THE BEST OF 2025 (IN MUSIC): SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE AS WE EXIT LAUGHING!

 

Thank goodness--2025's a done deal! What a year! We survived it, and 2026's gotta be better! To celebrate one good thing about an icky 12 months, here are 25 boss records; some of the best to come into my hands since last January 1st! This extra-long epic has marvy music, clever chat and hip history in every split second of its divine duration!

Here's your menu for this multi-course meal in music:

01 Mickey "Guitar" Baker & His House Rockers/Bandstand Stomp
Rainbow 45-299/1955

02 Doyle Templet & The Starlighters/Is It Really Love
Minit 605/Jan 1960

03 Delegates/Mother's Son
Vee-Jay 243/April 1957

04 Mable John/Who Wouldn't Love A Man Like That
Tamla T-54031/Sep 1960

05 Jimmy Basile/I'll Never Be Anyone But Me
Capitol 4960/Apr 1963

06 Tommy Collins/Black Cat
Capitol 4495/Dec 1960

07 Dikes/Light Me Up
Federal 45-12249/Dec 1955

08 Little Esther/If It's News To You
Savoy 45-1516/Jul 1957

09 Edsels/My Jealous One
Capitol 4588/Jun 1961

10 Charlie Rich/Philadelphia Baby
Phillips International 3532/Oct 1958

KING-GOFFIN MELANCHOLIA:
11 Henry Alston/So Many Lonely People
Colpix CP-731/May 1964;
12 Carole King/ I Didn't Have Any Summer Romance
Dimension 1004/Nov 1962

13 Gay Poppers/I Need Your Love
Savoy 45-1573/Jul 1959

14 Angelos w/Linda Martell/Just Like Taking Candy From A Baby
Vee-Jay VJ-531/Jun 1963

15 Rick Randle & The Rockers/I'm Hurt
Arc [NJ] 4445/Oct 1958

16 Conway Twitty/Go On And Cry
ABC-Paramount 45-10507/Nov 1963

SUN RECORDS SPOTLIGHT:
17 Billy "The Kid" Emerson/Move Baby Move It
Sun 214/Jan 1955;
18 Carl Perkins/Movie Magg
from Sun EP 115, Blue Suede Shoes/1958

19 Ray Stanley/I Can't Wait
Argo 5280/Oct 1957

20 "5" Royales/What's In The Heart
ABC-Paramount 45-10368/Oct 1962

21 Danny Overbea/Roamin' Man
Checker 796/Jun 1954

22 Dee Dee Warwick/You're No Good
Jubilee 45-5459/Sep 1963

23 Rue-Teens/I Don't Cry Over Girls
Louis 45-6805/1964

24 Sentinals/Latin'ia
WCEB 23/1962

25 Alvin Robinson/Wake Up
Imperial X5762/Jun 1961

EPILOGUE:
26 Bobby Fuller 4/Never To Be Forgotten
Mustang 3011/Sep 1965

This is a whole lotta listenin', so feel free to break it up into two parts. Enjoy by clicking on the sands of time...

...and we'll see ya in two weeks with a new episode to help keep 2026 happy!