Sammy's Tunes

Picture Perfect

2012-01-07T07:51:00.000-08:00

River City Extension - Letter To Lainie (featuring Glenn Tilbrook)
Soft Hearted Scientists- Eyes
Sundelles - Kiss The Coast
Cults - Go Outside (Menahan Street Band Remix)
Tunng - Woodcat
The Ruling Class - Flowers
Strawberry Whiplash - Picture Perfect
Jeremy Messersmith - Dillinger Eyes
Math And Physics Club - Movie Ending Romance
Candie Payne - Take Me
The Like - Fair Game
Neighbors - Friends
The Hollow Men - Thanks to the Rolling Sea
Joe Jackson - I'm The Man
Oingo Boingo - Ain't This The Life
Zalman Yanovsky - As Long As You're Here
The Dukes of Stratosphear - Braniac's Daughter
The Mamas & The Papas - Go Where You Wanna Go
Gomez - Options
No Kids - For Halloween
The Rosebuds - Kicks In The Schoolyard
My Toys Like Me - Sweetheart
The Real Tuesday Weld - Me & Mr Wolf
Jens Lekman - Friday Night At The Drive-In Bingo

An alt-dj collaboration between myself and Patrick (Nuclear Wasteheads). Completed in October 2011, and finally posted today (the first day in months it seems where I don't have to do anything, as opposed to having anything to do). Hopefully Patrick will chip in with a few words in the next day or so..

It all began with Glenn Tilbrook's birthday. Sam posted about this on Facebook along with the video for 'Up The Junction' (in my opinion the best pop song ever). From there, Sam contacted me and asked if I'd be interested in alt-djing with him, no rush, casual pace. As Sam is the creator of my all time favourite mix (the beautiful Carnaby Chic) I jumped at the chance.

And so it began. My first offering was a nod to Mr Tilbrook (whose anniversary of his nativity sparked this project) and from there it took off. Yes, there were fits and starts from both sides of the Atlantic, as 'life' seemed to get in the way of what we all wish we could do twenty-four hours a day. The deliberate pace, however, was a blessing in that (for my part at least) it allowed me to really think about what song to choose, as well as the joyous anticipation of what was coming next!

A blast to make, and though it took a while to come together, worth the wait..

Mix

Bon Anniversaire ZeRO

2012-01-07T05:59:00.000-08:00

Paul McCartney & Wings - Maybe I'm Amazed
Billy Bragg & Wilco - California Stars
Vashti Bunyan - Winter Is Blue
Darker My Love - White Composition
The Egyptians - Party Stomp
The Marvelettes - You're The One
Hello Seahorse! - Won't Say Anything
? & The Mysterians - Can't Get Enough Of You, Baby
The Lovers - Love Potion No. 9
Be Your Own Pet - Becky
The Raveonettes - That Great Love Sound
The Jesus & Mary Chain - Some Candy Talking
Elliott Smith - Son Of Sam (Acoustic Version)
Buzzcocks - Boredom
The Cure - The Catterpillar
Eddie Floyd - Bring It On Home To Me
Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal
The Left Banke - She May Call You Up Tonight
Os Mutantes - Rita Lee
Can - Mushroom
The Velvet Underground - There She Goes Again
The Olivia Tremor Control - Gypsum Oil Field Fire
Nico - Afraid
The Very Best - Salota
Tomorrow - Why

A tribute to the website where I post my mixes Zen Running Order which celebrates its 3rd birthday this weekend. The mix is made up of tracks from the first 25 mixes posted on that site.

Mix

Sammy's 80s

2011-12-20T06:57:00.000-08:00

New Order - Dreams Never End
Pixies - Here Comes Your Man
Primal Scream - Velocity Girl
Orange Juice - Bridge
Big Audio Dynamite - E=Mc2
Teardrop Explodes - Sleeping Gas
The Jam - 'A' Bomb In Wardour Street
Aztec Camera - Oblivious
Prefab Sprout - Lions In My Own Garden
Monochrome Set - Espresso
Kate Bush - Hounds Of Love
My Bloody Valentine - Soft As Snow (But Warm Inside)
The Smiths - The Headmaster Ritual
Dexys Midnight Runners - There There My Dear
Sonic Youth - Teenage Riot
Agentss - Agentss
R.E.M - Life And How To Live It
The Specials - Too Much Too Young
Everything But The Girl - Each And Every One
The The - This Is The Day
Echo & The Bunnymen - Bring On The Dancing Horses
Magazine - A Song From Under The Floorboards
Felt - Primitive Painters

Listen

Breaking It Up

2011-10-26T04:47:00.000-07:00

The Feeling - Dance For The Lights
Lanu - Beautiful Trash
Mini Mansions - Monk
The Shutes - Hits Like Mourning
The Drums - Money
Luxury - Green Hearts
Karelia - Love's A Cliche
Stackridge - Anyone For Tennis?
Soft Hearted Scientists - The Trees Don't Seem To Know That It's September
Billie and Lillie - That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles
Brigitte Bardot - Ne Me laisse pas l'aimer
Razika - Vondt I Hjertet
Summer Camp - Round The Moon
Virna Lindt - Young and Hip
Lykke Li - Breaking It Up
The John Steel Singers - Evolution
Cults - You Know What I Mean
Ginny Arnell - Dumb Head
The Association - Come On In
So Many Wizards - Inner City
The Late BP Helium - Belief System Derailment Scenario
Los Tios Queridos - Por Eso Vuelve Por Favor
Secos e Molhados - Amor
Petter & The Pix - Momentarily Lost

And here's part 2..

Try

Breaking It Down

2011-10-26T04:33:00.000-07:00

Lucky Elephant - Reverend Tilsley & His Magic Lantern
Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir - Medley
The Mummers - Fade Away (The Time & Space Machine Mix)
Brent Cash - Just Like Today
Los Ginkas - Sol Sal Ya!!! (Con las Astrogirls)
Miniature Tigers - Last Night's Fake Blood
The Bards - Moses
Key - I'd Really Go For A Lady
Goldfrapp - Caravan Girl
Olivia Newton-John - What Is Life
The Boy Least Likely To - The One That I Want
The Cortinas - Phoebe's Flower Shoppe
Brown Recluse - Monday Moon
Little Majorette - Overflow
The Lackloves - On My Way
Oregon Bike Trails - Swimsuit
Frank Ciampi - Little Girl
Sara Lowes - Something I Don't Know
Generationals - When They Fight, They Fight
Starbuck - I Got To Know
The Monkees - Dream World (Stereo LP Mix)
The Haywains - Bye Bye Boyfriend
One Thousand Violins - Locked Out of the Love-In
Dent May - Fun

One of two alternating dj mixes between myself and my old chum Ion Moe. Truth is, we started on this one, lost track of timings and before we knew it we'd gone way past the 1hr 20 limit for a CD mix. We then agreed to post one each on Zen Running Order. Ioe got in there first with his title and artwork, I followed a couple of days later with this...

Try

New York

2011-09-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

George Gershwin - Rhapsody In Blue
Ryan Adams - New York, New York
Simon & Garfunkel - The Only Living Boy In New York
Joni Mitchell - Big Yellow Taxi
Bobby Womack - Across 110th Street
The Velvet Underground - I'm Waiting For The Man
David Bowie - The Jean Genie
Rod Stewart - The Killing Of Georgie (Part I And II)
Bob Dylan - Positively 4th Street
Paul Simon - Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard
Lovin' Spoonful - Summer In The City
Moondog - Lullaby (2 W 46th Street)
Suzanne Vega - Toms Diner
Erasure - You Surround Me
Corrine bailey Rae - Paris Nights/New York Mornings
Harry Nilsson - I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City
Billy Joel - New York State Of Mind
The Pogues - Thousands Are Sailing
Tom Waits - Coney Island Baby

Remembering those we lost on September 11th 2001. God bless them & their families.

Odd Pop

2011-06-18T07:18:00.000-07:00

Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Diamond Dew
Pete & The Pirates - Come To The Bar
Summer Heart - I Miss You
Battles - Ice Cream (feat Matias Aguayo)
Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots pt1
Way Yes - Gino
The Luyas - Cold Canada
The Dukes Of Stratosphear - Shiny Cage
Hezekiah Jones - Mind Malaise
The Bees - No Atmosphere
Orange Juice - Blue Boy
The Generationals - Ten - Twenty - Ten
Casey Dienel - All Or Nothing
MillionYoung - Calrissian
White Town - Your Woman
Jookabox - Drops
The Magnetic Fields - Long-Forgotton Fairytale
NewVillager - Lighthouse
Tune-Yards - Powa
The Bird & The Bee - Baby

A collection of odd pop songs.

RS MF

Standing On The Shadows Of Your Ghosts

2011-05-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

Nick Moss & The Flip Tops - No Hide Nor Hair
Dr Dog - Unbearable Why
Broken Bells - The Ghost Inside
Tobacco - Sweatmother
Wild Sweet Orange - Aretha's Gold
Luna Is Honey - Who Wouldn't?
Sarah Blasko - Lost and Defeated
Air France - Gothenburg Belongs To Me
Ted Leo & The Pharmacists - Tell Balgeary, Balgury Is Gead
Secret Goldfish - You're Funny 'bout That Aren't You?
Sarah Sample - Born To Fly
Chew Lips - Karen
John Nemeth - Fuel For Your Fire
Teenage Fanclub - Baby Lee
The Waves - Shrug It Off
Ghost Bees - Did The Red Sea Part?
Surfer Blood - Catholic Pagans
Philadelphia Grand Jury - The Good News
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Home
Saturnalia - Disappear
The Pearlfishers - We're Gonna Save The Summer

Link

I Think I See The Light

2011-05-22T05:48:00.000-07:00

Cat Stevens - I Think I See The Light
Hunx & His Punx - Lovers Lane
Matt Dibble - Daytime TV
Tracey Thorn - Hormones
The Kinks - Here Comes Flash
Dusty Springfield - Spooky
Al Brown - Here I Am Baby
Freddie King - Going Down
The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Straight Up And Down
Band Of Horses - Laredo
Gang Of Four - Damaged Goods
Suicide - Dream Baby Dream
Seeland - Black Dot, White Spider
Those Dancing Days - I'll Be Yours
Sia - Clap Your Hands
Foster The People - Houdini
Jenny and Jonny - Animal
Au Revoir Simone - All Or Nothing
Cotton Jones - Egg On A Sea
Junip - Always
Simon and Garfunkel - Bleeker Street
Birdy - Skinny Love

First post in months!

Hope you enjoy, shan't keep you all waiting so long for the next one ;)

RS MF

A Mild Fascination

2011-01-30T09:27:00.000-08:00

Pelle Carlberg - Clever Girls Like Clever Boys Much More Than Clever Boys Like Clever Girls
Little Comets - One Night In October
The Spinto Band - Vivian Don't
Stereolab - Everybody's Weird Except Me
The Phoenix Foundation - Flock Of Hearts
The Dodos - Fables
Darren Hanlon - All These Things
Tennis - Marathon
Wavves - Post Acid
Janelle Monae - Tightrope (feat Big Boi)
Cee Lo Green - Satisfied
The Bobby Fuller Four - Let Her Dance
Cowsills - Indian Lake
Ally Kerr - The Sore Feet Song
The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Who?
Tobacco - Sweatmother
Maximum Balloon - Groove Me
Math & Physics Club - Nothing Really Happened
Sonny & The Sunsets - Too Young To Burn
Here We Go Magic - Collector
Dan Michaelson & The Coastguards - Love Lends A Hand
The Asteroid No.4 - My Love

The other half went to London for the weekend to see her sister and niece. I was left at home with Ava. When my mother asked if she could take the little girl out for the afternoon I of course agreed.

It meant I had the house to myself and I could sit on my Mac and make a mix!

And here's the result. No theme, just a mix of great pop. Enjoy..

RS MF

Lenny

2011-01-23T10:39:00.000-08:00

Lenny Bruce - Psychopathia Sexualis
Simon & Garfunkel - A Simple Desultory Philippic
R.E.M - It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
The Stranglers - No More Heroes
The Boo Radleys - Rodney King (Song For Lenny Bruce)
Nico - Eulogy To Lenny Bruce
Joy Zipper - For Lenny's Own Pleasure
Manic Street Preachers - IfWhiteAmericaToldThe TruthForOneDayIt'sWorldWouldFallApart
Mickey Avalon - Dipped In Vaseline
Nada Surf - Imaginary Friends
Metric - On The Sky
The Auteurs - Junk Shop Clothes
Genesis - Fly On A Windshield
Tim Hardin - Lenn'y Tune
John Lennon - We're All Water
Bob Dylan - Lenny Bruce
Grace Slik & The Great Society - Father Bruce
Nils Lofgren - Mr. Hardcore
Eric Burdon & Jimmy Witherspoon - The Laws Must Change
Simon & Garfunkel - 7 O'Clock News/Silent Night

Lenny Bruce

American comedian Lenny Bruce (1925-1966) made fun of everything held sacred during the 1950s and early 1960s, from the Lone Ranger television character to the Pope and Jesus Christ. His irreverent "anything goes" style eventually caused him to be jailed for public obscenity.

Lenny Bruce shocked and entertained audiences during the politically conservative years following World War II. His irreverent and unabashed antics failed to amuse everyone, and on a number of occasions he was charged with public obscenity. He was convicted in several states and spent his final years involved in court appeals, defending his right to free speech. Bruce's life and career ended tragically when he died of a narcotic drug overdose at age 40.

Bruce was born Leonard Alfred Schneider in Mineola, New York on October 13, 1925. As a child during the Great Depression, he lived with his mother and assorted relatives in a singularly Jewish environment. He saw his father infrequency, and life with Bruce's mother, comedian Sally Marr, was erratic at best. Bruce attended six elementary schools, sold pop bottles for spending cash, and stole lunches from other students. By his own admission, he sniffed aerosols as a youngster. Bruce's mother was completely uninhibited and supported herself in unconventional ways. For a time she operated a dance studio and furnished adult escorts. As Bruce grew to adulthood, his mother developed her own comedy act and performed in nightclubs. From his mother, Lenny learned to laugh at life's irregularities.

Bruce left home at the age of 16 and went to live with a couple named Dengler on their Long Island farm. He stayed on the farm until shortly after the beginning of World War II. In 1942, Bruce joined the U.S. Navy. After boot camp he served as an apprentice seaman on the U.S.S. Brooklyn. The ship was stationed in France and Italy, where Bruce experienced live combat conditions. He longed to return home. In order to secure a discharge, Bruce dressed like a female sailor until his superiors requested a dishonorable discharge. Through the intervention of the Red Cross, the Navy reversed the circumstance of the discharge and Bruce received an honorable release.

No longer able to live at the Dengler farm, Bruce returned to live with his mother. She was working as a stand-up comedian at various clubs around Brooklyn. Bruce accompanied her to work and watched her and the other performers present their routines. Bruce himself took the stage one evening at the Victory Club, as a stand-in master of ceremonies. He used the stage name "Lenny Marsalle" that evening but later settled on Lenny Bruce. Despite pre-show jitters, Bruce composed himself and delivered a string of ad libs. To his surprise, the audience laughed and found him marginally amusing. Bruce, who performed without pay that first evening, was instantly addicted to the world of entertainment. In time, he secured an agent and played amateur clubs and contest, sometimes for a $2 fee or for prizes. Bruce wrote an act for himself to perform on stage so that he would not get tongue tied. He did excellent impressions of famous movie stars including Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, and Edward G. Robinson. In 1947, he used those impressions to win Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts, a radio show talent contest.

Bruce performed in vaudeville shows and in burlesque theaters during the late 1940s, but in time he joined the merchant marine, working on the Luckenback Line to the Middle East. As a merchant seaman, Bruce visited over two dozen countries. At every port of call he saw little of the terrain and the culture beyond the shore bars and brothels. Bruce adopted the promiscuous lifestyle of many soldiers and seamen among his peers. On board the merchant ships, he learned to smoke hashish.

Shortly before he sailed with the merchant marine, Bruce met an exotic dancer named Harriet "Honey" Harlowe. Bruce was enamored with Harlowe after spending one evening with her at a party. The intense mutual attraction left a strong impression on Bruce, who eventually tracked her down by telephone while he was working on a merchant boat that was docked in Spain. The 25-year-old Bruce found Harlowe willing to wed and returned home as quickly as possible.

The newlywed couple re-entered show business in 1951. Bruce performed comedy while Harlowe sang and danced. They performed together in nightclubs. Bruce determined that he should raise money to pay for singing lessons for Harlowe, to enable her to resume her former career as an exotic dancer. Bruce, true to his outrageous comedic nature, concocted a false identity for himself. He assumed the identity of a priest and solicited donations for a leper colony in Guyana. Bruce collected $8,000 in three days before frustrated Miami law enforcement officials arrested him. He ceased his gigolo-like tactics and focused his efforts toward his stage career and his marriage.

The couple worked together until 1954 when both suffered severe injuries in a violent car crash in Pittsburgh. Bruce was thrown from the car, fractured his skull, and suffered lacerations. Harlowe's injuries were much worse. She was unable to walk for four months. Eventually the couple recovered and moved to a chicken farm in Arcadia, California that was owned by Bruce's father and stepmother.

Bruce, who studied acting at the Geller Dramatic Workshop in Southern California, was acutely ahead of his time in his political sympathies. He had great concern for the poverty stricken, discounted anti-Communist propaganda, took issue with capital punishment and what he viewed as other social shortcomings. On stage, Bruce made fun of the established traditions of Middle America. He was a talented speaker, and although his act was meticulously prepared and rehearsed, he projected a spontaneity to his audience. His natural gift for weaving stories, combined with an unnatural ability to ramble into a stream of consciousness repartee, was fundamental to his genius.

Kitty Bruce was born in 1955, the only child of Lenny Bruce and Harriet Harlowe. Soon Bruce became increasingly possessive of his wife, and developed a dependency on narcotic drugs. The couple divorced in 1957.

Within a year, Bruce established a following at several reputable nightclubs in San Francisco. His popularity soared as his reputation for using profanity and obscenity in his act grew. On stage, Bruce held nothing sacred. He clowned about perversion and sexual fantasies, taunted those who held the tenets of Judeo-Christian thought, and described the deep-seated racial tension in America. Lenny Bruce achieved high visibility. His antics were broadcast through the rapidly rising recording industry as well as through television. Many recognized the underlying truth in the Lenny Bruce message. This was true of the late San Francisco columnist Herb Caen, quoted in Playboy. "They call Lenny Bruce a sick comic-and sick he is. Sick of the pretentious phoneyness of a generation that makes his vicious humor meaningful." By the early 1960s, Lenny Bruce was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall. Despite the "adults only" nature of his act, he played to sellout audiences in 1960 and 1961.

In the midst of overwhelming popularity, Bruce was arrested for obscenity in San Francisco in October 1961. The case went to trial early in 1962 and ended in acquittal for Bruce. Later that year, he was arrested at the popular Gate of Horn Club in Chicago. In 1963, Bruce was refused admission to both England and Australia following a narcotics arrest and drug conviction earlier that year.

A conviction on obscenity charges in New York on November 4, 1964, caused another setback for Bruce, despite his earlier success in evading similar charges on the West Coast. The New York trial lasted six months. Despite petitions and testimony filed by prominent personalities including Gore Vidal and Norman Mailer, Bruce was convicted because he used "obscene, indecent, immoral, and impure" language and gestures in his performances. Bruce was sentenced to four months in jail, during which time his conviction in Chicago remained on appeal.

Bruce returned to San Francisco following his conviction in New York. Increasingly stressed and obsessed by his legal problems, he was determined to exonerate himself. Unfortunately, he was severely addicted to heroine at that time and lived mostly in seclusion after 1965. He stayed close to home and rarely worked. He gave his final comedic performance on June 25, 1966, at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. A few weeks later, on August 3, 1966, Bruce died of a drug overdose in Hollywood. His death was ruled accidental; he was 40 years old.

All tracks on this mix were influenced by or namecheck the great Lenny Bruce.

RS MF

Gone in '10 Pt2

2011-01-16T11:44:00.000-08:00

The Sweet Inspirations - Sweet Inspiration [Vocalist Myrna Smith d December 24, 2010]
Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes - The Love I Lost [Vocalist Bernard Wilson d December 24, 2010]
Teddy Pendegrass - Close The Door [March 26, 1950 – January 13, 2010]
The Crests - A Year Ago Tonight [Vocalist Johnny Maestro d March 24, 2010]
Kathryn Grayson - All Of a Sudden ( My Heart Sings) [February 9, 1922 – February 17, 2010]
Mitch Miller - Happy Days Are Here Again [July 4, 1911 – July 31, 2010]
Jimmy Dean - Big John [August 10, 1928 – June 13, 2010]
Eddie Fisher - I'm Walking Behind You [August 10, 1928 – September 22, 2010]
King Coleman - Let's Shimmy [January 20, 1932 – September 11, 2010]
Gregory Isaacs - Ba Da [15 July 1951 – 25 October 2010]
Arrow - Hot Hot Hot [16 November 1949 - 15 September, 2010]
Boney M - Daddy Cool [Singer Bobby Farrell October 6, 1949 - December 30, 2010]
The Knack - My Sharona [August 20, 1952 - December 30, 2010]
Jay Reatard - It's So Easy [May 1, 1980 - January 13, 2010]
Ou Est Le Swimming Pool - Dance The Way I Feel [Singer Charles Haddon d August 20, 2010]
Stereophonics - Looks Like Chaplin [Drummer Stuart Cable May 19, 1970 - June 7, 2010]
Black Sabbath - Neon Nights [Singer Ronnie James Dio July 10, 1942 - May 16, 2010]
Henryk Gorecki - I. Lento, Sostenuto Tranquillo Ma Cantabile [December 6, 1933 - November 12, 2010]

RS MF

Gone In '10 Pt1

2011-01-16T10:45:00.000-08:00

Captain Beefheart - I'm Glad [January 15, 1941 – December 17, 2010]
Alex Chilton - Hey Little Girl [December 28, 1950 – March 17, 2010]
Big Star - What's Going Ahn [Bassist Andy Hummel d July 19, 2010]
The Kinks - Big Sky [Bassist Peter Quaife 31 December 1943 – 23 June 2010]
Bobby Hebb - Sunny [July 26, 1938 – August 3, 2010]
Solomon Burke - Cry To Me [March 21, 1940 – October 10, 2010]
The Isley Brothers - Fight The Power [Bassist Marvin Isley August 18, 1953 – June 6, 2010]
Teena Marie - Behind The Groove [March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010]
Parliament - Handcuffs [Guitarist Garry Shider July 24, 1953 – June 16, 2010]
The Gap Band - You Dropped A Bomb On Me [Bassist Robbie Wilson d August 16, 2010]
Guru - Keep Your Worries [July 17, 1961 – April 19, 2010]
Chairmen Of The Board - Give Me Just A Little More Time [Singer General Johnson May 23, 1943, – October 13, 2010]
Malcolm McLaren - Double Dutch [22 January 1946 – 8 April 2010]
The Slits - Typical Girls [Singer Ari Up 17 January 1962 – 20 October 2010]
Sparklehorse - Rainmaker [Singer Mark Linkous September 9, 1962 – March 6, 2010]
Deaf School - Darling [Singer Eric Shark d January 7, 2010]
The Freshies - I'm In Love With A Girl On A Certain Manchester Megastore Checkout Desk [Singer Chris Sievey 25 August 1955 – 21 June 2010]
Lena Horne - It Had Better Be Tonight [June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010]
Abbey Lioncoln - I Must Have That Man! [August 6, 1930 – August 14, 2010]
Kate McGarrigle - Hard Times (Come Again No More) [February 6, 1946 – January 18, 2010]

My 6th Annual look at who we lost in the music world the year before. These mixes always end up being my most eclectic posts of the year, my thought being if they made a mark, regardless of genre, they'll be included.

