On The Right Side of 2017

      To borrow a phrase from the writer James Wolcott, it's Christmas Nocturne - that pleasantly odd week between Christmas and New Years where a significant number of people aren't working and presumably have lots of time to listen to best of the year compilations.  As usual, I tried to exclude any artist who had been on any of the best of compilations from the previous two years, but I couldn't resist including Father John's Misty Pure Comedy as the closing cut.  I've also re-upped all my previous best of compilations (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016).  Hope everyone has a great 2018!

Disc One

Pleasure	Feist
Dancing Down the Hall	Frankie Rose
Goodnight Rhonda Lee	Nicole Atkins
Rolling Along	The Mavericks
Lonely Girl	Chelsea Williams
Long Lonely Road	Valerie June
Taste	Rhye
Humility	Kamasi Washington
Evolution	Kelly Lee Owens
Systole	Grizzly Bear
Into My Arms	Shelby Lynne & Allison Moorer
Just a Drink Away	Charley Crockett
Only Trouble Is	Ron Sexsmith
In Between	The Feelies
Sinking Down	Son Volt
God Bless the Infidels	The Sadies
Downhearted	Molly Burch
If You Need To, Keep Time On Me	Fleet Foxes
Sparks Fly	Waxahatchee
Who's Lovin' You	Kelis
Disc Two
You Never Loved Me	Aimee Mann
Long Time Coming	Coco Hames
Last of My Kind	Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
Kanimba	Trio Da Kali & Kronos Quartet
Big Fish	Vince Staples
Star Roving	Slowdive
Shake and Pop	Los Straitjackets
I Don't Wanna Die in This Town	Old 97's
I Pray When I'm Drunk	Robyn Hitchcock
The Singer (For Jason Molina)	Mark Eitzel
Til the Goin' Gets Gone	Lindi Ortega
Mexican Dust	Mosquitos
Road Head	Japanese Breakfast
Beautiful	Lera Lynn
Morning Dove	Julie Byrne
The Silverback	The Heliocentrics
The World Is Falling Down	Jim James
Plastic	Moses Sumney
Wrangled	Angaleena Presley
Pure Comedy	Father John Misty

On the Right Side of Christmas 2017

  It's been pretty warm here in the northeastern United States, but Christmas is just a month away which means it's time for another Christmas music compilation.   I've also re-upped all the previous Christmas compilations.


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Christmas Time Is Here NRBQ Blue Christmas She & Him Christmas Evermore Cold Specks Winter Wonderland Chet Baker Counting the Days (til Christmas) Marah We Three Kings Blondie Christmas Night The Cave Singers Who Said There Ain't No Santa Claus Ron Holden And The Thunderbirds A Change At Christmas The Flaming Lips Merry Christmas Baby The Poets Ole Santa Dinah Washington Silent Night Teddy Thompson & Kathryn Williams Let Me Hang Your Stockings In Your Christmas Tree Roosevelt Sykes Santa Claus Boogie Hasil Adkins Merry Christmas Boogaloo Johnny Albino Hot Christmas Squirrel Nut Zippers I Wish It Was Christmas Today Julian Casablancas Christmas Train Bobby Bare Silver Bells Clarence White I Believe In Father Christmas Greg Lake Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) Death Cab for Cutie (Merry Christmas) We Must Be Having One Tammy Wynette It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The Roches Auld Lang Syne John Fahey

Man, That Cat is Gone: A John Hiatt Retrospective

       I was listening to John Hiatt's great late 80s/early 90s trio of albums (Bring the Family, Slow Turning, and Stolen Moments) a few months back and was impressed by how well they had aged.  I've also been listening a lot to the rest of his catalog so I finally put together a John Hiatt compilation.  (Btw, it's one download for both discs.)

