The nominees for Best Classic Al Song (i.e., those released pre-PPF) are, in alphabetical order:
Electric Los Angeles Sunset (ZSF) -- Al skewers the sleazy underside of LA life -- murders, crime, smog, vice. A fine, powerful tune that is ironic in two regards. One, Al moved to Los Angeles several years after penning this song. And two, LA is a lot worse in 1994 than 1970.
Gethsemene Again (ZSF) -- Stunned everyone by finishing ninth overall in the 1992 BOAP, and it did quite well again in '94. A very pretty ballad, it's the only Al song clearly about religion. He speaks with much more fondness and reverence of Jesus the person than he does about the materialism of modern day Christians and their churches.
Night Of The Fourth Of May (O) -- "Lady of ladies..." A dark, disturbing song of unfaithfulness set at a May 4th party attended by Al and his girlfriend. Who slept with whom? What price freedom versus commitment? And, as Al sings at the end, "Why did I have to fall for you? / Anyone else / Wouldn't have hurt me / Half / As much as you." Many voters commented wistfully that the song reminds them of an old girlfriend or boyfriend. Get in line.
Songs Out Of Clay (O) -- Another haunting ballad from ORANGE, and lyrically a precursor to 'Paint By Numbers'. Who is Maggie, who comes and goes from Al's life, and who always keeps one eye on the door? If she was a real person and inspired more than one song from this sad, brooding album, she must've been a real prize. :-)
The News From Spain (O) -- Yet another dark ballad from ORANGE, this one concerning a "Dear Al" letter he received from his vacationing lover in Carvajal. Maggie? Maybe. On the liner notes for this song, Al writes, "Sadly, you can't choose the people you fall in love with."
'The News From Spain' finished a close second to 'Gethsemene Again' in '92, but it ran away from the pack this year. It was the only Classic Al song to finish in the Top 25 overall (G.A. just missed). More impressively, 'News' won despite garnering a rather strong share of negative votes. This is one you either love or hate.
1994 ASML "BEST OF AL" POLL -- TOP TEN CLASSIC AL SONGS
-------VOTES------- ----POINTS----
# SONG ALBUM T20 T10 T3 #1 WST POS NEG TOT
1. The News From Spain O 8 7 5 1 3 94 -10 84
2. Gethsemene, Again ZSF 8 5 1 0 0 63 0 63
3. Night Of The 4th Of May O 6 4 1 1 0 51 0 51
4. Electric LA Sunset ZSF 9 3 1 0 0 50 0 50
5. Songs Out Of Clay O 9 4 0 0 0 48 0 48
6. My Enemies...Voices ZSF 7 3 1 1 0 44 0 44
7. In Brooklyn LC 6 4 0 0 0 43 0 43
8. Love Chronicles LC 6 4 1 1 3 49 -9 40
9. Clifton In The Rain BI 9 3 0 0 0 37 0 37
10. Manuscript ZSF 5 3 1 0 1 38 -2 36
Pollster's notes: The Ballad of Mary Foster also finished with 36 total points (including a #1), but Manuscript beat it out on the strength of more positive poitns (38 to 36). A favorite song of the 'vote early' crowd was My Enemies Have Sweet Voices -- for a while, it hung around in the OVERALL top 10. No Classic Al song pulled ten votes.
