Shuffle Up
It has been almost a year since I rattled off the first 25 songs on my IPod shuffle and posted them on this infrequently updated blog of mine. So, here goes.
1. Spanish Bombs, The Clash – What a great start. My ex-coworker Matt who was in a band claimed this was his favorite song to play live. I get that. I have long stated my forever love to the Clash and London Calling in particular.
2. Santa Monica, Everclear – I can’t decide if it is acceptable to like Everclear. But, I have to admit I dug this record and their 1997 release So Much for the Afterglow. From that point on I like most people kind of tuned out. Still, for a couple of years there, I thought they were all right.
3. Car Chase City, Tenacious D – Well I am an unabashed member of the D Army. I have been for years and will continue to be. Car Chase City is off the soundtrack to the D film The Pick of Destiny. Not my favorite track by the boys but, even while not at their best the D still rocks.
4. Miss You, The Rolling Stones – Some Girls in my opinion is the last good Stones effort. I know a lot of people will argue with me on that, but it is my opinion. Miss You while not the Stones greatest work is still catchy and different sounding enough that I don’t mind it. But this is literally the song that borders on when the Stones jumped.
5. And Through the Wire, Peter Gabriel – The musical genius that is Peter Gabriel released his greatest album in 1980 in what is known as the Melt record. Without a doubt this is in my top 10 LP’s of all time. There was a time in late 80’s where I just overdosed on Gabriel, and I am a better man for it.
6. Let’s Live for Today, The Grassroots – In some ways, 1960’s protest rock is some of the best music ever recorded. The Grassroots (with Creed from the Office on guitar) was a band that had a couple of big hits in the 60’s this being one of them.
7. Piazza, New York Catcher, Belle and Sebastian – This song is essentially about the rumor that Mike Piazza was gay. It appears on the Juno soundtrack and I dig it. Go ahead and make fun of me if you like, there are worse things out there.
8. Layla, Derek and The Dominos – Is that Freedom Rock? Well turn it up! Volumes have been written about this ode to George Harrison’s wife who Clapton was in love with and eventually married. However, now when I hear it I can’t help but think back to the scene in Goodfellas where Scorsese uses it perfectly.
9. This is a Call, The Foo Fighters – I used to get in more arguments about the Foo Fighters again with my coworker Matt. He just simply could not stand them while I was and am still a fan. I am a much bigger Nirvana guy but, I think Grohl picked up the pieces and broke out on his own and formed a pretty kick ass band in his own right.
10. Abacab, Genesis – I will always from this point forward when I hear this song get instantly reminded of CD’s Nuts version of this one and my buddy Don just knocking it out of the park on vocals. I am sure I was like the only person at the shows that dug it to the level I did, but I always looked forward to it.
11. Black is Black, Los Bravos – This is one of my all time favorite one hit wonders. I could not find it on ITunes so, I had to get it off the Bobby soundtrack. A rocking tune with a Spanish flair to it that all works together.
12. I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better, The Byrds – I don’t think I want to know the person who doesn’t like the Byrds. I would not consider them the greatest band in rock history or anything like that, but for what they were, they were excellent. Great vocals and arrangements that morphed into some of the prettiest music to come out of the 60’s.
13. Hey, Hey My My, Neil Young – This is one is for my wife who as much as I have tried just can’t stand Neil. I’m sorry you have to try to not like this song. This was grunge before there was a name for it. Still don’t know what to make of the Johnny Rotten reference and I once read an interview with Rotten and he himself is not sure.
14. I Got my Mojo Working, Howard and the White Boys – The live version they used to do of this was always at the end of their set and if you were lucky enough to have seen it, you know just how much fun it was. Sadly with Dan no longer in the band there is no more harmonica so this is gone from their playlist. Still, some of the greatest memories I have of my 20’s was dancing and having a great time listening to the Boys.
15. Zoot Suit Riot, Cherry Poppin Daddies – In the late 90’s swing music made a brief resurgence. I like many others kind of get swept up in it. Joyce and I even took dancing lessons as it was one genre we agreed on. Hey, it is a fun song that is about as deep as a puddle but so what.
16. Who were you Thinking of, The Texas Tornados – I got exposed to the greatness of this song from the movie Extract. That made me do some research on the Texas Tornados and you know what I kind of like them. They mix traditional Latin music with country and it works.
17. Auf Achse, Franz Ferdinand – From the first time I heard this album, I was hooked. This was the freshest music I had heard in years. Finally at long last here was something new that wasn’t just recycled teen aged angst or some speed metal that had no heart. Here was a record that upon hearing it puts an instant smile on my face. It has been six years and it gets better every time I hear it.
