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Just when I was getting the feeling that we should abolish the U.S. Congress, their fabled book wing, the Library of Congress, has awarded Paul McCartney the third Gershwin Prize for Popular Song (the first two recipients were Paul Simon and Stevie Wonder).

I didn't even know that the Library of Congress has a Librarian of Congress, but it does and his name is James H. Billington. He stated, about Macca, "It's hard to think of another performer and composer who has had a more indelible and transformative effect on popular song and music of several different genres than Paul McCartney." On a side note, I would say that John Lennon and Bob Dylan have had as indelible an effect as Macca. I'd add that like Stevie Wonder, Macca has also revolutionized how artists now use the studio and how trippy pop music can actually sound. 

Of course, the 150 or so Beatles tunes that Macca either penned ("I've Just Seen a Face," "Drive My Car," "Black Bird") or co-wrote are a big part of this award. But, let's use this as an opportunity to look at some solid McCartney albums from his solo years (a mix of quite wonderful, sublime, neat-sounding but empty-headed, and just bloody awful).

Both Lennon and McCartney have stated that they didn't write for the public -- they wrote to impress each other. They also complemented each other's strengths and weaknesses. When that partnership dissolved, McCartney decided that the only way he could work against the legacy of the Beatles would be if he decided that anything he did would be OK. If something wasn't that good it wouldn't be the end of the world. He was right -- the world didn't end but some of his stuff wasn't any good.

This has led to so much misplaced aging rocker hostility that Macca's creative rebirth during the 2000s has pretty much gone unnoticed. Recent songs like "She's Given Up Talking" keep things sonically interesting (which, face it, is all that acclaimed hip-hop producers do) while combining his old, decidedly weird mix of bad vibes and aloof positivity. Stranded on an island of fame, expectation, adulation and disappointment, the Paul McCartney mantra is summed up on his 2008 tune "Don't Stop Running."

Here are some Macca solo discs to check out on Rhapsody, starting with his new live set. And, of course, you can listen to all these, right now and forevermore, with your Rhapsody membership. We have over 8 million songs, available anytime and (with the Rhapsody iPhone app) anywhere. Click here to get on board with a free trial.

Freaky, cheeky and chic, Lady Gaga is one of those pop sensations that somehow manages to delight the masses without losing any cool points with the fashion-making elite. On one level the multitalented Gaga has bucked the dance-pop trend by being completely in charge of all aspects of her career (her musical abilities are old world, while her marketing acumen is cutting-edge). It's as if Britney suddenly developed Regina Spektor's musical pedigree and Madonna's stylish pop smarts. Not a bad way to build a career.

Yet while the accurately titled The Fame Monster adds eight new tracks to Gaga's debut, where do you go when you want more Gaga-style pop thrills?

That is where Rhapsody comes in. The simplest things to do is listen to our radio stations that feature Gaga, like Pop Hits and Dance Crossover Hits.


As usual with Rhapsody Radio, if you hear something you especially like, simply click on the artist or album in the Rhap player, and you can jump off the radio station and start digging the new tunes immediately. Or, you can keep listening to the station and just go down the saved radio song list and either replay it, save it for later, or delete it and go on to something else. It's music discovery made easy.

On Rhapsody, Lady Gaga even gets her own artist station, where you hear plenty of her music mixed in with material from other hitmakers like Gwen Stefani and Katy Perry, as well as artsier influences such as Goldfrapp and Scissor Sisters. Of course, we also include Lady Gaga's guest appearances on other albums. She is one busy lady.

At Rhapsody, we even have a feature where you can create and name your own unique radio station with the music of up to 10 artists. There are no limits or restrictions. You can combine Lady Gaga with whatever you want. If you feel like slotting Fergie, Black Sabbath, Creed and the Osmonds next to the Lady on your own personal Rhapsody Radio Station you go right ahead -- she seems pretty open-minded.