Carl Palmer Pick

I was lucky enough to hang out with Carl Palmer a few times. Nice guy and big ego (deservedly so). He is a great drummer. He's been in a couple of great bands with virtuoso's and has played with some cool people. This pick takes some of my favorite moments of mine about him. Solo and even going back pre-ELP. I through in a few guest spots where I think he shined and came up with this compilation of Palmer showing why he deserves to have such a big ego. If there are some moments of his that I skipped, make sure you mention them in the comments. Over the next couple of days, I will do the same for the E and the L. Notice that over the three CD's I repeat only one ELP track, once. I will continue after Groundhog's Day.

Carl Palmer Pick

01 The Craig - I Must Be Mad

02 Atomic Rooster - Decline And Fall

03 Emerson Lake & Palmer - Karn Evil 9 1st Impression, Pt. 2

04 Emerson Lake & Palmer - Close but not Touching

05 Emerson Lake & Palmer - Bullfrog

06 Emerson Lake & Palmer - Infinite Space (Conclusion)

07 Carl Palmer - Tank

08 Carl Palmer - LA Nights

09 Asia - Wildest Dreams

10 Carl Palmer's PM - Children Of The Air Age

11 Mike Oldfield - Ready Mix

12 3 (Emerson Berry & Palmer) - Talkin' Bout

13 Qango - The Last One Home

14 Carl Palmer - Drum Solo

15 Carl Palmer - Toccata

16 Carl Palmer & Buddy Rich - Shawnee (Live)

Alan White Pick

I got to meet Alan White on a Yes Cruise to the Caribbean. I actually hung out with him for a few days, late nights in a bar. I didn't think he was the greatest drummer of all time, but I thought he was darn good. More than his drumming, he was a nice guy. He told great stories and was generous with his time. In fact, out of everyone in Yes, he and Jon Davison were the two nicest of them all. Chris Squire was nice, too, but he didn't open up to some nobody like me (until we reached Grand Cayman and sat together in a bar for an hour or so). Anyway, there are so many albums and songs that Alan White played on that are my favorites. I did not pick them all, but I tried to spread it out, so you could get a sampling of how versatile he was. I hope you enjoy it, BTW, one of my very favorite albums he's on is not represented here (Sometime In New York), but that's the way it goes. May he Rest In Peace.

Alan White Pick

01 John Wetton, Adrian Belew & Alan White - Mother

02 Alan White - One Way Rag

03 Donovan - I Like You

04 Billy Sherwood, Tony Kaye, Alan White - All My Love

05 Rick Wakeman - Catherine of Aragon

06 Wetton-Manzanera - It's Just Love

07 John Lennon - Instant Karma!

08 George Harrison - My Sweet Lord

09 Yes - Sound Chaser

10 Joe Cocker - High Time We Went

11 Chris Squire & Alan White - Comfortably Numb

12 White - Beyond The Sea Of Lies

13 Levin Torn White - Ultra Mullet

14 Circa - Cut the Ties

15 Yes - Tempus Fugit

16 Chris Squire with Alan White - Run With The Fox

17 Adrian Belew, Alan White & Keith Emerson - In The Flesh

IRS Greatest Hits volume 1-3

I normally do not post any comps I didn't make myself. I've made a few exceptions for some really cool comps that friends have made and this pick isn't that either. This is a compilation that a record company made. Not too sure that it is available anymore, but even if it is, I don't think they would mind me posting it. This is a loss leader record that IRS Records put out decades ago to promote their label and bands. Including the Police, probably their biggest band. I am posting this, because of a couple of reasons. It was one of the first records I got like this. It was really, really cheap. It came out as volume 2 & 3 (you had to send a couple of bucks to the company to get volume 1). I found a bunch of cool bands I had never heard before. And I really liked the albums. Started me on a path to find a bunch of these bands. I sent it over to a guy that posts albums from companies and he didn't post it for some reason, so I figured I might as well post it here, because maybe someone else will love it like I did. I hope that's you.

IRS Greatest Hits volume 1-3

Vol. 1

01 Payola$ - China Boys

02 Klark Kent - Ritch in a Ditch

03 Oingo Boingo - Only A Lad

04 Berlin - Matter Of Time

05 Stranglers - The Raven

06 Henry Badowski - My Face

07 Stranglers - Vietnamerica

08 Oingo Boingo - Ain't This the Life

09 Buzzcocks - Are Everything

10 Chelsea - No Escape

Vol. 2

11 Fleshtones - Cold, Cold Shoes

12 Brian James - Ain't That A Shame

13 Henry Badowski - Baby Sign Here With Me

14 Alternative TV - Action Time Vision

15 Squeeze - Backtrack

16 Skafish - Disgracing The Family Name

17 The Damned - Wait For The Blackout

18 Klark Kent - Thrills

19 The Stranglers - Straighten Out

20 Chelsea - Urban Kids

21 The Cramps - Uranium Rock

22 The Humans - I Live In The City

Vol. 3

23 The Police - Fallout

24 Sector 27 - Can't Keep Away

25 John Cale - Memphis

26 Jools Holland - Mess Around

27 Payola$ - Jukebox

28 The Fall - Rebellious Jukebox

29 Patrick D. Martin - Computer Datin'

30 Oingo Boingo - Only A Lad

31 Buzzcocks - You Say You Don't Love Me

32 Klark Kent - Office Girls

33 Wazmo Nariz - Lips

34 Fashion - Sodium Pentathol Negative

What's The Connection? Beatlesque 2

This is part 2 of the Beatlesque What's The Connection and it seems to only be getting better and better. Knowing that I have even more in line, it is obvious that there are many bands that wanted to sound like the Beatles. These guys pulled it off better than most. I did not include in either of these volumes covers of Beatles songs. And You will notice, that other than ELO, I tried hard to not repeat bands. Several Cheap Trick songs could have been used (and maybe will be used in later volumes). I know you will have your favorite Beatlesque songs, so be sure to leave those in the comments and maybe they will join volume 3 or 4. And what do you think? Should the stuff that is supposed to be the Beatles but is partially Jeff Lynne be included in a future volume. I mean it is sort of the Beatles, but sort of not.