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Disc One

Take Time To Know Her

I Just Don't Know What To Say

Cold River

Homeland

Something Wild

How Bad's the Coffee

Johnny 99

Hold On for Your Love

Ethylene

Everybody Went Low

Disc Two

Riding With the King

Lift Up Every Stone

Woman Sawed In Half

The Ballad of Curtis Loew

Don't Bug Me When I'm Working

Hurt My Baby

Face Of God

Rock Back Billy

Sometime Other Than Now

Learning How To Love You

Saluting 70's Singer Songwriters Volume 4

   Fall is upon us, even though you wouldn't know it from the weather here in New York.  Nonetheless, I've always thought 70s singer-songwriter comps are the perfect companion for Fall late mornings and afternoons.   So tonight, I give you Volume 4 in the Saluting Singer Songwriters series.  I've also re-upped the previous volumes  as well as the Sucking in the 70s compilations.  Have at 'em!

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I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You	Tom Waits
Shiver Me Timbers	Tom Waits
Ride Me Down Easy	Billy Joe Shaver
I Been To Georgia On A Fast Train	Billy Joe Shaver
If You're Ever In Oklahoma	J.J. Cale
Call Me The Breeze	J.J. Cale
Please Don't Bury Me	John Prine
Sabu Visits The Twin Cities Alone	John Prine
Farewell To Paradise	Emitt Rhodes
She's Such A Beauty	Emitt Rhodes
Sol e Chuva	Alceu Valenca
Cabelos Longos	Alceu Valenca
Starman	David Bowie
Kooks	David Bowie
Have A Heart	Charlie Rich
Peace On You	Charlie Rich
Call Me	Aretha Franklin
Day Dreaming	Aretha Franklin

Your Heart Was a Legend: A Compilation of Artist Tribute Songs

   I've been putting together this compilation of artists paying homage to other artists - both dead and alive - for some time now and I can't remember the inspiration for doing so.  I'm pretty sure it was something specific, but the memory isn't what it used to be.  Anyway, I should also point out that there are a couple of songs which reference more than one artist (The Bluegrass Widow and Nightshift) and the last song is definitely a cheat - it's an homage to Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown.  Also, the Aimee Mann song is a tribute to Jeff Buckley - the rest of the tributes are pretty obvious.  

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Chelsea Hotel #2 Leonard Cohen Blind Willie McTell Bob Dylan I Saw Nick Drake Robyn Hitchcock Song for Judee case/lang/veirs That Bangle Girl Robbie Fulks Boozoo, That's Who? NRBQ Sir Duke Stevie Wonder Jackie Wilson Said (I'm In Heaven When You Smile) Van Morrison I Think Hank Woulda Done It This Way The Blue Chieftains Alex Chilton The Replacements The Bluegrass Widow Robert Earl Keen Carter Fred Eaglesmith I Dreamed I Saw Phil Ochs Last Night Billy Bragg Dory Previn Camera Obscura Boy From Tupelo Emmylou Harris Aretha, sing one for me George Jackson A Tribute To A King William Bell Just Like Anyone Aimee Mann The Late Great Johnny Ace Paul Simon Nightshift Commodores Pops We Love You Marvin Gaye (w/Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder)

Elvis Costello obscurities and covers

 About a year ago, I found on (a website whose name I can't remember) a cache of Elvis Costello rarities I didn't have so, at the risk of overkill, I made yet another Elvis Costello obscurities/rarities/whatever you want to call 'em compilation.  And as long as one is going to be obsessed with Elvis, why not also put together a compilation of Elvis covers? (If you don't have the first three volumes of Elvis rarities, you can find them here.)


