Spooky 1 (repost)

This is the first Halloween CD I ever made. I had some cassettes before, but I turned them into this CD and now playlist. Come Halloween, first my mom would make us costumes, then as we got older we would make our own and we decorated the house somewhat. At minimum a carved pumpkin and some lights. Gave out candy and all that. And we always had some Halloween effects LP that we would play (after the youngest kids had come and gone.) To this day I still do that. We decorate, but mostly on the day. We transform our house into a scary version of itself, play Halloween music (including these songs) through speakers on the front lawn. And purple and orange lights, UV  lights, fog etc. And then we hand out candy and glow necklaces to all the kids. This pick is for earlier in the night. 

Spooky 1

01 Bobby Boris Pickett - Monster Mash

02 The Bollock Brothers - Horror Movies

03 Laika & the Cosmonauts - Psyko (Theme From Psycho & Vertigo)

04 Blue Oyster Cult - Godzilla

05 Creedence Clearwater Revival - I Put A Spell On You

06 Alien Sex Fiend - Haunted House

07 Book Of Love - Witchcraft

08 Concrete Blonde - Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)

09 Edgar Winter Group - Frankenstein

10 New York Dolls - Frankenstein

11 David Bowie - Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps)

12 Fred Schneider - Monster

13 Comateens - Munsters Theme

14 Pink Floyd - Scarecrow

15 The Fall - Pumpkin Head Xcapes

16 Siouxsie & the Banshees - El Dia De Los Muertos

17 Ministry - Everyday Is Halloween

What's The Connection? Sick Symptoms

Ok, this one was fun to do while I had some of these symptoms. I'm not a hypchondriac but I sure came up with these pretty fast. Unlike the last connection yesterday, these are a little bit more fun and yet still go all over the place. I started this one while I was getting sick songs and figured some didn't quite belong. There are a hundered songs with Fever in the title, but not too many with diarrhea, So I put one of my favorites in the fever category (know that an all fever one is coming but not using Eno's Fever) and added Puking, Wheezing, Nausea, Aches, etc all in this one.

What's The Connection? Sick Symptoms

01 Junior Wells - (I Got A) Stomach Ache

02 The Dickies - I've Got A Splitting Hedachi

03 Johnny Cash - Hurt

04 David Byrne - Wheezing

05 David Gilmour - I Can't Breathe Anymore

06 Bones and L Nealli - Sniffley

07 The Toilet Bowl Cleaners - Runny Nose

08 Ohio Players - Pain

09 The Band - Chest Fever

10 Ultra Vivid Scene - Nausea

11 Sparks - Achoo

12 Dead Milkmen - The Puking Song

13 Beck - Nausea

14 Barnes & Barnes - The Vomit Song

15 The Dodos - Coughing

16 X - Nausea

17 Patty Loveless - Keep Your Distance

18 Brian Eno - Fever

19 Alkaline Trio - Trouble Breathing

20 Betty Blowtorch - Diarrhea

21 Frank Zappa - Why Does It Hurt When I Pee

22 Belle & Sebastian - Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying

What's The Connection? Sick Virus

More of the Sick Connections. This one is about virus being in the title. We've all had a bit of an experience with viruses over the last few years. Here are some virus songs for when your government locks you up again (or you are driving alone in your car wearing a mask) and you want something to listen to. There weren't many "pop" songs that are happy sounding, but I put what I could. I am sure I am missing something. Maybe a good country song with virus in the title? Notice that William S Burroughs shows up twice (the second time as a sample with Laurie Anderson.)

What's The Connection? Sick Virus

01 Killing Joke - I Am The Virus

02 KMFDM - Virus (12' Mix Edit)

03 Real Life - Virus

04 Duran Duran - Virus

05 Rick Springfield - Alien Virus

06 William S Burroughs & Gus Van Sant - Word Is Virus

07 Björk - Virus

08 Iron Maiden - Virus

09 Jah Wobble and Bill Laswell - Virus B

10 Martin Garrix & Moti - Virus (How About Now) 

11 Praxis - Guitar Virus

12 Brand X - Virus

13 Front Line Assembly - Virus

14 Laurie Anderson - Language Is A Virus

15 Cabaret Voltaire - Spread The Virus

16 Beasts of Bourbon - There's a Virus Goin' Round

What's The Connection? Dancer 1

Finally they got rid of Tyra Banks on Dancing With The Stars. It's such a bad fit for her to be on that show. I really didn't like her on this show. I was slow watching it after Tom Bergeron and Erin Rogers left (or got fired or whatever) I liked that combo. The new combo isn't bad. I like both of them, but they just aren't Tom and Erin. At least Julianne Hough can dance every now and again with her brother. Sad that Len Goodman died. I liked him too. Some of the new pros are pretty good too. I will miss Maks and Cheryl and a few others. But Emma (my favorite) is still there. Anyway this connection has nothing to do with DWTS. Just songs with Dancer in the title. There are some good ones here. And more to come.

What's The Connection? Dancer 1

01 The Smiths - Death Of A Disco Dancer

02 Commodores - Fancy dancer

03 Queen - Dancer

04 The Cars - Midnight Dancer

05 Sister Sledge - He's The Greatest Dancer (Edit)

06 Tina Turner - Private Dancer

07 Brick - Free Dancer

08 Yoko Ono & Plastic Ono Band - Bad Dancer

09 Gino Soccio - Dancer

10 Prince - Sexy Dancer

11 Snap! - Rhythm Is a Dancer (7 Edit)

12 Devo - Disco Dancer

13 Pizzicato Five - Go Go Dancer

14 Frank Mills - Music Box Dancer

15 Visage - The Dancer

16 Elton John - Tiny Dancer

17 Boz Scaggs - Slow Dancer

18 T. Rex - Cosmic Dancer

What's The Connection? Sick Diseased

When covid first hit I was working from home and wasn't going out but a few times a year (nothing was scheduled at that time) but somehow I got covid. My wife who was working out in the workforce never got covid, but I did. I probably should have gone to the hospital, but never did. I took O2 readings etc, but didn't talk to my doctor until several weeks passed. She looked at my history of readings and said I should have gone to the hospital long ago. I am glad I didn't. I ended up getting better, following what people later said was bogus advice. Fortunately it worked for me. But put that aside. I was sick and felt diseased and definitely was infected, so I came up with this connection. Didn't finish it until later, but this was the start of a few Sick compilations. I hope you enjoy it more than being sick.