What's The Connection? Beatlesque 2

28 Stonecake - Tuesday Afternoon

29 MonaLisa Twins - I Wanna Kiss You

30 Olivia Tremor Control - Define A Transparent Dream

31 Tobias Jesso Jr - How Could You Babe

32 Emitt Rhodes - She's Such A Beauty

33 Harry Nilsson - You Can't Do That

34 The Monkees - Randy Scouse Git

35 Circulatory System - The Lovely Universe

36 The Idle Race - End Of The Road

37 Spongetones - Other Girls

38 Hollies - Carrie Anne

39 Byrds - Mr. Tambourine Man

40 Tony Molina - Nothing I Can Say

41 XTC - Senses Working Overtime

42 Raspberries - I Wanna Be With You

43 Utopia - I Just Want To Touch You

44 Redd Kross - Lady In The Front Row

45 The Zombies - She's Not There

46 The Jam - Start

47 Vinyl Kings - Chocolate Cake

48 The Knack - That's What The Little Girls Do

49 Fool's Garden - Lemon Tree

50 Beatnix - Stairway to Heaven

51 The Redwalls - Rock & Roll

52 Jet - Look What You've Done

53 Electric Light Orchestra - 21st Century Man

What's The Connection? Beatlesque 1

The last couple of days has been songs that sound like the Rolling Stones, but I only made those ones, because of these songs that have the connection of sounding like Beatles songs. This i have always been interested in. It always amazed me how much some bands can sound like The Beatles. Interestingly, this covers early and late Beatles. There are so many different sounds to the Beatles. Notice the cover is similar to Cheap Trick's album logo. I was obsessed with Cheap Trick, partially their Beatles sound, but also just how they are so cool. I used to have a concert Tee with the Cheap Trick logo in that font

What's The Connection? Beatlesque 1

01 Klaatu - Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft

02 The Small Faces - My Mind's Eye

03 Remains - Why Do I Cry

04 The Mascots - Words Enough To Tell You

05 The Hudson Brothers - So You Really Are A Star

06 Dave Clark Five - Because

07 The Gants - I Wonder

08 Bee Gees - In My Own Time

09 The 'E' Types - Put The Clock Back On The Wall

10 Cream - Doing That Scrapyard Thing

11 The Byrds - You Won't Have To Cry

12 Dovers - What Am I Going To Do

13 The Beau Brummels - Laugh, Laugh

14 The Zombies - Tell Her No

15 The Rutles - Cheese And Onions

16 The Knickerbockers - Lies

17 The Pretty Things - She Says Good Morning

18 Badfinger - Come and Get It

19 Utopia - I Just Want To Touch You

20 The Wonders - That Thing You Do!

21 Cheap Trick - Had To Make You Mine

22 XTC - I'd Like That

23 Matthew Sweet - I've Been Waiting

24 Electric Light Orchestra - Bluebird Is Dead

25 Radiohead - Killer Cars

26 Nirvana - About A Girl

27 Tears For Fears - Sowing The Seeds Of Love

What's The Connection? Stonesque 2

Yesterday was most of the intro for this connection, But I have to mention two bands that, to me can sound like the Stones too much. One is the Chocolate Watchband. When I first heard I Ain't No Miracle Worker, I could have sworn that it was the Rolling Stones. Same thing for some Aerosmith. And the pouty lips may have something to do with the latter.

What's The Connection? Stonesque 2

0 The Charlatans - Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over

21 Pretenders - My City Was Gone

22 Queens Of The Stone Age - If I Had A Tail

23 New Radicals - You Get What You Give

24 The Standells - Sometimes Good Guys Don't Wear White

25 Ed Sheeran - Sing

26 Chocolate Watch Band - I Ain't No Miracle Worker

27 Green On Red - This Time Around

28 David Bowie - Rebel Rebel

29 Kinks - Catch Me Now I'm Falling

30 Cheap Trick - I Love You Honey But I Hate Your Friends

31 Wolfmother - I Ain't Got No

32 Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - Brenda

33 Tommy Stinson - It's A Drag

34 Noel Redding Band - Hold On To What Youve Got

35 Kenny Brown - Goin' Back To Mississippi

36 Mink DeVille - Gunslinger

37 Aerosmith - Draw The Line

What's The Connection? Stonesque 1

I actually made a connection for the Beatles first, but haven't posted it yet. I actually thought I did, but oops. I was wrong. So this gets posted first. Songs that sound like the Rolling Stones, to me. Easy enough. They have all kinds of genres just among their own songs, so this will be a little all over as well. Since I made these, I saw that another site has made a comp that has way more than here. Oh well, I have a couple they don't have. Either way it is somewhat subjective. Some barely sounds like Stones. Others like the Chocolate Watchband sound so much like them in several songs, that they were mistaken for them a few times.

