Yes, I also know today’s title is also close to the name of one of the blogs I follow . . . but so be it.
There are two reasons for today’s post:
First: I have been a bit, if not totally depressing and morose and I just don’t think that’s a fair picture of myself. Yes, I’ve had a hard time. Yes, I still have to go Saturday to the monument company and empty my bank account. But no, I’m not a tittering ball of depressed exposition all the time.
Second: I found an amazing gift item and it ties in with a thing from my past…and a frustration I have with music today.
So the gift item: a company called Suck UK (I didn’t pick the name, but I like it!) has some of the most amazing gift items. If you haven’t looked at them you should. They’re reasonably priced, do the currency exchange for you, and just cool. On their site I found this:
So my challenge to you all . . . think about what you’d do for a mix tape! I don’t want you to think about what you want people to think you listen to. Think about what you’d send to your best friend; to the girl you’ve had your eye on; to the friend who has held your hand or given you a shoulder at your lowest. That is what these always were. When you didn’t have a ton of cash but wanted to give of yourself, you gave music. It showed you put thought, effort, time and soul into your choices. While this doesn’t make you time it all out and hope you hit the end of the mylar just before that leader splice slips over the heads . . . you still have to do the work. Why? Because a computer tries to put everything in alphabetical order, so you put the order together, write it out, import the songs, and put a playlist together. Then you have to rename and number the songs so that they are there . . . for your recipient in the order you want them to listen.
A great tape tells a story. It tells an emotion and takes the listener on a journey.
This one is on the way to the same friend who got the video of my kids and I singing a Tom Petty song. Why? She deserves it! I enjoy it . . . and we all love her.
There are alternative versions of old songs:
Changes by Cat Stevens…but performed by Santana
Powerful Stuff by the Fabulous Thunderbirds, because every tape needs 1 Jimmie Vaughan presence
But there are also new songs that have soul:
I’ll Find My Way by Derek Trucks
Falling Slowly by The Swell Season
Don’t Let Me Slide by Tedeschi Trucks
But there’s a bigger mission from me here. Last year I posted about things I lost – things that Andrea took with her when she passed away. It was like a thief snuck into my head and stole some of the best and most emotional things that I’d brought to our relationship. Songs that I loved and listened to constantly are now sources of horror and sadness for me. I hope they aren’t somewhere down the road, and to that end, I’m giving them to friends in order to get them back
Holy Mother by Eric Clapton – a beautiful song I hate her for taking because I’ve always loved it. But it’s too close to home now.
Life Without You by Stevie Ray Vaughan – I love that song and SRV has always been close to my heart, but now I can’t even listen to the song.
But more than anything else, it’s a chance to just tell a friend or loved one you’re thinking of them and show them how. Today, where we are auto-tuned, fame seeking, and crazy, it’s good to see things like interviews with Derek Trucks and know he won a Grammy for his record that is recorded analog an no auto-tune and see how he notices the difference at the ceremony between those who love the process and the music and those who love the attention.
We’re a house filled with music and always have been. From before they were born all my kids heard me play guitar or heard us listen to others play. It’s nice to know that, after all this time, you can still share a mixtape.
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I love a mix tape! I still have one a boy sent me around 1987. He wanted me to appreciate Pink Floyd. He even wrote in parenthesis how to listen to each song…”at night…outside and under the stars.” You have to LOVE that and the time it took to make it. I have recreated two I made onto my itunes account. It makes me smile to see the songs in the exact same order. Great post.
Oh, Floyd is amazing! My favorite, though, has always been the Wish You Were Here LP. It’s just such a great tell. From the wine-glass intro from Shine On You Crazy Diamond to the title track and “Have a Cigar”. Just well done.
But yes, I loved mix tapes. I made them for Andrea and I’m really keen on this whole thing. I bought three of these and sent the one pictured off last week.
Well, I even make “CD” for girlfriends and they all make fun of me! I don’t care! Everyone should have calypso Christmas music added to their holiday mix and if you don’t know “The Wood Brothers” or Johnny Flynn” well you can’t listen to Mumford and Sons and act like you do. 😉
This post really makes me smile! It also reminds me to turn the music back on. It’s been off for too long. Thank you!
Then I have accomplished something, Shannon! My house is always filled with music. Not that it wasn’t before but now we have it as an everyday part, the stereo going, old vinyl, and sharing the new version of mixed tapes! Don’t be afraid to sing out loud and dance crazily. Right now your son will join in. It’s only later you threaten to do it to embarrass your kids!