There She Goes Again - Happy Hour

My last mix of the year. A quickie throw together of mostly powerpop covers with crunchy guitars made while watching football with the sound off. I added this to my Happy Hour series of mixes because, well, it would sound great hearing these songs while hanging out with friends during happy hour. 

The mix starts off with one of the best pop songs ever. The La's also recorded two earlier versions of the song that didn't chart before the third version became a hit on their debut album. There was a controversy about the song because some people interpreted the lyrics to contain references to using heroin. Band members denied the accusation and you can tell by this Boo Radleys version that this song is about the joys of loving that girl.

Nick Lowe's Cruel To Be Kind is another stone classic pop song. I saw him perform the song again recently at a solo acoustic performance at Asbury Hall in Buffalo. Marshall Crenshaw is a great interpreter of classic pop songs as well as a great songwriter and he creates a nice version of this classic.

What ever happened to The Knack? They had that one great song My Sharona back in 1979 and really nothing after that although they tried a few comebacks. This cover of the great Badfinger song came off of one of their late 90s reunion albums. Lead singer and leader Doug Fieger died in 2010 so there won't be anymore new material from The Knack. However, a live album was released in 2012 that documents their club shows in 1978 before they became overnight sensations in 1979 and has-beens by 1981.

The Smithereens do a kick ass version of the T. Rex classic The Slider and The Dickies do likewise to The Left Banke's Pretty Ballerina. Redd Kross really roughs up that ABBA gem and Bill Lloyd does a nice job on the Bobby Fuller song that Marshall Crenshaw also covered in the 80s. Bill Lloyd has made some wonderful power pop albums during the 90s after the breakup of Foster & Lloyd.

Next up is a couple of covers of The Troggs. First with Alex Chilton formerly of The Box Tops and Big Star followed by The Ramones. Two great cover versions. Shoes does a nice cover of Buddy Holly's Word of Love and I really like those harmonies. Jeremy was a power pop musician in the 90s who went on to do Christian rock and here he does a fine cover of a Neil Diamond song that was a hit for The Monkees. Material Issue makes another power pop gem out of an old 60s hit from The Grass Roots.   Wonderboy was a power pop group from the 90s that made a couple of decent albums and he they cover one of the 60s hits of The Foundations.

A lot of bands have covered Sonny & Cher's I Got You Babe but The Cynics do a very cool punk/pop version with those crunching guitars followed by a couple of bands with recent cover albums that include Hotrats doing The Velvet Underground and Nada Surf covering Depeche Mode. Both albums by these bands have some interesting selections of cover songs and are definitely worth a listen. Matthew Sweet, who has made many classic power pop albums, has teamed up with former Bangles singer Susanna Hoffs to create a couple of very entertaining albums of cover songs. The first covered songs from the 60s and the second covered the 70s.  The song here is The Raspberries great hit from their debut album in 1972.

The next set of songs wouldn't be considered power pop but rather take some songs from the 60s and make something different with them in quirky ways starting with Yo La Tengo's take on The Beach Boys' classic Little Honda followed by The Cure doing The Doors and then The Grip Weeds doing The Move's LSD inspired riffing romp I Can Hear The Grass Grow. So it wasn't much of a stretch to follow that up with The Beatles' Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds by the very beatlesque Mercury Rev and then The Pretenders doing Jimi Hendrix.

Little Black Egg was a very quirky song that was recorded in 1965 by The Nightcrawlers but only slightly dented the charts in 1967. I always loved this song and was happy to hear it turn up again on an album by the alt-country dream pop band Tarnation in 1997.

Back to power pop with 20/20 from the 80s doing a Badfinger song and then with The Bongos masterfully covering T. Rex from their debut album Drums Along The Hudson from 1982. A great way to close out the mix. 

1.   The Boo Radleys - There She Goes (So I Married An Axe Murderer Soundtrack, 1993)
2.   Marshall Crenshaw  - Cruel To Be Kind (Labour Of Love: The Music of Nick Lowe, 2001)
3.   The Knack - No Matter What (Re-Zoom, 1998)
4.   The Smithereens - The Slider (Resurrection of the Warlock: A Tribute To Marc Bolan & T. Rex, 1995)
5.   The Dickies - Pretty Ballerina (Idjit Savant, 1995)
6.   Redd Kross - Dancing Queen (Secret Life, 1997)
7.   Bill Lloyd - Let Her Dance (All In One Place, 2001)
8.   Alex Chilton - With A Girl Like You (19 Years: A Collection of Alex Chilton, 1991)
9.   The Ramones - I Can't Control Myself (Acid Eaters, 1993)
10. Shoes - Words of Love (Every Day Is A Holly Day, 1989)
11. Jeremy - A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You (A Little Bit Me A Little Bit You: An Indie Tribute To Neil Diamond, 2005)
12. Material Issue - I'd Wait A Million Years (Yellow Pills Vol. 4, 1997)
13. Wonderboy - Build Me Up Buttercup (Abbey Road To Ruin, 1996)
14. The Cynics - I Got You Babe (I Got You Babe, 1992)
15. Hotrats - I Can't Stand It (Turn Ons, 2010)
16. Nada Surf - Enjoy The Silence (If I Had A Hi-Fi, 2010)
17. Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs - Go All The Way (Under The Covers Vol. 2, 2009)
18. Yo La Tengo - Little Honda (Little Honda, 1998)
19. The Cure - Hello I Love You (Join The Dots: B-Sides & Rarities 1978-2001, 2004)
20. The Grip Weeds - I Can Hear The Grass Grow (The Sound Is In You, 2003)
21. Mercury Rev - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds (The Essential Mercury Rev: Stillness Breathes 1991-2006, 2006)
22. Pretenders - Bold As Love (Pirate Radio, 2006)
23. Tarnation - Little Black Egg (Mirador, 1997)
24. 20/20 - Day After Day (Come And Get It: A Tribute To Badfinger, 1997)
25. The Bongos - Mambo Sun (Drums Along The Hudson, 1982)

More Songs From Favorite Albums of 2012

Shovels & Rope - "O" Be Joyful, 2012
"O" Be Joyful




Alt-J - An Awesome Wave, 2012
Tessellate




Father John Misty - Fear Fun, 2012
Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings




First Aid Kit - The Lion's Roar, 2012
Emmylou



Alabama Shakes - Girls and Boys, 2012
Hold On

Holiday Entertaining

We've always enjoyed entertaining and having people over for dinner. Good food, plenty of nice things to drink and interesting music on the sound system.

It's especially nice around the holidays.

Sooner or Later - Heartache

This mix is a continuation of the Heartache series of love songs and this set includes a selection of classics and covers with a little Dylan theme running throughout.








1.   Bob Dylan - One Of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later) (Blonde On Blonde, 1966)
2.   The Byrds - It's All Over Now Baby Blue (Turn Turn Turn, 1965)
3.   Peter, Paul & Mary - Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (In The Wind, 1963)
4.   Pure Prairie League - Amie (Bustin' Out, 1972)
5.   America - I Need You (America, 1972)
6.   Jefferson Airplane - Today (Surrealistic Pillow, 1967)
7.   X - Come Back To Me (Under The Big Black Sun (1982)
8.   Roger McGuinn - Without Your Love (Back From Rio, 1991)
9.   Tom Petty - Wildflowers (Wildflowers,1994)
10.  Johnny Cash - One (American III: Solitary Man, 2000)
11.  Robyn Hitchcock - Tangled Up In Blue (Robyn Sings, 2002)
12.  Fistful Of Mercy - Buckets Of Rain (Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan, 2012)
13.  Steve Earle - I'm Looking Through You (Train A Comin', 1995)
14.  The Beatles - The Word (Rubber Soul, 1965)
15.  The Turtles - It Ain't Me Babe (It Ain't Me Babe, 1965)
16.  Love - She Comes In Colors (De Capo, 1967)
17.  Eric Carmen - My Girl (Eric Carmen, 1965)
18.  Marshall Crenshaw - Whenever You're On My Mind (Field Day, 1983)
19.  Matthew Sweet - I've Been Waiting (Girlfriend, 1991)
20.  The Sails - See Myself (The Sails, 2006)
21.  Teenage Fanclub - Baby Lee (Shadows, 2010)
22.  Fiction Family - When She's Near (Fiction Family, 2009)

From Favorite 2012 Albums

Here are some videos from some of my favorite albums of 2012.

