Tim's Greatest Hits
The thought occurred to me, and I'm a little surprised that no one's proposed this yet, to create a compilation CD of songs for Tim. Not necessarily songs Tim would like, but more like songs that make you think of him. I can probably rattle off a list of songs that make me think of Tim, but just to kick things off, here are the ones that are dearest to me.
Baby Baby, Amy Grant
Pretending, Eric Clapton
Tim and I used to go to lunch together between classes when we attended Shoreline CC in 1991. We usually ended up hanging out at his parents' house, watching videos on VH1. More often than not, those songs played during that hour or so. I can still see Amy Grant, sitting on the steps, singing tight-lipped. I can see Clapton, in his overcoat (I think it was raining in the video).
Love Will Come to You, Indigo Girls
In the summer of 1992, four of us road tripped to Yakima for an Alice in Chains concert. We stopped off at Ellensburg for the night. After the other two had gone to bed (i.e. passed out), Tim and I stayed up, listening to music on a little tape player. I popped in the Indigo Girls' Rites of Passage. The two of us, girlfriend-less/unlucky in love/pathetic, identified with Love Will Come to You. We played that one a few times. I used this story in my toast on his wedding day. It came off uniquely, uh, intimate, since I mentioned that it was our song. Oh well, whatever. I'll never listen to that song without thinking about that night.
There you have it. Please add songs of your own in the comments for this post. If you have a background story, please send it along with your song selection(s). It will give it more depth and maybe shed some more insight on a side of Tim some of us never knew. Of course, you don't need a story. It could be something like "it was on whenever we came over". Or it had the word Tim in it. Anything. And if it's too personal (the song or the circumstances), you don't have to reply or say anything. Oh yeah, if you know of a song Tim liked but don't know why, or just for the hell of it, send it along. And pass this message to anybody who might be interested. If I get a good number of songs, I'll burn them on to a CD (ooh ooh, copyright infringement!!!), along with a CD jacket with your stories/anecdotes, hopefully in time for Tim's birthday on September 20th. I'll probably be asking to borrow any CDs with those songs that I don't have, and I'll probably ask to borrow some pictures you have of Tim as well.
23 Comments:
Well this is a great idea and thanks Rod for doing it! I know that I can't hear ANY Irish drinking song without thinking of Tim and our times at Kells. So if you can find it I am thinking of the "Alice, Who the F*&# is Alice?" song. I have no idea who sings it but I am sure you could find it with other Irish Drinking/Folk songs. Or if you can't find that one "Black Velvet Band" also works. Music was such a big part of Tim and there are so many songs that inspire memories. Can't hear an ABBA song without thinking of the parties and dancing the night away. And can we say Lionel?
State of Love and Trust, Pearl Jam
Tim's favorite PJ song
Timmy was my older cousin and I of course idolized him and in many ways wanted to be like him. I distinctly remember walking into his room donwstairs one day and seeing a stack of cds on a table. Several of the cds were by U2 (I beleive one was the Joshua Tree). Well, after that I was convinced that U2 was a group that must be listened to and so from then on out I have been a U2 fan. Often, when I hear a U2 song now, I think of Tim and what an enchnating human being he was and what a wonderful example he had always been in my life. The world was honored and blessed to have had him, and even though he was here for too short of a time I believe he caused a butterfly effect where the mere fluttering of his wings affected many in a postive way. Thanks for all of your love and guidance; I still miss you Tim. (Thank you also, Rod, for the opportunity to share memories about Timmy.) Sincerely, Cori Goller (Dean)
He would deny it, but my Tim was a country western fan. When he learned "She's In Love With The Boy" by Trish Yearwood was one of my favorites, he placed it in the tape player cued up for me to listen to. He also made me sing it for him once as I know the entire song by heart. Once we climbed into the truck and the local country western station was on - and he was the last to drive it (alone) so it wasn't possible for him to deny that he'd dialed that station.
Oh my gosh, you'll also have to include a song by another of Tim's favorite artists. I can't remember his name, but he sings folksy-type songs, guitar only, and he was at one time homeless. This I remember, because I'd give Tim such grief about it; I didn't particularly care for the singer and I'd say to Tim, "Oh god, are you listening to that homeless guy again?" just to annoy him. Tim would of course berate me for referring to the singer as "that homeless guy." I know, not incredibly PC, but we always shared a laugh - well, Tim would smile to humor me, but he really didn't like it when I'd do that.
Actually, knowing that Tim liked Country helped me to come out of that particular closet a bit. Now, keep in mind, I don't dig on about 80% of that genre (especially the flag waving kind), but I do like some older stuff -- Johnny, Willie. And I think Leann Rimes is really good. Oh, and Bluegrass, too.
