CD Mix Challenge 6: The Do-Overs
1. Sellout (Mix #4): Start! - The Jam.
Used for some car or truck commercial last year. No idea which, so I guess the ad really must have worked.
2. A Song that’s in a foreign language (Mix #1): Cielito Lindo/Cielito Lindo Huasteca - Los Lobos.
Among the most famous of Mexican songs, thanks to thousands of mariachi bands playing in thousands of Mexican restaurants across the country.
3. A song about cheating (Mix #3): Don’cha Go ‘Way Mad - The Jazz Passengers with Deborah Harry and Elvis Costello.
The very idea that anybody would want to cheat on Debbie Harry, and Elvis Costello at that, is just ludicrous.
4. Song that makes you cry (Mix #2): Dry Your Eyes - The Streets.
Not one that makes me cry, actually, but it does hit some of those emotional spots.
5. B-side (Mix #3): I’m Not Like Everybody Else - The Kinks.
This was the flip side of their great 1966 single Sunny Afternoon, and it’s one of the great non-album b-sides ever. As close as I get to having a theme song.
6. Kick-ass cover song: Here Comes My Baby - The Jags.
Written by Cat Stevens, and most famously released by the Tremeloes in 1967, this version by the early 80s new wave/power pop band The Jags opens up their second (and final) album with great a great kick.
7. Earworm (Mix #2): Gimme Dat Ding - The Pipkins.
I loved this song back when I was about six, when it would get stuck in my head for years at a time.
8. A favorite live track (Mix #1): Changed The Locks - Lucinda Williams.
Tom Petty covered this one about a dozen years ago, and did it well, but performed here by its author it becomes a great statement. A great loud, rock and roll statement.
9. Title out of nowhere (Mix #5): Penpals - Sloan.
I wonder if “rock and roll band reading letters to music” is the equivalent to someone like John Houseman reading the phone book on stage.
10. A favorite song you have discovered since our last CD Mix (Mix #4): When Your Mind’s Made Up - Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.
This is a bit of a cheat here. The song is featured in the film Once, with Glen and Marketa, which I saw some weeks before the last mix. So the soundtrack version was out. It’s also on the last Frames album, a band featuring Glen, which I picked up right after seeing the film. So that version was out. However, they two released their own album back in 2006, which I just picked up right around the holidays, so it’s that version that made the cut here. It’s not often you’ll hear a good song written in 5/4 time.
11. Favorite artist duo collaboration (Mix #1): (We’re Not) The Jet Set - George Jones and Tammy Wynette.
Back in 1997, I went with some friends on a road trip from Chicago to Memphis, in order to visit the king’s house and see Al Green’s do some preaching. On the way back, driving through Missouri, we saw a road sign pointing the way to Festus, Mo. One of the guys in our gang broke out the line, “there’s no Riviera in Festus, Missouri.” And that’s how I learned of this song.
12. Geographical location song (Mix #3): From Galway To Graceland - Richard Thompson.
Speaking of a trip to Memphis, I love the way the line “from the west coast of Ireland to west Tennessee” comes out.
13. Musical question...(Mix #4): Ever Fallen In Love? - The Buzzcocks
14. And answer! (Mix #4): I Fall In Love Too Easily - Frank Sinatra.
I’ve no doubt, Frankie.
15. Four-letter word (Mix #5): B-A-B-Y - Rachel Sweet.
Brenda Lee was “the little girl with the big voice,” but it also aptly describes the teenaged Rachel Sweet of Akron, OH. She recorded her first album at 15 for the UK’s Stiff Records label, and three more elsewhere, but her recording career never really took off after that. It’s a shame, too, since I think she had one of the great voices ever. Later on she recorded songs for the films Hairspray and Cry Baby, and was also seen as George’s cousin in the infamous Seinfeld episode “The Contest.”
16. Seven Deadly Sins (Mix #2): Dirty Love - Frank Zappa.
Frank knows. It’s all about the lust, baby.
17. A song you wouldn’t play in front of your Mom (Mix #1): Jesus At McDonald’s - Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper.
I’m guessing Stennie’s mom wouldn’t take kindly to all these Jesus sightings. But I could be wrong.
18. Song about violence and/or death (Mix #3): Jim Johnson - Porter Wagoner.
He had it coming.
