OK, so here is the tracklist so far. The CD is full now, so anything else that goes on has to be a substitution. It's kind of like a more fun version of Sophie's Choice.
1. Space Oddity - David Bowie
2. Tell Me Why I Don't Like Mondays - Booomtown Rats
3. Alright - Supergrass
4. Park Life - Blur
5. Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones
6. Babies - Pulp
7. Hanging on the Telephone - Blondie
8. Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
9. Psycho Killer - Talking Heads
10. Take Me Out - Franz Ferdinand
11. I Fought The Law - The Clash
12. Step On - Happy Mondays
13. Signed, Sealed, Delivered - Stevie Wonder
14. Surfin' USA - The Beach Boys
15. Mr Tambourine Man - Bob Dylan
16. The Boxer - Simon & Garfunkel
17. I'm Only Sleeping - The Beatles
18. Me and Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin
19. Teenage Kicks - The Undertones
20. Another Brick In The Wall - Pink Floyd
So tell me, where did I go wrong? Deadline for the final version is this weekend. Remember, no additions, only substitutions, so you've got to tell me what to take out as well as put in...
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26 comments:
Glad to see "Park Life"; I did think of that --- afterwards.
Interesting to see two covers; personally, I'd stick to originals, but you know your nephew.
ooh, good cd. Can I have a copy?!
I'd bin babies, and sub in Common People if you want Pulp. Or an Oasis track, as given the histoire, it seems somewhat one-sided to have Blur without Oasis as a counterbalance. It could be good to do Country House vs Roll With, for example. But then park Life is a classic. gah. This is hard! Maybe Supersonic. I'd say Cigarettes and Alcohol, but that prob wouldn't be too popular with the parents, and Wonderwall is a bit girly.
Gosh, I'm so uneducated. Which are the covers? Me and Bobby McGee and Mr Tambourine Man? Is that right?
Jess, I thought that Babies was more lyrically appealing to a 11-year-old than Common People, but you could be right. But I really don't like Oasis much so that's why there's none on there.
"Me and Bobby McGee" was written by Kris Kristofferson, but I don't remember his version. I remember Gordon Lightfoot's version which I think predates the Joplin version, but I'm pretty sure the song is older than that...
My favourite song by Janis Joplin (that is, actually written by her) is "Move Over". Don't know if an eleven-year-old boy would like that.
"I Fought the Law and the Law Won" is an old song, from the late fifties. I think Johnny Rivers recorded it in the sixties, but I don't think that's the famous recording, although it's been covered umpteen times.
"Mr. Tambourine Man" is definitely Dylan, it's "Blowing in the Wind" that's the controversial one...
I'm with you on Oasis, but agree with Jessica about Pulp.
Absolutely with you on Oasis. They are rubbish and you have a Beatles track (and a damn fine one). No need for the Gallaghers.
Babies is great... Mishapes would be good as well.
I'd swap Brown Sugar for Jumpin' Jack Flash, and Psycho Killer for Road to Nowhere, for similar lyrical reasons.
Fine list Marie - hard to see any major gaps.
For Blur I thought of Song 2 rather Parklife.
I would not have gone for The Boomtown Rats - 2-hit wonders. Something by the Jam would have more cred: Eton Rifles?
Not convinced about Pulp in this case. Maybe the White Stripes should be represented - 7 Nation Army.
Hmm, Surfin USA for the Beachboys. It's difficult, because they are truly wonderful, but I didn't appreciate them until way beyond 11. What about California Dreamin' instead?
I went for 'I Don't Like Mondays' because of the school theme. I wanted to pick a few songs which show how pop music can express the way that you feel inside. See also: 'Another Brick in the Wall'.
Psycho Killer is on there because I thought he'd like the fa-fa-fa-fa-fa bits.
The rest of the comments are being ruminated upon...
Alun, just to clarify, you know that "California Dreamin'" is the Mama and the Papas, not the Beach Boys, right?
Oh BLOODY HELL!!! California Dreaming is my first date song with my husband... But I also like Monday Monday. And on a Monday theme... I don't like Mondays was when I fell in love with Bob Geldof aged about 23. Good choice Marie, and I'm with you on the antischool theme, so Another Brick in the Wall is another very good choice. Actually can't see much to disagree with here. Hope he likes it anyway!!!
sorry I meant aged about 13, I am NOT THAT OLD....
