This week: The Annual Lookback Countdown, Part I of II!: One Song Each From Jack’s Picks For the 50 Best Albums of 2021, selections 50-26. (Plus one song each from five of 2021’s Best Singles/EPs and reissues, too.)

This week, after an annual year-end Neil Sedaka/Jo Ann Campbell trill: brand new Jetstream Pony, Donovan’s Brain, Naked Raygun, Linda Lindas, Chime School, Black Watch, and Listening Post, plus Billy Ward & His Dominoes, Prince Far I, Everly Brothers, Sparks, Carl Smith, Chuck Berry, Roger Miller, etc.

This week, after a small slice of Charles Brown holiday cheer: brand new Superchunk, Beach House, Pom Pom Squad (with Matthew Caws), Billy Bragg, Marty Stuart, Beaumonts, and Dewey Defeats Truman, plus Loretta Lynn, Oscar the Grouch, James Brown, Marlene Paul, Bill Monroe, Otis Redding, Cedric Bravo & Rico Rodriguez, etc.

This week, after a lil’ 1987 Chills trill: brand new Stranglers, Black Watch, Feeders, Aimee Mann, Dennis Davison, Fawns of Love, and Persian Leaps, plus The Isley Brothers, Clarence Carter, Colin Blunstone, Duncan Browne, Rudy Mills, Ray Stevens, Little Brenda Lee, etc., and R.I.P. The Monkees’ singer/guitarist Mike Nesmith (1942-2021) and Angelic Upstarts’ singer Thomas ‘Mensi’ Mensforth (1956-2021)

This week, after a brief 1985 Replacements trill: brand new Justus Proffit, Jetstream Pony, Chime School, Wet Leg, Donovan’s Brain, Boo Radleys, and Fleeting Joys, plus The Beatles, Benny Spellman, Jimmy Smith, Small Faces, Muddy Waters, Melanie, Elvis Presley, etc., and R.I.P. country singer Stonewall Jackson (1932-2021)

This week, after a 1968 Beatles refrain: brand new Spoon, Beach House, La Luz, Lauds, Sacred Shrines, Archie Sagers, and The Natvral + Jen Goma, plus The Kinks, Monkees, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Skeets McDonald, Keith & Tex, Cool Stove, Ruby Johnson, etc.; and R.I.P. Margo Guryan (1937-2021)

This week, after a bitta 1995 Gene: brand new Successful Failures, Naked Raygun, Horsegirl, Susanna Hoffs (and Aimee Mann), Fawns of Love, Chime School, Bart & Friends, and Shivas, plus Wilson Pickett, Flying Burrito Brothers, Phyllis Dillon (and Hopeton Lewis), Chambers Brothers, Left Side, Rod McKuen, etc.; and R.I.P. Moody Blues drummer Graeme Edge (1941-2021)

This week, after a small snatch of 1986 Billy Bragg: brand new Lucy Dacus, Black Watch, Beths, La Luz, Don McGlashan, Beach House, and Courtney Barnett, plus Sonny Boy Williamson, Fleur De Lys, Hank Williams, Dennis Brown, Beach Boys, Etta James, Dave Brubeck, etc.

This week, after some goofy Caroline birthday comedy: brand new Radiohead, Chime School, U-Roy & Santigold, Petrified Max, Blushing (featuring Miki Berenyi), Muun Bato, and Lou Barlow, plus Big Joe Turner, Colin Blunstone, Bobby Taylor, Jerry Lee Lewis, Benny Barnes, Biff Rose, The Action, etc.

This week, after a dash of 1965 Paul Simon: brand new Nada Surf, Feeders, Pointed Sticks, Billy Bragg, Black Swan Lane, Willie Nelson Family, and Midnight Oil, plus David Bowie, Barbara Lynn, Pete Ham, Bee Gees, McGuire Sisters, Dave Pike, Nat King Cole, etc.

