Since 10 wasn't enough, here's 40

You can stop now.

I get it.

When a columnist receives more complaints about one single subject than any other he’s put in print, well ...

A response is pretty much mandatory.

Perhaps you recall — since it was just five days ago — that we published the results of the first-ever Press Pop Music Poll.

Readers voted over a 10-day period for their favorite songs from what is known generally as the rock era, or basically the past 60 years.

With what we thought was appropriate fanfare, plus a cool piece of front-page artwork designed by Becky Lee, your top 10 choices were announced.

In a battle that went literally into the final hour, “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Brothers wound up as the No. 1 tune — barely edging Simon and Garfunkel’s classic, “The Sounds of Silence.”

IT WAS a pretty remarkable event, really.

We received 522 ballots, on which more than 1,700 different songs were named.

And from that, we presented those wonderful 10 — and assumed you would think it was fun.

Fun, but finished.

Ah, but you were not done, not at all.

Since last Monday morning, my mailbox has been clogged with a boatload of less-than-cheery messages — mostly like these:

“Why didn’t you publish a top 40?”

“What was the point of putting just 10 songs in print?”

“I want to know where my No. 1 choice ranked ... so where was it?”

Perhaps I underestimated exactly how invested you 522 readers — plus assorted friends and family members — had become in our poll.

Apologies to all.

Sincerely.

Unfortunately, I can’t go through the entire counting process again to tell each and every one of you where your personal faves finished in the poll.

What we CAN do, however, is give you an idea of what was popular with North Idaho music fans by listing the top 40 songs.

So ...

HERE IS your spectacular 40, and perhaps this will satisfy most everyone who voted.

Now please don’t ask for 100. I’ll faint if I do any more counting.

1. Unchained Melody (Righteous Brothers)

2. The Sounds of Silence (Simon and Garfunkel)

3. Satisfaction (Rolling Stones)

4. My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion)

5. Hotel California (Eagles)

6. Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin)

7. Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry)

8. Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay (Otis Redding)

9. I Will Always Love You (Whitney Houston)

10. Time in a Bottle (Jim Croce)

11. Let It Be (Beatles)

12. You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ (Righteous Brothers)

13. Me and Bobby McGee (Janis Joplin)

14. Like a Rolling Stone (Bob Dylan)

15. California Girls (Beach Boys)

16. Born to Run (Bruce Springsteen)

17. Good Vibrations (Beach Boys)

18. Take It Easy (Eagles)

19. House of the Rising Sun (Animals)

20. Imagine (John Lennon)

21. Hey Jude (Beatles)

22. Soul and Inspiration (Righteous Brothers)

23. My Sweet Lord (George Harrison)

24. Pretty Woman (Roy Orbison)

25. Stand By Me (Ben E. King)

26. I Want to Hold Your Hand (Beatles)

27. Every Breath You Take (Sting/Police)

28. Respect (Aretha Franklin)

29. Yesterday (Paul McCartney)

30. Margaritaville (Jimmy Buffett)

31. My Way (Frank Sinatra)

32. Hound Dog (Elvis Presley)

33. Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (Willie Nelson)

34. Thunder Road (Bruce Springsteen)

35. Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)

36. American Pie (Don McLean)

37. Smooth (Santana with Rob Thomas)

38. Light My Fire (Doors)

39. Proud Mary (Creedence Clearwater Revival)

40. Desperado (Eagles)

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Steve Cameron is a special assignment reporter for The Press. Reach Steve at [email protected].

As Casey Kasem liked to say, “Keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars.”