What's The Connection? Sick Diseased

01 The Meters - (Doodle Loop) The World Is A Little Bit Under The Weather

02 The The - Infected

03 Original 7Ven - Sick

04 Queens Of The Stone Age - Sick, Sick, Sick

05 P!nk - You Make Me Sick (Part 1)

06 The Ramones - You Sound Like You're Sick

07 Shania Twain - Still Under The Weather

08 Led Zeppelin - Sick Again

09 The Fuzztones - Living Sickness

10 Whispers - Contagious

11 Depeche Mode - Shake The Disease

12 Bad Religion - Infected

13 Echo & The Bunnymen - The Disease

14 Phish - Down With Disease

15 Y&T - Contagious

16 Bowling For Soup - Sick Of Myself

17 Mudhoney - Touch Me I'm Sick

18 Pop Will Eat Itself - Sick Little Girl

19 Aerosmith - Sick As A Dog

20 Siouxsie & The Banshees - Sick Child

21 The Police - Don't Stand So Close To Me

What's The Connection? Malaguena 2

The continuation of the Malaguena Salerosa connection from yesterday. When I started looking for this song for my Pop, I had no idea how popular it was as a song. I had friends that knew the song (many from the Tubes - yesterday's post) from such a wide variety of places. Here are some more versions of the song that you can enjoy. I'm not sure if it is now my favorite song for a mariachi band to play, but if not it's up there. It's also been done in Surf, to Exotica, to Jazz, to New Wave and more. 

What's The Connection? Malaguena 2

18 Nana Mouskouri - Malagueña Salerosa

19 Narciso Yepes - Malaguena

20 Yanni - La Malaguena

21 Sarkis - Malaguena Salerosa

22 Paco De Lucia - Malaguena Salerosa

23 Stan Kenton - Malaguena

24 Mystic Moods Orchestra - Malaguena Salerosa

25 Percy Faith Orchestra - Malaguena

26 Miguel Aceves Mejia - La Malaguena

27 Arthur Lyman - Malaguena

28 Martin Denny - Malaguena

29 Tish Hinojosa - Malagueña Salerosa (Enchanting Woman From Malaga)

30 Chick Corea Electric Band - Malaguena

31 Luiz Bonfa - Malaguena Salerosa

32 Elisabeth Waldo - Malaguena

33 James Last - La Malaguena Salerosa

What's The Connection? Malaguena 1

This Connection started because of my dad. My pop. I was visiting Mexico and talking about the cool mariachi bands we were listening to. And pop says his favorite mariachi tune is Malaguena Salerosa. At this point I was leaning more towards Las Mananitas which I still like. But Pop goes further and says that I'll probably never find it but his favorite version of Malaguena is by a trio of Paraguayos and that it is fabulous. I must hear it he says. He knew that I would then have to search wide and far for this version. I did. First, I noticed that the Tubes had done the song. I introduced the Tubes on two of the very last tours (and they had several after that too) in the Bay Area. But that's a side note. I play every version I find to my pop. And he likes them all, but always says, It's good, but not the right version. Eventually I find Los Fabulosos 3 Paragauyos. I'm pretty sure this is the version, but with pop you are never sure (ask me about the House, House song he had me looking for). But sure enough this is the one. For his next birthday I make him a CD with a bunch of versions on it including his favorite. He played it at least once. This is a variation of that CD, because I found more.

What's The Connection? Malaguena 1

01 The Invisible Surfers - Malaguena

02 Ley Alejandro - Malaguena Salerosa

03 The Trashmen - Malaguena

04 Tornadoes - Malaguena (Dark Eyes)

05 Los Fabulosos 3 Paragauyos - Malaguena

06 Eddie Palmieri - Malagueña Salerosa

07 Travis Edmonson - Malaguena Salerosa

08 Vicente Fernandez - Malaguena Salerosa

09 Los Copacabana - Malaguena Salerosa

10 The Platters With Buck Ram & His Orchestra - Malaguena Salerosa

11 Sabicas - Malaguena

12 Antonio Maciel - La Malaguena

13 Avenged Sevenfold - Malagueña Salerosa (La Malagueña)

14 Brian Setzer - Malaguena

15 Tubes - Malaguena Salerosa

16 Connie Francis - Malaguena

17 Ritchie Valens - Malaguena

Exiquatros (Exitos 4)

More of the dumb naming convention that only I understand. I made a few mistakes on this one, but I will not point them out. I did have the smarts to include the first few tracks for dinner music on this pick. I really like Jorge Santana's album. Brother of Carlos. And also Malo. Both tracks are timeless. I finally included Santana doing his version, but try to play Tito Puente whenever I can first. It's a good enough song that you will get asked to play it again. Los Lobos did a great version of what I consider Vicente Fernandez' classic. I added more salsa and more cumbia and more banda and more norteno. The track I need to talk about was the track that was my dad's favorite version of what is often played as a mariachi song, by Los Fabulosos 3 Paragauyos. That song is a great one to request if a mariachi band ever comes to play at your table. Looking for that version led me to many other versions by many other bands and I will post that compilation some time in the future (tomorrow). Sorry, but this is the last of this series for now. More will come, I'm sure.

