Johnny Cole’s 2023 Music Awards, Favorite 125 Albums of 2023, Favorite Singles of 2023 & More!
Bruce Springsteen – Favorite Music Artist of the Year; Favorite Concert Tour of the Year; Favorite Original Song from a Movie “Addicted To Romance” (from the motion picture She Came To Me).
Johnny Cole’s 2023 Music Awards:
● MUSIC ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (based on the 2023 World Tour)
● MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Bruce Springsteen
● FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR: (a tie) Lucinda Williams, and Dolly Parton “tied”
● DUO OR GROUP OF THE YEAR: The Rolling Stones
● MUSIC COMEBACK OF THE YEAR: (a tie) The Rolling Stones and Peter Gabriel “tied”
● MUSIC ARTIST ON THE RISE: (a tie) Chaislyn “Chaislyn Jane” (During my 45 years of making year-end music lists, Chaislyn is the only music artist to have a song in my year-end top ten for five consecutive years beginning with “Carol” in 2019, “Dreams I Forgot About” in 2020, “Shades of Pink” in 2021, “Already Had It” in 2022, to this year’s “Soulmates.” Throughout 2023, she has grown in popularity with a huge online fanbase and recognition); Summerlyn Powers (she released her much anticipated The Hive EP in the fall of 2023 and successfully toured promoting it. She has also received the attention of several well-known industry insiders); Wyatt Edmondson (he officially released his outstanding full-length album Made For The Road in 2023 to positive reviews. Edmondson’s “Joe Roberts,” a 2022 song inspired by Bruce Springsteen’s “Highway Patrolman,” appears on this latest album. If anyone should receive a special Bruce Springsteen songwriting award, it should be Wyatt) “tied”
● BREAKTHROUGH MUSIC ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Ilsey “Ilsey Juber” is definitely someone not new to music with an impressive list of songwriting credits and vocal contributions. Beyonce, Miley Cyrus, Mark Ronson, Panic! at the Disco!, Dua Lipa, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and many others have all recorded music co-written by ilsey. In 2023, Ilsey released a cover of Neil Young’s “Heart of Gold” (a duet with Bon Iver) and her debut album From The Valley, featuring the brilliant “No California.”
● MUSIC EVENT OF THE YEAR: (a tie) The Mississippi Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at The Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center in Ocean Springs, MS (Sept. 21); U2 Live at the Sphere in Las Vegas, NV (Oct. 20); The 38th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY (Nov. 3) “tied”
● CONCERT TOUR OF THE YEAR: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 2023 World Tour
● CONCERT OR LIVE MUSIC EVENT AT A THEATRE OR CONCERT HALL: U2’s Bono “Stories of Surrender” book tour show at the Beacon Theatre in NYC (Apr. 16)
● CONCERT OR LIVE MUSIC EVENT AT A SMALLER-SIZED INDOOR VENUE: (a tie) Corky Hughes Trio at Jack’s by the Tracks in Pascagoula, MS (Jan. 28, Apr. 6 & 29); and The Pretenders at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ (Aug. 29) “tied”
● CONCERT OR LIVE MUSIC EVENT AT A SMALLER-SIZED OUTDOOR VENUE: (a tie) “Along the Pontchartrain Concert Series” ft. Will Kimbrough, Cary Hudson, Papa Mali, Russ Broussard, Mark Rubin, Casandra Faulconer & Brian Dailey at the house event in New Orleans, LA (Apr. 22); and The Frog Pond Sunday Social ft. Grayson Capps, Jimmy Hall, Randall Bramblett, Rick Hirsh, Donna Hall, Stan Foster & Corky Hughes at The Frog Pond Blue Moon Farm in Silverhill, AL (Oct. 29) “tied”
● BENEFIT CONCERT/EVENT OF THE YEAR: (a tie) 7th Annual Love Rocks NYC ft. James Taylor, John Mayer Trio, Sheryl Crow, Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Gary Clark Jr., Warren Hayes, Mavis Staples, St. Vincent, The War & Treaty, Rufus Wainwright, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Ledisi, Bernie Williams, Will Lee, and more at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, NY (Mar. 9); and The Annual Pink is the New Soiree Benefit ft. Phil Proctor, Stan Foster, John Milham, Donna Hall Foster, Fang Barrett, Alex Barrett, Michael Barrett, Lauren Murphy, Queenie Mullinix, and Dave Webb at Callaghan’s Irish Social Club in Mobile, AL (Oct. 11) “tied”
