Tuesday, March 18, 2008

The Last Mix

Music has always been a huge part of my life.

I have been making mixed tapes (now mixed CD's) since high school. I always give them titles - Dance Til Dawn, Cruisin' 92, Birdman's Best Unplugged, Sykotic Runner, Reinventing The Lake. The reason behind the titles and the songs picked specifically for the compilation could each fill a blog entry.

Over 90% of the compilations have been for myself. I use mixed CD's to express whatever I'm feeling at that time.

The rest I give away to friends, never keeping a copy.

I have made literally hundreds of them.

There is one mixed CD that I have been working on since 1993 called The Last Mix. My only criteria for entry is if I say "Oh My God. That is the best song I have ever heard in my entire life. Ever."

I then add that song to the mix.

I have promised myself that 1) once a song has been added it can not be deleted, and 2) the day that I fill up that compilation, I will never make a mixed CD again.

From 1993 to the present, I have added 10 songs to that compilation. This afternoon, I am adding an 11th song.

It's a 1995 song by the Jayhawks called Blue. I knew the song back then, but heard it again recently and realized how much I still loved it.

Here's the song - audio only:



If you're wondering what the first 10 songs in The Last Mix are, you'll have to wait. The compilation is less than half filled. I'll publish the details once it's done.

5 comments:

Breezy said...

Well, I don't want you to complete the compilation because that'll mean you won't make another mix CD again. :-(

jason said...

the last mix...goodness that sound ominous.
Nice song...almost sounds like it's from about 1969 or so, not 1995.

Marshall said...

I feel the song is great because it's deceptively simple sounding. The harmony is tough!

Via YouTube, I found quite a few valiant efforts in recreating this song, but there was only one that came even close - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAKukottUEI .

Stuart said...

LOVE that song!!

While my knowledge of music pales in comparison, I too have been in the habit of making mixed tapes, then CDs for a while. Usually giving them away, so each is unique.

This Jayhawks song happens to be on a list of songs that I pull from now and again when making a playlist. My goal is to include mostly new songs when I start out, but I find myself compelled to place one, maybe two, gems from the past. Funny.

Marshall said...

I do the same thing, Stuart. Other artists I pull from include Matthew Sweet, and Matthew Penn, Badfinger.