Pretty Sabbath Pick

Black Sabbath was the example we used when mom would say something about "Acid Rock" or "Heavy Metal" being nothing but noise. Of course she never called it heavy metal then, it was always acid rock. There wasn't a difference. So she'd say it was all noise and then we'd play her Planet Caravan or Laguna Sunrise and let her know it was Black Sabbath, so no it didn't all sound the same and it wasn't just noise. Anyway, I put together this compilation that I called Pretty Sabbath. Later in the mid-nineties some record label put out almost the same album (same songs, different order and cover) and called it Best Ballads. But here is my pick  of it. I like my cover better and I am used to my order. Normally, I don't post anything that is available commercially, but this is slightly different. Let me know if you like it this way.

Pretty Sabbath Pick

01 Black Sabbath - Planet Caravan
02 Black Sabbath - Solitude
03 Black Sabbath - Changes
04 Black Sabbath - Laguna Sunrise
05 Black Sabbath - Fluff
06 Black Sabbath - She's Gone
07 Black Sabbath - You Won't Change Me
08 Black Sabbath - Children Of The Sea
09 Black Sabbath - The Sign Of The Southern Cross
10 Black Sabbath - Born Again
11 Black Sabbath - No Stranger To Love
12 Black Sabbath - Dying For Love
13 Black Sabbath - I Won't Cry For You
14 Black Sabbath - Too Late


Best Ballads has it like this
01 Black Sabbath - I Won't Cry For You
02 Black Sabbath - Solitude
03 Black Sabbath - Children Of The Sea
04 Black Sabbath - Born Again
05 Black Sabbath - Planet Caravan
06 Black Sabbath - You Won't Change Me
07 Black Sabbath - No Stranger To Love
08 Black Sabbath - Too Late
09 Black Sabbath - Changes
10 Black Sabbath - Dying For Love
11 Black Sabbath - The Sign Of The Southern Cross
12 Black Sabbath - She's Gone
13 Black Sabbath - Fluff
14 Black Sabbath - Laguna Sunrise

Eagles Family Pick 1

The Eagles were a complicated band. Members came and left. They worked on solo albums, they worked with other bands/artists. They showed up as backup singers for their friends, played guitar and drums. All the while having one of the most successful bands (on and off) for years. Here are some of my favorites of the "family" on this pick. One member of the Eagles at minimum had to be on each track, many times it was several. There is a part 2 coming, but you'll have to look out for that. I love that Governor Jerry Brown is on the cover (the only thing good about him is that he hung out with these guys and dated Linda Ronstadt, but still cool.)

Eagles Family Pick 1

01 Barnstorm - Rocky Mountain Way
02 Don Felder - You Don't Have Me
03 Timothy B. Schmit - Boys Night Out
04 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - I've Been Lookin'
05 Don Henley - Dirty Laundry
06 Bernie Leadon - Everybody Want
07 Poco - Nothin' To Hide
08 Linda Ronstadt - Rock Me On The Water
09 Don Felder - Heavy Metal (Takin' a Ride)
10 Eagles - Train Leaves Here This Morning
11 Don Henley - All She Wants To Do Is Dance
12 Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - Fire Lake
13 Firefall - Just Remember I Love You
14 Glenn Frey - Smuggler's Blues
15 Randy Meisner - Hearts On Fire
16 Joe Walsh - Turn to Stone
17 Glenn Frey - The Heat Is On
18 Timothy B. Schmit - So Much In Love

Michael McDonald Backup Singer Pick

This pick is about my favorite songs that have Michael McDonald as a backup singer. Most people know that he was a pivotal change for the Doobie Brothers. He took them on a second wind of hits when he joined the band. He also had a nice amount of solo hits (one of which is in this playlist). But not everybody knows that he was a background singer for a bunch of other bands. Here is my pick of them. Enjoy the music (and the cover).

Michael McDonald Backup Singer Pick

01 Toto - I'll Be Over You
02 The Warren Brothers - Better Man
03 Tim Moore - Strengthen My Love
04 Kenny Loggins - This Is It
05 Stephen Bishop - Losing Myself In You
06 Loggins & Messina - Watching The River Run
07 Rick Astley - In The Name Of Love
08 Patrick Simmons - Why You Givin' Up
09 Steely Dan - Peg
10 James Ingram With Michael McDonald - Yah Mo B There
11 Christopher Cross - Ride Like The Wind
12 Elton John - Victim Of Love
13 Diana Ross - That's How You Start Over
14 Carly Simon - One Love Stand
15 Bonnie Raitt - Runaway
16 Nicolette Larson - Let Me Go, Love
17 David Pack - I Just Can't Let Go
18 Wang Chung - A Fool And His Money
19 Little Feat - Red Streamliner

Country Stones Pick

The Rolling Stones played a lot of Rock and Roll, Rhythm and Blues and, surprisingly, a lot of country songs. A friend recently posted a compilation of Rolling Stones Love songs. It's a good collection/playlist. I made this one. There are a few tracks missing, but my criteria tends to be what fits on a CD, so if you want those last few tracks on your own playlist, you will have to add it yourself. I will list them at the end. If I missed one, let me know in the comments. The cd cover is cheesy, but works for me.