Goat - World Music, 2012
This is Let It Bleed.



Exitmusic - Passage, 2012
The Night



Vintage Trouble - The Bomb Shelter Sessions, 2012
Blues Hand Me Down




Tame Impala - Lonerism, 2012
Elephant




2:54 - 2:54, 2012
A live version of Sugar.

Stars All Seem To Weep - Night Chill

Stars All Seem To Weep is Night Chill Pt. 2 and continues the eternal groove of downbeat jams and chill beats. Beth Orton makes a return to lead off the mix and some more ladies of jazz, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, are remixed again. Some of the remixers, Royksopp and Zero 7,  from the first part are represented here with tracks from their own albums. Some classic post-punk bands, The Stone Roses and The Flaming Lips,  are remixed and a couple of new bands, Beach House and Animal Collective,  also make an appearance. Bill Laswell shows up in the series for the first time remixing the John Coltrane classic for Carlos Santana and John McLaughlin and also does an ambient dub version of Bob Marley. He will show up many more times throughout this series. Moby shows up for the first time too but no new wave this time.

1.   Beth Orton - Stars All Seem To Weep
2.   Moby - First Cool Hive
3.   Ella Fitzgerald - Angel Eyes (Layo & Bushwacka Mix)
4.   Science Dept. & Erire - Breathe
5.   Beach House - Wishes
6.   Animal Collective - Bluish
7.   The Stone Roses - Shoot You Down (The Soul Hooligan Remix)
8.   The Flaming Lips - Do You Realize? (Scott Hardkiss Floating In Space Mix)
9.   Billie Holiday - Don't Explain (Dzihan & Kamien Remix)
10. Carlos Santana & John McLaughlin - A Love Supreme (Bill Laswell Remix)
11. Bob Marley - Is This Love (Ambient Dub Mix)
12. Royksopp - So Easy
13. Zero 7 - Destiny
14. Alphawezen - Into The Stars

James Brown on the subway

In the early to mid 90's I liked taking the subway downtown to the central public library every day. I would walk a few blocks from our home over to the Main Street line and then take a relaxing ride to work reading a book. Read lots of books on that train.

I read the James Brown autobiography/memoir sitting in the subway car during the summer of 1993. It was a particular fun read given the rants and the extremes he goes to justify his sometimes crazy behavior. Highly entertaining. It was also very interesting to learn about his childhood and growing up in the South. Of course the sections about his music and the recording industry were fascinating.

One day while sitting in the subway car reading this book an older black man struck up a conversation. He had obviously read the book when he started quoting some of the lines and referring to other incidents while laughing and asking me what I thought about it. He was very knowledgeable about James Brown and the contents of the book. It all made for a highly entertaining ride home from work that day.

In October 2012 I read another book about James Brown that was marketed as the definitive biography that explored his musical genius and inspirations. While reading it I still had the earlier Brown salacious memoir spinning around in my head.

Fade To Grey - Night Chill

Night Chill Pt. 1 - Fade To Grey

This is the first part of a series of chillwave, new wave, ambient, dub, jazz vocal remixes and late night chill. This all comes together as an easy listening jam of familiar but distorted laid back beats that's perfect for that late night groove or toe tappin' dinner.

The title of the mix comes from the classic new wave Visage closing song. It is preceded by a very cool version of a classic early Cure song and an almost unrecognized version of the well known Echo & The Bunnymen classic. Radiohead also provides a remixed version of a song from their OK Computer album. It is interesting to hear the modern remixed versions of classics from Nina Simone and Sarah Vaughan and there will be more scattered throughout the series.

This series of mixes is drawing from a large playlist that I put together over a period of five years or so. As usual I've broken it down into CD length mixes. The next couple of mixes are assembled and just need to be mixed as a single mp3 for posting.

Image is Radiohead in concert.


1.   Dido - Here With Me (Chillin' With The Family Mix)
2.   Beth Orton - Daybreaker
3.   Coldplay - Yellow (Alpha Mix)
4.   Nina Simone - Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair (Jaffa Remix)
5.   St. Germain - Sure Thing
6.   Feist - Mushaboom (Mocky Remix)
7.   Washed Out - Eyes Be Closed
8.   Kings Of Convenience - I Don't Know What I Can Save You From (Royksopp Remix)
9.   Astrud Gilberto - Who Needs Forever? (Thievery Corporation Remix)
10. Sarah Vaughan - Summertime (UFO Remix)
11. Radiohead - Climbing Up The Walls (Zero 7 Mix)
12. Echo & The Bunneymen - Rescue (Mindwinder's Remix)
13. The Cure - A Forest (Tree Mix)
14. Visage - Fade To Grey (12" Version)

New Lyric

My old neighborhood movie theater... Saturday matinees for a quarter. Godzilla, Hercules, Sinbad, Martians and 13 Ghosts. This is also the place I first saw Spartacus, James Bond, 2001 Space Odyssey, Clint Eastwood, Lawrence of Arabia, Planet of the Apes, The Alamo, The Great Escape and the Village of the Damned.

I grew up about two blocks away and we went there regularly on Saturday afternoons and later on at night as a teen.

It had Lyric on the sign but it was always referred to as the New Lyric because of some renovation done in the 1930's. It was originally opened in 1914. It closed in 1971 and judging from the condition of the property this photo was probably taken in the mid-70's during the decline of the neighborhood. The Little Dog House next door too.

I moved back to the neighborhood in early 1974 and lived around the corner from it again but was disappointed to see that it was closed. A year later in 1975 I was sad to watch it burn down one evening.

The Last Time I Saw Elvis - Porch Sittin'

The Last Time I Saw Elvis. Another Porch Sittin' theme mix. I put this together a few years back around Elvis' birthday. It includes songs about Elvis, songs associated with Elvis covered by others and a few Elvis performances. The mix title is from the opening line of the first song on the mix by Neil Young.

The last time I saw Elvis
He was shooting at a color TV
The phones were ringing in the pink motel
And the rest is history
He was the King

I had a lot of material to work with and I actually have a second part of this mix ready to go. I'll post it later.

This was a fun mix to make and I think it strikes a nice balance of tribute and commentary. It starts off with a Neil Young story about Elvis and a couple of my favorite Elvis songs. Then we have a couple of guitar heroes doing their Elvis thing that also includes Rod Stewart singing with Jeff Beck. There is a quote from Rod Stewart later in the mix. Mojo Nixon and Dread Zeppelin due some funny commentary followed by a little Elvis imitator action. Elvis himself comes back for another one of my favorite performances and then some more songs that refer to Elvis, Graceland and Memphis. Gillian Welch does a wonderful heartfelt song followed by Loudon Wainwright III yucking it up. The mix closes with some Elvis style rockabilly from some fans and ends with the king himself. Yes, he was the one. Elvis needs boats.

   
1.   Neil Young - He Was The King
2.   Elvis Presley - All Shook Up
3.   Elvis Presley - Little Sister
4.   Link Wray - Blue Suede Shoes (Live)
5.   Jeff Beck Group - All Shook Up
6.   Mojo Nixon & Skip Roper - Elvis Is Everywhere
7.   Dread Zeppelin - Heartbreaker (At The End Of Lonely Street)
8.   Steve Goodman - Elvis Imitators
9.   El Vez - It's Now Or Never
10. Elvis Presley - Burning Love
11. Paul Simon - Graceland
12. John Hiatt - Memphis In The Meantime
13. R.E.M. - Man On The Moon
14. Dire Straits - Calling Elvis
15. Gillian Welch - Elvis Presley Blues
16. Loudon Wainwright III - Happy Birthday Elvis
17. Pete Yorn - Suspicious Minds (Dawn Version)
18. Wanda Jackson - My Baby Left Me
19. Buddy Love - Heartbreak Hotel
20. Janis Martin - My Boy Elvis
21. Elvis Presley - I Was The One

It's Raining - Porch Sittin'

It's Raining: A Porch Sittin' Theme Mix.
I occasionally make a mix with a theme based on a particular word in a song title and this one is obviously about rain. These theme mixes I usually put together in my Porch Sittin' group. In this one the rain is a barometer of human emotion.