Harmony, by Elton John. I'm thinking I should put the Flake version, considering that's one we heard the most.
When we went to Flake shows, the band would play the song after it got some requests. You'd hear someone pipe up, "Play Harmony!". Usually a chick. In years afterwards, whenever the EJ version came on, or when we talked about Flake, Tim would do a high-pitched, squeaky "Play Harmony!!"
Rod,
Well this is a funny thing. The day you sent this out, I had just finished creating to my own Tim CD of songs. I made it quickly and didn't have everything I would like to make a good one, but here is what I put on it and why. Some are more for me, and would mean little to anyone else. Others are songs that I knew Tim liked no matter what anyone else thought.
Have a look...
Back In Black - AC/DC (Back In Black)
Do I really need to explain this one? The reasons why it will be included (not should be, will be) are many. First, it's like one of the best songs of all time. Second, Bob Danson's Nova. Third, all high school friends like this song. Fourth, it's AC/DC's tribute to Bon Scott. Fifth, Tim liked it. This list goes on from there.
Jumpin Jack Flash - Rolling Stones (Hot Rocks, Rolling Stones Greatest Hits Vol I & II)
Tim liked this song. More so I think he liked singing it. Or trying to sing it. Usually it started off well then just went to a Whoopi Goldberg rendition of the song. Ad-libbing new lyrics was always something he was good at.
Don't You (Forget About Me) - Simple Minds (Breakfast Club Soundtrack)
Tim's favority movie (or at least top five) was the Breakfast Club. We watched that more than we watched Strange Brew, which is hard to believe. What every happened to John Hughes? Anyway, great song that really hits the times we had in High School.
Everything Will Be Just Fine - Sweet Water (Sweet Water)
For those not familiar with Sweet Water you obviously did not go to any shows with us in 1992-1994. These guys were big in Seattle, and like most fizzled after signing it big. Still, we all had their demo tape and this song is awesome. We played it together all the time.
Velvet Dog - Sister Psychic (Surrender You Freak!)
Another Seattle band that we liked a lot. Rod and I really liked them. Tim was cool with them. He liked this song a lot and it back one that we would improvise lyrics to to get under our skin. Awesome album. Defininetly one for me more than anyone else.
Sumer Nights - Van Halen (5150)
This entire album could be used. This album really brought us all together. We must have played it at every party, every hang out, every back yard drunk fest... it was the stapple. I think of all my friends when I hear this one. I know Tim liked this song too.
Open Letter to a Landlord - Living Colour (Vivid)
It's funny how I find more and more Living Colour fans these days. Tim liked this song a lot. I think that it was real and meant something touched him about it. Still, he was get quiet when we would hear it and just sing along to himself more than anyone else.
Steal My Joy - Lazy Susan (Twang)
Another Seattle band. This song associates good times with Tim and all my buddies. Like the free Drop In the Park concert.
Castles Made Of Sand - Jimi Hendrix
I think this might just be Tim's favorite song. I remember him telling me about it. We just got one of the many Jimi Hendrix greatest hits. I was all about Hey Joe and Vodoo Child. He comes back with this sweet little number and I'm thinking.. this dude has more taste than I've given him credit and I'm really one-dimensional. (grin) Anyway, he loved this song.
Is This Love - Bob Marley & the Wailers (Greatest Hits)
This was our favorite Bob Marley song. Probably because it's on the first track on the greatest hit album. Regardless, many a night with this on the stereo as we drove around, hung out and basically just chilled to the tunes of Bob.
Living In A Dream - Arc Angeles (Arc Angeles)
This song was by a band that came together after Stevie Ray Vaugh was killed. Tim, Jason and I got tickets, but Jason bailed at the last second for some reason, so Tim brought a date and we had a good time. Great concert, awesome album. This song always sticks out for me.
Brother - Alice In Chains (Sap)
Alice In Chains was a big band for all of us. We saw them play 4 times, traveling to Yakima for one show. The SAP album was the reason we went that summer. They were just about to release Dirt and this was a tune up concert. Jason, Rod, Tim and I headed to Ellensburg in the subaru to stay with Uncle Bill. Got very very drunk, and then the next day drove to Yakima for the concert (remember Stewart guys?). I picked this song because of the title.
The Scratch - 7 Year Bitch (Viva Zapata!)
Between Tim, Rod and myself each member of the band had a crush on them from us. This song is just rowdy and unruly, kinda like Tim was at times.