This year there wasn't a high profile passing of 'Michael Jackson' proprtions, say, but any music lover will have been deeply saddened by the passing of Captain Beefheart and Alex Chilton to name but two.

What is evident was 2010 was not a great year for bass players. And as seems to be the norm we lost some legendary soul singers, this year Solomon, Teddy and Teena.

Also this year we said goodbye to Corey Haim, John Forsythe, Dennis Hopper, Gary Coleman, Rue McLanahan, Tony Curtis, Arthur Penn, Sir Norman Wisdom, Leslie Nielsen and Blake Edwards.

RS MF

Winter Sun

2010-12-19T07:35:00.000-08:00

Fruit Bats - Rainbow Sign
Mercury Rev - Endlessly
The Twin Atlas - Sleep In late, Laugh All Night
Bert Jansch - Come Sing Me A Happy Song
The Shins - New Slang
The Kingsbury Manx - New Old Friend Blues
Sigur Ros - Staralfur
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
Animal Collective - Bluish
Sufjan Stevens - Romulus
Atlas Sound - Walkabout
Broadcast - The Book Lovers
School Of Seven Bells - I L U
Pinback - Loro
Mazzy Star - Halah
Richard Hawley - Baby, You're My Light
Micah P Hinson - Yard Of Blonde Girls
The Junipers - Gordie Can't Swim
Tim Hardin - Reason To Believe
Nick Drake - Northern Sky
Cat Stevens - The Wind
Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man - Mysteries

December. The time of year when I like to send out a mix CD to some of my closest friends. In recent years I've sent out Christmas mixes (last year's being the first I have posted on-line).

This year, I decided to opt for a mix with a wintery feel. I also wanted to blow people's socks off with a drop dead gorgeous mix. So I set about compiling 'Swoon' which I posted here last week. During the mix making process I realised I was very happy with how it was shaping up. However it was far from perfect. Then I realised for me, the perfect mix would have to take elements from some of my past mixes.

So this, Winter Sun, contains songs and runs from former mixes 'An Autumn Daydream' 'Fly Away' and 'Wintersong' along with the lovely Grizzly Bear track, a favourite from this year 'I L U' and a song that really and sincerely could be my favourite song of all time 'Bluish'.

So is this my definition of the perfect mix? Probably not, but it's as close as I'll ever get I believe.

RS MF

Swoon

2010-12-09T08:11:00.000-08:00

The Black Angels - Telephone
Betamax Crew - All I Know
Oh No Oh My - I Love You All The Time
Carlo Emerald - Riviera Life
The Soundcarriers - Caught By The Sun
The Russian Futurists - One Night, One Kiss
Brendon Benson - Folk Singer
Superstar - The O.K Corral
Band Of Horses - Factory
Zita Swoon - Me & Josie On A Saturday Night
LCD Soundsystem - I Can Change
School Of Seven Bells - Heart Is Strange
The Depreciation Guild - Dream About Me
Lucky Soul - Love 3
Clinic - I'm Aware
Snowden - So Red
Yo La Tengo - Sometimes I Don't Get You
Camera Obscura - I Love My Jean
Nik Freitas - Sun Down
Apollo Sunshine - Breeze
Love Is All - Take Your Time

What's in my head Nov/Dec 2010

RS MF

Good Clean Fun

2010-12-04T08:05:00.000-08:00

The Royalties - Music for Cooking With Gas
El Guincho - Bombay
John Lennon - Intuition
Jeremy Messersmith - Lazy Bones
Shonen Knife - Evil Birds
Afternoon Naps - Beach Bums
Alan Hull - Carousel
The Liminanas - I'm Dead
Mashmakhan - As The Years Go By
Lawrence Arabia - Apple Pie Bed
Brian Wilson - Nothing But Love
The Explorers Club - Do You Love Me
Tesco Chainstore Mascara - Writer's Block
Pineapple - Wahow
Coming Soon - School Trip Bus Crash
Norma Sass - Born In The 80's
Bonnie Hayes with the Wild Combo - Girls Like Me
Desoto Reds - Tupper In The Fridge
Shankar Family & Friends - Dream
1910 Fruitgum Company - One, Two, Three Red Light
Generationals - Trust
The Lovely Feathers - Frantic
Jackson 5 - Love Comes In Different Flavors
Ultrasport - Nothing Can Go Wrong
Eternal Summers - Pogo
Micachu & The Shapes - Golden Phone

An alt-dj mix with my favourite mixer in the whole world, Ion Moe! And our first for about three years. My, how time flies..

Notes from Ion - Leave it to Sammy G to lull me out of my overly long absence from ZeRO. Work, a new baby boy and obsessive personal grooming have kept me away for too long. It feels good to post again and be back amongst friends.

Anyway, a chance to do a mix with fellow pop lover Sammy is something I couldn't pass up. This charming man has exquisite taste in music, and it shows on this mix. It was a challenge to keep up with him. Does anyone want to venture a guess who was odds/evens? And the cover girl? The good, (squeaky) clean and fun Ava G.

RS MF

The Girls About Town

2010-11-27T06:09:00.000-08:00

P.T. Walkley - Audrey Macy
Aerovons - Bessy Goodheart
Of Montreal - Jennifer Louise
Blur - Tracy Jacks
Supergrass - Melanie Davis
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Miss Trudy
The Beatles - Eleanor Rigby
The Hollies - Carrie Anne
Picadilly Line - Emily Small
The Hi-Fi's - Calorie Ann
The Who - Sally Simpson
Donovan - Jennifer Juniper
Flight Of The Conchords - Carol Brown
Beat Happening - Nancy Sin
The Move - Ella James
M Organ - Miss Parker
The World of Oz - Mandy-Ann
Brigitte Bardot - Maria Ninguen
Boyce & Hart - Alice Long
Bob Dylan - Peggy Day
The Carpenters - Druscilla Penny
Cuff Links - Jennifer Tomkins
Peter And The Wolf - Anna Maria
Sunshine Day - Mrs. Bluebird
Bryan Scary & The Shredding Tears - Maria St. Claire
Honey Love & The Love Notes - Mary Ann
Davie Jones & The King Bees - Liza Jane
Bipolaroid - Jane Jubilee
The Stone Roses - Sally Cinammon

Oh, a mix filled with songs featuring girls names in? Highly original.

Except the difference in this one is that instead of filling it with songs called Emma, Clair or Oh Julie, these 29 girls, while they may very well be fictional also seem very real. They have their own personalities & problems. Tracy works for the Civil Service, Eleanor seems quite lonely and Miss Trudy is a violin teacher who every so often becomes very violent.

All these girls live in my town. I see them about from time to time...

RS MF

Combien de temps?

2010-10-30T08:04:00.000-07:00

The Beatles - Norwegian Wood ( This Bird Has Flown )
Love - You Set The Scene
The Zombies - This Will Be Our Year
The Rolling Stones - Tumbling Dice
David Bowie - Rock 'N' Roll Suicide
Roxy Music - In Every Dream Home A Heartache
Television - Venus
Talking Heads - Air
R.E.M - Talk About The Passion
Dexy's Midnight Runners - This Is What She's Like
The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out
Primal Scream - Higher Than The Sun
My Bloody Valentine - When You Sleep
The Boo Radleys - I've Lost The Reason
Suede - Still Life

My 15 albums are sequenced in chronological order. Although obviously for someone born in the mid 70’s this is not the order I discovered them in..

The Beatles - Rubber Soul

Well, where do I start? How about by stating that if I was to be completely honest 5 Beatles albums would make my 15, this along with Abbey Road, Pepper, Revolver and The White Album. I grew up with music seemingly all around me Abba, Duran Duran and Spandau Ballet on the Radio. The Platters, The Inkspots and Slim Whitman at my Grandparents. And my mothers quite wonderful record collection. Traffic, Spencer Davis Group, Scott Walker, Moody Blues, numerous 45s, and everything that the Beatles released. They are without doubt my favourite band, and while others have come close, namely the Stones and The Smiths during my teenage years, they will remain my favourites till the day I die.

Oh, so why Rubber Soul? Well, you’ve heard it, right? There’s your answer..

Love - Forever Changes

This wasn’t in my mothers collection. I don’t remember why I bought it. Can only assume I’d read a glowing review in a magazine. I bought this around 1997, so it was probably a 30 year celebration article. Upon listening for the first time I was astonished that an album so good could have sold so few copies. An absolute masterpiece. The track I’ve chosen for the mix is the longest on the album. Not for the last time on this mix.

The Zombies - Odessey And Oracle

British Newspaper ‘The Guardian’ once produced a list of ‘The Top 100 Albums That Don’t Appear In All The Other Top 100 Albums Of All Time list’ which was a great idea. This album came 77th. I was quite late to this one, about 24 years old. A female friend I shared a house with at the time had it on CD. I borrowed it from her, put it on the stereo and was completely blown away. By the production, the melodies, the quite morose lyrics. Did she ever get it back? Well of course she did. I bought my own copy the very next day.

The Rolling Stones - Exile On Main Street

I thought of myself as a huge Stones fan whilst in college. But really, in retrospect I only owned the Hot Rocks compilation. But it was so good, so perfect, that surely all of the good songs they ever recorded were gathered on there right? Hearing the first 30 seconds of ‘Rocks Off’ made me realise what a fool I’d been for thinking such a thing…

David Bowie - The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust & The Spiders From Mars

Again, I initially only owned Changesbowie. I suppose I may as well admit that all of these classic albums were discovered after purchasing ‘Best Of’ compilations of all these well regarded artists. But I guess I’m not alone there am I?

Roxy Music - For Your Pleasure

I mentioned during a comment on Salman’s mix the other day that I worked on Community Radio during my teenage years. Well the community were all in hospital at the time. As was the studio. Yes, it was hospital radio. For 4 years I did two 3 hour shows a week and i loved it. The studio contained thousands of records all donated by the good folk of my hometown. Whilst most of the other ‘deejays’ at the station were playing golden oldies such as Perry Como and Val Doonican I fancied myself as a bit of a John Peel and would play all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff that wouldn’t help the patients recovery process. I’m sure nobody ever listened to my show. Can’t say I’m too concerned, I had a riot!

What’s this got to do with Roxy Music? Well, I think I remember sifting through the record library and seeing this and liking the cover. Or was it Country Life?

Television - Marquee Moon

Just a stunning album. Also the title track at 10.41 was a length for me to lock up the studio and pop outside for a cigarette. I used to play this along with Blue Monday by New Order quite often during my Radio shows..

Talking Heads - Fear Of Music

I’ve always been a fan of musical stats and lists. I remember a particular issue of the now defunct British magazine Melody Maker where it listed the magazines Number One album of each year since it was first published. I noticed that Talking Heads had managed to take the crown in both 1979 and 1980. Being quite impressed by this feat I purchased this and 1980’s ‘Remain In Light’ and quickly became a huge fan.

R.E.M - Murmur

I’m cheating here. It really should be Automatic For The People.

I was aware of R.E.M. Shiny Happy people was nice enough and Losing My Religion was all over the radio. I went on a family holiday to the U.S.A aged 16. My walkman hardly left my ear during the whole stay. I couldn’t get over the prices of things ( compared to England everything in the states is dirt cheap ). I saw a copy of ‘Automatic’ on cassette in a K-Mart. I still remember the price, it was $5.88. I’m not sure if any album before or since has changed my life so much before or since. It was such a perfect album. I listened to it constantly all day, and that night went to bed with some excitement, as I’d convinced myself the next day I was going to the mall to buy every album they had ever made. And I did.

Of all R.E.Ms albums, and I’ve listened to each one a good 50 times ( well, not the post New Adventures in Hi-Fi ones ) Murmur is the one that has stayed with me, and now 18 years later, is the one of theirs I do not hesitate to place in lists such as these..

Dexy’s Midnight Runners - Don’t Stand Me Down

One of my all time favourite bands. I bought their first two albums in my early teenage years. But their third was quite elusive. I searched for it in the record shops of London and my City, Manchester. But it just didn’t seem to be available anywhere. In my hometown of Urmston there was a small bookshop called ‘Bookmark’. How it managed to stay open for as long as it did I will never know. It was so god damn expensive. I rarely went in but every now and then i’d brave the ridiculously narrow spiral staircase that took you up to the first floor. They had a small selection of records and cds there. But again, they couldn’t compete with the big high street chain stores.

One day though, I fancied a browse. And whilst browsing it was there. On CD for a bargain 5 pounds. Tower Records in London didn’t have it. HMV in Manchester; not in stock. But Bookmark, Urmston? Result!

The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead

I was already a huge fan of The Smiths at this point. I was not your typical teenage Smiths fan, though. I rarely sat in my bedroom wondering when it was all going to end. I wasn’t clumsy. Or shy. And I did pretty well with the girls thank you very much.

Primal Scream - Screamadelica

It’s The Primals and it’s Sctreamadelica nuff said!!

My Bloody Valentine - Loveless

OK, i’ll try and make this brief.

It was October 1991 and we were all sitting our mock exams in the large cold assembly hall. It probably wasn’t cold at all, but the memory plays tricks on you. During the last few minutes of one exam our headmaster was pacing up and down at the top of the room. Once we had finished our exam he proceeded to inform us, with some anxiety on his face, that one of my classmates had sadly died that afternoon. I‘d seen her the day before and she was fine, but that morning she had been complaining that she felt unwell..

My best mate Kevin who had recently had a small fling with her asked if he could come back to mine after hearing the shock news. We got home and I put an album on that I’d bought very recently. An album that I will now forever associate with Alice.

The Boo Radleys - Giant Steps

One year before the britpop scene was about to explode and I’d left school and found some work DJing around the area. I was working for an agent and, yes, he took the lions share. But he’d give me £40 a night and would guarantee at least three nights a week. I had money! Problem was, there wasn’t much music around that I particularly liked. At this stage I’m 17 and own best of compilations by anyone who is anyone, but it’ll be a good 3 or 4 years ( before I start working in a record shop ) that I would look into these artists back catalogue, save for the artists mentioned under entry number one.

Grunge was all the rage. But it wasn’t for me. It sounded awful. I couldn’t understand why some artists were credible and some such as Hootie & The Blowfish were mocked, because as far as I was concerned it all sounded the same. Blur did come along with a quintessentially English album this year as a reaction to it, I’m sure. And that album ‘Modern Life’ very narrowly missed the list, as it is wonderful. Equally wonderful is the brave, bold and barmy ‘Giant Steps’. To even think of stealing Mr Coltrane’s album title you know they must have known they had something special. And special (for me) doesn’t even come close. Crunching grunge-y guitars aplenty, yes. But so much more. Beatle-esque melodies, Beach Boys like harmonies, and angelic vocals, none of this horrible snarl that I’d become too accustomed to.

This album is very possibly my favourite album of all time. A hundred ideas crammed in to 17 songs. Curse them then, for releasing Wake Up Boo. It damaged their credibility beyond repair, to the point that now, if any music lover says they like the Boo Radleys, chance are it’ll be greeted more with a snigger than a knowing smile..

Suede - Dog Man Star

Was I looking forward to Dog Man Star? Not really. I had Parklife, Definitely Maybe, The Holy Bible and Snivilisation all on regular rotation and didn’t think I’d have much time for it.

Thing is I liked Suede’s first album but din’t love it. 3 killer singles, yes. But the rest for me were average songs about Sleeping Pills and Pantomime Horses.

Dog Man Star was 20 times better and I was not expecting it. It’s also a rare album for me, in that, I truly believe every song on the album is slightly better than the last. It’s a concept album that builds and builds until the final ridiculous almost pompous track ‘Still Life’. A song so good I bet Andrew Lloyd Webber can’t believe he didn’t write it. That’s if he’s ever heard it. If he hasn’t he should. And so should you…

RS MF

The Taking Of...

2010-10-18T06:50:00.000-07:00

The Superimposers - The Beach
Stornoway - Watching Birds
I Am Arrows - Nun
Nicole Reynolds - When We Meet Again
Bell X1 - Rocky Took A Lover
The National - Conversation 16
Belle & Sebastian - I Didn't See It Coming
George Harrison - What Is Life
Lou Reed - Romeo Had Juliette
Dead Kennedys - Moon Over Marin
Girls Names - Running Scared
The Kinks - Starstruck
Arctic Monkeys - Fluorescent Adolescent
Ben Folds & Nick Hornby - Levi Johnston's Blues
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son
Moby Grape - Seeing
JJ Cale - After Midnight
Honeybus - Ceilings No1
The Isley Brothers - It's Your Thing
Hafdis Huld - Oldest Friend
Al Green - Love & Happiness
The Impressions - People Get Ready

Brand new mix. No theme, just stuff I've been listening to and enjoying recently..

RS MF

Essential 100 Part Four

2010-09-14T06:21:00.000-07:00

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Young Adult Friction
The Olivia Tremor Control - Jumping Fences
The Russian Futurists - Let's Get Ready To Crumble
The New Pornographers - The Laws Have Changed
Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken
Ambulance Ltd - Anecdote
Jenny Lewis - You Are What You Love
Edwin Moses - I'll Be Around
The Heavy Blinkers - Maplewood
Benji Hughes - Baby It's Your Life
Sebastian Tellier - Divine
The Crayon Fields - Impossible Things
Sunshine Fix - Sail Beyond The Sun
Hal - Play The Hits
Super Furry Animals - Juxtaposed With U
The Shins - Fighting In A Sack
Silver Sun - Lava
The Bristols - Questions I Can't Answer
Brassy - Boss
The Little Ones - Morning Tide
Stornoway - I Saw You Blink
Adventures In Stereo - When We Go Back
Sneeze - Shaky Ground
The Junipers - Gordie Can't Swim
Elliot Smith - The Ballad Of Big Nothing

RS MF

Essential 100 Part Three

2010-09-14T06:12:00.000-07:00

Sonic Youth - Teen Age Riot
Primal Scream - Velocity Girl
R.E.M - Laughing
Robyn Hitchcock - Balloon Man
Agentss - Agentss
Orange Juice - Bridge
The Jam - A Town Called Malice
Dexy's Midnight Runners - There There My Dear
The Smiths - Cemetry Gates
Lloyd Cole & The Commotions - Lost Weekend
Teenage Fanclub - What You Do To Me
Teardrop Explodes - Sleeping Gas
Kenicke - Come Out 2 Nite
My Bloody Valentine - Soft As Snow (But Warm Inside)
The Boo Radleys - Lazarus
The Specials - Ghost Town
Magazine - A Song From Under The Floorboards
Echo & The Bunnymen - Bring On the Dancing Horses
The The - This Is The Day
Mazzy Star - Fade Into You
Orbital - Belfast

RS MF

Essential 100 Part Two

2010-09-14T05:29:00.000-07:00

Captain Beefheart - Yellow Brick Road
The Seeds - Pushin' Too Hard
The Rolling Stones - Get Off Of My Cloud
The Stooges - I Wanna Be Your Dog
The Clash - (White Man) In Hammersmith Palais
Wire - Outdoor Miner
The Doors - Peace Frog
The Easybeats - Friday On My Mind
R Dean Taylor - There's A Ghost In My House
Marvin Gaye - Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)
Stevie Wonder - Sir Duke
David Bowie - Queen Bitch
Talking Heads - Cities
Television - Marquee Moon
Badfinger - No Matter What
Roxy Music - Beauty Queen
Nick Drake - Pink Moon
Big Star - The Ballad of El Goodo
Tyrone Davis - Can I Change My Mind
Al Green - Let's Stay Together
Otis Redding - (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
The Velvet Underground - Pale Blue Eyes

RS MF

Essential 100 Part One

2010-09-14T04:53:00.000-07:00

Eddie Cochran - C'mon Everybody
Conway Twitty - It's Only Make Believe
Link Wray - Rumble
The Coasters - Yakety Yak
Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite
Chips - Rubber Biscuit
The Vipers - Don't You Rock Me Daddy - O
Fats Domino - Ain't That A Shame
Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues
Elvis Presley - His Latest Flame
Connie Francis - Robot Man
Sam Cooke - (What A) Wonderful World
Georgie Fame - The Ballad Of Bonnie & Clyde
Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line
Gene McDaniels - Tower Of Strength
The Ronettes - Be My Baby
Lesley Gore - You Don't Own Me
Dana Gillespie - You Just Gotta Know My Mind
Glenda Collins - If You Gotta Pick A Baby
Inez & Charlie Foxx - Mockingbird
The Kinks - Tired Of Waiting For You
The Beach Boys - You're So Good To Me
Unit 4 Plus 2 - Concrete and Clay
Barry McGuire - Eve Of Destruction
The Walker Brothers - Make It Easy On Yourself
The Who - My Generation
Donovan - Colours
Roy Orbison - In Dreams
Bobby Darin - Dream Lover
Linda Scott - I've Told Every Little Star
Skeeter Davis - End Of The World
The Beatles - If I Fell

On September 14^th 2005, whilst browsing through the latest ‘Rough Guide to the Internet’ book, and in particular the ‘Music’ section I chanced upon a description of a site named ‘Art of the Mix’. I quite liked the look of it so thought I’d give it a go.

Within minutes of looking at the site I’d made my mind up, I would submit one of my own mixes. A mix I’d made for myself some 18 months earlier and still listened to on a regular basis (still do now in fact).

All I needed was a username. Simple, a few of my friends and work colleagues referred to me as Sammy G, and that’s how I wanted to be known on this new site. But, wait, someone else had already taken it. Not a particularly consistent mixer either, a couple of ambient efforts and he (or indeed she ) was gone.

This threw me a little. And for what ever reason it was, ‘cos for the life of me I cannot remember, I stuck a few numbers after the name and the username sammyg123 was born.

And today my alter-ego is 5 years old!

I’d been mindful of this milestone approaching for some time, and had thought about big for it. And this is what I decided on. 100 songs from 4 eras that define me and the music I love. So we have 1950 – 1965, then ’65 thru ’80. ’80 thru 1995 and then ’95 to the present day. The way I’ve worked out this out means songs from 1965 for instance could be used on two different discs. This was deliberate, and I’ve taken full advantage of this.

These aren’t my favourite 100 songs of all time ( although if I was to try and attempt such a task at least 50% of the tracks here would feature ). But it is as close as I have ever gone to doing such a thing on Aotm or ZerO. And I am delighted with the end result…

..so Happy Birthday sammyg123. This will be the soundtrack to my day.