This week, after a refrain of 1970 Neil Young: a guest DJ slot by Jeff Kelson, plus brand new Don McGlashan, Real Estate, Parquet Courts, La Luz, Tombstones in Their Eyes, Downstrokes, and Descendents, plus The Beatles, Buckinghams, George Jones, Barry McGuire, Bunny Wailer, Shocking Blue, Screaming Jay Hawkins, etc.

This week, after some once-unreleased 1968 Beatles: plus brand new Boo Radleys, Sunflower Bean, Laetitia Sadier, Muun Bato, Bart & Friends, Fotoform, and Shebangs, plus The Beatles, Marvin Gaye (with Martha & the Vandellas), Bee Gees, John Hartford, Missing Links, Uniques, Boris Karloff & Vincent Price (and Red Skelton), etc.

This week, after brace of 1971 David Bowie: a guest DJ slot by Elizabeth Klisiewicz, plus brand new Billy Bragg, Successful Failures, Split Single, Descendents, Petrified Max, Piroshka, and Dennis Davison, plus The Byrds, Blues Magoos, Jackie Wilson, Tom Russell, Colin Blunstone, Isley Brothers, Nico, etc.

This week, after a pinch of 1979 Damned: a guest DJ slot by Dr. R.B. Korbet, plus brand new Secret Shine, Wet Leg, Bob Mould and Fred Armisen, Bevis Frond, La Luz, Persian Leaps, and Carina Messier, plus Eddie Cochran, Marvin Gaye, Orioles, Hurricanes, Johnny & Jackey, Yoko Ono, Connie Smith, etc.

This week, after a little bit of 1969 The Clique (Texas): a guest DJ slot by Jeff Kelson, plus brand new Triptides, Beths, Bastards of Melody, Bevis Frond, Guest Directors, American Darlings, and Iggy Pop & Matt Sweeney, plus Jackie Wilson, Small Faces, Delroy Wilson, Dan Penn, Yardbirds, Porter Wagoner, Paul Revere & the Raiders, etc.

This week, after a brace of 1935 Cole Porter: brand new Johnny Marr, Persian Leaps, Reds, Pinks & Purples, Gulps, Shivas, Startographers, and TUNS, plus The Move, George Jones, Ethel Waters, Scott Walker, Cream, Bunny Wailer & Dave Barker, Mills Brothers, etc.

This week, after a brief tribute to NYC: brand new Deep Sea Diver, Bevis Frond, Courtney Barnett, Flyying Colours, Illuminati Hotties, Joy Formidable, and Bastards of Melody, plus Lefty Frizzell, Syd Barrett, Them, The Beatles, The Aggrovators (and King Tubby), Woody Guthrie, Louis Armstrong (and Ella Fitzgerald), etc.

This week, after a refrain of 1984 Chameleons: brand new Daniel Wylie, Billy Bragg, Chime School, Checkered Hearts, Fotoform, Carina Messier, and Pineapples, plus Buffalo Springfield, Fats Domino, Everly Brothers, Sonny Curtis, Joni Mitchell, Tom T Hall, etc.; and R.I.P. Lee “Scratch” Perry (1936-2021) and Ed Asner (1929-2021)

This week, after some 1957 Little Richard warbling, Everlys style: a tribute to Don Everly (1937-2021)–plus Charlie Watts (1941-2021), Tom T Hall (1936-2021) and Rod Gilbert (1941-2021)–alongside brand new Successful Failures, Jorge Elbrecht, Lauds, Spires, Film School, Furious Seasons, and Jack Skuller, plus The, Beatles, Pioneers, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Davy Graham, Jimmie Rodgers, etc.

This week, after a 1967 George Harrison refrain: brand new Bevis Frond, Parquet Courts, Art Bergmann, Persian Leaps, Piroshka, Wednesday, Joy Formidable, and Guided By Voices plus Easybeats, Beatles, Smoke, Slim Gaillard, Ethiopians, Benny Barnes, etc.

