2011. It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. Sure, we finally got Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, but on the other hand, we still have the Kardashians in primetime. In other words, the past year has been a rather memorable mix of the good, the bad and the ugly. I was going to try and make some resolutions for the new year here, but as my favorite possible uncle Oscar Wilde once quite rightly noted, "Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account." So instead of making any promises that I might not live up to, here's my best shot at the ultimate, mostly uplifting playlist for all of our New Year's Eve parties. I asked my friend/followers at www.twitter.com/Wildaboutmusic for a little help, and those whose suggestions I used are credited below. Please accept this playlist as my little digital gift along with my very best wishes to you and yours for a Happy 2012. And perhaps more now than ever, I politely request that all of you add your own songs and thoughts below for this coming new year that we will all share together.
THIS WILL BE OUR YEAR - The Zombies
WAITING FOR TONIGHT - Tom Petty
I'M A MIDNIGHT MOVER - Bobby Womack
GOLDEN YEARS - David Bowie
BETTER DAYS - The Kinks
NEXT YEAR - Foo Fighters
NEW YEAR'S DAY - U2
THIS YEAR'S GIRL - Elvis Costello & The Attractions
WELCOME TO THE FUTURE - Brad Paisley
THE NEW YEAR - Death Cab for Cutie Thanks @taradublinrocks
YOU SHOOK ME ALL NIGHT LONG - AC/DC
IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR - Martin Belmont & Graham Parker
AULD LANG SYNE- The Jimi Hendrix Experience
LIVING AFTER MIDNIGHT - Judas Priest
ROLL AWAY YOUR STONE - Mumford & Sons
MY LUCKY DAY -- Bruce Springsteen
PARADISE BY THE C - Clarence Clemons
MIDNIGHT IN HER EYES - The Black Keys
ALL THE RIGHT FRIENDS - R.E.M.
NEW YEAR'S EVE - Tom Waits
BIG FOOL OF THE YEAR - George Jones
'ROUND MIDNIGHT - Amy Winehouse
DO IT AGAIN - The Beach Boys
HAPPY ENDING - Brian Ray Thanks @Maccaholics
HELL ON HEELS - Pistol Annies
WORLD KEEP TURNING - Superheavy Thanks @gwendobowling
BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIGGER CITY - Cee Lo Green
CELTIC NEW YEAR - Van Morrison
FORGOTTEN YEARS - Midnight Oil
AT MIDNIGHT - Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
MIDNIGHT CONFESSIONS - The Grass Roots
MIDNIGHT BLUE - Lou Gramm
MY DEAR ACQUAINTANCE (HAPPY NEW YEAR) - Regina Spektor
BRINGING IN A BRAND NEW YEAR - Charles Brown
REELIN' IN THE YEARS - Steely Dan
REWIND - Diane Birch
SET FIRE TO THE RAIN - Adele
AFTER MIDNIGHT - Blink-182
MIDNIGHT DREAM - Neil Diamond
LOVE OF MIDNIGHT - Peter Himmelman
MIDNIGHT RAMBLER - The Rolling Stones
MIDNIGHT - Ray Charles
WALKIN' AFTER MIDNIGHT - Patsy Cline
MIDNIGHT MAN - James Gang
MIDNIGHT RENEZVOUS - The Babys
HAPPY NEW YEAR - ABBA
MIDNIGHT - Red Hot Chili Peppers
HARD HARD YEAR - The Everly Brothers
AFTER ALL THESE YEARS - T-Bone Burnett
FUNKY NEW YEAR - The Eagles Thanks @digmuzak
IT WAS A VERY GOOD YEAR - Frank Sinatra
BETTER DAYS - Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes
AFTER MIDNIGHT - Eric Clapton
SEE A LITTLE LIGHT - Bob Mould
TEN YEARS GONE - Led Zeppelin
MIDNIGHT RIDER - Greg Allman
ONE HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW - Wilco
MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA - Gladys Knight & The Pips
STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU - Stealers Wheel
THE COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR - Nino Tempo & April Stevens
KISS ME AT MIDNIGHT - 'NSync
WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEW YEAR'S EVER? - Ella Fitzgerald
IT'S JUST ANOTHER NEW YEAR'S EVE - Barry Manilow Thanks @CookieGVB
IT'S THE LONG RUN - Ashford & Simpson
STAND BY ME - Ben E. King
A NEW DAY AT MIDNIGHT - David Gray
SLEEP - The Roots
LET'S GO TO BED - The Cure