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

What's The Connection? Changes

It's been more than a year of posts, so congratulations to me! I did not get you a new Black Friday playlist, but I want you to get ready for goal setting at the end of the year, so to prepare here is my Connection of songs about Changes. It's been sitting in the wings, ready to go, but only now am I releasing posting it. My pick of the changes coming your way. Sparse day today. Change usually happens slowly, but when it doesn't it can seem to suck. Until you get used to the change,

What's The Connection? Changes

01 David Bowie - Changes

02 Devo - Some Things Never Change

03 Tears for Fears - Change

04 Fleshtones - I've Gotta Change My Life

05 REO Speedwagon - Roll With The Changes

06 Kylie Minogue - Wouldn't Change A Thing

07 Sparks with Jane Wiedlin - Change

08 Style Council - My Ever Changing Moods

09 Raydio - You Can't Change That

10 Tower Of Power - Don't Change Horses (In The Middle Of A Stream)

11 Lisa Stansfield - Change

12 John Lee Hooker - Chill Out (Things Gonna Change)

13 Eddy Arnold - There's Been A Change In Me

14 Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A-Changin'

15 Black Sabbath - Changes

16 Ten Years After - I'd Love to Change the World

17 Yes - Perpetual Change

18 The Brady Bunch - Time To Change

Thanksgiving 2

More Thanksgiving songs. Part one was last year at this Thanksgiving link. Got nothing more to say other than the link on that page and this will get you three playlists. Including Black Friday which I won't post tomorrow. So all you get is part 2 here, but links to last year.

Happy Thanksgiving 2

01 Israel Iz Kamakawiwo'ole - What A Wonderful World

02 Drive-By Truckers - The Thanksgiving Filter

03 Natalie Merchant - Kind And Generous

04 Celine Dion - Thankful

05 Bing Crosby - Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep

06 The National - Thanksgiving song

07 Kelly Clarkson - Thankful

08 Joey Ramone - What A Wonderful World

09 JB's - Pass The Peas

10 Little Eva - Let's Turkey Trot

11 Fats Waller - All That Meat and No Potatoes

12 Ptp - Favorite Things

13 Graham Parker - Almost Thanksgiving Day

14 Booker T. & The MG's - My Sweet Potato

15 Natalie Cole - Be Thankful

16 Bob Dylan - Turkey Chase

17 Alien Sex Fiend - Stuff the Turkey

18 Babes In Toyland - We Are Family

19 Ohio Players - Jive Turkey

20 Devo - I'm A Potato

21 The Hotknives - Turkey Stomp

22 Pulp - Turkey Mambo Momma

23 William S Burroughs - A Thanksgiving Prayer

Welsh Pick

Continuing the world pick, here is my Welsh one. And I am not going to talk about the songs, except maybe Budgie. You may be asking why I am going to spend most of my time talking about Wrexham. And soccer/futbol. It all has to do with the TV show Welcome To Wrexham. I like the show. I made this compilation way before there was any thought of making the show, probably before the two of them even thought of buying a soccer team. But now that they did and the first season is over. I like the show. It was fun to see the growth of non-soccer fans becoming fans. It was fun watching the people of the town adjusting to the TV crew and also it was fun learning about Wales. Go watch the show. Now about Budgie. It's not that I like the band more than the others, but I do have a story about being a young man, loving funk, soul and disco who moved to a new town, meeting new people and learning to love bands like Rush and Budgie. That fresh view on music, being influenced by a Hawaiian rock and roller was the start of a journey. Zoom Club (and a couple of other tracks) hurried me on that journey that led me here. I didn't say it was a good story, just a story.

Welsh Pick

01 Tom Jones - It's Not Unusual

02 Badfinger - Come And Get It

03 John Cale - Gun

04 Manic Street Preachers - If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next

05 Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knockin'

06 Scritti Politti - Perfect Way

07 Budgie - Zoom Club

08 World Party - Ship of Fools

09 Young Marble Giants - Nita

10 Super Furry Animals - The Man Don't Give A Fuck

11 The Alarm - The Stand

12 Deep Purple - Child In Time

13 Man - Back Into The Future

14 Gene Loves Jezebel - Desire

15 Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart

16 Stereophonics - Dakota

Scottish Pick

I already had a Celtic Pick or two last year around St. Patrick's day, so that was covered, but part of the Island was not represented. So this pick of Scottish music came to be. Frankly when I started it, I had no idea that a couple of these were Scottish bands. Live and learn. Here is my pick of Scottish bands for you. It's not a big place, so it should be interesting how this one turns out. Give me a comment and tell me how it went over for you. Some cool tracks and the response to staying away from the response. Confusing? Yeah, I have no idea what I am saying. Just listen.