19. Guilty pleasure song (Mix #2): Don’t Fight It - Kenny Loggins & Steve Perry.
There’s no real reason for this to be here. Kenny Loggins? Steve Perry? Some slick piece of arena-friendly pop rock? So why does it kick my ass so?
20. Amnesty song - with a twist!: What A Wonderful World - Joey Ramone.
Leave it to Joey to record an absolutely sincere and touching version of this Louis Armstrong song when he must have known his end was near. Damn, I miss Joey.
CD Mix Challenge 6: The Outtakes
1. Cheating Song: Don’cha Go ‘Way Mad - Frank Sinatra.
Perhaps it’s the chauvinist in me, but I’ve really got to admire the way he owns up to the affair only after her cousin catches him, says “you’ve got a reason to be mad....I suppose,” then brings up “what do you say you forgive and forget?” Then he asks for a kiss. Right on, Frankie. Why I pulled it: Had Frank down already for another category.
2. B-side: Walk Away Renee (version) - Billy Bragg.
It’s the flip side to one of my favorite Bragg singles, Levi Stubbs’ Tears. Also seriously considered for “title out of nowhere.” Why I pulled it: The single is a bit obscure.
3. Kick-ass cover song: Leave My Kitten Alone - The Beatles.
A few years before the Anthology releases, I used to love picking up Beatles bootlegs to hear all these alternate takes and unreleased songs I’d only read about. This cover, recorded in 1964 during the Beatles For Sale sessions, absolutely floored me. I never understood why it went unreleased for some 30 years, when it was clearly better than anything that went on that album, let alone the covers (I’m looking at you, Mr. Moonlight). This is one of my favorite Beatles recordings and far and away my favorite cover version of anything. Why I pulled it: As far as the original song goes, it’s a bit obscure.
4. Earworm: Cherry Baby - Starz.
It’s got a hooky sing-a-long chorus, an achingly melodic verse, and some sweet-sounding guitar. What’s not to love? Why I pulled it: After taking it out for a road test, it wasn’t as much of an earworm as I’d hoped.
5. A favorite live track: Growin’ Up - Bruce Springsteen.
Bruce was always good for a story during his live sets, but none were as flat-out entertaining as the two presented here. Recorded live at the Agora in Cleveland in 1978 and simulcast on radio stations across the region. Remember when you used to hear concerts on the radio? Whatever happened to radio? Why I pulled it: It’s a bit long, innit.
6. A favorite live track:Wild Women Don’t Get The Blues - Francine Reed.
Something for the wild women of the CD mix challenge. Why I pulled it: Not so much a fan of pandering to the local crowd.
7. Geographical location: Eurotrash Girl - Cracker.
Detailing everybody’s dream hitchhiking trip through Europe. Why I pulled it: It’s a bit long, innit.
8. Four letter word: Girl - The Records.
What a great band they were. They only released maybe three albums, but in those they packed in a full career’s worth of great songs. Why I pulled it: Dunno, really.
9. Four letter word #2: Toys - XTC.
Yet another great band, perhaps forgotten in the passage of time but kept alive through obsessives like myself. Why I pulled it: Didn’t want to cheat on this category by using a pluralized version of a three-letter word.
10. A song you wouldn’t play in front of your Mom: Think Twice (version x) - Jackie Wilson & LaVern Baker.
Jackie and LaVern released Think Twice as a single in 1966. It, erm, wasn’t this version. Why I pulled it: Forget Stennie’s mom, I’m not sure I’d want to play this in front of Stennie.
11. Song about violence and/or death: The First Mrs. Jones - Porter Wagoner.
Rest in peace, Porter. Why I pulled it: I already had a Porter song on the front burner for this category. And anyway, Jim Johnson probably deserved it more.
12. Song about violence and/or death #2: Stagger Lee - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.
This isn’t story of Stagger Lee I learned from Lloyd Price. Why I pulled it: It’s a bit brutal, you think?
13. Guilty pleasure song: You Don’t Want Me Anymore - Steel Breeze.
I could probably throw out any popular song from 1982 and call it a guilty pleasure. Due to circumstances, I really enjoyed that year. Why I pulled it: I don’t really feel all that guilty about it, honestly.
14. Amnesty song: Ça Plane pour Moi - Richard Thompson.
A rare triple play – a song in a foreign language, a cover song, and a live track. I win! Why I pulled it: I believe Lily already used the original in a previous mix.
Love it? Hate it? Need to register a complaint? E-mail me at lpstd2@gmail.com.