100 songs Long Islanders should know
As we prepare for the upcoming Long Island Music Hall of Fame Induction Gala on Oct. 18 at the Paramount in Huntington, we wanted to pull together a list of the songs that should be a source of civic pride.
These are the 100 songs every Long Islander should know -- songs by people from here, about here, and written and recorded here, that also have changed the world of music. And by here, we go along with the LIHoF's definition of Long Island: Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk.
--GLENN GAMBOA
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1. "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant," Billy Joel 1
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(L-R) Flavor Flav, Professor Griff, Terminator X, S1W PUBLIC ENEMY CROP
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3. "Walk on the Wild Side," Lou Reed 3
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4. "New York State of Mind," Billy Joel 4
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5. "Rockaway Beach," Ramones 5
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6. "Cat's in the Cradle," Harry Chapin 6
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7. "Vision of Love," Mariah Carey 7
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8. "I Love Rock 'n' Roll," Joan Jett 8
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9. "Foolish," Ashanti 9
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10. "You're So Last Summer," Taking Back Sunday 10
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11. "Piano Man," Billy Joel 11
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12. "Hit Me With Your Best Shot," Pat 12
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13. "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems," The Notorious B.I.G. 13
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14. "(Don't Fear) The Reaper," Blue Öyster Cult 14
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15. "Foolish Beat," Debbie Gibson 15
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16. "Empire State of Mind," Jay-Z featuring Alicia 16
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17. "A Love Supreme," John Coltrane 17
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18. "Me, Myself and I," De la Soul 18
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19. "The Way We Were," Barbra Streisand 19
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20. "We're Not Gonna Take It," Twisted Sister 20
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21. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun," Cyndi Lauper 21
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22. "What a Wonderful World," Louis Armstrong 22
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23. "Sweet Caroline," Neil Diamond 23
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24. "Rock This Town," Stray Cats 24
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25. "Last Train Home," Ryan Star 25
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26. "Walk This Way," Run-DMC 26
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27. "It's Too Late," Carole King 27
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28. "No Sleep Til Brooklyn," Beastie Boys 28
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29. "One Sweet Day," Mariah Carey and Boyz 29
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30. "Wannabe Gangster," Wheatus 30
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31. "Absolutely (Story of a Girl)," Nine Days 31
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32. "Show Me the Way," Peter Frampton 32
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33. "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me," 33
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34. "99 Problems," Jay-Z 34
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35. "911 Is a Joke," Public Enemy 35
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36. "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," Barbra Streisand 36
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37. "Time After Time," Cyndi Lauper 37
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38. "I Wanna Be Sedated," Ramones 38
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39. "Bridge Over Troubled Water," Simon and Garfunkel 39
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40. "Love Is a Battlefield," Pat Benatar 40
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41. "We Belong Together," Mariah Carey 41
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42. "You Keep Me Hanging On," Vanilla Fudge 42
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43. "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," 43
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44. "Evergreen," Barbra Streisand 44
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45. "All I Want for Christmas Is You," 45
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46. "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," Neil 46
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47. “The Ballad of Billy the Kid,” Billy 47
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48. "Good Lovin'," The Rascals 48
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49. "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)," BT Express 49
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50. "Woo Hah! Got You All in Check," 50
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51. "In a Gadda da Vida," Iron Butterfly 51
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52. "Makedamnsure," Taking Back Sunday 52
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53. "Hypnotize," The Notorious B.I.G. 53
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54. "Brooklyn Roads," Neil Diamond 54
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55. "The Quiet Things That No One Ever 55
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56. "Tell It to My Heart," Taylor Dayne 56
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57. "On the Floor," Jennifer Lopez 57
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58. "The Worst That Could Happen," Johnny Maestro 58
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59. "Stray Cat Strut," Stray Cats 59
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60. "Tears on My Pillow," Little Anthony and 60
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61. "Mama Said Knock You Out," LL Cool 61
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62. "Hello, Dolly," Louis Armstrong 62
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The Ramones shot the video for "Pet Sematary" 63
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64. "Don't Believe the Hype," Public Enemy 64
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65. "Leader of the Pack," Shangri-Las 65
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66. "Mrs. Robinson," Simon and Garfunkel 66
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67. "True Colors," Cyndi Lauper 67
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68. "It's Impossible," Perry Como 68
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69. "Sixteen Candles," The Crests 69
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70. "Take Me Home Tonight," Eddie Money 70
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71. "I Need to Know," Marc Anthony 71
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72. "Don't Sweat the Technique," Eric B and 72
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73. "Super Bass," Nicki Minaj 73
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74. "Coney Island Baby," Lou Reed 74
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75. "Sounds of Silence," Simon and Garfunkel 75
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76. "Rock and Roll All Nite," Kiss 76
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77. "It Wasn't Me," Shaggy 77
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78. "This Magic Moment," Jay and the Americans 78
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79. “Taxi,” Harry Chapin 79
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80. "I Hate Myself for Loving You," Joan 80
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81. "Mississippi Queen," Mountain 81
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82. "It's Raining Men," The Weather Girls 82
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83. "The Downeaster 'Alexa,'" Billy Joel 83
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84. "This Little Girl," Gary U.S. Bonds 84
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85. "Pull Me Under," Dream Theater 85
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86. "Shake Your Love," Debbie Gibson 86
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87. "Better Than Ever," Randy and The Rainbows 87
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88. "Stand," Donnie McClurkin 88
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89. "Cross Over," EPMD 89
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90. "Black Betty," Ram Jam 90
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91. "Your Name Here (Sunrise Highway)," Straylight Run 91
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92. "Fire Island," Village People 92
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93. "What Can I Do," Little Buster 93
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94. "New York Survivor," The Good Rats 94
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95. "Montauk," Bayside 95
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96. "Fire Island," Fountains of Wayne 96
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97. "Cosmopolitan Bloodloss," Glassjaw 97
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98. "Did You See Her Eyes?" The Illusion 98
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99. "Put Away Your Love," Alessi Brothers 99
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100. "Jamaica Next," The Movielife 100
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45. "All I Want for Christmas Is You," Mariah Carey
Today's beloved canon of holiday music was largely established decades ago, but Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" has pushed its way into that list in the past two decades, with its upbeat lyrics, tempo and, of course, the Greenlawn native's mighty high notes. It made it to No. 6 on the adult contemporary charts when it was first released in 1994, but it has only grown stronger over the years, topping the Holiday Singles charts in the past few years, including last year.
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