Hello, TA! Last time I didn't really make the classics mix as it was intended. Given another chance, I chose a lot of favorites from my childhood up through my college years. There is no electronic music here. My style isn't near as eclectic as some of the DJs before me, but I hope you enjoy this all the same. A lot of these songs remind me of my childhood home in a small town in Kentucky, with beautiful rolling hills, farms, cows, and of course, horses. Enjoy the classical, country, classic rock, and punk varieties of music!
Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata
This is the first song I ever remember hearing as a child. My father would play this on the piano, and it sounded so dark, brooding, but beautiful. It reminds me of the holidays, when my dad and his brother would both play this song to see who could play it the best. They have both forgotten how to play since then, but maybe I should learn it for my family's next generation...
John Denver - Thank God I'm a Country Boy
While I never actually grew up on a farm, my grandparents had a farm with all kinds of livestock and my parents had a huge backyard in a small town in Kentucky where I lived until I was 13. I feel that qualifies me as a little bit of a country boy! I've loved this song since I was young.
Kansas - Song for America
Kansas was one of my first favorite bands when I was 6 years old, because it was because of them that I learned how to recognize how beats and tempos work. The ones I listened to the most as a kid were Carry On Wayward Son, and The Point of Know Return. This one has a pretty epic buildup.
The Allman Brothers Band - Jessica
My dad used to (and still does!) listen to the Allman brothers religiously, and when I would hear this song I would be simply captivated by the many different guitar melodies and piano solos. Always puts a smile on my face.
The Rolling Stones - She's a Rainbow
I had to include this song because it's one of my favorite Stones songs to listen to. It's so playful and so much fun and I always imagine the most beautiful and mysterious girl.
Boston - Peace Of Mind
I didn't get into Boston until college, and I realized that they had a sound all their own when it came to classic rock. Not everybody likes Boston, but I say you can't beat those dualing guitar solos.
The Outlaws - Green Grass and High Tides
My dad and I share a love for this particular song because of how absolutely hard The Outlaws get it toward the end.
Blues Traveler - Hook
Blues Traveler became one of my first favorite bands when they came out with their album Four back in 1994. I liked almost every song on that CD, but this one inspired me to learn to play the harmonica. I also like John Popper's little rap there. Fun fact: In 2007, John Popper and his buddy Brian were pulled over going 111 MPH and police found 4 rifles, 9 handguns, a switchblade, a tazer, and a sack of weed. "Popper indicated to troopers that he had installed these items in his vehicle because in the event of a natural disaster he didn't want to be left behind."
Goldfinger - 99 Red Balloons
I like Goldfinger's remake of this 80's song, because it has a good amount of intensity and softness. It also gets me thinking about war, government, and politics.
Green Day - Basket Case
I was really into Green Day in high school. I loved their hard rock/punk fusion, especially when they had blue hair and wrote songs about being bored, smoking pot and masturbating before becoming a band that is almost entirely politically driven.
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Good Time Boys
The Chili Pepper's old sound was so awesome, when they were heavy into drugs and would just go up on stage and kick ass at a show, wearing socks over their shlongs, and just blow everyone's minds with their phat basslines and funky riffs.
Reel Big Fish - Sell Out
I went through a ska was also a phase I went through in high school. RBF has such an upbeat vibe, I couldn't help but love their trumpets and trombones.
Less Than Jake - Scott Farcas Takes it on the Chin
I was a big fan of Less Than Jake before they turned into an emo-punk band that sings about their feelings and shit. This track explodes with energetic horns and fast-paced ska/punk music.
Perpetual Groove - Mario Brothers Theme (Live @ JJ Cagneys)
Perpetual Groove is a bit of an unknown jam band who I discovered early in college. This is a live recording of them fucking around with the Mario Theme before going off on a tangent and ending with one of the most beautiful guitar solos I've ever heard.
Western Kentucky University's Big Red Marching Band - My Old Kentucky Home
I get goosebumps and sometimes my eyes start welling up when I hear this, especially during the Kentucky Derby. This song is sorta emotional for people like me who were born and raised in KY. As much as I disagree with the political stance of the residents in this state, I can't help but remain in love with the sights, sounds, and smells that accompany it. In all reality, this state is absolutely beautiful. Everyone I talk to who has moved away misses their home so much. One of these days I might have to leave my home, but it will always be in my heart.
Nick I need to give this another listen or two but for starters I enjoyed the first half of the mix in that it really had a sense of place, memory and time, despite me not being a huge fan of the tracks used when listened to in isolation. They came together well.
I really enjoyed it Nick, I loved the ska at the end. The guy in the room next to me at uni was a big Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake fan, so reminds me of good times.
Registered: Sep 2003
Location: corner of the garden
Wow. these sets are great. I'm holding winter workshops over the next three weeks and I think I'm going to play these sets in the lab when we're working on our assignments. lol, add some bounce, some life to another dreary fact finding missions.
We should have a TAs Share their Classics marathon or something.
___________________
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Dec-25-2011 22:15
djdk
Nutritional Overachiever
Registered: Jul 2003
Location: London
I knew I wouldn't have time to do this justice in the run up to christmas so I got it done by the middle of November and I've been itching to share it since so sorry its a day early! I had a lot of fun putting it together and, while there are some tracks that I would have liked to have included given more time, I'm very happy with the way this has turned out. I think it gives a very good account of my musical personality outside of pure club music and how I got to where I am now. It's also got quite a summery vibe about it, so hopefully it's something brighten up these dark winter days (for us northern hemisphere types)
Like Nick, this is the first peice of music I can really remember, my dad used to play it all the time on the piano. It's funny, had I started this after Nick put his up I might not have included this which would have been a shame I feel, so sorry for the repetition but it was bound to happen at some point!