Country Stones Pick

01 Rolling Stones - Torn And Frayed
02 Rolling Stones - Sister Morphine
03 Rolling Stones - Far Away Eyes
04 Rolling Stones - Congratulations
05 Rolling Stones - It's All Over Now
06 Rolling Stones - Sweet Virginia
07 Rolling Stones - Sweet Black Angel
08 Rolling Stones - Tumbling Dice
09 Rolling Stones - Let It Bleed
10 Rolling Stones - I Got The Blues
11 Rolling Stones - Country Honk
12 Rolling Stones - Midnight Rambler
13 Rolling Stones - No Expectations
14 Rolling Stones - Dear Doctor
15 Rolling Stones - Dead Flowers
16 Rolling Stones - Moonlight Mile
17 Rolling Stones - Wild Horses
18 Rolling Stones - Loving Cup

Bonus Tracks
Rolling Stones - Let It Loose
Rolling Stones - Memory Motel
Rolling Stones - Time Waits For No One
Rolling Stones - Waiting On A Friend

En Toto Pick (Band members of Toto playing with others)

Toto has won awards had hit songs. Some people may not be aware that the members of Toto including David Paich, Steve Lukather, Bobby Kimball, brothers Jeff Porcaro and Steve Porcaro, and David Hungate were song writers and studio musicians. This pick is some of the places they've shown up. A wide body of work. I tried to pick songs with at least one of them playing on the track. There are hundreds more choices. Let me know if I missed your favorites. The title was just my version of Latin to mean Toto In Total. OK, I'm shitty at jokes. But lost of hits here.

En Toto Pick

01 Steely Dan - Any Major Dude Will Tell You
02 Boz Scaggs - Lido Shuffle
03 Michael Jackson - Human Nature
04 Michael McDonald - I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)
05 Jon Anderson - For You
06 Stevie Nicks - Stand Back
07 Chicago - Waiting For You To Decide
08 Seals & Crofts - Diamond Girl
09 George Benson - Turn Your Love Around
10 Al Jarreau - Breakin' Away
11 Cheryl Lynn - Got To Be Real
12 Lionel Richie - Running With The Night
13 Olivia Newton-John - Physical
14 Aretha Franklin - Break It To Me Gently
15 Dweezil Zappa - Stayin' Alive
16 Cherie & Marie Currie - Since You've Been Gone
17 Tubes - She's A Beauty
18 Spinal Tap - Break Like The Wind
19 Ronnie Montrose featuring Sammy Hagar & Steve Lukather - Color Blind
20 Cheap Trick - Voices

Eno One More Pick

This pick of Brian Eno is more of his production output. People are surprised, if they don't know, how much Eno has touched. I could have picked from several other albums and artists, but this is, once again, my picks of what should be here. If you have your favorites, place them in the comments. The cover is same as yesterday's but click on it anyway. Notice the diversity of genres here. Typical Eno.

Eno One More Pick

01 John Cale - Barracuda
02 U2 - One
03 Zvuki Mu - The Source of Infection
04 Jane Siberry - Sail Across The Water
05 Paul Simon - Outrageous
06 James - Laid
07 U2 with Johnny Cash - The Wanderer
08 Cluster & Brian Eno - Ho Renomo
09 John White & Gavin Bryars - Drinking & Hooting Machine
10 Ultravox! - Life At Rainbow's End (For All The Tax Exiles On Main Street)
11 Sinéad O'connor - No Matter How Hard I Try 
12 David Bowie with Pet Shop Boys - Hallo Spaceboy (Pet Shop Boys Extended Mix)
13 Talking Heads - Life During Wartime
14 Devo - Blockhead
15 Roxy Music - Editions Of You
16 David Bowie - I'm Deranged
17 Coldplay - Yes

Eno One pick

Brian Eno is one of those guys that has interested me from the start. I like pretty much most of what he touches, so take that as a warning. Not everyone loves him like I do. These are my favorite tracks that he played on, twisted adjusted, whatever. Think of this pick as an introduction to Eno. He is also a great producer. See future posts about that. For now, just look at the cover I designed (closely) and enjoy the music. What would you have added to this playlist?

Eno One Pick

01 Brian Eno - Baby's On Fire
02 Brian Eno - Driving Me Backwards
03 Brian Eno - No One Receiving
04 Brian Eno - The Fat Lady Of Limbourg
05 Roxy Music - Ladytron
06 801 - You Really Got Me
07 Phil Manzanera - Miss Shapiro
08 Cluster & Brian Eno - Broken Head
09 Brian Eno - Third Uncle
10 Brian Eno & David Byrne - The Jezebel Spirit
11 Talking Heads - Crosseyed and Painless
12 Robert Fripp &  Brian Eno - Healthy Colours III
13 David Bowie - V-2 Schneider
14 Harmonia & Eno 76 - Vamos Companeros
15 Quiet Sun - Bargain Classics
16 Brian Eno - The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh)
17 Brian Eno - I'll Come Running

Mellotron Pick 3

Here is the last one of the series. My Mellotron Pick. My favorite Mellotron songs. Make sure you check out the previous two if you haven't already. They all should go together, but each playlist has been just about CD length, because that's what I originally worked with. Now you just load up the songs and play them from your phone. Try my playlists in the order I made them, though. You will see there is a little bit of genius mixed in with the madness. They are meant to be listened to in this order. You'll see. Make sure you leave a comment with any Mellotron songs I missed (Maybe there will be a volume 4 down the line).

