Funny How the Circle is a Wheel

Back in the late 90s when I was doing my alt-country radio show, I acquired a tape of someone else's radio show (I kinda forget exactly how). Anyway, it became a mainstay in the box of cassettes I kept in my car. Due to the 60s-70s country vibe of many of the songs, I especially found myself listening to it anytime I found myself driving around on back roads on fall afternoons. So since the cassette got kinda worn out, I thought I'd take some of my faves from the tape and add some like-minded songs.

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I'll Be Around Bobby Bare Jr.

Pack Up Your Sorrows Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison

I Turned a Corner Paul Burch & the WPA Ballclub

I Take A Lot Of Pride In What I Am Merle Haggard

Mountain Girl Blue Mountain

Me And Paul Willie Nelson

Warmth & Beauty Thad Cockrell

Where Have All The Average People Gone Roger Miller

We Go Together Tammy Wynette & George Jones

Even Cowgirls Get the Blues Emmylou Harris

It's Alright Bobby Bare

Take Me Home, Country Roads Lynn Anderson

1970 #1 Song Cadillac Terry Radigan

Two Angels The Jayhawks

Full Circle Song Gene Clark

Sneaky Snake Tom T. Hall

Jennifer Johnson and Me Robert Earl Keen, Jr.

Forever and Ever, Amen Randy Travis

No Depression Uncle Tupelo

Blanket on the Ground Billie Jo Spears

Well Fancy That: The Terry Hall Collection

I was just a bit too young to go see The Specials, but I'm proud to say that I altered my drivers permit so I could see what turned out to be (I think) the final show of Fun Boy Three at the Ritz in New York in 1983. Though I don't remember too much about the show and I think I went primarily because of their connection to The Specials. I didn't really keep up with Terry Hall's 90s and 00s output, but I've always loved Waiting and the first Colourfield album (and ep) and never sound dated (at least to these ears.) So here's a couple mixtapes featuring The Fun Boy Three and Colourfield as well as some of Terry's later work.

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Disc One

Murder She Said The Fun Boy Three

The More I See (The Less I Believe) The Fun Boy Three

Castles In The Air The Colourfield

Grief Disguised As Joy Terry Hall

Sanctuary The Fun Boy Three

The Colourfield The Colourfield

Alone The Fun Boy Three

Ballad of a Landlord (Acoustic) Terry Hall

Fishbones and Scaredy Cats Terry, Blair & Anouchka

Badlands Colourfield

Frosty Morning The Colourfield

T'aint What You Do (It's The Way That You Do It) The Fun Boy Three

Forever J Terry Hall

Things We Do The Fun Boy Three

Hammond Song Colourfield

Disc Two

I Can't Get Enough Of You Baby Colourfield

Going Home The Fun Boy Three

We're Having All The Fun The Fun Boy Three

Tip Of My Tongue Vegas

Pushing Up Daisies The Colourfield

Way On Down The Fun Boy Three

Music to Watch Girls By Terry Hall

Problem Is Dub Pistols (featuring Terry Hall)

Miss Texas 1967 Colourfield

Yours Sincerely The Colourfield

Summertime (Extended 12'' Mix) Fun Boy Three

This Guy's In Love With You Terry Hall

The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum The Fun Boy

Three Armchair Theater The Colourfield

Well Fancy That! The Fun Boy Three

Emmy and Nancy

Commuting to work by train as I do, I seem to gravitate to the twangy stuff for my morning ride in the fall. So here's a mixtape featuring Emmylou Harris and Nanci Griffith - with an emphasis on their albums from the 80s. (Oh, and if you hear a few crackles - well, some of the mp3s were burned from vinyl and I'm too lazy to do all that high-falutin' digital editing.)

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Ooh Las Vegas Emmylou Harris

I Wish It Would Rain Nanci Griffith

It's Only Rock & Roll Emmylou Harris

In My Dreams Emmylou Harris

If I Were The Woman You Wanted Nanci Griffith

You're Supposed To Be Feeling Good Emmylou Harris

Spin On A Red Brick Floor Nanci Griffith

Feelin' Single - Seein' Double Emmylou Harris

Mary & Omie Nanci Griffith

Ashes By Now Emmylou Harris

Love Wore a Halo (Back Before the War) Nanci Griffith

I Would Change My Life Nanci Griffith

Mystery Train Emmylou Harris

Ballad Of Robin Winter-Smith Nanci Griffith

Amarillo Emmylou Harris

One of These Days Nanci Griffith

Love Is A Hard Waltz Nanci Griffith

Sin City Emmylou Harris

White Line Emmylou Harris

Sweet Dreams Will Come Nanci Griffith

I'm Committed to Elvis

I'm pretty sure I got my first Elvis Costello record back in 1982 - I think it was Armed Forces. I can't say I haven't been a bit disappointed, or sometimes just felt a little blah, with some of the releases over the last 20 years. Still the guy is prolific. And some of the latter day Elvis albums really do hold up to his earlier work. So tonight I give you an Elvis career retrospective - proceeding chronologically, there's one cut from each of his albums (including compilations like Taking Liberties and Out of Our Idiot).

Download Disc One

I Just Don't Know What To Do With Myself

Less Than Zero

The Beat

Oliver's Army

Posession

Clowntime Is Over

Too Far Gone

From A Whisper To A Scream

Shabby Doll

Everyday I Write The Book

Room With No Number

Tokyo Storm Warning

Brilliant Mistake

The Flirting Kind

Pads, Paws and Claws

Download Disc Two

Georgie And Her Rival

I Almost Had A Weakness

Smack 'im!

13 Steps Lead Down

Payday

Weird Nightmare

Shallow Grave

God Give Me Strength

Dust

I'm In The Mood Again

Bedlam

That's How You Got Killed Before

Who's Gonna Help Brother Get Further?

Go Away

My All Time Doll