● MUSIC FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR: British Summer Time at Hyde Park in London, UK
● MUSIC FESTIVAL OF THE YEAR DEDICATED TO SONGWRITING: Mississippi Songwriters Festival in Ocean Springs/Gautier, MS (Sept. 21 – 24)
● LIVE PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR: Jimmy Page’s performance of Link Wray’s “Rumble” at the 38th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY (Nov. 3)
● LIVE MUSIC ENSEMBLE OF THE YEAR:
Jimmy Hall, Randall Bramblett, Rick Hirsch, Grayson Capps, Donna Hall Foster, Stan Foster, Corky Hughes, and John Milham at The Frog Pond at Blue Moon Farm in Silverhill, AL (Oct. 29)
● ALBUM RELEASE SHOW OF THE YEAR: Amanda Donald’s album release show at Callaghan’s Irish Social Club in Mobile, AL (Aug. 13)
● AWARDS EVENT OF THE YEAR: (a tie) Mississippi Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at The Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Center in Ocean Springs, MS (Sept. 21); and the 38th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY (Nov. 3) “tied”
MUSIC:
● ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Hackney Diamonds – The Rolling Stones
● SINGLE/ALBUM TRACK OF THE YEAR: “Angry” – The Rolling Stones
● SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENT IN SONGWRITING: “Healing Like I Am” – Summerlyn Powers
● EP OF THE YEAR: The Hive – Summerlyn Powers
● AMERICANA ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart – Lucinda Williams
● BLUEGRASS ALBUM OF THE YEAR: City of Gold – Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
● BLUES ALBUM OF THE YEAR: (a tie) All My Love For You – Bobby Rush; and Live in London – Christone “Kingfish” Ingram “tied”
● COUNTRY ALBUM OF THE YEAR: (a tie) Higher – Chris Stapleton; Rustin’ in the Rain – Tyler Childers “tied”
● FOLK ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Javelin – Sufjan Stevens
● HIP-HOP/RAP ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? – McKinley Dixon
● JAZZ ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Evenings at the Village Gate – John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy
● LIVE ALBUM OF THE YEAR: (a tie)
Joni Mitchell at Newport – Joni Mitchell; Live at Third Man Records – John Moreland and Live in London – Christone “Kingfish” Ingram “tied”
● METAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR: 72 Seasons – Metallica
● POP ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Guts – Olivia Rodrigo
● PUNK ALBUM OF THE YEAR: This is Why – Paramore
● R&B ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Wait Til I Get Over – Durand Jones
● REGGAE ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Ziggy Stardub – Easy Star All-Stars
● ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Hackney Diamonds – The Rolling Stones
● TRIBUTE ALBUM OF THE YEAR: (a tie) A Song For Leon (A Tribute to Leon Russell) – Various Artists; Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert – Cat Power; and More Than A Whisper: Celebrating The Music Of Nanci Griffith – Various Artists “tied”
● ANNIVERSARY AND/OR REISSUED ALBUM OF THE YEAR: (a tie)1962–1966 (“The Red Album”) and 1967–1970 (“The Blue Album”) 50th Anniversary Edition, which includes “Now and Then,” 2023. The two compilations album sets were originally released in 1973 – The Beatles; Southeastern: 10th Anniversary Edition – Jason Isbell; and Up: 25th Anniversary Edition – R.E.M “tied”
● ALBUM BOX-SET COLLECTION: (a tie)
