When I was a kid, we used to make mix tapes of our favourite songs and hand them around.
Most of my friends would just put on music, usually top 40 crap, but I went that little bit extra and added my own personal intros and commentaries between songs. I played old 50s and 60s classics and used “THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT” as my theme song. I was also known for my commentary on current events and personal digs at my listeners, aka my friends.
I guess my style mirrored that of Christian Slater’s character Hard Harry in the film PUMP UP THE VOLUME (still one of my favourite films).
Since then we have had the CD revolution, and it seemed that the days of the classic TDK mixed tape were far behind us. The biro pen-smudged cardboard inlay with spelling mistakes would be no more.
Ohh the days…
MIXED TAPE: The SECOND COMING…
Recently I was with two of my best friends in their car, after spending some time together doing our regular coffee ritual at MacDonald’s, when I commented on their awesome mixed song selection that was playing. It was only a small EP sized selection but the mix was so extreme, obscure and diverse and consisted of:
01. Puff The Magic Dragon – Peter, Paul & Mary
02. C’mon n Ride It (The Train) – Quad City DJs
03. Saltwater – Julian Lennon
04. The Neverending Story – Limahl
05. Sympathy For The Devil – The Rolling Stones
06. Paint It Black – The Rolling Stones
Because it was such a breath of fresh air, I commended them on their awesome and original song selection. They in turn removed the CD from the car stereo and gave it to me. With that moment, the MIXED TAPE revolution was reborn. My friends passed the gauntlet and now, it was my duty – the mighty quest – to return the gesture and soon go to work on my own MIXED CD for my friends and the world to enjoy. When I started to compile my MIXED CD, unlike my tapes which were usually themed based, this compilation would be based on “one off” songs that I just loved hearing in the car or the office. Whether they be novelty songs, fast songs, songs with a beat, one hit wonders or songs from established artists that simply made me feel good about myself. I saw this as a way for my friends to get an understanding about what kind of person I was.
Brainsnappingly, I called it my “ONE OFFS” collection.
The problem was, when I was finished, I had enough for two CDs.
CD 1: One Offs Volume One
01. I Make Hamburgers – The Whitlams
02. Crazy – Gnarles Berkley
03. Dizzy – Vic Reeves & The Wonderstuff
04. One Week – Barenaked Ladies
05. The Man Song – Sean Morey
06. Detachable Penis – King Missile
07. Smooth – Rob Thomas & Carlos Santana
08. Great Song Of Indifference – Bob Geldolf
09. The Ballad Of Tom Jones – Space
10. Slice Of Heaven – Dave Dobbin
11. Cows With Guns – Dana Lyons
12. The Way – Fastball
13. Dice – Finlay Quayle
14. Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) – Green Day
15. A Kind Of Magic – Queen
16. I’m A Scat Man – Scatman John
17. Across The Universe – Fiona Apple
18. Starlight – Superman Lovers
19. Gay Eskimo – Tenacious D
20. The Music Goes Round My Head – The Saints
CD 2: One Offs Volume Two
01. Thank You – The Whitlams
02. Superstition – Stevie Wonder
03. Nutbush City Limits – Ike & Tina Turner
04. Ca Plane Pour Moi – Plastic Bertrand
05. Building A Mystery – Sarah McLaughlin
06. The Animal Song – Savage Garden
07. If It Makes You Happy – Sheryl Crowe
08. Follow Me – Uncle Cracker
09. My Brave Face – Paul McCartney
10. Pinch Me – Barenaked Ladies
11. Rush – Big Audio Dynamite
12. Not Ready To Make Nice – Dixie Chicks
13. Fast As You Can – Fiona Apple
14. Tusk – Fleetwood Mac
15. Welcome To The Black Parade – My Chemical Romance
16. The Joker And The Thief – Wolfmother
CD 3: One Offs Volume Three If I were to make it, it would most likely contain:
01. Devil Went Down To Georgia – Charlie Daniels Band
02. Town Without Pity – Gene Pitney
03. Proud Mary / Fortunate Son – CCR
04. Shout (parts 1 & 2) – Johnny O’Keefe
05. Smooth Criminal – Michael Jackson / Alien Ant Farm
06. If I can Dream – Elvis Presley
57 i n t e r p r e t e d w i s d o m
07. Tribute – Tenacious D
08. Star Trekkin – The Firm
09. Sex Bomb – Tom Jones
10. Stutter Rap – Morris Minor & The Majors
11. Supreme – Robbie Williams