Repost: What's The Connection? Auld Lang Syne

This is one of those playlists that you will only use once every year. Several versions of Auld Lang Syne in this What's the Connection? Once we changed the format of our station right around the holidays and to get people ready we played Auld Lang Syne for a whole week up to New Year's Day. Very funny, but got boring quick. Tons of versions were submitted to us and we ended up with hours worth of the song. These are some of the ones we started with. The background of the cover was an excerpt of a drawing in colored pencil by my ex-wife, who had some amazing drawing talents. Click on it. One of these songs in this playlist is not Auld Lang Syne, but has it in the title and a few just use the song as "inspiration."

Happy New Year!

01 MFSB - 12;00 Countdown Medley

02 Guy Lombardo - Auld Lang Syne

03 Glenn Miller Orchestra - Auld Lang Syne

04 Tom Scott - Auld Lang Syne

05 Corky Hale - Auld Lang Syne

06 Joe Hackney - Auld Lang Syne

07 Highway Jazzmen - Auld Lang Syne

08 Arthur Lyman - Auld Lang Syne

09 Gary Hoey - Auld Lang Syne

10 Gilda Radner - Roseanne Roseannadanna

11 Alan Sherman - Old Lang's Sign

12 Michael Zanabili - Auld Lang Syne

13 Peter Buffett and the New World Ensemble - Auld Lang Syne

14 Bill Keith - Auld Lang Syne

15 Salsoul Orchestra - New Year's Medley

16 Boney M - Auld Lang Syne

17 Chas & Dave - Auld Lang Syne

18 Beach Boys - Auld Lang Syne

19 Phantom Of The Opera Cast - Auld Lang Syne

20 Jingle Cats - Auld Lang Syne

21 Gloria Estefan - Christmas Auld Lang Syne

22 Dan Fogelberg - Same Old Lang Syne

23 G-Clefs - I Understand (How You Feel)

24 UK Subs - Auld Lang Syne

25 Esquivel - Auld Lang Syne

26 Salivating Army Band (Tales From The Crypt) - Should Old Cadavers Be Forgot

Mixmag 25 Years Disc 2

This is the second half of the Mixmag pick of 25 years of dance club hits and mixes. It'[s their pick and I just found all the mixes and compiled them for my use. All in BPM order per disc. Now that it's a playlist you can reorder it as one and I did give you a playlist as separate discs and as one. Just add to yesterday's post and it's all there. Not a mainstream magazine, but one known to DJ's and clubbers. Use as your guide to a nice set of classic mixes.

Mixmag 25 Years Disc 2

13 Frankie Knuckles featuring Jamie Principle - Your Love (12 inch)

14 Orbital - Chime

15 Stardust - Music Sounds Better With You

16 Underworld - Rez

17 Mylo - Drop The Pressure

18 Age Of Love - Age Of Love (Jam & Spoon Watch Out For Stella)

19 Laurent Garnier - The Man With The Red Face

20 Josh Wink - Higher State Of Consciousness

21 Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar '98 (Original Three N' One Mix)

22 The Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up

23 Paul Van Dyk - For An Angel

24 System F - Out Of The Blue (Original 12'' Version)

25 Tony De Vit - The Dawn (Paul Janes Remix)

Mixmag 25 Years Disc 1

Mixmag is a magazine for dance music and clubbing. Unless you are completely in to that or are a club DJ you probably don't subscribe. They put out yearly lists and reviews of club songs and mixes. Sometime in their history they put out a list of 25 years of mixes. I collected them all and made two CD's worth of music. So kind of my pick, but really theirs. They are each in order of BPM, so you could use two discs to mix the whole thing. Today I post the first disc, and tomorrow the second. Great for a dance club set.

Mixmag 25 Years Disc 1

01 Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy

02 Felix Da Housecat with Miss Kittin - Silver Screen Shower Scene

03 Daft Punk - Around The World

04 Faithless - Insomnia (Monster Mix Edit)

05 Tori Amos - Professional Widow (Armand's Star Trunk Funkin' Mix)

06 Groove Armada - Superstylin'

07 New Order - Blue Monday

08 Layo & Bushwacka - Love Story (Vs Finally)

09 Liquid - Sweet Harmony

10 Motorcycle - As The Rush Comes (Sweeping Strings Remix)

11 Sasha - Xpander

12 Underworld - Born Slippy Nuxx

Stax Of Wax

This Pol's Pick is along the lines of the Philly Steak, Taking It Back (yesterday), Fauxtown volumes I have already posted. but obviously all about Stax records. Different sounding R&B from all around the same time frames. Lots of hits and all with their distinctive sound. I really love the sounds of the Mar-Keys and Booker T and the MG's. But Isaac Hayes is my guy. I watched enough Blaxploitation to really get him. Look up his story because it is very interesting. This is not the place for a wiki entry. Just suffice it to say that I liked all this stuff since I first heard any of it. Remember, it is impossible to sum up an entire record company based on just  twenty or so songs. Go search for more. There is so much! BTW, I love the cover I made, butter and syrup on a stack.

Stax Of Wax

01 The Emotions - So I Can Love You

02 Linda Lyndell - What A Man

03 Carla Thomas - Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes)

04 Little Milton - That's What Love Will Make You Do

05 Albert King - Born Under a Bad Sign

06 Jean Knight - Mr. Big Stuff

07 Wendy Rene - After Laughter (Comes Tears)

08 Staple Singers - I'll Take You There

09 Judy Clay & William Bell - Private Number

10 Otis Redding - (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay

11 Otis Redding And Carla Thomas - Tramp

12 Wilson Pickett - In The Midnight Hour

13 Sam & Dave - Soul Man

14 Johnnie Taylor - Who's Making Love

15 Rufus Thomas - Walking The Dog

16 Bar-Kays - Soul Finger

17 The Temprees - Dedicated To The One I Love

18 Isaac Hayes - Theme from Shaft

19 The Mar-Keys - Last Night

20 The Soul Children - The Sweeter He Is

21 Booker T. And The MG's - Green Onions

22 Dramatics - In the Rain

Taking It Back 3

It continues with volume three of this Pol's Pick of R&B. No novelty/parody songs on this compilation, just more danceable R&B. I do notice that some of these tracks would not be out of place on a Northern Soul compilation, but I assure you that was not the inspiration. I really didn't know about Northern Soul until later. I just knew songs I liked and that people liked to dance to. Gloria Jones Tainted Love, for instance, I knew because of Soft Cell. I looked for the original and found a clear vinyl 12" single of the song and thought it was cool. Anyway, this is the last of the Taking It Back volumes. Go look for the Stax (tomorrow), Fauxtown and Philly oriented versions that kinda go hand in hand with these. As usual, leave a comment about songs you would have used in here. Love to see that kind of stuff.

Taking It Back 3

54 Tina Britt - The Real Thing

55 Smokey Robinson And The Miracles - I Second That Emotion

56 Soulsister - The Way To Your Heart

57 Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - You're All I Need To Get By

58 Gladys Knight & The Pips - Everybody Needs Love

59 Stevie Wonder - I Was Made To Love Her

60 Jr. Walker & The All Stars - What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)

61 The Marvelettes - When You're Young And In Love

62 Miracles - You've Really Got A Hold On Me

63 Love Affair - Everlasting Love

64 Four Tops - Baby I Need Your Loving

65 The Spinners - Working My Way Back To You

66 Four Tops - It's The Same Old Song

67 The Supremes - You Keep Me Hangin' On

68 The Ronettes - Be My Baby

69 Martha Starr - Love Is The Only Solution

70 Martha and the Vandellas - Nowhere To Run

71 The Sapphires - Gotta Have Your Love

72 Denise Lasalle - Trapped By A Thing Called Love

73 The Chiffons - He's So Fine

74 Marvin Gaye & Kim Weston - It Takes Two

75 The Velvelettes - Needle in a Haystack

76 Gloria Jones - Tainted Love

Taking It Back 2

A continuation of the Taking It Back pick. This was designed to have at hand my favorite picks for a gig to do a set of "Motownish" R&B. Some slow, some fast but all recognizable songs that would get people on the dancefloor. It didn't matter if it was from Detroit or not, but just had to have that feeling of get up and dance. Frankly a lot of that came from Motown. I added one Big Daddy track which fits in with the theme. I was surprised how many people would come up to me and say, "I didn't know that U2 covered that song." Which, of course, they didn't, since they wrote it. Same cover and track numbering continues from the last one. Next volume tomorrow.

