Songs with the Word Band in the Title

I just bought the new Butch Walker album, and it is even better than 2008's Sycamore Meadows. Walker brought his band The Black Widows on board, so there's more rock on I Liked It Better When You Had No Heart. This follow up album has the same quality lyrics, sprinkled with humor and sadness, only here the words are backed by mesmerizing percussion and crisp electric guitars.

My favorite song on the album is She Likes Hair Bands, on which Walker reflects on his former stint in a hair band. Since then he has gained notoriety for his songs recorded by pop stars such as Avril Lavigne and Fall Out Boy, and now he is gaining prominence for his recent solo work.

The standout track brings to mind other songs that feature the word band in their titles. Here are the ten best, spanning four decades of rock.

10. The Band Played Waltzing Matilda by The Pogues: This Australian anti-war anthem has been covered many times in many different genres, but the version by The Pogues is the most distinguishing. Shane McGowan's gravelly accent seems perfect for the story in the lyrics.

9. The Boys in the Band by Mountain: Lesley West screamed with more energy on the group's biggest hit, Mississippi Queen, but the toned-down electric vibes on this minor hit is more representative of his band's talent.

8. Rock and Roll Band by Boston: The song was on Boston's smash debut album, which means it still gets weekly airplay forty years later.

7. Leader of the Band by Dan Fogelberg: The poignant story about the demise of a boy's father is sung perfectly by the late mellow singer-songwriter.

6. Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles: The album is better than the song, but this title track is still noteworthy for its introduction of "the one and only Billy Shears" as it segues into A Little Help from My Friends.

5. Soul Singer in a Session Band by Bright Eyes: Conor Oberst satiates this tune from Cassadega with rich imagery that is almost Dylanesque. I especially like the line, "Headlights or Taillights it's a flip of a coin, I have been coming and going since the day I was born."

4. Listen to the Band by The Monkees: Michael Nesmith takes the lead vocals for this catchy tune, which is more brass-filled than most of the band's other material. The song is contagious from the moment the semi-country tenor of Nesmith opens with, "Hey, hey mercy woman."

3. Band on the Run by Paul McCartney and Wings: The man who conjured up the idea of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band later made this three-part mini rock opera about a group of musicians on the lam.

2. I'm Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band) by The Moody Blues: John Lodge's hit from Seventh Sojourn contains the great line, "A thousand miles can lead so many ways, Just to know who is driving, what a help it would be." There are other observations as well, and the fast rhythm helps drive the song to the sudden crescendo of the repetition"

1. We're an American Band by Grand Funk Railroad: The drumming in this title track is among the greatest ever, so it's not surprising that band drummer Don Brewer wrote it. His lyrics provide a glimpse into the lifestyle of a rock band, and they also immortalize musician Freddie King and a groupie called Sweet, Sweet Connie.