Complete Studio Albums And Rarities – Stevie Nicks; Diamonds and Pearls Super Deluxe Edition – Prince; Joni Mitchell Archives Vol.3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) – Joni Mitchell; Otis Forever – Otis Redding; The Songs of Bacharach & Costello (box set) – Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach; Tim: Let it Bleed Edition Edition “Box Set” – The Replacements; Who’s Next / Life House Super Deluxe Edition – The Who; and Written In Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos – Various Artists “tied”
MUSIC MEDIA/TELEVISION/FILM/RADIO:
● FAVORITE MUSIC-THEMED FILM/DOCUMENTARY PRODUCTION: (a tie) The Beatles: Now and Then – The Last Song (a mini-documentary directed by Oliver Murray); Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming with Dave Letterman (directed by Morgan Neville); Little Richard: I Am Everything (directed by Lisa Cortes); Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over (directed by David Heilbroner and Dave Wooley); Stop Making Sense: 2023 Remastered (directed by Jonathan Demme); and Wham! (directed by Chris Smith) “tied”
● FAVORITE MUSIC-THEMED TELEVISION PRODUCTION OR SPECIAL: (a tie) 38th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (Disney+); and The Rolling Stone Live Conversation with Jimmy Fallon (YouTube) “tied”
● FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO: “Angry” – The Rolling Stones (directed by François Rousselet)
● FAVORITE SIRIUS XM PROGRAM: (a tie) E Street Radio with Jim Rotolo (E Street Radio); Live from E Street Nation with Dave Marsh (E Street Radio); and 80’s at 8 Big 40 Countdown (80s On 8) “tied”
● FAVORITE MUSIC-THEMED PODCAST: (a tie) Leland Sklar’s podcast; and Thanks For Giving A Damn (Otis Gibbs’ podcast) “tied”
● FAVORITE YOU-TUBE MUSIC-THEMED SHOW: Professor of Rock hosted by Adam Reader
● FAVORITE ORIGINAL SONG USED IN A FILM or TELEVISION PRODUCTION: “Addicted To Romance” (from the motion picture She Came To Me) – Bruce Springsteen
● FAVORITE PREVIOUSLY RELEASED SONG(S) USED IN A FILM OR TELEVISION PRODUCTION: (a tie) “Badlands” – Bruce Springsteen (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3); and “In the Meantime” – Spacehog (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) “tied”
● FAVORITE MOVIE SOUNDTRACK: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (soundtrack) – Various Artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Heart, Radiohead, Rainbow, The Replacements, Spacehog, and more.
● FAVORITE MUSIC EVENT ON BROADWAY OR STAGE: Harmony – an original score by Barry Manilow with lyrics and book by Bruce Sussman.
● FAVORITE PREVIOUSLY RELEASED SONG USED IN A TELEVISION COMMERCIAL: “Stayin’ Alive” – The Bee Gees (Capital One advertisement)
● FAVORITE TELEVISION COMMERCIAL FEATURING A POPULAR SONG: Capital One advertisement starring John Travolta as Santa Clause in a tribute to Saturday Night Fever.
MUSIC VENUES:
● FAVORITE “INDOOR” MUSIC VENUE (Club, Intimate Size Establishment): (a tie) Callaghan’s Irish Social Club in Mobile, AL; and The Peoples Room of Mobile in Mobile, AL “tied”
● FAVORITE “INDOOR” MUSIC VENUE (Midsize Establishment): The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ; and The Peoples Room of Mobile in Mobile, AL “tied”
● FAVORITE “INDOOR” MUSIC VENUE (Theatre or Concert Hall): (a tie) Beacon Theatre (New York City, NY); The Count Basie Cultural Arts Center in Red Bank, NJ; The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center in Old Saybrook, CT; and Mary C. O’Keefe Cultural Arts Center (Ocean Springs, MS) “tied”
● FAVORITE “INDOOR” MUSIC VENUE (Large Arena): Madison Square Garden in New York City, NY
● FAVORITE “OUTDOOR” MUSIC VENUE (Intimate Size Establishment): The Frog Pond at Blue Moon Farm in Silverhill, AL
● FAVORITE MUSIC “OUTDOOR” VENUE (Amphitheater or Large Outdoor Pavilion):
Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA
● FAVORITE MUSIC “OUTDOOR” MUSIC VENUE (Stadium or Festival Location): Hyde Park in London, UK
“Hackney Diamonds” by The Rolling Stones (Favortite Album of the Year and Favorite Rock Album of the Year)
