I'm looking forward to hearing your mix! Mine is finally winging its way to the gmail account a week late. I blame society.

Fun lists, everyone. I look forward to downloading them using the nice fast connection at work, to which I plan to (FINALLY!!) return on Monday. Assuming I can get a doctor's note by then. I was told in no uncertain terms not to darken their door without that note. Thanks for giving me so much advance notice! Even that would have been fine minus the pissy attitude from the woman in HR... but you guys don't need to hear me whine. Short version: I still think she was out of line, but so what? Gotta let it go. I've already ceded way more space in whatever part of the brain controls aggravation than she merited. (I rewatched this interview to remind me that how I was dealing with the situation was really the problem. If you're at all interested in Buddhism you should watch it. Check out the others, too. Most of them having nothing to do with Buddhism, that's just the one I watched the other day.) Anyway, music...

Corwood, about the "song you'd sing to yourself in a dire situation" you wrote, "This is an interesting category that I could not rise to. I cut my original inadequate choices for time. The songs I chose: why not?" (Your choices were Hüsker Dü – “Celebrated Summer” and RT – “God Loves A Drunk”.) Here's a suggestion: reuse "A Heart Needs a Home". It's already filling a buncha categories, and it's apropos here. Maybe you wouldn't sing it in a dire situation, but it is appropriate because it's one of RT's many spiritual songs in the guise of a love song from that period. "A better life, they say/If I’d never met you," is a comment on his becoming Muslim, not his marrying Linda, "you" being Allah.

I'd also like to point out that RT's "Layla" is not the Eric Clapton song. Clapton's song is famously based on his longing for George Harrison's wife, but the name Layla comes from the Middle Eastern tale of Layla and Majnun, the former the object of the latter's all-consuming love. Apparently it's especially popular in its Persian form, and more specifically in the versions by Sufi poets. RT is a Sufi, and I seem to remember either reading that he had translated some Persian songs or that he introduced a song at a show by saying he translated it. So there's about as much doubt that he was familiar with the tale as he was with EC's song. But even though his "Layla" is written in the form of a myth (whether a retelling of something out of RT's head), none of the versions of Layla & Majnun I found online, in the twenty minutes or so I spent looking -- heavy-duty research! -- seemed like the RT version. Which is a long-winded way of saying they're two different Laylas.

And speaking of "Layla," I've been on a Duane Allman kick lately and found this page about him. Interesting tidbit before I bore you anymore go to bed: he was left-handed but he played right-handed, which could account in part for his sound. I love the guy & will say more about what I've been listening to lately, but it's bedtime. Bon nuit, tout.

Joe! Congrats on returning to work! The liner notes to the RT Box claim that both "Layla"s are from the same myth, but they seem to have completely different foci, so your guess is as good as mine. Perhaps I'll ask The Man about it if I can ever get an interview with him.

Also, I'm sending two of the RT tracks through YouSendIt because they're too long for regular mail. I'm happy to re-send if any interested parties miss the download deadline from YSI.

17. More cowbell: A song containing that essential instrument

Big Star - Holocaust

Jon, my itunes is identifying this track as Big Star - kangaroo. Is it just wrong?

Whoops! You're right Perkins. My bad. I went back and edited.

I've almost got my mix together. Have to listen to it front to back and tweak a little bit. It's all pretty tasty but a little bit earnest. Could use a dash of snark.

1. First song you'd put on a mix for somebody you were attracted to
"Down My Block" - Trip Shakespeare
So many ways to go with this. A bold challenge like..."Cut Your Hair" by Pavement. How I see her? How I see myself? I opted for the giddy feeling of new limerance. And this is one of the giddiest songs I know. Pure pop from that era where power pop slopped over with indie. It well qualifies also for singalong chorus and song that reminds you of first love. In fact, almost all of the songs I picked could do double duty.

2. A song that makes you think of BTVS
"Unsolved Child Murder" - The Auteurs
For that first instance of Dru at the playground at night and the kid waiting for his Mom to pick him up. Other possibilities included "My Insatiable One" by Suede. This is the Auteurs showing an orch-pop Beatles influence. Very melodic. Also qualifies for jauntiness in the face of dire subject.

3. Cross genre cover song
"Bring It On Home To Me - Dixie Chicks
Close harmony country & western cover of soul classic. The Dixie Chicks used to be a quartet before Natalie Maines joined them, and I love those two first albums. I also considered Senor Coconut's collection of latin jazz covers of Kraftwerk here, and Tina Turner's very funky cover of "Whole Lotta Love."

4. Quotes another song
"The Late Late Show" - Clive Kennedy
A 70s novelty cut obviously influenced by that era's fascination with classic Hollywood, and clearly following the Kink's own nostalgia trip reviewing the stars on Hollywood Boulevard. Lots of quotes here, but the musical quote is of Marlene "Falling In Love Again." Love the fat bass and early 70s production.

5. High, drunk, dizzy giddy
"Get It On" - The Woodentops
I have innumerable songs about getting fucked up and considered "Pills" by Bo Diddley and "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down" - Merle Haggard and "Smashed Blocked" by John's Children, but opted for dizzy. This song has always reminded me of spinning around until you're dizzy. When I first heard them they reminded me of the first Feelies album. One recurring motif on this mix is "songs with galloping rhythms.' You will love the Woodentops, I guarantee!