Taking It Back 2

27 The Temptations - My Girl

28 Jimmy Ruffin - What Becomes of the Brokenhearted

29 Four Tops - Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got)

30 Ray Charles - You Are My Sunshine

31 Brenton Wood - The Oogum Boogum Song

32 Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell - Ain't No Mountain High Enough

33 Dionne Warwick - Do You Know The Way To San José

34 Diana Ross & The Supremes - Where Did Our Love Go

35 The Miracles - Shop Around

36 Supremes - My World Is Empty Without You

37 The Miracles - Mickey's Monkey

38 Eddie Kendricks - Keep On Truckin' (Part 1)

39 Jackson 5 - I Want You Back

40 Gladys Knight and the Pips - You Need Love Like I Do (Don't You)

41 The Temptations - I Can't Get Next To You

42 Stevie Wonder - For Once In My Life

43 Aretha Franklin - Respect

44 Diana Ross & The Supremes - Stop! In The Name Of Love

45 Four Tops - Reach Out I'll Be There

46 O'Jays - Love Train

47 Martha & The Vandellas - Dancing In The Street

48 Supremes - Come See About Me

49 Junior Walker And The All Stars - Pucker Up Buttercup

50 Big Daddy - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

51 Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose - Treat Her Like A Lady

52 Isley Brothers - Shout (Part 1 & 2)

53 The Marvelettes - Beechwood 4-5789

Xmas Cookie 1 (Repost)

REPOST: I love Christmas. And I love Christmas songs. Especially the more unusual ones. It's just one of those things I collect. I started making Xmas cassettes years ago. Designing covers and giving them to family and friends . The Xmas Cookie Pol's Pick series is a copy of the first CD's I made following all of that. I hope you enjoy some of these, are offended by at least a few and hopefully there's one that you have never heard before that you end up loving like I did in this series. I'll post a few of them over the next couple of days until Christmas. I'm guessing that a few of these have not yet been in your regular Christmas song list. Unless you worked at Digi-Design when they first got started, you won't recognize, Hieronymous Johnson, for instance. He went by several names and bands in the Silicon Valley Bay Area. Some are obvious hits from the time. Enjoy them all. I especially love the Swamp Zombies, Romy and Conch because they nailed it. And the Fluf, Deadbolt and Steve Poltz are perfect for the Grinches in your life. BTW, none of these in the series is completely SAFE for work or kids, so please listen first. I love the plain cover, too.

Xmas Cookie 1

01 Christina Aguilera - The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)

02 Spice Girls - Sleigh Ride

03 Yello - Jingle Bells (Santa Club Mix)

04 Orquesta De La Luz - White Christmas (Navidades Blancas)

05 Fleming and John - Winter Wonderland-Misty Mountain Top

06 Bobby Lloyd and the Skeletones - Do You Hear What I Hear - You Really Got Me

07 Jimi Hendrix - Little Drummer Boy-Silent Night - Auld Lang Syne

08 The Hollytones - Christmas Is Coming Twice This Year

09 Toby Keith - Santa I'm Right Here

10 Poi Dog Pondering - Mele Kalikimaka

11 Christoph and Paul Rice - Nick's Early Years

12 Romy Kaye & Christina "Conch" Chabalaba - My Man

13 Burl Ives - A Holly Jolly Christmas

14 Stan Francis - Jingle, Jingle, Jingle

15 Swamp Zombies - Mr. Heat Miser

16 Sloppy Seconds - Hooray For Santa Claus

17 Jim Carey - You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch

18 Fluf - Merry Christmas N' Shit

19 Hieronymous Johnson - Christmas, Sir, Is A Humbug

20 Deadbolt - I'm The One Who Gunned Santa Down

21 Steve Poltz-The Rugburns - I Hate Fucking Christmas

22 The Rugburns - Shoplifters Dance

23 Erik Lindgren - A Special Personalized Christmas Greeting To You From All The Retailers Of America

What Is The Connection? Let It Snow!

It is the season after all. So this connection is about songs with the title Let It Snow. I have another one, which I am tracking down that is just about Snow, but it's misfiled or something like that. So this is the one you get on Xmas Eve, well Christmas Eve. Last year gave you more Christmas songs, so go look them up. I'm sure there may be a few doubles between all the compilations of Christmas songs, but none more evident than this one. They are mostly all doubles. So not for repeat on Christmas day, but once is probably good. Find your favorite version among these.

What's The Connection? Let It Snow!

01 Sam Bush - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

02 Brian Setzer Orchestra - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

03 Stephen Bishop - Let It Snow

04 Woody Herman - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let it Snow

05 Cecilia Dale - Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow

06 Lena Horne - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

07 Kenny G - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

08 Manhattan Transfer - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

09 The Carter Twins - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

10 Don McLean - Let It Snow

11 Blake Shelton - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

12 Johnny Mathis - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

13 Chris Isaak - Let It Snow

14 Dean Martin - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

15 Wayne Newton - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

16 Boyz II Men - Let It Snow

17 Mannheim Steamroller - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

18 Jon Auer - Let It Snow!

19 Eddie Dunstedter - Let It Snow! + Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer

20 The Baseballs - Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

21 The Jethros - Let It Snow $3

22 Ana Gasteyer - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

23 Claudja Barry - Let It Snow - Frosty The Snowman

24 Bing Crosby - Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

25 Jeff Dayton Band - Let It Snow

What's The Connection? Frosty The Snowman

There are tons of versions of this song. I by no means have even close to all of them, but there is a good sampling of them to play during your Christmas celebration. This connection also includes the Frosty The Dopeman version that you probably heard on Dr. Demento, which for some reason I always had thought was Cheech and Chong, but wasn't. Cocteau Twins do one of my favorite versions, but I also like the Jack Frost Band which was a snowman movie on it's own right. Jimmy Durante is the best of all, but you have to like the surf versions by the Ventures and also the Beach Boys. Let me know your favorite version in the comments and enjoy the upcoming Christmas or Xmas.

