgeous Long, Long Way to Go. Agree, great addition to an excellent list.

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Ha- I don’t know why I thought it was on Hysteria…

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Great list, Steve! While it wouldn’t fit here, C. W. McCall’s “Wolf Creek Pass” is by far his funniest song, IMHO.

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I’ll check it out — I only knew “Convoy” before researching this topic. I have a feeling he’s got a lot of cheeky tunes.

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It’s got a bit of everything chickens, chromium plated shift knobs and a feed store in downtown Pagosa Springs

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I love Neil Young's cover of Ian and Sylvia's "Four Strong Winds." Beautiful melody and Emmylou's harmony is heavenly.

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yes- i’m kind of surprised I didn’t show up in my research. I don’t own the album or song but I would’ve thought it would’ve appeared somewhere in my online dabbling.

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Great list ! :-) My personal addition would be "Four To The Floor" by Starsailor

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Thanks! I’m unfamiliar with this song, but I’ll check it out later today! Thanks for the suggestion!

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Fun to see the continuing series.

I'm curious, in terms of your tendency to be strict about the requirements, would you count "Fourth Of July" by Dave Alvin -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B4QmHnyccU

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I count it for you all! I wasn't including it for myself, as there are about a half-dozen "Fourth of July" songs I might include. Including Dave Alvin! Who I saw perform live a couple years ago and although quite frail looking, sounded great.

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I figured you had already considered it. I will say you included the song I would most consider essential-- "Four Women"

I would also mention the Irish and Canadian classics, "Four Green Fields" and "Four Strong Winds"

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Green_Fields

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Strong_Winds

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Shit, it was his brother Phil who I saw, not Dave! But I've seen Dave several times in many band and solo formations, over the past 40 years....and also the brothers together.

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