RS MF

Shakin' Stevens - This Ole House - lyrics

2010-08-24T06:18:00.000-07:00

House Music

2010-08-24T05:56:00.000-07:00

13th Floor Elevators - Slip Inside This House
Martin Newell - We'll Build A House
Fleet Foxes - English House
Donovan - House Of Jansch
The Jam - Set The House Ablaze
Field Music - A House Is Not A Home
The Dandy Warhols - Welcome To The Monkey House
Minutemen - Storm In My House
Animal Collective - Leaf House
The Stooges - Fun House
Arctic Monkeys - This House Is A Circus
The Minders - Treehouse
The Divine Comedy - The Summerhouse
Love - A House Is Not A Motel
R Dean Taylor - There's A Ghost In My House
Aretha Franklin - The House That Jack Built
Marty Robbins - Sittin' In A Tree House
The Field Mice - Emma's House
The Softies - This House
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Our House
The Maharajas - Trip Inside This House
Jim White - Turquoise House

Inspired by this video, that a friend of mine posted on Facebook yesterday. Yes, I watched it. And I thoroughly enjoyed it thank you very much.

It inspired me to compile a mix full of 'House Music' and this is the result. Alas, Shaky didn't make the mix. But enjoy the video..

RS MF

No Symmetry

2010-08-18T04:56:00.000-07:00

Hexicon - Annie Oh!
Seeland - Local Park
Stornoway - I Saw You Blink
Deerhunter - Revival
Plush - Three Quarter Blind Eyes
Clinic - Tomorrow
Television - Glory
Elastica - Connection
Stereolab - Cybele's Reverie
Tiger - Friends
Broadcast - Come On Let's Go
Tipsy - Hey!
Solex - All Licketysplit
Marbles - Top Of The Morning
Felt - Primitive Painters
Spearmint - Sweeping The Nation
Lake - Blue Ocean Blue
Love - Live And Let Live
Slaraffenland - That Great Love Song
Cinerama - Maniac
Mutley - Medusa
Momus - Vocation
Tigercity - A Better Place

It was never my intention to make a mix solely featuring one word band names. It wasn't until the mix was taking shape I realised the Seeland thru' Clinic run did just that. And with Tiger and Broadcast also on the shortlist for making the mix and with me listening to Momus a lot recently it just seemed a novel thing to do.

I thought about re-arranging the mix to just feature one word bands with one word song titles, but I liked my 2-6 run so much I chose "No Symmetry'

RS MF

Listen

2010-08-02T06:50:00.000-07:00

White Hinterland - Icarus
Angus & Julia Stone - Just A Boy
The Singing Adams - You And me
Woods - Time Fading Lines
Villagers - Becoming A Jackal
Laura Marling - Rambling Man
Hafdis Huld - Action Man
First Aid Kit - Sailor Song
Avi Buffalo - What's In It For
The Tallest Man On Earth - King Of Spain
Efterklang - Modern Drift
Richard James - When you See Me (In The Pouring Rain)
The Middle East - Blood
Midlake - Acts Of Man
Lucas Renney - She Gives Me Chills
My Jerusalem - Love You When You Leave
Band Of Horses - Older
Jackie Leven - Gothic Road
Joanna Newsom - Good Intentions Paving Company
Clogs - Last Song

..and Disc 2 contains mainly folk stuff, although I do use that term loosely. Let's say these songs have a more gentle side to them. Enjoy these two compilations..

RS MF

Look

2010-08-02T06:36:00.000-07:00

Still Flyin' - Runaway Train II
Plants And Animals - The Mama Papa
Drink Up Buttercup - Doggyhead
The Superimposers - Where Do You Go
The Ruby Suns - Cranberry
Tame Impala - Solitude Is Bliss
Animal Kingdom - Two By Two
Magic Kids - Hey Boy
Lucky Soul - White Russian Doll
The Postmarks - No One Said This Would Be Easy
Admiral Fallow - Squealing Pigs
Princeton - Calypso Gold
Boy Mandeville - Christina
Mother Mother - O My Heart
Sleigh Bells - Kids
Best Coast - Boyfriend
Pomegranates - Everybody, Come Outside!
Colourmusic - The Gospel Song
Music Go Music - Just Me
Field Music - Them That Do Nothing
Gobble Gobble - Lawn Knives
My Tiger My Timing - I Am The Sound
La Femme - Francoise
Sambassadeur - Days

There's so much terrific music out there, even in 2010. You just have to look. Or if you haven't the inclination, then have it handed to you on a plate, just like I've done here. Two discs full of music from the last 12 months. Most from 2010, a few from last year, but I'm not compiling my year end best of's just yet, so I've afforded myself a little leeway. Disc one mainly contains indie pop stuff..

RS MF

Sammy's Soundcloud

2010-07-17T16:09:00.000-07:00

The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - Young Adult Friction
Islands - Vapours
Olivia Tremor Control - Jumping Fences
The Bristols - For You
Matias Tellez - Yes, Indeed
Hello Seahorse - Won't Say Anything
Acid Casuals - Bowl Me Over
Discovery - Swing Tree
Apples In Stereo - King Of Carrot Flowers Pt3
Ambulance Ltd - Anecdote
The Junipers - Gordie Can't Swim
The Pillbugs - If You Can't Remain
The Minders - Go Wave Your wand
The School - Let It Slip
The Russian Futurists - Let's Get Ready To Crumble
I Am Arrows - Green Grass
Lucky Elephant - Edgar
The Shortwave Set - Harmonia
Irving - Lovely, Just Like Her
Mr Wright - Anna Karina

My debut submission to Soundcloud with the terribly original title 'Sammy's Soundcloud' made especially for John Slatex, who introduced me to the site - not sure if he's too into sugary indie-pop but that's what this collection consists of. Anyway, he tends to just be a general lover of music, with a 'if it's good, I like it' attitude. He should like this.

Available as an mp3

Here or to download and keep Here

Dreaming Of Another World

2010-07-14T17:43:00.000-07:00

I Am Arrows - Green Grass
Tahiti Boy & The Palmtree Family - 1973
Fredo Viola - Little Guy
Pomplamoose - Telephone
Harry Nilsson - Together
Gary Lewis & The Playboys - Everybody Loves A Clown
The Bird and The Bee - My Love
Mystery Jets - Dreaming Of Another World
Anthony Adverse - Eine Symphonie Des Grauens
Postal Blue - Fotoromanza
Ursula 1000 - Hip-Length
The Like - Release Me
The Jackson 5 - Get It Together
Mouse And The Traps - Ya Ya
Yo La Tengo - Big Sky
Kevin Tihista - Situation Vacant
The Monkees - Tear The Top Right Off My Head (Alternate Mono Mix with Micky Vocal)
The Feminine Complex - I've Been Working On You
John Bromley & Les Fleur De Lys - So Many Things
The Mynabirds - Let The Record Go
Curt Boettcher - Louise
The Coral - 1000 Years
Animal Collective - Bluish
The Beach Boys - Never Learn Not To Love
Jason Lytle - Yours Truly, The Commander
I Am Your Autopilot - Smokescreens

It's been a while since I compiled a non-theme anything goes or for the hell of it mix. Generally when I start one of these, I don't know where it's going to go. Ok, maybe I do. It'll end up with lots of 2 1/2 minute sunshiny pop songs. As always. Hey, it's what I like. And these are the mixes of mine I tend to listen to the most. Hopefully others will to. If you do, enjoy!

RS MF

Got That Feeling

2010-07-07T10:02:00.000-07:00

The Band - Up On Cripple Creek
Todd Rundgren - Slut
Cracker - Low
The Velvet Underground - Temptation Inside Your Heart
Chocolate Watch Band - I'm Not Like Everybody Else
The Ettes - Crown Of Age
Dave Gahan - Dirty Sticky Floors
Ben Vaughn - Ain't Gonna Walk In The Shade
Pete Droge & The Sinners - Brakeman
She & Him - In The Sun
Pat Longo's Super Big Band With Frank Sinatra Jr - Fortune In Dreams
Mama Cass - Easy Come Easy Go
Sunshine Day - Sunshine Day
Loveletter - Forget That Girl
Soul Runners - Charley
Betty Renne - Bye Bye Baby
Roy Hall - Three Alley Cats
Charlie Feathers/Jody & Jerry - One Hand Loose
BB King - Ain't Nobody Home
Noonday Underground - Hello
Doug Sahm with the Sir Douglas Quintet - You're Doin' It Too Hard
The Chap - We Work In Bars
Bad Boy Bill - Got That Feeling
Corrine Bailey Rae - Paris Nights/New York Mornings

So, for years now, I’ve wanted to do an MAS mix with Sam. His stuff,

be it here, on AOTM or his terrific blog, is always impressive, full

of energy and, as if that wasn't enough, I lost count ages ago of all

the GREAT music he’s turned me on to…I once commented on one of

Sammy’s Brit Pop compilations that I thought the 25 tracks, all

brand-spanking new to me in terms of both artists and tracks,

were akin to a Rutles thing. How could there be so much rich, fun and

NEW catchy pop out there? Heck, I‘ve been waiting like 30 years for

Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s next studio album…

They don’t have a new one out yet, do they?…

And Sammy made me a big fan of the The Bristols, for which I’m forever indebted…

Anyway, this was great fun and I’ve been listening to it ad nauseum

since we wrapped it up a few weeks ago. I’m still more than a bit

exhausted having struggled to keep up with Sam. Kinda like playing a

few sets with Nadal or 18 with Tiger…Good luck with that, right..?

So, in the grand tradition of other memorable duos like Cheech and

Chong….Fish and Chips…Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde…Lewis and Clark and, of

course, Leopold and Loeb, here‘s Sammy and The Radioguy…

Enjoy!

Notes from Sammy

Wow, Ken. After that glowing praise, I'm..... Speechless!

RS MF

Geek Chic

2010-06-13T07:53:00.000-07:00

Pulp - Do You Remember The First Time
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
Devo - Jocko Homo
Silver Sun - Lava
Pere Ubu - The Modern Dance
Graham Coxon - Freakin' Out
The Muffs - I'm A Dick
XTC - Science Friction
Franz Ferdinand - Ulysses
The Rentals - The Love I'm Searching
Gary Numan - Cars
Kraftwerk - Pocket Calculator
Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me With Science
Weezer - Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly - Rave On
Elvis Costello - Pump It Up
The Futureheads - Le Garage
The Residents - Picnic Boy
OK Go - Here It Goes Again
They Might be giants - Destination Moon
Jonathan Coulton - I Feel Fantastic
Man Or Astroman - Put Your Finger In The Socket
Lemon Demon - Telekinesis
Say Hi To Your Mom - As Smart As Geek Is Chic Right Now

There has always been a solid geek presence in rock 'n roll, and they've always provided much counterbalance to the jock mentality that rock 'n roll so often celebrates. Without geeks, all our pop music would have been the work of bozo school captain types like David Lee Roth and other macho idiots with planet sized egos.

They would happily have turned rock 'n roll into one big playground where they were the bullies, showing off to impress girls, bench pressing 200-pound weights, admiring each others' grotesque physiques and turning nerds upside down for their lunch money, while simultaneously playing interminable and artless guitar solos.

So, the geek rock star provides the millions of oppressed teenagers out there with a much needed role model; study hard, wear those braces, get into difficult angular music and you, too, can get up on that stage and pull the chicks.

Here's a collection of some of my favourite music nerds / geeks. Whether they are justified in making my selection is a matter of opinion, of course. But each of these artists have that certain..... look.

RS MF

Toni Basil - Daughter Of Frankenstein

2010-05-29T08:26:00.000-07:00

Pipettes - Pull Shapes
Carrots - Sunshine
Roxy Music - Hula Kula
Harry Nilsson - Everybody's Talkin'
Graham Nash - On The Line
Kinks - Come Dancing
Big Star - When My Baby's Beside Me
The Beatles - Two Of Us
Apples In Stereo - Strawberryfire
Rita Lee - Mamae Natureza
Donovan - Skip-A-Long Sam
Katerine - Parlez-Vous Anglais Mr. Katerine
Monkees - (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone
Bob Dylan - All Along The Watchtower
Lemonheads - It's a Shame About Ray
Sugar - If I Can't Change Your Mind
Donna Summer - I Feel Love
David Bowie - Golden Years
Pill Wonder - Fogg Eater
Benny Spellman - Lipstick Traces ( On A Cigarette )
Elvis Costello - Little Boxes
Morrissey - Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself
Glen Campbell - By the Time I Get to Phoenix

And here is another Frankenstein mix. This one is the Daughter Of Frankenstein. The idea with this one was to put your first celebrity crush on the cover. I went one step further and named the whole mix after her..

1. Song with Handclaps

I'm very fond of handclaps. Infact I made a mix of handclap songs a few years ago. This wasn't on it as it hadn't been made yet. Terrific Spector-ish song..

2. Song with "sun" in title or reminds you of summer

More female vocals means a very poppy start to this mix. Although most of my mixes go this way..

3. Instrumental

B-Side of Virginia Plain, their debut single.

4. Cover you like better than original

Actually, now I think about it, maybe this was the original. Anyway he didn't write it so...

5. Old song that you heard for 1st time this year

Courtesy of father to be and all round good egg Mr Ion Moe. Thank you sir..

6. Song reminds you of your first relationship

It reminds me of a certain relationship. Not my first, or indeed best..

7. 7th song from an album

Power-pop at it's very best.

8. Best song from your favourite bands worst album

Let it Be is generally considered their worst album. It's still better than a heck of a lot of bands best album..

9. Beatle-esque song

Apples In Stereo.

10. Foreign language song

Rita Lee from Os Mutantes. This song is terrific..

11. Song with your name in title

My name is Sam.

12. Song title is a question?

This is also a foreign language song.

13. A b-side

14. Live version better than studio version

This is from Dylan's 'MTV Unplugged' album, and is a great, great version..

15. Song from year you graduated high school

I left school in 1992. This was from my favourite album of that time.

16. Favorite song from genre/style you usually don't like

I guess I've not got much time for 'Grunge'. Although Copper Blue was kind if Grunge-Pop, and I liked it a lot. Also from 1992.

17. A sexy song

Along with Love To Love you baby, the 2 sexiest songs ever. From the sexy vocals of Ms Summer. The production on this song is fantastic. It's a song that everyone's 'heard', but if you actually 'listen' to it, it's pretty special..

18. Life is a TV show, this is your theme song or Favourite TV theme

I thought about this for a while. I settled on Golden Years for no apparent reason..

19. Song from last album bought/downloaded

Strange pop from Pill Wonder.

20. Song from your first trade

Back in the day I traded a lot. I arranged a trade with Rob C and Jenergy on the same day. I think this arrived a day earlier though. The mix was 'Have You Ever Heard Your Mommy Scream' by Jenergy and this Benny Spellman track was on it..

21. Song under 1 minute

56 seconds.

22. Song from 1st or most recent artist you paid to see

First gig was Morrissey at Manchester Apollo in November 1992. This particular track wasn't around at the time but was one I fancied including..

23. Song that makes you cry

every single time..

RS MF

FrankenZero

2010-05-29T06:20:00.001-07:00

Mercury Rev - Endlessly
The Pixies - Where Is My Mind
The High Llamas - Up In The Hills
Brian Eno - St Elmo's Fire
Goldie Hawn - Pasadena
Fox - S-S-Single Bed
The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset
The Faces - Ooh La La
Spearmint - A Trip Into Space
They Might Be Giants - Youth Culture Killed My Dog
Dexy's Midnight Runner - One Of Those Things
The Kingsmen - Louie Louie
Hefner - The Day That Thatcher Dies
The Petals - A Place In The Shade
Clint Boon Experience - Not Enough Purple, Too Much Grey
The Crooner - A Warm Day In June
Sufjan Stevens - Chicago
Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time
Elliot Smith - Ballad Of Big Nothing
Erik Satie - Gymnopedie 1

My submission for the May Mixathon on Zen Running Order. The categories were made up by members of the community including myself (who chose number 9).

1. A song that gives you the chills / heebie jeebies every time you hear it

Every time I hear this beautiful song it reminds me of winter as a young boy. Snow storms, branches hitting my bedroom window in the wind. It sends a shiver up my spine.

2. Favourite use of a song in a film

Lots of good shouts on other mixes I've seen over the weekend, including Perfect Day from Trainspotting, In Dreams from Blue Velvet to name but two. I thought of the piano interlude of Layla as used in Goodfellas. Then I remembered the astonishing scene at the end of Fight Club, and my mind was made up..

3. Favourite instrumental

Not strictly an instrumental as it uses ba-ba-ba's all the way through. But it's a song I love so much and it fit well on the mix.

4. Favourite song about fire or burning

There's a lot, and I may have forgotten a few, but I thought I'd use this song that first appears on The Wonder Years 1975 mix.

5. Favourite song by someone principally known as an actor

If I had a time machine and I could go back in time and sleep with anyone of my choice (I know, I'm not asking much) it'd be Goldie Hawn circa 1968. A more beautiful woman I have never seen..

6. A song from the year of your birth

Fox - S-S-Single Bed was number one in Australia the day I was born! Those Aussie's have great taste!

7. A song you wish you had written

A toss up between this and God Only Knows. Wavy Gravy went for that so I've gone for the majestic Waterloo Sunset.

8. Favourite non-love related song that you would undoubtedly put on a mixtape for a crush / loved one

The lyrics are so.... right!

9. A song in Space

This song is so infectious. Probably my favourite song of the 1990s

10. Song with a really clever title

I couldn't think past Zappa, Beefheart, Half Man Half Biscuit or They Might Be Giants for this category. This track fit well into the mix, so it went in..

11. A song that uses elements of another song without directly sampling the piece of music

Kevin Rowland originally claimed the riff of this song was not a sample of Zevon's Werewolves of London and any similarity was purely coincidental. Unfortunately Warren Zevon's lawyers and anyone else with 2 ears disagreed.

12. A song that makes no sense to you

I know, I know, it's not meant to..

13. A song about a political figure

A chorus of schoolchildren all singing 'ding dong the witch is dead' at the end never fails to make me smile..

14. A track by an artist you learned about from another ZerO mixer.

Where do I start, I've made 3 mixes solely devoted to this category, with a fourth on its way.

The inclusion of The Petals track is simply because I listened to Valis' 'The Longest Drink' mix a few days ago as the sun was beating down..

15. A song with a colour in the title

This has two colours in the title. And must be the first time the Inspiral Carpets organist gets a solo song put on ZerO..

16. A favourite song from a past mix you've posted

This is a great song that more than deserves a second outing. And it's almost June.

17. A song with a country / city in the title

I can't quite believe I've never used this track on a mix before.

18. A song you wish was written before / about you

Just a beautiful song.

19. A WTF moment, a song that stopped you in your tracks and really made you listen

Another beautiful song. I find his voice mesmerising..

20. A song for your funeral

You may think this is harsh. But I don't want my funeral to be a celebration of my life. I want tears, lots of them. And with Satie's Gymnopdie playing in the background there won't be a dry eye in the house.

I'm only half joking when I say this ;)

RS MF

The Like - He's Not A Boy

2010-05-16T11:36:00.000-07:00

How Can We Hang On To A Dream

2010-05-15T09:39:00.000-07:00

Floyd Cramer - On The Rebound
The Velvet Underground - Who Loves The Sun
Badly Drawn Boy - Something To Talk About
The Who - Baba O'Riley
Teenage Fanclub - Your Love Is The Place Where I Come From
Van Morrison - Bright Side Of The Road
Mel Torme - Comin' Home Baby
Bob Dylan - Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window
Juliette Greco - Sous Le Ciel De Paris
Badly Drawn Boy - Silent Sigh
John Wesley Harding - I'm Wrong About Everything
Beth Rowley - You Got Me Wrapped Around Your Little Finger
Smog - Cold Blooded Old Times
Tim Hardin - How Can We Hang On To A Dream
Love - Always See Your Face
Paul Westerberg - Born For Me
The Pogues - Fiesta
Rod Stewart - Mama You Been On My Mind
Harry J Allstars - Liquidator
The Velvelettes - Needle In A Haystack
Brenda Lee - Sweet Nothin's
Sheila Nicholls - Fallen For You

Yesterday evening me and the missus settled down in front of the telly to watch 'An Education' the recent film starring the very beautiful Carey Mulligan. 2 Minutes into the film and already my mind had settled firmly on downloading the soundtrack to the film as soon as it had finished.

The song playing over the opening sequence was new to me. It was 'On The Rebound' by Floyd Cramer. And I loved it.

It occurred to me that I'd enjoyed the all soundtracks to all the films based on books or screenplays of Nick Hornby, High Fidelity, Fever Pitch and About A Boy. And I reckoned I could make a pretty great mix featuring the picks of each of the 4 soundtracks, with a couple of songs featured in his book '31 Songs' thrown in for good measure.

Here's the result. A mix so strong that it couldn't even find room for 'Dry The Rain' by The Beta Band, one of my all time favourite tracks. It has been used on a mix by myself before though, and at 6 minutes+ I would have had to lose 2 other tracks from the mix, which I just couldn't do.

Tracks 1, 7, 9, 12 & 21 taken from 'An Education' OST

Tracks 2, 11, 13, 15 & 22 taken from 'High Fidelity' OST

Tracks 3 & 10 taken from 'About A Boy' OST

Tracks 4, 6, 14, 17 & 19 taken from 'Fever Pitch' OST

Tracks 5, 8, 16, 18 & 20 taken from the book '31 Songs' by Nick Hornby

RS MF

I Found A Better Life In Memories

2010-05-15T07:36:00.000-07:00

Miike Snow - Animal
Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work
Passion Pit - The Reeling
Micachu - Just In Case
Lo-Fi-Fnk - The End
The Ruby Suns - Haunted House
Those Dancing Days - Hitten
Audio Bullys - Only Man
Bombay Bicycle Club - Always Like This
Dan Black - Symphonies
Phoenix - If I Ever Feel Better
Kisses - Bermuda
I'm From Barcelona - Oversleeping
Surfer Blood - Swim
A.C Newman - There Are Maybe Ten Or Twelve
The School - Is He Really Coming Home
Erland Oye - Sheltered Life (with soviet)
The I Live The Life Of A Movie Star Hideout - Lotus Eaters

Introducing the second sammyg123 and natalyesaurus collaboration (since the first one went so well). The theme is a bit about nostalgia, a bit about growing old, a bit about the life that has been lived and the life yet to live, and all the things that come along with it.

Title pulled by Natalye out of a line from the Kisses song, and the artwork was designed by Sam. Natalye is odds, Sam is evens.

RS MF

Step Back!

2010-05-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

Moby - Why Does my Heart Feel so Bad
Wax Tailor - Leave It (Feat. Dionne Charles)
Concentric - Hit The Ground Recovering
Esther Phillips - Home Is Where The Hatred Is
Gil Scott-Heron - Lady Day & John Coltrane
Tony Clarke - Landslide
Bessonette - Barefootin'
Cheryl Lynn - Got To Be Real (12'' Mix)
Double Dee/Steinski - Lesson 1
Das EFX - They Want EFX
Kate Ryan - The Rain
Brian Reitzel & Roger Joseph Manning Jr - Islands In The Sky
Rip Rig & Panic - You're My Kind Of Climate
Pleasure - Out Of Love
General Larry Platt - Pants On The Ground (DJ Delirious Remix)
Groove Armada - Dan-Solo
Lexy - Up and Down
Ernest Saint Laurent - Step Back To The Past

A fourth collaboration between sammyg123 and DJ Karen (fifth if you include the Beat Girls and Gangsters Of Love Tug-o-Love)

And once again we've gotten our groove on. I take the evens, Karen is on the odds. Step Back!

