Part 5/Five of the Number Song Project

15 tracks with the word "Five" in the title, for your enjoyment

Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash

I had thought about combining numbers from here forward — five with six, seven with eight, etc. — but the songs won’t let me. There are simply too many excellent FIVE tunes to choose from.

15 of them, in fact, narrowed down from 25. I’m sure some of the ones you’ve thought of are here. I’m also confident that several on my list will be surprises.

As usual, I welcome your suggestions for songs I missed and the ones you think I should include in the bonus tracks playlist. Share your picks in the comments. I’m sticking to the word "five,” but you can include the number “5” tracks.

At the bottom of the post is a link to a YouTube playlist for those who don’t use Spotify. I’ve included alternate versions of many of these tracks in the clips below, to mix it up a bit!

To boost your energy, I’m giving every one of you a great big celebratory virtual high-five!

1. Five To One — The Doors

I never expected to include a single song by The Doors in this numbers project. Yet, now I’ve featured Morrison/Krieger/Densmore/Manzarek twice. I’m not even that big of a Doors fan. But “Five to One” is a favorite, so it makes the list.

I dig the bass-heavy sludge sound in this song. I thought that Ray Manzarek was creating the bass sound with his keys, but the album lists studio musician Douglas Lubahn on bass. So there you have it. I assume live it was Ray.

2. Five Percent for Nothing — Yes

The shortest song Yes ever recorded also happens to be from the most celebrated album of their 55-plus-year career. At 38 seconds, this hyperkinetic instrumental, the only song written by drummer Bill Bruford, is downright punk rock.

Apparently, Steve Howe hated to play it live because they always fucked it up and could never get it right. After watching several videos on YouTube of them attempting it, I can see why Howe felt that way.

3. Five Years — David Bowie

No playlist on songs with “Five” in the title could exclude this Bowie classic. I could watch this fantastic Old Grey Whistle Test performance every day for at least the next five years.

4. Five-O — James

From perhaps the most underrated band of all time, “Five-O” is one of the standout tracks from James’ most celebrated album, Laid (1993). I’m amazed that James hasn’t had the impact on this side of the pond as they have in Europe. Their latest album, Yummy, is one of the more aptly titled in rock history. It’ll likely make my end-of-year top-10 list.

5. Five Get Over Excited - The Housemartins

When I did a search for “five” in my Music app (I still call it iTunes), I did a little dance when I saw that The Housemartins appeared in the results.

They only released two albums, London 0 Hull 4 and The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death, but both are essential slices of a particular brand of melodic sophisti-pop. “Five Get Over Excited” was the 2nd single from their 2nd album. It reached #11 on the UK singles chart in 1987.

As sad as I was to see them break up, The Beautiful South and Fatboy Slim arose from their ashes, so we listeners did pretty well for ourselves.

6. King Kong Five — Mano Negra

Another band that did oodles better in Europe than in the States, Mano Negra (featuring Manu Chao, who would achieve far more success as a solo artist), combined the political-punk energy of The Clash with funk-rock percussion-heavy rhythms. I own their 2nd album, Puta’s Fever (1989). It still holds up remarkably well.

7. Five on the Five — The Raconteurs

The Raconteurs was Jack White's first side project after the end of White Stripes. Jamming with buddy Brendan Benson in Detroit, Michigan, the two pop-rock icons would add Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler. Thus, The Raconteurs were born. “Five on the Five” is a Jack White-led song that roars with intensity and energy. As much as I love the smoother vocals of Benson, this might be my favorite track of the band.

8. Five String Serenade — Mazzy Star

I’m bringing the mood down a couple of notches for this gorgeous “Five String Serenade” by the incredible Mazzy Star. Hope Sandoval’s voice sucks you in and doesn’t allow you to do anything else but listen.

This cover of Arthur Lee & Love’s original tune adds new colors and layers to the original.

9. Five Feet High and Rising — Johnny Cash

Everyone knows this classic from Johnny Cash, but did you know he sang “Five Feet High and Rising” on Sesame Street? I didn’t either.

10. Five Guys Named Moe — Louis Jordan

I like a lot of different jazz styles, but my favorite would have to be swing/big band. I don’t recall when I first heard Louis “King of the Jukebox” Jordan, but I think it was in high school. It was definitely before I had heard Joe Jackson’s album tribute to Jordan, Jumpin’ Jive, but not by much. I was also a big fan of Louis Prima and Louis Armstrong, really anyone named Louis.

“Five Guys Named Mo” is one of my favorites from Jordan’s canon, showcasing his bandleader talents, sense of humor, and vocal dexterity.

11. Mambo No. 5 — Lou Bega

You’re welcome for (re)subjecting you to this earworm from 1999. It’s a tough one to eject from the brain; I should know, as I’ve been stuck with it for a couple of days now.

I had no idea that Lou Bega’s real name is David Lubega Balemezi, and he’s a Ugandan-Italian guy from Germany. Sui internationale! The things you can learn on the internet!

12. Mambo No. 5 — Perez Prado

This is the “Mambo No. 5” I’d rather have as my earworm. Perez Prado was a Cuban bandleader, pianist, composer, and arranger who popularized the mambo in the 1950s.

His “Mambo No. 5” arrangement is full of energy, flair, groove, and tight percussion. Unlike Bega's version, it feels like a true mambo.

And in case you wondered, yes, there were plenty of legal disputes between Perez’s estate and Vega’s producers. Click here to read more about it.

13. Hawaii Five-O — The Ventures

You knew this had to make the list, right? A billion bands have covered this iconic theme song, and it’s been included in a dozen or so (it seems) TV remakes and film adaptations of Hawaii Five-O.

The Ventures version is the most famous but wasn’t the first. That goes to Morton Stevens, whose version was in the original 1968 TV series. You can hear that version below.

14. Take Five — The Dave Brubeck Quartet

Another pick that I imagine most of you guessed would make this list. I couldn’t leave it off; it’s simply too iconic. Obviously, we’ve all heard it a million times, but it still holds up. And I love music in 5/4 time signature (Rush, King Gizzard being two favorite bands that use 5/4 liberally).

15. Blues By Five — Miles Davis Quintet

There are two Substack writers who would hunt me down and kill me if I didn’t include this Miles Davis Quintet track. I’m not pandering to imagined murderous writers, though.

“Blues By Five” is (almost?) as iconic a piece of music in the jazz world as “Take Five.” To end this playlist with one of Davis’ most cherished tunes feels as perfect as it can get. Kick back and bask in all 10 minutes of this closing track!

Well, there you have it! The Spotify playlist is up at the top of the post. For YouTube playlist, click the button below:

• What do you think of this playlist? Did I leave out your favorite “five”’r?

• Leave a note in the comments of any tracks I need to add to the bonus playlist. And go ahead and tell us what that song means to you. Again, feel free to use the #5 in your selections.

• And if any of these songs are new to you and you had a particular reaction, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

• Next month, we will do #6 songs!