50,000 Obsessive Elvis Fans Can't Be Wrong - Disc 4

All You Need Is Love

You're No Good

Fill In The Blanks

The Town Where Time Stood Still

My Shoes Keep Walking Back To You

King Of Confidence

We Don't Even Try Anymore

If I Could Put Them All Together (I'd Have You)

Lost On the River #12

Pretty In Pink

All These Things

I'll Never Fall In Love Again

It Had To Be You

You're Gonna Make Lonesome When You Go

They'll Never Take Her Love From Me

The Butcher's Boy

Weeper's Dream

You've Got To Hide Your Love Away

Their Aim is True: Elvis Costello Covers

The Comedians	Roy Orbison
Shabby Doll	Calexico
Green Shirt	Matt Pond PA
Oliver's Army	Blur
The Big Light	Johnny Cash
No Action	The Muffs
Human Hands	Sondre Lerche
Alison	Everything But The Girl
Almost Blue	Chet Baker
The Judgement	Solomon Burke
The Poisoned Rose	Nick Lowe
Punishing Kiss	Annie Ross & Low Note Quintet
Just a Memory	Marti Jones
Tear Off Your Own Head (It's a Doll Revolution)	The Bangles
Uncomplicated	Los Lobos
I Wonder How She Knows	Charles Brown
Sleep of the Just	Mendoza Line
Baby Plays Around	A Girl Called Eddy

More Wondrous Willie Ways

    I know 4th of July (and, of course, Willie's annual 4th of July show in Austin) isn't til Tuesday, but I'm pretty sure this weekend is still considered the 4th of July weekend.  And what's better weekend evening music than Volume 3 of my Willie Nelson compilation?

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Darkness On The Face Of The Earth

That's Me Without You

Look What Thoughts Will Do

Shame On You

Who Put All My Ex's In Texas

Bonaparte's Retreat

Will The Circle Be Unbroken

Till the End of the World

Ocean Of Diamonds

Everybody's Talkin'

Lonely Little Mansion

The Words Don't Fit The Picture

Philadelphia Lawyer

Lady Be Good

The Way You See Me

I Drank All Of Our Precious Love Away

Farther Along

The Wondrous Ways of Willie Nelson

   It's the first weekend of the summer and what better way to spend a summer than listening to Willie Nelson?!  Not that you don't listen to Willie in all seasons, but there's just something about his music that makes it a perfect fit for late summer afternoons or very late summer nights.  And though I suspect he's going to live another 10-20 years (or more), it's always good to pay tribute to a true legend they are alive.   Therefore, I've prepared a three volume set of Willie's finest (I'll put the third volume up next month.)  As is my usual habit, I've tried to stay away from most of the big hits.  I did, however, include one from his dandy recent release, God's Problem Child.  Enjoy!

   Late Update: I've also reupped the Willie Nelson covers compilations I put together several years back.

Volume One and Volume Two

Volume One

Just One Love

Hero

Outskirts Of Town

My Life's Been A Pleasure

If I Were A Carpenter

Home In San Antone

Won't You Ride in My Little Red Wagon

Honeysuckle Rose

Little House on the Hill

Me And The Drummer

Senor (Tales Of Yankee Power)

Always Seem To Get Things Wrong

I Feel Sorry for Him

Georgia on My Mind

If I Were The Man You Wanted

I Walk Alone

Sad Songs And Waltzes

Volume Two

Great Divide

Ashamed

Love Me Like a Song

Tougher Than Leather

Something to Brag About

Good Hearted Woman

Make Way for a Better Man

Why Are You Picking On Me

A Moment Isn't Very Long

This Cold War With You

Pride Wins Again

Reasons To Quit

December Day

Half a Man

Help Me Make It Through the Night

Family Bible

Cocktail Mix - Volumes 1-4

   I forget the exact reason why I looked it up, but I realized a few weeks ago that the movie Swingers came out more than 20 years ago.  In addition to launching the careers of Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau, it also helped launch the, however short-lived, early 60s nostalgia craze (okay, I wouldn't exactly call it a craze, but you get my point.).  I fully realize it's a bit absurd to indulge in nostalgia for nostalgia (there must be a cultural studies term for that), but four Cocktail Mix cds below were put out by Rhino a year before Swingers came out.  They're also long out of print and quite dandy - especially Volume II.