This mix starts off with the Beatles' Rain which was recorded during the Revolver sessions but released prior to the album as a b-side to the Paperback Writer single. It was said that the rain was a euphemism for the psychedelic experience of LSD. That could probably not be said for the next two songs from the Hollies and XTC but that psychedelic feel starts flowing again for the House of Fire, Traffic and Jimi Hendrix songs. Then the sound of the rain leads into some girl group vocals that get harder until the full throttle of the Jesus and Mary Chain take hold. A couple of 90s tunes takes the mix to Tom Waits and after that intensely gruff voice the voices of the Temptations sound sweet indeed. That gets followed by another rain song from 1968 with the different sounding voices of the Four Seasons that graced the top 40 airwaves at the same time. Then of course is the big disco hit from the Weather Girls followed by the new wave of the Eurythmics. Adele adds some contemporary soulful vocals before sliding into the alt-country sounds of Julie Miller, Steve Earle and John Mellencamp. The mix closes out with Creedence asking who'll stop the rain.

I was surprised with how many songs in my collection that have rain in the title. I could easily put together another couple of mixes with this theme but making this work is getting the flow of the songs to sound good together on their own and not because they have some artificial construct like a common word in the title. They have to sound good together. I think I did that here but you can be the judge.

 The photo is from the Rain Room installation at the Barbican Centre in London.

1.   The Beatles - Rain (Past Masters Vol. 2, 1988)
2.   The Hollies - Rain On The Window (Evolution, 1967)
3.   XTC - Ballet For A Rainy Day (Skylarking, 1987)
4.   House of Fire - Rain (House of Fire, 2008)
5.   Traffic - Coloured Rain (Heaven Is In Your Mind, 1967)
6.   The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Rainy Day, Dream Away (Electric Ladyland, 1968)
7.   The Ronettes - Walking In The Rain (Best of the Ronettes, 1992)
8.   The Detroit Cobras - It's Raining (Baby, 2005)
9.   Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - Have You Ever Seen The Rain (The Hit List, 1990)
10. The Jesus and Mary Chain - Happy When It Rains (Darklands, 1987)
11. Los Lobos - Wicked Rain (Kiko, 1992)
12. Blind Melon - No Rain (Blind Melon, 1992)
13. Tom Waits - Rains On Me (Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards, 2006)
14. The Temptations - I Wish It Would Rain (The Tempations Wish It Would Rain, 1968)
15. The Four Seasons - Tell It To The Rain (The Definitive Pop Collection, 2006)
16. The Weather Girls - It's Raining Men (The Disco Box, 1999)
17. Eurythmics - Here Comes The Rain Again (Touch, 1983)
18. Adele - Set Fire To The Rain (21, 2011)
19. Julie Miller - Out In The Rain (Broken Things, 1999)
20. Steve Earle - The Rain Came Down (Exit 0, 1987)
21. John Mellencamp - Rain On The Scarecrow (Acoustic Version) (Rough Harvest, 1999)
22. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Who'll Stop The Rain (Cosmo's Factory, 1970)

Trenchtown Rock - Reggae Night

Trenchtown Rock - Reggae Night Mix

The second part of my long reggae playlist. More classic reggae, sounds from the 80s and some dub.




1.   Bob Marley & The Wailers - Trenchtown Rock (Live)
2.   Bob Marley & The Wailers - Concrete Jungle
3.   Toots & The Maytals - Funky Kingston
4.   Third World - One Cold Boogie (Couldn't Stop Dis Ya Boogie)
5.   Black Uhuru - Youth Of Eglington
6.   Linton Kwesi Johnson - Inglan Is A Bitch
7.   Steel Pulse - Steppin' Out
8.   Peter Tosh - Downpressor Man
9.   Bunny Wailer - Rasta Man
10. Papa Michigan & General Smiley - One Love Jam Down
11. The Mighty Diamonds - Pass The Kouchie
12. Augustus Pablo - Nature Dub
13. The Congos - Congoman
14. Jimmy Cliff - Bongo Man
15. Johnny Clarke - Roots Natty Congo
16. Burning Spear - The Ghost

Rivers of Babylon - Reggae Night

Rivers of Babylon - Reggae Night Mix

A selection of classic reggae from my collection. Earlier in the summer I created a very large iTunes playlist of reggae songs that went on for many hours. I've decided to break the list down into CD sized mixes. This is the first. Part 2 is completed and should be uploaded soon.

Reggae has been one of my favorite genres of music since the early 70s when I first saw the film The Harder They Come at the old Bandbox  Theater in Germantown, Philly. We also enjoyed the live reggae shows at Grendels' Lair on South Street throughout the 70s but the highlight was seeing Bob Marley & The Wailers perform live in the spring of 1976 at the Century Theater during my first visit to Buffalo.

Photo is Black Uhuru. 


1.   The Melodians - Rivers of Babylon (Rivers of Babylon, 1970)
2.   The Heptones - Book of Rules (Book of Rules, 1973)
3.   Bob Marley & The Wailers - Stir It Up (Catch A Fire, 1973)
4.   The Congos - At The Feast (Heart Of The Congos, 1977)
5.   U-Roy - Chalice In The Palace (Dread In A Babylon, 1975)
6.   Junior Murvin - Police & Thieves (Police & Thieves, 1977)
7.   Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey (Marcus Garvey, 1975)
8.   Max Romeo & The Upsetters - War Ina Babylon (War Inna Babylon, 1978)
9.   The Mighty Diamonds - Why Me Black Brother Why (Right Time, 1976)
10. Augustus Pablo - King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown (King Tubby Meets The Rockers Uptown, 1976)
11. Toots & The Maytals - Sweet & Dandy (Sweet & Dandy, 1968)
12. Peter Tosh - Stepping Razor (Equal Rights, 1977)
13. Black Uhuru - Right Stuff (Chill Out, 1982)
14. Linton Kwesi Johnson - Forces Of Vicktry (Forces Of Vicktry, 1979)
15. Steel Pulse - Worth His Weight In Gold (Rally Round) (True Democracy, 1982)
16. Third World - 1865 (96 Degrees In The Shade) (96 Degrees In The Shade, 1977)
17. Desmond Dekker - Israelites (This Is Desmond Dekker, 1969)
18. Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come (The Harder They Come, 1972)

The End Of That - Songs 2012

The End Of That - Songs 2012 Pt. 5
More songs from 2012.



Photo is Plants and Animals.




1.   Plants and Animals - The End of That (The End of That, 2012)
2.   Wild Nothing - Disappear Always (Nocturne, 2012)
3.   Civil Twilight - Holy Weather (Holy Weather, 2012)
4.   King Tuff - Keep On Movin' (King Tuff, 2012)
5.   Anya Marina - Body Knows Best (Felony Flats, 2012)
6.   Scars On 45 - Warning Sign (Scars On 45, 2012)
7.   Magic Trick - Ruby (Ruler of the Night, 2012)
8.   Lower Dens - Lamb (Nootropics, 2012)
9.   Peaking Lights - Cosmic Tides (Lucifer, 2012)
10. The Brian Jonestown Massacre - I Want To Hold Your Other Hand (Aufheben, 2012)
11. Thee Oh Sees - Hang A Picture (Putrifiers II, 2012)
12. Yeasayer - Damaged Goods (Fragrant World, 2012)
13. Violens - Totally True (True, 2012)
14. Now, Now - Thread (Threads, 2012)
15. The Mynabirds - Generals (Generals, 2012)
16. Margot and The Nuclear So and So's - Prozac Rock (Rot Gut, Domestic, 2012)
17. Bob Mould - Star Machine (Silver Age, 2012)
18. Richard Hawley - Standing At The Sky's Edge (Standing At The Sky's Edge, 2012)

Slow and Steady - Songs 2012

Songs of 2012 continue with mix number 4 and includes songs from some of my favorite albums released this year including Beach House, alt-J, DIIV, Islands, Divine Fits and Here We Go Magic. These are songs from some of the albums that have been in heavy rotation in my ear buds.

