Rock And Roll Mixtape by Rockandrollwebsite
So, this is not exactly the starting of a fresh new podcast experience (still working on that). For now however, we have the Rock and Roll Mixtape Vol. 1.
This mix was made as a gift in kind for a friend of a friend donating a number of records in to my collection. In return, are a few slices from my own 45 collection (there are one or two tracks from LPs too) arranged in a manner quite pleasing to the ear. You’ll notice a great many classic songs, and a few obscure tunes. Originally my tracks were going to alternate new/old until the the pairings became banal after the first couplet. The long contemporary tune is by No Age, and I think it holds it’s own.
Here are the track listings, and please enjoy!
This track has a great rave-up and I think it kicks the mix off pretty well. I snagged this off of a limited 7” that was being sold as a part of Record Store Day. The sad trade off of this 45 is that major labels are beginning to release (sometimes) junky reissues to compete with smaller labels who release exclusive material to support local record stores. Big labels are jerks, but at least they gave us Elvis Costello.
A lesser known Cream song. I don’t think I ever heard this on the radio once, but it was featured on a show called “Freaks and Geeks”. One of the characters played by the very funny (and now very famous) Jason Segel, tries out for a band, and fails miserably. He had practiced playing “Sunshine of Your Love” in his basement but couldn’t cut it when the band he was trying out for decided to play “Crossroads” instead because they were sick of “Sunshine..”. I also included this song because it makes me think of that ridiculous “Crossroads” movie starring the Karate Kid Ralph Macchio as a young Stevie Ray Vaughn.
Glitter – No Age
Originally I had planned to do a “New Song/Old Song” diatonic format for this mix. I scrapped that idea because I had issues getting the flow right, and it was just more fun to dig for classics. I left this song in because I think it’s a great example of how modern rock can use noise in an artistic manner. Depending on your tolerance for feedback, you may skip this song, I don’t blame you, but listen to it once just to hear the lead singer go “And I want you back, underneath my skin” and I hope you’ll see that behind the noise and the skinny jeans, these dudes can write a good song.
Little Green Bag – George Baker Selection
Another song that was featured in the show “Freaks and Geeks”, can you guess what the character was up to while this song played? If you guessed “pathetically attempting to roll her very first joint, then subsequently having a panic attack”, then you’ve won. The song was also featured in “Reservoir Dogs” which is my favorite Tarantino flick.
When Will The Rain Come – The Troggs
For me, this song is like a diamond in the rough. I had never heard of it before I found it at a flea market, and had only heard one or two Troggs songs before it. No pop culture references here, just a good psych-pop song from the 60s.
Run Through The Jungle – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Creedence is a great band, and this is one of my favourite songs by them. A DJ I admire called them “America’s Beatles”. The more I sit and listen to the hits all the way through, I get closer and closer to agreeing. Sadly, I can’t really say I like any Creedence solo/revisited stuff as much as I like any of the post-Beatles work. (Sadly missing from this work is any George Harrison, and I totally would have added some Travelling Wilbury’s, but my dad said I had to give back all of the records I borrowed from him).
Come Together – The Beatles
An obvious Beatles track, but the only one I have on 45. Not my favourite track, but I really like the word play.
I’m Not Your Steppin’ Stone – The Monkees
Not a big Monkees fan, but this is a good B-side. Even though they were pretty big phonies, when it came to writing their own songs, the music was half decent.
Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey – Paul & Linda McCartney
I grew up listening to “Band on the Run” by Wings in my parent’s 1986 Honda Accord, and when I discovered RAM, I blew a gasket. Paul and his dearly departed Ex-Wife were amazing artists, and this whole album makes me go crazy. George is still my favourite Beatle, but Paul is a close second.
She’s A Woman – José Feliciano
A Beatles song credited to Paul and John (although Wikipedia has words about that…), covered by the talented José Feliciano. This was a B-side from one of Feliciano’s 45s and the original was a B-side from the “I Feel Fine” single from the Beatles. It might be my hipster attitude, or the fact that I always root for the underdog, but I love B-sides.
Let It Be – Aretha Franklin
A talented singer singing a song by talented songwriters… do I really need to say anything else? Fun fact: Wikipedia claims this version of the song was released BEFORE the Beatles version on Aretha’s album “This Girl’s in Love with You”.
The Young Folks – The Jackson 5
Now that I am an adult, I can actually admit out loud that Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 were amazing performers who changed the face of music. This is the B-side to ABC, and has nothing to do with the song by Peter, Bjorn and John with all the whistling…
Don’t Give It Away – The Isley Brothers
Songs like this are funny, on the A-side, the Brothers Isley say “It’s your thang, do what you wanna do”. Then on the B-side they say “Don’t Give it Away”, mixed signals right? Good track though. A nice B-side to cleanse the palette considering the A-side’s been run in to the ground.
Sloop John B – Ted Ming
Carrying on a funky feel, I added this song because it’s by an almost unheard of artist, but it’s a fairly well known song. I originally heard the song on “Pet Sounds”, but this version is like nothing I’ve ever heard before.
Star-O – Harry Belafonte
Another B-side… Star-O is the name of the boat that carries the bananas, and hopefully Harry Belafonte home. No sign of deadly black tarantulas.
In The Summertime – Mungo Jerry
This is one of those songs that has permeated in to every corner of our culture that you can’t think about summer, with catching whiff of this song. Movies, commercials and more, I am almost sick to death of this song. The saving grace is that A: it’s in it’s entirety, B: it’s on vinyl, and C: it has no voice-over proclaiming the triumphant return of “Lobster Fest”.
Dreaming – Blondie
Blondie is one of those weird “punk” bands that I would have hated had I actually been in to punk when this record was released. Lucky for all of us, I was not, and will always have a soft spot for Debbie Harry. I thought about swapping out this song for the 10 minute version of “Rapture” but I was running short on time, and only nerds like me even like that song.
Our Lips Are Sealed – The Go-Go’s
If I had the 45, I would have totally swapped this with “We Got the Beat” because “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” is one of my favourite films of all time. This is an A-side that I included because I’ve already included it’s B-side on like 6 mixes. The B-side “Surfing and Spying” is a true B-side in the sense that you’d never expect it from the band, and they pull it out to rave reviews from the true fans at reunion concerts (sometimes paired with a Beach Boys cover to add to the surf feel).
Wishing (If I Had A Photograph Of You) – A Flock Of Seagulls
Sure they had terrible haircuts, but this song is heart felt and catchy in a way that only new wave can be. So much better than “I Ran”, and even has an amazing cover by the Bossa-Nova cover band “Nouvelle Vague”.
Young Turks – Rod Stewart
The first time I ever heard the “F” word (the one that isn’t fuck), was someone describing Rod Stewart. I was shocked to hear that he was gay, but didn’t care and rocked out to this song anyway. The lyrics remind me of Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer”, but by someone who doesn’t feel the need to be overly macho.
Take The Long Way Home – Supertramp
Like many guys my age, my father introduced me to Supertramp. This track is a perfect, and probably cliched closer for any mixtape. This is the B-side on a 45 that is b/w Rudy, which isn’t even from the same album. I was a little confused and then later read that better known hits were sometimes bundled with new songs to give them some legs at the registers.