What's The Connection? Frosty The Snowman

01 Dan Tyminski - Frosty the Snowman

02 Fats Domino - Frosty The Snowman

03 Nat King Cole - Frosty The Snowman

04 Bowling For Soup - Frosty The Snowman

05 Gene Autry - Frosty The Snowman

06 Man Or Astroman - Frosty The Snowman

07 Jimmy Durante - Frosty the Snowman

08 Beach Boys - Frosty The Snowman

09 The Ventures - Frosty the Snowman

10 Esquivel - Frosty the Snowman

11 The Roches - Frosty The Snowman

12 6 Feet Deep - Frosty The Snowman

13 Bing Crosby - Frosty the Snowman

14 FroSTed - Frosty The Snowman

15 The Jackson 5 - Frosty the Snowman

16 Cocteau Twins - Frosty The Snowman

17 The Jack Frost Band - Frosty the Snowman

18 The Ronettes - Frosty the Snowman

19 Mitch Miller & His Orchestra - Frosty The Snowman

20 Claudja Barry - Let It Snow-Frosty The Snowman

21 Brenda Lee - Frosty The Snowman

22 Kenny G - Rudolph The Rednose Reindeer-Frosty The Snowman

23 Ella Fitzgerald - Frosty The Snowman

24 Marc Zydiak - Frosty the Dopeman

Mateo's Xmas

This is one for my brother. He would play this homemade cassette in his car and at home around Christmas and it began to grow on me. So I redid it as a CD and gave it to him one year, because by then he didn't have a cassette player anymore. And it's joined my pick of Christmas songs we play each year. Now it's available for you to play as a compilation playlist in your family's celebration. Probably would pair well with the Christmas Disco playlist from a few weeks ago. I hope you like it. If you do, thank him in the comments. Mateo, here it is again.

Mateo's Xmas

1 Stephen Bishop - Let It Snow

02 Louise Mandrell - All I Want for Christmas (Dear Is You)

03 Bellamy Brothers - Having A Tropical Christmas

04 Holly Dunn - Feliz Navidad

05 Clint Black - Till Santa's Gone

06 Commodores - Sleigh Ride

07 Ricky Van Shelton - Country Christmas

08 Glenn Medeiros - Merry Christmas Darling

09 Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers - I Believe In Santa Claus

10 José Feliciano - Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem

11 Kathie Lee Gifford - It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

12 Karla Bonoff - The First Noel

13 Juice Newton - Christmas Needs Love To Be Christmas

14 Kenny Loggins - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

15 Mac McAnally - Just One Night

16 Ray Charles - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

17 Stephen Bishop - Jingle Bell Rock

18 Stephen Bishop - The Christmas Song

19 Andrew Gold - On Christmas Eve

20 Commodores - Do You Hear What I Hear-

21 Willie Nelson And The Country Choir - Away In A Manger

22 Christopher Cross - The Best Christmas

23 John Tesh - In A Child's Eyes

24 Kim Carnes - Run, Run Rudolph

25 Don McLean - Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer

Taking It Back 1

This started as a CD to bring to DJ gigs when I wanted to play an oldies R&B set or Motown. And much of it is Motown or Motown influenced, but I didn't limit this pick to Detroit. Any good danceable song with that kind of feel was good. So Stax and Philly etc were not excluded. Nor were more recent songs, like parody band Big Daddy or other bands such as Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings. I just wanted to be able to grab a CD and know I could play pretty much any track and be okay. It eventually became volume 2 and 3 (which I will post later). But these are all songs, that I would dance to in a set like this. Hopefully you aren't too critical of the choices and that you give me some good suggestions for what you would add. Especially newer tracks that would fit in. The title is sort of the cliche DJ phrase, so I used it.

Taking It Back 1

01 Carla Thomas - B-A-B-Y

02 Mary Wells - My Guy

03 Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - The Love I Lost (Part 1)

04 Solomon Burke - Everybody Needs Somebody to Love

05 Ray Charles - What'd I Say (Parts I & II)

06 Martha & The Vandellas - (Love Is Like A) Heatwave

07 Jackie Wilson - Reet Petite (The Finest Girl You Ever Want To Meet)

08 Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - Just Dropped in (to See What Condition My Condition Was In)

09 Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street - Express Yourself

10 Jackson 5 - ABC

11 Big Daddy - Hold On

12 The Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup

13 Eddie Floyd - Knock on Wood

14 Sam & Dave - Hold On! I'm Comin'

15 Marvin Gaye - How Sweet It Is

16 Gladys Knight & The Pips - I Heard It Through The Grapevine

17 The Temptations - Ain't Too Proud To Beg

18 The Marvelettes - Please Mr. Postman

19 Junior Walker and the All Stars - Shotgun

20 The Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself

21 Smokey Robinson and the Miracles - The Tears Of A Clown

22 Diana Ross & The Supremes - Love Is Like An Itching In My Heart

23 The Miracles - Going To A Go-Go

24 The Temptations - Get Ready

25 Stevie Wonder - Uptight (Everything's Alright)

26 Diana Ross & The Supremes - Baby Love

Phaux Philly Pick

Sometimes I just get what I think are brilliant ideas. This pick is one of them. The Sound Of Philadelphia by non-TSOP bands. Not just Blue-Eyed Soul or as Bowie described it: Plastic Soul. But also bands such as the Jacksons, who made their TSOP album with most of the same people, but definitely was not TSOP. But also some fun tracks that were influenced by the movement: from Bowie to Elton to Lennon to Queen. Not forgetting Simply Red and The Style Council. There's probably way more of this than I have scraped together here, but that is for you to point out so I can make another volume of this. BTW, try my Fauxtown Pick for something similar in idea, but totally different. And for the real TSOP try my pick Philly Steak back a month or so ago.

Phaux Philly Pick

01 Bobby Caldwell - What You Won't Do For Love

02 Simply Red - Holding Back The Years (Extended)

03 Todd Rundgren - Hello It's Me

04 Teddy Pendergrass - Close The Door

05 Jacksons - Enjoy Yourself

06 David Bowie - Golden Years

07 Lou Rawls - You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine

08 Barry White - Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe

09 Boys II Men - Motownphilly

10 Dionne Warwick - Once You Hit The Road

11 Ritchie Family - Brazil

12 Elton John - Philadelphia Freedom

13 John Lennon - Whatever Gets You Thru The Night

14 Elton John & Kiki Dee - Don't Go Breaking My Heart

15 Graham Parker - Hold Back The Night

16 The Style Council - Shout To The Top!

17 Queen - Cool Cat

18 Nat Turner Rebellion - Never Too Late

19 Daryl Hall & John Oates - Sara Smile

What's The Connection? Jones

This was a fun one to make. Started with Billy Paul and Kool & The Gang. Always liked those songs. Some of the new wave songs always brought me back to those two. And I got reminded again when I saw the Amy Winehouse biography. So it wasn't too hard to find a bunch of covers and there are several good ones, but I left the bulk of them out of this Connection. I must say I do like the Michael Buble version, even though I left it out with the rest. Billy Paul will have to do. So a variety of songs and all with Jones in the title. I made the cover from a still from the movie Keeping Up With The Joneses which is pretty darn good. And this scene is perfect. All four of the principles are good together and I cracked up when I saw it. Although you would think that maybe Little Feat, The Surf or Johnny Paycheck might have been used in the film, but they weren't as far as I remember.  So enjoy this and let me know if you know of any more that fit the connection, so I can make a second volume.

What's The Connection? Jones

01 Gloria Gaynor - The Story Of The Joneses

02 Amy Winehouse - Me & Mr.Jones

03 Kool & The Gang - Jones Vs. Jones

04 Mavericks - Mr. Jones

05 Steve Howe - Mr. Jones

06 Billy Paul - Me and Mrs. Jones

07 Johnny Paycheck - Keeping Up With The Joneses

08 Talking Heads - Mr. Jones

09 The Grass Roots - Mr. Jones (Ballad Of A Thin Man)

10 Ramsey Lewis - Hey, Mrs. Jones

11 Johnny Guitar Watson - Forget The Joneses

12 The Surf - Keeping Up With The Jones's

13 Circle Jerks - Mrs. Jones

14 Ocean Colour Scene - Mrs Jones

15 Floor - Trusting Mr. Jones

16 Jeannie C. Riley - Ex-Mrs Jones

17 Counting Crows - Mr. Jones

18 Little Feat - Keepin' Up With The Joneses

19 Lords Of Acid - She And Mr. Jones (Uncensored Version)

20 Psychedelic Furs - Mr. Jones

21 Enuff Z'nuff - Mr. Jones

What's The Connection? Touch 2

The continuation of the Touch What's The Connection. And I already know. Why weren't some of these on volume 1? They're great Touch songs. I know. I had to save some for this volume. And I still haven't even touched all the other great songs that would fit on these two volumes. See yesterday for volume one if you didn't see it already. Let me know what I blatantly missed in the comments. I can take it. I should have put one of the Kiss songs on volume 1, but I didn't. The Doors. I get it. Now, just start playing the volumes and stop giving me so much crud about what it could have been. BTW, are the fingerprints the same?