Exiquatros (Exitos 4)

01 Jorge Santana - Love The Way

02 Malo - Suavecito

03 Santana - Oye Como Va

04 Rene Y Rene - Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero

05 Los Lobos - Volver, Volver (Live)

06 José Alfredo Jiménez - Caminos De Guanajuato

07 Los Fabulosos 3 Paragauyos - Malaguena

08 Banda Blanca - Sopa De Caracol

09 Fito Olivares - Juana La Cubana

10 Bronco - Sergio El Bailador

11 La Sombra - El Sapo

12 The Blazers - Cumbia Del Sol

13 Ramon Ayala y Sus Bravos Del Norte - Dos Hojas Sin Rumbo

14 Los Caminantes - Caminos de Guanajuato

15 La Sonora Dinamita - El Viejo Del Sombreron

16 Lou Bega - Mambo No. 5

17 Brave Combo - No, No, No, Cha, Cha, Cha

18 Orquesta De La Luz - Salsa Caliente Del Japon

19 Hot Banditoz - La Cucaracha Dance (Party Remix)

Exitres (Exitos 3)

Ok, I added more variety to this volume, but barely. No more Mariachi. Sorry, but the fusion events I went to would more often than not just hire a mariachi band during cocktail hour, so I didn't get to play much. I did have a call for some quiet rock such as Santana (and one of my favorites by him), El Chicano and Barrio Boyz were good for that. I did have more Selena and more cumbia and more Norteno. I have always like Sonora Dinamita, so more of them on this pick. Brave Combo is so fusion it's not funny. And then some hits at the time from J-Lo and Elvis Crespo, all which turn out to be classics and could easily be played at any gig. And rounded off with more Salsa. Every blended family has some salsa dancers. I took ballroom dance and salsa is always on the menu. The Japanese band Orquesta De La Luz is very good. Give them a chance. And I put in the Tito Puente because it's timeless. Side note. Elvis Crespo playing his big hit is where I am pretty sure my wife and I decided we were compatible and hooked up soon after. Also, notice this compilation is called Exitres (Hits Three in my punny world).

Exitres (Exitos 3)

01 Santana - Flor D'Luna (Moonflower)

02 Barrio Boyz - Cerca De Ti

03 El Chicano - Sabor A Mi

04 Los Copacabana - Besame Mucho

05 Antonio Maciel - La Malaguena

06 Miguel Aceves Mejia - Por Un Amor

07 Ramon Ayala y Los Bravos Del Norte - Gaviota

08 Sonora Dinamita - Capullo y Sorullo

09 Selena - Baila Esta Cumbia

10 Los Tucanes De Tijuana - Espejeando

11 Brave Combo - Cielito Lindo

12 Enrique Iglesias - Bailamos

13 Jennifer Lopez - No Me Ames (Tropical Remix)

14 Carlinhos Brown - A Namorada

15 Elvis Crespo - Pintame

16 Elvis Crespo - Suavemente

17 Fatal Mambo - Rumbagitation

18 Orquesta De La Luz - Arroz Con Salsa

19 Tito Puente Jr & the Latin Rhythm - Oye Como Va

Exidos (Exitos 2)

This is where I will get a lot of gruff. Probably well deserved. I love puns even if they don't make sense to anyone but me. Exitos (as I said yesterday) means hits. Dos, means two. So I called this Exidos (Hits Two) in my world, but no one elses. So that is how I started the naming convention of this series of hispanic Picks. I would not do it now, but I put salsa on these. I figured I would DJ from one CD to the next and I could mix salsa in to a gig for a salsa set. Not really a Mexican thing, although it is okay in some situations. Better to have some banda instead of all this Mariachi. And Selena and Simon and Garfunkel and Los Lobos should all be on another play list, but here they are. Remember this was made some time ago. Wait for tomorrow.

Exidos (Exitos 2)

01 Selena - Where Ever You Are Dondequiera Que Estes

02 Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlan - Jarabe Tapatio

03 Mariachi Sol De Mexico - Mexico

04 Sandpipers - Guantanamera

05 Simon & Garfunkel - Cecilia

06 Los Lobos - Serenata Nortena

07 Los Flamers - La Guera Salome

08 Grupo Gale - Buscando Olvidarte

09 Oscar D'Leon - Detalles

10 Hildemaro y Su Orquesta - La Carta

11 Eddie Santiago - Lluvia

12 Chuch Nuncira - El Meneito

13 Tony Vega - Lo Mio Es Amor

14 Willy Chirino - Lo Que Esta Pa Ti

15 Malavoi - Ti Djo'

16 Orquesta Del Sol - Campanero

17 Jerusalem Salsa Band - Oye Me Israel

18 Salsamania - Rampa Rumba

19 Selena - Bidi Bidi Bom Bom

Exitos

I know it is already past Hispanic Heritage month. Too bad. I will probably piss off a bunch of people with my next few posts. Sorry about that. Frankly, if I was going to remake these, I would probably do it differently. But here's the story. I DJ'ed in San Jose, California. I did many what you would call mixed weddings. Fused, merged, blended. It doesn't matter. A couple from two or more different cultures. I liked doing them. I like a wide variety of music. So this was my first pick to play some music popular in my area. Now, I didn't get it right. Should I have included salsa's and mariachi's in the same place? Probably not, although it worked for this time. Later I would add more variety in future volumes. I would not do that now. That being said. I love all these songs. Not appropriate in every case, but still good music. Turns out, for me, I like the Rancheras a lot. But also Cumbias and Nortenos and Banda, well a lot more too. Exitos, btw, means "Hits" when you talk about songs (successes when you aren't.) That will come into play over the next several volumes.

Exitos

01 Mariachi Vargas De Tecalitlan - Las Mananitas

02 Linda Ronstadt - Los Laureles

03 Linda Ronstadt - Palomita De Ojos

04 Vicente Fernandez - Volver, Volver

05 Ramon Ayala - Tristes Recuerdos

06 Ramon Ayala - Un Puno De Tierra

07 Little Joe y La Familia - Las Nubes

08 Little Joe y La Familia - Chapparito De Oro

09 Los Humildes - Ambicion

10 Los Tigres Del Norte - Contrabando y Traicion

11 Los Aquario De Mexico - La Hielera

12 Flaco Jimenez - Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio

13 Texas Tornados - Guacamole

14 Texas Tornados - (Hey Baby) Que Paso

15 Gipsy Kings - Summer Medley 94

16 Sonora Dinamita - A Mover La Colita

17 Salsamania - Kleptomania

18 Orquesta De La Luz - Sin Fronteras

19 Miyuki Utsumi - Moliendo Cafe

20 Grupo Niche - Mexico, Mexico

21 Selena y David Byrne - God's Child (Baila Con Migo)

What's The Connection? I Feel...