I really like the new Calexico and Grizzly Bear releases from last week. It's been another good year for new music and I already have Pt. 5 done which rock a little harder. Part 6 will gather some more strays.  Check out Parts 1, 2 & 3 for more great songs from 2012.

The photo is Beach House.
  
1.   Of Monsters and Men - Slow and Steady (My Head Is An Animal, 2012)
2.   Beach House - The Hours (Bloom, 2012)
3.   Islands - No Crying (A Sleep & A Forgetting, 2012)
4.   Grizzly Bear - A Simple Answer (Shields, 2012)
5.   2:54 - Easy Undercover (2:54, 2012)
6.   Divine Fits - Would That Not Be Nice (A Thing Called Divine Fits, 2012)
7.   Calexico - Epic (Algiers, 2012)
8.   DIIV - Air Conditioning (Oshin, 2012)
9.   Here We Go Magic - Alone But Moving (A Different Ship, 2012)
10. Dusted - Bruises (Total Dust, 2012)
11. Grand Duchy - See-Thru You (Let the People Speak, 2012)
12. alt-J - Dissolve Me (An Awesome Wave, 2012)
13. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Mature Themes (Mature Themes, 2012)
14. California Wives - Tokyo (Art History, 2012)
15. The Walkmen - Heartbreaker (Heaven, 2012)
16. Jack White - Love Interruption (Blunderbuss, 2012)
17. Sea Wolf - Pricilla (Old World Romance, 2012)
18. Azure Ray - Scattered Like Leaves (As Above So Below, 2012)

Shake 'Em On Down - Happy Hour

Tell Automatic Slim , tell Razor Totin' Jim. Tell Butcher Knife Totin' Annie, tell Fast Talking Fanny. We gonna romp and tromp till midnight. I'm shakin', Shakin' all night long. The Happy Hour series continues with Part 5.

This set features some classic rock covers from some unexpected artists, some blues both classic and modern and closes with a set of live music.

Makes for a shakin' good happy hour. 

1.   Patti Smith - Gloria: In Excelsis Deo/Gloria  (Horses, 1975)
2.   The Ramones - Somebody To Love (Acid Eaters, 1993)
3.   X - Wild Thing (Beyond & Back: The X Anthology, 1997)
4.   Jack White - I'm Shakin' (Blunderbuss, 2012)
5.   The Black Keys - She Said, She Said (The Big Come Up, 2002)
6.   R.L. Burnside - Rollin' Tumblin' (Remix) (Come On In, 1998)
7.   North Mississippi Allstars - Shake 'Em On Down (Shake Hands With Shorty, 2000)
8.   Buddy Guy -  Look What All You Got (Sweat Tea, 2001)
9.   Howin' Wolf - Wang Dang Doodle (The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions, 1974)
10. The Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Women (Live) (Love You Live, 1977)
11. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Oh Well (Live) (The Live Anthology, 2009)
12. My Morning Jacket - One Big Holiday (Live) (Okonokos, 2006)
13. Blur - She's So High (Live) (All The People: Live in Hyde Park, 2009)
14. David Bowie - Cactus (Live) (Reality Tour, 2004)
15. Pixies - Where Is My Mind (Live) (Death To The Pixies 1987-1991, 1997)
16. Talking Heads - Houses In Motion (Live) (The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads, 1982)
17. XTC - Making Plans For Nigel (Live) (Transitor Blast 4: Live in Concert Hammersmith Palais, 1989)
18. The Clash - Train In Vain (Live) (From Here To Eternity: Live, 1999)

Get Down - Funky Beat

The classic funky jams continue with Get Down - Funky Beat Pt. 3. Pic is James Brown on the good foot. More of that funky stuff.

I finished this about a month back and had it posted to the blog in the edit mode but forgot to make it live until now.





1.    KC & The Sunshine Band - Get Down Tonight (KC & The Sunshine Band, 1976)
2.    Bee Gees - You Should Be Dancing (Saturday Night Fever Original Soundtrack, 1977)
3.    Earth, Wind & Fire - September (Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, 1978)
4.    Kid Creole & The Coconuts - I'm A Wonderful Thing Baby (Tropical Gangsters, 1983)
5.    Coati Mundi - Que Pasa/Me No Pop I (Mutant Disco Vol. 1, 2003)
6.    James Brown - Get On The Good Foot (Make It Funky: The Big Paypack 1971-1975)
7.    Kool & The Gang - Get Down On It (Gold, 2005)
8.    Parliament - Up For The Down Stroke (Up For The Down Stroke, 1974)
9.    Ohio Players - Skin Tight (Skin Tight, 1974)
10.  Indeep - Last Night A DJ Saved My Life (Disco Box, 1999)
11.  Tom Tom Club - Genius of Love (Extended Version) (Tom Tom Club, 1981)
12.  Bob Marley & The Wailers - Jamming (Extended Version) (Exodus, 1977)
13.  Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue (Extended Version) (Killer On A Rampage, 1982)
14.  Robert Palmer - You Are In My System (Pride, 1983)
15.  The Gap Band - You Dropped A Bomb On Me (The Gap Band IV, 1983)
16.  Cold Grits - It's Your Thing (What It Is! Funky Soul and Rare Grooves, 2006)

Four More 4 Forty-Four

It's political season time...
It took Bush and the Republicans eight years to systematically destroy the middle class economy, and because the Republicans continue to impede and obstruct everything he has tried to accomplish, the president deserves eight years to fix it.

Disappear in Smoke - Orgone Bliss

The Psychedelic Warlords are back and the Hawkwind inspired psychedelic trip contiues with Disappear in Smoke, Orgone Pt. 2.

This second mix in the series starts with Hawkwind which is the inspiration for all the Orgone mixes. This mix has a decidedly more pop feel than the previous mix. Once again the mix travels through psychedelia of the decades.



1.   Hawkwind - The Psychedelic Warlords (Disappear In Smoke) (Hall of the Mountain Grill, 1974)
2.   The Chocolate Watchband - Medication (The Inner Mystique, 1968)
3.   Opal - Magick Power (Happy Nightmare Baby, 1987)
4.   Damien Youth - Clancy (Alchemy, 2006)
5.   The Dandy Warhols - The Last High (The Dandy Warhols Are Sound, 2009)
6.   The Quarter After - Know Me When I'm Gone (The Quarter After, 2005)
7.   The Byrds - C.T.A. 102 (Younger Than Yesterday, 1967)
8.   Sun Dial - Fly Into The Sun (Acid Yantra, 1995)
9.   Dora Flood - Stargazing (Highlands, 2004)
10. David Bowie - I Took A Trip On A Gemini Spaceship (Heathen, 2002)
11. The Stone Roses - Waterfall (The Stone Roses, 1989)
12. The Rain Parade - This Can't Be Today (Emergency Third Rail Power Trip, 1983)
13. Echo & The Bunnymen - Hurracaine (Crystal Days: 1979-1999, 2001)
14, The Doors - Strange Days (Strange Days, 1967)
15. Can - Moonshake (Future Days, 1973)
16. Jefferson Airplane - 3/5 Of A Mile In 10 Seconds (Surrealistic Pillow, 1967)

I've Got An Orgone Accumulator - Orgone Bliss

"I've got an orgone accumulator" is the opening line of the Hawkwind song Orgone Accumulator from their Space Ritual album. It got stuck in my head after I played that album at work a few weeks ago. So one night recently I sat down and threw together a mix using that song as not only the starting point but the theme of a playlist mix that goes on for several hours. This is part 1 of what I'm calling the Orgone Bliss series. I always break up the long playlist into CD size chunks and I still burn the mixes to CDs for physical storage and for use in the car.