What's The Connection? Touch 2

21 Rod Stewart - Love Touch

22 Def Leppard - I Wanna Touch U

23 Peter Gabriel - I Have The Touch

24 Judas Priest - A Touch Of Evil

25 Deep Purple - A Touch Away

26 Giorgio Moroder & Joe Esposito - Too Hot To Touch

27 Kiss - Hold Me, Touch Me (Think Of Me When We're Apart)

28 Ed Sheeran - Touch And Go

29 Doors - Touch Me

30 Rolling Stones - Losing My Touch

31 Kiss - Magic Touch

32 Death In June - Touch Defiles

33 Aerosmith - Magic Touch

34 Depeche Mode - Soft Touch-Raw Nerve

35 Elvis Presley - He Touched Me

36 Rush - Secret Touch

37 Genesis - Invisible Touch

38 Bob Marley - Touch Me

39 Michael Jackson - Touch The One You Love

What's The Connection? Touch

There are a lot of songs with Touch in the title. This connection is volume one of my pick of Touch songs. It didn't take much for making this way back when, because most all of these were in my playing now pile or albums. Again a wide variety of musical styles in this volume and the next. I have to say something about the cover, because I liked so much. Are they someone's fingerprints? Whose are they? I won't tell, but the mystery continues. Who touched this WTC compilation? As a Rocky Horror fan, of course this is the first track. And the oldies sounding Tubes track was also a no-brainer as are most of these tracks. Not too sure if everyone will know Code Blue however. This LA band had a bigger hit, but nothing that was huge. This track is actually my favorite of the band and I like that I have it on blue colored vinyl which is a bonus. Do check out their other stuff, it's good and they deserved more. I'll post Touch 2 later.

What's The Connection? Touch

01 Rocky Horror - Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me

02 The Tubes - Don't Touch Me There

03 Buzzcocks - Why Can't I Touch It

04 AC-DC - Touch Too Much

05 Bill Nelson's Red Noise - Don't Touch Me (I'm Electric)

06 Code Blue - Whisper-Touch

07 Blondie - (I'm Always Touched By Your) Presence Dear

08 Book Of Love - I Touch Roses

09 Divinyls - I Touch Myself

10 Cars - Touch and Go

11 Elvis Costello - Human Touch

12 Grateful Dead - Touch Of Grey

13 Lene Lovich - Too Tender To (Touch)

14 Dan Hill - Sometimes When We Touch

15 Diana Ross - Touch Me In The Morning

16 Cathy Dennis - Touch Me (All Night Long)

17 Daryl Hall & John Oates - Out Of Touch

18 Midnight Star - Midas Touch

19 The Platters - (You've Got) The Magic Touch

20 MC Hammer - U Can't Touch This

What's The Connection? Phone

This was one of the easiest Connections for me to make. I knew these songs pretty much all of them right off the top of my head. I know there are other choices (especially where's Blondie's version of Call Me) but these are the ones I was concentrating on then. As you can tell a mish mash of genres and styles, but all songs I had been wanting to put on a compilation. I don't think this was that far off the release of the Fall release and I was enjoying it. Melon is  one of those bands that I wish more people knew about (this track features a member or two from the B-52's). Anyway I love all these songs (even the Village People). I hope you like this too.

What's The Connection? Phone

01 Electric Light Orchestra - Telephone Line

02 Heatwave - All You Do Is Dial

03 Nancy Sinatra - Call Me

04 Kraftwerk - The Telephone Call

05 Village People - Sex Over The Phone

06 Coldcut - My Telephone

07 The Fall - Telephone Thing

08 Pete Shelley - Telephone Operator

09 Blondie - Hanging On The Telephone

10 The Pretenders - The Phone Call

11 X - Your Phone's Off The Hook, But You're Not

12 Wall Of Voodoo - Call Box

13 Melon - I Will Call You (And Other Famous Last Words)

14 The Faint - Phone Call

15 Suzanne Fellini - Love On The Phone

16 Sheena Easton - Telefone (Long Distance Love Affair)

17 Swingerhead - Pick Up the Phone

18 The Box Tops - Call Me

19 The Beach Boys - Had To Phone Ya

20 Albert King - Phone Booth

21 Meri Wilson - Telephone Man

22 Manhattan Transfer - Operator

What's The Connection? Photo

This one is a connection of songs about photos, cameras, etc. So many to include here, so I picked the ones I liked best, as usual. Although I skipped an obvious one: Centerfold because I chose the "other one" by J Geils Band. Same with I Am A Camera, except I chose the other band's version. Yes instead of Buggles. I like those other songs, but I just wasn't picturing them on this one. Probably one of my favorites of all of these is Figures On A Beach. They had a semi hit later on that I think was more known that was a BTO cover and another song that wasn't a hit, but seems to be the song that gets played (No Stars) but people are missing out. The track on here is better and only was hurt by no real record label push. Much better song and it fits the WTC. The only track that totally fits, but doesn't fit is by the Vapors. Obviously it is about pictures, but only the slightly racist title gives it away. Luckily, we Asians have a much better sense of humor than some others may.

What's The Connection? Photo

01 Fabulous Poodles - Tit Photographer Blues

02 Cure - Pictures of You

03 Status Quo - Pictures Of Matchstick Men

04 Vapors - Turning Japanese

05 J Geils Band - Freeze-Frame

06 Peter Murphy - I've Got A Secret Miniature Camera

07 Mr. Cheeks - Lights, Camera, Action!

08 Ringo Starr - Photograph

09 George Jones - A Picture Of Me (Without You)

10 Jody Watley - Photographs

11 A Flock Of Seagulls - Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You) (Edit)

12 The Who - Pictures Of Lily

13 Yes - Into The Lens (I Am A Camera) (Single Version)

14 Duran Duran - Girls On Film

15 Paul Simon - Kodachrome

16 Action Action - Photograph

17 Bucks Fizz - My Camera Never Lies

18 Rod Stewart - Every Picture Tells a Story

19 Nickelback - Photograph

20 Figures On A Beach - In Camera Obscura

21 Depeche Mode - Photographic

What's The Connection? Brains

It doesn't take much brains to figure out these are my favorite Brains songs in this What's The Connection. I know some of these are long, but that's what it takes. Best guitar solo of all time (arguably) with Eddie Hazel. A "not that well known" reggae song by a band that should be known better: Inka Inka: Make sure people know about this band (and this great song). It's hard to dislike a playlist that has both ELP and Budgie on it, but you have to love any playlist that ends with Flipper, too. I wish I could make it be an interlocked track like on the 45 so it just repeats over and over again. Like real Brainwashing (set it on repeat to get the effect). The rest are all good as you know or will know soon.