RS MF

This has also been mixed, well, more blended into a single mp3 file also. Get that here

The 27 Club

2010-04-24T10:14:00.000-07:00

Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Child (Slight Return) [November 27 1942 - September 18 1970]
The Doors - Alabama Song [singer Jim Morrison December 8 1943 - July 3 1971]
The Rolling Stones - We Love You [guitarist Brian Jones February 28 1942 - July 3 1969]
Janis Joplin - Me And Bobby McGee [January 19 1943 - October 4 1970]
Nirvana - About A Girl [singer Kurt Cobain February 20 1967 - April 5 1994]
Hole - Violet [bassist Kristen Pfaff May 26 1967 - June 16 1994]
Manic Street Preachers - La Tristessa Durera (Scream To A Sigh) [guitarist Richard James Edwards December 1967 - presumed deceased c. February 1 1995]
Echo & The Bunnymen - Bring On The Dancing Horses [drummer Pete de Freitas August 2 1961 - June 14 1989]
Badfinger - Come And Get It [guitarist Peter Ham April 27 1947 - April 25 1975]
Chris Bell - I Am The Cosmos [January 12 1951 - December 27 1978]
Minutemen - Anxious Mo-Fo [singer D. Boon April 1 1958 - December 22 1985]
The Stooges - 1970 [bassist Dave Alexander June 3 1947 - February 10 1975]
The Grateful Dead - Golden Road (To Unlimited Devotion) [keyboardist Ron 'Pigpen' McKernan September 8 1945 - March 8 1973]
Canned Heat - Goin' Up The Country [singer Alan 'Blind Owl' Wilson July 4 1943 - September 3 1970]
Spanky & Our Gang - Lazy Day [guitarist Malcolm Hale May 17 1941 - October 30 1968]
Dyke & The Blazers - Funky Broadway, Part 1 [singer Arlester 'Dyke' Christian June 13 1943 - March 13 1971]
Linda Jones - You Hit Me Like TNT [December 14 1944 - March 14 1972]
Bloodstone - Natural High [singer Roger Durham February 14 1946 - July 27 1943]
The Drifters - Up On The Roof [singer Rudy Lewis August 23 1936 - May 20 1964]
Jesse Belvin - Goodnight My Love [December 15 1932 - February 6 1960]
Robert Johnson - I'm A Steady Rollin' Man [May 8 1911 - August 16 1938]

The 27 Club is a name for a group of influential rock and blues musicians who all died at the age of 27.

The impetus for the club's creation were the deaths of a seemingly unusual number of prominent 27-year-old musicians within a two-year period of time, exactly: Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison. Morrison and Jones died on the same date two years apart.

Kurt Cobain, who died in 1994, was later included by some, probably due to his popularity and his death occurring at the pinnacle of his career. Shortly before his death, he was heard to have quoted Neil Young, stating that ‘it’s better to burn out than to fade away’.

This mix features tracks from the 5 aforementioned musicians, along with choices from various other musicians who are members of this elusive club. Such as Robert Johnson, who was the first to pass away of all the artists on this mix, back in 1938. Chris Bell from Big Star, who died in a Car Crash just after Christmas, 1978.

D. Boon of the Minutemen who Lying down in the back of a van when it veered off road, he was ejected from the vehicle and broke his neck. And many others who died in such varied ways as being shot (Arlester Christian), suicide (Pete Ham), Diabetes (Linda Jones) and Carbon Monoxide poisoning (Malcolm Hale).

RS MF

Again Over It Over Again

2010-04-02T10:06:00.000-07:00

The Music - New Instrumental
Josie - Your Funny Clothes
Jeanne Cherhal - Voilà
The Reduction Agents - 80's Celebration
Neon Heights & Zed J - 16 Again
Modular - Femme Fatale
Los Amigos Invisibles - Si Estuvieras Aquí
Big Hands Big Hearts - Maybe in the Holidays
The Radio Dept - Heaven's on Fire
Loney Dear - Ignorant Boy, Beautiful Girl
The Vines - Don't Listen To The Radio
Eliza Doolittle - Skinny Genes
Bombay Bicycle Club - You Already Know (feat. Kathryn Williams)
Fyfe Dangerfield - She Needs Me
The Blue Van - I Can Feel It
The Apples in Stereo - No One In the World
Ingenting - Släpp In Solen
Princeton - Sadie and Andy
The Penelopes - Ex-Money Tree Avenue
She & Him - Over It Over Again

A first collaboration between njr and myself. How many mixers have I teamed up with now? Must be 30+ , I'll count them all up one day. Anyway, this is one of the best I've been involved in. Full of great pop, this mix, definitely a keeper...

RS MF

Windsurfing

2010-04-01T03:55:00.000-07:00

Handclaps and Harmonies - I Should Never
Atlas Sound - My Halo
Pearly Gatecrashers - Jim Morrison's Living Today
Phoenix - On Fire
Yoko Ono & Peaches - Kiss Kiss Kiss
Asteroid #4 - It's All OK
Pizzicato Five - Nata Di Marzo
Rainbow Ffolly - Go Girl
Idle Race - Lucky Man
Love - Orange Skies
Fabienne DelSol - Vilaines Filles Mauvais Garcons
Orwell - Elémentaire
Ooberman - Shorley Wall
Lucky Soul - Add Your Light To Mine, Baby
Skybox - Morning After Cuts
Dogs Die In Hot Cars - Man Bites Man
Archies - You Little Angel
Young Rascals - Groovin'

Well, after nigh on 5 years of posting my mixes on various sites on the internet, I feel it’s time to call it a day. Yes, this will be the final mix I submit on-line.

Thanks for all the great feedback I’ve had over the years, happy I made so many friends. I’ll miss you all, but it’s time to spend more time on my first love. Windsurfing.

RS MF

A Source of Guaranteed Happiness

2010-03-20T11:44:00.000-07:00

Half Man Half Biscuit - Joy Division Oven Gloves
The Clean - Tally Ho
Jeff Beck - Hi-Ho Silver Lining
The Zombies - Tell Her No
Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings - Tell Me
Nerina Pallot - I Don't Want To Go Out
Sneaky Sound System - It's Not My Problem
Phoenix - 1901
Silverchair - Insomnia
Quasi - Our Happiness Is Guaranteed
Merlene Webber - No Happiness
Trinidad Tripoli Steel Band - Sissy Strut
Destra Garcia - Bacchanal
Djavan - Aquele Um
Manu Chao - Trapped By Love
Patience Africa & Peddlers - Lomfana Ngi Yamithanda
Busi & Ilanga - True Love
Tunng vs Taraf De Haidouks - Homecoming
Lo Jo and Django - Jah Kas Cool Boy
Django Django - Storm
Stephane Grappelli - Djangology
Detektivbyran - Honky Tonk of Wermland
Markscheider Kunst - Moryak
Tangerine Dream - Love On A Real Train

Sammy
I always knew a collaboration between myself and the estimable Mr Song would throw up an interesting and eclectic mix and I certainly wasn't disappointed. The first of many posts this, I hope.

Robert Song

For one so (relatively) young, I have always been impressed in the breadth and quality of Sam's mixes. On this our first collaboration, we have covered a lot of decades and genres.
I think I can say with some confidence that you should at least find one tune here that will be guaranteed to make you happy.

RS MF

Sunny Day Cookie Club

2010-03-16T05:18:00.000-07:00

Messer Fur Frau Muller - Let's Smile But Stir
Tiny Masters Of Today - Pop Chart
Annemarie - Apple (Suicide On Your Stereo Set)
Boy Genius - Blame Love
The Loves - Sweet Sister Delia
The Zolas - You Better Watch Out
The Lovely Eggs - I Like Birds But I LIke Other Animals Too
Will Mono & Jan Joknie - Seks Vir Plesier
The Cookies - The Old Crowd
Pale Sunday - Shooting Star
OK Go - Before The Earth Was Round
Wire - Ex Lion Tamer
Balloon Farm - A Question Of Temperature
The Summer Sounds - One Last Kiss
Kaleidoscope - Flight from Ashiya
The Clientele - The Garden At Night
Wondermints - Knowing Me, Knowing You
Spaghetti Anywhere - Girlfriends with Boyfriends
Javelin - Vibrationz
The 10p Mixes - Sticky Disco
Meow Meow! - I Wonder What Went Wrong
Grizzly Bear - While You Wait For The Others
Summer Camp - Ghost Train
Sondre Lerche - Bluish

A milestone mix. This is the first mix that has been created on my Mac, which I purchased over 2 months ago. Being still more familiar with the PC set up, I've been doing most of my mixing/uploading and creating CD covers, and even finally submitting the final tracklist on my blog and ZerO on my old computer. But this is a 100% Mac only concoction. It's taken a lot more time than usual after encountering a few small hurdles but I did it and now I'm finally ready to make this permanent .

Thanks to a few people for their help over the past week, in particular Ed, and especially Deanna who finally showed me how easy things can be when you know what to do.

So, have the perils of putting this together detracted from my enjoyment of it? Luckily, no!

RS MF

One Hour Twenty

2010-03-08T14:59:00.000-08:00

The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun
The Kinks - Mr. Pleasant
The Minders - Pauline
The Pillbugs - The Milkman's Wife
Vampire Weekend - Holiday
Flight Of The Conchords - We're Both In Love With A Sexy Lady
Of Montreal - Your Magic Is Working
Neil Young - Cinnamon Girl
The New Pornographers - Challengers
Benji Hughes - Ladies On Parade
R.E.M. - Can't Get There From Here
Wilco - Casino Queen
Dressy Bessy - Side 2
T. Rex - Jeepster
Edwin Moses - I Needed You
Neutral Milk Hotel - Glue
Honeybus - Black Mourning Band
I Am Kloot - Morning Rain
The Hollies - Heading For A Fall
Tommy Roe - It's Gonna Hurt Me

Following on from the mix by John K comes my own attempt at a last fm mix. As usual I’ve taken a track from each of my Top 20 artists on last fm and moulded them into a mix.

There’s certainly a few surprises on the list. The first being the number of my favourite acts not included – The Smiths, Roxy Music, Big Star, Rolling Stones, The Clash etc

I can attribute that to the rise of digital music. Pre 2006 all of my music was purchased on hard copy (CD, vinyl) and while I still listen to these on occasion, nowadays most of my music is purchased (or indeed not) digitally and listened to via the laptop or Mac.

Hence, some bands I was not aware of before this date (Pillbugs, Minders, Of Montreal) along with new acts (Vampire Weekend, Flight of the Conchords) feature highly.

The inclusion of acts such as Tommy Roe and Edwin Moses over established acts can be put down to mix making. Nowadays I often choose to listen to mixes over actual albums I’ve heard before, and I’m always on the lookout for new music to then share with others via my mixes. Of course I’ll often go back to old favourites such as the Beatles and Kinks, but generally I want to hear new sounds..

The mix is exactly one hour long, and every track I’ve used has never previously appeared on a Sammy mix. The only exception being the lovely Hollies song which certainly deserves a second outing..

RS MF

Cool Breeze

2010-02-27T10:27:00.000-08:00

Dan Deacon - Snookered
Yeasayer - O.N.E
Caribou - Odessa
Lo-Fi-Fnk - Change Channel
Barbara Morgenstern - The Operator
Goldfrapp - Rocket
Katsen - Where Nobody Can Find Us
Discovery - So Insane
Junior Boys - In The Morning (ft. Andi Tomi)
Nottee - Control
The Golden Filter - Solid Gold
Delorean - Deli
Marsheaux - No Sence
Boy 8-Bit - Baltic Pine
Cold Cave - Life Magazine
Napoli is Not Nepal - People Call it Mantra
Lindstrøm & Prins Thomas - Boney M Down
Heartsrevolution - The Rose And Her Prince

Contemporary electronica. Track 1 here is probably my favourite new discovery of the year (it cam out last year). Track 2 my favourite song of this year from a fantastic album. Loads more fantastic stuff on here if you take the time...

RS MF

Warm Sky

2010-02-27T10:06:00.000-08:00

Skybox - Buckets
The Finders Keepers - I'm Sure I'm Sure I'm Sure
Vampire Weekend - White Sky
Two Door Cinema Club - Something Good Can Work
Ash - True Love 1980
The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa
The Blow - The Long List Of Girls
The Very Most - Today It Is Even Better
El Goodo - Information Overload
The Sandwitches - Back To The Sea
Swimmers - A Hundred Hearts
Fanfarlo - I'm A Pilot
Casiotone For the Painfully Alone - Optimist Vs. The Silent Alarm (When The Saints Go Marching In)
Club 8 - Western Hospitality
Brontosaurus Chorus - Louisiana
Taken by Trees - My Boys
Eux Autres - Other Girls
Bombay Bicycle Club - Always Like This
The Candle Thieves - The Sunshine Song
We Grow Up - Wrote It All Down In My Diary
Linus of Hollywood - Nice To Be Pretty
The Antlers - Two
Coeur de pirate - Comme des Enfants
Owen Pallett - Flare Gun

The first mix in a double post. This contains what has been in my head this month. Mainly guitar pop songs. Lots of little gems here..

RS MF

Feelin' Alright

2010-02-06T12:44:00.000-08:00

Lord Rhamburn - Disco Connection
Incredible Bongo Band - Apache
Bettye LaVette - Soul Tambourine
Lee Fields & The Expressions - Ladies
Mayer Hawthorne - Maybe So, Maybe No
Raphael Saadiq - Staying In Love
K'naan - Wavin' Flag
Prince - Controversy
Funkadelic - Kneedeep
Tantra - A Place Called Tarot
Curtis Mayfield - Can't Say Nothin'
Syl Johnson - Anyone But You
Lulu - Feelin' Alright
James Carr - That's What I Want To Know
Shirley Ellis - The Puzzle Song
The Sweet Thing - I'm In A World Of Trouble
George McCrae - You Can Have It All
Me One - In My Room
Kenny Carter - Showdown

It's been a while since I made a soul/funk mix. I was getting withdrawals! Shake your ass boys and girls!

RS MF

You'll Have A Boy Tonight

2010-02-06T10:58:00.000-08:00

The Kabeedies - Lovers Ought To
The Dirty Projectors - No Intention
The Balconies - Serious Bedtime
Slow Club - Apples And Pairs
The Pains Of Being Pure At Hear - Teenager In Love
Sondre Lerche - Modern Nature
The New Pornographers - Miss Teen Wordpower
Stars - Set Yourself On Fire
Belle & Sebastian - Lazy Line Painter Jane
The XX - Islands
Summer Cats - In June
Bon Iver & St Vincent - Rosalyn
Sneeze - Shaky Ground
Mates Of State - Now
Bodies Of Water - These Are The Eyes
The Postal Service - Nothing Better
Ben Folds - You Don't Know Me (feat Regina Spektor)
Owl City - The Saltwater Room
The Jesus And Mary Chain - Sometimes Always
Metric - The Twist

This is the first collaboration with sammyg123 and natalyesaurus, and you can definitely believe it won't be the last. The idea behind it was simple: songs that feature both male and female vocals. A little girls and boys if you will (just like the Blur song).

The title is taken from a line in the Belle and Sebastian song, because Sam likes coming up with titles the least and Natalye likes taking them from song lyrics. Although it's taken out of context, it mentions both male and female, making it the most applicable to the mix's theme (OK, maybe that's stretching it a little, but bear with us).

Notes from Sam: I had a good time compiling [this] and can't believe we left it so long before doing one. And...I think it's great!!

Notes from Natalye: I'm so glad I finally took the initiative to do an alt-dj with Sam and I can't believe how easily it flowed. I'm definitely biased, but I echo Sam's sentiments in that this mix is excellent from start to finish!

RS MF

Keep Your Mind Open

2010-01-30T12:04:00.000-08:00

Elvis Costello - Radio Radio
Morrissey - Sister I'm A Poet
David Bowie - Andy Warhol
Rolling Stones - Happy
The Byrds - Lazy Days
Zoot - Mr. Songwriter
The Flamin' Groovies - Slow Death
The Temptations - My Girl
Sly Stone - Honest
Buddy Holly - Brown Eyed Handsome Man
Kaleidoscope - Keep Your Mind Open
The Week That Was - Learn To Learn
X - Los Angeles
Holly Golightly - Tell Me Now So I Know
XTC - Red
The Clique - Superman
Hopper - Malcolm
Fred Hughes - Don't Let Me Down
Arielle Dombasle - Rhum and Coca Cola
Friends Of Sound - Chocolate Cake
The Divine Comedy - Lucy
Nancy & Frank Sinatra - Somethin Stupid
Pepe Deluxe - Lying Peacefully
The Beatles - I'm So Tired
Audrey Hepburn - Moon River

My submission for the January Mixathon over at ZerO. This time the theme is based on the Proust Questionnaire. You can find the full list here.

I decided to omit a few questions and re-jig the running order to make the mix flow better. I also asked for help from my long term fiancee when answering the questions. Hope you enjoy reading the answers and possibly hearing the subsequent mix.

1. Your favourite occupation.

Ideally I want to listen to music all day every day without interruption. Well, hardly any let's say. I thought about maybe a music journalist but really it would be a Radio DJ. One day I'll regret not trying to get into this as a career, maybe it's not too late (I'm 33) but for a while now I believe this particular ship may have sailed..

2. Your favourite poet.

I'm not particularly interested in poetry. Not saying I don't see the appeal. It's just....

I don't know. Morrissey is regarded as a poet isn't he? I'll pick him.

3. Your favourite painter.

Andy Warhol.

4. Your favourite qualities in a person.

A good sense of humour or someone with a positive outlook on life. The track I've chosen here is 'Happy' by the Stones.

5. Your main fault.

My laziness, without a shadow of a doubt. I'm so lazy I can't even be bothered finishing this sen

6. The natural talent I'd like to be gifted with.

As someone who listens to music an awful lot, it may surprise a few that I've never had any inclination to learn an instrument. Maybe see the last answer for reasons why. However I'd love to be a fantastic/prolific songwriter. There's no point in trying though, I know I'm not..

7. Your Idea of misery.

A long slow death. Please make it be quick and painless. And a long long time from now..

8. Your idea of happiness.

My daughter. She's happy. She makes me happy.

9. Your favourite virtue.

Honesty. Both in myself and others. Am I an honest person. Yes, I am. Honest...

10. If not yourself, who would you be.

Can I be myself again but 17 years ago? With what I know now but the way I looked then?

I can? Great!

But whatever choice I make different to the first time can I guarantee that I will find myself in exactly the position I'm in right now, 17 years later ?

No? I'll leave it then..

11. Your favourite motto.

Keep your mind open. It's a big world out there and everyone is different. Give everyone a chance. They may well blow it but c'est la vie..

12. Your chief characteristic.

I consulted my partner about this one. She stated my main characteristics are that I like to learn and that I'm quite selfish.

She's right! I do like to learn..

13. Where would you like to live.

Somewhere warm with lots going on.

14. Your favourite heroines in fiction.

Although not one of my favourite Audrey Hepburn films, I've gone for Holly Golightly from 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. She is wonderful.

15. Your favourite colour and flower.

My favourite colour is Red. I don't have a favourite flower.

16. Your favourite heroes in fiction.

Superman. I was obsessed with him as a youngster. And although I have the box set of all the films should any (of the first 3) be shown on TV I'll have to stop what I'm doing and watch..

17. What I hate the most.

Hate is a strong emotion. I hate few people. One person I do hate though (for reasons I won't go into here as it's a music site and not a sports, or indeed financial site) is Malcolm Glazer.

Bastard.

18. What you appreciate the most in your friends.

I'm lucky, I have a few circles of friends, and within each any of them can be out of touch for weeks, months, years. But the minute we catch up again it's like they've never been away.

I also appreciate loyalty. We can fall out (usually under the influence of alcohol) but it'll be forgotten as quickly as you can remember exactly what it is that you're trying forget(?!)

19 & 20. Favourite food and drink.

Coca cola. It's an addiction. And it's bad for your waistline. And your teeth. I've got the dentist on speed dial.

Though I must stress my teeth aren't anywhere near as bad as Austin Powers'. That of course is an American stereotype of the English. And wildly inaccurate. On the whole..

21. Your favourite names.

My favourite name is Lucy. Such a pretty name. It was never really considered as a name for my daughter though, as Lucy Gandy doesn't look or sound right. Shame.

22. For what fault have you most toleration.

Stupidity. Many, many people are stupid. It's not their fault..

23. How I wish to die.

Lying peacefully. Asleep, at an old age. Aware for sometime that the end is near, yet not suffering too much. At the age of 112. Or by a Unicorn like derhay suggested..

24. What is your present state of mind.

Tired. This questionnaire is bloody long.

25. Your favourite heroines in real life.

Ms Hepburn again.

26. Your favourite heroes in real life.

I've picked just one. One who stands head and shoulders above the rest in the long line of Sammy's Heroes.

His name? Eric. (see cover art)

Link

The Top 30 Greatest Album Openers

2010-01-24T05:23:00.000-08:00

New Order - Dreams Never End [from Movement, 1981]
Big Star - O My Soul [from Radio City, 1974]
Prince - Sign 'O' the Times [from Sign 'O' the Times, 1987]
The Clash - Janie Jones [from The Clash, 1977]
Orbital - The Girl With The Sun In Her Head [from In Sides, 1996]
The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead [from The Queen Is Dead, 1986]
The Who - Baba O'Riley [from Who's Next, 1971]
Rolling Stones - Rocks Off [from Exile on Main St. 1972]
Can - Future Days [from Future Days, 1973]
Love - Alone Again Or [from Forever Changes, 1967]
The Velvet Underground - Who Loves The Sun [from Loaded, 1970]
Al Green - Let's Stay Together [from Let's Stay Together, 1972]
Ramones - Blitzkrieg Bop [from Ramones, 1976]
Teenage Fanclub - The Concept [from Bandwagonesque, 1991]
R.E.M. - Radio Free Europe [from Murmur, 1983]
The Pixies - Debaser [from Doolittle, 1989]
Roxy Music - Do The Strand [from For Your Pleasure, 1973]
My Bloody Valentine - Only Shallow [from Loveless, 1991]
Mazzy Star - Halah [from She Hangs Brightly, 1990]
The Stooges - 1969 [from The Stooges, 1969]
David Bowie - Five Years [from The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, 1972]
Sly & The Family Stone - Stand! [from Stand! 1969]
Spiritualized® - Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space [from Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space, 1997]
Beach Boys - You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone [from Carl and the Passions-So Tough, 1972]
Caravan - If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do it All Over You [from If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do it All Over You, 1970]
The Kinks - Victoria [from Arthur (Or The Decline and Fall of the British Empire) 1969]
Mercury Rev - Holes [from Deserters Songs 1998]
Harry Nilsson - Gotta Get Up [from Nilsson Schmillson, 1971]
Television - See No Evil [from Marquee Moon, 1977]
Zombies - Care of Cell 44 [from Odessey and Oracle, 1968]

Inspired by a friend who listed his favourite albums of the past 30 years and I happened to comment that Dreams Never End is my all time favourite Side 1 Track 1. It got me thinking what would be in my Top 20, and so I went about compiling it. As always with me and lists, things got out of hand - 20 became 25 then 30 and could have easily become 50 before I saw sense.

