Mixology

It seems that this didn't get posted last Monday like it was supposed to. (*sigh*) This was supposed to be a bit of 'vacation filler' while we Joneses all went away for the week. But instead, it looks like I just disappeared, and left you all wondering what happened. (*sigh, again*) I'll be posting soon about our vacation, but in the meantime, here's the 'filler' I intended for last week. . .

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For those of my friends who might enjoy a small peek into a corner of my soul that doesn't get much air around these parts, I offer the contents of a couple of my favorite 'mix' CDs (yeah, I know; I'll be getting an Ipod one of these days, but I haven't just yet; other stuff keeps climbing over it in the budgetary priorities). Just so you know it's not just all Beatles, all the time. . .

First, I compiled a mix of some of my favorite Classic Rock tunes:

I'm Your Captain - Grand Funk Railroad
I'm Free - The Who
Black Magic Woman - Santana
Riders On the Storm - The Doors
Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
Angie - Rolling Stones
Dream On - Aerosmith
Lucky Man - Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Crazy On You - Heart
More Than a Feeling - Boston
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) - The Eurhythmics
Katmandu - Bob Seger

Almost all 70s stuff, as I look at it. Starting and ending with a couple of the more prominent Michigan bands from back in the day. And just for the record, these are songs I like musically; I'm not endorsing any messages, or worldviews, or lifestyles. In case anybody was wondering. . .


I also put together a mix of Jazz and Easy Listening tunes:

Classical Gas (acoustic version) - Mason Williams
Feels So Good - Chuck Mangione
Hill Street Blues - Mike Post
Kari - Bob James & Earl Klugh
Cast Your Fate to the Wind - George Benson
Chariots of Fire - Vangelis
Bouree - Jethro Tull (and, uh, JS Bach)
Mother Nature's Son - The Beatles
Follow Me - John Denver
You've Got a Friend - James Taylor
Lean On Me - Bill Withers
Danny's Song - Loggins & Messina
Just the Two of Us - Bill Withers
Time In a Bottle - Jim Croce
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot
One of Us - Joan Osborne

A nice, eclectic mix, if I may say so myself. A few comments, as many of these tunes have multiple well-known versions. . . I much prefer the acoustic version of 'Classical Gas' (the one often attributed erroneously to Eric Clapton) to the more commonly-heard 'orchestral' version. Also, please don't give me John Denver's version of 'Mother Nature's Son' (his Mother Nature is more like a shrieking harpie; just sayin'); although I like his version of 'Follow Me' just fine (GF2 was very fond of that song; fortunately, so is Molly). I have a hard time choosing between James Taylor's 'You've Got a Friend' (which was the first recorded version) and Carole King's (she wrote the song, after all); I recently heard a duet version of the two of them singing together, which might just be best of all. 'Lean On Me' is a Bill Withers song. Period. Club Nouveau's 'rappified' version is, at best, a pale imitation. MHO. Anne Murray's version of 'Danny's Song' is probably better known, but Loggins & Messina is the original version, and it has a rawer emotional edge to it that touches my soul. As to 'Edmund Fitz' - it's a Great Lakes thing; you wouldn't understand. And I'm not generally a fan of Joan Osborne, but that one song is just stunning, for asking the Right Question - what if God was One of Us, indeed?


And I have a mix of my favorite Love Songs; you know, the ones that, when Molly and I dance to 'em at weddings, set a really nice romantic mood:

(I Can't Help) Falling In Love With You - Elvis
Unchained Melody - The Righteous Brothers
And I Love Her - The Beatles
When a Man Loves a Woman - Percy Sledge
Just the Two of Us - Bill Withers
Something - George Harrison
Maybe I'm Amazed - Paul McCartney
Danny's Song - Loggins & Messina
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - James Taylor
My Love - Paul McCartney
Natural Woman - Carole King
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton

A bit of duplication with the Easy Listening mix, and more Beatles stuff. But mostly, just sweet, romantic stuff, occasionally bordering on erotic ('Oh, my love, my darling, I hunger for your touch' never fails to send chills down my spine). If Molly had brown eyes, I might include Van Morrison's 'Brown-Eyed Girl'.

But - what did I miss? What songs are on your favorite 'mixes'?


I don't know if any of this strikes you all as the least bit 'self-revelatory' on my part, or not. But just maybe, it gives you a small glimpse into my soul, and helps you know me just a little bit better. . .

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Molly and the kids (at least, the younger half of 'em) and I will be were gone all week at a cabin Up North (the same one that Molly and I stayed at for our 25th anniversary Second Honeymoon), away from the Internet and many of the other accoutrements of civilization. The idea was (if this had actually posted the way it was supposed to) for you feel free to stop by, leave your comments, and discuss among yourselves. I'll be back in a week or so Anyway, we're back now, so this can fill in until I can get a 'vacation post' together. . .