Scottish Pick

01 Wet Wet Wet - Love Is All Around

02 Cocteau Twins - Cherry-Coloured Funk

03 Primal Scream - Movin' On Up

04 Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars

05 Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out

06 Average White Band - Pick Up The Pieces

07 Hipsway - The Honeythief

08 Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget About Me)

09 The Fratellis - Skinny Girls

10 Mogwai - Auto Rock

11 The Jesus And Mary Chain - Just Like Honey

12 Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)

13 Big Country - In A Big Country

14 Bay City Rollers - Bye Bye Baby

15 The Proclaimers - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)

16 The Sensational Alex Harvey Band - Faith Healer

17 Aztec Camera - Somewhere In My Heart

18 The Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger

19 Nazareth - Love Hurts

British Pick 2

Continuing the pick from yesterday, here are iconic tracks from iconic British bands, mostly songs about Britain or so highly associated with Britain, it might as well be. A few doubles here, but kind of obvious why when you listen to the tracks. I had to do it. Some of these artists had bigger hits, but these tracks were more British. And they were big enough hits. And I like them. Most had success outside of England, but a couple in this series, just didn't connect so much with an American audience. Sorry, too bad. Their loss.

British Pick 2

17 Oasis - Live Forever

18 Ray Blk featuring Stormzy - My Hood

19 Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor

20 Kinks - Waterloo Sunset

21 Spice Girls - Wannabe

22 New Order - World In Motion

23 Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights

24 PJ Harvey - Down By The Water

25 The Stone Roses - I Am The Resurrection

26 Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody

27 Stranglers - Peaches

28 Sex Pistols - God Save The Queen

29 The Clash - This Is England

British 1 Pick

This was a stupid title, but what else could it be? I was making some compilation picks for playlists around the world and I thought what about the UK? No, that would be stupid. How could you possibly pare down the music from Britain. There's miles of it. So I came up with a solution. Songs or bands that were about Britain, while also being from Britain, or else so iconic of a British song that people think of Britain when they hear the song. And I had to really like the song. I think I did pretty good. I'm sure there are some I just didn't think of, so enlighten me in the comments. Some were really easy. C'mon. Kate Bush. Iconic artist from England with a song about England? Too easy. Robbie Williams? So many people outside of England may not even know who he is, but in England? A god. And a song like Angels is just too easy to pick, because who in England doesn't associate that with Britain? So enjoy this part of the world.

British 1 Pick

01 The English Beat - Stand Down Margaret

02 The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony

03 Buzzcocks - What Do I Get

04 Giggs - Talking Da Hardest

05 The Jam - Town Called Malice

06 Wire - 1 2 X U

07 Oasis - Wonderwall

08 Kate Bush - Oh England My Lionheart

09 Beatles - A Day in the Life

10 Spice Girls - Spice Up Your Life

11 The Fall - British People In Hot Weather

12 Blur - Song 2

13 The Smiths - There Is A Light That Never Goes Out

14 Skepta featuring JME - That's Not Me

15 Amy Winehouse - Rehab

16 Robbie Williams - Angels

Tiki Exotica 2

What I like about these two volumes (yesterday and today) of my pick of Tiki Exotica is that there is some old and some newer artists here. You don't hear this on the radio, and yet there are still artists making this music. It's got a great feel to it. Obviously, the bird sounds on a few tracks help (or maybe hinder) that depending on where you are coming from. You might hear this at a Polynesian restaurant or bar, but not much anywhere else. So, enjoy some of these rare tracks on these two volumes. Play these compilations, make yourself a rum drink with some fruit juice, find some mini umbrellas, a good book (or close friends) and relax. Heat up your hot tub and just hang out. And lets all hope more bands decide to join us with their interpretations, so we can make a volume 3.