A fun Connection and a fun cover. That's me and my daughter when she was a baby. Trying to feel like she was feeling at that moment. During her childhood, I was sometimes very successful at that and sometimes completely off. But I always felt I loved her either way. A few doubles on songs on this WTC, but they are good covers. James Brown covered twice, but totally different. Not sure you've ever heard Dr. Loco's version, because he's a Bay Area guy that didn't get national coverage, but his band has some great songs. Well worth looking for his three albums. Prince is covered a couple of times, too, Although some people believe he covered Chaka Khan, that's wrong. Kylie Minogue is not covering Prince. That's her song. Bronski Beat with Marc Almond has a great version of Donna Summer's big hit. I didn't have room, but the 12 inch version is probably better than the single version although it's pretty darn good. Not sure if I fixed it before I posted it, but Chingon has two "N's" in it, so fix it in the tags and the m3u if I didn't.

What's The Connection? I Feel...

01 Maceo Parker - I Got You (I Feel Good)

02 Lyle Lovett - Don't You Think I Feel It Too

03 Love Society - You Know How I Feel

04 The Pete Best Four - The Way I Feel About You

05 Irma Thomas - That's How I Feel About You

06 The Pointer Sisters - I Feel For You

07 Matia Bazar - Ti Sento (I Feel You)

08 Kylie Minogue - I Feel For You

09 Santana feat. Michelle Branch & The Wreckers - I'm Feeling You

10 Prince - I Feel for You

11 Belinda Carlisle - Do You Feel Like I Feel

12 Depeche Mode - I Feel You

13 Ramsey Lewis - The Love I Feel For You

14 Chaka Khan - I Feel For You

15 Donna Summer - I Feel Love

16 Jeff Beck Group - I Can't Give Back The Love I Feel For You

17 Elvis Presley - How Do You Think I Feel

18 Bronski Beat & Marc Almond - I Feel Love

19 Peter Andre - I Feel You (Radio Edit)

20 James Brown - I Got You (I Feel Good)

21 Dr. Loco's Rockin' Jalapeño Band - I Got You (I Feel Chingon)

Bourgeois And Tagg

This is not just the band Bourgeois Tagg but a couple of the individuals. We have all the songs from Uncle Rainbow which featured both Larry Tagg and Brent Bourgeois and also the amazing John Lee Sanders ( Look up John Lee Sanders. I'm pretty sure he's still in New Orleans and he has some good music.) Uncle Rainbow was from the late 70's to '81. They were a great band that just got some bad luck with record labels. Luckily I was dragged to one of their shows in the Bay Area, by this girl I thought was cute. I ended up seeing them regularly and I was not very happy when they broke up, but I did have their EP which you now get to hear on this pick. Brent and Larry had some pretty great music in the 80's with their band and then they each went solo. A couple of their solo songs actually featured members of Bourgeois Tagg. Eric Tagg is in here, because he's the younger brother of Larry and the Lee Ritenour because it features Eric. Eric also wrote Kingdom Come. So a couple of Taggs and some Bourgeois, but not all the members of the other bands. 

Bourgeois And Tagg

01 Uncle Rainbow - Anyway The Wind Blows

02 Uncle Rainbow - Kingdom Come

03 Uncle Rainbow - Skyline

04 Uncle Rainbow - Rock and Roll

05 Bourgeois Tagg - Mutual Surrender

06 Bourgeois Tagg - Waiting For The Worm To Turn

07 Bourgeois Tagg - Best Of All Possible Worlds

08 Bourgeois Tagg - I Don't Mind At All

09 Brent Bourgeois With Larry Tagg - Psycho

10 Larry Tagg - This is How You Make a Fire

11 Brent Bourgeois - Perfect Harmony

12 Larry Tagg - 1/2 Yes, 1/2 No

13 Brent Bourgeois - Dare To Fall In Love

14 Larry Tagg - We Are Home

15 Eric Tagg - Got to Be Lovin' You

16 Eric Tagg - No One There

17 Lee Ritenour - Is It You

Simply Sweet Country Wedding 2

The continuation of the sweet country hits that you can play at a wedding in this pick. The lyrics are all positive, there are no cheating songs, nothing in here that could be considered a wedding killer. I was surprised as a wedding Dj how many songs couples pick that just have the most inappropriate subject matter. All they heard was the chorus or the title and it seemed ok. When I would mention that they should probably re-listen to the lyrics so many people were surprised (and changed their first song). Not just country, but all genres. Most people don't listen to music like we do. Anyway, all safe here.

Simply Sweet Country Wedding 2

21 Dierks Bentley - My Last Name

22 John Berry - Your Love Amazes Me

23 Keith Urban - Making Memories Of Us

24 Collin Raye - One Boy, One Girl

25 George Strait - The Man In Love With You

26 Heartland - I Loved Her First

27 Kenny Rogers - Through The Years

28 Clint Black & Lisa Hartman Black - When I Said I Do

29 Kenny Chesney - You Had Me From Hello

30 Lonestar - Amazed

31 Garth Brooks - To Make You Feel My Love

32 Tim McGraw - She's My Kind of Rain

33 Eddie Rabbitt with Crystal Gayle - You and I

34 John Michael Montgomery - I Swear

35 Diamond Rio - Meet In The Middle

36 Leann Rimes - I Need You

37 Shania Twain - You're Still The One

38 Rascal Flatts - My Wish

39 Tim McGraw with Faith Hill - It's Your Love

40 Brad Paisley - Little Moments

Simply Sweet Country Wedding 1

This pick was put on my DJ website some time ago (search "Simply Sweet Country Wedding" in google) and this is what it says: Many country favorites just aren't appropriate for certain events. Be very careful to listen to the full lyrics of country songs. Some of the best songs have horrible lyrics (for an event that should have a positive note surrounding it. That goes for all songs really, but country hits tend to be a bit sorrow full. Here's a list of songs that all have a more positive spin on life (sorry, no cheatin', lyin', or stealin'). They're obviously good for any wedding, but also for a company theme party (maybe outdoors?) or, of course, you can sprinkle these throughout any event.

