Tom Rush Songs Ranked

Tom Rush (born February 8, 1941) is an American folk and blues singer and songwriter. His 1968 composition “No Regrets” has become a standard, with numerous cover versions having been recorded (Rush did two radically different versions himself). These include The Walker Brothers, who gave Tom Rush Top Ten credit as a songwriter on the UK Singles Chart, Emmylou Harris, who included the song on her 1988 album Bluebird, and Midge Ure whose cover also made the UK Top Ten. On March 1, 2007, a video of his performance of Steven Walters’ “The Remember Song” was uploaded to YouTube, and, as of April 2017, it has received over 7 million plays. Writing on his website, Rush said, On December 28, 2012, Rush appeared at Boston Symphony Hall to celebrate fifty years in the music business. With his new album Voices (2018) out, at age 79, Rush is still frequently performing, touring the United States, these days often accompanied on piano by Berklee graduate Matt Nakoa. Here are all of Tom Rush’s songs ranked.

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10. Joshua Gone Barbados (Take a Little Walk With Me, 1966)

“Let’s not lose sight that the theme of the song is the endless struggle of workers for better pay and benefits. Joshua told the men to strike, then abandoned them. Strike breakers were brought in. Strike be all in vain. Lot of misery in Georgetown, and wherever working men try to defend their rights.”

9. Lost My Drivin’ Wheel (Tom Rush, 1970)

“Tom was always a big fan of David Wiffen who wrote and did the original version of “Drivin’ Wheel”. He covered it as a way to bring the song to more listeners in the US (David is from Canada). Tom also did this with covers of songs by another Canadian singer, Murray McLauchlan (“Child’s Song”, “Old Man’s Song”).”

8. The Panama Limited (Tom Rush, 1970)

“I will tell you one thing…as a lover of music, and a lover of those who are masters of their craft…Tom is a pleasure to watch play. The guitar is an extension of his body, and it shows. I hope he’s around to make music for another 30 years…and I hope that one day I’ll achieve the same excellence that effortlessly exudes from his being. He is the man.”

7. Rockport Sunday (The Circle Game, 1968)

“Captures the sounds of a sea town in an incredible instrumental. Can’t believe what Tom Rush can do with a guitar. This, to my ear, is one of the top ten guitar pieces of all time.”

See more: Tom Rush Albums Ranked

6. Child’s Song (Tom Rush, 1970)

“A tribute to the those who recall the times they set off for their own life and left their childhood homes behind. I love the clear perspective shown in the verses from a young adult in the world who can see the troubles that his parents no longer see. “All of us must do the things that matter”.”

5. Mother Earth (Merrimack County, 1972)

“This is not my favorite Tom Rush album, but it does have some of my favourite songs. There is a bittersweet quality about the entire session, with a few exceptions such as Mother Earth with its fake start and Kids These Days.”

4. Drop Down Mama (Tom Rush, 1970)

“Drop Drown Mama sounds like your typical blues track sung by a folkie-turned-rockie, forgettable and bland. I don’t know how to express what exactly is so great about this, he’s not the most outstanding vocalist for example but everything just feels and flows right on his record.”

3. Urge for Going (The Circle Game, 1968)

“Tom Rush is one of the finest singers I’ve ever heard for the kind of music I like. His recording of “Urge for going” has been re-mastered and extended to original length (that is, not edited for length for radio play) When I listen to it now–which is often– I understand the emotion in the song, not just the words. It’s a marvelously well written song delivered by one of the masters of popular and folk music.”

2. Who Do You Love (Take a Little Walk With Me, 1966)

“Tom Rush was an important part of the sixties folk revival movement in The United States yet amazingly never had a single make the American top 100. Despite that fact, his albums have always sold moderately well. If ever one of his songs deserved to be a chart hit, it was his cover of Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love.” He strips the song to its basis yet retains its ominous feel. His version is mesmerizing and it is a song I have listened to hundreds of times down through the years without ever tiring of it.”

1. No Regrets (The Circle Game, 1968)

“Just through familiarity with the magnificent Walker Brothers cover version in 1975, it will always have my heart (plus that stunning guitar solo!) but this lower-key original performance by its writer Tom Rush. The difference in delivery I think between Rush’s and Scott Walker’s vocal rendition is that the former has moved on and can look back with no regrets but that in the latter the singer clearly hasn’t. Anyway, I’m the better for hearing this different interpretation of one of the best ever end-of-the-affair songs ever written.”