Mellotron Pick 3

23 Strawbs - The Life Auction
24 Barclay James Harvest - Poor Man's Moody Blues
25 Rolling Stones - 2000 Light Years From Home
26 Genesis - Eleventh Earl Of Mar
27 Moody Blues - The Voyage
28 Spring - The Prisoner (Eight By Ten)
29 Rick Wakeman - Catherine Howard
30 Genesis - Firth Of Fifth
31 Focus - Le Clochard
32 Greenslade - Feathered Friends
33 Gentle Giant - Wreck
34 Arthur Brown - The Hymn
35 Moody Blues - Beyond

Mellotron Pick 2

This is part two of the Mellotron pick. We go through a few decades of Mellotron songs during these volumes. It was very popular for certain bands to use a Mellotron, then it fell from favor and was reinstated. No rhyme or reason in why these bands and these songs, other than I like them (and they feature the Mellotron) The cover is similar, but click on it anyway. Notice the track numbers continue.

Mellotron Pick 2

11 Beggars Opera - Time Machine
12 Strawbs - New World
13 IQ - From The Outside In
14 Uriah Heep - Come Away Melinda
15 Traffic - Hole in My Shoe
16 Moody Blues - Watching And Waiting
17 XTC - Beating of Hearts
18 Steve Hackett - Shadow Of The Hierophant
19 Genesis - Dancing With The Moonlit Knight
20 Barclay James Harvest - Mockingbird
21 Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - Joan Of Arc
22 Camel - Never Let Go

Mellotron Pick 1

This is the first in a series of songs that feature the Mellotron. These are my favorite Mellotron songs. For those who don't know, the Mellotron is a sampler like keyboard. How it works is interesting, but doesn't matter for this pick. I will post three volumes over the next few days. Just know that the Mellotron has a distinctive sound which you will pick up on if you don't recognize it already. Let me know what your favorite Mellotron songs are. See the Mellotron on the playlist cover.

Mellotron Pick 1

01 Bee Gees - Every Christian Lion Hearted Man Will Show You
02 Beatles - Strawberry Fields Forever
03 Moody Blues - Tuesday Afternoon (Forever Afternoon)
04 Yes - And You And I
05 Genesis - Watcher Of The Skies
06 Pavlov's Dog - Late November
07 Led Zeppelin - Kashmir
08 King Crimson - The Court Of The Crimson King
09 David Bowie - Space Oddity
10 Tangerine Dream - Phaedra

Michael Brecker Pick

Michael Brecker was an amazing saxophonist. Any guy that can play with Frank Zappa is okay in my book. But he also played with Lou Reed, John Lennon, Parliament and well the rest of these artists on this playlist pick. Here are some of my favorite tracks featuring him. Let me know which ones I might have missed. BTW, I am putting volume one and volume two on this post, so enjoy. Click on the album cover.

Michael Brecker Pick

volume 1
01 Todd Rundgren - Hello It's Me.mp3
02 Billy Joel - Tell Her About It.mp3
03 The J. Geils Band - I Do.mp3
04 Frank Zappa - The Purple Lagoon , Approximate.mp3
05 Chaka Khan - What Cha' Gonna Do For Me.mp3
06 Parliament - Tear The Roof Off The Sucker (Give Up The Funk).mp3
07 Paul Simon - Still Crazy After All These Years.mp3
08 Carly Simon And James Taylor - Mockingbird.mp3
09 Natalie Cole - Pick Yourself Up.mp3
10 George Benson - Theme From Good King Bad.mp3

volume 2
11 Donald Fagen - I.G.Y..mp3
12 Rick James - You and I.mp3
13 Dire Straits - Your Latest Trick.mp3
14 Michael Franks - Popsicle Toes.mp3
15 Aerosmith - Same Old Song and Dance.mp3
16 John Lennon - Only People.mp3
17 Michael Brecker - The Mean Time.mp3
18 The Brecker Brothers - Some Skunk Funk.mp3
19 Lou Reed - Caroline Says II.mp3
20 Maxine Nightingale - Lead Me On.mp3
21 Blue Oyster Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper.mp3

Rod Temperton Pick

I like watching producers, writers, etc and seeing what they do. Part of the reason for this is that I discovered I liked a bunch of music and figured out that they all had this silent (or sometimes not so silent) person in common. Which made me look for more of that. Rod Temperton is one of those guys. I noticed that he appeared on all these songs and albums I liked. It started with Heatwave and Michael Jackson. There was Rod. Then Brothers Johnson and Herbie Hancock and it just grew.  Here are some of my favorite picks associated with Rod Temperton. Writer, producer, keyboards. The invisible hitmaker.

Rod Temperton Pick

01 Heatwave - Boogie Nights 
02 Brothers Johnson - Stomp
03 Michael Jackson - Rock With You
04 Donna Summer - Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)
05 Manhattan Transfer - Spice Of Life
06 Siedah Garrett - Baby's Got It Bad
07 Michael McDonald - Sweet Freedom
08 George Benson - Give Me The Night
09 Herbie Hancock - Gettin' To The Good Part
10 Bob James - The Steamin' Feelin'
11 Quincy Jones - Razzamatazz
12 Rufus And Chaka Khan - Live In Me
13 Patti Austin with James Ingram - Baby, Come To Me
14 James Ingram with Michael McDonald - Yah Mo B There
15 Tamia - You Put A Move On My Heart
16 Anita Baker - Mystery
17 Carpenters - Lovelines

Don Myrick Pick

Don Myrick is a saxophone player widely known as the the sax on many tracks, but especially on Earth, Wind and Fire's Reasons. But he has also played with Phil Collins and a ton of other bands. He's the guy they bring in when they need an amazing sax solo. Here's an assortment of the kind of stuff he plays. From his earlier band Sky through Earth, Wind & Fire to Phil Collins this pick has it all. Enjoy the sax solos all over this playlist and click on the cover.