125 FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2023:
1. Hackney Diamonds – The Rolling Stones
2. Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart – Lucinda Williams
3. Rockstar – Dolly Parton
4. Made for the Road – Wyatt Edmondson
5. The Record – Boygenius
6. From the Valley – Iisey
7. I/O – Peter Gabriel
8. Coyote – Dylan LeBlanc
9. Take Me With You – Blue Mother Tupelo
10. Shake It – The Nervous Tics
11. Rat Saw God – Wednesday
12. Golden State – Logan Ledger
13. Relentless – Pretenders
14. Weed, Wine & Time – Caleb Elliott
15. Live at Third Man Records – John Moreland
16. Seven Psalms – Paul Simon
17. City of Gold – Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
18. Rustin’ in the Rain – Tyler Childers
19. Strays – Margo Price
20. Live in London – Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
21. 100 Roots – Amanda Donald
22. Resurrection Thorn – Lincoln Durham
23. Factories, Farms & Amphetamines – Myron Elkins
24. Higher – Chris Stapleton
25. Halfway to Number Nine – Memphis & The Misfits
26. Equal Strain on All Parts – Jimmy Buffett
27. Different Lens: Rarities and Demos, 2019-2022 – John Calvin Abney
28. You’re the One – Rhiannon Giddens
29. Love in the Dark – Abe Partridge
30. This Is Why – Paramore
31. Anarchist Gospel – Sunny War
32. The Olive Tree – Kristy Lee
33. All My Love For You – Bobby Rush
34. Wait Til I Get Over – Durand Jones
35. Ace Monroe – Ace Monroe
36. Mr. Joe Jackson Presents Max Champion in ‘What a Racket!’ – Joe Jackson
37. The Call of the Void – Nita Strauss
38. Mountains – Nils Lofgren
39. Starvation Box – Dale Watson
40. Yesterday’s News – Robert Ellis
41. GUTS – Olivia Rodrigo
42. Blondshell – Blondshell
43. Javelin – Sufjan Stevens
44. Songs of Surrender – U2
45. Joni Mitchell at Newport – Joni Mitchell
46. Wilderness Within You – Parker Millsap
47. Nothing’s Gonna Stand In My Way Again – Lydia Loveless
48. Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd. – Lana Del Rey
49. Doctor Moan – Peter Case
50. But Here We Are – Foo Fighters
51. Savoy – Taj Mahal
52. History Books – The Gaslight Anthem
53. Every Loser – Iggy Pop
54. Sticks and Stones – Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real
55. North Georgia Rounder – Pony Bradshaw
56. Weathervanes – Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
57. Simple Things – The Band of Heathens
58. Shout Sister Shout – Ghalia Volt
59. Mother Road – Grace Potter
60. Nothing Else Matters – Phoebe Hunt
61. I Inside the Old Year Dying – PJ Harvey
62. The Chicago Sessions – Rodney Crowell
63. The Best Of Dwight Twilley: The Tulsa Years 1999-2016 Volume 1 – Dwight Twilley
64. Live in Brooklyn 2011 – Sonic Youth
65. Lucky for You – Bully
66. Orpheus – John Mellencamp Descending
67. At Royal Albert Hall – Peter Frampton
68. Alone at Sea – Jeff Plankenhorn
69. Evenings at the Village Gate – John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy
70. Now – Graham Nash
71. Departure Nocturnes – John Calvin Abney
72. Storm Variations – John Calvin Abney
73. Defiance Part 1 – Ian Hunter
74. The Vivian Line – Ron Sexsmith
75. Juliana Hatfield Sings ELO – Juliana Hatfield
76. Movie of the Week – Shakey Graves
77. Shadow Kingdom – Bob Dylan
78. Chrome Dreams – Neil Young
79. Workin’ on a World – Iris DeMent
80. Keep Your Courage – Natalie Merchant
81. Cousin – Wilco
82. Pieces of Treasure – Rickie Lee Jones
83. Such Ferocious Beauty – Cowboy Junkies
84. That Woman – Serabee
85. Watch Out for the Wolf – Ryan Bingham
86. Day Of The Doug – Son Volt
87. Rosie – Whitney Rose
88. Before and After – Neil Young
89. Traveling Wildfire – Dom Flemons
90. The Candle and the Flame – Robert Forster
91. Lover’s Game – The War and Treaty
92. Lackluster – Abe Partridge & The Psych Peas
93. Loving You – Amanda Shires & Bobbie Nelson
94. Another Door – Ann Wilson & Tripsitter
95. Southern Star – Brent Cobb
96. Jubilee – Old Crow Medicine Show
97. Should’ve Learned By Now – Lucero
98. Moving On Skiffle – Van Morrison
