It's 1985 and I'm in second grade living in Hershey, Pa. Bruce Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A. came out the the summer before but continues to produce hit singles like "Glory Days," "I'm Going Down," "I'm on Fire" and "My Hometown."More >>

Paul McCartney produced so much maudlin dreck during the late 1970s and '80s (and, to a lesser extent, '90s) people were forgiven if they forgot he wrote and rocked the face-melting "Helter Skelter." "Wonderful Christmas Time"--with its cloying synths and greeting card lyrics--might not have Beatles-worthy artistic merit but there's a life-affirming warmth present that grows on me each holiday season. Sure, it's sentimental but so is just about everything Christmas. Perhaps more charming than the actual song, there's the pre-MTV video. A still cherubic-looking McCartney happily hams it up alongside lovely wife Linda as they host a holiday party that spills into the street, bringing together friends, family, neighbors and perfect strangers.