Don Myrick Pick

01 Ramsey Lewis - Sun Goddess
02 Donny Hathaway - Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything)
03 The Intentions - Dig It (Shovel)
04 Terry Callier - You Goin' Miss Your Candyman
05 Sky - Boogie
06 The Emotions - I Don't Wanna Lose Your Love
07 Earth, Wind & Fire - Runnin'
08 Philip Bailey - Go
09 Heaven 17 - This Is Mine
10 Earth, Wind & Fire - Reasons (Live)
11 British Electric Foundation featuring Tina Turner - A Change Is Gonna Come
12 Earth, Wind & Fire - After The Love Has Gone
13 Phil Collins - One More Night
14 Anita Baker - You Bring Me Joy
15 Howlin' Wolf - Smokestack Lightning

Eddie Hazel Pick

Eddie Hazel is arguably one of the best guitarists to have lived. For some, there is no question and for others they say they have never heard him. It's true that he died much too young and that his solo work is relegated to a couple of albums, one of which was released after his death. But on the basis of his work with Funkadelic alone I can easily make the claim and have it stick. Here in this pick are some of his solo and other George Clinton associated tracks that feature Eddie's guitar. One of the most beautiful guitar solos of all time is here, so enjoy that and the rest. It's well worth searching out the other albums he played on. Let me know in the comments if you believe, as I do, that Eddie Hazel belongs in that top guitarists of all time list.

Eddie Hazel Pick

01 Funkadelic - Music for My Mother
02 Eddie Hazel - Frantic Moment
03 Funkadelic - Funky Dollar Bill
04 Funkadelic - Super Stupid
05 P-Funk All Stars - Pumpin' It Up
06 Funkadelic - Maggot Brain
07 George Clinton - Man's Best Friend-Loopzilla
08 Funkadelic - Comin' Round the Mountain
09 Eddie Hazel - Juicy Fingers
10 Funkadelic - Mommy, What's a Funkadelic
11 Funkadelic - Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow
12 Funkadelic - Hit It and Quit It
13 Eddie Hazel - California Dreamin'

George Clinton Pick

This is a fun pick for me. I really like George Clinton in his various aspects. Obviously he has all of his solo work, Parliament and Funkadelic. Not very many Red Hot Chili Pepper fans know about his association with them. Or that he worked with Prince. A mad genius, George put his touch on quite a few artists. I got to dance with him on stage once at a Chili Peppers show. What a blast! Here are some of my favorites that he put his stamp on.

George Clinton Pick

01 The Brides Of Funkenstein - Disco To Go
02 Bootsy Collins - Bootzilla
03 P-Funk All Stars - Hydraulic Pump
04 Parliament - Flash Light
05 Eric McFadden - Hey Bulldog
06 Parliament - Give Up The Funk (Tear The Roof Off The Sucker)
07 Parlet - Help From My Friends
08 George Clinton - Atomic Dog (Original Extended Version)
09 Prince with George Clinton - We Can Funk
10 Sweat Band - Freak To Freak
11 Red Hot Chili Peppers - American Ghost Dance
12 Xavier - Work That Sucker To Death
13 Funkadelic - One Nation Under A Groove
14 Funkadelic - Can You Get to That

Dream Connection (Songs about Dreams and Dreaming)

Since we posted about MLK and his dream, might as well throw in a few songs about Dreams in general. This What's The Connection? is all about dreams and dreaming. Someone once asked me how I could like Kate Bush and Shonen Knife and Kenny Nolan at the same time. I don't know. I just do. These are my favorite Dream songs. And yes, I know I'm missing some fabulous songs. In just the Doo Wop genre there are probably enough to make another volume. Tell me your favorite Dream songs in the comments. Click on the cover I designed!

Dream Connection

01 Kenny Nolan - I Like Dreamin'
02 Stan Ridgway - The Impossible Dream
03 The Everly Brothers - All I Have To Do Is Dream
04 Gary Wright - Dream Weaver
05 Supertramp - Dreamer
06 Stompy Jones - Dream
07 Bill Nelson - Do You Dream In Colour
08 Cheap Trick - Dream Police
09 Sweet Sensation - Sad Sweet Dreamer
10 Dean Martin - Send Me The Pillow You Dream On
11 Jacksons - Dreamer
12 The Lovin' Spoonful - Daydream
13 Kate Bush - The Dreaming
14 Mamas And The Papas - California Dreamin'
15 Fleetwood Mac - Dreams
16 Simple Minds - New Gold Dream
17 Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
18 Human League - Things That Dreams Are Made Of
19 Depeche Mode - Dreaming Of Me
20 The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)
21 Aerosmith - Dream On
22 Blondie - Dreaming
23 Shonen Knife - Daydream Believer

I Have A Dream Connection (Martin Luther King songs)

We've been in some weird times lately. We have bigots screaming for racism in the schools, school boards asking for segregation and pointing fingers of white supremacy. We almost seem more divided today than when Dr. King was alive. But we aren't. In reality, Dr. King asked when we would see people by the color of their deeds rather than the color of their skin. I think once we get past the political rhetoric we are closer together than we ever have been. I'm proud to live in the only country who fought a war to stop slavery and has been progressing under Conservative views to become more and more a country where color of the skin means less than your actions. This connection is about songs inspired by and about Martin Luther King. Enjoy this What's The Connection? on his birthday January 15th.

