The Five Greatest “Number Nineteen” Classic Rock Songs
Hey Nineteen, please take me along when you slide on down to 2019.
Is it really about to be 2019? Yes it is folks. Time really does fly when you're having fun. For me the fun would most definitely include playing and talking about great music every weekend on The Home of Rock 'N' Roll i95. This weekend my mind is on the number 19 so to celebrate the upcoming new year I came up with a lean and mean list of songs with 19 in the title. Here are the five greatest "Number Nineteen" classic rock songs:
- 5
"Nineteen Forever" (1989)
Joe JacksonJoe Jackson's claim to fame came with the hit singles "Is She Really Going Out With Him?" (1979) and "Steppin' Out" (1982) but this overlooked and underappreciated single from 1989's 'Blaze of Glory' album proved he still had the magic at the close of the 1980s.
- 4
"Nineteen Hundred And Eighty Five" (1973)
Paul McCartney & WingsPaul McCartney said this song all started with the first line: "No one ever left alive in nineteen hundred and eighty-five". That's all he had in his head for four months before finally completing it and including it on his legendary 'Band On The Run' album from 1973. Thankfully we are all still alive after nineteen hundred and eighty-five so we can still enjoy this song in two thousand and nineteen.
- 3
"1983... (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)" (1968)
Jimi HendrixOn this classic from Jimi Hendrix's 'Electric Ladyland' album Jimi expresses his desire to escape the despair of mankind and return to the source of all life - the sea.
You may be like me and you're wondering what the 1983 part of the title means. Knowing Hendrix was a big believer in numerology I have to believe there is some connection there so I Googled "Numerology 1983" and it led me to a website all about Angel Numbers (a phenomena of seeing number sequences often) and here's what it said: "Angel Number 1983 tells you that the angels are with you, always offering encouragement and support and helping you to serve your soul mission as a lightworker. They ask you to have faith and trust that you possess all the skills, talents and abilities within you that you need to succeed with your soul’s tasks in this lifetime." Sounds like Jimi Hendrix to me.
- 2
"19th Nervous Breakdown" (1966)
The Rolling StonesThe title of this early Stones hit describes how Mick Jagger felt during a US tour in 1965. He and the band had just done five weeks-worth of shows in the States and said out loud, 'Dunno about you blokes, but I feel about ready for my nineteenth nervous breakdown.' Alas, a song was born. Mick and Keith Richards worked on the rest of the song in what little downtime they had during the rest of the tour.
This is my favorite early Stones song. It has the great Bo-Didley-esque riff, great harmonies and amazing cymbal-splashing work from the great Charlie Watts on drums.
- 1
"Hey Nineteen" (1980)
Steely DanSome songs don't hold up over the years. This Steely Dan song is not one of them. From the instant I heard it on the radio I loved it and still love it after all these years. From the bouncy groove to the in-the-pocket vocals from Donald Fagan to the pristine production from Fagan and the late great Walter Becker this is Steely Dan at its finest. "Hey Nineteen" reached #10 on the charts. Guess how long it stayed on the charts. Yup, 19 weeks.