Simply Sweet Country Wedding 1

01 Steve Holy - Good Morning Beautiful

02 Keith Whitley - When You Say Nothing At All

03 Rascal Flatts - I Melt

04 Lee Ann Womack - I Hope You Dance

05 Brad Paisley - She's Everything

06 Trisha Yearwood - How Do I Live

07 Diamond Rio - One More Day

08 George Strait - I Cross My Heart

09 Rascal Flatts - Bless The Broken Road

10 Sara Evans - I Could Not Ask For More

11 Shania Twain - From This Moment On

12 Tim Mcgraw - My Little Girl

13 Kenny Chesney - Me And You

14 Tim McGraw - My Best Friend

15 John Michael Montgomery - I Love The Way You Love Me

16 Mark Wills - I Do (Cherish You)

17 John Michael Montgomery - I Can Love You Like That

18 Big & Rich - Lost In This Moment

19 Tracy Byrd - The Keeper Of The Stars (Radio Version)

20 Keith Urban - Somebody Like You

Modern Prelude 2

More of the modern coctail hour music in this pick. Volume 2 of this 40 track compilation. One of the artists, Corinne Bailey Rae, when I first heard tracks from her, I was blown away. I immediately thought of Stevie Wonder and Motown. Listening to tracks from her now, I think how she has such a unique sound that is universal. Much of these tracks on this compilation has that same universal feel. Play them during dinner or at any place you want like cocktail hours.

Modern Prelude 2

21 John Mayer - Daughters

22 Natalie Merchant - Kind and Generous

23 Uncle Kracker & Kenny Chesney - When The Sun Goes Down

24 Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love

25 Ben Harper - Gold To Me

26 Joss Stone - Some Kind Of Wonderful

27 Jack Johnson - Do You Remember

28 David Gray - The One I Love

29 Dido - Here With Me

30 Dave Matthews Band - Dreamgirl

31 Corinne Bailey Rae - I'd Like To

32 Citizen Cope - If There's Love

33 John Legend - Sun Comes Up

34 Paolo Nutini - Loving You

35 Natasha Bedingfield featuring Sean Kingston - Love Like This

36 Carlos Santana featuring Dave Matthews - Love of my Life

37 Jack Johnson - Never Know

38 Bright Eyes - First Day Of My Life

39 Coldplay - Green Eyes.mp3

40 311 - Love Song

Modern Prelude 1

This pick is based on a cocktail hour dinner music playlist from a DJ Magazine some years back. Two volumes total. It can go in tandem with the American Standard volumes from a few days ago. So the songs are good for cocktail hour at any wedding.

Modern Prelude 1

01 Jack Johnson - Better Together

02 Corinne Bailey Rae - Put Your Records On

03 David Gray - You're The World To Me

04 Dave Matthews Band - Stay (Wasting Time)

05 Ben Harper - By My side

06 Colbie Caillat  - Bubbly

07 John Legend - Save Room

08 Dido - Thank You

09 Carlos Santana featuring Chad Kroeger - Into The Night

10 Joss Stone - Super Duper Love (Are You Diggin' On Me)

11 Jack Johnson - Upside Down

12 Ingrid Michaelson - The Way I Am

13 Plain White T's - Hey There Delilah

14 Robin Thicke - Lost Without U

15 Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful Of Sunshine

16 Dave Matthews Band - Where Are You Going

17 Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals - Steal My Kisses

18 India Arie - Purify Me

19 Cake - Strangers In The Night

20 Jack Johnson - Banana Pancakes

What's The Connection? Eclipse 1

Since there is an Eclipse today, you might want to watch it and then listen to this Connection of Eclipse songs. A few versions of Total Eclipse, although there isn't a total one today. just a firey ring in most of North America. But still cool. Either way, not matter who else does it Klaus Nomi is amazing, but Nina Hagen and Marc Almond is pretty cool too. Same with Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler and Westlife all doing what I remember as Jim Steinman's Total Eclipse Of The Heart. Got some Floyd in here as well, Alan Parsons, even some country. Either way enjoy this on Eclipse day now and the future. We'll have more.

What's The Connection? Eclipse 1

01 Govinda - Eclipse

02 Stryper - Eclipse Of The Son

03 Holly Wilson - Eclipse

04 Easy Star All Stars featuring The Meditations - Eclipse

05 Beautiful South - Masculine Eclipse

06 Love And Rockets - Eclipse

07 The Alan Parsons Project - Total Eclipse

08 Robyn - Eclipse

09 Enigma - Total Eclipse Of The Moon

10 The Flaming Lips & Stardeath and White Dwarfs - Eclipse

11 Rosenstolz, Almond, Nina Hagen - Total Eclipse

12 Peter Banks - Last Eclipse

13 Enya - Eclipse

14 Bonnie Tyler - Total Eclipse of the Heart

15 Metric - Eclipse (All Yours)

16 Westlife - Total Eclipse of The Heart

17 Pink Floyd - Eclipse

18 Meat Loaf - Total Eclipse Of The Heart

19 Yngwie Malmsteen - Eclipse

20 Iron Maiden - Total Eclipse

21 Klaus Nomi - Total Eclipse

22 John Denver - Eclipse

23 My Bloody Valentine - Kiss The Eclipse

24 Buckethead - Ice Eclipse

Cars Pick

This is the companion piece to The Cars Family pick. No repeats between the two. I meant to post this sooner, but it completely slipped my mind. Luckily someone was looking the earlier pick and asked where this one was. I had to admit, I forgot all about it. This is mostly classic Cars tracks, one New Cars track (I saw them live, too and while it wasn't the Cars, it certainly was good. Love Todd Rundgren, too) and the rest is solo Ric Ocasek. More of that in the companion comp. There is also another Cars connection, but it doesn't have any songs by The Cars and it was just a few days ago. BTW, how do you like the chromed letters in the cover? Yea, that was me trying some new technique in CorelDraw.

Cars Pick

01 Cars - Moving In Stereo

02 Cars - Just What I Needed

03 Cars - My Best Friend's Girl

04 Cars - Let's Go

05 Cars - Dangerous Type

06 Cars - Shake It Up

07 Cars - You Might Think

08 The New Cars - Not Tonight

09 Ric Ocasek - Something To Grab For

10 Cars - Touch and Go

11 Cars - Tonight She Comes

12 Cars - Since You're Gone

13 Ric Ocasek - Bottom Dollar

14 Cars - I'm Not The One

15 Ric Ocasek - Fix On You

16 Cars - Good Times Roll

17 Cars - You're All I've Got Tonight

18 Cars - It's All I Can Do

19 Cars - You Are The Girl

20 Ric Ocasek - Emotion In Motion

21 Cars - Shoo Be Doo

22 Cars - That's It

American Songbook 2

This is volume two of the cocktail or dinner hour of American Standards. Just a continuation of the same voices, pretty much in this pick. And nothing in here that most people wouldn't love during any time of conversation. I will get to the modern stuff soon. I think this is the shortest writeup so far. BTW, how do you like the cover? Patriotic enough?