I Have A Dream 

01 Ben Harper - Like A King
02 Neil Diamond - Dry Your Eyes
03 Beatles - Blackbird
04 King Dream Chorus & Holiday Crew - King Holiday
05 Marvin Gaye - Abraham, Martin & John
05 Scientist - Martin Luther King
06 Common featuring Will.i.am - I Have A Dream
07 Bruce Springsteen - We Shall Overcome
08 Nina Simone - Why (The King of Love Is Dead)
09 U2 - Pride (In the Name of Love)
10 Patty Griffin - Up To The Mountain (Mlk Song)
11 Paul Simon - So Beautiful Or So What
12 Elvis Presley - If I Can Dream
13 James Brown - Say It Loud (I'm Black And I'm Proud), Pt. 1
14 Stevie Wonder - Happy Birthday
15 The Speech - I Have A Dream
16 Queen - One Vision
18 Rascals - People Got To Be Free
19 Public Enemy - By The Time I Get To Arizona
20 U2 - MLK

Boogie Connection 2 (Songs with Boogie in the title)

 A continuation of the What's The Connection? Boogie. All songs from different genres with Boogie in the title. As usual, it's all songs I own and have listened to. Big Band to Heavy Metal, Blues to Disco. It's all in here. There are tons more Boogie songs. Please let me know which ones you love in the comments and maybe I'll add them to a future connection. Same cover as previous volume. As you listen to this on your device, what does Boogie mean?

Boogie Connection 2

19 AC-DC - Bad Boy Boogie
20 Biddu Orchestra - Bionic Boogie
21 Polecats - Boogie Man
22 Tommy Dorsey - Boogie Woogie
23 Brooks & Dunn - Boot Scootin' Boogie
24 Eagles - Born To Boogie
25 Blue Oyster Cult - Buck's Boogie [Studio Version]
26 Amos Milburn - Chicken Shack Boogie
27 Louis Jordan - Choo Choo Ch'Boogie
28 Freddie Slack With Ella Mae Morse - Cow Cow Boogie
29 Chuck Berry - Guitar Boogie
30 Howard W. Brady - Hot Rod Boogie
31 John Lee Hooker - House Rent Boogie
32 T. Rex - I Love to Boogie
33 Barry Manilow - Jump Shout Boogie
34 Grateful Dead - New Speedway Boogie
35 Pussy Tourette - Pussy's Boogie
36 Johnny Burnette - Rock Billy Boogie
37 Sigue Sigue Sputnik - Sex Bomb Boogie
38 Shonen Knife - Summertime Boogie

Boogie Connection 1 (Songs with Boogie in the title)

This What's The Connection? is all about songs that have Boogie in the title. Not necessarily Boogie songs. There are different types of Boogie dances and songs in genres from Boogie Woogie to disco boogie. I didn't try to distinguish , I just picked songs I liked. I hope You like them too. Please leave your favorite in the comments.

Boogie connection 1

01 Parliament - Aqua Boogie (A Psychoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop)
02 Barry Manilow - Bandstand Boogie
03 Y&T - Barroom Boogie
04 Big Fun - Blame It on the Boogie
05 Nile Rodgers & Chic - Boogie All Night
06 Disco Tex & His Sex-O-Lettes - Boogie Flap
07 Eddie Murphy - Boogie In Your Butt
08 Jackson 5 - Boogie Man
09 Beautiful Band - Boogie Motion
10 Stevie Wonder - Boogie On Reggae Woman
11 KC & The Sunshine Band - Boogie Shoes
12 Flash Cadillac & The Continental Kids - Did You Boogie (With Your Baby)
13 Marcia Griffiths - Electric Boogie
14 Charlie Singleton & Stargasm - I Wanna Boogie With You
15 Kool & The Gang - Jungle Boogie
16 Hot Chocolate - Mindless Boogie
17 Kool & The Gang - Spirit of the boogie
18 ZZ Top - Tube Snake Boogie

Bikes Connection (Songs about Bikes)

Lots of great songs about Bikes. I probably could have done a playlist of only bicycle songs, but I liked some songs in this What's The Connection? that were about motor bikes. So I expanded my definition. Too bad I missed your favorite Bike song. Let me know in the comments. The cover has a piece of the Bike poster that Queen gave away with their album. I always did love that poster.

Bike connection

01 Queen - Bicycle Race
02 Pink Floyd - Bike
03 Tomorrow - My White Bicycle
04 Chris Spedding - Motor Bikin'
05 Kraftwerk - Tour De France
06 Freezepop - Bike Thief
07 Miss Kittin - Meet Sue Be She
08 Debbie Harry - 0-Bike Boy
09 Bollock Brothers - Harley David (Son Of A Bitch)
10 Sheep on Drugs - Motorbike
11 The Sugarcubes - Motorcycle Mama
12 Iggy Pop - Motorcycle
13 Love & Rockets - Motorcycle
14 Autechre - Bike
15 Stereolab - Hillbilly Motobike
16 Madness - Riding On My Bike
17 John Cale - Bicycle
18 Nazareth - My White Bicycle
19 Montrose - Bad  Motor Scooter
20 Engelbert Humperdinck - Les Bicyclettes De Belsize

Bonus Track:
The Dukes Of Stratosphear - Bike Ride to the Moon

Zydeco Pick 2

This is the continuation of Pol's Pick of Zydeco music. In this playlist find the missing pieces from volume 1 (for me). You may probably have your pick and you should let me know what those are in the comments below. Notice the same cover for volume two as volume one. And that the track numbers continue.