This week, after a slice of recent TV Smith: brand new Split Single, Shivas, Descendents, Tremolo Beer Gut, Cold Beat, Tambourina, Lou Barlow, and Furious Seasons plus The Ventures, Pretty Things, Derrick Morgan & the Aggrovators, Hank Williams Sr., Jan & Dean, Tony Bennett, etc.

This week, after a 1965 Graham Gouldman/Yardbirds refrain: brand new Billy Bragg, Piroshka, Guided By Voices, Daniel Wylie’s Cosmic Rough Riders, Stranglers, Lanterna, Jorge Elbrecht, and Haroula Rose plus Moody Blues, Roy Acuff, Neil Young, 13th Floor Elevators, Ray Charles, João Gilberto & Stan Getz, etc.

This week, after a small slice of 2002 Decemberists: brand new Dinosaur Jr., Juliana Hatfield, Descendents, Aints!, Marty Stuart, Fotoform, Film School, and Jeff Elbel & Ping plus Larry Williams, Alton Ellis, Webb Pierce, Donovan, Bee Gees, Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald, etc.

This week, after a snatch of 1966 Rolling Stones: brand new Piroshka, La Luz, U-Roy, Billy Bragg, Shirley Collins, Descendents, Steve Gunn, and Low plus Kinks, Glen Campbell, Beatles, Solomon Burke, Neil Innes, Kitty Wells, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc.

This week, after a bit of a 1972 Todd Rundgren hit: brand new Illuminati Hotties, Chills, Justin Sullivan, The Aints!, Kurt Vile, Shannon & the Clams, Joey Cape, and Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real plus Badfinger, Phil Ochs, Ray Charles, Shocking Blue, Bo Diddley, Waylon Jennings, Mose Allison, etc.

This week, after a little 1983 Weird Al Beatles sendup: brand new Boo Radleys, Bevis Frond, Goon Sax, Tobin Sprout, Steve Gunn, Colin Moulding, Art Bergmann, and Lou Barlow plus Buffalo Springfield, Ernest Tubb, Marvelettes, Hollies, Paragons, Ian and Sylvia, Noel Coward, etc.

This week, after a 1969 Kinks tidbit: brand new Maxïmo Park, Descendents, Chad VanGaalen, Justin Sullivan, U-Roy & Rygin King, Bobby Gilespie & Jehnny Beth, Doug Tuttle, and Umbrellas plus 13th Floor Elevators, Astrud Gilberto & Walter Wanderley, (Peter Green’s) Fleetwood Mac. Etta James, The Byrds, Willie Nelson, Nic Jones, etc.

This week, after a refrain from the 1967 Who: brand new Aints!, Low, Lou Barlow, Checkered Hearts, Chills, Juliana Hatfield, Haroula Rose, and Cub Scout Bowling Pins, plus The Action, Jack Greene, Dr. Alimantado, John Martyn, Detroit Emeralds, Count Basie, Allan Sherman, etc.

This week, after a small snatch of 1967 Buckinghams: brand new Piroshka, Split Single, Idles, Justin Sullivan, Dinosaur Jr., La Luz, Illuminati Hotties, and Cheap Trick, plus Barrett Strong, Elton John, Kitty Wells, Lloyd and Glen, Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood, Everly Brothers, Bee Gees, etc.

This week, after a brief 1971 Grass Roots bit: brand new Goon Sax, Flock of Dimes, TUNS, Joy Formidable, Doug Tuttle, Lucy Dacus, GospelbeacH, and Tom Jones, plus Isley Brothers, Duane Eddy, Don Gibson, Yabby You, Outsiders, Jimmy Powell, Nara Leã, etc.