Cocktail Mix - Volume I

Will You Still Be Mine?	Dean Elliot And His Swinging Big Big Band!!
Fever	The Three Suns
I Get A Kick Out Of You	Felix Slatkin
Star Fire	Bob Thompson
Hansel And Pretzel	Henri Rene & His Orchestra
Mood Tattooed	Les Baxter's Drums
Danny's Inferno	The Three Suns
The Penguin	Dave Harris & The Powerhouse Five
China Boy (Go Sleep)	Lenny Dee
War Dance For Wooden Indians	Russ Case & His Orchestra
Hell's Bells	David Carroll
Early-Bird Whirly-Bird	Bob Thompson
Accidental Slip On An Oriental Rug	Robert Maxwell, His Harp & His Orchestra
Rock Gently	Alvino Rey
Che Si Dice	Ferrante & Teicher
Inch Worm (From The Garden Of Eden Ballet)	Jack Costanzo
Blue Rumba	Rolley Polley
Powerhouse	Bobby Hammack Quartet
Cocktail Mix - Volume II
Thirteen Men	Miss Ann-Margret
Soul Sauce (Guacha Guaro)	Cal Tjader
The Girl From Ipanema	Walter Wanderley
Call Me	Nancy Wilson
Sorry 'Bout That-Part I	Harold Johnson Sextet
Comin' Home Baby	Mel Torme
Baby Elephant Walk	Rene Touzet
Soul Bossa Nova	Quincy Jones
Bossa Nova Hand Dance (Deixa Isso Pra La)	Connie Francis
Frenesi - Twist	Les Elgart And His Orchestra
Why Wait	Perez Prado
House Of Bamboo	Earl Grant
Cantaloupe Island	Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers
Hot Barbecue	Brother Jack McDuff
Mas Que Nada	Sergio Mendes &; Brasil '66
Washington Square	Dick Hyman &; His Orchestra
Take Five	Trudy Pitts
I'm Not Talking	Mose Allison
Cocktail Mix - Volume III
The Lady Is A Tramp	Della Reese
Not Me	Robert Mitchum
Tequila	Stan Kenton & His Orchestra
Heart	Peggy Lee
One Mint Julep	Sarah Vaughan
Be-Bop The Beguine	Sammy Davis Jr.
Come On-A My House	Rosemary Clooney
Come By Sunday	Diana Dors
Something For Cat	Henry Mancini
Forty Second Street	Mel Torme
A Fine Romance	Ella Fitzgerald
That Old Black Magic	Louis Prima & Keely Smith
Fascinating Rhythm	Don Ralke And His Orchestra
Ain't That A Kick In The Head	Dean Martin
Guys And Dolls	Bobby Darin
Are You Havin' Any Fun	Count Basie & Tony Bennett
La Dolce Vita	Xavier Cugat & His Orchestra
Mademoiselle Kitt	Eartha Kitt
Cocktail Mix - Volume IV
A Man and a Woman (Un Homme et une Femme)	Francis Lai
Stripping Really Isn't Sexy, Is It?	Burt Bacharach
Bring Down the Birds	Herbie Hancock
Happy Feet	Quincy Jones
Come Live With Me	Johnny Williams (Vocal By Toni Scotti)
Susan	Henry Mancini
Way Out Calypso	George Duning
At the Namkok	George Duning
Barney Does It All	Lalo Schifrin
Lolita Ya Ya	Nelson Riddle
Ad Ogni Costo (At Any Cost)	Ennio Morricone
The Boston Wrangler	Michel Legrand
Send Me Nicky	George Duning
Misfits Theme	Alex North
The Knack (Main Theme)	John Barry

She Don't Care About Time: The Byrds, The Three O'Clock, and Army/Navy

   The weather in the Northeast has been kinda crappy the last week or so, but it's finally April, and some nice springtime weather has to be on the way, so I thought everyone could use some guitar rock/pop. And since it's been a while since I did an LA-centric mix, I thought I'd go with three Los Angeles based bands from three different eras: The Byrds (1960's), The Three O'Clock (1980s), and Army/Navy (2010's). (Befour Three O'Clock and The Salvation Army were early band names for The Three O'Clock, btw.)  I've also re-upped the Los Angeles 60's music scenes comps.