Zydeco Pick 2

24 Geno Delafose - Everybody's Dancin'
25 Rosie Ledet - I'm Gonna Take Care of Your Dog
26 Beau Jocque And The Zydeco Hi-Rollers - Give Him Cornbread
27 Chris Ardoin & Double Clutchin' - Lake Charles Connection
28 Beau Jocque - Git It, Beau Jocque!
29 Fats Domino - Hello Josephine
30 Zydeco Force - Zydeco Extravaganza
31 Clifton Chenier - Zydeco Sont Pas Sale
32 Queen Ida & Her Zydeco Band - Bad Moon Rising
33 Fernest Arceneaux - Zydeco Boogaloo
34 Buckwheat Zydeco - Ya Ya
35 Nathan And The Zydeco Cha Chas - Your Love Lasts As Long As Your Money
36 Morris Francis - Fun in Acadiana
37 Nathan And The Zydeco Cha Chas - Steady Rock
38 Buckwheat Zydeco - Hot Tamale Baby
39 Zydeco Force - I'm On My Way
40 Myrick Freeze Guillory - Zydeco In D-Minor
41 Wayne Toups - Take My Hand
42 Lil' Nathan & The Zydeco Big Timers - Where The Pretty Women At
43 Keith Frank and the Soileau Zydeco Band - Haterz

Zydeco Pick 1

I still remember my first exposure to Zydeco. I was blown away with how infectious the music was. I've loved it ever since. There is something to it that doesn't stop. I can't say that the accordion is my favorite instrument. Not by far. But it fits here. These are my pick for Zydeco bliss. At the very least it is a starting point for your own Zydeco adventure. The more you listen the more you will want to dance (and drink). Just think Mardi Gras as you listen. I'd love to hear what you think of this and to read the comments with your choices to add to this.

Zydeco Pick 1

01 Chris Ardoin & Double Clutchin' - Stay in or Stay Out-Pass the Dutchie
02 Johnnie Allan - Promised Land
03 Clifton Chenier - Choo Choo Ch-Boogie
04 Wayne Toups - Two Step
05 French Rockin' Boogie with Geno Delafose - Bye Bye Mon Nèg'
06 Lil' Brian and the Zydeco Travelers - Thigh Drivin'
07 Rockin' Dopsie, Jr. & the Zydeco Twisters - Jambalaya
08 The Dixie Cups - Iko Iko
09 Queen Ida And Her Zydeco Band - Back Door
10 Lesa Cormier & The Sundown Playboys - Saturday Night Special
11 Lil' Brian and the Zydeco Travelers - Summer Girl
12 Beausoleil - Zydeco Gris-Gris
13 Jo-El Sonnier - Jolie Blon
14 Boozoo Chavis - Paper In My Shoe
15 Boozoo Chavis - Lula Lula Don't You Go To Bingo
16 Frank Ballard - Sittin on My Ya Ya
17 Queen Ida and Her Zydeco Band - My Girl Josephine
18 Buckwheat Zydeco - On A Night Like This
19 Rosie Ledet - You're No Good for Me
20 Rosie Ledet - You Can Eat My Poussiere (You Can Eat My Dust)
21 Buckwheat Zydeco - Ma 'Tit Fille
22 Keith Frank withThe Soileau Zydeco Band - Ço Fa
23 Rockin' Sydney - My Toot-Toot

World Domination pick

This is a compilation playlist of various dance music from around the world. There's no rhyme or reason, except that I thought it had a danceable beat. We have all sorts of genres here, Reggae, Salsa, Soca, Bhangra, Rai and more. Music from the Americas, India. Africa, France, Yemen and much more. What's exciting to me is that this disparate music all kind of fits and flows. Be interesting to see what choices you would make. Leave a comment on what you would add or leave off this Pol's Pick. I would love to program a radio station to do a format like this. Top forty style DJ's with this music playing in rotation.

World Domination

01 Malkit Singh Golden Star UK - Jugni
02 Chaba Fadela - N'sel Fik
03 Black Uhuru - Guess Who's Coming To Dinner
04 Orquesta De La Luz - Salsa Caliente Del Japon
05 Boukan Ginen - Nati Kongo
06 Les Negresses Vertes - Zobi La Mouche
07 Luiz Gonzaga - O Fole Roncou (The Bellows Roared)
08 Black Stalin - Let The Soca Play
09 Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens - Kazet (Dance Remix)
10 Anne Dudley & Jaz Coleman - Ziggarats Of Cinnamon
11 Yothu-Yindi - Djapana
12 Ofra Haza - Im Nin'alu
13 The Clash - Armagideon Time
14 Love Jones - Li'l Black Book
15 Brian Eno & David Byrne - Regiment
16 Sonora Dinamita - A Mover La Colita
17 Alpha Blondy - Yeye
18 Dub Syndicate - Reggae Raga
19 Clara Nunes - A Deusa Dos Orixás
20 Mustafa Ashraf - Yenes
21 Apache Indian - Chok There
22 Banda San Miguel - Disco Rayado
23 Gangbusters - Bad Attitude
24 Lee Perry & Dub Syndicate - Train to Doomsville
25 Jonga - Marcatchá

Fauxtown Pick (Songs that sound like Motown, but aren't on Motown)

Been wanting to put this out for a while. Motown is loved by most everyone and in fact they have influenced a number of other artists, producers and labels. They did something no other label could really do. But the artists on this playlist try. This Pol's Pick takes songs from a variety of years that were heavily influenced by the Motown sound. Some are related to Motown (musicians and producers that got fired or just hired on the side) and many that just loved the sound and copied it to an extent. I hope you enjoy this. I had fun compiling it and fun designing the Fauxtown cover. Notice the Faux leather....