Say Hello 2 Heaven - Temple of the Dog
For a bunch of friends during the Seattle Grunge years this song resonates a lot. For those that don't know the story http://www.reachdown.com/ has a good little history on it. This song is by Chris Cornell and it's about his friend Andy Wood, who was a bright star that burnt out too quickly. No CD about Tim would be complete without it.
There are other songs that I would include as well if I have the time to find them.
Don't Stop Believing - Journey (Greatest Hits)
Why? Well because Tim liked Journey. Why did he like them? Probably because when he was driving his BMW turbo that was the only tape he had. I kid you not. I would bring others and they would disappear. I think they all just morphed into Journey tapes. The radio was for crap too and that was what we listened to.... all the time.
Dancing On the Ceiling - Lionel Richie (Dancing on the Ceiling)
Well, Tim was the only half Irish guy I know who screamed for Lioniel at Kell's (Irish Pub in Seattle). So funny enough Lionel reminds me of all the drunken foolery that went on in that bar. Crazy stuff and memories that make me smile, blush and giggle.
I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown (Good Morning Vietnam Soundtrack)
This song for two reason. First, Tim got down to the Godfather. James Brown sang in a way that Tim's feet could get busy too. Must have been the Irish Soul brother him. Second reason, this was the first CD that Tim ever bought. I remember how he saved money to buy his first stereo. A stereo that at the time was louder than anything we ever heard before. He spent so much on it that it took 2 weeks to pay day to have money for a CD. We just saw that movie and so we got that CD at Silver Platters (when it first opened). We probably listened to it a hundred times that weekend, and then that week later after we copied it to tape.
Running Down a Dream or Free Falling - Tom Petty (Full Moon Fever)
Either song should be included. Senior year of high school songs. I think I give the nod to Free Falling. It was the kind of song he liked.
Escape - Enrique Iglesias (Escape)
Tim really didn't like latin music, but I tell you that this song will make me cry until the end of my days, and probably beyond. I was away when Tim passed. Lavinia, my wife, was in Seattle and this song was playing as she drove back to the hospital after receiving the call. "You can run, you can hide, but you can't escape my love" was a bitter sweet song that she heard. She shared the story with me when I returned and I still cry a little when I think about the song. So I would include this song for that reason. Again, more for us than for something he liked.
Ultimately the songs that I associated with Tim mean more to me than they may to others. My reasons are explained above. Music was always around us, but never defined us. Even during the grunge years our bounds of friendship went way past the superficial boundaries of what was hip or on the radio. Often we would disagree about what to play, the owner of the car usually getting his way. Still, we shared a lot of great moments with music or musicians as a part of it. The long anticipated arrival of Van Halen's tour in 1991, Alice In Chains concerts, Endfest2, Wednesday night Flake shows (at which Tim managed to fall asleep).
Good music, good times, good memories, good friends....
Cheers
Jeff Moran
Seattle, WA
For some reason anything from Sarah McLachlan's 'Fumbling Towards Ectasy' makes me think of Tim, especially 'Good Enough'. The bittersweetness of her voice and lyrics just tumble together beautifully and remind me of laid back days with him. And for rollicking Tim--the Alligator song (Kell's) and of course the songs that Kim mentioned! and . . . Lionel Ritchie. I can still see Tim perched precariously on a stool at Kells (before they enlarged the space and ruined the ambiance) screaming out to the band, "LI-O-NEL!" They never did play one but he kept on trying. I miss you Tim.
-Jess
Wow. That's quite a list. Thanks, Jeff!
much easier to post anonymously!
Well, i have a fond memory of the "gang" hanging out at my parent's place on the river back in high school. Many songs would be played there, but one that sticks out is "The lion sleeps tonight". We all had a good time doing our best lip sync to that one. There might even be a real bad video of it on vhs floating around somewhere (something about a bigfoot sigthing in Pumas comes to minds as well, can't figure that one out...).
thanx rod!
torrey
Here's one that I have no idea if Tim would have liked but every time I hear it I think of him then and now. By Donna Lewis called "I Love You Always Forever" there is a line in it that says: "You've got the most unbelievable blue eyes I've ever seen, You've got me almost melting away." It is a sappy love song but I can't hear it without seeing Tim's beautiful blue eyes! It makes me smile.
For a Lionel song--"Hello" always comes to mind. I can see Tim singing along and making up his own (often obscene but always funny) lyrics.
That last one for Lionel was from Jessica P.
Rod-- Here are my song picks. I need just a little more time to pick the exact song for Diane Krall - but I'll have 'em to you by next Mon at the latest, I promise!!
Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight - This is our wedding dance song. We bought a "Wedding Dance" package at the dance studio down on Lake City and walked down every Mon the four weeks preceding our wedding to learn the fox trot to The Way You Look Tonight.
Alison Kraus + Union Station - When You Say Nothing At All - this one because I can still hear Tim singing aloud to it (even though when he would do that, it annoyed me)
Diane Krall - the first CD Tim lent me.
Trisha Yearwood - She's In Love With the Boy
A Charlie Brown Christmas (theme song) - We watched A Charlie Brown Christmas together each holiday. I bought him the video (and the New Year's one too) - hard to believe this gift put the biggest smile on his face!
And finally, "the homeless guy" - don't know the title of the song, but I do have a copy of it!
Love ya,
Rachelle
Oh how could I could forget Grease? Oh yea Grease is the word. I can still hear Tim singin' along to "Summer Nights" at the end of the song the high notes and only Tim could really hit them! "Ooooh those sum-mer niiiiiiiiiiights." Yea those summer nights.....
Lori passed this along to me.
My song is all my life by the beattles on the rubber soul album.
I miss him so much and living in our neighborhood i drive by so many places and it seems like yesterday that we were kids. I am overwhelmed by life's fleetiness. I feel Tim all around me all the time.
and sunrise by Norah Jones so many days when I wake up no matter what time it is this song will play on the radio. It reminds me of him. It's the best time of the day I think of his sunflowers in his garden in mornings bright light, the smell of fresh coffee and another new begining. Sometimes just making it through the day is hard and when you wake up and your not sure if you want to do it and you remember maybe you felt that way yesterday and look you made it infact maybe something special happened to make it worth it.
I keep a fresh flower on my window seal for Tim I just like to have bright happy peice of life that reminds me of him the vase he gave me broke this year but if anything now I know it was just a vase and the flowers that used to put in it now live in another vase , kinda like Tim.
I now pick up pennies all the time. I look at the date and force myself to remember somthing that happened during that year with Tim. Many times a memory will visit me just when I need it most. It's my way of keeping his guidance and love close to me.
Hi Rod,
My pick would be "I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You"
by Sound Garten.
When I first decided on this song I thought that it was just special to me, but I realized now it was for all of us. It reminds me of how much Tim loved all of us.
His arrival into the world was as Tim would like it, on time, quick and not much fanfare...easy on Mom...
Lori has said so many times "He was my first best friend"
The first time he brought Rachelle home to meet us "I knew he dreamed her into life"
The arrival of their beautiful daughter, Audrey. We all loved her before we met her.
His relationships with his family, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents.....
And last but not least all of you who knew and loved him so.
My heart is heavy, my tears unrelenting....I miss him so much.
Hi Rod,
My pick would be "I Knew I Loved You Before I Met You" by Sound Garten
When I decided on this song I thought It was just special to me...I now realize that this was more Tim's song to all of us.
His arrival into the world was as Tim would have it, on time, quick and not much fanfare...easy on Mom.
His love for his family, Lori, Ryan, aunts, uncles, cousins....
I remember when he first brought Rachelle home to meet us "I think he dreamed her into life"
The birth of Audrey Mary "we all loved her before we met her"
And last but not least, his love for all of you who shared so much of his life and brought him so much happiness...
My heart is heavy, my tears unrelenting....I miss him so much......Mary Jo
Wow, those are some hard tributes to follow! As I sit hear teared up at my desk I'm trying to pick a memory that will make me laugh. One of my funniest memories of Tim is from my 21 run. Of course he was there w/ his dancing shoes on. We were at a club downtown Seattle and I can see Tim in all his glory on top of the bar shaking his groove thang! I specifically remember he was dancing to Madonna's Vogue. God I miss him!!! Thanks so much for this tribute Rod, what a keepsake this will be.
I love you Tim,
Cousin Kassie
From Jerry:
Tears In Heaven, Eric Clapton
Reminds me of Tim. When I get there I hope he remembers me
Dad
"Seasons of Love", The Best of Rent - Highlights from the Original Cast Album
my reasoning for selecting the song is that it talks about how to measure a person's life. it finally suggests that love is the way and i think that is how tim lived his life...by loving others. reflecting on audrey and rachelle and his close friends (esp. you) shows how much tim was loved and how much he loved.
-- Breanna
"I'm Already Here", Lonestar
Tim will always be the song in my heart. I think of him
when I wake in the morning and when I go to sleep at night, and all day long. He is the whisper in the wind, the sunshine in Audrey's hair, and the shadow on the
ground. I will forever hold him in my heart.
-- Aunt Laurie
Great work!
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