Steve Goodman– 447

ALBUM: The Essential Steve Goodman (1976)

MVC Rating: 4.5 $$$$

The best way to introduce Goodman is through the songs he wrote. Songs that were often made famous by other people.

• City of New Orleans — Arlo Guthrie’s version made this a standard, covered by Johnny Cash, Judy Collins, Chet Atkins, and Willie Nelson.
• Somebody Else’s Problems
• You Never Even Call Me By My Name   — This send-up of country music lyrics got an uncredited writing assist from John Prine. David Alan Coe made it a country hit.
• Donald and Lydia
• Jazzman
• Don’t do me Any Favors Anymore
• The Cubs Anthem — Go Cubs Go — His most sung song.

Goodman died of Leukemia in 1984 at age 36.

Fun fact: He was a high school classmate of Hillary Clinton in Chicago..