I think you can tell how much you're going to like an album by the opening track, and it's probably no coincidence that each and every album highlighted here is an all time fave of mine. And of course there'll be omissions (no Beatles, Dexy's, Traffic, Scott Walker) but for now, I'm happy with this!

1-15 16-30

The Wonder Years

2010-01-13T16:19:00.000-08:00

And that's all the years that myself and Barrydali (a.k.a The Wonder Years) tackled. However we are planning to do more, so if we haven't gottne around to your birth year, or indeed favourite year, leave a comment and we may tackle it in the near future.

The Wonder Years : 1957

2010-01-13T16:11:00.000-08:00

Buddy Holly - That'll Be The Day
Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite
Everly Brothers - Wake Up Little Susie
Dale Hawkins - Susie Q
Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line
The Bobbettes - Mr Lee
Chuck Berry - Rock And Roll Music
Larry Williams - Bony Moronie
The Del Vikings - Come Go With Me
Don Gibson - Oh Lonesome Me
Eddie Cochran - Twenty Flight Rock
Eydie Gorme - Too Close For Comfort
Sam Cooke - You Send Me
Thurston Harris - Little Bitty Pretty One
Brenda Lee - Dynamite
Little Richard - Tutti Frutti
Elvis Presley - All Shook Up
Johnny Mathis - Wonderful! Wonderful!
Anita O'Day & Oscar Peterson - Old Devil Moon
Mickey & Sylvia - Love Is Strange
Patsy Cline - Walkin' After Midnight
Billie Holiday - One For My Baby
Nina Simone - My Baby Just Cares For Me
Miles Davis - Budo
Thelonious Monk - Brilliant Corners

The Cavern Club opens in Liverpool. Allen Ginsberg's poem Howl, printed in England, is seized by U.S. customs officials on the grounds of obscenity. Juan Manuel Fangio, driving for Maserati, wins the Formula One German Grand Prix, clinching (with 4 wins that season) his record fifth world drivers championship, including his fourth consecutive championship (also a record); these two records would endure for nearly half a century.

The first edition of Jack Kerouac's On the Road went on sale. Radio telescope of Jodrell Bank, Cheshire, UK, opened. Jailhouse Rock opens nationally and Elvis Presley continues to gain more notoriety. The Piña Colada was invented by Ramon Marrero, a bartender at Puerto Rico's Caribe Hilton.

We said Hello to Spike Lee, Shane McGowan, Sid Vicious, Siouxsie Sioux, Steve Buscemi, Nick Cave & Billy Bragg.

We said Goodbye to Humphrey Bogart, Eliot Ness, Oliver Hardy, Louis B Mayer & Judy Tyler.

1957

The Wonder Years : 1963

2010-01-13T16:03:00.000-08:00

The Rolling Stones - I Wanna Be Your Man
The Beatles - I Saw Her Standing There
Roy Orbison - In Dreams
The Chiffons - He's So Fine
The Ronettes - Be My Baby
Gene Pitney - 24 Hours From Tulsa
Skeeter Davis - End Of The World
Rufus Thomas - Walking the Dog
Del Shannon - Little Town Flirt
Martha Reeves & The Vandellas - (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave
The Crystals - He's Sure the Boy I Love
Vinicius de Moraes - Astronauta
Smokey Robinson - You Really Got A Hold On Me
The Kingsmen - Louie Louie
Dick Dale and His Del-Tones - Hot Rod Racer
Mongo Santamaria - Watermelon Man
The Murmaids - Popsicles and Icicles
Françoise Hardy - Comme tant d'autres
Beach Boys - Surfin' USA
John Fahey - On the Beach at Waikiki
Bobby Bare - Detroit City
Bob Dylan - Girl From the North Country
Baden Powell - Samba do avião
Johnny Cymbal - Mr Bassman
The Trashmen - Surfin' Bird
Link Wray - Jack the Ripper

President Kennedy is assassinated on November 22 in Dallas while riding in a motorcade with John B. Connally of Texas, who is severely wounded.

Color TV is relayed via satellite for the first time.

For the first time in history, a British group- the Beatles- dominates England's pop music charts.

Dr. Martin Luther King leads a massive march on Washington in support of equal rights for blacks and delivers his famous speech, "I have a dream..." ; and these songs were probably on his i-pod…….

This one’s for Frenchy & Lo-fi jr, hope you like it guys.

1963

The Wonder Years : 1960

2010-01-13T15:54:00.000-08:00

John Barry - Hit And Miss
Duane Eddy - Shazam!
Connie Francis - Robot Man
Bobby Rydell - Wild One
Elvis Presley - Stuck On You
Bobby Darin - Beyond The Sea
Etta Jones - Yes Sir, That's My Baby
Johnny Kidd And The Pirates - Shakin' All Over
Gary U.S. Bonds - New Orleans
The Four Preps - Down by the Station (Early in the Morning)
Sam Cooke - (What A) Wonderful World
The Ventures - Walk Don't Run
John Coltrane - Giant Steps
Hollywood Argyles - Alley-Oop
Little Anthony And The Imperials - Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop
Jackie Wilson - Night
James Brown - Think
Barret Strong - Money (That's What I Want)
Ray Peterson - Tell Laura I Love Her
Iain Gregory - Time Will Tell
The Fendermen - Mule Skinner Blues
The Shadows - Apache
Cal Tjader - Key Largo
Fats Domino - Walking to New Orleans
The Everly Brothers - Cathy's Clown
Art Pepper - Come Rain or Come Shine
Johnny & The Hurricanes - Rocking Goose

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho is the top grossing film,

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee is published,

The Beatles make their debut in Hamburg, Germany,

The Flintstones make their television debut.

John F. Kennedy defeats Vice President Richard Nixon in the presidential race,

Cassius Clay (who later took the name Muhammad Ali) wins his first professional fight.

We said hello to Michael Stipe, Ayrton Senna, Bono, Steve Vai, Mick Hucknall & Sean Penn.

We waved goodbye to Eddie Cochran, Clark Gable, Johnny Horton & A.P Carter.

And the music? Well, we were Shakin’ All Over…

1960

The Wonder Years : 1955

2010-01-13T06:17:00.000-08:00

Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley
Elvis Presley - Mystery Train
Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy
Big Boy Groves & Band - I Gotta New Car
The Louvin Brothers - In the Pines
Mitch Miller - The Yellow Rose of Texas
Tennessee Ernie Ford - The Ballad of Davy Crockett
Elias & His Zig-Zag Jive Flutes - Tom Hark
The Platters - Only You
Dario Moreno - Papa Loves Mambo
Richard Berry & The Pharoes - Louie Louie
Fats Domino - Ain't That A Shame
Bill Haley and His Comets - Razzle Dazzle
The Chordettes - Mr Sandman
The Four Lads - Moments to Remember
Elmore James - Standing At The Crossroads
Sarah Vaughan - Lullaby of Birdland
The Fontane Sisters - Hearts Of Stone
Peanut wilson - Cast Iron Arm
Somethin' Smith & The Redheads - It's A Sin To Tell A Lie
Johnny Cash - Cry! Cry! Cry!
Pete Seeger - Frog Went A-Courting
Cliffie Stone & His Orchestra - The Popcorn Song
The McGuire Sisters - Sincerely
Lonnie Donegan - Rock Island Line
Janis Martin - Barefoot Baby
Alma Cogan - Dreamboat
Al Hibbler - Unchained Melody

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1955 YOU COULD:

• Eat at a McDonald’s restaurant

• Visit Disneyland

• Use a microwave oven

• Wear clothing made of Dacron polyester

• Watch "Captain Kangaroo" and "The Mickey Mouse Club" on television

CELEBRITIES BORN IN 1955 INCLUDE:

Bill Gates

Bruce Willis Billy Bob Thornton

Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama -- a major event in the Civil Rights movement.

Brooklyn Dodgers win the World Series -- for the first and only time.

Sugar Ray Robinson wins the World Boxing Championship.

Albert Einstein dies.

1955

The Wonder Years : 1967

2010-01-13T06:01:00.000-08:00

Jimi Hendrix Experience - Purple Haze
The Who - I Can See for Miles
The Velvet Underground - I'll Be Your Mirror
The Chocolate Watch Band - Let's Talk About Girls
Cream - Swlabr
The Beatles - Penny Lane
Pink Floyd - See Emily Play
The Small Faces - Tin Soldier
The Box Tops - The Letter
Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man
The Turtles - Happy Together
Buffalo Springfield - Mr. Soul
Caetano Veloso - Alegria, Alegria
Country Joe & The Fish - Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine
Doors - People Are Strange
Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit
Love - Bummer In The Summer
The Monkees - Pleasant Valley Sunday
Moby Grape - Changes
Traffic - Hole In My Shoe
The Bar-Kays - House Shoes
Bob Dylan - I'll Be Your Baby Tonight
The Kinks - Waterloo Sunset
Nico - The Fairest of the Seasons
Bee Gees - New York Mining Disaster 1941
Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale

The musical Hair premieres Off-Broadway, The Concorde is unveiled in Toulouse, France, BBC Radio 1 is launched.

Desmond Morris publishes The Naked Ape, In Gibraltar, only 44 out of 12,182 voters support union with Spain, Jim Morrison and The Doors defy CBS censors on The Ed Sullivan Show, when Morrison sings the word "higher" from their #1 hit Light My Fire, despite having been asked not to.

We said hello to Kurt Cobain, Evan Dando, Billy Corgan, Will Ferrell, Michael Johnson & Nicole Kidman.

We said goodbye to Vivien Leigh, Dorothy Parker, Woody Guthrie, Che Guevara, John Coltrane & Otis Redding.

Drugs were invented in this year, a few people take them but generally they don’t catch on. Yes 1967, the Summer of Love. Here’s our pick of the tunes of the year. Believe us, this could’ve been a 10CD Box Set. Enjoy….

1967

The Wonder Years : 1959

2010-01-13T05:45:00.000-08:00

The Clovers - Love Potion #9
Elvis Presley - One Night
Jackie Wilson - Lonely Teardrops
Lloyd Price - Stagger Lee
Bo Diddley - Hey! Bo Diddley
Johnny Horton - The Battle Of New Orleans
Frankie Avalon - Venus
Ricky Nelson - It's Late
João Gilberto - Chega de Saudade
George Jones - Who Shot Sam
Dion & The Belmonts - A Teenager In Love
Buddy Holly - It Doesn't Matter Anymore
Esquivel - My Blue Heaven
Fabian - Tiger
Marilyn Monroe - I Wanna Be Loved by You
Ray Anthony - The Peter Gunn Theme
The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five
Eddie Cochran - C'mon Everybody
The Flamingos - I Only Have Eyes For You
Preston Epps - Bongo Rock
Jack Kerouac - Deadbelly
Fats Domino - Margie
Marty Robbins - El Paso
Kingston Trio - The MTA
Chuck Berry - Maybellene
Ella Fitzgerald - A-Tisket A-Tasket
Jacques Brel - Je t'aime
Ritchie Valens - Donna
Tom Lehrer - Poisoning Pigeons in the Park
Ray Charles - What'd I Say

This was the year in which we had the day the music died. (Feb 3rd) Barbie made her debut on the world stage and soon met Ken who we all know was never good enough for her.

Luna 2 became the first man made object to touch the surface of the moon, when we say touch we mean crashed slap bang into.

Midwives around the world cut the strings and unleashed : .

Sheena Easton, Sade, Kathy Sledge, Perry Farrell, Robert Smith, Brian Setzer, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, Morrissey, Richie Sambora, Suzanne Vega, Joe Elliott, Kirsty McColl, Weird Al Yankovic,

The final curtain call came for

The Big Bopper, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Billie Holliday, Blind Willie McTell, Mario Lanza..

1959

The Wonder Years : 1969

2010-01-13T05:08:00.000-08:00

Grand Funk Railroad - Time Machine
The Stooges - 1969
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bad Moon Rising
The Grass Roots - Heaven Knows
Thunderclap Newman - Something in the Air
Laura Nyro - Time and Love
The Kinks - Drivin'
Smith - Baby It's You
R. B. Greaves - Take A Letter Maria
Crosby, Stills, and Nash - Marrakesh Express
Rolling Stones - Gimmie Shelter
Tyrone Davis - Can I Change My Mind
Three Dog Night - Easy to Be Hard
Serge Gainsbourg - 69 annee erotique
Booker & The Mgs - Time Is Tight
Os Mutantes - Fuga No II
Friends of Distinction - Going In Circles
The Flying Burrito Bros. - My Uncle
Harlow Wilcox - Groovy Grubworm
Townes Van Zandt - Kathleen
Nilsson - Everybody's Talkin'
Glen Campbell - Wichita Lineman
The Beatles - Because
Nick Drake - River Man

"Well its 1969 ok?" This episode features a special guest appearance from AotM's resident professor of yesteryear RetroJoe who kindly pitched in with some great picks.

Notable events this year include the test flight of Concorde, the marriage of John & Yoko, the murder of Sharon Tate, the Woodstock festival, and the birth of tornadoZ..

1969

The Wonder Years : 1966

2010-01-12T19:11:00.000-08:00

? & the Mysterians - 96 Tears
Bobby Fuller Band - I Fought The Law
The Strangeloves - Night Time
The Standells - Dirty Water
The Lovin' Spoonful - You Didn't Have to Be So Nice
Sam & Dave - Hold on, I'm Coming
Percy Sledge - When a Man Loves a Woman
The Statler Brothers - Flowers on the Wall
Hedgehoppers Anonymous - It's Good News Week
The Hollies - Look Through Any Window
Simon & Garfunkel - Homeward Bound
Ike & Tina Turner - River Deep - Mountain High
Bob Lind - Elusive Butterfly
The Four Seasons - Working My Way Back to You
Norma Tanega - Walkin' My Cat Named Dog
The Rolling Stones - Paint It, Black
The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
Count Five - Psychotic Reaction
Donovan - Sunshine Superman
Robert Parker - Barefootin'
Ray Charles - Crying Time.
Tim Buckley - Wings
The 13th Floor Elevators - You're Gonna Miss Me
The Beatles - She Said She Said
The Byrds - Mr. Spaceman
Frank Sinatra - It Was a Very Good Year
Bob Dylan - Rainy Day Women #12 & 35

The first Star Trek episode, "The Man Trap," is broadcast on September 8. The plot concerns a creature that sucks salt from human bodies.

CBS backs out of plans to broadcast Psycho, deeming the movie too violent for at-home viewing.

In an interview published in The London Evening Standard, John Lennon comments, "We're more popular than Jesus now," eventually sparking a controversy in the US.

England were crowned Football World Champions for the first ( and last ) time.

We Said Hello to John Cusack, Halle Berry, Jeff Buckley, Stephen Malkmus, Sinead O’Connor, Mike Tyson and Eric Cantona.

We said Goodbye to Buster Keaton, Walt Disney, Lenny Bruce, Montgomery Clift and Alma Cogan.

And the Music? Pet Sounds, Revolver, Blonde On Blonde, need we say more?

This episode was brought to you in conjunction with the esteemed RetroJoe..

1966

The Wonder Years : 1970

2010-01-12T19:03:00.000-08:00

George Harrison - Wah Wah
Badfinger - No Matter What
The Kinks - Lola
MC5 - Shakin' Street
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Up Around the Bend
B.J. Thomas - Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head
Simon & Garfunkel - The Only Living Boy in New York
Kris Kristofferson - Sunday Morning Comin' Down
Syd Barrett - Golden Hair
Crosby, Stills, and Nash - Our House
Beach Boys - Forever
Van Morrison - And It Stone Me
Os Mutantes - Desculpe, Babe
Manu Dibango - African Battle
100 Proof (Aged in Soul) - Somebody's Been Sleeping in My Bed
The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
Edison Lighthouse - Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
The Band - Rag Mama Rag
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Canned Heat - Let's Work Together
Vashti Bunyan - Rose Hip November
John Lennon - Working Class Hero
Nick Drake - Northern Sky

Paul McCartney announces that the Beatles have disbanded, In Vietnam, the worst monsoon to hit the area in six years causes large floods, kills 293, leaves 200,000 homeless and virtually halts the Vietnam War

Edward Heath is elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the general election, The Aswan High Dam in Egypt is completed, The Isle of Wight Festival 1970 takes place on East Afton Farm off the coast of England. Some 600,000 people attend the largest rock festival of all time. Artists include Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Doors, Chicago, Richie Havens, John Sebastian, Joan Baez, Ten Years After, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Jethro Tull

We said hello to Minnie Driver, Mariah Carey, Andre Agassi, Uma Thurman, Naomi Campbell, Beck, River Phoenix & Liam Lynch ( yeah, whatever )

We said goodbye to Tammii Terrell, Slim Harpo, Charles de Gaulle, Janis Joplin & Jimi Hendrix

And the Music? No 60s hangover here…

1970

The Wonder Years : 1982

2010-01-12T18:51:00.000-08:00

The Clash - Rock The Casbah
Men Without Hats - The Safety Dance
Grandmaster Flash - The Message
Agentss - Agentss
The Jam - Town Called Malice
Altered Images - Song Sung Blue
Devo - Peek-A-Boo!
Elvis Costello & The Attractions - You Little Fool
Bruce Springsteen - State Trooper
Orange Juice - Rip It Up
Blancmange - Living On The Ceiling
Dalek I Love You - Holiday In Disneyland
Pere Ubu - Petrified
Associates - Party Fears Two
Virgin Prunes - Baby Turns Blue
R.E.M. - Wolves, Lower
Dexy's Midnight Runners - Liars A to E
King Sunny Ade & His African Beats - Mo Beru Agba
Joubert Singers - Stand On The Word
Laurie Anderson - O Superman

A mish mash from 1982. Compiled for Salman1, Siobhan, and abangaku. We think it sounds great despite the bad press The Eighties got. So these to us are not so much guilty pleasures as just plain pleasures. Happy 1982!

1982

The Wonder Years : 1965

2010-01-12T18:35:00.000-08:00

Barry McGuire - Eve Of Destruction
Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs - Wooly Bully
The Who - My Generation
The Sonics - The Witch
The Byrds - All I Really Want to Do
Unit 4 Plus 2 - Concrete And Clay
Phil Ochs - I Ain't Marching Anymore
The Zombies - She's Not There
Rolling Stones - The Last Time
The Beau Brummels - Laugh, Laugh
Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues
The Fugs - I Couldn't Get High
The Yardbirds - For Your Love
The Kinks - Tired Of Waiting For You
Sonny & Cher - I Got You Babe
Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - Lollipops and Roses
Fontella Bass - Rescue Me
Martha Reeves And The Vandellas - Dancing In The Street
James Brown - Papas Got A Brand New Bag
The Paul Butterfield Blues Band - Mellow Down Easy
Otis Redding - Ole Man Trouble
Jackie De Shannon - What The World Needs Now
Astrud Gilberto - Look to the Rainbow
Donovan - Colours
Lovin' Spoonful - Do You Believe In Magic
The Beatles - Nowhere Man
The Walker Brothers - Make It Easy On Yourself
Evie Sands - Take Me For A Little While

Former leader of the Black Muslims, Malcolm X, is shot and killed in New York City

The first commercial satellite, Early Bird, is launched into space by Nasa to transmit telephone and television signals

Dr. Dre, Sarah Jessica Parker, Robert Downey Jr., Shania Twain, Ben Stiller, Moby and gobi are born

Sir Winston Churchill, Nat King Cole, Spike Jones, Stan Laurel and Jazz Pianist Clarence Williams passed away

The Sound of Music, starring Julie Andrews, is the top grossing film

Dune by Frank Herbert is published

Sony introduces the Betamax, a home video tape recorder

And the Music? Well, the music was just grand….

1965

The Wonder Years : 1929

2010-01-12T18:04:00.000-08:00

The Jungle Band - Dog Bottom
Ruth Etting - Button Up Your Overcoat
Boswell Sister - Rock and Roll
Paul Whiteman & Bing Crosby - Makin' Whoopee
Henry Thomas - Old Country Stomp
Zutty Singleton, L. Armstrong & His Orchestra - That Rhythm Man
Blind Lemon Jefferson - That Crawlin' Baby Blues
Jack Teagarden - My Kinda Love
Jelly Roll Morton - Turtle Twist
Tommy Johnson - Big Fat Mamma Blues
Dick Justice - Cocaine
Emma Bush - Lei E
Tau Moe and His Original Hawaiians - Hula Blues
Jimmie Rodgers - Any Old Time
Emmett Miller & His Georgia Crackers - Sweet Mama (Papa's Getting Mad)
Carolina Tar Hells - Peg And Awi
Josh White - Wang Wang Harmonica Blues
Annette Hanshaw - Am I Blue
Lonnie Coleman - Wild About My Loving
Frankie 'Halfpint' Jaxon & Tampa Red - My Daddy Rocks Me
Anson Weeks and His Hotel Mark Hopkins Orchestra - Give Your Little Baby Lots Of Lovin'
Grayson & Whitter - Tom Dooley
Hokum Boys - Put Your Mind On It
J. Neal Montgomery and His Orchestra - Auburn Ave. Stomp

That's right, your eyes aren't deceiving you. For the Wonder Years first mix of the year we visited 1929. Listen to this with an open mind and you may change your listening habits forever. Or at the very least enjoy what we were listening to over 80 years ago!

1929

The Wonder Years : 1975

2010-01-12T17:51:00.000-08:00

David Bowie - Golden Years
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run
Roxy Music - Love is the Drug
Patti Smith - Redondo Beach
The Sensational Alex Harvey Band - River of Love
Cockney Rebel - Make Me Smile
The Dictators - Teengenerate
Brian Eno - St Elmo's Fire
Archie Bell & The Drells - The Soul City Walk
Donna Summer - Love To Love You Baby
Johnny Hammond - Shifting Gears
Kraftwerk - Antenna
Neu! - Isi
Burning Spear - Marcus Garvey
Chris Squire - Hold Out Your Hand
Kim Fowley - Night of The Hunter
Neil Young & Crazy Horse - Don't Cry No Tears
Bob Dylan - Simple Twist of Fate
Led Zeppelin - Kashmir

The year is 1975 and the United States of America are still reeling from the Watergate scandal. By April communist forces take Saigon forcing the unconditional surrender of the South Vietnamese and the protracted conflict is over..

Over the pond in the UK the Birmingham Six are wrongfully sentenced to life in prison and Peter Sutcliffe the Yorkshire Ripper commits his first murder..

This year also saw the sinking of SS Edmund Fitzgerald with the loss of all 29 on board. Ok... We can't seem to find any good news.. Correction, Mike Blasi arrived into the world! This one's for you mate....