This week, after a short 1967 Beatles remembrance: brand new Descendents, Art Bergmann, Lou Barlow, Jane Weaver, Dinosaur Jr, Gary Numan, Petrified Max, and A Place to Bury Strangers, plus Martha & the Vandellas, Mose Allison, Desmond Dekker, The Who, Yardbirds, Steeleye Span, Bill Monroe, etc.; and R.I.P. B.J. Thomas (1942 – 2001)

This week, after a 1980 Lightning Raiders trill: brand new Chills, TUNS, Reno Divorce, Marty Stuart, Songs For Snakes, 93MillionMilesFromTheSun, and Reds, Pinks and Purples, plus Ronettes, Dee Dee Sharp, Pretty Things, Screaming Jay Hawkins, Beatles, Johnny & June Carter Cash, Prince Buster, Bee Gees, etc.

This week, after a 1980 Jam refrain: brand new Dinosaur Jr., Stranglers, Real Estate, Split Single, Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen, Maxïmo Park (with Pauline Murray), and Joy Formidable, plus Idle Race, Scott Walker, Hank Williams, Elmore James, Ken Boothe, Tim Hardin, Aerovons, and Cilla Black

This week, after snatch of 1964 Gerry & the Pacemakers: brand new The Goon Sax, Justin Sullivan, Sleator-Kinney, Lou Barlow, Christopher Paul Stelling, Shannon & the Clams, and Greg Antista & the Lonely Streets, plus Dillard & Clark, Sandie Shaw, The Who, Willie Williams, Skip James, Dee Clark, The Devilles, and Frank Sinatra; and R.I.P. Lloyd Price (1933-2021) and Napalm Beach’s Chris Newman (1953-2021)

This week, after small slice of 1966 Bee Gees: brand new Descendents, Black Watch, Beachy Head, Chills, Songs For Snakes, Bobby Gillespie & Jhenny Beth, and TUNS, plus The Kinks, Temptations, John Renbourn (with Jacqui McShee), Ernie Ashworth, Dawn Penn, Petula Clark, The Turtles, and Davy Jones (David Bowie)

This week, after smidgen of 1996 Sebadoh: brand new Piroshka, Justin Sullivan, Sunshine Boys, Real Estate, Tambourina, Flyying Colours, and Mute Swan, plus Traffic, Jack Nitzsche, The Move, Albion Band, Mighty Diamonds, George Jones, Nino Rota, and Frank Sinatra

This week, after a bit of 1971 Electric Light Orchestra: brand new TUNS, Lou Barlow, Guided by Voices, Angel Olsen, Art Bergmann, Submotile, and Reds, Pinks and Purples, plus Wanda Jackson, Kaleidoscope, Bunny Wailer, Dick Dale, The Weavers, Frank Wilson & The Miracles, and Willie Nelson [Special This Show: 7 Versions of “Sloop John B” That Preceded The Beach Boys!]

This week, after a trill of 1977 Johnny Thunders’ Heartbreakers: brand new Justin Sullivan, Cheap Trick, Dinosaur Jr., Tom Jones, Lucy Dacus, Eleventh Dream Day, and Tambourina, plus Ike & Tina Turner, The Sweet, The Action, Gene Autry, Palace Guard, Thee Techniques, and Tom Lerher

This week, after a little 1995 Teenage Fanclub: brand new Naked Raygun, TUNS, Pauline Murray, Tombstones in Their Eyes, Sensible Gray Cells, Triptides, and Submotile, plus The Seeds, Slade, Marvelettes, Love, Roy Orbison, Johnny Jones, and Thomas & Richard Frost

This week, after tad a’ 1956 Chuck Berry: brand new Joy Formidable, GospelbeacH, Real Estate, Fastbacks, Teenage Fanclub, Flyying Colours, and Cliff and Ivy, plus Jimmy Ruffin, Elvis Presley, Jamaicans, Misunderstood, Paul Revere & the Raiders, Sandy Salisbury, and Golden Gate Quartet