What's The Connection? Brains

01 Funkadelic - Maggot Brain

02 Pink Floyd - Brain Damage

03 Rihanna - Love on the Brain

04 Dillinger - Cocaine In My Brain

05 Inka Inka - Brainwash

06 The Connells - Insane in the Brain

07 AC-DC - Brain Shake

08 Emerson Lake & Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery

09 Budgie - Crash Course In Brain Surgery

10 Stranglers - Brainbox

11 George Harrison - Brainwashed

12 Ringo Starr - Wrack My Brain

13 Brainticket - Brainticket, Pt 1

14 The Fall - Butterflies 4 Brains

15 Soft Boys - Sandra's Having Her Brain Out

16 Devo - S.I.B. (Swelling Itching Brain)

17 Flipper - Brainwash

What's The Connection? Bounce

This Connection is all about songs with Bounce in the title. Started because I was listening to Zapp and Tom Tom Club and thinking, "I know some more bounce songs..." And I did as you can see, not all of them about the same thing, but that's okay. There was a whole "Bounce" movement, I think, during the swing era. But I haven't checked that out yet, It's just what I recollect. So get ready to bounce, here is your What's The Collection about Bouncing songs. Not all superballs and slinky's. Enjoy.

What's The Connection? Bounce

01 Byron Lee & the Dragonaires - Bounce

02 Janet Jackson - Strawberry Bounce

03 Zapp - More Bounce to the Ounce, Part 1

04 The Fall - Life Just Bounces

05 Bon Jovi - Bounce

06 The Chemical Brothers - Shake Break Bounce

07 Blind John Davis - Bartender's Bounce

08 Tom Tom Club - Time To Bounce

09 Sarah Connor - Bounce

10 Tony Toni Tone - Bounce Around

11 Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra - Bill's Bounce

12 MVP - Bounce, Shake, Move, Stop!

13 Piano Red - Atlanta Bounce

14 Juvenile - Bounce Back

15 Funkadelic - Brettino's Bounce

16 New Morty Show - Buddah's Bounce

17 Steve 'n' King - Bounce

18 Mark Wilson and his Swingers - Jersey Bounce

19 Brooklyn Bounce - Get Ready to Bounce

20 DJ Kizzy Rock - Bounce It Y'all

21 Olympics - The Bounce

22 Tarkan - Bounce

23 Red Foley - Birmingham Bounce

What Is The Connection? Pants

I did a similar kind of WTC earlier that was Jeans. It was pretty good, but obviously left out some potential songs. This covers the Pants portion. It was bound to come. Only one track is not "Pants" and that's the Baggy Trousers one which we can agree is pretty close to pants. I have enough to make a few of these, but only one right now. There are several songs with Hot Pants in the title, plus covers of those songs. Who came out first? Probably not James Brown. Gene Summers had a song called Hot Pants before JB (look for it in volume two), Hank Carbo's family says that Hank made his version before JB as well. I don't know. Bobby Caldwell may be sincere, but maybe not, but looks like he copied his version. My favorite Pants songs are here. Besides all the excitement Hilary ends this set of captivating music with a funny track.

What Is The Connection? Pants

01 The Donnas - Hot Pants

02 Jim Steinman with Karla DeVito - Dance In My Pants

03 Moe. - Seat Of My Pants

04 Avril Lavigne - SpongeBob SquarePants Theme

05 James Brown - Hot Pants, Pt. 1

06 Hank Carbo - Hot Pants

07 Wee Willie Mason - Funky, Funky, Hot Pants

08 Bobby Byrd - Hot Pants... I'm Coming

09 Brad Paisley - The Pants

10 The B-52's - Hot Pants Explosion

11 Cameo - Shake Your Pants

12 Ann Magnuson - Miss Pussy Pants

13 The Cramps - I Wanna Get in Your Pants

14 Fishbone - Where'd You Get Those Pants

15 Barnes & Barnes - Party In My Pants

16 Frenzel Rhomb - My Pants Keep Falling Down

17 Greg Hawkes - Ants In Your Pants

18 AC-DC - Caught With Your Pants Down

19 Madness - Baggy Trousers

20 Sparks - Angst In My Pants

21 Hilary - Drop Your Pants

Bubblegum Pick

As a boy, before I ever even thought of collecting records, I started getting records. Mostly because they came in cereal boxes. I started listening to all the early morning and afternoon cartoons. And because I did, I came across the latest sounds from the latest bands. How did I know that they were mostly manufactured hit machines that didn't exist in real life. The Banana Splits, The Archies, Josie and the Pussycats, The Partridge Family, The Monkees. I believed they were real. They sounded real. The songs were real. And they were perfect for me, a dumb boy in suburbia to learn and sing over and over again. As I grew older and discovered a whole other world of music, I realized that much of it that I loved derived from those old manufactured bands. Garage bands, jangly psychedelic, glam, punk and even funk and disco got some of what they called "Bubblegum" stuck on them. Maybe just on the bottom of their shoe, where they pretended it didn't exist and some more blatantly like the punk bands that covered some of these hits. Either way it was a genre that persisted long after its demise.  

When Butterboy posted his amazing collection Bubblegum Festival, and I compared it to the compilation I had made some time ago, I realized that he had used almost all of the songs I had, but I had a few left to make one more companion pick. I offer it here to you. Make sure to look the BB version as it has all the songs you know that make up the genre.

Adding such bubblegum favorites as the Banana Splits (which had great cartoons, Danger Island as well as the great songs in between each episode). The Banana Splits are not only one of our favorites, but also famed LA punk rockers: The Dickies who covered the theme song (look for it on yellow vinyl 45 for some real fun). But matching the original compilation's DeFranco Family hit, I added both the Jackson Five (who had a fun cartoon to match) and The Sylvers who had both bubblegum and later disco hits that bordered on the bubblegum. Some of these tracks could be on the cusp of other genres. Is it Glam? Or is it Bubblegum? The Sweet certainly crossed the barrier. They ended with bubblegum, glam, rock, hard rock and prog hits. Bay City Rollers straddled the fence with their big hit. You'll also notice from Riverdale, both the other hit from the Archies and a couple by their neighbors: Josie and the Pussycats. The latter famous for having a future Charlie's Angel in the band (Cheryl Ladd aka Cherie Moor, even though she was Cheryl Jean Stoppelmoor then and played regular tennis with my cousin - I never got to meet her, darnn.) They had several songs that did quite well, including the title theme. The reboot on the live-action movie did not do that great, but the song was brought into a rock feel with another chance with a hidden behind the scenes band, this time Letters To Cleo (and the soundtrack again did well) just to show you these songs all have some staying power. Anyway, enjoy this adjunct collection and make sure you look for the track by the Rock & Roll Dubble Bubble Trading Company. See. Bubblegum is everywhere!

Bubblegum Pick

01 Josie and the Pussycats - Every Beat Of My Heart

02 Partridge Family - I Can Feel Your Heartbeat

03 Jackson Five - I Want You Back

04 Sylvers - Cotton Candy

05 Lancelot Link And The Evolution - Sha-La-Love You

06 The Archies - Bang-Shang-A-Lang

07 Tommy Roe - Jam Up Jelly Tight

08 The Banana Splits - I Enjoy Being A Boy

09 Daniel Boone - Beautiful Sunday

10 The Street People - Jennifer Tompkins

11 Dawn - Knock Three Times

12 Barry Blue - Dancing On A Saturday Night

13 The Sweet - Little Willy

14 Sugar Bears - You Are The One

15 The Sweet - Funny Funny

16 1910 Fruitgum Company - Indian Giver

17 Tommy James And The Shondells - I Think We're Alone Now

18 The Banana Splits - Wait Til Tomorrow

19 Mac & Katie Kissoon - Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep

20 Salt Water Taffy - Finders Keepers

21 The Wombles - Remember You're A Womble

22 Bay City Rollers - Saturday Night

23 Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart - Alice Long (You're Still My Favorite Girlfriend)

24 The Monkees - Theme From The Monkees

25 Josie and the Pussycats - Josie and the Pussycats (Long single version)

26 The Banana Splits - The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana)

27 The Rock & Roll Dubble Bubble Trading Card Co. of Philadelphia - Bubble Gum Music

What's The Connection? Paul

Since my name is the same, I like this connection. All songs with Paul in the title. Mostly. I also have one Pablo and one Paula although the latter is a song with Paul all through the lyrics. Several versions of Pablo Picasso, but I went with the more original version. Hard to dislike the song, however, no matter who does it. John Cale, David Bowie all did good versions, but I like the one from the Repo Man soundtrack by Burning Sensations quite a bit. Probably because I like the movie so much. I think if I was going to pick the very, very best Paul song for me, it would have to be Nina Hagen "I Love Paul" it's just the right sentiment. I did not include Johny Hit And Run Paulene by X, even though I like the song, because it just didn't quite make the criteria for me. Good song though.