Fauxtown Pick

01 Little Nicky Soul - I Wanted To Tell You
02 The Clash - Hitsville UK
03 Freda Payne - Band Of Gold
04 The Moody Blues - A Simple Game
05 Flirtations - Nothing But A Heartache
06 Queen - Pain Is So Close To Pleasure
07 Bangles - Be With You
08 Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam - Head To Toe
09 Dobie Gray - The In Crowd
10 Mel & Tim - Backfield In Motion
11 Fine Young Cannibals - Don't Ask Me To Choose
12 The Maisonettes - Heartache Avenue
13 Grand Funk Railroad - Bad Time
14 Len Barry - 1-2-3
15 Spice Girls - Stop
16 Roy Handy - Baby That's A Groove
17 Mary Love - You Turned My Bitter Into Sweet
18 Polly Brown - Up In A Puff Of Smoke
19 Billy Ocean - Love Really Hurts Without You
20 Blondie - Slow Motion
21 The Jam - A Solid Bond In Your Heart
22 Phil Collins - Two Hearts
23 Fine Young Cannibals - Good Thing

Create Your Future

Every year around this time I get to do a gig called Create Your Future. It's a three day workshop about setting goals. Lots of music and lights and great content. Well worth going. These are most of the songs that have words on the screen. It's been in Las Vegas for  several years. Beautiful setting, quiet, reflective (not on the strip). But now it's back in Texas. The songs are great and all of them are there for a reason. Click on the cover. You will be happy that you attend. Many people come every year for this. If you have never gone, make sure you click above to see when the next one is. Well worth attending.

Create Your Future

01 Van Halen - Right Now
02 Robert Miles - Children (Pol's CYF Remix)
03 Randy Travis - Look Heart, No Hands
04 Jo Dee Messina - Was That My Life
05 Lee Ann Womack - I Hope You Dance
06 Five For Fighting - The Riddle
07 Lee Greenwood - God Bless The USA
08 Five For Fighting - 100 Years
09 Celine Dion - Miracle
10 Kathy Mattea - Standing Knee Deep in a River (Dying of Thirst)
11 Jimmy Buffett - It's My Job
12 Eagles - Get Over It
13 Miley Cyrus - The Climb
14 Nickelback - If Today Was Your Last Day
15 Mark Holman - Nothing Can Stop Me Now
16 Tim McGraw - Live Like You Were Dying
17 Five For Fighting - World
18 Toby Keith - My List
19 Tim McGraw - Humble and Kind
20 John Cougar Mellencamp - Your Life Is Now

Trains Connection 1 (Songs about trains)

 Well here's the first volume of What's The Connection? Trains. I made it after I made Ethan's Trains and it was inspired by that playlist. So I tried to not have any doubles. There are so many different train songs that you could make tons of these playlists. Butterboy has a good one on his site that you should check out. I hope you like this one. It does have a few in common with Butterboy, but also several that are not on his list. Again, ask anyone and they will have their favorite train songs. Make sure and tell me what you see is missing from this list in the comments.

Trains 1

01 Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath
02 Neil Young - Southern Pacific
03 Doobie Brothers - Long Train Runnin'
04 Blackfoot - Train, Train
05 Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train
06 Three Bad Jacks - Hellbound Train
07 Gun Club - Black Train
08 Yardbirds - Train Kept A Rolling
09 Jimi Hendrix Experience - Hear My Train A Comin'
10 Lenny Kravitz - Freedom Train
11 Ricky Nelson - Mystery Train
12 The Monkees - Last Train To Clarksville
13 Buzzcocks - Late for the Train
14 Clash - Train In Vain
15 Cure - Jumping Someone Else's Train
16 KLF - Last Train to Transcentral (Live from the Lost Continent US LP Version)
17 Quad City DJ's - C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)
18 O'Jays - Love Train
19 Gladys Knight and the Pips - Midnight Train To Georgia
20 Cat Stevens - Peace Train
21 Everything But The Girl - Downtown Train
22 Sheena Easton - Morning Train (Nine To Five)

Ethan's Trains Connection (Songs about trains)

Good friend of mine has a son who was crazy about trains. So I made this CD of train songs. for a What's The Connection? for him. This was aimed at him when he was a kid, so you get the whole Thomas and friends angle and a more mellow vibe throughout most of it. Some more out there but in general kid friendly. But this is a list that can grow up with you. How many kids grow up listening to Captain Beefheart and Velvet Underground? Plastics and Johnny Cash? So enjoy his playlist. And the Thomas The Train wrapping paper cover.

