Summer Mixes

A few weeks ago, I put out a call on Facebook for friends to send me summer mixes. The basic premise: A compilation of music that feels like summer. Whatever that means. The results are starting to pour in... They are as diverse and wonderful as I expected/hoped. Big thanks to everyone who took part. Enjoy. 

• Paul (aka Real Cosby): Opening with the sweet soul sounds of Darondo, then wandering through hard chilling hip hop, beats and spacey jams. Includes: Madlib, Action Bronson, Blu, Sundrenched, etc. Download "Where did all the cookouts go?" 
• Ray B: Vinyl appreciator, psych-funk aficionado, Graveface employee... This mix goes from dusty rarities like Stark Reality and LA Carnival to classics like Digable Planets and Beastie Boys to old favs like The Ramones and Fugazi. Download "Ray's Summer Mix" 
• John Wenzel: The Denver Post A&E writer and man-about-town delivers a stellar mix of indie/alt-rock stretching from Mark Mulcahy and Matt Pond PA to Of Montreal and Tortoise. Download "John's Summer Mix"
• Johanna (aka Jones): All the way from Berlin comes this bittersweet mix of mostly European gems. An eclectic blend of laidback sounds, includes: Jun Miyake, Die Fantastischen Vier, Feist, Von Konrad and more. Download "Gold of Summer in the Air"
• Mr. Al Pete: One of Jacksonville's preeminent gentlemen of hip hop laces up a 45-minute mix of smooth jams for grown folks. Some real BBQ gems. Download "Summer Splash Mixx"
• Mark Sanders: Writer/skull collector... this one goes from AC/DC and Fleetwood Mac to Father John Misty and Neon Indian. Download "Mark's Summer Mix"
• Ashley Rogers: Any mix that opens with a Shuggie Otis song is serious about everything that matters about summer. Includes: The Beach Boys, Neko Case, Cults, Spoon, etc. Download "Summertimes" 
• My own contribution to this project starts with an invocation from Lee Dorsey and then follows up with some Jimi Hendrix, Raphael Saadiq, Roman GianArthur, Deeee-Lite and more. Download "Patrick's Summer Mix" 
• Jacob Cottingham: Among our nation's most rock n' roll legislative staffers shows up fashionably late with this short-but-sweet selection of new and old, from Billy Joel to Doug Tuttle (Mmoss). Download "Quick Summer Hits 2014"

Bonus material:

• Crystal Ghost (formerly CC/NN) dropped this fun summer mix recently. 
• John Hastings (aka Rumtum) dropped this summer mix via Rabbl. 
• It doesn't get much smoother than this summer mix from DJ Jazzy Jeff and Mick Boogie

Rarities

Four Tet dusts off some material from '97-'01... those were the days...

A Real Adventure

Here is a little mix - or compilation, more aptly - that I've had done for a while but kept forgetting to post. It's a real doozy. Sort of wanders around era and style - some Italian film soundtracks, easy listening, funk, soul, instrumentals, jazz, and beyond. Grab a copy here and buckle your seatbelt.
 
Many thanks to Shorpy for leading me to the above image.

Tracklist for A Real Adventure:

1. 7 Guns 7 Holes - Solal
2. Synthi Waltz - Piero Umiliani
3. Gunslinger - Os Megatons
4. Title Unknown - Armando Sciascia
5. You Showed Me - The Turtles
6. Y la Amo - Santo & Johnny
7. Annie's Theme - Armando Sciascia
8. T Plays it Cool - Marvin Gaye
9. Elegant Soul - Gene Harris & The Three Sounds
10. Good Friends - Wah Wah Watson
11. Polo Pony - Ray Brown
12. Free Angela - Bayete
13. Invention in C Major - Swingle Singers
14. Insidieusement Les Elfes - Vincent Gemignani
15. Soul Makossa - Bill Harris & The Prophets
16. Jamaica Jump Up - Ray Barretto
17. Mother Nature Land - The Rascals

Psychedelic Phinland

This two disc set came out in 2006. I'm not sure whether it's still in print, but if you can find a copy, and you like a weird variety of heavy psychedelic music that is sometimes sung in Finnish, then this might be your jam. This cut "Savu" by Hector and Oscar is one of my favorites, just because it's so mellow, but it's not really representative of the comp as a whole, which stretches from early Pink Floyd influenced (think "Corporal Klegg") to minimalist percussion-driven noise.

Outlet Magazine's Music Issue

This upstart publication celebrating Savannah's creative side just released its third issue with a lovely party over at the Co-Lab. It's the music issue, so, in addition to having a magazine chock full of cool art, there was also a 30 track music compilation featuring an interesting selection of local bands, ranging from downtown regulars to bedroom musicians. The comp was accompanied by a lovely booklet (separate from the actual magazine), where each song was given to a local artist who interpreted it visually.

Here was a song I wasn't familiar with until I heard the mixtape. Now, I am enjoying it very much.
Aux Arc "High Noon"
 
For more info on the new issue of Outlet go here (you can download the pdf of the issue and the compilation booklet, but you need to get an actual copy of a download card in order to get the music comp)