I have 94 of the first 100 (still don't have "Shake Some Action" of all 
things!) and 154 of the top 200.  John's original list in Goldmine got me 
back into collecting music after the dogs days that were the late 
'80's/early 90's in popular music.  I made it a personal quest to track down 
as many as I could with some *outstanding* finds (Blow Pops, Adam Schmidt, 
Spongetones) and a couple of head scratchers (Sex Clark Five).  From there I 
met Jeremy Morris who turned me on to Silver Sun, Dodgy and the Semantics 
among many others and Francesc Sole, from whom I filled in the obscure and 
otherwise impossible-to-obtain discs I treasure (The Pranks, to name just 
one).

    I've followed John's writing in the late, lamented Amplifier mag - 
appreciating his candor and willingness to criticize a power pop CD that 
didn't deliver.  I kinda miss the tactful criticism of releases auditeers 
used to muster...but I'm as guilty as anybody.  After being made aware that 
negative comments could hurt people's feelings, I don't mention releases 
that didn't live up to my expectations - though I should.  Does anyone else 
out there value the *disappointments* in people's 2007 lists as much as the 
top 20?

    I look forward to checking out the tops of all time lists.  If someone's 
list includes many of *my* own personal favorites - I'll track down the ones 
I don't know immediately.  If it includes XTC, I probably won't be as 
anxious to check out other things on the list.  Just a personal barometer 
I've come to trust.

    Finally, thanks to everyone who provided cruise/boat songs.  I'm still 
laughing at the thought of a group of 10-year-old girls doing an 
interpretive dance to "Gilligan's Island".

Over and out,

Mike
np - Across the Universe - Soundtrack