Ethan's Trains

01 Thomas and Friends - Thomas Anthem
02 Sweet Honey In The Rock - Little Red Caboose
03 Johnny Cash - Come Along and Ride This Train
04 Pete Seeger - I've Been Working On The Railroad
05 Robyn Hitchcock - I Often Dream Of Trains
06 10,000 Maniacs - Peace Train
07 John Denver - The Little Engine Who Could
08 Thomas and Friends - It's Great To Be an Engine 
09 Buckwheat Zydeco - Get On Board
10 Grateful Dead - Casey Jones
11 Johnny Cash - Casey Jones
12 Glen Miller - Chatanooga Choo Choo
13 Louis Jordan & His Tympani Five - Choo Choo Ch'Boogie
14 Tom Hanks - Polar Express
15 Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Love Train
16 Plastics - Last Train To Clarksville
17 Buckwheat Zydeco - Choo Choo Boogaloo
18 Captain Beefheart & The Magic Band - Click Clack
19 Velvet Underground - Train Round The Bend
20 Crazy Horse - Gone Dead Train
21 Kevin Hearn & Thin Buckle - Here Come The Chimebell Trains
22 Tarheel Slim - Number 9 Train
23 Johnny Burnette Trio - The Train Kept A-Rollin'
24 Roger Miller - Engine Engine Number Nine
25 Thomas and Friends - Thomas Theme

Fire Connection 2 (Songs with Fire in the title)

A continuation of the Fire What's The Connection? This second volume has one of my favorite Fire songs of all time. Brian Eno's "Baby's On Fire" is so hot it's cool. A few covers of songs that were on volume one (which you should check out if you haven't already.) And a playlist cover specifically for volume 2.

Fire 2

21 Jose Feliciano - Light My Fire
22 Rolling Stones - Play with Fire
23 Al Green - Full Of Fire
24 Chaka Khan - Through The Fire
25 Soft Boys - Have a Heart, Betty (I'm Not Fireproof)
26 Georgia Gibbs - Kiss Of Fire
27 U2 - The Unforgettable Fire
28 David Bowie - Cat People (Putting Out Fire)
29 Billy Joel - We Didn't Start The Fire
30 Blondie - Ring Of Fire
31 Brian Eno - Baby's On Fire
32 Nilsson - Jump Into The Fire
33 Jefferson Starship - Light the Sky on Fire
34 The Flying Lizards - Great Balls of Fire
35 The Gun Club - Jack on Fire
36 The Prodigy - Firestarter
37 Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Fire
38 Jane Wiedlin - World On Fire
39 5000 Volts - I'm On Fire
40 Mahavishnu Orchestra - Birds of Fire
41 UB40 - Light My Fire

Hope & Happiness Pick

While we can always use some Hope & Happiness, at the beginning of the year when we start looking at our goals for the next year, five years etc. now is a good time to get some. These songs always bring me hope & Happiness when I hear them. Hard not to with a collection like this. So this Pol's Pick is about bringing that feeling. Please let me know what your songs are in the comments section. As always, check out the cover I designed for this playlist.

Hope & Happiness

01 Electric Light Orchestra - Mr. Blue Sky
02 Billy Joel - The River of Dreams
03 Bill Withers - Lovely Day
04 Hank Williams - I Saw The Light
05 Bob Dylan - Shelter From The Storm
06 Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World
07 Katrina And The Waves - Walking On Sunshine
08 Dionne Warwick - What The World Needs Now Is Love
09 Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive
10 Fleetwood Mac - Don't Stop
11 Canned Heat - Let's Work Together
12 Journey - Don't Stop Believin'
13 Beach Boys - Don't Worry Baby
14 Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water
15 Beatles - Here Comes The Sun
16 Gloria Estefan - Coming Out Of The Dark
17 Linda Ronstadt - Somewhere Out There
18 U2 - Beautiful Day
19 Bob Marley & The Wailers - Three Little Birds
20 Pharrell - Happy

Fire Connection 1 (Songs with Fire in the title)

It's cold outside so this What's The Connection? is all about staying warm with a fire. There are so many songs with Fire in the title that it's not even funny. But I have two volumes over this week that I will post. Notice that the genres are all over the place. Can't help that. It's what I listen to. Remember as we start this year, my compilations are made from actual music I own and listen to. Some more than others, I will admit. I have probably played Ohio Players and Sun way more than Rock Master Scott and The Prodigy. But I like them all. Probably less people have heard T-Connection and On Fire is not even their "big" hit, but for me it was my favorite of theirs. Anyway enjoy the playlist and of course the album covers I designed. Leave a comment about any Fire songs I may have missed that you think are crucial and look for volume 2 coming soon.

Fire 1

01 Ohio Players - Fire
02 Sun - Pure Fire
03 Franz Ferdinand - This Fire
04 Jimi Hendrix - Fire
05 Crazy World Of Arthur Brown - Fire
06 Doors - Light My Fire
07 801 - Baby's on Fire
08 Wall Of Voodoo - Ring Of Fire
09 T-Connection - On Fire (Getting Higher)
10 Pointer Sisters - Fire
11 Dwight Twilley Band - I'm On Fire
12 Michael Martin Murphy - Wildfire
13 Jerry Lee Lewis - Great Balls Of Fire
14 Talking Heads - Love-Building On Fire
15 Buckwheat Zydeco - Where There's Smoke There's Fire
16 Marshall Tucker Band - Fire On The Mountain
17 Van Halen - On Fire
18 REO Speedwagon - Keep The Fire Burnin'
19 The Prodigy - Fire
20 Rock Master Scott & The Dynamic Three - The Roof Is On Fire