What's The Connection? Stonesque 1

01 Chocolate Watch Band - Gone And Passes By

02 Cage The Elephant - Back Stabbin' Betty

03 Paul Westerberg - Dirty Diesel

04 The Black Crowes - Jealous Again

05 The Sky - Make It Tight

06 Humble Pie - 30 Days In The Hole

07 Soft Boys - Rock 'n' Roll Toilet {2}

08 Shoes - Hot Mess

09 Flamin' Groovies - High Flyin' Baby

10 Drive By Truckers - 3 Dimes Down

11 Primal Scream - Rocks

12 Georgia Satellites - Stellazine Blues

13 The Raconteurs - Blue Veins

14 Buffalo Springfield - Mr. Soul

15 The Cult - Love Removal Machine

16 The Romantics - Rock You Up

17 The Standells - Dirty Water

18 Iggy Pop - Kill City

19 Van Morrison - Brown Eyed Girl

What's The Connection? Sugar

This is one sweet connection. Made a few years ago, when I was still eating sugar this WTC of songs with sugar in the title was kind of fun to put together. A little old and a little newer, it covers all the bases in genres. Country, rock psychedelic, pop, soul, blues, glam etc. Lots of sugary songs and still more that could be played. These are my favorites that I own. Tell me which ones I missed and maybe I will make part two. I love the sugar cane cover.

What's The Connection? Sugar

01 Grateful Dead - Sugar Magnolia

02 Def Leppard - Pour Some Sugar On Me

03 Hadda Brooks - Need a Little Sugar In My Bowl

04 Jackson 5 - Sugar Daddy

05 Jade Anderson - Sugarhigh

06 Neil Young - Sugar Mountain

07 Mouse & The Traps - Maid Of Sugar-Maid Of Spice

08 Archies - Sugar, Sugar

09 Talking Heads - Sugar On My Tongue

10 Rolling Stones - Brown Sugar

11 Sneaker Pimps - Spin Spin Sugar

12 Echo & The Bunnymen - Lips Like Sugar

13 CJ Bolland - Sugar Is Sweeter

14 System Of A Down - Sugar

15 Rubettes - Sugar Baby Love

16 Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs - Sugar Shack

17 Junior Brown - Sugar Foot Rag

18 Cleveland Crochet - Sugar Bee

19 The Cryan Shames - Sugar And Spice

20 Fall Out Boy - Sugar, We're Goin' Down

21 Nancy Sinatra - Sugar Town

22 The Palace Guard - Falling Sugar

23 Cocteau Twins - Sugar Hiccup

24 Claudine Longet - Sugar Me

What's The Connection? That Girl

Lots of songs with Girl in the title. These are not just with Girl in the title, these all have an adjective and then Girl in the title. Just two words with Girl as the second word. Something Girl. I know there are tons of other songs that I could have used, but remember these are all songs I like AND songs I own. So if you have some suggestions for future volumes place them in the comments. If I end up buying the song (or getting a record company to give it to me) and I like it, then it could end up on a future volume. In the meantime enjoy this connection as it is, because that's all there is for now. BTW, how do you like the Marlo Thomas cover? Before surgery.

What's The Connection? That Girl

01 ChicKs on Speed - Glamour Girl

02 Aqua - Barbie Girl

03 Madonna - Material Girl

04 Beyonce - Naughty Girl

05 Gwen Stefani - Hollaback Girl

06 Billy Joel - Uptown Girl

07 Raining Jane - Big Girl

08 Garbage - Stupid Girl

09 Kate Bush - Rubberband Girl

10 Frank Zappa - Valley Girl

11 Bikini Kill - Rebel Girl

12 Neil Young - Cinnamon Girl

13 Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - American Girl

14 Blondie - Sunday Girl

15 David Bowie - China Girl

16 The Tubes - Sushi Girl

17 The Beach Boys - Surfer Girl

18 Elton John - Island Girl

19 Seals & Crofts - Diamond Girl

20 Daryl Hall & John Oates - Rich Girl

21 Go-Go's - Good Girl

22 Dorothy Shay - Mountain Girl

What's The Connection? I'm Down 1

These past couple of down connections from the last few days all owe their existence to this one. I started this compilation idea years ago, but didn't get it all the way done until recently. It started with a promotional single of the Beastie Boys covering the Beatles I'm Down. For some reason the Beatles did not approve of the cover and made the Beasties take it off their album. So in turn the record company made all the radio stations pull the promo. But too late since we had already started playing it and had a copy in the On Air booth. I liked the song. Best cover of the Beatles by far, for me. So I kept a digital copy and played it whenever I could. Put it on Beatles comps. Played it at parties. Later the Beastie Boys were able to put it on a B-Sides album. What a waste of an amazing song! Anyway here are a few more covers, plus some songs that have nothing to do with the Beatles, but just so happen to use I'm Down in the title. One of my favorites of those is Rose Royce. I'm complicated. Part 2 will eventually come out.

What's The Connection? I'm Down 1

01 Ace Frehley - I'm Down

02 Thunder - I'm Down

03 Beatles - I'm Down

04 Deacon Blue - I'm Down (Live)

05 Beastie Boys - I'm Down

06 Yes - I'm Down

07 Adrian Belew - I'm Down

08 Aaliyah - I'm Down

09 Rose Royce - I'm Going Down

10 Salt 'n' Pepa - I Am Down

11 Leslie West - Baby, I'm Down

12 Meghan Trainor - I'm Down

13 The Harbinger Complex - I Think I'm Down

14 Chris Cornell - When I'm Down

15 Plastiscines - I Am Down

16 Hollies - I'm Down

17 Jack White - I'm Down

18 Steppendog - I'm Feeling Down

19 Sandie Shaw - Hold I'm Down

20 Neal Schon & Jan Hammer - I'm Down

21 The Clash - I'm Not Down

22 Love - I'm Down

23 Mike Raynor And Sky - I'm Going Down

24 The Kentucky Headhunters - I'm Down

What's The Connection? Girlfriend 1

My girlfriend is my wife, but I didn't include wives in the title, although I almost included Willie Nelson's Wives and Girlfriends. One of my favorite songs that has girlfriend in the title (and boyfriend for that matter is from an Australian band called the Passengers. I discovered them on a compilation. And somehow it became a favorite song of mine. No one I know from Australia seems to know the band, so who knows if the rest of their songs were any good or not. I like to believe that they had a bunch of good songs. Anyway, there are tons more girlfriend songs, so eventually I will post further volumes of this connection. But that's in the future, Leave comments, especially if you know more about the Passengers.

