From the tens of thousands of titles in its music library, WXPN asked you, our listeners to vote for the 885 quintessential XPN songs. These are the tracks that are at the heart of the XPN listening experience. The ones we could not be without.
| 1 | RICHARD THOMPSON | 1952 VINCENT BLACK LIGHTNING | Buy |
| 2 | DAVID GRAY | BABYLON | Buy |
| 3 | JEFF BUCKLEY | HALLELUJAH | Buy |
| 4 | KIRSTY MACCOLL | IN THESE SHOES | Buy |
| 5 | WILCO | IMPOSSIBLE GERMANY | Buy |
| 6 | LUCINDA WILLIAMS | CAR WHEELS ON A GRAVEL ROAD | Buy |
| 7 | RAY LAMONTAGNE | TROUBLE | Buy |
| 8 | AMOS LEE | ARMS OF A WOMAN | Buy |
| 9 | JEFF BUCKLEY | LAST GOODBYE | Buy |
| 10 | JEB LOY NICHOLS | HEAVEN RIGHT HERE | Buy |
| 11 | BONNIE RAITT & JOHN PRINE | ANGEL FROM MONTGOMERY | Buy |
| 12 | BACK DOOR SLAM | COME HOME | Buy |
| 13 | DAVID GRAY | PLEASE FORGIVE ME | Buy |
| 14 | OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW | WAGON WHEEL | Buy |
| 15 | CITIZEN COPE | BULLET AND A TARGET | Buy |
| 16 | ALEXI MURDOCH | ORANGE SKY | Buy |
| 17 | RICHARD THOMPSON | PERSUASION | Buy |
| 18 | SUFJAN STEVENS | CHICAGO | Buy |
| 19 | DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE | I WILL POSSESS YOUR HEART | Buy |
| 20 | RUFUS WAINWRIGHT | HALLELUJAH | Buy |
| 21 | GLEN HANSARD & MARKETA IRGLOVA | FALLING SLOWLY | Buy |
| 22 | PHIL ROY | MELT | Buy |
| 23 | LYLE LOVETT | CHURCH | Buy |
| 24 | BRANDI CARLILE | THE STORY | Buy |
| 25 | INDIGO GIRLS | CLOSER TO FINE | Buy |
| 26 | BOB DYLAN | TANGLED UP IN BLUE | Buy |
| 27 | DAMIEN RICE | VOLCANO | Buy |
| 28 | DAR WILLIAMS | WHEN I WAS A BOY | Buy |
| 29 | THE POOZIES | ANOTHER TRAIN | Buy |
| 30 | Peter Gabriel | Solsbury Hill | Buy |
| 31 | VAMPIRE WEEKEND | CAPE COD KWASSA KWASSA | Buy |
| 32 | JEFFREY GAINES | IN YOUR EYES | Buy |
| 33 | GNARLS BARKLEY | CRAZY | Buy |
| 34 | DAR WILLIAMS | ARE YOU OUT THERE | Buy |
| 35 | GRACE POTTER AND THE NOCTURNALS | AH MARY | Buy |
| 36 | NORAH JONES | COME AWAY WITH ME | Buy |
| 37 | JOSH RITTER | KATHLEEN | Buy |
| 38 | BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN | THUNDER ROAD | Buy |
| 39 | PETER BJORN AND JOHN | YOUNG FOLKS | Buy |
| 40 | RICHARD THOMPSON | BEESWING | Buy |
| 41 | INDIGO GIRLS | GALILEO | Buy |
| 42 | VAN MORRISON | INTO THE MYSTIC | Buy |
| 43 | VAMPIRE WEEKEND | OXFORD COMMA | Buy |
| 44 | CITIZEN COPE | SON'S GONNA RISE | Buy |
| 45 | BETH ORTON | CENTRAL RESERVATION | Buy |
| 46 | CRASH TEST DUMMIES | SUPERMAN'S SONG | Buy |
| 47 | MATTHEW SWEET | GIRLFRIEND | Buy |
| 48 | RODRIGO Y GABRIELA | TAMACUN | Buy |
| 49 | TORI AMOS | SILENT ALL THESE YEARS | Buy |
| 50 | BILLY BRAGG & WILCO | CALIFORNIA STARS | Buy |
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What inspired the countdown playlist? Check out our Resources page, a treasure trove of information about the aural history of XPN - Artists to Watch, festival lineups, Featured Albums, and more!
Watch a clever remake of the classic Bob Dylan "Subterranean Homesick Blues" video starring Jim McGuinn promoting the 885 Essential Songs Countdown. Click to watch and share
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