The mix starts off with the stuck in my head theme of orgone accumulator and Lemmy's crazy bass playing. Most of the songs here have that psychedelic feel and intense drone present throughout that was set in the opening track. Hawkwind is followed by Can from the early 70s but then the music jumps around various decades and styles. Probably not a lot of familiar music here unless you're into this sort of thing but it make for an interesting late night listen.

The picture is of Hawkwind. Part 2 is finished and ready to be posted soon too. It's a little more pop and not as dark but it's got some more Hawkwind to continue the theme.


I've got an orgone accumulator
It makes me feel greater
I'll see you sometime later
When I'm through with my accumulator

It's no social integrator
It's a one man isolator
It's a back brain stimulator
It's a cerebral vibrator


1.   Hawkwind - Orgone Accumulator (Space Ritual Vol. 1, 1973)
2.   Can - Mother Sky (Cannibalism 1, 1980)
3.   The Teardrop Explodes - Poppies In The Field (Kilimanjaro, 1980)
4.   Spiritualized - Lay Back In The Sun (Pure Phase, 1995)
5.   The Pink Mountaintops - Axis: Thrones of Love (Outside Love, 2009)
6.   The Out Crowd - Concentrate (Then I Saw The Holy City, 2006)
7.   The Chills - Pink Frost (Kaleidoscope World, 1986)
8.   The 13th Floor Elevators - Slip Inside This House (Easter Everywhere, 1967)
9.   The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Anoneme (Their Satanic Majesties' Second Request, 1996)
10. Galaxie 500 - When Will You Come Home (On Fire, 1989)
11.  Rick Bain & The Genius Position - I Want To Die (Crooked Autumn Sun, 2000)
12. David Max - Everyone Is An Alien (Simple Psychedelic Pleasures, 2010)
13. Ambulance LTD - Yoga Means Union (Ambulance LTD, 2004)
14. The Black Angels - Black Grease (Passover, 2006)

Good Reads

I migrated my reading journal and list to the online Goodreads this year. It wasn't that bad of a project because I already had an online document that I've been using since the mid 90s that was based on a computer file in use since the mid 80s that was created from the original paper copy that I've had since the early 70s. So I currently have 955 books listed as read in Goodreads and I know I've missed a few over the years but not many.

I'm sure I'll be able to fill in the missing books. I've even found some more on book shelves that I read but didn't make it into my documents.

Trouble Bound - Porch Sittin' - a mix

Trouble Bound. Part of my ongoing Porch Sittin' series. A theme mix of murder and mayhem. Americana murder ballads and songs of people going bad or just getting into trouble.













1.   The Blasters - Trouble Bound (Hard Line, 1985)
2.   Steve Earle - I Feel Alright (I Feel Alright, 1996)
3.   Richard Thompson - I Feel So Good (Rumor and Sigh, 1991)
4.   Bruce Springsteen - State Trooper (Nebraska, 1982)
5.   Peter Case - Put Down That Gun (The Man With The Post-Modern Fragmented Neo-Traditionalist Guitar, 1989)
6.   T-Bone Burnett - Fatally Beautiful (Proof Through The Night, 1983)
7.   The BoDeans - She's A Runaway (Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, 1986)
8.   John Hiatt - Tennessee Plates (Slow Turning, 1988)
9.   The Long Ryders - Gunslinger Man (Two Fisted Tales, 1987)
10. Tony Joe White - Prisoner (Swamp Music: The Complete Monument Recordings, 2006)
11. Johnny Cash - The Mercy Seat (American III: Solitary Man, 2000)
12. Nick Cave & PJ Harvey - Henry Lee (Murder Ballads, 1996)
13. Tom Waits - Fish In The Jailhouse (Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards, 2006)
14. Blitzen Trapper - Black River Killer (Furr, 2008)
15. Old Crow Medicine Show - Methamphetamine (Tennessee Pusher, 2008)
16. M. Ward - Jailbird (Hold Time, 2009)
17. Todd Snider - Tillamook County Jail (East Nashville Skyline, 2004)
18. The Del McCoury Band - 1952 Vincent Black Lightning (Del and the Boys, 2001)
19. Ray Wylie Hubbard - Drunken Poet's Dream (A: Enlighntment B: Endarkment, Hint: There Is No C, 2010)
20. Jim White - Handcuffed To A Fence In Mississippi (No Such Place, 2001)
21. A.A. Bondy - How Will You Meet Your End? (American Heart, 2007)
 

Ain't We Funkin' Now - Funky Beat

Ain't we funkin' now indeed. This is the 2nd part of a very long series of mixes that has the funky beat in common throughout.  Some 70s funk, some 80s mutant disco and some 90s post punk funk.


"Think I better dance now"





1.   The Brothers Johnson - Ain't We Funkin' Now (Blam!, 1978)
2.    Funkadelic - One Nation Under A Groove (One Nation Under A Groove, 1978)
3.    James Brown - Get up Offa That Thing (Release The Pressure) (Get Up Offa That Thing, 1976)
4.    The Isley Brothers - Live It Up (Live It Up, 1974)
5.    Eddie Kendrick - Keep On Truckin' (The Ultimate Collection, 1998)
6.    Diana Ross - Love Hangover (12" version) (Diana Ross, 1976)
7.    Tom Jones & The Art of Noise - Kiss (Reloaded: Greatest Hits, 2003)
8.    Prince - Erotic City (The Hits /The B-Sides, 1993)
9.    ESG - Moody (Come Away With ESG, 1983)
10.  James White & The Blacks - Contort Yourself (Off White, 1979)
11.  New Order - Blue Monday (Substance, 1987)
12.  Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence (Violator, 1990)
13.  Bjork - Big Time Sensuality (Fluke Remix) (Greatest Hits, 2003)
14.  Thelma Houston - Don't Leave Me This Way (The Best of Thelma Houston, 1991)

All Aboard The Night Train - Decade 1

All aboard the Night Train... this is the fourth and final part of my First Decade series of mixes celebrating my early years of listening and collecting music.This collection gathers some stray songs that didn't flow well in the other mixes along with some others that just didn't fit. I may be a little old school here but all my mixes are structured to fit on a CD and run just a little over an hour. The series ends with the fantastic Sleep Walk.

Only three artists made an appearance on all four mixes in this series which I realized only after I completed the series. Elvis Presley, The Beatles and James Brown.


1.   James Brown - Night Train
2.   Dobie Gray - The "In" Crowd
3.   Booker T. & The MGs - Green Onions
4.   The Blendells - La La La La La
5.   Sam Cooke - Twistin' The Night Away
6.   The Orlons - Don't Hang Up
7.   The Bobbettes - Mr. Lee
8.   The Isley Brothers - Who's That Lady
9.   The Impressions - Gypsy Woman
10. The Clovers - Love Potion #9
11. The Fiestas - So Fine
12. The Marvelettes - Please Mister Postman
13. The Beatles - I Wanna Be Your Man
14. The Zombies - She's Not There
15. The Kinks - All Day And All Of The Night
16. Them - Gloria
17. The Animals - House Of The Rising Sun
18. Marvin Gaye - Stubborn Kind Of Fellow
19. The Four Tops - Baby I Need Your Loving
20. Etta James - Don't Cry Baby
21. Roy Orbison - Crying
22. Gene Pitney - It Hurts To Be In Love
23. Elvis Presley - Little Sister
24. The Rooftop Singers - Walk Right In
25. The Tokens - The Lion Sleeps Tonight
26. The Chantay's - Pipeline
27. The Rebels - Wild Weekend
28. Santo & Johnny - Sleep Walk

Lived In Bars - Ladies Night

Lived In Bars - a Ladies Night mix. This is part of a series of mixes featuring women artists.






The image is from the first frame of the Cat Power video for Lived In Bars.