American Songbook 2

22 Dean Martin - Ain't That A Kick In The Head

23 Frank Sinatra - You Make Me Feel So Young

24 Michael Buble - Fever

25 Tony Bennett - Steppin` Out With My Baby

26 Frank Sinatra - I've Got The World On A String

27 Ella Fitzgerald - Hooray For Love

28 Nat King Cole - Let There Be Love

29 Harry Connick Jr. - I Could Write A Book

30 Ella Fitzgerald - I Only Have Eyes For You

31 Frank Sinatra - You Are The Sunshine Of My Life

32 Michael Buble - The Best Is Yet To Come

33 Jane Monheit - Taking A Chance On Love

34 Ella Fitzgerald - I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

35 Louis Armstrong - It Takes Two To Tango

36 Nancy Wilson - You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To

37 Dean Martin - True Love (Digitally Remastered 98)

38 Billie Holiday - I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me

39 Bing Crosby - Exactly Like You

40 Sarah Vaughan - I Can't Give You Anything But Love

41 Ella Fitzgerald - From This Moment On

42 Paul Anka - Waiting For A Girl Like You

American Songbook 1

Basically this pick is of standards to play at cocktail hour or perhaps dinner at a wedding. I have two volumes of the standards and two more that are a little bit more modern. Look up cocktail hour to find them, later. I am a big Dean Martin fan, so a him and the Rat Pack. This originally came from a DJ magazine playlist. Not much else to say, but it's hard to go wrong with this set. BTW, I left ufile since they were requiring payment in crypto and I wasn't doing it. So now I am at Proton Drive. Been using it and Proton Mail for awhile anyway. All the old stuff will stay at the old site, but new is going here.

American Songbook 1

01 Frank Sinatra - The Way You Look Tonight

02 Dean Martin - I'm Sitting On Top Of The World 

03 Louis Armstrong - Love Is Here To Stay

04 Nat King Cole - L-O-V-E

05 Frank Sinatra - Come Fly With Me

06 Michael Buble - Everything

07 Billie Holiday - Let's Do It

08 Ella Fitzgerald - Too Marvelous For Words

09 Frank Sinatra - I Get A Kick Out Of You

10 Diana Krall - S'Wonderful

11 Michael Buble - Moondance

12 Dean Martin - You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You

13 Nat King Cole - Almost Like Being In Love

14 Frank Sinatra - Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)

15 Ray Charles - You Are My Sunshine

16 Tony Bennett - Just In Time

17 Michael Buble - For Once In My Life

18 Frank Sinatra - I've Got You Under My Skin

19 Sammy Davis, Jr - (Love Is) The Tender Trap

20 Ella Fitzgerald - Something's Gotta Give

21 Paul Anka - The Way You Make Me Feel

On The Road Again 4

The last for now of this driving pick I call On The Road Again. It's volume four. A wide variety. One more version of the Doors, this time covered by Simple Minds, Yet another Rascal Flatts song. More Cramps and more of a couple more. Go figure it out. Send me a comment with some of your favorites and see if they show up in volume five. So far, it's not quite ready. So this is the end of the line for at least awhile. Drive around with these songs and tell me how I did. BTW, one of my favorites on this volume is Luxuria. I love how they mention the San Fernando Valley! I went to high school there.

On The Road Again 4

58 Nashville Pussy - Let's Ride

59 Buckwheat Zydeco - Buck's Hot Rod

60 Chris Isaak - Gone Ridin'

61 Tex Rubinowitz - Hot Rod Man

62 Knitters - Poor Little Critter On The Road

63 Rascal Flatts - Fast Cars & Freedom

64 Simple Minds - Riders On The Storm

65 Ministry - Jesus Built My Hotrod

66 Depeche Mode - Behind The Wheel

67 REO Speedwagon - Back On The Road Again

68 Siouxsie & the Banshees - This Wheel's On Fire

69 Luxuria - Public Highway

70 Beat Farmers - Ridin'

71 Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus - Old Town Road (Diplo Remix)

72 The Cramps - Bend Over, I'll Drive

73 Beach Boys - 409

74 Darius Rucker - Wagon Wheel

75 Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - Roadrunner

76 NRBQ - Ridin' In My Car

77 The Berry Brothers - Hot Rod

78 John Fogerty with Brad Paisley - Hot Rod Heart

On The Road Again 3

This driving pick I call On The Road Again continues with volume 3. I have different versions of several songs. Beatles, Cochrane, Doors, etc. Go back and listen to the other versions on the first two volumes. I also included Joe Walsh's version (he also played on Ringo's version). And a few of my favorite driving on the road songs. Cameo which was featured in the Thanks God It's Friday movie soundtrack in a continuing segment that's pretty darned funny. Yello, which many of their songs could be put on a fast moving driving mixtape, but this one is most appropriate. A couple of bands that people are always surprised I like in the same comp: Betty Blowtorch (what a band, too bad they ended the way they did) and Ray Charles (the master).

On The Road Again 3

38 Ray Charles - Hit The Road Jack

39 Tom Cochrane - Life Is A Highway

40 Blondie Vs The Doors - Rapture Riders

41 Don Felder - Heavy Metal (Takin' a Ride)

42 Chuck Berry - Maybellene

43 Beatles - Drive My Car

44 Cameo - Find My Way

45 Yello - The Race

46 Greta Van Fleet - Highway Tune

47 Edgar Winter - Free Ride

48 Blackfoot - Highway Song

49 Canned Heat - On The Road Again

50 Joe Walsh - In My Car

51 The Cramps - Get Off The Road

52 Martha And The Muffins - Motorbikin'

53 Modern Lovers - Roadrunner

54 Betty Blowtorch - Hell On Wheels

55 Rob Zombie - Two-Lane Blacktop

56 Metallica - Fuel

57 Geri Halliwell - Scream If You Wanna Go Faster

On The Road Again 2

I continue this Pick of driving songs to get you on the road again bookended by two "country" songs and both from the screen. Smokey and the Bandit has got to be one of the biggest car driving show off movies ever and Jerry Reed does a great song about getting on the road. And I barely watched the show (to me it was car tricks and mostly Daisy Dukes) but the theme from the show makes a good ending to this volume. You may have noticed a second B-52's song and why not? It's a good one! Now, if you are listening to this volume and thinking, Pearl Harbour and The Explosions would fit in good here. You're right. That would fit in great here. But to get that song, you need the Drivin' Connection and she's right there.  But you have enough other great songs to make this one worth your while.

