One Hell Of A Play list

*Not one of my actual tapes

When I was a kid in the 80s my Dad used to go to Chicago, Rochester and Minnesota on business.  He used to go to a music store called Sam Goody on these trips as he's a music nerd at heart.  He found they had a unique offering in that they had jukebox style kiosks where you could select single tracks and compile your very own compilation cassette.

I remember my brother and I giving him a few artist names like LL Cool J and Beastie Boys and he'd come back with a few of their tracks along with 12 other tracks hand picked from top 40 lists posted in those kiosks.  It was years beyond its time and unique to this one retailer.

It seems so long ago when you look how readily available music is today.  From Napster, LimeWire, BearShare, The Pirate Bay and more - music was unleashed in the early 90s and is only now seeing legit services that are fair for all (IMHO) parties.  Or at least as fair as it can be seeing where it's just come from.  I have to state that I'm all for the artists and the people behind the music getting paid as I see first hand each day how much work needs to go in to allow listeners the joy it brings.  I welcome any model that does just that.

Play lists have always been a big part of my life.  From mixed tapes for girls to CD burns for the car and running play lists on my iPods - they've always been carefully planned and built.  In today's version you can change it on the fly whereas when you made a cassette or CD compilation it was set in stone.  They're also a lot more disposable so when you make one you had better think it through in order to make it count.

Naming them is another story - but it's the front door to the music so go BIG.  Here's my latest masterpiece (IMHO).

• One Hell Of A Play list

Enjoy!

Gregg

A Couple Of Jams For The Weekend

It's the weekend, it's sunny outside and time to relax.  I always find that the best way to do just that is with some great music.  There's a lot of great stuff out there right now and so I thought I'd share a few recommendations with you.

Here you go...

Major Laser - 'Get Free'

I heard this track earlier in the week via Trevor Nelson's show on Radio 1 and have played it about 50 times since.  It's available on the band's site for free - I highly recommend you grab it while you can.  It also comes with a remix version.

The Lumineers - 'Ho Hey'

Very much in step with the likes of Mumford & Sons and East Coast music at this time.  This album is in my iTunes but not listed other than as #s.  Each time it comes on I have to check and see who it is - because it's that great.  Check this beauty out!

deadmau5 - 'Veldt'

From what I was told deadmau5 posted this music bed on his site recently and a fan wrote and sang lyrics to it.  He then sent it back to deadmau5.  deadmau5 thought it was perfect and didn't change a thing.  He released it as is giving credit to the fan Chris James.  I love this one those kind of stories and this track is beautiful.  Sounds like Owl City over a fantastically dreamy beat (in a good way)

The week came to an end with terrible news that Adam Yauch, aka MCA, of the Beastie Boys had passed.  He'd been battling cancer for a while now - but still the news of anyone's passing is always a shocker.

Beastie Boys had just been inducted to The Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.  Well deserved indeed as they're pioneers that paved the way for Hip Hop into the mainstream.  The music will live on and I'm sure that the surviving members will continue to create.

This was my favourite tune by the Beastie Boys as a kid.  Respect.

Beastie Boys - 'Paul Revere' from Licence To Ill in 1986

Thanks for the great music.  Rest in Peace.

Gregg