99. I Don’t Know A Thing About Love (The Songs of Harlan Howard) – Willie Nelson
100. Bless This Mess – U.S. Girls
101. Bluegrass – Willie Nelson
102. Mammoth II – Mammoth WVH
103. Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love? – Kara Jackson
104. Bluegrass Vacation – Robbie Fulks
105. Endless Summer Vacation – Miley Cyrus
106. Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan
107. Crank It, We’re Doomed – Todd Snider
108. Altitude – Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives
109. Laugh Track – The National
110. That! Feels Good! – Jessie Ware
111.The Deep End – Susanna Hoffs
112. First Two Pages Of Frankenstein – The National
113. Time Ain’t Accidental – Jess Williamson
114. Strangers No More – Drew Holcomb And The Neighbors
115. Brandy Clark – Brandy Clark
116. Desire, I Want to Turn Into You – Caroline Polachek
117. Blood Brothers – Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia
118. Death Wish Blues – Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton
119. 3D Country – Geese
120. Glory Days – Chapel Hart
121. Deadstock – A Shakey Graves Day Anthology – Shakey Graves
122. Pour It Out Into The Night – The Revivalists
123. Shooter Jennings & The Werewolves of Los Angeles Do Zevon – Shooter Jennings
124. A Song For Leon (A Tribute to Leon Russell) – Various Artists
125. The Greater Wings – Julie Byrne
125 Honorable Mentions (alphabetical order):
● 1988 – Lori McKenna
● 72 Seasons – Metallica
● A Cat in the Rain – Turnpike Troubadours
● A River Running to Your Heart – Fruit Bats
● Accentuate The Positive – Van Morrison
● All the Eye Can See – Joe Henry
● All Of This Is Chance – Lisa O’Neill
● All Roads Lead Home – Molina, Talbot, Lofgren and Young
● Among Other Things – Bella White
● Angel Numbers – Hamish Hawk
● Archangel Hill – Shirley Collins
● Atlas – Laurel Halo
● ATUM – The Smashing Pumpkins
● Back to Moon Beach – Kurt Vile
● Back to the Water Below – Royal Blood
● Bauhaus Staircase – Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
● BBC Broadcasts – Genesis
● Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? – McKinley Dixon
● Black Bayou – Robert Finley
● Black Rainbows – Corinne Bailey Rae
● Broken By Desire To Be Heavenly Sent – Lewis Capaldi
● Can’t Find the Brakes – Dirty Honey
● Careful! – Deeper
● Cat Power Sings Dylan: The 1966 Royal Albert Hall Concert – Cat Power
● Celebrants – Nickel Creek
● Come Get Your Wife – Elle King
● Continue as a Guest – The New Pornographers
● Council Skies – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds
● Crying, Laughing, Waving, Smiling – Slaughter Beach, Dog
● Danse Macabre – Duran Duran
● Dear Departed – Sam Burton
● Desire Pathway – Screaming Females
● Different Game – The Zombies
● Drink the River – Gabe Lee
● Drop Cherries – Billie Marten
● Eastwood Symphonic – Kyle Eastwood
● Echo the Diamond – Margaret Glaspy
● Every Acre – Heather McEntire
● Everything Harmony – The Lemon Twigs
● Everything is Alive – Darlingside
● Face To Face – Suzi Quatro & KT Tunstall
● False Lankum – Lankum
● Feel Good – Jaime Wyatt
● First Last Time – Ghost Hounds
● Five Easy Hot Dogs – Mac DeMarco
● Folkocracy – Rufus Wainwright
● Forever Means – Angel Olsen
● Forwards – The Alarm
● Fragments – Time Out Of Mind Sessions 1996-1997: The Bootleg Series Vol. 17 – Bob Dylan
● From Nothing To A Little Bit More – The Lathums
● Gasms – Smokey Robinson
● Jump For Joy – Hiss Golden Messenger
● I Only See the Moon – The Milk Carton Kids
● In The Throes – Buddy & Julie Miller
● In Times New Roman… – Queens of the Stone Age
● Jenny from Thebes – The Mountain Goats
● Lighthouse – Duff McKagan
● Live at The Hollywood Bowl: August 18, 1967 – Jimi Hendrix Experience
● Live From The Ryman Auditorium –
Charley Crockett
● Loving You – Amanda Shires & Bobbie Nelson
● Lucky – Megan Moroney
● Man’s Wolf to Man – Andy Taylor
● Maps – Billy Woods & Kenny Segal
● Melodies On Hiatus – Albert Hammond Jr.