What's The Connection? Girlfriend 1

01 The Specials - What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend

02 Ariana Grande - Break Up With Your Girlfriend, I'm Bored

03 No Doubt - Ex-Girlfriend

04 Passengers - Girlfriend's Boyfriend

05 Elvis Costello - Spooky Girlfriend

06 Prince - If I Was Your Girlfriend

07 Mariah Carey - X-Girlfriend

08 Michael Jackson - Girlfriend

09 Wings - Girlfriend

10 The Smiths - Girlfriend in a Coma

11 Morrissey - Driving Your Girlfriend Home

12 Talking Heads - Girlfriend Is Better

13 Pebbles - Girlfriend

14 Pet Shop Boys - Bet She's Not Your Girlfriend

15 Barenaked Ladies - Alternative Girlfriend

16 The Jesus And Mary Chain - Girlfriend

17 Steve Holy - Brand New Girlfriend

18 Cheap Trick - Girlfriends

19 UB40 featuring Winston Francis - My Best Friend's Girlfriend

20 The Three O'clock - With A Cantaloupe Girlfriend

21 Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend

What's The Connection? Don't Let

If you go back a couple of days, you'll see the story about how I started this connection. Started with Down. There are a lot of songs with Don't Let in the title and Don't Let Down. Actually one song in here does not have Don't in the title, but the meaning was similar. Three of the songs are the same, just covers and two right in a row are also cover and original, but both such good versions. So many different types of music that it's hard to believe that they are all songs I like. But they are. Don't let me down: Leave any suggestions for others that would fit in the comments.

What's The Connection? Don't Let

01 Elvis Costello - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

02 John Mayer - You're No One 'Til Someone Lets You Down

03 Swing Out Sister - Don't Let Yourself Down

04 Fatboy Slim - Don't Let The Man Get You Down

05 War - Don't Let No One Get You Down

06 The Animals - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

07 Elvin Bishop - Don't Let The Bossman Get You Down

08 Santa Esmeralda - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood

09 Temptations - Don't Let The Joneses Get You Down

10 Ray Charles - Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'

11 The Who - Don't Let Go The Coat

12 Victoria Williams - Don't Let It Bring You Down

13 The Serendipity Singers - Don't Let The Rain Come Down (Crooked Little Man)

14 Fine Young Cannibals - Don't Let It Get You Down

15 The Alan Parsons Project - Don't Let It Show

16 Neil Young - Don't Let it Bring You Down

17 George Michael - Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me

18 Elton John - Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me

19 Britney Spears - Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know

20 The Isley Brothers - Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight

Crooners Pick 1

I grew up listening to the Rat Pack and Bing Crosby specials and the associated albums. I always loved Dean Martin. I also loved Dorothy Lamour because of all the "Road" pictures. So when it came time to make this Pick it was not difficult. I know all the songs. This is my pick, not the definitive list of all time, but my definitive list. If you have some that didn't make it on this compilation, please leave them in the comments, I would love to hear what you are thinking.

Crooners Pick 1

01 Elvis Presley - Always On My Mind

02 Freddy Fender - Before the Next Teardrops Falls

03 Frank Sinatra - Strangers In The Night

04 Matt Monro - On Days Like These

05 Bing Crosby - You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby

06 Rudy Vallee - As Time Goes By

07 Jim Nabors - The Impossible Dream

08 Al Martino - Spanish Eyes

09 Nat King Cole - Unforgettable

10 Perry Como - Magic Moments

11 Harry Connick, Jr. - A Wink And A Smile

12 Tony Bennett - I Left My Heart In San Francisco

13 Sammy Davis, Jr. - Something's Gotta Give

14 Michael Buble - Feeling Good

15 Jack Jones - Wives And Lovers

16 Vic Damone - On The Street Where You Live

17 Dean Martin - Everybody Loves Somebody

18 Johnny Mathis - Misty

19 Bobby Darin - Beyond the Sea

20 Robert Goulet - If Ever I Would Leave You

21 Engelbert Humperdinck - Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)

22 Bobby Vinton - Blue velvet

23 Mel Tormé - Comin' Home Baby

24 Tom Jones - It's Not Unusual

What's The Connection? Don't Down Me

This connection came about because of a song that isn't even on this playlist. I was listening to the Beatles I'm Down, both the original version and the Beastie Boys version. Great song. But it started me thinking of songs that Bring You Down and songs that Let You Down. and that's what this became. Every song has Don't and Down in it. About half are Bring You Down songs and the other half are Let You Down  songs. I'm sure there are more, it does seem to be a popular subject. I will have a few associated other comps coming soo in a similar vein.

What's The Connection? Don't Down Me

01 Paul Weller - Don't Let Me Down

02 Young Fresh Fellows - I Don't Let the Little Things Get Me Down

03 Purple Helmets - Don't Bring Me Down

04 Pretty Things - Don't Bring Me Down

05 The Farm - Don't Let Me Down

06 David Bowie - Don't Bring Me Down

07 Rita Dacosta - Don't Bring Me Down

08 Terry Brandon And The Beatmen - Don't Bring Me Down

09 Bad Company - Don't Let Me Down

10 Echo & The Bunnymen - Don't Let It Get You Down

11 Electric Light Orchestra - Don't Bring Me Down

12 Kiss - Don't You Let Me Down

13 Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Don't Bring Me Down

14 Hollies - Don't Let Me Down

15 Y&T - Don't Bring Me Down

16 Dillard & Clark - Don't Let Me Down

17 Beatles - Don't Let Me Down

18 Annie Lennox - Don't Let Me Down

19 Donald Height - Don't Let Me Down

20 The Chainsmokers featuring Daya - Don't Let Me Down

What Is The Connection? Born 1

One of the most amazing things in my life was watching my daughter be born. Long labor of over 40 hours (no one slept). She was a pretty big baby. I was the first one to touch her head when she was crowning. I got to cut the umbilical cord. I was able to wash her up for the first time. Great nurses who let me be involved in every aspect. That continued through her childhood. One of the best experiences of my life. Yes, it was thousands and thousands of diapers changed, yes, there was crying (and laughing) and tons of other things we went through and it still cannot be compared to anything else. I put together this much later, but I thought about it a lot before. My Connection of Born songs. Nothing to do with my daughter's birth, but still kinda cool.