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Jetfighter	The Three O'Clock
So You Want To Be A Rock 'N' Roll Star	The Byrds
Pacific	Army Navy
Prouve	Army Navy
Sorry	The Three O'Clock
Dolphin's Smile	The Byrds
Summer Morning	Army Navy
She Turns To Flowers	Salvation Army
I See You	The Byrds
She Don't Care About Time	The Byrds
The Girl With The Guitar (Says Oh Yeah)	The Three O'Clock
I'll Feel a Whole Lot Better	Byrds
Ignite	Army Navy
The Seventeen Forever	Befour Three O'Clock
The Long Goodbye	Army Navy

Thoroughly Hitched: A Robyn Hitchcock Collection

      Ever since I got his 1984 release I Often Dream of Trains a couple of years back (I'm not sure why I waited so long), I've been on a Robyn Hitchcock binge.  Given how prolific (he has a new album out in April and is currently touring the northeast U.S) he's been, it's taken me a while to do justice to his catalog.   I hope the collection does justice to a legend who's remained remarkably vital for 36 years.  It's also his birthday tomorrow (March 3)!


Disc One

Raymond Chandler Evening

Old Man Weather

Keep Finding Me

Eight Miles High

Viva! Sea-Tac

So You Think You're in Love

Hurry for the Sky

Mamie Dunn, Employee of the Month / Good Times Rock & Roll

Evil Guy

Cynthia Mask

Globe of Frogs

Brenda's Iron Sledge

Sam's Gone Away

Have a Heart Betty (Mark 1)

Madonna of the Wasps

Disc Two

Parasite

I Often Dream Of Trains

No Way Out of Time

Daisy Bomb

Underwater Moonlight

Strawberries Dress

Heliotrope

Sickie Boy

Vegetable Friend

Dark Globe

It's All Over Now, Baby Blue

Comme Toujours

Ivy Alone

(A Man's Gotta Know His Limitations) Briggs

Heaven

Gram Parsons and Phosphorescent

  I've been meaning to make this mix of Gram Parsons and Phosphorescent for a long time - they're both charismatic native Southerners who, after dabbling in folk and indie rock, respectively, hit their musical heights when playing country/alternative country/cosmic American/whatever you want to call it.  And though neither was blessed with a great voice, they both really know how to deliver a song. Oh, and if you're wondering why there's a Byrds song on here, it's because the Byrds initially made the album Sweetheart of the Rodeo with Gram on lead vocals on several of the tracks. But there were some legal issues with Gram so they re-recorded some of the songs with Roger McGuinn on vocals.  And if you want more of either, I suggest starting with Phosphorescent's Willie Nelson tribute To Willie and with Gram's GP/Grievous Angel       

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A Picture of Our Torn Up Praise	Phosphorescent
Do You Know How It Feels	The Flying Burrito Brothers
I Want You	Phosphorescent
Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music)	The Flying Burrito Brothers
Blue Eyes	The International Submarine Band
Terror in the Canyons (The Wounded Master)	Phosphorescent
The New Soft Shoe	Gram Parsons
Tomorrow Is A Long Time	Phosphorescent
Drug Store Truck Drivin' Man	Gram Parsons & The Fallen Angels
Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye	Phosphorescent
You Can Make Me Feel Bad	Phosphorescent
To Love Somebody	The Flying Burrito Brothers
It's Not Supposed To Be That Way	Phosphorescent
You Don't Miss Your Water	The Byrds
Tell Me Baby (Have You Had Enough)	Phosphorescent
In My Hour Of Darkness	Gram Parsons