What's The Connection? Paul

01 Vince Gill - Billy Paul

02 Little Richard - Poor Boy Paul

03 Beastie Boys - Paul Revere

04 Doobie Brothers - Slippery St. Paul

05 Third Eye Blind - Dao Of St. Paul

06 Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - A Box For Black Paul

07 Willie Nelson - Me And Paul

08 MC Lyte - Lil Paul

09 Annette Funicello - Tall Paul

10 Johnny Cash - One Of These Days I'm Gonna Sit Down And Talk To Paul

11 Paul and Paula - Hey Paula

12 Modern Lovers - Pablo Picasso

13 Johnny Cash - Paul Revere

14 Nina Hagen - I Love Paul

15 Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane - Big Paul

16 NOFX - Eddie, Bruce And Paul

17 Nazz - Hang On Paul

18 Scissor Sisters - Paul McCartney

19 The Avett Brothers - Paul Newman Vs. The Demons

What is The Connection? Sisters Of Mercy

This connection will remind you of yesterday's pick, but completely different. We start off with a few of the songs that Sisters Of Mercy covered. Then some Sisters Family picks, Some covers and even a song called Sister Of Mercy (which has nothing else to do with the actual Sisters Of Mercy.) And a couple of picks that I had to leave off yesterday's pick. The related Sisterhood, The Mission and James Ray are just a few of the related family picks I could have put on here. Perhaps I will have to do a special one with just Tony James. Let me think on that one. Notice that the cover has the WTC? Logo on it.

What is The Connection? Sisters Of Mercy

01 The Stooges - 1969

02 Suicide - Ghost Rider

03 Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter

04 Led Zeppelin - Stairway To Heaven

05 Bob Dylan - Knockin' On Heaven's Door

06 Dolly Parton - Jolene

07 Joy Division - Sister Ray

08 Ghost Dance - Walk In My Shadow

09 The Mission - Serpents Kiss

10 James Ray And The Performance - Edie Sedgwick

11 Sisters Of Mercy - Ribbons

12 Sisters Of Mercy - Amphetamine Logic

13 Sisterhood - Giving Ground

14 Poesie Noire - Marian

15 Thompson Twins - Sister Of Mercy

16 Gun Club - Walkin' With The Beast

Sisters Of Mercy Pick

First time I heard the Sisters Of Mercy, I was hooked. And the more I listened to the band, the more I liked them. Sometimes you just know. It's not the all black clothing. It's not the danceable rhythmic beat of the drum machine. It's not the gloomy yet exciting voice and lyrics. It's all those things and more. I had a coworker who was so into this band, he'd dress in black all day everyday. His hair was dyed black. He just lived this band. I never got that much into them, but I did enough to make a couple of comps. This one is just my pick of songs that I liked. Not all on their best of's, so I figured I just share what I like. Tomorrow another view.

Sisters Of Mercy Pick

01 Sisters Of Mercy - Doctor Jeep

02 Sisters Of Mercy - Temple Of Love (7-inch Edit)

03 Sisters of Mercy - Gimme Shelter

04 Sisters Of Mercy - Dominion

05 Sisters Of Mercy - When You Don't See Me (Remix)

06 Sisters Of Mercy - Black Planet

07 Sisters Of Mercy - More

08 Sisters Of Mercy - Lucretia My Reflection

09 Sisters Of Mercy - Marian (Version)

10 Sisters Of Mercy - No Time to Cry

11 Sisters Of Mercy - Walk Away

12 Sisters Of Mercy - Detonation Boulevard

13 Sisters Of Mercy - You Could Be The One

14 Sisters Of Mercy - Alice

15 Sisters of Mercy - This Corrosion (Single Version)

16 Sisters Of Mercy - Emma

17 Sisters Of Mercy - Vision Thing

Pop Rocks 5

The last of the volumes of Pop Rocks. Basically rock songs that weren't too heavy, probably ones that everyone else hated, but that I loved on the radio or at home. No other rhyme or reason, just my pick of rock that is pop. At this point I have no idea if there ever was a blue Pop Rocks candy, but it doesn't matter. The music certainly isn't blue either. I like to put these volumes in one folder and play all. Even though they are in a BPM order, you do not have to play it that way, Just do random play and it still sounds good.

Pop Rocks 5

86 Night Ranger - Sister Christian

87 Raspberries - Overnight Sensation (Hit Record)

88 Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - I Won't Back Down

89 Electric Light Orchestra - Don't Bring Me Down

90 Ringo Starr - No No Song

91 Moody Blues - Go Now!

92 The Babys - Every Time I Think Of You

93 Steely Dan - Do It Again

94 Three Dog Night - Shambala

95 Blackfoot - Highway Song

96 Van Morrison - Domino

97 Crow - Evil Woman Don't You Play Your Games With Me

98 Jigsaw - Sky High

99 Foghat - Drivin' Wheel

100 Poison - Every Rose Has Its Thorn

101 Starship - We Built This City

102 The Band - Up On Cripple Creek

103 Hotlegs - Neanderthal Man

104 Arrows - A Touch Too Much

105 ZZ Top - Tube Snake Boogie

Pop Rocks 4

After that quick break, we're back with volume four of Pop Rocks. Poppy sounding rock, probably played on AM radio somewhere, but definitely in my head. So many songs that could fit in one category or another and this doesn't really meet any categorization criteria except pop rock. Enjoy it or don't. I have one more volume of this pick after this, then go ahead and leave your suggestions for volume 6. Was there a green flavor of Pop Rocks? Green Apple?

Pop Rocks 4

64 Jim Stafford - Spiders And Snakes

65 Ted Nugent - Wango Tango

66 Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - I Love Rock n Roll

67 Blood, Sweat, And Tears - Spinning Wheel

68 Beatnix - Stairway to Heaven

69 Jethro Tull - Bungle In The Jungle

70 Boston - More Than A Feeling

71 Foghat - Slow Ride

72 Bon Jovi - It's My Life

73 The Blues Image - Ride Captain Ride

74 Sweet - Fox On The Run

75 Jefferson Starship - Ride the Tiger

76 Tony Joe White - Polk Salad Annie

77 Balance - Breaking Away

78 Asia - Heat Of The Moment

79 Bay City Rollers - Saturday Night

80 Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Blinded By The Light

81 Todd Rundgren - Bang The Drum All Day

82 ZZ Top - Tush

83 Quiet Riot - Cum On Feel The Noize

84 Twisted Sister - We're Not Gonna Take It

85 Sammy Hagar - Red

Xmas (Christmas) Disco 1

December 5th is Saint Nicholas day or for me the Dutch Christmas: Sinterklaas. Search Christmas or Xmas for previously posted playlists for this season. I was brought up with Sinterklaas and Zwaarte Piet. And have always loved both Christmas days. I wanted you to ge a little head start on it this year, so 5th of December it is. These songs are the more disco versions of the season. Disco from the 70's up until now. I like that the cover reminds me of my several Disco Ball pick series, but also has that Christmas-y feel to it too. Happy Sinterklaas!