02. Miles Davis - Summertime
I do love jazz and this piece by Miles Davis has everything that I like about it.
03. Nightmares On Wax - Nights Introlude
NoW have done about 3 different versions of this track over 3 albums, the one that gets everywhere is obviously Les Nuits but I prefer this from Smoker's Delight, which is one of my favourite albums. Perfect relaxing music.
04. Ulrich Schnauss - Nobody's Home
I discovered Ulrich quite late, but I absolutely love pretty much everything he's done. I knew I had to fit something on here from him and it was difficult choosing something but I think this captures everything that I like about his music. Melodic, ethereal, relaxing and uplifting.
05. Chicane - No Ordinary Morning
I find it odd that we haven't had much Chicane in these mixes so far (if any?). This is my favourite standalone Chicane track by far, Far From The Maddening Crowds is amazing but the tracks need to be listened to together as a whole, this is just a great song that stands on its own. I love how the lyrics are so melancholy yet you still feel like its an uplifting tune.
06. Primal Scream - Loaded
This is just fantastic, the big brass line, the slow madchester bass thats so danceable, brilliant.
07. De La Soul - Eye Know
To me this is everything hip-hop should be. Funky and soulful with lyrics about and peace and harmony. Call me a hippy if you like but I think the world would be a better place if this kind of stuff had remained popular rather than the darker stuff about bitches and money.
08. Groove Armada - If Everybody Looked The Same
Groove Armada seem to have always been around to me but when forced to think about it this is where it started. I remeber hearing this on the radio and falling in love with it immediatley. I think the sentiment in the lyrics struck a chord with my spotty teenage self.
09. Micheal Jackson - The Way You Make Me Feel
Another great artist that seems to have been strangely absent from these mixes. My brother had a copy of Bad on cassette that I used to steal to listen to this. I wouldn't say I was MJs biggest fan, but when he got it right it was fantastic.
10. Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World
I often find myself absently whistling or humming tunes when theres no other music on (a habit I appear to have inherited from my dad). This is one of the tracks whose melody seems to just appear from me in those odd moments and so I feel it has to go on here.
11. The Duritti Column - Otis
24 Hour Party People was a film that really changed my life, I'm sure I would have discovered Factory records at some point but that film brought it all to me in one go. This track is just beautiful, it re-introduced me to the guitar as a a good sound after spending about 2 years totally immersed in electronic music. It's very rarely off my mp3 player these days.
12. Genesis - I Can't Dance
We Can't Dance was the first album I ever bought when I was about 7. Some of the tracks I don't enjoy as much now as I did then, but this ones never really lost it's magic.
13. Garbage - Queer
When I was about 12 I saw a strip tease for the first time on one of those rubbish late night cable TV shows, it was done to this tune, for a 12 year old it was pretty fucking cool. I was a Garbage fan anyway but this track does hold some special memories for me.
14. Trifonic - Transgenic
Even though this was only released in 2008, it hasn't ever really been off my mp3 player since I got a copy so I feel it can count as a classic. The way the sound is constructed listening to it takes me to an outdoor stage at a festival on a sunny afternoon, sitting on the ground having a smoke with freinds. That is a good thing.
15. Joy Division - Transmission
I am a big Joy Division fan, so they had to be included here and this is definately my favourite. It has so much energy, you can just see Ian Curtiss' stare and shuddering limbs as he encourages us all to dance, brilliant.
16. The Prodigy - Diesel Power
The Fat Of The Land was the first bit of music I bought that my Mum thoroughly disapproved of. I could have included any of the tracks from it really, but theres something that gets me everytime when the massive beat comes in from this.
17. The Chemical Brothers - Chemical Beats
I think the thing that really cemented my love for electronic music was Wipeout and its soundtrack, this being my favourite to hoon around to.
18. Mr Scruff - Get A Move On
This is one of those tracks that seems to get everywhere and yet it never gets old. I always have a little smile and bop when I hear it.
19. Duane Eddy - Rebel Rouser
I just love the twang. Such a fun tune. I had the privelidge of seeing Duane at Glastonbury in the summer, it was actually brilliant.
20. Smerins Anti-Social Club - Dr Who
Smerin's are a funk/ska band who were all over Southampton when I was at Uni there. This is their live cover of the Dr Who theme in a dub/ska style. If you ever have the opportunity to see these guys live I seriously recommend it.
21. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)
My parents are big Beatles fans and my dad would often play the Sgt Peppers album at home. Strangley enough this is actually my favourite track from it.
22. Blur - The Universal
This is one of may favourite tracks ever. Such a nice, uplifiting track thats full of so much optimism. I've included here a live recording that was done in Hyde Park 2 years ago, whilst I wasn't there I had seen them the week before close the Pyramid at Glasto with this which was very special.
Registered: Sep 2003
Location: corner of the garden
Oh wow, Dave.
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Nu skal jeg betro dig min hemmelighed. Den er ganske ligetil:
kun med hjertet kan man se rigtigt. Det vęsentlige er usynligt for ųjet.