Tiki Exotica 2

20 The Surfmen - Fire Goddess

21 Martin Denny - The Enchanted Sea

22 Pagan Rites - Black Sand

23 Ted Auletta - Adventures In Paradise

24 Out Islanders, The - Moon Mist

25 Les Baxter - Oasis Of Dakhla

26 Combustible Edison - Breakfast At Denny's

27 Elisabeth Waldo - Within The Temple Of Macuilzochiti

28 Sun Ra & His Arkestra - The Nile

29 The Markko Polo Adventurers - Rain in Rangoon

30 Russ Garcia - Lost Souls Of Saturn

31 Paul Page - Castaway

32 Les Baxter - Tropicando

33 Arthur Lyman - Taboo

34 Walter Wanderley - Summer Samba

35 Mr Ho's Orchestrotica - Mini Skirt

36 Chaino - Jungle Mood

37 Pink Martini - Bolero

38 Tito Puente - Call Of The Jungle Birds

Tiki Exotica 1

Exotica was around since the 50's, but I wasn't around then. I discovered it for myself in the early 80's. I was fascinated with Ultra Lounge Bachelor Pad everything. I wanted a tiki bedroom, started wearing Hawaiian shirts (which I still wear to this day) and got enamored with Exotica music. Like most people, I suppose Martin Denny and Arthur Lyman are the early touchpoints. For me, I went in multiple directions with it. First, the complete world of exotica, then Polynesian, then the rest of the world. It got me into so much other music. Not just because of my Pacific Island background, although I'm sure that helped. It also branched into Surf and Punk, even though this sounds like none of that. Just outlining my musical journey and the forays into fashion and architecture because of it. I looked back at some of my parents' dance parties, including the luaus and wonder why did it take so long? Anyway here is part one of my Tiki Exotica picks. It covers some of the "hits" but also some more obscure songs. Perfect for cocktails at a pool party.

Tiki Exotica 1

01 Stanley Black and His Orchestra - Caravan

02 Sabu Martinez - Sorcery

03 Chaino - Swamp Girl

04 Frank Hunter And His Orchestra - White Goddess

05 Tipsy - Tuatara

06 Dominic Frontiere And His Orchestra - House of Pleasure

07 Piero Umiliani - Risaie

08 Martin Denny - Hypnotique

09 Martin Denny - Quiet Village

10 Robert Drasnin - Chant Of The Moon

11 Nino Nardini & Roger Roger - Bagheera

12 Esquivel And His Orchestra - Nature Boy

13 Milt Raskin - Moon Festival

14 Eden Ahbez - Banana Boy

15 The Markko Polo Adventurers - Scheherezade

16 Warren Barker - Lotus Land

17 Creepxotica - Haunted Hula

18 Don Tiki - Primitiva

19 The Gene Rains Group - Far Across The Sea

Africa 2

I told you yesterday how I got started listening to African music. I found that African music had influenced quite a bit of "western" music as well. I through in a few here along with some of the picks I didn't fit on the first compilation. And some cheesy tracks that were popular when I put this together. I started the journey in the 80's, but I didn't put this together until much later (as witnessed by the Lion King). Remember this is not an end all be all compilation of African music. It would be falling very short if that was the case. It is just a starting point that I had with a couple added bonuses. There is so much to find. Please look for it. I cannot say that I liked everything I got. I have my favorites, but I had some busts too. These picks are a springboard for you. Find what you like and go forth.

Africa 2

15 Rhyth-O-Matics - Afro-Ska

16 King Sunny Ade - Kira Kira

17 Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens - Yebo! (Mbaqanga Mix)

18 Fela Kuti - Army Arrangement

19 The Chakachas - Jungle Fever

20 Manu Dibango - Soul Makossa

21 Babatunde Olatunji - Jin-Go-Lo-Ba

22 Kanda Bongo Man - Zing-Zong

23 Edikanfo - Something Lefeh-O

24 The Bhundu Boys - Jit Jive

25 Lebo M - The Lion Sleeps Tonight

26 Angelique Kidjo featuring Peter Gabriel - Salala

Africa 1

It is Brian Eno's fault. I started listening to African based pop music because of him. He had something to do with Edikanfo, so I bought the album. I had no idea about anything to do with Africa. But that one album opened up a stream of music that I could not stop. I am ignorant enough to label this all African, but I know that it is a large continent with a variety of styles of music and so much I still have no idea about. I made two compilations of my pick of African pop music. There is so much more available. I'm sure someone will post in the comments where to go next, This is just to whet your appetite, BTW, Edikanfo led to Fela Kuti, which led to Manu Dibango, which led to the rest. All because I listened to one album. I took a chance and it paid off. More tomorrow.

Africa 1

01 Zap Mama - Brrrlak!

02 Manu Dibango - Electric Africa

03 Fela Kuti - Government Chicken Boy

04 Osibisa - Music for Gong Gong

05 Mahlathini & Mahotella Queens - Kazet (Dance Remix)

06 Kotoja - Sawale

07 Thomas Mapfumo & the Blacks Unlimited - Hondo

08 Babatunde Olatunji - Soul Makossa

09 Mory Kante - Ye Ke Ye Ke

10 Edikanfo - Nka Bom

11 Kanda Bongo Man - Sai

12 Papa Wemba - M'Fono Yami

13 Baaba Maal - Mariama

14 Youssou N'Dour - Fakastalu

Loleatta Holloway

Loleatta Holloway has an amazing voice and some great songs have her voice on it. She kinda got robbed through out her career, with weird stuff happening all around her (like record companies going out of business as they promote her singles). But her voice dominated no matter what. If you didn't know it was her, now you do. Some of these songs are so well known and yet people I asked just couldn't name the voice. Too bad for them. Here are some of my favorites of the Holloway family pick. Her solo with the outstanding dance track Love Sensation to some of her guest spots to tracks where she was sampled. By the way the version of the Black Box song, Ride On Time, is the version with the original samples (not the redone ones with another singer). I hope you enjoy this as much as I do, at the very least you will be dancing. I wish she was still alive to make more tracks like these.

