Most of these interpretations do the material proud, though some may leave you wanting to, well, hide under the covers. Making up your own lists and sharing with friends might make for a more soul-satisfying parlor game than, say, Geography.

At first, I wanted to write an obituary for my friend Dobie Gray who passed away last week after losing his battle with cancer. Instead, I decided to share a few mainly professional memories of the man who introduced amazing hits into pop culture.

"It's a really tough world for new artists. If you believe in what you do and you really want to be in music, just stick at it. It's always a learning process. Enjoy it because I think making music is a privilege, really."

Here's a playlist sent out in hopes the president goes bold with his upcoming jobs speech, and that the federal government that we all employ gets out of the business of assured mutual self-destruction.

This week, we feature music by Peaches, Sly & The Family Stone, Kate Bush, Roy Orbison, and more.

Laurie Anderson, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, David Byrne... there are certain established artists whose works seem very fresh no matter which era they were created or played in.

Moments before he accepted the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award from his lovely friend and former hospital co-worker Julianna Margulies, George Clooney proved once and for all what a truly great humanitarian he is.

This modern legend is considered one of the greatest innovators and most influential musicians of the 20th and 21st centuries, and Herbie Hancock's music continues to transcend jazz's stereotype.

If all those Grammys weren't enough for you -- Beyonce, Taylor, GaGa -- here's are some songs to honor this moment and to have your head spinning like Pink was last night.

The awareness of mortality in 1980s nuke-pop was amplified by the inescapably bleak Cold War reality. With the fall of the Wall, much of the threat evaporated. The music, however, lives on.