Songs with Smoke in Their Titles

Last week marked the 25^th anniversary of a significant scientific conclusion. On May 22, 1984 U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop reported that he had very solid evidence regarding second-hand smoke. Koop stated that there was a direct link between cigarette smoke and lung disease in non-smokers.

A quarter of a century later, America has used that report to improve the health of non-smokers. Many states have banned smoking from restaurants and public places. Sporting events no longer allow their patrons to puff. The society in general continues to be educated about the hazards of second-hand smoke.

In honor of the important anniversary, I have created a list of some popular songs with some form of "smoke" in their titles. The list is devoid of most of the big name artists, such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Who, and the Stones, even though none of them were strangers to smoke.

10. "Smokin'" by Boston: The song is the highlight of the multiplatinum self-titled debut album. Unlike the major hits from the record, this tune has a jauntier beat and straightforward, autobiographical lyrics.

9. "Don't Let Smokey Mountain Smoke Get in Your Eyes" by The Osborn Brothers: The bluegrass song has all the characteristics of the popular Appalachian band: the lively banjo, the aching lover, Bill Monroe-like vocals, a mountain setting, and a catchy chorus.

8. "Smoke" by Alejandro Escavedo: The singer-songwriter sounds like Bruce Springsteen, only with younger and more energetic delivery on this song and many of the others on the excellent Real Animal album.

7. "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" by The Platters: Many artists have recorded this beautiful gem, but none did it as smoothly as The Platters. They have such strong voices that they make sad songs, such as this one and "The Great Pretender," seem pleasant.

6. "When Smokey Sings" by ABC: One of the minor hits for the 80s band, the tune praises Smokey Robinson with lush synthesizer and an ethereal electric guitar much like the one used in the major hits "The Look of Love" and "Poison Arrow."

5. "Smokin' in the Boys Room" by Brownsville Station: Teenagers are still smoking in the junior high school restrooms, so the song is as relevant today as it was when the Texas rock band recorded it over thirty years ago.

4. "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple: The favorite of every beginning guitar player, the song has much more going for it than the catchy opening riff. Its lyrics flow like a journal entry, eternally catching the fire that occurred in a Switzerland recording studio.

3. "Smokin' from Shootin'" by My Morning Jacket: This is one of the many great songs from one of the best indie albums in 2008, Evil Urges. Its slow, soothing rhythm shelters the pain-filled lyrics of guitarist Jim James.

2. "Smoke" by Ben Folds Five: This is a powerful song about the end of a relationship told by the bitter male. The harmonica in the intro seems haunting, almost like dissonant chimes rattling from someone's porch warning of an impending storm.

1. "Smoke from a Distant Fire" by The Sanford-Townsend Band: The 70s band opened for Fleetwood Mac and Heart at different times, but they recorded a song that far surpasses anything those headliners ever did. John Townsend's tenor is clearly superior to any other 70s artist, and the lyrics directed to his unfaithful lover are easy to identify with.