Loleatta Holloway

01 Bunny Sigler with Loleatta Holloway - Only You

02 Loleatta Holloway - Cry To Me

03 Salsoul Orchestra & Loleatta Holloway - Runaway

04 Loleatta Holloway - Love Sensation (Unrealeased Version)

05 Loleatta Holloway - Crash Goes Love

06 Loleatta Holloway - Dreamin' (Original Mix)

07 Black Box featuring Loleatta Holloway - Ride On Time

08 Loleatta Holloway - Hit N Run (Harley & Muscle Remix)

09 Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch featuring Loleatta Holloway - Good Vibrations

10 Dan Hartman & Loleatta Holloway - Vertigo  Relight My Fire (12 Version)

11 Cappella featuring Loleatta Holloway - Take Me Away

12 Cevin Fisher featuring Loleatta Holloway - You Got Me Burning Up (2008 Prok & Fitch Mix)

13 Fire Island featuring Loleatta Holloway - Shout To The Top (Hifi Sean Mix)

Marred (Johnny Marr Pick)

Johnny Marr is well known from his work as half of the Smiths. The non-singing half. The guitar slinging half. He's probably less known for his guest work with tons of other bands nor his solo work. These are some of my favorite picks of Johnny Marr. This is sort of his family pick. Being very clever, I named it Marred. Also kind of funny since he does make his mark on each of these songs, but Marred would be a negative connotation and by no means is his presence on any of these negative. Which makes it funny (to me at least.) All of these are good songs and well worth listening to. I'm sure he appeared on more than this, but this is what you are stuck with. Tell me what other tracks you wish I had picked in the comments.

Marred (Johnny Marr Pick)

01 The The - Kingdom Of Rain

02 Pretenders - Windows Of The World

03 Everything But The Girl - Native Land

04 Johnny Marr + The Healers - The Last Ride

05 Bryan Ferry - The Right Stuff

06 Robyn Hitchcock & The Venus 3 - Ordinary Millionaire

07 A Certain Ratio - Shack Up (Radio Edit)

08 Talking Heads - (Nothing But) Flowers

09 7 Worlds Collide - Run In The Dust

10 The Cribs - Cheat On Me

11 Johnny Marr - Upstarts

12 Crowded House - Don't Stop Now

13 Johnny Marr - Easy Money

14 Electronic - Getting Away With It

15 Pet Shop Boys - Home And Dry

16 Banderas - This Is Your Life

17 Modest Mouse - Dashboard

18 The Smiths - What Difference Does It Make

August Darnell Family Pick

August Darnell is probably best known as Kid Creole, but he also is the mastermind of many other entities as you will see below. You may not know of him or any of his alter egos but you probably have heard at least a couple of his songs. It doesn't matter whether you know him or not, just listen to this pick of my favorites over the years. I first heard him on a compilation of artists on ZE records. Loved that album. All sorts of great songs on it that none of my friends and family had ever heard, but got them dancing anyway. All this music is still fresh and makes you want to dance. The fact that the lyrics are at times hilarious is just a bonus. I hope you have never heard any of these songs, because you will get a fun kick out of discovering them. And if you know any of his work, you will wish I had included your favorite that I missed. Sorry, But you get why.

August Darnell Family Pick

01 Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Dear Addy

02 Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Don't Take My Coconuts

03 The Coconuts - Did You Have To Love Me Like You Did

04 Kid Creole & The Coconuts - I'm A Wonderful Thing Baby

05 The Coconuts - Maladie D'Amour

06 Coati Mundi - El Coco Loco (So So Bad)

07 Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Stool Pigeon

08 Coati Mundi - Que Pasa-Me No Pop I

09 Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Annie I'm Not Your Daddy

10 Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Endicott

11 Kid Creole & The Coconuts - The Sex Of It (Prince Song)

12 Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band - Cherchez La Femme-Se Si Bon