Well there's a coupe of tracks I don't know, like the Franz Ferdinand, so I don't know what I'd swap out but I would swap in "Boys don't cry". Surfing USA should stay though. Bit unhelpful, sorry!
Poor kid.
Hmm not sure I'm would go with this tracklisting. All classics and no mistake, but surely this is our (Marie and readers) musical education, rather than that of an 11 year old living in 2008 (born in 1997 presumably - eek).
While nobody wants him slavishly following the charts, would this tape help make him someone with a good sense of what's musically current and interesting, which is more than just the charts of course, or someone who knows what was popular 30-40 years ago?
Incidentally, if we're exluding Oasis because they're rubbish, then Blondie and Happy Mondays have to go too (as would the rest if they were still together / alive). They were far and away the most influential guitar band of the last 15 years, and the fact that their current output isn't a shadow on old albums doesn't change that.
I see you point, Matt, but I don't really know much about the modern music of today. Not enough to make a proper mix tape of modern classics anyway. And more to the point, he can get that from his peers and the radio. This is the equivalent to the tape my sister's boyfriend made me when I was 8. Nothing much contemporary on their either, but started me down the road to being a music lover, and some of the tracks on there are still all-time faves.
Anonymous - I'm giving it to him but he doesn't have to listen to it! He can always use the disc as a coaster / miniature frisbee.
If you really want to keep the School theme running through it, you could do worse than Baggy Trousers; if he were a bit older House of Fun would also speak to the way he was starting to feel inside...
PS I seconfd (or third or wherever we've got to) Common People, but stick to your guns with Parklife. I prefer Tender, but Parklife is more iconic and probably more 11 year old accessible.
i think he should love it! it's way better than any of the Now That's What I Call a Pile of Dodgy Pop Tunes compilation albums i was given by aunts & uncles in the 80s.
Whether or not the tunes are exactly the 'right' (?) ones by each artist/band, i don't think any of them would put him off the artists/bands in question - i reckon he should be interested enough to seek out their other stuff as and when he's ready.
The only thing i can't not say is that i would pick God Only Knows instead of Surfin' USA - immense tune! But then i'm not 11 - that might be one for his later teens.
Baggy Tousers! That's a such a good call, and a different style of music too. Damn. What's going to have to give way for Baggy Trousers?
Things I forgot to mention re Oasis is that I only have their first album of tape and I'm damned if I am spending money downloading more Oasis. That's the real reson it's not going on there.
Maybe 'Step On'?
How about smoke on the water by deep purple and hotel California by the eagles? Ok, i don't know what you can replace.
Why that choice of Beatles song? I'd go for something a bit better known.
I absolutely loved Paperback Writer when I was about 11-12. Good lyrics, and also slightly appropriate coming from auntie marie?
All my Beatles is on vinyl except Revolver, and you can't download any, so I only have a very limited choice. Though if somebody wanted to e-mail me Paperback Writer... ;-)
Ah Madness... mine ALL love Madness, but the one they love most is Driving in My Car.
And they also loved pretty much everything by Gorillaz.
Oh and I've also just thought of Friday I'm in Love by the Cure, but maybe for when he's a proper teen??
But you see I am utterly useless, cos I can't make a proper suggestion about what you would lose...
Another boost for Common People. Get hold of Paperback Writer, yes, how hard can it be. Prefer the KK Me and BM, but I think it's not perfect for an eleven year old, and I think Driving in My Car should replace it. easy to add, hard to subtract: I would say that Psycho Killer and Take Me Out are the places where you might be losing him, obviously not for quality reasons. Maybe Happy Mondays too. Boomtown Rats - iconic songs have a place in the educative process, surely. Given their place, the one band I think is missing: Queen. Another One Bits the Dust, maybe? I have a meeting. (Don't Look Back in Anger. Never much got into Oasis, but I really like the song.)
No suggestions from me I'm afraid, but how about putting the finished article here: http://muxtape.com
Fair points Marie. I make them more because i'm less into cool older music and more into uncool slightly newer but new enough to be cool music myself.
I am going to be *fascinated* to hear if he likes it. Can he post a comment on this board once he's had a chance to get into it?
Well OBVIOUSLY I back putting Pulp in, and yeah I think CP rather than Babies may work better on this list. Much as I love Dylan and the Beatles, I don't think either track works especially well. Paperback Writer should be worth seeking out for the latter, and I'd be inclined to go for something else from Dylan ... though not sure what though...
Much as I loved Blondie, perhaps logically that's the space for Baggy Trousers...?
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