● Memento Mori – Depeche Mode
● Mercy – John Cale
● Midnight Rose – Paul Rodgers
● More Than A Whisper: Celebrating The Music Of Nanci Griffith – Various Artists
● Morricone Segreto Songbook: The Maestro’s Hidden Songs For Cinema (1962-1973) – Ennio Morricone
● Moving On Skiffle – Van Morrison
● My Entire Life – Susto
● New Blue Sun – André 3000
● New York City – The Men
● Nobody Owns You – Joan Osborne
● No Joy – Spanish Love Songs
● No Ordinary Crown – Will Johnson
● Norm – Andy Shauf
● Okemah Rising – Dropkick Murphys
● On Your Time – The Steel Woods
● One More Time – Blink-182
● Outside Problems – Andrew Bird
● Peace…Like A River – Gov’t Mule
● Plastic Eternity – Mudhoney
● Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume – Yves Tumor
● Pretty Vicious – The Struts
● Race the Night – Ash
● Real Gone – Ally Venable
● Revamped – Demi Lovato
● Road – Alice Cooper
● RökFlöte – Jethro Tull
● Rumours Live – Fleetwood Mac
● Safe to Run – Esther Rose
● Smalltown Stardust – King Tuff
● So Much (For) Stardust – Fall Out Boy
● Songs for the Canyon – James Vincent III
● S.O.S. 4: Blues For Your Soul – Marc Broussard
● Spectral Lines – Josh Ritter
● Star Eaters Delight – Lael Neale
● Supernatural Thing – M. Ward
● Sweet Western Sound – Tanya Tucker
● Sweetzerland Manifesto MKII – Joe Perry
● Tension – Kylie Minogue
● The Art of Forgetting – Caroline Rose
● The Ballad of Darren – Blur
● The Candle and the Flame – Robert Forster
● The Complete Budokan 1978 – Bob Dylan
● The Devil Always Collects – Brian Setzer
● The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte – The Sparks
● The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We – Mitski
● The Loveliest Time – Carly Rae Jepsen
● The Men That God Forgot – Waco Brothers
● The Weakness – Ruston Kelly
● The Who With Orchestra: Live At Wembley – The Who
● The Window – Ratboy
● This Far South – Tommy Prine
● Time Will Wait For No One – Local Natives
● Trustfall – Pink
● Unreal Earth – Hozier
● Queen of Me – Shania Twain
● Valley Of Heart’s Delight – Margo Cilker
● Villagers – Califone
● Walk Around the Moon – Dave Matthews Band
● What Matters Most – Ben Folds
● Whitsitt Chapel – Jelly Roll
● Ziggy Stardub – Easy Star All-Stars
“Angry” by The Rolling Stones (Favorite Single of the Year and Favorite Music Video of the Year; Their album “Hackney Diamonds was also my favorite album of the year)
FAVORITE SINGLES AND/OR ALBUM TRACKS OF 2023:
1. “Angry” – The Rolling Stones
2. “Sweet Sound of Heaven” – The Rolling Stones ft. Lady Gaga and Stevie Wonder
3. “Addicted to Romance” (from the movie She Came to Me) – Bruce Springsteen
4. “Healing Like I Am” – Summerlyn Powers
5. “New York Comeback” – Lucinda Williams with Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa
6. “No California” – Ilsey
7. “Now and Then” – The Beatles
8. “Soulmates” – Chaislyn *5th straight year that a song by Chaislyn has been in my annual year-end top ten.