Xmas (Christmas) Disco 1

01 Spice Girls - Sleigh Ride

02 Whigfield - Last Christmas

03 The Waitresses - Christmas Wrapping

04 Erasure - She Won't Be Home (redux)

05 Fancy - Jingle Bells And Candy Canes

06 Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with David Arnold - Hooked On Christmas

07 Hilary Duff - Santa Claus Lane

08 Salsoul Orchestra - Christmas Medley

09 Earth, Wind & Fire - December

10 Pet Shop Boys - It Doesn't Often Snow At Christmas

11 The Sisterhood - The Rocking Disco Santa Claus

12 Sia - Candy Cane Lane

13 Charo - (Mamacita) Donde Esta Santa Claus

14 The Cheeky Girls - Have A Cheeky Christmas

15 Village People - Disco Santa Claus (Noel)

16 Donna Summer - Rosie Christmas

17 The Mistletoe Disco Band - Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree

18 Claudja Barry - Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer

19 Yello - Jingle Bells (Santa Club Mix)

Pop Rocks 3

The best song that conveys what this compilation is about is Reunion's "Life Is a Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)". It's fast talking, it's pop, but it's rock. Like the candy, Pop Rocks is a little sweet, a little crackly, it's interesting covering flavor and fizziness. You can crunch the rock part and you can let the sweetness just fizzle through your mouth, you can let it bubble through like pop and crunch like rock. It's a pick of mostly hits but a combo of major hits with minor ones thrown in for good measure. I have more to post, but I will skip a day or so I can get a comp playlist specific to December in here.

Pop Rocks 3

42 David Essex - Rock On

43 Doobie Brothers - Black Water

44 Nick Gilder - Hot Child In The City

45 REO Speedwagon - Keep On Loving You

46 Triumph - Lay It On The Line

47 Toto - Hold The Line

48 Supertramp - The Logical Song

49 Reunion - Life Is A Rock (But The Radio Rolled Me)

50 Dr. Hook - The Cover Of The Rolling Stone

51 Billy Joel - You May Be Right

52 Queen - Somebody to Love

53 Electric Light Orchestra - Evil Woman

54 Santana - Evil Ways

55 Lindsey Buckingham - Trouble

56 Fleetwood Mac - Black Magic Woman

57 Steve Miller Band - Take The Money And Run

58 Sugarloaf featuring Jerry Corbetta - Don't Call Us, We'll Call You

59 Rocky Burnette - Tired Of Toein' The Line

60 Runt - We Gotta Get You A Woman

61 Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - I Need To Know

62 Kiss - Rock And Roll All Night

63 Jackson Browne - Stay

Pop Rocks 2

This pick extends a few more days. One thing about this compilation playlist, it is popular.  People pick it and play it. After this volume you will get the idea of the feeling I was going for with all of them. Slightly, Pop, slightly Rock. Not Yacht rock, and also not too heavy. I did put together my pick of Yacht rock and at times it almost seems to crossover. But anytime it did, I tried to nip that in the bud. I didn't quite succeed, but it's getting there.

Pop Rocks 2

22 Aldo Nova - Fantasy

23 Billy Squier - The Stroke

24 Foreigner - Hot Blooded

25 Gary Wright - Love Is Alive

26 Steppenwolf - Magic Carpet Ride

27 Troggs - Wild Thing

28 Free - All Right Now

29 The Guess Who - No Time

30 Bachman Turner Overdrive - You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet

31 Chicago - 25 Or 6 To 4

32 Grand Funk - Bad Time

33 Sugarloaf - Green-Eyed Lady

34 Doobie Brothers - Listen to the Music

35 Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - Hollywood Nights

36 Peter Frampton - Baby, I Love Your Way

37 Pat Travers - Boom Boom

38 Barnstorm - Rocky Mountain Way

39 Argent - Hold Your Head Up

40 The Zombies - Time Of The Season

41 Nazareth - Love Hurts

Pop Rocks 1

This is one of those picks that makes total sense to me, but may not be clear to everyone else. These playlists (there are five so far) are all my picks of rock that's a bit more on the poppier side. And I always did like the Pop Rocks candy, so that became the title and cover. Much of these cross over to different genres and styles, but to me it makes sense. After you listen to a few volumes, you can give me a thumbs up or thumbs down.

Pop Rocks 1

01 Elvin Bishop - Fooled Around And Fell In Love

02 Rick Springfield - Jessie's Girl

03 Sniff 'n' The Tears - Driver's Seat

04 Tommy Tutone - Jenny 867-5309

05 Santana (Featuring Rob Thomas) - Smooth

06 Steve Miller Band - Rockin' Me

07 Journey - Any Way You Want It

08 Golden Earring - Radar Love

09 Cheap Trick - I Want You To Want Me

10 Ides Of March - Vehicle

11 J Geils Band - Must Of Got Lost

12 Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Don't Do Me Like That

13 Bad Company - Can't Get Enough

14 Brownsville Station - Smokin' In The Boy's Room

15 Thin Lizzy - The Boys Are Back In Town

16 38 Special - Hold On Loosely

17 Shocking Blue - Venus

18 Eddie Money - Two Tickets To Paradise

19 Edgar Winter's White Trash - Keep Playin' That Rock 'n' Roll

20 Greg Kihn Band - The Breakup Song (The Don't Write 'em)

21 AC-DC - You Shook Me All Night Long (Ultimix Remix)

Pub Rock

For me, Pub rock became a thing when Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Rockpile, Wreckless Eric came to my attention. When I started to follow it collecting records, I was not surprised how much I liked. This is my pick of the records I collected from this genre. I had fun with the cover although I cannot say that it is from an actual British Pub. And that is kind of where all the pub rock bands originated. But I am blatantly promoting a beer from Sacramento that I officially no longer have any stake in. Although this is my favorite one they brew (except for the Hoppy Claus, that's excellent too). In fact all their beers are quite good. I won't mention that they are Hoppy Brewing in Sacramento at the rails. Don't mention this blog to the manager, Troy, because you will not get anything special for it. Nothing. Maybe they will let you wash dishes. But probably not even that. Even if you mention that the lettering of the title is filled with their beer. He won't be impressed.

Pub Rock

01 Ducks Deluxe - Coast To Coast

02 Dr. Feelgood - Milk And Alcohol

03 Eddie & The Hot Rods - Teenage Depression

04 Bees Make Honey - Caldonia

05 Nine Below Zero - Doghouse

06 Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knockin'

07 Wreckless Eric - Whole Wide World

08 Nick Lowe - I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass

09 Graham Parker - Local Girls

10 Ace - How Long

11 Ian Dury - Wake Up And Make Love With Me

12 Mickey Jupp - Switchboard Susan

13 Bees Make Honey - Music Every Night

14 Nick Lowe - Cruel To Be Kind

15 Brinsley Schwarz - Surrender To The Rhythm

16 The Count Bishops - Teenage Letter

17 The 101'ers - Sweet Revenge

18 Motors - Airport

19 Kilburn & The High Roads - Rough Kids

20 Eddie & The Hot Rods - Do Anything You Want To Do

21 Elvis Costello - Welcome to the Working Week

22 Rockpile - Teacher Teacher

23 Electric Bluebirds - Back On The Train

Qawwality Bhangra 2

 I really like these two volumes of Bhangra music. I have no idea why I never made anymore. I should. There are probably tons of newer artists doing this kind of stuff. At least I hope so. I haven't kept track. I really, really would love your suggestions on more songs that fit into this compilation pick. Most of what I know comes up to early 2000's. I just know there must be some more great stuff out there. I'll just have to look for it. Picks of bhangra mixed with dance music. Good luck to me. In the meantime enjoy this next selection, never before shared.