On The Road Again 2

17 Jerry Reed - East Bound And Down (Smokey And The Bandit)

18 Lindsey Buckingham - Holiday Road

19 Jackson Browne - Running On Empty

20 Eddie Rabbitt - Drivin' My Life Away

21 Cake - The Distance

22 Deep Purple - Highway Star

23 Golden Earring - Radar Love

24 Rascal Flatts - Life Is A Highway

25 Playmates - Beep Beep

26 Eagles - Life in the Fast Lane

27 Talking Heads - Road To Nowhere

28 Foghat - Slow Ride

29 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Road Trippin

30 Fastball - The Way

31 Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen - Hot Rod Lincoln

32 Creedence Clearwater Revival - Up Around The Bend

33 Chuck Berry - No Particular Place To Go

34 Rihanna - Shut Up & Drive

35 The B-52's - Roam

36 Iggy Pop - The Passenger

37 Waylon Jennings - Theme From The Dukes Of Hazzard (Good Ol' Boys)

On The Road Again 1

Everyone makes a driving tape at one point or another (if you make mixtapes). I've made several. Been driving a lot. Used to have CD changers in my cars and I would just swap out the carousel depending on which car I was driving (all pioneer at one point although I had an alpine change in one, but pioneer was more reliable). Then it was iPod connections. Now everyone just packs a phone with your pick. But the concept is the same. Put in a bunch of songs that are conducive to driving. I had this set of volumes that I used forever. Here is volume one. I've used it on many a highway. My only complaint about this one is that you have to play Kraftwerk right away. It's not much good for in the middle of the night or after driving for awhile. But that's why it is the first song.

On The Road Again 1

01 Kraftwerk - Autobahn

02 Grace Jones - Pull Up To The Bumper

03 Doobie Brothers - Rockin' Down the Highway

04 AC-DC - Highway To Hell

05 Sniff 'N' the Tears - Driver's Seat

06 The B-52's - Dirty Back Road

07 Jimi Hendrix - Crosstown Traffic

08 War - Low Rider

09 Bachman Turner Overdrive - Roll On Down the Highway

10 Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild

11 Doors - Riders On The Storm

12 Grateful Dead - Truckin'

13 Allman Brothers Band - Ramblin' Man

14 Cristina - Drive My Car

15 Depeche Mode - Route 66

16 Willie Nelson - On The Road Again

What's The Connection? Cars 1

You could make a thousand WTC with the word Car in the title. All but two of these do. But you'll agree they are car songs. I have made several comps about being on the road and about driving and drive songs. But this is the first Car one. Won't be the last. I am working on car brand names and those will be coming up. If you have some good suggestions, please leave a comment. For example, I only know of one song with Barchetta in the title. And a lot less VW songs than I thought I knew. But maybe I can group sporty race cars together? Barchetta with Ferrari and Porsche? I don't know right now. Still working it out. But you get this in the meantime. My first pick of Car songs. And amazingly none by the Cars.

What's The Connection? Cars 1

01 The B-52's - Devil in My Car

02 Buzzcocks - Fast Cars

03 Radiohead - Killer Cars

04 Johnny Cash - One Piece at a Time

05 Toy Dolls - Tommy Kowey's Car

06 Paul & Linda McCartney - The Back Seat Of My Car

07 Violent Femmes - Gimme The Car

08 Chris Spedding - Jump In My Car

09 Keith Urban - Somewhere In My Car

10 L'Trimm - Cars with the Boom

11 Yes - White Car

12 Madness - Driving In My Car

13 Primus - Jerry Was a Race Car Driver

14 Kip Winger - Drive My Car

15 Rob Zombie - Dragula

16 Gary Numan - Cars

17 The Arcade Fire - Keep The Car Running

18 Beach Boys - In My Car

19 Queen - I'm In Love With My Car

20 Cabaret Voltaire - White Car

21 Ringo Starr - In My Car

22 Go-Go's - Stuck In My Car

23 Robyn Hitchcock - The Cars She Used to Drive

What's The Connection? Hangover

Luckily it's been awhile since I have had a hangover. Basically, I stopped drinking, so that pretty much stops you from getting hungover. I pretty much stopped because I heard it was better for you if you didn't have alcohol when you had cancer. And I have cancer. But I do love tequila and I love having a cigar and I love sugar and a million things that probably aren't good for you if you have cancer. I try to stay away from it, but not completely. That's me. Make a connection about being hungover, but stay away from hangovers, but every now and again have a shot of sipping Tequila. Or a brandy with a cigar. So here are some nice (can there really be any nice ones) hangover songs.

What's The Connection? Hangover

01 Machine Gun Kelly - Hangover Cure

02 America - Hangover

03 Ke$ha - Hungover

04 Flo-Rida - Ms. Hangover

05 Love & Rockets - Sweet Lover Hangover

06 George Thorogood & The Destroyers - Blues Hang-Over

07 Cascada - Hungover

08 Blake Shelton - Hangover Due

09 Lydia Lunch - Hangover Hotel

10 Diana Ross - Love Hangover

11 Blink-182 - Hungover You

12 The Dinky Toys - The Sweetest Hangover

13 Taio Cruz featuring Flo Rida - Hangover

14 Godsmack - Whiskey Hangover

15 Hayseed Dixie - Hungover Brokedown

16 Luke Bryan - Hungover In A Hotel Room

17 Max Webster - Hangover

18 PSY featuring Snoop Dogg - Hangover

19 Eric Church - Hungover & Hard Up

20 Stereophonics - Hungover For You

21 George Jones - Heartaches And Hangovers

22 Hank Thompson - Hangover Tavern

What's The Connection? Hard Times

I guess we're headed to Hard Times, although it doesn't quite feel like a depression. Would you know? I don't think they did in the depression or at least right before it. This connection is all about songs that have Hard Times in the title. One doesn't have it in that order. Looking at the list of songs I picked, I bet most people would not guess that Run DMC is what started this. But it did. Lots of the other songs are ones I would have picked over that band if I was guessing. I probably would have guessed Human League, Boz Scaggs or AC-DC. But I know better. It definitely was Run DMC. I'm not sure if I ever told the story of me first meeting the band. But they were not happy talking to some punky white boy in Harlem. I talked to them again months later in California (Hollywood) and they weren't any nicer then. Although they were more popular then. Red Hot Chili Peppers were much nicer and so was George Clinton. I hung out with them the same day.

