Any Major Dude With Half A Heart

It has been a while since the last New York City mix. Depending on how well this one goes down, I think I might have another in me. The photo that illustrates this post comes from a beautiful series of colour photos of New York in the 1940s from the Charles W Cushman collection.

TRACKLISTING
1. Conor Oberst – NYC – Gone, Gone (2008)
2. Lou Reed – NYC Man (1996)
3. Steely Dan – Daddy Don’t Live In That New York City No More (1975)
4. Chicago - Saturday In The Park (1972)
5. Candi Staton – Nights On Broadway (1977)
6. Bob & Earl - Harlem Shuffle (1963)
7. Brecker Brothers – East River (1978)
8. Billy Joel - Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway) (1981)
9. A-ha – Manhattan Skyline (1987)
10. Dar Williams - The Hudson (2005)
11. The Avett Brothers – Famous Flower Of Manhattan (2006)
12. The Statler Brothers – New York City (1970)
13. Steeleye Span feat. Peter Sellers – New York Girls (1975)
14. Belle & Sebastian – Piazza, New York Catcher (2003)
15. The Moldy Peaches – NYC’s Like a Graveyard (1997)
16. Fountains Of Wayne – Red Dragon Tattoo (1999)
17. Thomas Dybdahl – One Day You’ll Dance For Me, New York City (2004)
18. Suzanne Vega – Ludlow Street (2007)
19. Art Garfunkel – A Heart In New York (1981)
20. Horace Silver – Summer In Central Park (1973)
21. Sammy Davis Jr. – New York’s My Home (1956)
22. Bette Davis – Turn Me Loose On Broadway (1952)

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NYC – Any Major Mix Vol. 1
NYC – Any Major Mix Vol. 2
NYC – Any Major Mix Vol. 3 – New York in Black & White

For the less cynically inclined, here is my second Christmas mix. Some of the featured songs here are quite brilliant. Donny Hathaway’s This Christmas is a contender for the greatest seasonal song ever (my nephew rates Ron Sexsmith’s song as his all-time Christmas favourite Christmas). Rosie Thomas’ offering is my favourite this year, and by rights it will become a seasonal classic (listen to her very lovely album here). Lou Rawls, Otis Redding and the Temptation all do something quite special with their respective classic songs. But Christmas is a bit cheesy, and a good mix needs songs one would otherwise not wish to hear.  Including the ghastly Dana here is a bit like bringing Ayn Rand to your Socialist Workers Christmas Party. But where Ayn Rand was a vastly overrated writer (or, indeed, intellect), Dana does pretty well with her song, which owes everything to the sound of early Abba. And I still delight in instantly earworming a former colleague with Here Comes Santa Claus, from the classic Phil Spector Christmas album, just by menioning it.

This is all from me before Christmas. Next week I’ll consider my favourite blogs of the year. Have a joyful Christmas all!

TRACKLISTING
1. Twisted Sister – Deck The Halls
2. Smashing Pumpkins – Christmastime
3. Donnie Hathaway – This Christmas
4. Lou Rawls – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
5. Rosie Thomas – Why Can’t It Be Christmas Every Day
6. Colbie Caillat – Mistletoe
7. The Weepies - All That I Want
8. Ron Sexsmith – Maybe This Christmas
9. They Might Be Giants - Santa’s Beard
10. Belle & Sebastian - Christmas Time Is Here
11. Nicole Atkins – Blue Christmas
12. Carpenters – Merry Christmas Darling
13. Kylie Minogue – Santa Baby
14. Bruce Springsteen - Santa Claus is Coming To Town
15. Dana - It’s Gonna Be A Cold Christmas
16. BB Jeans & the Bobby Sox – Here Comes Santa Claus
17. Gerry & The Pacemakers – All I Want For Christmas
18. Jackson Five - Give Love On Christmas Day
19. Otis Redding - White Christmas
20. The Temptations - Silent Night
21. Aaron Neville – O Little Town Of Bethlehem
22. Lisa Loeb - Jingle Bells
23. The Young Republic - Merry Christmas Again…

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Any Major X-Mas Mix Vol. 1

Boston Camerata – A Renaissance Christmas

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