Qawwality Bhangra 2

01 Snap vs Motivo - The Power Of Bhangra

02 Bally Sagoo - Chura Liya

03 Amarjit Sidhu - Sham Sham

04 Intermix - Bhar Phar Nee

05 Apache Indian - Chok There

06 Panjabi MC - Mundian To Bach Ke

07 Bombay Talkie - Chargiye

08 Anakhi - Giddhe Vich

09 Golden Star UK - Hey Jamalo (Def Mix)

10 Opium Jukebox - Iron Man

11 Bhangra Knights featuring Husan - Husan

12 Bollywood Freaks - Don't Stop Till You Get To Bollywood

13 Johnny Zee - Yaar Nach La

14 Dhol Foundation - Punjab De Rang (Colours Of Punjab)

15 Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Mustt Mustt (Lost In His Work)

16 Ice-T - Bhangra

Qawwality Bhangra 1

I'm too clever for my own good. The title of this and the next pick probably only makes sense to me. Qawwali is a genre of music, Bhangra is a style of music. I mostly got in to this music because of Bally Sagoo. I heard a couple of his albums, which basically were bhangra remixes of classic songs. Think India meets dance music or Bollywood vs Hollywood in the dance club. After hearing those remixes, I searched out the originals and more remixes. Not sure if I liked all of the ones I found, but I do like my pick of this. I have not watched lots of Bollywood, but what I've seen I've liked. These are longer songs and since I don't speak the language, I have no idea of what the lyrics mean, but you have got to hear how danceable this is. By the way I got to see Nusrat Fateh Ali Kahn live. What a great singer. His voice was like angels. All this was years ago.

Qawwality Bhangra 1

01 Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan - Jewel

02 Malkit Singh - Jugni

03 New Pardesi Music Machine - Pump Up The Bhangra

04 Suns Of Arqa - Govinda's House

05 Ashoka - Bhangra Pa Ja

06 Pardesi - Lak Tunu Tunu

07 Geet Mega Band - Sun Nee Kuriye

08 Pammi - Sarke Sarke

09 Bapphi Lahira - Habiba

K-Pop 2

I'm not going to pretend that I know much of anything about K-Pop, other than that I like some of it. This is my pick volume 2. But what you don't know is that completely unrelated to this music, is a burger joint in my area that I think is pretty local, called K-Pop Burgers. It's got a drive through window, but don't use it. Go inside. You will sometimes actually hear K-Pop bands and see their videos, but go there for the burgers! They serve tater-tots instead of fries (although I think you can get fries if you must - Don't do it!). The burgers are different and they are good. Huge! And they have beer floats (with beer ice cream) and beer. Not the best beer, but you have to try it at least once. You can choose from a dozen burgers or make your own. If you like Kim-Chi try the Kim-Chi burger, but anyone of them are good. 

K-Pop 2

24 BTS - Blood Sweat & Tears

25 f(x) - Nu ABO

26 BTS - Spring Day

27 Hi Suhyun featuring Bobby - I'm Different

28 SS501 - U R Man

29 Ga In - Tinkerbell

30 E.via featuring VASCO & Ji-Goo In - Oppa! Can I Do It (XXX Version)

31 Kara - Step

32 IU - Boo

33 Shinee - Lucifer

34 PSY - I Luv It

35 Hyuna - Ice Cream

36 4Minute - Muzik

37 Brown Eyed Girls - Abracadabra

38 E.via - Shake!

39 Super Junior - Sorry, Sorry

40 2Ne1 - Can't Nobody (English Ver.)

41 Girls' Generation - Run Devil Run

42 Miss A - Bad Girl Good Girl

43 BigBang - Bad Boy

44 Norazo - Curry

45 Block B - Her

46 EXO - Overdose

K-Pop 1

I figure I am going to get skewered for this post. I am not a huge K-Pop expert. Not at all. In fact I knew a few artists like 2NE1 and PSY and Hyuna that I liked. I also was aware of Chloe Wang (mostly because of Marvel). And eventually everyone knows who BTS is. They were just getting some hits when I started this compilation, so they got a slot or two. Hard not to give it to them. Anyway, I'm starting to like some of this and these are my picks to get started on this genre. Very produced artists which can be good and bad. I like the girls more, but they all have dances, seems like most have multiple singers. They are fun. I will have part 2 tomorrow.

K-Pop 1

01 Wonder Girls - Be My Baby

02 4minute - Crazy

03 EXO - Growl

04 TVXQ - Why Did I Fall In Love With You

05 Chloe Wang - Uh Oh (English Version)

06 Girls' Generation - Gee

07 BoA - No. 1

08 H-O-T - Candy

09 Teen Top - Miss Right

10 f(x) - Electric Shock

11 Shinee - Ring Ding Dong

12 Ga-In featuring Bumkey - Fxxk U

13 Super Junior - Mr Simple

14 B2ST - Fiction

15 2NE1 - I Am The Best

16 Big Bang - Fantastic Baby

17 E.via - Pick Up! U!

18 GD & TOP - High High

19 T-Ara - Roly-Poly

20 G-Dragon - Crayon

21 PSY - Gangnam Style

22 Taeyang - Ringa Linga

23 Hyuna - Bubble Pop!

J Rock Pick

Let's make it clear (and you know this if you have been following this blog over the last year) I am not the expert on any of the music I post lists about. It is always just my pick or a connection I made of songs I have heard and liked. So a story about Japan. I was an early adopter of the CD technology (well, a lot of other technologies too, but we're talking CD's here) And Japan had CD's. We mostly did not. So I would get Japanese import s to start my CD collection. Had one place that would bring new ones couple times a week. I drove 45 minutes to get to it. And they had a couple of hundred CD's to choose from. That was it. Eventually you could get them everywhere, but not in the beginning. Got all sorts of crazy things, but YMO or Yellow Magic Orchestra was one of the few Japanese bands they ever had. I love YMO, but they are not J Rock. I was still getting LP's too, though. One day in New York on a visit I saw a Japanese band perform for their first time in the US (before their tour in 1991). I loved this band! Punk, cute and very nice. A real language barrier as I spoke no Japanese and they spoke almost no English. But I met them, hung out and did our best to communicate. That band was Shonen Knife. Still collect their records. They are still great and still cute, but now older, as am I. Over the years I discovered more non-J Rock bands. Like Melon and Masami Tsuchiya and tons more that one day I will compile. Eventually I found more Japanese Rokku. Here are some of my picks of that. Not end-all, be-all, just the ones I know and like.

J Rock Pick

01 Scandal - Shunkan Sentimental

02 Band-Maid - Secret Maiko Lips

03 Puffy Amiyumi - Friends Forever

04 Asian Kung-Fu Generation - Haruka Kanata

05 Shonen Knife - Twist Barbie

06 Aldious - Bind

07 Band-Maid - Choose me

08 One Ok Rock - The Beginning

09 Maximum The Hormone - Zetsubou Billy

10 Nightmare - The World

11 Babymetal - Gimme Chocolate!!

12 Wagakki Band - Tengaku

13 Dir En Grey - The Final

14 the GazettE - Filth in the Beauty

15 The 5.6.7.8's - Woo Hoo

16 Versailles - Zombie

17 L'arc-En-Ciel - Ready Steady Go

18 X Japan - Endless Rain