What's The Connection? Hard Times

01 Mojo Blues - It's a Hard Time

02 AC-DC - Hard Times

03 Y&T - Hard Times

04 Jim Croce - Hard Time Losin' Man

05 Ray Charles - Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I)

06 Billy Cee & Freedom Express - Hard Times

07 Boz Scaggs - Hard Times

08 Noble Thin Man Watts & His R - Hard Times (The Slop)

09 Janis Martin - Hard Times Ahead

10 Robert Finley - Real Love Is Like Hard Time

11 Run DMC - Hard Times

12 Human League - Hard Times

13 John Lennon & Yoko Ono - Hard Times Are Over

14 Tombstones - Times Will Be Hard

15 Pablo Gad - Hard Times

16 Ric Ocasek - Hard Times

17 Santana - Hard Times

18 Kiss - Hard Times

19 The Christians - Heading For A Hard Time

20 Jethro Tull - Living In These Hard Times

21 The Selecter - Time Hard

Roger Dean Covers

I made this pick some time ago. I am a fan of Roger Dean. Great artist and also happens to be a very nice guy. He signed a few of my albums. Relayer and another couple. I can't remember which ones right this moment, but I can see the Relayer album on my wall right from here. So I'm sure of that one. It's not worth anything to anyone but me since I had him sign them to me. Anyway, I know there are many, many other albums designed by Dean (heck even within just the Yes world) but these are the ten I picked. Go to the Butterboy site and he's got a more definitive list. But interestingly enough, he didn't pick any of the songs I picked. Go figure. Just goes to show you that all of these choices have some subjective aspect to them. Notice the cover includes all ten of the album covers, although you'll have to search for one of them. It's not as obvious, until you know.

Roger Dean Covers

01 Steve Howe - The Nature Of The Sea

02 Budgie - In The Grip Of A Tyrefitter's Hand

03 Uriah Heep - The Magician's Birthday

04 Matthew Sweet - Behind The Smile

05 Gentle Giant - The Advent Of Panurge

06 Osibisa - Ayiko Bia

07 Badger - Wind of Change

08 Asia - Cutting It Fine

09 Birdsongs Of The Mesozoic - Primordial Sludge

10 Yes - The Gates of Delirium

Rupert Hine Pick

I can't even say this is his best work, although it is good. I probably could have done all of his work as a musician. Which this pick has a lot of. Or only work of his as a producer and there is a lot of that too. But I chose to pick a little of each. Just enough to give you a taste so you'd go looking for more. I always liked everything on the Welcome To Woop Woop soundtrack (even though I hear some people hated the movie and the soundtrack, too bad for them). When I saw that Hine had played with Poe as well as produced the track, I had to include it. Saga and Rush was never in question. I did want to include a track from the Better Off Dead soundtrack, but, oh well. I did love that movie too. I saw the French band Les Negresses Vertes live once in NY and it was a great show. I'd see them again. They were followed by some French groupies who were surprised that they could get so close to the band (as they were just starting out playing in the US). I was happy to meet them, but happier to hear them play live. At the time I had no idea that Rupert Hine would produce them.

Rupert Hine Pick

01 Spin 1Ne 2Wo - Can't Find My Way Home

02 Thinkman - The Formula

03 Rupert Hine - The Heart Of The Matter

04 Howard Jones - What Is Love

05 Thompson Twins - Get That Love

06 Rupert Hine - I Hang On To My Vertigo

07 Rush - Show Don't Tell

08 Rupert Hine - Misplaced Love

09 Tina Turner - Better Be Good To Me

10 Poe - I Cain't Say No

11 Peter Gabriel, Suzanne Vega & Geoffrey Oryema - One White Field

12 Stevie Nicks - Rooms on Fire

13 Quantum Jump - The Lone Ranger

14 Yvonne Elliman - I Can't Explain

15 The Waterboys - A Girl Called Johnny

16 Saga - On The Loose

17 Jon Pertwee - Who Is The Doctor

18 Fixx - One Thing Leads To Another

19 Les Negresses Vertes - A Quoi Bon

What's The Connection? Modern 1

I'm just looking at this list again just before typing this up and I am thinking how can I do a Connection about songs with Modern in the title and not have one single song by Bill Nelson? It seems like that would be impossible for me. There is an Earth, Wind & Fire song, even a Fishbone song. Bowie, Manzanera, Queen. How did I miss Bill Nelson? There has to be a Bill Nelson Modern track. Later, I will go see what I missed, or you can tell me in the comments. My favorites in here, btw, are Boomtown Rats, Fishbone and Toy Dolls. I just can't help it.

What's The Connection? Modern 1

01 David Bowie - Modern Love

02 Hall & Oates - Method Of Modern Love

03 Boomtown Rats - She's So Modern

04 Camper Van Beethoven - We Workers Do Not Understand Modern Art

05 Elvis Costello and the Attractions - Secondary Modern

06 Earth, Wind & Fire - Victim Of The Modern Heart

07 Queen - Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll

08 Peter Gabriel - Modern Love

09 Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - History Of Modern (Part I)

10 Eminence - Modern Love

11 Phil Manzanera - La Vida Moderna

12 Devo - Post Post-Modern Man

13 Buggles - Adventures In Modern Recording

14 Toy Dolls - Modern Schools Of Motoring

15 Greg Hawkes - Modern Lunch

16 The Strokes - The Modern Age

17 Toto - Modern Eyes

18 Pere Ubu - The Modern Dance

19 Meat Loaf - Modern Girl

20 Fishbone - (Modern Industry)

21 The Jam - The Modern World