1975

The Wonder Years : 1978

2010-01-11T17:31:00.000-08:00

Magazine - Shot By Both Sides
Blondie - Hanging on the Telephone
Buzzcocks - I Don't Mind
The Adverts - Bored Teenagers
Ian Dury & The Blockheads - Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick
Scritti Politti - Skank Bloc Bologna
Peter Hammill - The Second Hand
The Cramps - Human Fly
Talking Heads - Stay Hungry
The Only Ones - Another Girl, Another Planet
Black Flag - I've Had It
Adam & The Ants - Young Parisians
The Clash - English Civil War
The Police - Roxanne
Burning Spear - Marcus Children Suffer
Chic - Le Freak
The Rutles - Hold My Hand
Cheap Trick - California Man
Big Star - Thank You Friends
Wire - I Am the Fly
Devo - Jocko Homo
Elvis Costello - (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea
Warren Zevon - Werewolves of London

In 1978 fitness was the name of the game as normally sensible people donned lycra as the nation was caught in the grip of a jogging craze.

Disco fever had also firmly taken hold making hairy chests and medallions the order of the day as Saturday Night Fever finished up the third top grossing movie, behind Christopher Reeve in red underpants, and more dancing Travolta in Grease.

Sadly the last dance came for Chris Bell, Keith Moon, Sandy Denny, Jacques Brel, and Louis Prima.

Though new arrivals included Sisqó, Julian Casablancas, and Usher... Ok not exactly a fair trade, but who said life was fair? Even in '78.

Hope you enjoy this latest episode. This one's for you Ms Orchid..

1978

The Wonder Years : 1981

2010-01-11T17:16:00.000-08:00

X - The Once Over Twice
Depeche Mode - New Life
OMD - Souvenir
Television Personalities - I Know Where Syd Barrett Lives
The Specials - Ghost Town
Julian Cope and the Teardrop Explodes - Reward
Robyn Hitchcock - Brenda's Iron Sledge
Squeeze - In Quintessence
The Barracudas - (I Wish it Could Be) 1965 Again
The dB's - Cycles Per Second
The Rolling Stones - Start Me Up
The Replacements - Takin' a Ride
Tom Tom Club - Wordy Rappinghood
Japan - Visions Of China
The Jam - That's Entertainment
New Order - Ceremony
The Raincoats - Odyshape
The Fall - Middle Mass
The Human League - The Things That Dreams Are Made Of
Gang Of Four - Paralysed
The Cure - All Cats Are Grey

U.S. President Ronald Reagan is shot in the chest outside a Washington, D.C. hotel by John Hinckley, Jr. Bucks Fizz win the Eurovision Song Contest 1981 with the song, Making Your Mind Up.

Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, is imprisoned for life for 13 counts of murder.

Lady Diana Spencer marries Charles, Prince of Wales. MTV (Music Television) is launched ( the first video they played was??? ). Egyptian president Anwar Sadat is assassinated during a parade by army members who were part of the Egyptian Islamic Jihad organization.

We said hello to Justin Timberlake, Elijah Wood, Paris Hilton, Jessica Alba, Natalie Portman & Beyonce Knowles.

We said goodbye to Bill Haley, Samuel Barber, Joe Louis, Harry Chapin, William Holden, Natalie Wood & Bob Marley.

And the music? Well, if you only ever listen to one 1981 mix, make it this!

1981

The Wonder Years : 1972

2010-01-11T17:09:00.000-08:00

Stevie Wonder - Superstition
The Staple Singers - I'll Take You There
Van Morrison - Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)
T. Rex - Metal Guru
Procol Harum - Conquistador
Stealers Wheel - Stuck In The Middle With You
America - Ventura Highway
Dr. John - Iko Iko
Charles Mingus - Taurus in the Arena of Life
Curtis Mayfield - Give Me Your Love (Love Song)
Jimmy Cliff - The Harder They Come
Todd Rundgren - I Saw The Light
Jorge Ben Jor - Fio Maravilha
Malo - Suavecito
The Raspberries - Go All The Way
Lou Reed - Satellite of Love
Neil Young - The Needle And The Damage Done
Milton Nascimento & Lô Borges - San Vicente
O´Jays - Backstabbers
Sly & The Family Stone - Family Affair
Paul Simon - Mother and Child Reunion
John Prine - Illegal Smile
Colin Blunstone - Say You Don't Mind
Nick Drake - Pink Moon
Roxy Music - Bitters End

Bobby Fischer defeats Boris Spassky in a chess match at Reykjavík, Iceland, and becomes the first American chess champion,

Rainbow, a British television programme for children, debuts, Apollo 17, the last manned mission to the Moon to date, is launched

The Broadway production of the musical Hair closes after 1,752 performances

M*A*S*H and The Price is Right debut on CBS

We said Hello to Dwayne Johnson ( AKA The Rock ), Zinedine Zidane, Cameron Diaz, Ben Affleck, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law & Eminem

We Waved Goodbye to Mahaila Jackson, Harry S Truman, Maurice Chevalier & J Edgar HooverAnd the music? Download, listen & drool…

1972

The Wonder Years : 1980

2010-01-11T17:02:00.000-08:00

ACDC - Back In Black
Undertones - My Perfect Cousin
Blondie - Atomic
Julian Cope and the Teardrop Explodes - Bouncing Babies
The Soft Boys - I Wanna Destroy You
Dead Kennedys - California Uber Alles
Magazine - A Song From Under The Floorboards
Bauhaus - Stigmata Martyr
Elvis Costello - Love For Tender
Adam & The Ants - Antmusic
The Jam - That's Entertainment
The Sound - Heyday
Joy Division - A Means To An End
Talking Heads - Once In A Lifetime
Squeeze - Another Nail In My Heart
The Cure - 10.15 Saturday Night
The Pretenders - Stop Your Sobbing
Specials - Stereotype
Young Marble Giants - Credit In The Straight World
The Cramps - I Was A Teenage Werewolf
Feelies - Loveless Love
Suicide - Mr. Ray

It’s 1980! And we’re Rollerblading whilst wearing legwarmers and listening to Sheena Easton on our brand new Walkmans…

Who Shot JR? is talked about heavily from the TV show Dallas. On November 21, the conclusion draws more viewers than any other show in TV history up to that point.

The Summer Olympics are held in Moscow, USSR. The USA boycotts. The favour was returned 4 years later.

Ronald Reagan is elected, defeating Jimmy Carter, and takes credit for freeing the Iranian hostages in his innaugural speech.

Bjorn Borg defeated John Mcenroe in the Wimbledon mens singles final to claim his fifth title in a row.

Mount St. Helens (in Washington) erupts, darkening the skies with ash and destroying the surrounding area for many miles

We said Hello to Christina Aguilera, Macauly Culkin, Alicia Keys, Christina Ricci, Conor Oberst, Ryan Gosling, Steven Gerrard and Jake Gyllenhaal..

We said Goodbye to John Bonham, Ian Curtis, Tim Hardin, Alfred Hitchcock, Steve McQueen, Jesse Owens, Colonel Sanders, Bon Scott, Peter Sellers, Jean Paul Sartre and of course John Lennon….

1980

The Wonder Years : 1971

2010-01-11T16:55:00.000-08:00

The Who - Baba O'Riley
John Kongos - He's Gonna Step on You Again
Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Led Zeppelin - Rock And Roll
The Yamasuki Singers - Yama Yama
Paul McCartney & Wings - Uncle Albert Admiral Halsey
The Beach Boys - Surf's Up
Betty Wright - Clean Up Woman
Stevie Wonder - If You Really Love Me
Marvin Gaye - Inner City Blues (Makes Me Wanna Holler)
Caetano Veloso - London, London
Harry Nilsson - Me And My Arrow
Chico Buarque - Cotidiano
Cat Stevens - Wild World
Gordon Lightfoot - If You Could Read My Mind
Dave & Ansil Collins - Double Barrel
The Velvet Underground - Who Loves The Sun
East Of Eden - Jig A Jig
Al Green - Tired Of Being Alone
Leonard Cohen - Famous Blue Raincoat
Joni Mitchell - River
Carole King - Will You Love Me Tomorrow

1971... The Vietnam War was still going on, the US invaded Laos, and the movies gave us Shaft and Dirty Harry cleaning things up vigilante style . . . ”do you feel lucky punk?”.

American kids of 1971 were busy learning how to enunciate correctly from the Electric Company while shovelling spoonfuls of Count Chocula and Cocoa Pebbles

cereal into their mouths. Meanwhile, the teenagers of 1971 were getting busy in their Ford Pinto’s as Led Zeppelin played Stairway To Heaven.Jim Morrison dies in Paris at age 27. (July 3).

The Allman Brothers' Duane Allman dies in a motorcycle accident at age 24. (Oct. 29). The Big films of the Year were 'A Clockwork Orange' & 'The French Connection'.

But all 1971 really wanted to do was to buy the world a Coke and keep it company - right on!

This one's for our good friend Rob Conroy, and also French Connection's better half, Helen.. Click & enjoy.

1971

The Wonder Years : 1984

2010-01-11T16:41:00.000-08:00

Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Two Tribes
Prefab Sprout - Don't Sing
Julian Cope - Sunshine Playroom
The Fall - C.R.E.E.P
REM - Pretty Persuasion
Prince - When Doves Cry
GoGos - Head Over Heels
The Bangles - Going Down to Liverpool
Lloyd Cole - Perfect Skin
Tom Waits - Gin Soaked Boy
The Pogues - Dark Streets of London
Echo & The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon
Psychedelic Furs - The Ghost In You
Public Image Ltd. - This Is Not a Love Song
Microdisney - Dolly
Cocteau Twins - Lorelei
Cyndi Lauper - Time After Time
Sheila E - The Belle Of St. Mark
The Pretenders - 2000 Miles
The Smiths - William, It Was Really Nothing
The Replacements - Androgynous

The film Ghostbusters is released into theaters, becoming a summer blockbuster hit, with the song "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr. becoming a Top 40 hit.

Thirty-six of Britain and Ireland's top pop musicians gather in a Notting Hill studio to form Band Aid, and record the song "Do They Know It's Christmas", in order to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia.

On a Challenger mission, two astronauts become the first humans to fly free of a spacecraft.

And perhaps more significantly Barrydali's 5 year old brother threw his brand new remote control tank out of the window on Christmas day in a jealous rage because his own presents didn't match up. Unbelievably Band Aid have yet to write a song about that. If you're watching Stephen Maguire this ones for you...

1984

The Wonder Years : 1999

2010-01-11T15:30:00.000-08:00

The White Stripes - Stop Breaking Down
The Flaming Lips - Waitin' for a Superman
Super Furry Animals - The Door to This House Remains Open
dEUS - Put the Freaks Up Front
Porcupine Tree - Piano Lessons
The Loch Ness Mouse - Judy
The Magnetic Fields - All My Little Words
Pavement - Carrot Rope
Beck - Sexx Laws
Aphex Twin - Windowlicker
Death in Vegas - Aisha
The Auteurs - The Rubettes
Jim O'Rourke - Something Big
Wilco - I'm Always In Love
XTC - I'd Like That
Songs Ohia - How to Be Perfect Men
Smog - Teenage Spaceship
Damien Jurado - Ohio
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - I See a Darkness

The big films in 1999 included American Pie, Fight Club, The Green Mile, The Matrix and American Beauty. Star Wars Episode 1 also blasted onto our screens, to a lukewarm response.

Y2K scare, computers are predicted to crash at the end of the year. They didn't.

Nelson Mandela steps down as President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki takes over.

Students Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, storm Columbine High School in Littleton , CO, killing twelve other students and a teacher, then themselves.

We said goodbye to singers Dusty Springfield, Mel Torme, Guy Mitchell, Curtis Mayfield and Doug Sahm. Entertainer Rod Hull, Football manager Sir Alf Ramsey, Actor Oliver Reed, Film Director Stanley Kubrick, Comedian Ernie Wise and Baseball star Joe Dimaggio.

1999

The Wonder Years

2010-01-11T14:03:00.000-08:00

Between 2005 and 2007 myself and Barrydali teamed up 21 teams to compile our own musical summaries of various years throughout the 20th century. The first posting on AotM was under his user name and we tackled his birth year, 1974. Soon after and posted under my user name we tackled my birth year of 1976. We both enjoyed the experience so much, we decided to carry on the mixing, but we needed a separate moniker. We settled on 'The Wonder Years' and proceeded to post another 19 of them. It's been 2 1/2 years since our last posting, but in the past week we've compiled 2 more, 1958 and 1999. Hopefully we'll continue to do more as I for one love making them with Mr Dali. Tonight I'll post our 2 new 'uns and then over the next week post all our others on my blog for the first time. Enjoy these...

The Wonder Years : 1958

2010-01-11T13:36:00.000-08:00

The Champs - Tequila
Luiz Gonzaga - Xamego
Esquerita - Rockin' The Joint
The Big Bopper - White Lightnin'
Link Wray - Rumble
Danny & The Juniors - At The Hop
Ricky Nelson - There's Good Rockin' Tonight
Duane Eddy - Rebel Rouser
Sam Cooke - So Long
Lord Rockingham's XI - Hoots Mon!
Nat King Cole - The Very Thought Of You
Don Gibson - Oh Lonesome Me
Connie Francis - Stupid Cupid
Ramblin' Jack Elliott - New York Town
The Poni-Tails - Born Too Late
The Everly Brothers - Maybe Tomorrow
Eddie Cochran - Summertime Blues
Buddy Holly And The Crickets - It's So Easy
Wanda Jackson - Just Call Me Lonesome
Coasters - Yakety Yak
Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls Of Fire
Dale Hawkins - Juanita
Elvis Presley - King Creole
Machito - Congo Mulence
Jaques Brel - Le Colonel
Peggy Lee - Fever
Helen Merrill - Bye Bye Blackbird
Bobby Darin - Judy, Don't Be Moody
Ella Fitzgerald - Isn't It A Lovely Day
Billie Holiday - I'm a Fool to Want You

In this year 21 people died in an air disaster in Munich, Germany including 7 Manchester United footballers.

Brazil win the Fifa World Cup in Sweden.

Nikita Khrushchev becomes president of Russia.

Sir Edmund Hillary reaches the South Pole.

The Hula Hoop is launched, 100 million are sold.

Popular films in this year include Vertigo, King Creole, Gigi, Bridge on the River Kwai and South Pacific.

We said hello to singers Michael Jackson, Toyah, Paul Weller, Gary Numan, Kate Bush, Madonna and Prince. Actors Gary Oldman, Alec Baldwin, Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins and Viggo Mortneson. Actresses Michelle Pfeiffer, Holly Hunter, Jamie Lee Curtis and Miranda Richardson.

We said goodbye to footballer Billy Meredith, Julia Lennon and singer Martha Powell.

1958

My Top 50 Tracks of 2009

2010-01-09T07:39:00.000-08:00

Yeah Yeah Yeah's - Zero
Apples In Stereo - King Of Carrot Flowers Pt. 3
Animal Collective - My Girls
Discovery - Swing Tree
Beach House - Norway
Gregory Pepper and His Problems - Drop The Plot
The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Young Adult Friction
Micachu - Vulture
Anna Jarvinen - Äppelöga
Atlas Sound - Walkabout
Lucky Elephant - Edgar
Bill Callahan - Faith/Void
St. Vincent - The Strangers
Jonathan Johansson - En Hand I Himlen
Islands - Vapours
Wilco - You Never Know
Emiliana Torrini - Jungle Drum
Metric - Help, I'm Alive
Richard Swift - Lady Luck
The Drums - Let's Go Surfing
I Monster - Goodbye Sun
Mayer Hawthorne - Maybe So, Maybe No
Fanfarlo - Fire Escape
The Mummers - March Of The Dawn
Royksopp - Happy Up Here
God Help The Girl - Come Monday Night
Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks
The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - The Golden Age
Neon Indian - Deadbeat Summer
Phoenix - Lisztomania
Yeasayer - Ambling Amp
Discovery - Carby
Matt & Kim - Daylight
Yo La Tengo - Periodically Triple or Double
Say Hi - November Was White, December Was Grey
Super Furry Animals - The Very Best Of Neil Diamond
Butcher Boy - Clockwork
Seeland - Goodbye
The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love 1
Wave Machines - I Go I Go I Go
Memory Tapes - Bicycle
Health - Die Slow
Girls - Hellhole Ratrace
The Temper Trap - Sweet Disposition
Chester French - She Loves Everybody
Volcano Choir - Island, IS
Headlights - Get Going
Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is The Move
The Boy Least Likely To - When Life Gives Me Lemons I Make Lemonade
The Whitest Boy Alive - 1517

My finest 50 of '09.

1-25 26-50

25 albums I loved in 2009

2010-01-09T06:44:00.001-08:00

Last year I compiled a Top 50 singles and a Top 50 albums list of 2008. This year I decided instead of the arduous task of compiling an album list I would instead design a collage of my top 25 albums. Much simpler I think. It's in no particular order, though Veckatimest came close to the Top, my No1 album of '09 is 2nd row, 2nd from the right - Discovery (LP). Just wonderful!

The Top 50 singles list is on it's way..

Goodbye '09

2010-01-08T13:45:00.000-08:00

Jim Carroll Band - People Who Died
Willy DeVille - It's So Easy
Vic Chesnutt - Glossolalia
Jack Rose - Kensington Blues
John Martyn - Dreams By The Sea
Billy Lee Reilly - Red Hot
Ellie Greenwich - You Don't Know
Les Paul - Little Rock Getaway
Eddie Bo - Hook & Sling
Edmund Hockridge - No Other Love
Koko Taylor - Wang Dang Doodle
Mercedes Sosa - Galopa Murrieta
Hank Locklin - You're the Reason
Al Martino - Here In My Heart
Louis Bellson - Mouth To Mouth Resucitation
Mbah Surip - I Love You Full
Blossom Dearie - Give Him The Ooh-La-La
Derek B - Bad Young Brother
Michael Jackson - Rock With You
Viola Wills - Gonna Get Along Without You Now

The Stooges - No Fun [Ron Asheton]
The Cramps - Human Fly [Lux Interior]
Buffalo Springfield - Sad Memory [Dewey Martin]
The Seeds - Mr Farmer [Sky Saxon]
The Four Aces - Why Do You [Al Alberts]
NRBQ - Encyclopedia [Steve Ferguson]
Nikki Sudden & Rowland Howard - Girl With No Name [Rowland Howard]
Peter, Paul and Mary - Leaving On a Jet Plane [Mary Travers]
New Lost City Ramblers - Keep On the Sunny Side [Mike Seeger]
The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem - Patriot Game [Liam Clancy]
Wilco - Jesus, Etc [Jay Bennett]
Big Brother & The Holding Company - All Is Loneliness [James Gurley]
The Ronettes - I Wonder [Estelle Bennett]
The Ventures - Perfidia [Bob Bogle]
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich - Zabadak [Dave Dee]
Peter and Gordon - A World Without Love [Peter Waller]
Lynyrd Skynyrd - I Know A Little [Billy Powell]
Flowered up - Phobia [Liam Maher]
!!! - Me & Guiliani Down By The Schoolyard (A True Story) [Jerry Fuchs]
Soft Machine - Out Of Tunes [Hugh Hopper]

A look back at those in the music world we lost in 2009.

We also said goodbye to actors Patrick Swayze, Patrick Mcgoohan, Edward Woodward, Richard Todd, Dom Deluise and David Carradine. Actresses Bea Arthur, Brittany Murphy, Farah Fawcett, Mollie Sugden, Wendy Richard and Maggie Jones. Stephen Gately from boyband 'Boyzone', Ted Kennedy, chef Keith Floyd, comic Soupy Sales and film director John Hughes.

And countless others I've neglected to mention, no doubt, in a big year for celebrity passings (hence for the first time in 5 years a double disc). R.I.P.

One Two

The Art of the Mix Reunion

2009-12-21T11:58:00.000-08:00

Side One

Darker My Love - Pale Sun [Dead Man]
The Green Pajamas - This Angel's On Fire [valis]
The Fratellis - Everybody Knows You Cried Last Night [Jenergy]
Tune-Yards - News [tornadoZ]
Gomez - If I Ask You Nicely [Mesh]
Two White Horses - Good Times Are Gone Forever [saaf]
Ruby Andrews - You Made A Believer [Sport!]
Luke Haines - Love Letter To London [ofthaltned]
Yo La Tengo - Here To Fall [Pop Kulcher]
Surfer Blood - Floating Vibes [natalyesaurus]
Earlimart - The World [sbessg]
David Bowie - Memory Of A Free Festival [Rob Conroy]
Doveman - The Best Thing [barrydali]
Fleet Foxes - He Doesn't Know Why [XYZ]
Evening Hymns - Dead Deer [Anthony Lombardi]
Johnny Cash & Joe Strummer - Redemption Song [Franklin Onn]
The Concretes - Chico [Siobhan]
Miles Davis - Mr Pastorius [DJ Karen]

Side Two

Banda de Jesus - Livin' Is Funky [Muzag]
Laura Branigan - Self Control [bear]
Girls - Hellhole Ratrace [p the swede]
Yeasayer - Ambling Alp [sammyg123]
New Order - The Village [Nomates]
Locas in Love - I Am Downright Amazed at What I Can Destroy With Just A Hammer [Mixxer]
Minnow - Out Of The Woods [moe]
The Buckinghams - Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song) [Mr Mirage]
TV On The Radio - Young Liars [Ken Harris]
The Tripwires - Big Electric Light [French Connection]
The Billy Nayer Show - Reno [Jonpoi]
Area Scatter - A Tit For Tat [blasikin]
Doug Dillard - Clinch Mountain Backstep [lanhamyodel]
Slaid Cleaves - Tumbleweed Stew [Mark Petrucelli]
Damien Youth - Clancy [George Metadata]
Wynton Kelly - Autumn Leaves [Doowad]
Jolie Holland - Don't Get Trouble On Your Mind [Texas Hobart]
Count Basie Orchestra - April In Paris [Strange Loop]

Side Three

The Radiators - Fess Song [gobi]
The Fresh & Onlys - Peacock & Wing [James Phoenix]
A.C. Newman - Take On Me [doowadette]
I Love Math - The Shape Of The Sum [buglady]
Animal Collective - What Would I Want? Sky [hemizen]
Finishing School - Page 16 [Salman1]
The Velvelettes - He Was Really Saying Something [retrojoe]
Train - I Got You [njr]
RB Morris - City [avocadorabbit]
Roisin Murphy - Orally Fixated [Luke 79]
Chrome Kids - Chrome Plated Elbow (Grounds for Divorce Remix) [Thomas_Mohr]
Tortoise - Monument Six One Thousand [g.a.b l@bs]
The Soundcarriers - Let It Ride [plushpig]
The Factory - Path Through The Forest [McDonald12]
Deer Tick - The Ghost [Funky Ratchet]
Four Blazes - Raggedy Ride [joey de vivre]
Billy Vera & Judy Clay - Storybook Children [The Misfit]
Atlas Sound - Quick Canal [curtis_burns]

The years 2006 & 2007 were my favourite years on the old site. Others who joined earlier than myself may cite earlier years , but for me, this was the golden period. In early 2008, disaster struck and the AotM site was struck with a virus so bad some thought it'd never recover (which in some respects is true).

We could have all gone our separate ways and probably would have had it not been for Todd (a.k.a Dead Man) who worked tirelessly, I'm sure, throughout the whole of last year and finally launched our new home 'ZerO' in the early weeks of 2009. And it's been a great year in our new home. I love ZerO, the layout is nice on the eye, posting a mix is a doddle (cut and paste!) and it never crashes. The stats are constantly updated which is a fantastic feature. And there's a Mix of the Week every week! And not every 2 months like on our former home.