13 Kid Creole & The Coconuts - My Male Curiosity

14 Don Armando's Second Avenue Rhumba Band - I'm an Indian, Too

15 Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Love Train

16 Gichy Dan - Cowboys and Gangsters

17 Don Armando's Second Avenue Rhumba Band - Deputy Of Love

18 Machine - There But For The Grace Of God Go I

19 Kid Creole & The Coconuts - There's Something Wrong In Paradise

20 Kid Creole & The Coconuts - The Lifeboat Party

Vince Clarke Family

Vince Clarke is a synth-pop genius, innovator. He started Depeche Mode. He was Yaz or Yazoo (depending on where you were in the world). He is Erasure. And a dozen other projects that you may or may not have heard. It seems to me, that he gets a new singer and does a project. Some have lasted longer than others (obviously in Erasure he's been there a long time). Some lasted one single. But all have lasting importance in the musical world. Since he was in some longer than others, I took my favorites from those bands in this pick. The singles, I could only pick one. And I still had too many to pick from. So if I missed your favorite, sorry. There's just a lot to choose from. If you do not know this man, shame on you, but now you have no excuse.

Vince Clarke Family

01 Depeche Mode - Just Can't Get Enough

02 Depeche Mode - Dreaming Of Me

03 Depeche Mode - New Life

04 Yazoo - Don't Go

05 Yazoo - Only You

06 Yazoo - Nobody's Diary

07 Yazoo - Situation

08 The Assembly - Never Never

09 Vince Clarke & Paul Quinn - One Day

10 Erasure - Oh L'Amour

11 Erasure - Sometimes

12 Erasure - Chains Of Love

13 Erasure - A Little Respect

14 Erasure - Love To Hate You

15 Erasure - Take A Chance On Me

16 Erasure - Always

17 The Clarke & Ware Experiment - Open Our Eyes

18 VCMG - Spock

19 Vince Clarke & Paul Hartnoll - Better Have A Drink To Think

20 West India Company - Ave Maria (Om Ganesha) (Extended Version)

Alan Parsons Pick

Alan Parsons came to my attention as the engineer for the Beatles and then his work with Pick Floyd and of course, his work as the Alan Parsons Project. Turns out, like most good engineers/producers, they end up working on several good projects. I picked several that I liked. Each one has Parsons on it somewhere, somehow. Either as a producer, an engineer, a musician. It's all different, but all has a similarity if you listen hard enough. Tellme I missed something and I will say you are right.

Alan Parsons Pick

01 Kayak - Chance For A Lifetime

02 Hollies - The Air That I Breathe

03 Pilot - Magic

04 The Alan Parsons Project - Eye In The Sky

05 Jeff Beck Group - Plynth (Water Down The Drain)

06 Al Stewart - Year Of The Cat

07 Pink Floyd - Time

08 Paul McCartney & Wings - My Love

09 Beatles - Here Comes The Sun

10 The Prog Collective featuring Alan Parson, Chris Squire, Gary Green - The Technical Divide

11 John Miles - Music

12 The Alan Parsons Project - Time

13 Ambrosia - Holdin' on to Yesterday

14 Beatles - She Came In Through The Bathroom Window

Wetton Prog Pick

This is the second part of the John Wetton family pick. I called this one prog, but that's not to say that there wasn't prog elements in the one I posted yesterday. There were. And it's hard to say that some of these tracks couldn't be considered rock. They can. Arbitrary like I said yesterday. This side shows a bit more of who John Wetton played with and for. You can look up the bands and see for yourself. I have more, but these are my favorites. The cover looks similar because I wanted them to exist side by side as CD's, but obviously they are mp3 playlists now. My advice to you is to search for the albums these all came off of, because there are some amazingly good albums in there. I would love it if you were introduced to something new here, but if you already know these tracks, then you will just enjoy how I put it together more. Either way let me know.

Wetton Prog Pick

01 Peter Sinfield - The Piper

02 Family - Burlesque

03 Bryan Ferry - This Island Earth

04 King Crimson - Starless

05 Uriah Heep - One Way Or Another

06 District 97 - The Perfect Young Man

07 Steve Hackett - Firth of Fifth

08 Eddie Jobson's U-Z Project - One More Red Nightmare

09 Duncan Mackay - No Return

10 U.K. - In The Dead Of Night

11 Qango - The Last One Home

12 Peter Banks - Get Out Of My Fridge

Wetton Rock Pick

John Wetton was an amazing bass player, an amazing singer and was actually a pretty nice guy. Unfortunately he died of colon cancer way too early. I got to meet him a couple of times, in Las Vegas and in the Caribbean. Very gracious man. But none of that matters when we listen to his music, which we are going to let speak for itself in this family pick. I have two of these that I am going to post. This first one I call his rock side. But these are slightly arbitrary. It's hard to say which is which at times, so if I overstep one of your boundaries, sorry. You can yell at me in the comments. I also have most likely missed some great tracks. Please mention them as well. John was the founder of Asia, did lots of guest work and played in several bands. This is mostly Asia and some solo work. But you'll hear as you go.

