Seems I only blog only once a year now. The summer mix brings me out of hiatus. I can’t quite list all the tracks and thoughts on each in 140 characters or less.
It is funny how mixes come together. Without realizing it I mixed in a good dose of the Crescent City. Some of it is obvious like New Orleans’ own Anders Osborne and Kermit Ruffins. They came first then I started looking for songs to wrap around those. Then I realized how much I really miss Dad, being young, long road trips, and my special lady friend… before I knew it, references to the Big Easy were sprinkled all over.
Summer Mix 2014: Wheels of Summer
1) Sundown, Gordon Lightfoot. OBX is calling me for a August visit. I can’t wait to watch a few sunsets, among other things: Cool breezes, beverages, and a bevy of summer time blues.
2) Call Me the Breeze, JJ Cale. Well, what do they call you? I have new swim trunks and a snap back with birds. Shall I get a tank top? Call me the “Breeze”.
3) Got Me A Woman, Levon Helm. Exclamation points all around on this track off an album the late Levon Helm won a Grammy for. No monkeys were harmed in the making of this year’s mix.
4) Ramblin’ Man, Allman Brothers. “I’m on my way to New Orleans this mornin’. Headed out of Nashville, Tennessee.” I’ve been rambling’ my entire life it seems. It suits me. There are too many places to see, too many shortcakes to eat.
5) Cruise, Florida Georgia Line featuring Nelly. I may lose some cred on this one. So what?! Turn the radio up! What’s wrong with “long tanned legs” poppin’ up out of the south Georgia water? It’s a pure summer song.
6) Heard It In A Love Song, Marshall Tucker Band. This is a road tested track that has gotten plenty of air play on my summer trips. Plus the reference in the previous track mandated it be added.
7) Smokin’ with Some Barbecue, Kermit Ruffins. C’mon! Don’t you light up the BBQ grill every night of the week during summertime? I’ve been doing it since I was 10.
8) Since June, Eric Lindell. Lindell has become a regular on the summer mix. But what’s up with all the Tuesdays on the tour schedule this year?!
9) Summertime in New Orleans, Anders Osborne. This tune takes me back to my childhood in Slidell. There’s not a better song that encapsulates summer to me than this one: Dad taking us fishing in the canals around Lake Pontchartrain, shrimp boils in the kitchen, Jazz, long lazy days… riding bicycles to the edge of the world.
10) Margaritaville, Sammy Hagar featuring Toby Keith. “Some people think that there’s a woman to blame. But I don’t. It’s my own damn fault.” ‘Nough said.
11) Wagon Wheel, Old Crow Medicine Show. What a great road song! I Love Darius Rucker’s cover of this song too but had to add the original for the mix.
12) Honky Tonk Women, Rolling Stones. Not that I have much experience with women of the honky tonk variety but I just thought this track worked really well after OCMS. Want more cow bell? Google it.
13) Watch the Wind Blow By, Tim McGraw. Continuing to get my country groove on with this mega hit from Tim McGraw written by Anders Osborne (the twist for this year’s mix). “All I wanna do is watch the wind blow by”. I realize this track references fall moving into winter but I think this is really a summer song.
14) So Into You, Atlanta Rhythm Section. “So Into You” felt so right after the Tim McGraw tune. I like the groove.
15) So Hard to Find My Way, Jackie Greene. This track is actually the last track of summer for me. I’m still finding my way but aren’t we all?
So there you have it. Only 15 tracks for the official mix of summer. And it’s short too, less than 60 minutes. I intended to build a good base groove anyone can play with. Add your favorite road songs and have at it. Post your changes, adds, subtracts, and remarks to our comments. Links to the mix online follow:
Happy Summer. Cheers!