1.   Cat Power - Lived In Bars (The Greatest, 2006)
2.   Amy Rigby - The Summer Of My Wasted Youth (Middlescience, 1998)
3.   Fiona Apple - Criminal (Tidal, 1996)
4.   Michelle Shocked - Come A Long Way (Arkansas Traveler, 1991)
5.   The Bangles - Going Down To Liverpool (All Over The Place, 1984)
6.   Dar Williams - Party Generation (End Of The Summer, 1997)
7.   Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner (Solitude Standing, 1987)
8.   Laurie Anderson - Babydoll (Strange Angels, 1989)
9.   Kathleen Edwards - 12 Bellevue (Failer, 2003)
10. Lucinda Williams - Righteously (World Without Tears, 2003)
11. Joan Osborne - Let's Just Get Naked (Relish, 1995)
12. Sam Philips - Baby I Can't Please You (Martinis and Bikinis, 1994)
13. Mary Lou Lord - Some Jingle Jangle Morning (Got No Shadow, 1998)
14. Katrina & The Waves - She Loves To Groove (Original Recordings 1983-1984, 2003)
15. The Slits - Typical Girls (Cut, 1979)
16. The B-52's - 52 Girls (The B-52's, 1979)
17. Blondie - One Way Or Another (Parallel Lines, 1978)
18. Patti Smith - Dancing Barefoot (Wave, 1979)

I Only Have Eyes For You - Decade 1

I Only Have Eyes For You is part 3 of my First Decade series of mixes celebrating my early years of listening and collecting music. This is the slow side.











1.   The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You
2.   The Heartbeats - A Thousand Miles Away
3.   The Imperials - Tears On My Pillow
4.   Sam Cooke - Bring It On Home To Me
5.   Solomon Burke - Cry To Me
6.   Etta James - At Last
7.   The Marvelettes - Forever
8.   The Miracles - Ooo Baby Baby
9.   The Temptations - My Girl
10.  Mary Wells - My Guy
11. Patsy Cline - Crazy
12. Brenda Lee - I'm Sorry
13. Tommy Edwards - It's All In The Game
14. The Shirelles - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
15. The Platters - The Great Pretender
16. Gene Pitney - Town Without Pity
17. The Four Seasons - Rag Doll
18. The Tymes - Wonderful Wonderful
19. The Dells - Oh What A Night
20. James Brown - Please, Please, Please
21. Martha & The Vandallas - Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things)
22. The Chantels - Look In My Eyes
23. The Shangri-Las - Remember (Walking In The Rain)
24. Lesley Gore - You Don't Own Me
25. Mickey & Sylvia - Love Is Strange
26. The Beatles - This Boy
27. Elvis Presley - I Want You, I Need You, I Love You

Come On, Let's Go - Decade 1

Come On, Let's Go is a continuation of my First Decade series of mixes celebrating my early years of listening and collecting music. The First Decade is approximately 1956 to 1964.

Part 2










1.   Ritchie Valens - Come On, Let's Go
2.   Eddie Cochran - C'mon Everybody
3.   Jerry Lee Lewis - Whole Lot Of Shakin' Going On
4.   Carl Perkins - Blue Suede Shoes
5.   Muddy Waters - Got My Mojo Working
6.   The Contours - Do You Love Me
7.   The Marvelettes - Too Many Fish In The Sea
8.   The Temptations - The Way You Do The Things You Do
9.   Bobby Freeman - Do You Want To Dance
10. Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - Stay
11. Roy Orbison - Only The Lonely
12. Dion - Runaround Sue
13. Peggy Lee - Fever
14. The Drifters - Ruby Baby
15. James Brown - Out of Sight
16. Gene Chandler - Duke of Earl
17. The Supremes - Baby Love
18. The Exciters - Tell Him
19. Lesley Gore - She's A Fool
20. The Everly Brothers - Bye Bye Love
21. The Beatles - I Want To Hold Your Hand
22. The Rolling Stones - Not Fade Away
23. Manfred Mann - Do Wah Diddy Diddy
24. The Dave Clark Five -Can't You See That She's Mine
25. Herman's Hermits - I'm Into Something Good
26. Dusty Springfield - I Only Want To Be With You
27. Little Peggy March - I Will Follow Him
28. Del Shannon - Runaway
29. The Earls - Remember Then
30. Elvis Presley - Heartbreak Hotel

All Tomorrow's Parties - Late Night

All Tomorrow's Parties - An Andy Warhol themed mix that is part of my Late Night series. This mix actually has a long history and has evolved over time. I first put this mix to a cassette tape in the early 80s and then a slightly edited version in the late 90s on CD. A version very close to this one was posted in early 2007 to the Art of the Mix site and on my previous blog after a visit to the Warhol museum in Pittsburgh. Now here it is again but with a few more changes.

I took out the R.E.M. version of Femme Fatale and replaced it with the Big Star version of the same song. I now have R.E.M. doing a version of Leonard Cohen's First We Take Manhattan. I changed the Nico song and now have the live version of Artist Only. There are also a different John Cale and Modern Lovers songs and I added something from the recent and wonderful Dean & Britta album 13 Most Beautiful: Songs For Andy Warhol's Screen Test from a couple of years ago.

This is actually now an All Tomorrow's Parties Pt. 2 mix that I will post at some point that contains many of the songs from the original mix and many others that fit with the overall theme and mood.

The pic is from one of the "Exploding Plastic Inevitable" shows.

1.   The Velvet Underground - All Tomorrow's Parties (The Velvet Underground & Nico, 1967)
2.   David Bowie - Andy Warhol (Hunky Dory, 1971)
3.   Talking Heads - Artist Only (Live) (The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads, 1982)
4.   Television - Venus (Marquee Moon, 1977)
5.   Lou Reed - Walk On The Wild Side (Transformer, 1972)
6.   Mott The Hoople - Sweet Jane (All The Young Dudes, 1972)
7.   Big Star - Femme Fatale (Keep An Eye On The Sky, 2009)
8.   Nico - The Last Mile (Classic Years, 1998)
9.   Marianne Faithful - Song For Nico (Kissin' Time, 2002)
10. Matthew Sweet & Suzanna Hoffs - Sunday Morning (Under The Covers Vol. 1, 2006)
11. Lou Reed - I'll Be Your Mirror (Live) (NYC Man: The Ultimate Lou Reed Collection, 2003)
12. Dean & Britta - Not A Young Man Anymore (13 Most Beautiful: Songs For Andy Warhol's Screen Tests, 2010)
13. The Stooges - No Fun (The Stooges, 1969)
14. John Cale - Pablo Picasso (The Island Years, 1996)
15. The Modern Lovers - Modern World (The Modern Lovers, 1976)
16. R.E.M. - First We Take Manhattan (In Time: Rarities & B-Sides, 2006)
17. David Bowie - Waiting For The Man (BBC Live) (BBC Sessions: Bowie At The Beeb, 2000)
18. Lou Reed & John Cale - Hello It's Me (Songs For Drella, 1990)
19. The Velvet Underground - Rock & Roll (Loaded, 1970)

All Shook Up - Decade 1

All Shook Up - The First Decade.  This is Part 1 of a very personal selection of music that either I was listening to as a youngster and early teen at the time or a little later came to take me back to my childhood music experience. This first decade of rock 'n roll for me began in 1956 and went on to about 1964. I was in grade school when Elvis Presley was shaking things up and I vividly remember all the fuss. Our babysitter at the time was also our teenaged aunt who lived down the street and she was a big early rock and roll fan who exposed me to music at an early age. We has another aunt who thought it was cute to buy rock 'n roll albums for us that had "twist" in the title. One of my earliest cherished possessions was a little portable record player that played both LPs and 45 singles.

Philadelphia was a rock and roll town in the early sixties and there was already a thriving oldies scene even back then. Fifties Doo Wop was very popular when I was a kid along with every other kind of r&b and soul music in Philly. As the decade progressed the Motown sound became much more important to me.

All the songs on this mix have had some personal influence on me and this is just the first part a four part romp through my memories and musical experiences. My teenaged aunt and uncle down the street were into the Fifties rock and roll and I liked the Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent and Buddy Holly records they played. Having an older sister exposed me to many of the girl groups of the time and the first wave of Beatlemania which all show up on these mixes. It's hard to imagine all the craziness that the Beatles caused back when I was in seventh grade. It was one of those things where you just had to be there. The girls were screaming about the Beatles but I remember the guys liking the Stones and the Kinks much more back then. The early Sixties British Invasion scene was amazing and it was also a little strange that they were really just sending back the early r&b songs that we were already listening too in Philly but with their cheeky British style and mop top cuteness. Looking back now it's interesting to see how many old r&b covers the British bands played on those early albums.