What Is The Connection? Born 1

01 Sara Evans - Born To Fly

02 KLF - Born Free

03 Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Born To Run

04 Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Born With A Broken Heart

05 Talking Heads - Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On)

06 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Born on the Bayou

07 Bruce Springsteen - Born In The USA

08 The Ronettes - Born To Be Together

09 Yello - Move Dance Be Born

10 Patrick Hernandez - Born to Be Alive

11 Queen - I Was Born To Love You

12 Underworld - Born Slippy Nuxx

13 The Police - Born In The 50's

14 Nina Hagen - Born In Xixax

15 Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild

16 Jimi Hendrix - Born Under A Bad Sign

Bowie, Eno, Pop Pick

This kinda came together, because one hung out with another, then hung out with the next. Not even sure they all hung out at the exact same time. And frankly I could have included some Lou Reed here, but didn't. Somehow these seem connected. The sound overlaps, but never seems the same. I just like how it fits, so this is my David Bowie, Brian Eno and Iggy Pop pick. The Manzanera and 801 also fits if you look at who plays on those tracks and so does Talking Heads. I just like to play these tracks, so this is my excuse. Wacky caricatures put the cover together for me.

Bowie, Eno, Pop Pick

01 Brian Eno - Sky Saw

02 Phil Manzanera - Carhumba

03 801 - T.N.K. (Tomorrow Never Knows)

04 Brian Eno - No One Receiving

05 Brian Eno - Backwater

06 Iggy Pop - Sister Midnight

07 Iggy Pop - Nightclubbing

08 David Bowie - Sound And Vision

09 David Bowie - Warszawa

10 David Bowie - Some Are

11 Iggy Pop - Lust For Life

12 Iggy Pop - The Passenger

13 David Bowie - Heroes

14 David Bowie - V-2 Schneider

15 Eno, Moebius & Roedelius - Base & Apex

16 David Bowie - D.J.

17 David Bowie - Red money

18 Talking Heads - Life During Wartime

Power Trios

This one was easy, because I didn't have to spend much time doing this. I thought of some of my favorite Power Trios and put them together. I can't say these are the best, the very best or the worst or anything, except they are my pick for today of power trios. I'm sure you have your favorite power trios, might even be some of these, but not these tracks. That's okay. Leave your favorites in the comments. I'll respect your choices and maybe make another one out of all yours. 

Power Trios

01 Triumph - I Live For The Weekend

02 Emerson, Lake & Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery

03 The James Gang - Funk # 49

04 Beck, Bogert, Appice - Black Cat Moan

05 Jimi Hendrix - Wild Thing

06 Budgie - In For The Kill

07 Cream - White Room

08 Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

09 Blue Cheer - Summertime Blues

10 Grand Funk Railroad - We're an American Band

11 Robin Trower - Lady Love

12 Poison - Every Rose Has Its Thorn

13 Mountain - Mississippi Queen

14 Rush - La Villa Strangiato

15 ZZ Top - La Grange

Happy Birthday! 2

Well, today's my wife's birthday, so in honor of that I will post volume two of my Happy Birthday pick. Not going to say much more except for look for part one if you want more birthday songs. There are no repeats. No more write-up, I am going to spend the day with her, so cya.

Happy Birthday! 2

01 The Association - Birthday Morning

02 New Kids On The Block - Happy Birthday

03 Steppenwolf - Happy Birthday

04 Carly Simon - Happy Birthday

05 The Crests - Sixteen Candles

06 The Pixies Three - Birthday Party

07 Johnny Crawford - Cindy's Birthday

08 Bill Nelson - Year 44 (The Birthday Song)

09 Cibo Matto - Birthday Cake

10 Cracker - Happy Birthday To Me

11 The Birthday Party - Happy Birthday

12 The Fall - Birthday

13 Mrs Peacock - Birthday

14 Mother May I - Birthday Wish

15 HR - Happy Birthday My Son

16 Marilyn Monroe - Happy Birthday Mr President

17 Residents - Birthday Boy

18 Ween - Birthday Boy

19 Tom Chapin - The Backwards Birthday Party

20 Arrogant Worms - The Happy Happy Birthday Song

21 Paul Anka - Did You Have A Happy Birthday

22 Elvis Costello & Burt Bacharach - Tears at the Birthday Party

23 Vandals - Bad Birthday Bash

24 They Might Be Giants - It's Not My Birthday

25 Disney - Alice in Wonderland - The Unbirthday Song

Santana's Power To Change The Mindset of the Subconscious

I always found this pick very interesting. Carlos Santana on some radio program gave a partial list of songs that he said would have the Santana's Power To Change The Mindset of the Subconscious. He must have been in a hurry, because he didn't quite give enough songs for an entire CD. So I started thinking about what kind of songs could finish the list and the radio station asked the same question. This is the final list I came up with. According to Santana if we just played these songs instead of Muzak in elevators, played these songs in parking lots and shopping centers. The world would become a better place. I don't know about that, I would get awfully tired of these songs, no matter how good they might be. But these songs do have some power. Try it every now and then in your car. Find yourself fascinated, instead of frustrated. If it happens once that could start the world to become a better place. BTW, Santana chose at least eight or nine of these tracks. You decide which ones.