9. “Not Strong Enough” – boygenius
10. “Some Misty Morning” – Logan Ledger
11. “El Dorado” – Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
12. “Ain’t That Peculiar” – David Lee Roth (recorded live at Henson Recording Studios)
13. “Let’s Roll” – Summerlyn Powers
14. “Bite Your Head Off” – The Rolling Stones ft. Paul McCartney
15. “I Think About You Daily” – The Pretenders
16. “Love in the Dark” – Abe Partridge
17. “Sidetracked” – Chaislyn
18. “Pay No Mind” – The Krickets
19. “Don’t Do Me Good” – Madi Diaz with Kacey Musgraves
20. “Always on My Mind” – Summerlyn Powers
21. “Where the Song Will Find Me” – Lucinda Williams
22. “A Case of You” – Joni Mitchell with Brandi Carlisle & Marcus Mumford
23. “Houdini” – Dua Lipa
24. “Let it Be” – Dolly Parton
25. “Stolen Moments” – Lucinda Williams
26. “History Books” – The Gaslight Anthem ft. Bruce Springsteen
27. .”Bubbles Up” – Jimmy Buffett
28. “Flowers” – Miley Cyrus
29. “Dust” – Dylan LeBlanc
30. “Vampire” – Olivia Rodrigo
31. “A&W” – Lana Del Rey
32. “Someone Else”- Ilsey
33. “Let It Be” – Dolly Parton ft. Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Mick Fleetwood, and Peter Frampton
34. “Atomic City” – U2
35. “Where You Belong” – Lauren Spring
36. “Next Rodeo” – Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
37. “You’re the One” – Rhiannon Giddens
38. “I Remember Everything” – Zach Bryan & Kacey Musgraves
39. “Southern Star” – Brent Cobb
40. “World on Fire” – Dolly Parton
41. “Tennessee Orange – Megan Moroney
42. “No Hard Feelings” – Ian Hunter ft. Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp
43. This is Now – Ann Wilson
44. “True Blue” – boygenius
45. Panopticom – Peter Gabriel
46. “California Sober” – Billy Strings ft. Willie Nelson
47. “Take Me Home, Country Roads” – Lana Del Rey
48. “Frenzy” – Iggy Pop
49. “Oil” – Gorillaz ft. Stevie Nicks
50. “Cheat on You” – Hope Cassity
51. “Mess it Up” – The Rolling Stones
52. “The Lord” – Paul Simon
53. “I Watch it All Come Down” – Graham Nash
54. “Lover’s Game” – The War and Treaty
55. “Code of the West” – Wyatt Edmondson
56. “Live by the Sword” – The Rolling Stones ft. Elton John, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts
57. “Bad Idea Right” – Olivia Rodrigo
58. “Freebird” – Dolly Parton
59. “Paris” – Kenya Grace
60. “Excitable Boy” – Shooter Jennings
61. “What Was I Made For?” – Billie Eilish
62. “Nothing Left to Lose” – Everything But the Girl
63. “Tomorrow” – Harrison Storm
64. “Purple Rain” – Dolly Parton
65. “Chosen to Deserve” – Wednesday
66. “Somewhere on a Lake” – Wyatt Edmondson
67. “Bath County – Wednesday
68. “Strangers” – Kenya Grace
69. “Road to Joy” – Peter Gabriel
70. “White Horse” – Chris Stapleton
71.. “Tight” – Samara Joy
72.. “Vampire Empire – Big Thief
73. “Can’t Catch Me Now” – Olivia Rodrigo
74. “Hunter” – Jess Williamson
75.. “Go Dig My Grave” – Lankum
76. “Alibi” – Hurray for the Riff Raff
77. “Shelter” – Wyatt Edmondson
78. “The Lie I Tell” – Katie Jones
79. “New York Transit Queen” – Corinne Bailey Rae
80. “Will Anybody Ever Love Me” – Sufjan Steven
81. “All-American Bitch” – Olivia Rodrigo
82 “Weirdo” – Girl Scout
83. “Get Him Back” – Olivia Rodrigo
84. “Another Celebration at the End of the World” – Mammoth WVH (Wolfgang Van Halen)
85. “Red Flags” – Brittany Howard
86. “Somewhere on a Lake” – Wyatt Edmondson
87. “Cruel Summer” – Taylor Swift
88. “Smoke Detector” – The National
89. “TV in the Gas Pump” – Wednesday
90. “The Greater Wings” – Julie Byrne
91. “Dawns” – Zach Bryan ft. Maggie Rogers
92. “That Feels Good” – Jessie Ware
93. “The Crowd Goes Wild” – Dylan LeBlanc
94. “In You Love” – Tyler Childers
95. “I Dreamed of Elvis” – Dolly Parton ft. Ronnie McDowell
96. “Dance the Night” – Du Lipa
97. “King of Oklahoma” – Jason Isbell
98. “But Wait, There’s More” – Ben Folds
99. “Fast Car” – Luke Combs
100. “Hi-Fashion Girl” – David Lee Roth
Links:
● 2023: A Year in Review
● Johnny’s Favorite Concerts, Shows, and Live Music Events of 2023; Johnny’s Complete List of Concerts, Shows, and Live Music Events of 2023; Johnny’s Complete List of Music Artists Seen in 2023
● 2023: A Year in Photos
● 2023 Music Artist of the Year
Page Designed & Edited by Johnny Cole
Additional Editing by Deborah Chatham
© The Southland Music Line. 2024.
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