Wetton Rock Pick

01 John Wetton - I've Come to Take You Home

02 John Wetton & Geoffrey Downes - Let Me Go

03 John Wetton - Walking On Air

04 Asia - I Know How You Feel

05 John Wetton - Raised In Captivity

06 Wetton-Manzanera - Suzanne

07 John Wetton - I Can't Lie Anymore

08 John Wetton - Lost For Words

09 John Wetton - Heart Of Darkness

10 Wishbone Ash - Loaded

11 Brian Eno - Baby's On Fire

12 Phil Manzanera - Same Time Next Week

13 Asia - Only Time Will Tell

14 John Wetton - Battle Lines

15 Asia - Go

16 Asia - Heat Of The Moment

17 John Wetton - Turn On The Radio

New Edition Family

One of the most famous of the boy bands of the early to mid eighties, New Edition went on to produce several solo stars from their midst. The biggest probably Bobby Brown, but Bel Biv Devoe were up there. Either way they are now coming back as a touring act this year and somewhere around here there is a biopic made about the band. Haven't seen it. But this music is timeless as a group and even as their solo counterparts, there are some really good songs, if only for their nostalgic values. I hope you like this pick of my favorites of the New Edition family. I'm sure there are others that you might like, just leave them in the comments.

New Edition Family

01 New Edition - Candy Girl

02 New Edition - Cool It Now

03 New Edition - Mr. Telephone Man

04 Bobby Brown - Don't Be Cruel

05 New Edition - If It Isn't Love

06 Bobby Brown - My Prerogative

07 Bobby Brown - Every Little Step

08 New Edition - Can You Stand The Rain

09 Bobby Brown - On Our Own

10 Bell Biv Devoe - Do Me!

11 Glenn Medeiros with Bobby Brown - She Ain't Worth It

12 Bell Biv Devoe - Poison

13 Johnny Gill - Rub You The Right Way

14 Ralph Tresvant - Sensitivity

15 Bobby Brown - Humpin' Around

16 Luthor Vandross & Janet Jackson & BBD & Ralph Tresvant - The Best Things In Life Are Free

17 New Edition - Hit Me Off

18 LSG - My Body

Vote

This is my pick of songs about voting, elections, politics and making choices and although a couple are about specific candidates, I don't think it matters much since, Zappa, Walsh and Chicago are not in the running anymore. All I can say is every year go out and vote. Even if you believe your vote doesn't matter, vote. It does matter. Get that sticker and wear it proudly (if you are in the USA) and if you are anywhere else in the world that allows fair and secure voting, go to the polls, show your ID and vote for whoever you want. Do it.

Vote

01 The Replacements - Election Day

02 Joe Walsh - Vote for Me

03 Carcass - RK The Vote

04 Lyle Lovett - Election Day

05 Ministry - Get Out and Vote 2020

06 Van Halen - Ballot Or The Bullet

07 Black Sheep - The Choice Is Yours

08 The Radiants - Voice Your Choice

09 Arcadia - Election Day

10 Ry Cooder - One Cat, One Vote, One Beer

11 Johnnie Taylor - I Could Never Be President

12 Guided By Voices - Vote For Me Dummy

13 Paula Webb - Please, Mr. President

14 Frank Zappa - One Man, One Vote

15 Earth Wind & Fire - Freedom Of Choice

16 Re-Flex - The Politics Of Dancing

17 P!nk featuring Indigo Girls - Dear Mr. President

18 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son

19 Alice Cooper - Elected

20 Chicago - Vote For Me

21 Devo - Freedom Of Choice

22 The Move - Votes For Me (Mono)

23 Young Jeezy - My President

24 Radiohead - Electioneering

25 The Specials - Vote For Me

Prince Under The Covers

Prince was a very prolific artist. He had so many great songs that were released and many that were not under his own name. This is a sampling of some of my favorites in this pick of Prince songs covered by other artists. I did not include songs that he did, but wrote for other people. See the last couple of days for that. You could do quite a few of these compilations (and I'm sure you have a favorite that isn't represented here - put it in the comments), but these are just my pick of the many. I used to love it when a Prince album came out, so I could get the singles because there always was a cool B-Side. Now we just have to wait for the estate to release something, or another artist to cover one of his songs.