And while the old site is something of a ghost town nowadays, it's easy to forget just how many friends I made during those years. And so the idea of a reunion mix was born. I emailed a selection of some of my favourite mixers from those years, asked them for a song that was currently buzzing in their head, and the response was great. About 90% got back to me - so thanks very much.

Lots of old names here that hopefully will spark a bit of nostalgia in some. A few name changes of course - The French Connection is now Frenchy, McDonald12 now Scottpsych, Ken Harris is now Khradioguy, Rob Conroy now simply Rob C. Mark Petrucelli is now Petrocks, and Salman dropped the 1 from his name (of course there's only one Salman). I decided, though, to keep my silly username for sentimental reasons!

Anyway, there's some great tunes here, you've excelled yourselves my mixing chums. Oh, and one more thing - I was always going to let Dead Man kick off this mix. Even before he submitted a more than worthy track 1 ...

One Two Three

That'll Be Christmas

2009-12-19T06:25:00.000-08:00

Side One

Julian Casablancas - I Wish It Was Christmas Today
Darlene Love - Marshmallow World
Sufjan Stevens - Get Behind Me, Santa!
The Joseph And Mary Chain - The Twelve Days Of Christmas
Thea Gilmore - That'll Be Christmas
Joy Zipper - Christmas Song
The Kinks - Father Christmas
Mew - She Came Home For Christmas
The Decemberists - Please Daddy, Don't Get Drunk This Christmas
Low - Just Like Christmas
Of Montreal - My Favorite Christmas (in a Hundred Words or Less)
The Black Arts - Christmas Number One
Denim - I Will Cry At Christmas
The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping
The Aislers Set - Christmas Song
Big Star - Jesus Christ
Bright Eyes - White Christmas
They Came From The Stars I Saw Them - The Lovesick Snowman

Side Two

Fucked Up - Do They Know It's Christmas
Animal Collective - Winter Wonder Land
Clinic - Christmas
The Bird and the Bee - Carol of the Bells
The Free Design - Close Your Mouth (It's Christmas)
Margo Guryan - I Don't Intend To Spend Christmas Without You
Half Man Half Biscuit - All I Want For Christmas Is A Dukla Prague Away Kit
Remington Super 60 - Chistmas Song For Melanie
St. Etienne - I Was Born On Christmas Day
Hello Saferide - I-Pod X-Mas
Yo La Tengo - It's Christmas Time
The Ronettes - Sleigh Ride
Summer Hymns - Santa Couldn't Fit You Under My Christmas Tree
Would-Be-Goods - Christmas In Tahiti
Suzannah - Mom & Daddy, Please Don't Steal For Me This Xmas
Martin Newell - Christmas in Suburbia
Joni Mitchell - River
Tom Waits - Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis

I love Christmas songs. I love 'Last Christmas' by Wham, Stop the Cavalry, In Dulce Jubilo. I love The Pogues and Kirsty Maccoll. Heck, I even quite like Mariah Carey's festive offering (the only Mariah song I do like, you understand?)

But most of all I love Phil Spector's 'A Christmas Gift For You', not just my favourite Christmas album, but one of my favourite albums of all time. 2 songs from that album make it onto this, my first ever Xmas mix. Yes, after 5 years of posting (some 250) mixes on the 'net, I've finally been bothered to make one. And of course I've left all the aforementioned songs off it. Well, you can buy compilations with these tracks on in Asda for a fiver can't you.

You can't buy this though. It's free! Ho ho ho..

Merry Xmas

Top 40 Commercial Pop/Urban/Dance Tracks of the 2000's

2009-12-12T06:21:00.000-08:00

Kylie Minogue - Slow
Britney Spears - Toxic
Amerie - 1 Thing
N.E.R.D Feat. Lee Harvey & Vita - Lapdance
Junior Senior - Move Your Feet
Aaliyah - We Need A Resolution (Feat. Timbaland)
The Roots - The Seed
Coldplay - Clocks
Emma - Maybe
Liberty X - Just A Little
Kelly Rowland - Work
Mary Mary - Shackles (Praise You)
Gwen Stefani - Cool
Pink - There You Go
Alphabeat - Fascination
Outkast - Ms Jackson
Spiller - Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)
Jamelia - Superstar
Katy Perry - Hot 'n' Cold
NSYNC - Girlfriend (The Neptunes Remix Feat. Nelly)
Lily Allen - LDN
Basement Jaxx - Romeo
McFly - All About You
Faith Evans - Love Like This
Kelis - Caught Out There
Shola Ama - Imagine
Twista feat Kanye West - Slow Jamz
The Kooks - Naive
Deep Dish - Flashdance
Beyonce - Irreplaceable
Beenie Man - Street Life
Gabriella Cilmi - Sweet About Me
Rui Da Silva featuring Cassandra - Touch Me
Cheryl Cole - Fight For This Love
Chingy - Balla Baby
Montell Jordan - Get It Tonight
Sugababes - Freak Like Me
Sunshine Anderson - Heard It All Before
Pharrell Williams-Frontin' (ft Jay - Z)
Gnarls Barkley - Smiley Faces

My Top 250 tracks of the past decade is choc full of great tunes. The full links are now up, and I hope a few of you discover new favourite songs whilst listening. The list seems to suggest that the majority of my favourite songs of the 2000's weren't commercial hits, and while that may be true it wasn't a conscious decision to omit 'big hit singles'.

But save for a couple of Girls Aloud tunes, Beyonce & Jay -Z, Kate Nash and Dizzee Rascal, that's exactly what it did. So I thought I'd compile a Top 40 (naturally) list of my favourite 'pop' singles of the decade. And looking down the list, I believe any one of these tracks could've sat in my 'official' Top 250. And indeed, certainly the top 5 here should've done. But too late now.

So why 'Slow' at number 1? Because it's fantastic, of course. It has a mesmerizing 'Giorgio Moroder' feel to it which makes it, for me, a modern day 'I Feel Love'. Kylie's best song ever, and pop hit of the decade...

..well apart from the aforementioned Girls Aloud and Beyonce tracks of course :)

Pop 1-20

Pop 21-40

Sammy's Top 250 Tracks of the 2000's

2009-12-09T14:55:00.000-08:00

The New Pornographers - The Laws Have Changed
Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken
The Russian Futurists - Let's Get Ready To Crumble
Ambulance Ltd - Anecdote
Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins - You Are What You Love
Mr. Wright - Anna Karina
Johnny Boy - You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes and You Get What You Deserve
Fruit Bats - Rainbow Sign
Lambchop - Grumpus
The Kingsbury Manx - New Old Friend Blues
The Minders - Go Wave Your Wand
Yo La Tengo - You Can Have It All
Sunshine Fix - Sail Beyond The Sun
U.N.P.O.C. - Avignon
The Pillbugs - I Don't Really Mean to Freak You Out
Goldenboy - Wild Was The Night
Edwin Moses - I'll Be Around
Pepe Deluxe - Girl!
Miracle Fortress - Have You Seen In Your Dreams
The Clientele - Bookshop Casanova
David Kilgour - BBC World
Battles - Atlas
The Postal Service - Such Great Heights
Sebastien Tellier - Divine
Girls Aloud - Biology
Listen With Sarah - Blue Parsley
The Shins - Fighting In A Sack
Band of Horses - No One's Gonna Love You
The Junipers - Gordie Can't Swim
Phoenix - Too Young
Simian - La Breeze
The Knife - Heartbeats
The Broken Family Band - Where The Hell Is My Baby
Tyde - Go Ask Yer Dad
Irving - Lovely, Just Like Her
Of Montreal - The Party's Crashing Us
Daisy Daisy - Michelle Plays Ping Pong
Belle And Sebastian - Funny Little Frog
The Heavy Blinkers - Maplewood
Acid House Kings - Do What You Wanna Do
The Sights - It'd Be Nice (To Have You Around)
Wilco - I'm The Man Who Loves You
Richard Hawley - You Don't Miss Your Water (Till Your River Runs Dry)
Beth Gibbons And Rustin Man - Mysteries
Kelley Stoltz - Ever Thought Of Coming Back
The Botticellis - The Reviewer
Matias Tellez - Yes Indeed
Benji Hughes - Baby, It's Your Life
Kevin Tihista's Red Terror - O. K.
Acid Casuals - Bowl Me Over
The Shortwave Set - Slingshot
Aberfeldy - Love Is an Arrow
The Pillbugs - If You Can't Remain
The Crayon Fields - Impossible Things
The Russian Futurists - Paul Simon
Yo La Tengo - Mr Tough
The Telepathic Butterflies - Love Is For Hire
Edwin Moses - (I'm Feeling) So Much Better
Hal - Play the Hits
Those Dancing Days - Those Dancing Days
Guided By Voices - Glad Girls
Guillemots - Trains To Brazil
Swan Dive - A Few Thousand Days Ago
Joy Zipper - Check Out My New Jesus
The Explorers Club - Forever
Pernice Brothers - Cronulla Breakdown
Flaming Lips - Yeah Yeah Yeah Song
Brakes - Hold Me In The River
Common - 6th Sense
Daniel Saturn - Riverside
Math and Physics Club - A Little Romance
The Twin Atlas - Sleep In Late, Laugh All Night
Of Montreal-Penelope
Au Revoir Simone - Through The Backyards
The Boy Least Likely To - Be Gentle With Me
Viva Voce - Lesson No. 1
The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
Arcade Fire - Neighborhood #3 (Power Out)
Mercury Rev - The Dark Is Rising
Asobi Seksu - I'm Happy But You Don`t Like Me
Fiery Furnaces - Single Again
Mate - Cada Vez Que Amanece
The Bird And The Bee - So You Say
The Cribs - Mirror Kissers
Field Music - A House Is Not A Home
Super Furry Animals - Juxtapozed with U
Bell X1 - Snakes & Snakes
Cornershop - Topknot
Feist - Mushaboom
Apples In Stereo - Go
Caesars - Fun And Games
Superimposers - Would It Be Possible
Eux Autres - Ecoutez Bien
Polytechnic - Pep
Clinic - The Second Line
Devendra Banhart - At the Hop
Dizzee Rascal - I Luv U
Coral - Dreaming Of You
Decemberists - The Crane Wife 3
Annie - Chewing Gum
Tyde - Henry VIII
The Shortwave Set - Harmonia
Tiny Volcano - Summer Solstice
Figurines - Half Awake, Half Aware
The Futureheads - Decent Days and Nights
The Pillbugs - Get Away For The Summer
Rita Calypso - Believe
Rogue Wave - Bird On A Wire
Second-Hand Furniture - Nice Try, Sunshine!
The Pets - A lighthearted love song
Of Montreal - Jennifer Louise
Pelle Carlberg - I Love You, You Imbecile
Peter Bjorn And John - Young Folks
Sufjan Stevens - The Transfiguration
Kioki - Do And Don't For Love
The Hidden Cameras - Smells Like Happiness
Jay Z - I Just Wanna Love You
Girls Aloud - The Show
The School - Let it Slip
747s - Rain Kiss
Acid House Kings - This Heart Is A Stone
Beck - Golden Age
Cathy Davey - Trade Secret
The Concretes - Seems Fine
Dr. Dog - Old News
Elephant Parade - Goodbye
The Bees - Chicken Payback
Espers - Rosemary Lane
The Essex Green - This Isn't Farmlife
Grand Atlantic - Peace Be With You
Johnny Cash - The Man Comes Around
Luke Vibert & BJ Cole - Swing Lite - Alright
King Creosote - You Are Could I
The Long Blondes - Giddy Statospheres
The Love Substitutes - Give The People What They Want
The Raveonettes - That Great Love Sound
Sidonie - Sidonie goes to Varanasi
Silver Sunshine - Way Up In The Big Sky
Stellastarr - Somewhere Across Forever
Two Gallants - Miss Meri
The New Pornographers - The Electric Version
Apples In Stereo - The Rainbow
Grand Archives - Louis Riel
Hello Seahorse! - Won't Say Anything
Herman Dune - I Wish That I Could See You Soon
Lucky Soul - Struck Dumb
The Minders - Give Me Strength
The Shins - New Slang
Thao Nguyen & The Get Down Stay Down - Bag of Hammers
The Polyphonic Spree - Soldier Girl
Husky Rescue - Summertime Cowboy
Gomez - Ruff Stuff
Mercury Rev - Nite & Fog
Crayon Fields - Mirror Ball
Jim Noir - Key Of C
Cosmic Rough Riders - Baby, You're So Free
Frou Frou - Breathe In
Orwell - Everywhere
The Pillbugs - Faceless Wonder
The Hidden Cameras - A Miracle
Of Montreal - Disconnect The Dots
The Sleepy Jackson - Good Dancers
Cody Chesnutt - Look Good in Leather
Arctic Monkeys - Mardy Bum
Mylo - Destroy Rock & Roll
Malajube - Montréal -40C
Halcali - Hello, Hello, Alone
Larrikin Love - Happy As Annie
Simple Kid - Lil' King Kong
Beyonce ft. Jay-Z - Crazy In Love
Death By Chocolate - Ice Cold Lemonade
Aimee Mann - Save Me
The Shins - Phantom Limb
The High Llamas - The Old Spring Town
Islands - Rough Gem
Lollipop Train - Teenage Trifle
The Telepathic Butterflies - A Final Word
Carrots - Spending Chocolate Coins
Vampire Weekend - Boston
The Earlies - No Love in Your Heart
The Frames - Happy
Dressy Bessy - Second Place
Sufjan Stevens - Chicago
Psychid - Split Lip Sucker
Cat Power - The Greatest
The Little Ones - Let Them Ring The Bells
Royksopp - Eple
The Chemical Brothers - Galaxy Bounce
MGMT - Time to Pretend
Strawberry Fair - Why Won't He Answer
Shimmer Kids Underpop Association - Tones In Orbit
Beachwood Sparks - Sister Rose
Belle And Sebastian - I'm A Cuckoo
Clem Snide - Ice Cube
Sonny J - Belly Bongo
Sufjan Stevens - Romulous
Ben Kweller - I Need You Back
Yukari Fresh - Trip To Aloha State
M.I.A. - Galang
Justice - D.A.N.C.E.
Jim Noir - A Quiet Man
Interpol - Evil
Jack Penate - Spit At Stars
The Loch Ness Mouse - Judy
Lazyboy feat Roddy Frame - Western Skies
Datarock - Fa-Fa-Fa
Moonbootica - Listen
Wolfie - A Checkered Begonia
Kate Nash - Foundations
Zita Swoon - Everything Is Not the Same
I Am Kloot - Twist
Neon Neon - I Lust U
The Zillions - Don't Waste Your Tears On Me
El Goodo - If I Were A Song
Plush - Greyhound Bus Station
Snowglobe - Happy
Fischerspooner - Emerge
She & Him - Why Do You Let Me Stay Here
Yeasayer - Sunrise
Vampire Weekend - Mansard Roof
The New Pornographers - All The Old Showstoppers
The Dreadful Yawns - End of Summer
Tom Vek - Nothing But Green Lights
Oliver Knight - South Sea's
The Crimea - Lottery Winners On Acid
Erlend Øye - No Train To Stockholm
ClouddEAD - Dead Dogs Two (Boards of Canada Remix)
Grandaddy - Miner At The Dial-A-View
The Clientele - Somebody Changed
Outkast - B.O.B
The High Dials - Desiderata
Shack - Oscar
The Thrills - One Horse Town
Eberg - Plastic Lions
Mazarin - For Energy Infinite
Evils - Banjo-Uke Blues
Strawberry Whiplash - Who's In Your Dreams
Passion Pit - Sleepyhead
The Soundtrack of Our Lives - Sister Surround
Fabienne DelSol - Don't Throw Your Love Away
The Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players - Eggs
Flaming Lips - Fight Test
Washington Social Club - Breaking The Dawn
The Bees - Who Cares What The Question Is
The Mountain Goats - Magpie
Los Campesinos! - We Throw Parties, You Throw Knives
David Vandervelde - Wisdom From A Tree
Wild Beasts - Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants
Le Tigre - Hot Topic
Primal Scream - Country Girl

I thought I'd start working on this early December to give myself enough time to compile my end of year Top 50's. Originally intended as a Top 100 tracks of the decade, it soon became a Top 200 with loads of other fantastic songs knocking on the door that just had to be included. So, I decided on a 250 and stuck with that.

Completed on Monday, I've spent the last 2 evenings chopping, changing, re-jigging, adding, deleting. And finally I'm happy with the end result. For now..

..ah sod it SUBMIT!

Synth Britannia

2009-11-24T16:18:00.000-08:00

OMD - Electricity
Spandau Ballet - To Cut a Long Story Short
Soft Cell - Bedsitter
The Buggles - Clean, Clean
Yazoo - Goodbye Seventies
The Human League - Only After Dark
Tears For Fears - Mad World
The Art Of Noise - Close (To The Edit)
Pet Shop Boys - In the Night
Depeche Mode - New Life
A Flock Of Seagulls - Telecommunication
ABC - Show Me
Ultravox - Quiet Men
Gary Numan - Music For Chameleons
Visage - Fade To Grey
Japan - Visions Of China
Genesis - Abacab
Magazine - A Song From Under The Floorboards
Joy Division - Decades

A mix inspired by the TV programme aired by the BBC last month. A great show that got me feeling nostalgic for the early 80s when I first started listening to music. The first completed mix, though looked a little bit too much like a compilation you could easily buy in the supermarket. Too many hits ( Vienna, Love Action, Cars etc ) . I knew I had to do some re-jigging, and this is the final outcome, one of my favourite mixes I've posted this year. Hope somebody else agrees!

Link

Life Is Too Short To Worry About The Details

2009-11-23T11:09:00.000-08:00

Miracle Fortress - Beach Baby
The Thrills - Not For All The Love In The World
Dear Eskimo - Don't Wanna Feel
Winterpills - Take Away The Words
Tim Ten Yen - Girl Number One
Biff Naked - Anything
Jarvis Cocker & Kid Loco - I Just Came To Tell You That I'm Going
Beth Orton - I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine
Fever Ray - Now's The Only Time I Know
Celilo - Stardust
Maarten - The Most Beautiful Days Of My Life
Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of Understatement
Scott Walker & The Walker Brothers - Jackie
Travis - I Love You Anyways
Jim Noir - My Patch
The Pica Beats - Shrinking Violet
The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - The Sun Ain't Shining No More
Bat For Lashes - What's A Girl To Do
Mercury Rev - In A Funny Way
The Killjoys - Any Day Now
Client - Petrol
The Pooh Sticks - That Was The Greatest Song

The third alt-dj from myself and Avocado Rabbit features more pop songs and great cover art from the Rabbit. I believe this is my favorite of the three, and we hope you enjoy it as well.

Link

Up In The Clouds

2009-10-07T06:06:00.000-07:00

Devendra Banhart - Baby
Pink Floyd - Arnold Layne
New Order - Your Silent Face
Roxy Music - Same Old Scene (Glimmers Remix)
Passion Pit - Sleepyhead
Delakota - The Rock
OMD - Souvenir
The Box Tops - Neon Rainbow
XTC - That's Really Super, Supergirl
Cotton Mather - She's Only Cool
Beulah - Score From Augusta
The Apples In Stereo - The Bird That You Can't See
The Cribs - What About Me
Cornershop - Soul School
The Grid - Floatation
Faithless - Don't Leave
Ella Fitzgerald - Someone To Watch Over Me
Billie Holiday - Summertime (Organica Remix)
Mady Mesplé. Danielle Millet & Orchestra Of The Théâtre De L'Opera-Comique. Paris - Lakmé Flower Duet (Delibes)
The Faces - Debris

What's been in my head since my last post, back in August. And you'd thought I'd gone for good didn't you? No way. Sorry about that..

Link

Legacy '88 -'93 Disc Two

2009-10-03T16:41:00.000-07:00

My Bloody Valentine - Soft As Snow (But Warm Inside)
Sugarcubes - Hit
Blur - There's No Other Way
The Days - Fly
James - Lose Control
Stone Roses - Fool's Gold
Happy Mondays - Lazyitis
Flowered Up - It's On
The Frank And Walters - After All
New Order - Fine Time
Saint Etienne - You're in a Bad Way
Paris Angels - Perfume (loved up)
808 State - Pacific State
S'express - Superfly Guy
Primal Scream - Come Together
MC Tunes v 808 state - Tunes Splits The Atom
Mark Summers - Summers Magic
Intastella - People
Deee-Lite - Groove Is In The Heart
The Orb - Little Fluffy Clouds
Electronic - Getting Away With It

Originally posted in August. It mysteriously disappeared. Hmmm. So here it is re-posted. Link in comments..

Legacy '88 -'93 Disc One

2009-08-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

Northside - Take 5
Charlatans - Indian Rope
Inspiral Carpets - Joe
High - Box Set Go
The Mock Turtles - And Then She Smiles
Wedding Present - Kennedy
Janes Addiction - Been Caught Stealin'
Dinosaur Jr. - Feel The Pain
The Breeders - Cannonball
Suede - Metal Mickey
The Boo Radleys - I Hang Suspended
Sultans Of Ping - Where's Me Jumper
The Fall - White Lightning
Kingmaker - Really Scrape The Sky
Sugar - If I Can't Change Your Mind
Wonder Stuff - Unbearable
Teenage Fanclub - December
Lemonheads - It's A Shame About Ray
Morrissey - Suedehead
World of Twist - Sweets
The Blessing - Highway 5

A double CD set of some of my favourite tunes from 1988 - 1993. My ages 12 - 17. I had so much fun revisiting these tracks, some of them I've not heard for years..

Link

Interview with Sammy G

2009-08-01T11:51:00.000-07:00

Elton John & Kiki Dee - Don't Go Breaking My Heart
The Police - Message In A Bottle
John Lennon - Give Peace A Chance
Unit 4 Plus 2 - Concrete & Clay
Paul Hardcastle - 19
Adam & The Ants - Stand & Deliver
Wham! - Club Tropicana
The Charlatans - The Only One I Know
Morrissey - We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful
Blur - Parklife
Kraftwerk - Autobahn
The Stone Roses - Made of Stone
Michael Jackson - Off The Wall
Nick Drake - Time Has Told Me
The Duke & The King - If You Ever Get Famous
Frankie Valli - Grease
Spencer Davis Group - Keep On Running
Aretha Franklin - I Never Loved A Man ( The Way I Love You )
Glen Campbell - By The Time I Get To Phoenix
The Beatles - Because
Joy Division - Atmosphere
Erik Satie - Gymnodepie #1

What was the Number One single the day you were born?

Elton John & Kiki Dee’s ‘Don’t Go Breaking My Heart’ was Number One on both sides of the Atlantic. The No1 album was The Beach Boys ’20 Golden Greats’ and the Box Office Number One was ‘The Outlaw Josey Wales’ starring Clint Eastwood. A film I’ve never seen..

Earliest Musical Memory?

My mother tells me every time she played the Olivia Newton John single ‘Sam’ I would burst into tears. Similarly, if I was having a tantrum she would put on ‘Message In A Bottle’ by The Police, and whatever I was doing I would just stop, sit, and listen intently.