18. Manish Boy, Muddy Waters – A delta blues classic from Muddy Waters one of the true greats of the genre. It has been used numerous times in films most notably in my mind at least in Risky Business.
19. Lowdown, Boz Scaggs – Another record I simply love. I can’t hear this without thinking back to being a passenger in the back seat of my Mom’s red ‘78 Camaro and her blasting it on her 8-track. Silk Degrees is still one of my all time favorites. Just glad the Barbara Streisand thing didn’t take hold.
20. Something So Strong, Crowded House – Shit. Well, let me try to defend this. Okay I really can’t. Why do I like Crowded House? I don’t have a good answer. All I can simply say is for some reason when I hear this or Take the Weather with You I can’t help but tap a toe to it. I don’t have any explanation and I know it is really not that great but, I can’t help it. Nuke me I deserve it.
21. Don’t Leave Me this Way, Thelma Houston – This one is left over from when Joyce and I used to share the IPod. I remember going to the library with her and she checks out a 2 disc Best of Disco CD. I knew I was in trouble and I have been searching to remove tunes like this ever since.
22. Thank You, Dido – Another one I may take crap for, but this one I will defend. This girl can flat out sing. I admit it may not be everyone’s cup of tea and normally it would not be mine. But, I can recognize talent when I hear it, and this girl while never really doing much other then this song, has it.
23. Walk of Life, Dire Straits – If you lived in the suburbs and were in high school in the 80’s they issued you a copy of Brothers in Arms at your freshman orientation. I was so sick of this record that I don’t think I listened to it once during the entire 1990’s. The one day I heard Walk of Life and remembered that ya, it was over played but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t good.
24. Town without Pity, Brian Setzer Orchestra– Setzer arranges this Gene Pitney classic and makes kind of lame song really, really good. I could listen to that band of his play almost anything. He found his niche and found a second musical life which is very rare, but in this case deserved.
25. Right Here Right Now, Jesus Jones – Certain songs remind of you of certain times in your life. I hear this and I am instantly back working at Kmart going to Moraine and dating Jenny. This song was huge when it came out but Jesus Jones never really backed it up. Still, this is a catchy enough ditty.
1. Spanish Bombs, The Clash – What a great start. My ex-coworker Matt who was in a band claimed this was his favorite song to play live. I get that. I have long stated my forever love to the Clash and London Calling in particular.
2. Santa Monica, Everclear – I can’t decide if it is acceptable to like Everclear. But, I have to admit I dug this record and their 1997 release So Much for the Afterglow. From that point on I like most people kind of tuned out. Still, for a couple of years there, I thought they were all right.
3. Car Chase City, Tenacious D – Well I am an unabashed member of the D Army. I have been for years and will continue to be. Car Chase City is off the soundtrack to the D film The Pick of Destiny. Not my favorite track by the boys but, even while not at their best the D still rocks.
4. Miss You, The Rolling Stones – Some Girls in my opinion is the last good Stones effort. I know a lot of people will argue with me on that, but it is my opinion. Miss You while not the Stones greatest work is still catchy and different sounding enough that I don’t mind it. But this is literally the song that borders on when the Stones jumped.
5. And Through the Wire, Peter Gabriel – The musical genius that is Peter Gabriel released his greatest album in 1980 in what is known as the Melt record. Without a doubt this is in my top 10 LP’s of all time. There was a time in late 80’s where I just overdosed on Gabriel, and I am a better man for it.
6. Let’s Live for Today, The Grassroots – In some ways, 1960’s protest rock is some of the best music ever recorded. The Grassroots (with Creed from the Office on guitar) was a band that had a couple of big hits in the 60’s this being one of them.
7. Piazza, New York Catcher, Belle and Sebastian – This song is essentially about the rumor that Mike Piazza was gay. It appears on the Juno soundtrack and I dig it. Go ahead and make fun of me if you like, there are worse things out there.
8. Layla, Derek and The Dominos – Is that Freedom Rock? Well turn it up! Volumes have been written about this ode to George Harrison’s wife who Clapton was in love with and eventually married. However, now when I hear it I can’t help but think back to the scene in Goodfellas where Scorsese uses it perfectly.
9. This is a Call, The Foo Fighters – I used to get in more arguments about the Foo Fighters again with my coworker Matt. He just simply could not stand them while I was and am still a fan. I am a much bigger Nirvana guy but, I think Grohl picked up the pieces and broke out on his own and formed a pretty kick ass band in his own right.