Prince Under The Covers

01 Laibach - The Cross

02 Arto Lindsay - Erotic City

03 Simple Minds - Sign O' The Times

04 Dead or Alive - Pop Life

05 The Jesus And Mary Chain - Alphabet Street

06 Heaven 17 - Sign O' the Times

06 Sigue Sigue Sputnik - I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man

07 Ice-T - Head

08 Art Of Noise Featuring Tom Jones - Kiss (AON Mix)

09 Information Society - Controversy

10 Gary Numan - 1999

11 Chaka Khan - I Feel For You

12 Gary Numan - U Got The Look

13 Hindu Love Gods - Raspberry Beret

14 Cyndi Lauper - When You Were Mine

15 Dale Bozzio - I Would Die 4 U (Keoki Remix)

Someday My Prince Will Come 2

The continuation of my pick of songs the artist formerly known as Prince wrote for others. Well he may have at least allowed these others to use the songs. It's amazing how many songs Prince wrote. His archives are still full of tapes he made. Eventually more artists will cover his songs and probably there is a chance that his estate may not release everything he recorded under his name himself. I'm sure after two volumes of this, you know of a few right now, so leave that in the comments below. 

Someday My Prince Will Come 2

01 Sinead O'Connor - Nothing Compares 2 U

02 Celine Dion - With This Tear

03 Joe Cocker - Five Women

04 Kenny Rogers - You're My Love

05 Alicia Keys - How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore

06 Madhouse - Six

07 Graham Central Station - Utopia

08 Monie Love - Born To B.R.E.E.D.

09 Nona Hendryx - Baby Go-Go

10 Patti LaBelle - Yo Mister

11 Sheila E - A Love Bizarre (Parts I And II)

12 Earth Wind & Fire - Super Hero

13 Stevie Nicks - Stand Back

14 Paula Abdul - U

15 The Time - My Drawers

16 George Clinton - The Big Pump

17 No Doubt - Waiting Room

Someday My Prince Will Come 1

Enigmatic title? Nah. Just my pick of Prince songs done by other artists. Songs written by Prince whether it is under his own name or one of his pseudonyms. I'm not going to talk about all the different names he used to write or play music. There were a few. Look it up. I became interested around the time when Manic Monday came out and all around the same time I figured out Sugar Walls was his, and The Glamorous Life was his. A little more digging found several more (at least enough for two volumes) and eventually I put this together. I like the Disney "Prince will come" covers, because it would be so boring to just say Prince Penned. The juxtaposition of wholesome Disney with nasty androgynous Prince was too delicious not to take advantage of. Although who knows with Disney anymore?

Someday My Prince Will Come 1

01 The Time - Gigolos Get Lonely Too

02 The Family - The Screams Of Passion

03 Tevin Campbell - Round & Round

04 Carmen Electra - Fun

05 André Cymone - The Dance Electric

06 The Time - Get It Up

07 Mavis Staples - Melody Cool

08 Kid Creole & The Coconuts - The Sex Of It

09 Vanity 6 - Nasty Girl

10 Bangles - Manic Monday

11 The Family - Nothing Compares 2 U

12 Apollonia 6 - Sex Shooter

13 Dale Bozzio - Take Me To Your Leader (Prince Mix)

14 Sheena Easton - Sugar Walls

15 Sheila E - The Glamorous Life

16 Madonna - Love Song

17 Martika - Love Thy Will Be Done

Solo Spice

Not everyone will admit to loving the Spice Girls, but I will. I started listening to them because I have a daughter who was in their target group. I liked their sound. I took my daughter to their concert. They were good. I even liked their movie. But I had to start by saying that it was my daughter who got me in to them. I really do like them, even though I am totally out of their demographic. We all had our favorites. My daughter liked Baby Spice. I was more partial to Sporty Spice. But I liked them all. Was sad to see them break apart, but happy to see them all have solo albums come out. This is my pick of the solo Spice work. I think there is more out there by now. Girl Power! Listen to this and wish for a reunion, although I think it may never happen. Which is too bad. Oh well. 

