If you’re like me, the decision to buy/download a CD usually depends on that first song. A song that makes you think “Wow, I can’t wait to hear the rest of this!” But, has anyone ever given consideration to that last song? Many times, the wrap-up song is there for a reason - you can wait to hear it, if you get that far. Other times, I have to wonder “Why in the world did they put this one at the end? This is great!” For instance, let’s take Led Zeppelin’s I’m Gonna Crawl from In Through The Out Door. Throughout the years, this is a song that just keeps getting better. Consider that this was the last song on their last studio album, prior to the death of drummer John Bonham. He gives one of his best performances here. Plant’s vocals leaves goose bumps. Page’s guitar solo does the same. The sad subliminal message cries out “It’s been a blast, folks. Thanks for playing. Take this with you as our parting gift.” It’s fitting that they end where they started - playing the blues.

Here are a few more instances of saving the best for last:
Blackfoot/Strikes: Highway Song
Elton John/Caribou: Ticking
UFO/Lights Out: Electric Phase-Love To Love
Supertramp/Breakfast In America: Child Of Vision
Edgar Winter Group/They Only Come Out At Night: Frankenstein
Big Wreck/In Loving Memory Of: Overemphasizing
Bad Company (debut): Seagull
Greg Allman/I’m No Angel: It’s Not My Cross To Bear
Frank Marino/World Anthem: Try For Freedom
Billy Hill: Getting On Down The Road
Big & Rich/Horse Of A Different Color: Live This Life
Hall & Oates/Do It For Love: Love In A Dangerous Time
Jackson Browne/Lawyers In Love: For A Rocker
Poco/Legend: Legend
Spin Doctors/Pocket Full Of Krytonite: Shinbone Alley-Hard To Exist
Sting/Ten Summoners’ Tales; Nothing ‘Bout Me
JoDee Messina/Burn: Bring On The Rain
ZZ Top/El Loco: Party On The Patio
ZZ Top/Fandango: Tush
Pablo Cruise/Worlds Away: I Go To Rio
Doobie Brothers/The Captain And Me: The Captain And Me
Electric Light Orchestra/A New World Record: Shangri-La
Coverdale-Page: Whisper A Prayer For The Dying
Alice In Chains/Dirt: Would?
Black Sabbath/Sabotage: The Writ
Rick Derringer/If I Weren’t So Romantic, I’d Shoot You: Monomania
Robin Trower/Bridge Of Sighs: Little Bit Of Sympathy
Utopia/POV: More Light
Led Zeppelin 4: When The Levee Breaks
Robert Plant/Shaken N Stirred: Sixes And Sevens
The Kentucky Headhunters/Pickin On Nashville: My Daddy Was A Milkman