Santana's Power To Change The Mindset of the Subconscious

01 Marvin Gaye - What's Going On

02 Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come

03 Al Green - Love And Happiness

04 Kenny G & Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World

05 Bob Dylan - Blowin' In The Wind

06 John Lennon - Imagine

07 Bob Marley & The Wailers - One Love

08 Toto - Africa

09 Mike And The Mechanics - The Living Years

10 Michael Jackson - Man in the Mirror

11 Youngbloods - Get Together

12 Donna Summer - The Power Of One

13 Russell Watson - Faith Of The Heart

14 Journey - Don't Stop Believin'

15 2Pac - Changes

16 USA For Africa - We Are The World

17 Etta James - Something's Got A Hold On Me

18 Santana & Mahavishnu John McLaughlin - A Love Supreme

19 Pharrell - Happy

What's The Connection? Nursery Rhymes

Old Mother Goose, Nursery rhymes, Fairy tales, Grimms. They are all in here in this connection. Songs with lyrics from Nursery Rhymes and the rest. From punk to rock, folk to pop at some time these words are being used (or abused) by musicians. One of my favorites was always Flipper doing the old lady who swallowed a fly, but Raydio (Ray Parker Junior) doing Jack and Jill go up the hill is also genius. Throw in Zappa and the Muffin Man, Toto AND Current 93 and now you have a collection. Let me know who else I missed, because I am sure there is enough to make volume two. The cover is from Paulus De Boskabouter. One of the first kids books I ever read. Still a favorite.

What's The Connection? Nursery Rhymes

01 Wynona Carr - Nursery Rhyme Rock

02 Toto - Georgy Porgy

03 Jethro Tull - Mother Goose

04 Pete Seeger - I Know An Old Lady

05 Run Dmc - Peter Piper

06 Raydio - Jack And Jill

07 The Residents - Twinkle

08 Carly Simon And James Taylor - Mockingbird

09 Rufus Thomas - Old MacDonald Had A Farm

10 Current 93 - Oh' Coal Black Smith

11 Flipper - The Old Lady Who Swallowed A Fly

12 The Horse Flies - Hush Little Baby

13 Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs - Lil' Red Riding Hood

14 Supertramp - It's Raining Again

15 Metallica - Enter Sandman

16 Frank Zappa - Muffin Man

17 Leo Graham - Three Blind Mice

18 Green Jelly - Three Little Pigs

19 The Elegants - Little Star

20 Little Richard - Itsy Bitsy Spider

21 Spearhead - Hole In The Bucket

22 Beach Boys - Ten Little Indians

What's The Connection? Ramblin' 1

This connection is about songs with rambling on their minds. Depends on where you look, but it sure seemed like a lot of songs with Ramblin' in their title, had a lot to do with South. Blues and country. This is my pick of the first of Rambling WTC's. You can make hundreds of these, probably just in the blues genre, but these are the ones I picked.

What's The Connection? Ramblin' 1

01 Ginger Baker Trio - Rambler

02 Allman Brothers Band - Ramblin' Man

03 Merle Haggard - Ramblin' Fever

04 Led Zeppelin - Ramble On

05 John Mayall's Bluesbreakers - Ramblin' On My Mind

06 Aretha Franklin - Ramblin

07 Marshall Tucker Band - Ramblin'

08 Waylon Jennings - I'm A Ramblin' Man

09 Jerry Jeff Walker - Ramblin', Scramblin'

10 Muddy Waters - Ramblin Kid Blues

11 Memphis Minnie - Nothing In Ramblin'

12 Bob Dylan - Rambler, Gambler

13 Linda Ronstadt - Ramblin' 'Round

14 John Lee Hooker - Ramblin' By Myself

15 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Ramble Tamble

16 Rolling Stones - Midnight Rambler

17 Fleetwood Mac - Rambling Pony

18 The Bob Seger System - Ramblin' Gamblin' Man

19 Dean Martin - Ramblin' Rose

20 Don Williams - Rake And Ramblin' Man

21 Louis Armstrong - Muskrat Ramble

Reggae Pick 2

This volume has several covers in it. Remember this reggae pick is just some reggae songs I like, not necessarily the "best" reggae of all time. In face there are some more or less rare songs in this comp. First it's volume two, so look for volume one yesterday. Inka Inka is not a really well known band. except for maybe in Northern California for a short while. But I liked the band and several of their songs, including this War cover. Not all of the songs are covers. Like Bob Marley's Milkshake and Potato Chip is not a cover. And I also have not seen this track on any of the main stream albums of his. I found it on an early CD I got (one of the first I ever owned) just attributed to Bob and Peter and Bunny And Rita. Obviously it is Bob as you listen to it and what a great song. Notice that the cover design is Jamaica, even though these bands are not all from Jamaica. Oh Well.

Reggae Pick 2

20 The Dynamics - Whole Lotta Love

21 Maxi Priest - Wild World

22 Johnny Nash - Stir It Up

23 Bob Marley & the Wailers - Milkshake & Potato Chips

24 Inner Circle - Sweat (A La La La La Long)

25 UB40 with Chrissie Hynde - I Got You Babe

26 Black Uhuru - Hey Joe

27 Inka Inka - Why Can't We Be Friends

28 Eek-A-Mouse - D'yer Maker

29 Aswad - On & On

30 Snow - Informer

31 Fever featuring Tippa Irie - Staying Alive 95

32 Sly And Robbie - Billie Jean

33 Third World - Now That We've Found Love

34 Steel Pulse - Ku Klux Klan

35 Jimmy Cliff - You Can Get It If You Really Want

36 Seal & Mikey Dread - Lips Like Sugar

37 The Dynamics - Miss You

38 Big Mountain - Baby, I Love Your Way

39 Shaggy - Boombastic

Reggae Pick 1

First I do not want anyone to think that these are the "best" reggae songs of all time. They aren't. But they are my pick of reggae songs. Songs I like and songs I might play at some gig. A few of these tracks on these two volumes are actually not fairly well known and some are obvious. I'm never sure who knows what when it comes to reggae, since very little is played on the radio. Sure Bob Marley. And now guys like Sean Paul, but British reggae bands like Black Slate did not get much if any airplay in the US. Nothing like UB40. And yet they had songs just as catchy and just as good if not better than the latter. I hope you like my pick.

