Dear JZ,

DO NOT.

Me

Boing Boing linked to a mashup project of Xmas songs, so I downloaded, then zipped them up into two convenient YSI links:

Santasia II: Clausome Part 1 Santasia II: Clausome Part 2

Yo, musicistas.

I am working on a frankenmix and I need some ideas for songs that feature good harmonica solos. Any thoughts are appreciated.

At the moment, all I can think of are artists that use the harmonica a lot - Neil Young, Stevie Wonder, a bunch of bluegrass dudes. But no individual songs.

I did think of "Middle of the Road" because I love that Hynde plays the harmonica herself - but I don't know if I want to put that on the mix. Anyway. Thanks.

edit: While I am asking, does anyone have an mp3 of "Sometime to Return" by Soul Asylum? My long-neglected copy of the CD is totally scratched and it fits another category perfectly.

and I need some ideas for songs that feature good harmonica solos. Any thoughts are appreciated.

Anything with Little Walter should work. He's the best.

Also, Magic Dick with the J. Geils Band was a bit of an underrated genius on the instrument.

Bob Dylan plays the blues harp, of course.

Anything by Toots Thielman. He did do a version of the Sesame Street Theme that's pretty rocking.

Chaka Khan's "I Feel For You" has a great harmonica solo by Stevie.

Anybody have a good version of "Carol of the Bells" they want to post at BR?

I nabbed a nice brass version from the Pittsburgh Symphony, but I'd like a choral version with, you know, bells.

Hmmm, I organized all my xmas songs together and changed their genre to "Christmas" on iTunes and then made a smart playlist of it and put it on random.

Which is making me hear a bunch of songs I'd missed or overlooked before. So let me report:

"Blow Northern Wind" by Mediaeval Babes is gorgeous.

"Surfer's Holiday" by Annette is a catchy tune.

"Toyland" by Leon Redbone is dreamy.

"Precious Child" by Tony Trischka is fantastic bluegrass. Actually, I know that one, and I think I posted it with Wintergrace.

Thanks, Hec. (I really enjoyed the Matilda pics you posted earlier in Natter - such big eyes, such a pretty and inquisitive-looking baby.)

To fill a different category I have been listening to Dwight Yoakam all evening trying to pick my favorite of his uber-neo-Bakersfield country songs. I freaking LOVE Dwight Yoakam. His old stuff, his new stuff. It's all so good. I have always wanted to see him live and have never made the effort. I should.

edit: I wish I liked Holiday music. But... I just don't. Your mixes always sound lovely, though.

I freaking LOVE Dwight Yoakam.

Dwight rocks. I particularly love his Roy Orbison bits like "Thousand Miles From Nowhere" - probably more than his Buck Owens stuff.

He used to play with X and Los Lobos!

Did you see this baby picture?

Or this one? (Matilda's Buddy Hacket impression)

How about Emmett and the Little Wooden Boy of Love? (A special for Tick fans. A summer camp wood shop project he did for his own amusement two years ago.)

Now Playing: Shorty Rogers west coast jazz version of the Nutcracker. "The Swingin' Plum Fairy" is a favorite. Mostly played on stand-up bass.

The Buddy Hackett is priceless. All the bathtub ones are nuclear bombs of cuteness.

He used to play with X and Los Lobos!

I know! I have been reading up on him this evening. Such a rebel. And that voice. Mmmm.

I downloaded (emusic) and have been listening to his 2003 album Population Me for the last hour - it was first album (I think) after he left Reprise. It's very good. Lots of variety in instruments (accordians!) and Willie for at least one song.

I was going to suggest Willie for the harp. I'm positive there's a Spoon song with a harmonica solo, too, but I can't think of which one, offhand.