Solo Spice

01 Emma Bunton - Crickets Sing For Anamaria

02 Melanie C - Yeh Yeh Yeh

03 Geri Halliwell - Ride It

04 Victoria Beckham - Let Your Head Go

05 Melanie C - I Turn To You

06 Emma Bunton - What Took You So Long

07 Melanie B - Word Up

08 Geri Halliwell - Bag It Up

09 Tintinout with Emma - What I Am

10 Victoria Beckham - Midnight Fantasy

11 Emma Bunton - I'll Be There

12 Geri Halliwell - It's Raining Men

13 Melanie C - Never Be The Same Again

14 Melanie B featuring Missy Elliot - I Want You Back

15 Emma Bunton - Maybe

16 Geri Halliwell - Scream If You Wanna Go Faster

17 True Steppers with Victoria - Out Of Your Mind

18 Melanie C - Something's Gonna Happen

19 Geri Halliwell - Lift Me Up

20 Emma Bunton - Free Me

What Is The Connection? Black and White

Okay we had the Black connection, then the White connection and now it's both at the same time. Both black and white in the title of a song (with one exception which is obvious - keep looking, you'll find it.) This one is different, so I used a different cover. I just thought these dogs were so cute, so I had to figure out how I could incorporate them. Little boxer puppies. C'mon. Again this was about titles and colors. I get it that some of the songs might have a message or two in them, but that's not why they were chosen, strictly because I like the song and it had the two colors in the title. BTW, I have a reverse brindle boxer that looks black with white "socks" and I am looking for a boxer puppy now that is white with black "socks"/ I'm putting it out there, because who knows where one will show up in a rescue. So think of me when you see one.

What Is The Connection? Black & White

01 Elvis Costello and the Attractions - Black And White World

02 The DB's - Black and White

03 Bellevue Cadillac - Black and White

04 Greyhound -
Black And White

05 Three Dog Night - Black And White

06 Rick James - Black & White

07 INXS - Black And White

08 Crowded House - Black & White Boy

09 James Gang - White Man-Black Man

10 Marth And The Muffins (M+M) - Black Stations-White Stations

11 Todd Rundgren - Black And White

12 Kylie Minogue featuring Shaggy - Black And White

13 Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Black Night White Light

14 Simple Minds - A Life Shot In Black & White

15 The Raveonettes - Black-White

16 Siouxsie & The Banshees - Eve White-Eve Black

17 Lords Of The New Church - Black Girl White Girl

18 Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder - Ebony and Ivory

19 David Bowie - Black Tie White Noise

20 Mad Professor - Black Skin White Minds

What Is The Connection? White Power

Again, don't read into the click bait title. It's all about songs with White in the title. The power of Color. It's my pick of White songs, today. Yesterday it was Black and who knows about tomorrow. But I have quite a few colors. I tried to stay away from color as a name (Mr. White). And most are strictly about the color being a descriptor. Same as the Black Connection yesterday. The Fists on the cover were mostly because I liked the fists. Nothing to do with Anything else that you may read into this. Although I can confess I added the "Power" part just to mess with people. Deal with it. I'm stirring the pot, but innocently enough that you have to check your own pre-judgements. Ha ha ha. Got ya!

What Is The Connection? White Power

01 Jason & the Scorchers - White Lies

02 The Clash - White Riot

03 Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit

04 Cream - White Room

05 Procol Harum - A Whiter Shade Of Pale

06 Grandmaster And Melle Mel - White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)

07 It's a Beautiful Day - White Bird

08 Tubes - White Punks On Dope

09 Laid Back - White Horse

10 The Moody Blues - Nights In White Satin

12 Velvet Underground - White Light-White Heat

13 X - White Girl

14 Foreigner - Dirty White Boy

15 The Offspring - Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)

16 Tomorrow - My White Bicycle

17 Ted Nugent & The Amboy Dukes - The Great White Buffalo

18 Billy Idol - White Wedding, Part 1

19 Starkweathers - White Trash Boy

20 Nashville Pussy - Lazy White Boy

21 The Fall - White Lightning

What Is The Connection? Black Power

The next couple of Connections are all about the power of colors. Actually, just songs with the title including the color. Today's color is Black. This is my pick of Black. Well, volume one, because there are probably a million songs with Black in the title that I did not include. Tell me your favorites in the comments, because I know I missed on a bunch of really good ones. Everyone expects it to be about connotations of the colors, but that is not how I picked the songs. Just the ones I immediately thought of when I  thought of the color. As an artist I know if I mix paints or inks all together it makes black, but as a scientist I know that if I mix the colors of light all together I get white. So in light, black is the absence of color, but in any other medium black is all colors. That is because, I understand the ink absorbs every color and reflects the one. Physics. So much fun. BTW, the cover is to throw you off.

What Is The Connection? Black Power

01 Doobie Brothers - Black Water

02 Scorpions - Blackout

03 AC-DC - Back In Black

04 Beatles - Blackbird

05 Steely Dan - Black Cow

06 Billy Paul - Am I Black Enough For You

07 Greta Van Fleet - Black Smoke Rising

08 Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath

09 Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun

10 Will Smith - Men In Black

11 Ram Jam - Black Betty

12 Violent Femmes - Black Girls

13 Santana - Black Magic Woman

14 Los Bravos - Black is Black

15 Deep Purple - Black Night

16 Siouxsie & The Banshees - Black Sun

17 Lou Reed - I Wanna Be Black

18 Led Zeppelin - Black Dog

19 Rolling Stones - Paint It, Black