Reggae Pick 1

01 Eek-A-Mouse - Gun Shot A Cry

02 Inner Circle - Bad Boys

03 UB40 - Red, Red Wine

04 Beenie Man - Dude

05 Shaggy - It Wasn't Me

06 Ziggy Marley - Tomorrow People

07 Sean Paul - Get Busy

08 Dillinger - Cocaine In My Brain

09 Ini Kamoze - Here Comes The Hotstepper (Heartical Mix)

10 Eddy Grant - Electric Avenue

11 Black Slate - Amigo

12 Bob Marley & the Wailers - Jamming

13 Johnny Nash - I Can See Clearly Now

14 Inka Inka - Brainwash

15 Black Uhuru - Guess Who's Coming To Dinner

16 Peter Tosh - Legalize It

17 Musical Youth - Pass The Dutchie

18 The Toyes - Smoke Two Joints

19 Pato Banton - Don't Sniff Coke

Reggae Dub Pick 2

Yesterday I started this pick and I continue today with Dub reggae. Mostly buying by mail order. Playing it everywhere and starting to get some favorite bands that I just bought everything I possibly could. Dub Syndicate, Lee Scratch Perry, Mad Professor, Scientist. And I started looking for other bands that were working with these guys or had tracks that were completely influenced by them. That got me the band A Certain Ratio working under the pseudonym Sir Horatio (I got a kick out of that) who had a 12 " single with two good tracks that could have been "real" dub, but was a good facsimile. It also got me to listen to Jah Wobble and his various endeavors after PIL and a bunch of others. Anyway I hope you have some favorites that you will tell me about.

Reggae Dub Pick 2

13 Scientist - Miss Know It All

14 Jamiroquai - Drifting Dub (Mad Professor remix)

15 African Head Charge - Off the beaten Track

16 Bally Sagoo featuring Badan Ali Khan & Jucky Ranks - Bad Munda Dub

17 Mexican Institute Of Sound - Cumbia

18 Lee 'Scratch' Perry & Dub Syndicate - Night Train

19 Jah Wobble & Holger Czukay - How Much Are They

20 Sir Horatio - Abracadubra

21 Easy Star All-Stars - Time Version []

22 Sly and Robbie - Roots Man Dub

23 Mute Beat - Dub No. 5 (Take 5)

24 Dub Syndicate - African Head Charge Don't Care About Space Invader Machines

25 Mad Professor - Dub Power

26 Mafia All Stars And King Tubby - Don't Think About Me (I'm Alright) version

27 Primal Scream - Higher Than The Orb

28 The Orb - Towers Of Dub (Mad Professor Remix)

29 Massive Attack & Mad Professor - Sly (Eternal Feedback Dub)

Reggae Dub Pick 1

This pick of Dub had a beginning. I started listening to reggae in earnest sometime before 1980. I had heard a few tracks here and there before. Some Bob Marley of course and all sorts of bands that were influenced by reggae, but I hadn't been that exposed to enough of it. Everything I heard I loved. But it wasn't easy to get good reggae where I lived in the stores. I found a guy who did a mail order reggae service. I think his name was Ernie. Got tons of cool stuff with no idea what I was looking for at first. But I found that I liked a lot of dub. This was my first CD that I put together of some dub I liked. Some was not even Jamaican at all, but that didn't stop me. In fact one of these tracks was a Japanese band and another was a California band. Didn't matter. I liked it.

Reggae Dub Pick 1

01 Ruts DC & Mad Professor - Rhythm Collision

02 DATC Dubcrew - Jungle Signal

03 Scientist - First Dangerous Match

04 Jah Wobble - Fly 1

05 UB40 - The Earth Dies Screaming

06 Babylon Representatives - Ratz On Acid

07 Dub Syndicate - 2001 Love

08 Sir Horatio - Sommadub

09 Mute Beat - Super Woofer Dub

10 Bob Marley - Rebel Music (3 O'clock Roadblock)

11 Phase Selector Sound - Version

12 Lee Perry & Mad Professor - Dubbing With The Super Ape

Pato Banton Pick 2

This is part two of my Pato Banton pick. Divided by length only, since this was originally two CD's. Part of an English reggae, ska kick I went on (probably with most people) following a Two-Tone bit and everything that went after it. Pato played so well with Mad Professor who I love and also with UB40 who brought reggae to the pop stage. These songs in this two volume playlist are a great start to the brilliance he has recorded. Enjoy these tracks.

Pato Banton Pick 2

14 Pato Banton - I'm Addicted

15 Pato Banton - Jah's Reggae

16 Pato Banton - King Step

17 Pato Banton & Mad Professor - Recaptured

18 Pato Banton - Never Give In

19 Pato Banton - Celebrate (Mandela's Freedom)

20 Pato Banton & Mad Professor - Tek Me Time

21 Pato Banton - Gwarn!

22 Pato Banton - Legalize It!

23 Pato Banton - Go Pato

24 Pato Banton - Groovin'

25 Pato Banton - Baby Come Back

26 Pato Banton - Bubbling Hot

27 UB40 featuring Pato Banton - Hip Hop Lyrical Robot

Pato Banton Pick 1

The first time I heard Pato Banton was on an English Beat track. I had not heard anything like him. I looked for his album eventually and then every one after. I especially liked his tracks with other artists and he seemed to do that a lot. His track Don't Sniff Coke was a favorite of mine and all my followers on my radio shows. I had one reggae personality where I became Dino B when I filled in for the reggae girl who did a great show. Her on air name was Deena B, so I became her "brother" when I went on to substitute for her. Lots of fun. Anyway, many of these tracks would get played. I divided this up into two CD's so you get volume one today.