The whole twist craze had a very funny impact on us back then and for the first time it seemed that adults were also getting into some rock 'n roll. The Twist made it OK for the "mad men" to cut loose a little bit. There was another wave of music coming from California surf bands with their take on early r&b that was also very popular in Philly. In the sixties there were also radio stations that were already specializing in playing "oldies" which at that time meant Fifties rock 'n roll and there were many dances put on by DJs that played the oldies.  Later in high school I would spend a lot of time at Wagner's Ballroom for Jerry Blavat oldies dances where we would hear a lot of the music on these mixes. I also had a very substantial collection of "oldies" by the late sixties.

There are four mixes in this set from my first decade and there are several more decade based sets in the works.The second decade set will go from 1965 to about 1975 and include four mixes. The third decade runs from about 1976 to 1985 and the fourth decade from 1986 to the mid nineties. After that is just seems like recent music. These will be very personal mixes. These will not be collections of the best of the year or most popular. They will be what I had and what I listened to at the time. All of this is part of my 60@60 thing.


1.   Elvis Presley - All Shook Up
2.   Buddy Holly - Rave On
3.   Gene Vincent - Be-Bop-A-Lula
4.   Johnny Burnette Trio - The Train Kept A-Rollin'
5.   Howin' Wolf - Wang Dang Doodle
6.   Chuck Berry - Maybellene
7.   Little Richard - Tutti Frutti
8.   James Brown - Think
9.   The Routers - Let's Go (Pony)
10.  Ernie Maresca - Shout Shout (Knock Yourself Out)
11.  The Five Du-Tones - Shake A Tail Feather
12.  The Orlons - South Street
13.  Little Eva - The Loco-Motion
14. The Crystals - Da Doo Ron Ron
15. Martha & The Vandellas - Quicksand
16. Shirley and Lee - Let The Good Times Roll
17. The Marvelows - I Do
18. Hank Ballard - The Twist
19. Chubby Checker - Let's Twist Again
20. Joey Dee & The Starliters - Peppermint Twist
21. The Isley Brothers - Twist and Shout
22. The Beatles - She Loves You
23. The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There
24. The Beach Boys - I Get Around
25. The Beach Boys - Surfin USA
26. Jan and Dean - Surf City
27. The Surfaris - Wipe Out
28. The Trashmen - Surfin' Bird
29. The Ventures - Walk Don't Run
30. The Regents - Barbara-Ann

Love in Vain - Heartache

Love in Vain. The Heartache series keeps rolling on with the newest mix posted here. Starts off with some late sixties and early seventies classics before jumping around and then landing back where it started but with a country rock flavor. Mick in the pic.









  
1.   The Rolling Stones - Love in Vain (Let It Bleed, 1969)
2.   Blood Sweat & Tears - I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know (Child Is Father To The Man, 1968)
3.   Chicago - Wishing You Were Here (Chicago VII, 1974)
4.   The Bee Gees - How Can You Mend A Broken Heart (Trafalgar, 1971)
5.   Cat Stevens - Hard Headed Woman (Hard Headed Woman, 1970)
6.   Three Dog Night - Try A Little Tenderness (Three Dog Night, 1969)
7.   Hall & Oates - She's Gone (Abandoned Luncheonette, 1973)
8.   Paul Young - Everytime You Go Away (The Secret of Association, 1985)
9.   Steve Earle - Hurtin' Me, Hurtin' You (I Feel Alright, 1996)
10. Lucinda Williams - Essence (Essence, 2001)
11. Elvis Costello - Tart (When I Was Cruel, 2002)
12. Morphine - Candy (Cure For Pain, 1993)
13. Spain - She Haunts My Dreams (She Haunts My Dreams, 1999)
14. Chuck Prophet - You've Got Me Where You Want Me (Age of Miracles, 2004)
15. Whiskeytown - 16 Days (Strangers Almanac, 1997)
16. Poco - Bad Weather (From The Inside, 1971)
17. The Flying Burrito Brothers - Hot Burrito #2 (The Gilded Palace of Sin, 1969)
18. Eric Andersen - Faithful (Blue River, 1972)

Slippin' Into Darkness - Funky Beat

The Beat. The funky stuff. This is the first part of a very long series that includes a wide range of funky beat groove jams. Heavy funk, smooth disco, instrumentals, dance pop.

The opener song from War has that long sinister intro that breaks into one of the all time great funky beats. Lots of classic funk and some wonderful pop songs from Gnarls Barkley, Outkast, Prince, Deee-Lite and Fine Young Cannibals.

Donna Summer doing one of the greatest songs of all time. I Feel Love was an amazing creation back in 1977. Maybe you had to be there but hearing that song when it was fresh and new but it certainly got the parties going. It hasn't aged at all and still sounds great today.

And of course some James Brown and George Clinton.

"He loved to drink good whiskey while laughing at the moon"

1.   War - Slippin' Into Darkness (All Day Music, 1971)
2.   Kool & The Gang - Funky Stuff (Wild and Peaceful, 1973)
3.   James Brown - My Thang (Make It Funky - The Big Paypack: 1971-1975, 1996)
4.   Parliament - Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker) (Mothership Connection, 1976)
5.   Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart (World Clique, 1990)
6.   Stereo MC's - Connected (Connected, 1992)
7.   Outkast - Hey Ya! (Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, 2003)
8.   Gnarls Barkley - Crazy (St. Elsewhere, 2006)
9.   Fine Young Cannibals - Good Thing (The Raw and the Cooked, 1988)
10.  Prince - Raspberry Beret (12" Version) (Ultimate, 2006, 1985)
11. Andrea True Connection - More, More, More (The Disco Box, 1999, 1976)
12. Donna Summer - I Feel Love (I Remember Yesterday, 1977)
13. Marvin Gaye - Got To Give It Up, Pt. 1 (Anthology, 1995, 1977)
14. The J.B.'s - Gimme Some More (Funky Good Time: The Anthology, 1999, 1972)
15. Ohio Players - Love Rollercoaster (Honey, 1975)
16. Earth, Wind & Fire - Shinning Star (That's The Way Of The World, 1975)
17. The O'Jays - For The Love Of Money (Ship Ahoy, 1973)
18. Sly & The Family Stone - Thank You  (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (Anthology, 1981, 1969)

Love and Affection - Ladies Night - a mix

Bittersweet romance. Love and loss. Amazing joy. It's all here on Ladies Night. This one starts with a lot of soul and then keeps the soul feel through a set of classic women singer songwriters. The mix continues through the decades and concludes with some wonderful covers.

The picture here is the late Etta James singing the blues. 


1.   Joan Armatrading - Love and Affection (Joan Armatrading, 1976)
2.   Roberta Flack - Killing Me Softly With His Song (Killing Me Softly, 1973)
3.   Joan Baez - Diamonds & Rust (Diamonds & Rust, 1975)
4.   Laura Nyro - Wedding Bell Blues (More Than A New Discovery, 1967)
5.   Carole King - I Feel The Earth Move (Tapestry, 1971)
6.   Janis Joplin - Me and Bobby McGee (Pearl, 1971)
7.   Dusty Springfield - Son Of A Preacher Man (Dusty In Memphis, 1969)
8.   Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman (Lady Soul, 1968)
9.   Tracy Nelson & Mother Earth - Down So Low (Living With The Animals, 1968)
10. Linda Rondstadt - Your're No Good (Heart Like A Wheel, 1974)
11. Bonnie Raitt - Thing Called Love (Nick Of Time, 1989)
12. Lucinda Williams - Right In Time (Car Wheels On A Gravel Road, 1998)
13. The Detroit Cobras - Weak Spot (Baby, 2005)
14. Amy Winehouse - Tears Dry On Their Own (Back To Black, 2006)
15. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights (100 Days, 100 Nights, 2007)
16. Etta James - The Sky Is Crying (Heart & Soul: A Retrospective, 2011)
17. Bettye LaVette - Maybe I'm Amazed (Interpretations: The British Songbook, 2010)
18. Adele - Make You Feel My Love (19, 2008)
19. Joss Stone - Chokin' Kind (The Soul Sessions, 2003)
20. Joan Osbourne - Ain't No Sunshine (Breakfast In Bed, 2007)
21. Patti Smith - Words of Love (Rave On Buddy Holly, 2011)
22. Cat Power - Sea of Love (The Covers Record, 2000)

One Two Three... Late Night

One Two Three One Two... the opening lines of the opening track for this next installment of this ongoing series. I really wanted to get back to the Late Night mixes. I find myself listening more and more to this style of music that is softer but with an edge, somewhat nocturnal and moody, reflective psychedelia, sometimes acoustic and sometimes electronic. Always noir. A smattering of interesting cover versions too. Late Night Pt. 7 continues all that.