I don’t remember either of these, although I do accept them to be true.

My earliest memory is still vivid. The date was December 8^th 1980, my mothers friend knocked on our door, said something to her, and they both collapsed into each others arms, sobbing uncontrollably. I didn’t know at the time what was going on, but obviously I knew there was something wrong. It’s an image I’ve never forgotten..

Another early memory also concerns John Lennon. I was listening to the radio and there was a documentary on him on the anniversary of his death. 2^nd or 3^rd, I can’t remember. I was 6 or 7, and had heard many Beatles songs as mum was a huge fan and played them often. The radio documentary played this particular song that I was captivated by. I’m not sure where she was at the time but she hadn’t heard it. So I tried to explain to her it was quite an up-tempo, rocky number. Suggestions included Revolution, The Ballad of John & Yoko, Lady Madonna. It wasn’t any of these.

My quest to find the song resulted in me listening to each and every one of her Beatles albums. It wasn’t on any of them. Did I imagine this song, did I dream it up?

It was some 7 or 8 years later that I heard the song once again. The euphoria! It had been an unsolved mystery for too long. And it was? ‘Give Peace A Chance’’ It never once occurred to me they had played a solo Lennon track..

The First record you bought / owned?

It became apparent to my parents very early on that I had a love for music. They bought a turntable for me aged about 5. I wasn’t allowed to play any of my parents records on it, but mum gave me half a dozen 7” singles she no longer listened to. They can’t have been very good as I can only remember one. ‘Concrete & Clay’ by Unit 4 plus 2’. I played the record over and over and over, to the point where I’m sure she cursed the day she ever gave it to me.

Officially the first song I ever bought was 19 by Paul Hardcastle. I song I loved then and still do now. This song was bought for me though, so the first song I ever bought with my own money was ‘Stand and Deliver’ by Adam & The Ants, 10 pence at a school fair about a year later.

The first album?

‘Fantastic’ by Wham.

Earliest musical hero?

Adam Ant. A great pop star, great image. I loved his songs and I loved him.

What song reminds you of your school days?

By the time I started High School in 1987 my obsession with music had reached fever pitch. I’d tape the Chart Show onto cassette every Sunday evening, and video Top of the Pops very Thursday. By ’88 I was spending all my pocket money on music, also washing cars for extra money. By ’90 I was making compilation tapes on a regular basis. By 1991 I was selling these compilations to school mates ( thank the Lord for high-speed dubbing! ).

The years 1988 – 1993 are covered in more detail on my next mix. In answer to the question, the song that most reminds me of my school days is ‘The Only One I Know’ by the Charlatans.

What song reminds you of your first love?

Her name was Sally Anne. I forget her surname. I met her on holiday, I was 13, she 12. I knew her for 4 days, spoke to her less than 4 times. I never kissed her, but it was love! The song that most reminds me of her is ‘Girl I’m Gonna Miss You’ by Milli Vanilli..

Most embarrassing record in your collection?

I have lots, but probably ‘Tarzan Boy’ by Baltimora.

First gig attended?

Morrissey at the Manchester Apollo. December 1992. I’d gotten into this Smiths and Morrissey in a big way the previous year.

Which song reminds you of your College days?

I left school in 1993, and quickly got a job Djing around the area. I still lived at home and would work 3 nights a week, being paid a fortune ( I thought at the time ). I didn’t appreciate College, and only attended half the lessons I was meant to, deciding sitting in a pub or record shopping in Altrincham was a far better way of spending my time. I started College in late 1994. Britpop was all the rage, so I’d say ‘Parklife’ by Blur is the song that most reminds me of these days..

Which band / singer have you seen live the most times?

I’ve seen Morrissey and Blur live 9 times each..

What is the most money you’ve spent on one record?

The Autobahn 12” single by Kraftwerk. It was about £20. I’ve never been more extravagant than that!

What album would you say changed your life?

The Stone Roses debut album. It was released in April 1989, when I was 12. Again I have my mother to thank. A work friend of hers had copied it for her onto one side of a C-90 cassette, telling her she’d like it as it was reminiscent of the Beatles and the Byrds. She did like it and so did I. Within weeks of first hearing it my tastes changed. Out went current faves the Pet Shop Boys, Transvision Vamp and Erasure. Now it was all about the Roses, Happy Mondays, Inspiral Carpets, Northside etc

The cassette wasn’t long enough to contain the whole album, so the last track ‘I Am The Resurrection’ would cut off halfway through. It was a full 6 months after first hearing it that I bought the album and finally heard that track in all its glory!

What is your Saturday night record?

Something funky. Parliament, Funkadelic. Maybe Off The Wall by Michael Jackson.

And your Sunday morning record.

Five Leaves Left by Nick Drake.

What album are you currently listening to?

‘Nothing Gold Can Stay’ by The Duke & The King. It’s great.

What is your favourite movie soundtrack?

I could pretend to be cool here, and go for a Morricone score or a soundtrack to a Tarantino flick. But I’ll tell the truth instead. It’s Grease!

Who is your favourite male vocalist of all time?

Steve Winwood. He was 15 when he sang ‘Keep On Running’. 15! Have a listen to it, he was fifteen!!

And your favourite female vocalist?

A close call between Kate Bush and Aretha Franklin. They have such a different style. Can I say both?

You can. Which song makes you cry?

‘By The Time I Get To Phoenix’ by Glen Campbell. His delivery of that song makes it superior to any other version.

What if push comes to shove is your favourite album of all time?

I think it’d be ‘Abbey Road’ by the Beatles. It’s just a wonderful album. However there’s about 6 albums by them that could quite easily be my favourite . I have a strong affection toward ‘Rubber Soul’.

And your favourite song?

‘Atmosphere’ by Joy Division. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up every time I hear it.

Finally, what song do you want played at your funeral.

Erik Satie. Gymnopedie #1

* Tracks by Olivia Newton John, Baltimora and Milli Vanilli have been omitted due to time constrictions. No other reason. Honest..

Link

Cracked Melodies

2009-07-29T19:24:00.000-07:00

Cave - Encino Men
Crystal Method - High Roller
Yeasayer - Wait For The Summer
Fraternity Of Man - Wispy Paisley Sky
The Junipers - Fly The Yellow Kite
The Blow Pops - Spin Spin 45
Irving - Lovely, Just Like Her
The Veils - The Leavers Dance
The Shortwave Set - Harmonia
Special Pillow - Sixteen Worlds Away
The Doleful Lions - The Luminous Sons Of The Manvantaric Dawn
Reefus Moons - Strange Horses
The Pillbugs - Girl On A Laser Beam
Ivy - Corners Of Your Mind
Flipron - Gravity Calling
Capt Groovy & His Bubblegum Army - Capt Groovy
The Time & Space Machine - Zeitghost
The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Super Fucked

A second collaboration between myself & Cliff ( Frenchy ) see also Rock A Bye Babies.

We didn't set out to make a psychedelic mix once again, but inevitably it ended up that way. And I for one am glad.

And for a change, this mix doesn't try to fit as much music into 80 mins as possible. A choice was taken to finish with the fantastic BJM track. Making this just 1:02:36. No excuses then, for not listening to this in one sitting..

Listen

70s AM Radio Revival

2009-07-29T14:11:00.000-07:00

Marmaduke Duke - Rubber Lover
Heavy Blinkers - Maplewood
Orwell - Everywhere
Phoenix - If I Ever Feel Better
The Feeling - Never Be Lonely
The High Llamas - Peppy
The Simple Carnival - Really Really Weird
Coconut Records - Minding My Own Business
Young and Sexy - Herculean Bellboy
Mover - We Got It Going On (Feat. Ruby Turner)
Papas Fritas - Questions
Calvin Harris - Ready For The Weekend
Belle Who - Coke & Brandy
Hopeful Monster - Daily Electric
Tahiti 80 - Matter Of Time
The Aluminum Group - The World Doesn't Spin On Us
The Rosewood Thieves - She Don't Mind The Rain
Broadfield Marchers - Amazing Wheels
Rooney - When Did your Heart Go Missing
The Flower Machine - Instant Cathedral
Sweet Apple Pie - Between The Lines
Ivy - Undertow

I've been meaning to make this mix for a while now. It finally come to fruit last week and finished late last night. The premise is simple - modern day bands making the kind of music that owes more than a little debt to the acts that dominated AM Radio in the 70s. Bands like Supertramp, Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers, The Eagles, America. Bands that aren't quite as hip as they should be. But my word could they make a great pop tune. Great harmonies, beautiful melodies, luscious strings. Yum!

Enjoy

The Forgotten Art of the B Side Disc Two

2009-07-20T17:06:00.000-07:00

Them - Gloria [c/w Baby Please Don't Go 1965]
Badfinger - Sweet Tuesday Morning [c/w Day After Day 1972]
Sonny & Cher - It's Gonna Rain [c/w I Got You babe 1965]
David Bowie - The Gospel According To Tony Day [c/w The Laughing Gnome 1967]
Ian Dury & The Blockheads - There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards [c/w Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick 1978]
A-ha - Maybe Maybe [c/w Cry Wolf 1986]
Prince - Erotic City [c/w Let's Go Grazy 1984]
Saint Etienne - Filthy [c/w Only LOve Can Break Your Heart 1991]
Ash - Gimme Some Truth [c/w Angel Interceptor 1995]
R.E.M. - Crazy [c/w Driver 8 1985]
Specials - Friday Night, Saturday Morning [c/w Ghost Town 1981]
Tom Tom Club - On On On On [c/w Under The Boardwalk 1982]
Blur - Theme From An Imaginary Film [c/w Parklife 1994]
Aztec Camera - Jump [c/w All I Need Is Everything 1984]
Echo & the Bunnymen - Angels and Devils [c/w Silver 1984]
The Teardrop Explodes - Suffocate [c/w You Disappear From View 1983]
XTC - The Man Who Sailed Around His Soul [c/w Dear God 1986]
Supergrass - Melanie Davis [c/w Going Out 1996]
Prefab Sprout - Diana [c/w When Love Breaks Down 1984]
Elvis Costello - Girls Talk [c/w I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down 1980]
Jane Birkin - Jane B [c/w Je T'aime... Moi Non Plus 1969]
Patrick Macnee & Honor Blackman - Let's Keep It Friendly [c/w Kinky Boots 1963]
Tracey Ullman - The B-Side [c/w They Don't Know 1983]

Link

The Forgotten Art of the B Side Disc One

2009-07-20T06:05:00.000-07:00

Donovan - Hey Gyp (Dig The Slowness) [c/w Turqouise 1965]
The Clash - Pressure Drop [c/w English Civil War 1979]
The Beatles - She's a Woman [c/w I Feel Fine 1964]
The Beach Boys - Don't Worry Baby [c/w I Get Around 1964]
Monkees - Take A Giant Step [c/w Last Train To Clarksville 1966]
T. Rex - Life's A Gas [c/w Jeepster 1971]
The Jam - Smithers-Jones [c/w When You're Yoing 1979]
The Who - Instant Party [c/w A Legal Matter 1966]
Marvin Gaye - At Last (I Found A Love) [c/w Chained 1968]
Sly & the Family Stone - Everybody Is A Star [c/w Thank You Falletinme Be Mice Elf Again 1969]
Pink Floyd - Scarecrow [c/w See Emily Play 1967]
Manfred Mann - John Hardy [c/w Sha La La 1964]
Led Zeppelin - Hey Hey What Can I Do [c/w Immigrant Song 1970]
The Small Faces - Grow Your Own [c/w Sha La La Lee 1966]
The Rolling Stones - Stupid Girl [c/w Paint It Black 1966]
The Smiths - How Soon Is Now [c/w William It Was Really Nothing 1984]
Joy Division - These Days [c/w Love Will Tear Us Apart 1980]
The Fall - Blood Outta Stone [c/w White Lightning 1990]
The The - Three Orange Kisses From Kazan [c/w Uncertain Smile 1983]
Oasis - Half the World Away [c/w Whatever 1994]
Tears for Fears - Ideas As Opiates [c/w Mad World 1982]
New Order - 1963 [c/w True Faith 1987]
Pet shop boys - Paninaro [c/w Suburbia 1986]

In the U.K charts this week only one song sold more than 500 physical copies - the Number One single 'Beat Again' by JLS. The week's number 16 song, Rabbit Heart by Florence & The Machine did very well on downloads, but physical copies? CD Singles and 7"s - 64 copies. Across the whole country.

As more and more people download music onto their computers and mobile phones it's become apparent. The physical single is dead.

The great tragedy here, of course, is the loss of the great art form - the B Side. Far from being an unwanted studio off-cut, sometimes the B Side was a vehicle for an artist to relax and experiment, free from the pressures of having to deliver a hit.

Some bands in particular took the B Side very seriously. Some of Oasis and Suede's finest songs can be found hidden away on their B Sides or their subsequent compilation albums. The Beatles and Smiths have a back-catalogue of flip sides that would put many bands greatest hits to shame.

All these acts are featured here, alongside many classic flipsides of yesteryear. 2 Cds 46 tracks. Every track a gem. Some of these eventually made it onto the artists full albums. Others appeared on odds and sods compilations. Some, only ever on the B-side, maybe that gone unplayed by many many owners of the single.

All have one thing in common though. They're all crackers. One day I'll compile a mix of exclusive B-sides. But for now...

Link

Everyone, Under The Sun

2009-07-13T07:01:00.000-07:00

Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra - Sammy's Theme
I Monster - Lust For A Vampyr
Asobi Seksu - I'm Happy But You Don`t Like Me
Joy Electric - The Otherly Opus
Orange Juice - Felicity
Scarboro Aquarium Club - It's Valentine's Day
The Turtles - Guide for the Married Man
The Byrds - The Girl With No Name
Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - I'm Looking Through You
Let's Whisper - Hey Sunshine
The Housemartins - Five Get Over Excited
Showgirls - So Small
Denna Johnson & Ricky Davis - Who Me Yeah You!
Hipster Image - Make Her Mine
& the Mysterians - Ten O'Clock
The Marvelettes - The Boy From Crosstown
Tommy James and the Shondells - Draggin' the Line
Miriam Makeba - Pata Pata
The Joe Jeffrey Group - My Pledge Of Love
You Bet! - It's Love
Nice Man - Rain, Rain, Rain
Luna - La Poupée Qui Fait Non
Kelley Stoltz - Memory Collector
Hello Saferide - Anna
The Lovekevins - Happy Happy
Hola a todo el Mundo - Jenn Belives Everyone Has A
Cookie Galore - I'm The One
Ashley Park - Everyone, Under The Sun
Josie & The Pussycats - It's Gotta Be Him

A mish mash of groovy pop sounds

listen

Elixir Of Youth

2009-07-11T12:46:00.000-07:00

The Highwaters - Walk Faster Than You
The Tyde - Improper
Fruit Bats - My Unusual Friend
Wilco - Bull Black Nova
Ride - Taste
The Checks - Hold My Head
The Shins - Caring Is Creepy
The Boo Radleys - Barney (...and Me)
Pavement - Summer Babe
Mew - Apocalypso
The Make - Up-I Am Pentagon
The National - Mistaken For Strangers
The Pixies - Bam Thwok
The Jesus And Mary Chain - Never Understand
The Afghan Whigs - Debonair
Buffalo Tom - Cupid Come
The Hold Steady - Chicago Seemed Tired Last Night
Fleeting Joys - You Are The Darkness
Sonic Youth - The Sprawl

What's in my head this weekend..

Link

Bub Balulalow

2009-06-28T06:14:00.000-07:00

Gregory Pepper and His Problems - 7ths and 3rds
The Very Most - Dodged Ev'ry Bullet Pt. 3
The Happies - Cello my Pitchfork
White Shoes & The Couples Company - Super Reuni
Strawberry Fair - Why Won't He Answer
Majestic - Bub
Revolver - Balulalow
God Help the Girl - Funny Little Frog
Butcher Boy - I Know Who You Could Be
The Crayon Fields - Impossible Things
Jamie Maccormick - It Never Rains On Saturday
The Pillbugs - If You Can't Remain
Groovy Little Numbers - You Make My Head Exolde
The Minders - Pass It Around
Shimmer Kids Underpop Association - Tones In Orbit
Memory Cassette - 50mph
The Pearly Gatecrashers - Most Wonderful Day of the Year
Minema - Loveless
Pas de Printemps Pour Marnie - When You Sleep
Anthony Adverse - Our Fairy Tale
The Charade - My Song To You
Warm In The Wake - Dark Gypsy Moth
Thunder Power - Take a Hike
The Fiery Furnaces - The End Is Near
Creaky Boards - The Songs I Didn't Write
The Pets - A Lighthearted Love Song

100% Indie Pop

The Unbreakable Chain

2009-06-22T07:11:00.000-07:00

Ian Hunter - Boy
Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Next
Tom Lehrer - Masochism Tango
Fleetwood Mac - Second Hand News
John Sebastian - Rainbows All Over Your Blues
Byrds - You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
Laura Meyer - Tonight I'm Gonna Dream About You
Billy Bragg & Wilco - Way Over Yonder In The Minor Key
Daniel Lanois - The Unbreakable Chain
Heather Nova - Walk This World
Korby Lenker - Come Closer
The Explorers Club - Freedom Wind
John Lennon - #9 Dream
Chris Bell - Get Away
Richard Thompson - I Misunderstood
Micah P. Hinson - Yard Of Blonde Girls
Chelsea Lynn LaBate - Galileo
Richard Swift - Ballad Of Old What's His Name
Long John Baldry - Savoir Faire
The Walkabouts - The Light Will Stay On

To round off a busy week of blogging, here's another alt-dj mix completed over the weekend. This one with mahdishain. And while I share a more similar taste of music with his brother hemizen, this has turned out really well. Possibly better than either expected. Listen yourself..

Link

A Ride on the Purple Rocket

2009-06-20T18:41:00.000-07:00

The Superimposers - Rainbow
Camera Obscura - French Navy
1990s - See You At The Light
Plush - Greyhound Bus Station
No Kids - I Love The Weekend
The Ecstatics - Breaking Glass
Bryan Scary & The Shredding Tears - Purple Rocket
Garageland - Life Is So Sweet
Hungry Kids of Hungary - Scattered Diamonds
Death Cab For Cutie - Crooked Teeth
Club 8 - Whatever You Want
Burning Hearts - I Lost My Colour Vision
The Auteurs - Show Girl
Black Box Recorder - These Are the Things
Slow Club - Giving Up On Love
The Whitest Boy Alive - 1517
The Silver Seas - The Country Life
Gypsy Tailwind - Better Days
Pony Up - Shut Up and Kiss Me
Wire Train - Love Against Me
Wave Machines - I Go Go Go
Lefties Soul Connection - Paul Newman

So after a week of tireless work dragging all my posted mixes on Art of the Mix over to sammy's tunes, I'm finally finished. Everything posted from now on is brand new. This mix, finished this evening, is an alt-dj effort between myself and Ed ( mixxer ), a true gent with a keen eye for a tune. I'm delighted with how this turned out. Hope you enjoy it too..

Link

Rain

2009-06-20T17:02:00.000-07:00

Randy Newman - Every Time It Rains
Irma Thomas - It's Raining
Chuck Prophet - After The Rain
Richard Hawley - Just Like The Rain
Peter Paul & Mary - Early Mornin' Rain
Albert Hammond - It Never Rains In Southern California
Ron Sexsmith - Raindrops In My Coffee
Beta Band - Dry The Rain
Jeb Loy Nichols - As The Rain
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Who'll Stop The Rain
Counting Crows - Rain King
The Pogues - Rainy Night In Soho
Karen Dalton - Little Bit Of Rain
Grateful Dead - Box Of Rain
Chuck E. Weiss - It Rains On Me
Lou Rhodes - The Rain
Led Zeppelin - Fool In The Rain
James Carr - These ain't Raindrops
Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Rain, Rain Beautiful Rain
Israel Kamakawiwo'Ole - Over the Rainbow / What a Wonderful World

An Alt-DJ mix with Petrocks. The theme here is Rain. Lots of classics and gems on this mix

Link

Tea For Two

2009-06-20T16:06:00.000-07:00

Zacharias et ses Violons - A Summer Place
Doris Monteiro - Se E Questao De Adeus Alte Logo
Free Design - Kites Are Fun
Helen Shapiro - You Don't Know
Carmen Miranda - Mam Eu Quero (I Want My Mama)
From Bubblegum To Sky - Girls & Shoo Be Doo Wop
Payom Moogda - Loomsia
Gal Costa - Sebastiana
Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite
The Girls From Bahia - Bye Bye Blackbird
Bebeto - Pensar Pra Que
Denims - The Ghost In Your House Is Me
Viva Voce - That's Right....Watch Out!
The Millennium - Baby It’s Real
Cul de Sac - Dance Of The Inhabitants Of The Palace Of King Philip XIV Of Spain
Linda Lewis - Gladly Give My Hand
Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - Acapulco 1922
Komeda - Our Hospitality
Regina - Naapurissa Puretaan Taloa
Archies - Jingle Jangle
Unit 4+2 - Couldn't Keep It To Myself
Marie Laforêt - Qu'est-ce Qui Fait Pleurer les Filles
Cubismo Grafico - Moon Is Yours
El Chicles - Girl Safari
Jackie Mittoo - Get Up And Get It
Airto - Andei
Barbara Lewis - Hello Stranger
Wilson Das Neves E Conjunto - Estou Chegando Agora
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Miss Trudy

Aah, the 2:42 meme, er theme. Very cute, but hardly ‘Art’. And what’s with the 12 track limit? That’s a bloody waste of half a CD if you ask me. Mathematically you can fit 29 songs @ 2mins 42secs onto a blank CD, so that's what I did.

Link

Versus!

2009-06-20T15:59:00.000-07:00

Neko Case - Margaret vs Pauline
Codaphonic - Sun vs Moon
Seagull Strange - Adam vs Eve
I Am Robot And Proud - Me vs Heidi
Clem Snide - Evil vs Good
Sunset Rubdown - Setting vs Rising
Frightened Rabbit - Good Arms vs Bad Arms
Say Hi To Your Mom - Your Brains vs My Tractorbeam
The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Prozac vs Heroin
The Spinto Band - Trust vs Mistrust
Rilo Kiley - Science vs Romance
The Hot Toddies - Anais Nin vs The Pirates of Sant
Yo La Tengo - Georgia vs Yo La Tengo
Deep Puddle Dynamics - Thought vs Action
Experimental Aircraft - Lofi vs The Sea
Pepe Deluxe - Lucky the Blind vs Vacuum Cleani
Pizzicato Five - Twiggy Twiggy Twiggy vs James Bond
The Cuban Boys - C vs I
The Lovekevins - Blakboy vs The Snow
Beulah - Matter vs Space
Tender Forever - Doves vs Pigeons
Xiu Xiu - Watermelon vs The Pineapple

'New Radicals' speaks - Allow me to introduce myself. I have no name. I'm Dyslexic, Agnostic, and an Insomniac. Sometimes I lie awake all night wondering if there really is a dog. This is my Second mix, although I have been here before. Hope you like this. Oh, and there's no mash-ups here.

Link