This week, after a refrain of 1980 Echo & the Bunnymen: brand new Wedding Present, Reds, Pinks and Purples, Sensible Gray Cells, Black Watch, American Darlings, Lucy Dacus, and Belle & Sebastian, plus Hollies, Pyramids, Billy Edd Wheeler, Arthur Lee & Love, Ennio Morricone, Equals, and Count Basie & His Orchestra

This week, after a little 1967 Tony Hazard/Manfred Mann/Yardbirds slice: brand new Chills, Cheap Trick, Flyying Colours, Altin Gün, TV Smith, Petrified Max, and Triptides, plus Moody Blues, Bobby Womack, Bee Gees, Xavier Cugat, Otis Redding, Faron Young, and The Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

This week, after some 2013 Sensible Gray Cells lament: brand new GospelbeacH, Savage Republic, Maxïmo Park, Luxembourg Signal, Arab Strap, Melt Citizen, and Lisa Mychols & Super 8, plus Esquerita, Wayne Fontana, Smokey Robinson, Manfred Mann, Augustus Pablo, Peggy Seeger, and George Harrison

This week, after little 1978 Rutles worship: brand new Dinosaur Jr., Sensible Gray Cells, TV Smith, Sid Rainey, Hadda Be, Athensville, and Sister John, plus The Zombies, Bel-Airs, Nick Drake, Eddie Marshall and Rosalie Allen, Shirley Bassey, and Cannonball Adderley; and R.I.P. Bunny Wailer (1947-2021)

This week, after small 1964 Simon & Garfunkel rumination: brand new Flyying Colours, Maxïmo Park, Reds, Pinks & Purples, Wedding Present, Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs, Jello Biafra, and Altin Gün, plus Sam Cooke, Left Banke, Jefferson Airplane, Sonny Washington, The Koobas, and Phil Ochs

This week, after lil’ bit of 1960 Johnny Kidd & the Pirates: brand new Cheap Trick, Guided by Voices, Bye Bye Blackbirds, X, Arab Strap, Belle & Sebastian, and Star Collector, plus Desmond Dekker & the Aces, Lloyd Price, Eddie Arnold & the Tennessee Plowboys, Ricky Nelson, Peggy Lee, and The Who

This week, after little Jim duets with dad on a 1962 Goffin & King/Crickets fave: brand new Flyying Colours, Sensible Gray Cells, Brother Kite, Teenage Wrist, Lickerish Quartet, Persian Leaps, and Gretchen’s Wheel, plus Johnny Kidd & the Pirates, Amy Winehouse, Rolling Stones, New Christy Minstrels, Alton Ellis & the Flames, and Claude Gray); and R.I.P. Mary Wilson of the Supremes (1944-2021), and Chick Corea (1941-2021)

This week, after a small slice of 1988 Libertines U.S: brand new Natvral, Triptides, Joy Cleaner, Bloodstains, Vicious Blossom, X, and Belle & Sebastian, plus Jackie Wilson, Jackie Lomax, Upsetters, Kingston Trio, Rivingtons, and Sons of the Pioneers); and R.I.P. Anne Feeney (1951-2021)

This week, after a bitta 1969 Fourmyula: brand new The Wedding Present (with Louise Wener), Chills, Teenage Fanclub, Bad Religion, Altin Gün, Juliana Hatfield, and Willie Nelson, plus Sandie Shaw, Can, Ronnie Dawson, Fairfield Parlour (Kaleidoscope), Paul McCartney, and Fred Neil; and R.I.P. Animals guitarist Hilton Valentine (1943-2021)

This week, after a slice of 1965 Anthony Newley via Nina Simone: brand new Sensible Gray Cells, Arab Strap, Death Cab For Cutie, Stuyvesant, TUNS, James Williamson & Deniz Tek, and Swansea Sound, plus Jimmy Cliff, Byrds, Ray Charles, Crystals, Beatles, and George Jones; and R.I.P. Phil Spector (1939-2021), and Gerry & the Pacemakers’ Gerry Marsden (1942-2021)