The picture here is Grizzly Bear.

1.   Yim Yames - Behind The Locked Door (Tribute To, 2009)
2.   Rufus Wainwright - Across The Universe (I Am Sam Soundtrack, 2002)
3.   Radiohead - Knives Out (Amnesiac, 2001)
4.   Grizzly Bear - Knife (Yellow House, 2006)
5.   Califone - Sunday Noise (Roots & Crowns, 2006)
6.   The Vines - Autumn Shade (Highly Evolved, 2002)
7.   Over The Rhine - How Long Have You Been Stoned (Ohio, 2003)
8.   David Bowie - Cactus (Heathen, 2002)
9.   The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Servo (Give It Back, 1997)
10. Mazzy Star - She Hangs Brightly (She Hangs Brightly, 1990)
11. Spirtualized - Any Way That You Want Me (The Complete Works, Vol. 1, 2003)
12. Pretenders - Angel Of The Morning (Pirate Radio, 2006)
13. Marianne Faithful - The Crane Wife 3 (Easy Come Easy Go, 2008)
14. Johnny Cash - In My Life (American IV: The Man Comes Around, 2002)
15. Roseanne Cash - Girl From The North Country (The List, 2009)
16. Bob Dylan - Bye & Bye (Love and Theft, 2001)
17. M. Ward - Never Had Nobody Like You (Hold Time, 2009)
18. Chris Whitley - Say Goodbye (Rocket House, 2001)
19. Elliot Smith - Tomorrow Tomorrow (XO, 1998)
20. A. A. Bondy - When The Devil's Loose (When The Devil's Loose, 2009)

 

Neither Here Nor There - Songs 2012

Neither Here Nor There - Songs 2012

The third mix in this series of songs from recently released albums in 2012.

Picture is Lost In The Trees performing.




1.   Lost In The Trees - Neither Here Nor There (A Church That Fits Our Needs)
2.   Great Lake Swimmers - Easy Come Easy Go (New Wild Everywhere)
3.   Andrew Bird - Give It Away (Break It Yourself)
4.   Lana Del Rey - Video Games (Born To Die)
5.   The Magnetic Fields - I Don't Like Your Tone (Love At The Bottom Of The Sea)
6.   La Sera - Love That's Gone (See The Light)
7.   The Pines - Rise Up and Be Lonely (Dark So Gold)
8.   Justin Townes Earle - Look The Other Way (Nothing's Gonna Change The Way You Feel About Me Now)
9.   Lambchop - If Not I'll Just Die (Mr. M)
10. Mirroring - Silent From Above (Foreign Body)
11. Cowboy Junkies - Idle Tales (The Wilderness)
12. Paul Brill - Breezy (Breezy)
13. School of Seven Bells - Love Play (Ghostory)
14. Punch Brothers - Don't Get Married Without Me (Who's Feeling Young Now?)
15. Of Montreal - Dour Percentage (Paralytic Stalks)
16. Dinowalrus - Riding Easy (Best Behavior)
17. Dr. John - Kingdom of Izzness (Locked Down)
18. Rocket Juice & The Moon - Fatherless (Rocket Juice & The Moon)
19. Air - Astronomic Club (Le voyage dans la luna)

Only For You - Songs 2012

Only For You - Songs 2012. More songs from albums released this year that have been in high rotation on my various devices. Somewhat louder than the first set.

Picture is the Heartless Bastards.





All albums released in 2012.


1.   Heartless Bastards - Only For You (Arrow)
2.   Band of Skulls - Bruises (Sweet Sour)
3.   Paul Weller - When Your Garden's Overgrown (Sonik Kicks)
4.   Barry Adamson - Black Holes In My Brain (I Will Set You Free)
5.   The Big Pink - Hit The Ground (Superman) (Future This)
6.   The Cranberries - Conduct (Roses)
7.   Burning Hearts - Into The Wilderness (Extinctions)
8.   Cate Le Bon - Put Me To Work (Cyrk)
9.   Guided By Voices - Doughnut For A Snowman (Let's Go Eat The Factory)
10.  Delta Spirit - Empty House (Delta Spirit)
11.  Chuck Prophet - Castro Halloween (Temple Beautiful)
12.  Bruce Springsteen - We Take Care Of Our Own (Wrecking Ball)
13.  Ani DiFranco - Which Side Are You On? (Which Side Are You On?)
14.  Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker & Yim Yames - My Revolutionary Mind (New Multitudes)
15.  Ray Wylie Hubbard - Count My Blessings (The Grifter's Hymnal)
16.  Howlin' Rain - Phantom In The Valley (The Russian Wilds)
17.  Freshkills - Why Are You So Unforgiving? (Raise Up The Sheets)
18.  Frankie Rose - Night Swim (Interstellar) 

Show Me The Place - Songs 2012

Show Me The Place - Songs 2012 is the first in a series of mixes highlighting some of the new albums released so far this year that I've been listening to. Nothing is ranked and these are not necessarily my favorite songs from the album but rather a mostly mellow moody collection that flows nicely together in a mix for some quiet evenings sitting on the porch.

The mix starts our with a haunting song from the great Leonard Cohen. It's hard to believe he is still putting out quality albums and this one ranks up there with his best.

 I was happy to be able to include some songs from a few of my favorite bands The Shins, Nada Surf, Winterpills, Dr. Dog, Shearwater, Islands and Tindersticks. I recently discovered the Swedish duo First Aid Kit and this is a wonderful album of Americana sounding folk. Plants and Animals has an impressive new album and I always get a new Kathleen Edwards, Damien Jurado or Mark Lanegan album. I was probably most excited about the New Multitudes album by four artists I routinely collect. Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker and Yim Yames have created a wonderful collection of Woody Guthrie interpretations of unpublished songs. The photo here is them performing these songs.

All albums were released in 2012.
 
1.   Leonard Cohen - Show Me The Place (Old Ideas)
2.   Kathleen Edwards - Pink Champagne (Voyager)
3.   The Shins - It's Only Life (Port Of Morrow)
4.   Nada Surf - When I Was Young (The Stars Are Indifferent To Astronomy)
5.   Sharon Van Etten - Give Out (Tramp)
6.   Winterpills - Small Bright Doses (All My Lovely Goners)
7.   Laura Gibson - Milk-Heavy, Pollen-Eyed (La Grande)
8.   First Aid Kit - Emmylou (The Lion's Roar)
9.   Carolina Chocolate Drops - Ruby, Are You Mad At Your Man? (Leaving Eden)
10. Dr. Dog - Lonesome (Be The Void)
11. Shearwater - Dread Sovereign (Animal Joy)
12. Sleigh Bells - You Lost Me (Reign Of Terror)
13. Plants and Animals - Control Me (The End Of That)
14. Damien Jurado - Nothing In The News (Maraqopa)
15. Islands - This Is Not A Song (A Sleep & A Forgetting)
16. Mark Lanegan Band - St. Louis Elegy (Blues Funeral)
17. Jay Farrar, Will Johnson, Anders Parker & Yim Yames - Talking Empty Bed Blues (New Multitudes)
18. Tindersticks - Show Me Everything (The Something Rain)