10. Abacab, Genesis – I will always from this point forward when I hear this song get instantly reminded of CD’s Nuts version of this one and my buddy Don just knocking it out of the park on vocals. I am sure I was like the only person at the shows that dug it to the level I did, but I always looked forward to it.
11. Black is Black, Los Bravos – This is one of my all time favorite one hit wonders. I could not find it on ITunes so, I had to get it off the Bobby soundtrack. A rocking tune with a Spanish flair to it that all works together.
12. I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better, The Byrds – I don’t think I want to know the person who doesn’t like the Byrds. I would not consider them the greatest band in rock history or anything like that, but for what they were, they were excellent. Great vocals and arrangements that morphed into some of the prettiest music to come out of the 60’s.
13. Hey, Hey My My, Neil Young – This is one is for my wife who as much as I have tried just can’t stand Neil. I’m sorry you have to try to not like this song. This was grunge before there was a name for it. Still don’t know what to make of the Johnny Rotten reference and I once read an interview with Rotten and he himself is not sure.
14. I Got my Mojo Working, Howard and the White Boys – The live version they used to do of this was always at the end of their set and if you were lucky enough to have seen it, you know just how much fun it was. Sadly with Dan no longer in the band there is no more harmonica so this is gone from their playlist. Still, some of the greatest memories I have of my 20’s was dancing and having a great time listening to the Boys.
15. Zoot Suit Riot, Cherry Poppin Daddies – In the late 90’s swing music made a brief resurgence. I like many others kind of get swept up in it. Joyce and I even took dancing lessons as it was one genre we agreed on. Hey, it is a fun song that is about as deep as a puddle but so what.
16. Who were you Thinking of, The Texas Tornados – I got exposed to the greatness of this song from the movie Extract. That made me do some research on the Texas Tornados and you know what I kind of like them. They mix traditional Latin music with country and it works.
17. Auf Achse, Franz Ferdinand – From the first time I heard this album, I was hooked. This was the freshest music I had heard in years. Finally at long last here was something new that wasn’t just recycled teen aged angst or some speed metal that had no heart. Here was a record that upon hearing it puts an instant smile on my face. It has been six years and it gets better every time I hear it.
18. Manish Boy, Muddy Waters – A delta blues classic from Muddy Waters one of the true greats of the genre. It has been used numerous times in films most notably in my mind at least in Risky Business.
19. Lowdown, Boz Scaggs – Another record I simply love. I can’t hear this without thinking back to being a passenger in the back seat of my Mom’s red ‘78 Camaro and her blasting it on her 8-track. Silk Degrees is still one of my all time favorites. Just glad the Barbara Streisand thing didn’t take hold.
20. Something So Strong, Crowded House – Shit. Well, let me try to defend this. Okay I really can’t. Why do I like Crowded House? I don’t have a good answer. All I can simply say is for some reason when I hear this or Take the Weather with You I can’t help but tap a toe to it. I don’t have any explanation and I know it is really not that great but, I can’t help it. Nuke me I deserve it.
21. Don’t Leave Me this Way, Thelma Houston – This one is left over from when Joyce and I used to share the IPod. I remember going to the library with her and she checks out a 2 disc Best of Disco CD. I knew I was in trouble and I have been searching to remove tunes like this ever since.
22. Thank You, Dido – Another one I may take crap for, but this one I will defend. This girl can flat out sing. I admit it may not be everyone’s cup of tea and normally it would not be mine. But, I can recognize talent when I hear it, and this girl while never really doing much other then this song, has it.
23. Walk of Life, Dire Straits – If you lived in the suburbs and were in high school in the 80’s they issued you a copy of Brothers in Arms at your freshman orientation. I was so sick of this record that I don’t think I listened to it once during the entire 1990’s. The one day I heard Walk of Life and remembered that ya, it was over played but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t good.
24. Town without Pity, Brian Setzer Orchestra– Setzer arranges this Gene Pitney classic and makes kind of lame song really, really good. I could listen to that band of his play almost anything. He found his niche and found a second musical life which is very rare, but in this case deserved.
25. Right Here Right Now, Jesus Jones – Certain songs remind of you of certain times in your life. I hear this and I am instantly back working at Kmart going to Moraine and dating Jenny. This song was huge when it came out but Jesus Jones never really backed it up. Still, this is a catchy enough ditty.
posted by 10withmop at 12:37 PM
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