6. Features a Great Bridge
"The Ghost At Number One" - Jellyfish
When I think of a great bridge, I usually think of the big orgasmic release on a particular guitar solo like...Adrian Below on "The Great Curve" or Phil Manzanera on "Ladytron" or John Perry on "Another Girl, Another Planet." But I also think of sixties pop which had tons of great bridges via The Beatles, Beach Boys and Brill Building. I opted instead for a power poppish band, Jellyfish, who had a knack for those deeply pleasurable pop structures and here exhibit a near perfect Brian Wilson style bridge. Not the big wank off bridge, but one that goes in the other direction. Backing of the building song pressure; turning into an idyll.

7. Song released when I turned 21
"Beyond Belief" - Elvis Costello & The Attractions
First song on Imperial Bedroom which came out in 1982. One of his best songs on one of his best albums. I tend to listen to "Shabby Doll" or "Almost Blue" more often though.

8. Song for my nemesis
"My Youngest Son Came Home Today" - Mary Black
For the Bush administration. This song kills me. I wish they could hear it, but they have no ears for this kind of song. It's beautiful too, and qualifies as a song that haunts me as well.

9. Crime song
"Girl on Death Row" - Sanford Clark
The crime is implicit. Or is it that execution of an innocent is the crime? Huh?!? Also, just boggling in its melodrama. That's Duane Eddy on guitar, incidentally and produced by Lee Hazelwood I think.

10. Tribute or Charity Album
"Wishing" - It's OK
My favorite Flock of Seagulls song! (yes, I have a favorite.) From a fundraiser album titled Freedom of Choice about abortion rights. Alternabands cover new wave (continued...)

( continues...) songs. This sounds almost Yo La Tengoish. Love the thick slabs of guitar texture and the heavy bass and the processed vocals.

11. Year in the title
"1983" - The Incredible Moses Leroy
A lovely, strummy indiepop melody smeared with a synthesizer line on top. Again with the galloping rhythms.

12. Song about traveling
"Night Ride to Trinidad" - Robyn Hitchcock
Sounds more like a TMBG song. Like..."Hotel Detective" with its horn charts.

13. Song without guitar or piano
"Top Cat"
Listened to a lot of crime jazz for this, but opted for a short tv theme that compels me to sing along. Love this. Brass, drums and vocals.

14. LiTG
"Meathook" - Hannah Fury
Generally not a fan of the piano girls anymore than I am of the strum dudes, but Hannah Fury's melodies suck me in.

15 Upbeat song about a sad thing
"Saturday Night in the City of the Dead" - Ultravox
Who would've put money that there'd be two Ultravox songs in the first five mixes? This is earlier Ultravox when they weren't so New Romantic. They don't seem particularly sad about being in the city of the dead.

16. Midnight driving in the rain
"Drive Somewhere" - Vulgar Boatmen
A lot of the songs here are shorter because this song is longer. But I knew this was my perfect song for this category. Velvets strum drone over Neu's motorik beat. Ahh, but that makes it sound colder than it is. This is hypnotic and dreamy and glides forever. Some delicate guitar work here too.

17. Cowbell!
"Camel Walk" - Southern Culture On The Skids
Not only cowbell but also punctuated by whipcracks. "Little Debbie, Little Debbie!" An absolutely groovy song that makes JZ and I dance around the kitchen a lot. Also kinky and sort of adorable. JZ says, 'Oatmeal never sounded so dirty."

18. Reminds you of first love
"I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone" - Sleater-Kinney
Most folks are separated by time or distance from their first love. Not me - she's Emmett's godmother, and I talk to her about once a week. She's mostly a soul/urban fan with a big side of disco, but she surprised the hell out of me when she got into S-K. She even bought me a Sleater Kinney shirt.

19. Technology
"Make A Circuit With Me" - The Polecats
Diode, Cathode, electrode, overload. Boz Boorer is the guitarist here and he went on to record many albums with solo Morrissey.

20. Chorus you must sing, or makes you dance
"Let's Go Where The Action" - BMX Bandits
A Boyce & Hart song for the mid sixties TV show hosted by Paul Revere and the Raiders. A perfect garage rock rave up.

21. Starts with a bassline
"New Suit" - Wild Magnolias
Basslines mean funk to me, and this bass pops. Wild Magnolias are part of the whole "Indian" tradition in black neighborhoods of New Orleans. This song is about the year long process involved in creating their fantastic feathered costumes.

22. Science
" Yakko's Universe" - Animaniacs
I also considered "A Victim of Gravity" from the Schoolhouse Rock box.

23. Song to sing to kids or pets
"Whole Heap Of Little Horses" - Kristin Hersh
aka, "All the Pretty Little Horses" Emmett and I would sing along to this song whenever we put a tooth under his pillow because, as I told him, "Fairies like sad songs."

24. Song that haunts you.
Songs 23 and 25 qualify here, as well as 8.

25. Song for a dire situation
'Jesus Help Me To Stand" - Alison Krauss & Union Station
I'm not a Christian, but I did listen to this song quite a lot during my darkest hour. It is about being at the bottom and finding a way to hope.

( continues...) 26. Band with awful name
"I'm A Bad Actor" - Blue Ash
I have worse band names like Edwina Miglet and the Biglets and Breast Secreting Cake, but I didn't want to burden you with their music. I never liked the name Blue Ash, but they're actually a great band. This song is squarely in the Beatles style. Perfect pop.

27. Would stop you from leaving a bar
"Johnny Hit And Run Pauline" - X
There is no way in the world I would leave a bar if X was playing on the jukebox.

They're all up! Hec mix w is actually #2. stupid keyboard

Hec, I have a copy of one of your earlier mixes, and I am trying to figure out the artist on one song. I know the song is "Trust in me". Any idea who the artist is?