Pato Banton Pick 1

01 English Beat - Pato And Roger A Go Talk

02 Pato Banton - Pato & Roger Come Again

03 Pato Banton - One World

04 Pato Banton - Spirits In A Material World

05 Pato Banton - Pato's Opinion

06 Pato Banton - Pato's Opinion Pt. 2

07 Pato Banton - Settle Satan

08 Pato Banton & Mad Professor - Satan

09 Pato Banton - Don't Sniff Coke

10 Pato Banton - Roots, Rock, Reggae

11 Pato Banton - Wize Up!

12 Pato Banton - Hello Tosh

13 Pato Banton & Mad Professor - Worries

International DJ (iDJ) Essential Basslines 4

This is the last of the series. International DJ (iDJ) magazine picked their Essential Basslines in print, but left it to me to compile this as a four CD set and this is the last of them all. Go back the last couple of posts and you will be able to get them all. Enjoy this at your next party or event. They really have a good pick of basslines. BTW, the cover is just from the magazine logo

International DJ (iDJ) Essential Basslines 4

41 Unique 3 - The Theme (Electro Remix)

42 DJ Zinc - 138 Trek

43 New Order - Blue Monday

44 Nalin And Kane - Beachball (Original Club Mix)

45 Leftfield - Phat Planet

46 Mighty Dub Katz - Magic Carpet Ride

47 SL2 - On a Ragga Tip

48 Unique 3 - The Theme (Unique mix)

49 Alex Reece - Pulp Fiction

50 Ganja Kru - Super Sharp Shooter

51 Roni Size Reprazent - Brown Paper Bag

52 LFO - LFO (The Leeds Warehouse mix)

53 Jungle Brothers - Jungle Brother

International DJ (iDJ) Essential Basslines 3

Some boring write ups of this pick by International DJ (iDJ) of Essential Basslines. They came up with the list. I just compiled it to CD and now playlist. So enjoy having these available as you do a dance or club set.  Nothing else to say since I didn't come up with the pick, I just took their's in the magazine and put it together for your convenience. Hard to wrong with these, however.

International DJ (iDJ) Essential Basslines 3

28 Donna Summer - I Feel Love

29 Adonis - No Way Back (Vocal)

30 Plump DJ`s - Electric Disco (D Ramirez Remix)

31 Roger Sanchez - Lost (D Ramirez Remix)

32 187 Lockdown - Gunman

33 Double 99 - RIP Groove

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

35 Mr. Oizo - Flat Beat (Original Track)

36 Sneaker Pimps - Spin Spin Sugar (Armand's Dark Garage Mix)

37 Mr Oizo vs Daft Punk - Flat Beat remix

38 M.A.N.D.Y. vs Booka Shade - Body Language

39 Laurent Garnier - Crispy Bacon (Original mix)

40 Tiga - Pleasure From The Bass

International DJ (iDJ) Essential Basslines 2

Part two of the International DJ Essential Basslines pick. iDJ always had decent reviews and fun articles, but especially they had some interesting compilations that they put out on CD with the magazine, but they never put this one out except for in print. So here you go volume two of their bass songs and remixes. Not much else to say with these, since I didn't pick them, they did, but they did a decent job. This continues the BPM sorted list.

International DJ (iDJ) Essential Basslines 2

15 Jungle Brothers - Jungle Brother (Urban Takeover Mix)

16 Michael Jackson - Billie Jean

17 Joey Beltram - Energy Flash

18 Orbital - Chime

19 Daft Punk - Around The World

20 Lindstrom - I Feel Space

21 Bugz in the Attic - Booty la la

22 Sandy B - Make the World Go Round (Deep Dish Round the World remix)

23 White Stripes - Seven Nation Army

24 Justice - Waters Of Nazareth

25 Kings of Tomorrow featuring Julie Mcknight - Finally

26 Lonnie Liston Smith - Expansions

27 Solid Groove - This is Sick (Original mix)

International DJ (iDJ) Essential Basslines 1

Used to like iDJ (or International DJ) magazine. Came with a CD and some good reviews of new and old songs and remixes working in clubs and festivals around the world. When they published their pick of essential basslines, but didn't release a comp of it, I figured I should make sure I had them available every time I did a set. So I put them in to a four CD set, all in mixable BPM order. So here is volume one of the set. Welcome to the New Year!

International DJ (iDJ) Essential Basslines 1

01 Zed Bias - Neighbourhood (Zed Bias 2K vocal Mix)

02 Pendulum featuring the Freestylers - Fasten Your Seatbelt

03 Red Snapper - Hot Flush (Sabres of Paradise remix)

04 King Bee - Back by Dope Demand

05 The All Seeing I - Beat Goes On

06 Ed Rush, Optical & Fierce - Cutslo (Lokuste Mix)

07 Grandmaster Melle Mel - White Lines

08 Azzido da Bass - Dooms Night (Timo Maas Remix)

09 Metisse - Sousounde  (Freq Nasty &  Blim Edit)

10 ILS - Next Level

11 Dead Prez - It's Bigger than Hip-Hop (Real version)

12 Newcleus - Jam On Revenge

13 Chic - Good Times

14 Mr. Fingers - Can You Feel it (Original 12 mix)