During Covid I created a Quarantine Metal Run ("mixtape" playlist on Apple) for running. The selected track titles were perfectly themed for living through a plague, during a lockdown, in a surveillance state:
Mixtapes....even the word is an anachronism these days. To this day, I tell my family to "tape the game" if I can't make it home in time (even though it's just a DVR). With the advent of instant-gratification-streaming its almost impossible for the younger generation (or for that matter, the generation older than us too) to fully comprehend "the work" that went into a mixtape...if you were rich you had "a dubber" (two tape decks) but most of the time I was plugging in random wires into AUX and pressing "PHONO" or "OUTPUT" to make it work....and boy was it work....especially if you were waiting to record the song on the radio! Later, with CDs, mixtapes became easier but it sort of felt like cheating. Come to think of it, the mixCD didn't take off as much as the mixtape - I believe- b/c there was respect for 'the work' that it took to make the mixtape. And yes, I made too many to count. I remember loving the more expensive black Maxell tapes with 60 mins ON EACH SIDE. I remember around 1991 asking a college "friend" (who later became my wife) to "just record the radio station KROQ in Pasadena/LA" knowing that I'd get a full tape of "new music" that I hadn't heard in Texas. KROQ was the legendary "Alternative" radio station in Pasadena/LA that spit out DJs like Richard Blade (still remember Richard Blade's flash back lunch), Adam Corolla, Dr Drew started off doing a night show on KROQ called Loveline, etc. Anyways, thats the last "mix tape" I remember.....all the cool music from the LA radio station. I remember hearing Chili Peppers, The The, Big Audio Dynamite, Pearl Jam, Oingo Boingo, Social Distortion, Depeche Mode, The Cure and Violent Femmes all on one taped recording of live radio. It was a revelation to me that all of these great bands could be on a single radio station. Only on clear days could we occasionally pick up Dallas's "The Edge" (which played "alternative" but wasn't as hip as KROQ in LA) from deep in the piney woods of East Texas.
Apr 29, 2023·edited Apr 29, 2023Liked by Tyler Jorgensen
I saw my dad cut his own hair once while driving. My dad had a bad haircut. I had never heard of Material Issue until seeing this and love that song. Now onto that album. Their bio said the lead singer committed suicide via carbon monoxide poisoning in a garage with his moped. The moped specificity seemed like an odd detail to include in the bio when they could’ve just said he took his own life. Sad regardless. Thanks for sharing this with me!
I had so many mixtapes growing up. My initial reaction to your question though was a tape a friend made for me in high school and although there were a lot of songs on it the one that sticks out the most in my mind is Drive by The Cars. Also, I remember making mix minidiscs. That format was so cool, but just didn’t last. I think we had a very similar musical upbringing, except my dad’s go to car songs were either Israeli folk music or The Gypsy Kings.
What’s on my “mixtape” now? Frank Turner is in constant rotation, and there are too many songs to highlight just one. I really should try to see if I can narrow down a good mix because my digital streaming playlists are extremely long. And like you just did, I should be able to make some tough song choices. I’ll try to make a short list for you here. I’m thinking about you, your fellowship, and just wanting to share some great songs when choosing these:
Apr 28, 2023·edited Apr 28, 2023Liked by Tyler Jorgensen
Oh yeah, as to your questions:
1) I remember listening to the radio all day at my grandparents house recording a near Beatles anthology as it was played as part of some extensive special on The Beatles. (don't know if this technically meets Mixtape criteria but it's what comes to mind).
2) Mixtape songs right now: Tropic Morning News, The National; Never Going Back Again, Fleetwood Mac; Dance Yrself Clean, LCD Soundsystem; Purple Hat, Sofi Tukker.
Love this post! Can't wait to read the stories that accompany your chosen songs for this Pallimed Mixtape. Glad you're out there doing this meaningful and fulfilling work. Even though I've never met your dad, I kinda feel like I've been on a road trip with him somewhat from your description of him reaching over with his right hand to have someone hand him a snack while keeping his eyes on the road. That image has always stuck with me. Keep telling us your great stories brother.
Heck yeah, Beau. You pretty much have been on a road trip with him with all the drives you and I made together back in med school. A legendary road warrior. Thanks for the kind words this morning!
During Covid I created a Quarantine Metal Run ("mixtape" playlist on Apple) for running. The selected track titles were perfectly themed for living through a plague, during a lockdown, in a surveillance state:
Creeping Death (Metallica)
Fear of the Dark (Iron Maiden)
Seek & Destroy (Metallica)
Run to the Hills (Iron Maiden)
Fight Fire w/Fire (Metallica)
Wasted Years (Iron Maiden)
You've Got Another Thing Coming (Judas Priest)
Ride the Lightning (Metallica)
Head Like a Hole (NIN)
Sin (NIN)
The Trooper (Iron Maiden)
Battery (Metallica)
Electric Eye (Judas Priest)
Fade to Black (Metallica)
https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/quarantine-metal-run/pl.u-6mo4aP3IBe0xRrX
Mixtapes....even the word is an anachronism these days. To this day, I tell my family to "tape the game" if I can't make it home in time (even though it's just a DVR). With the advent of instant-gratification-streaming its almost impossible for the younger generation (or for that matter, the generation older than us too) to fully comprehend "the work" that went into a mixtape...if you were rich you had "a dubber" (two tape decks) but most of the time I was plugging in random wires into AUX and pressing "PHONO" or "OUTPUT" to make it work....and boy was it work....especially if you were waiting to record the song on the radio! Later, with CDs, mixtapes became easier but it sort of felt like cheating. Come to think of it, the mixCD didn't take off as much as the mixtape - I believe- b/c there was respect for 'the work' that it took to make the mixtape. And yes, I made too many to count. I remember loving the more expensive black Maxell tapes with 60 mins ON EACH SIDE. I remember around 1991 asking a college "friend" (who later became my wife) to "just record the radio station KROQ in Pasadena/LA" knowing that I'd get a full tape of "new music" that I hadn't heard in Texas. KROQ was the legendary "Alternative" radio station in Pasadena/LA that spit out DJs like Richard Blade (still remember Richard Blade's flash back lunch), Adam Corolla, Dr Drew started off doing a night show on KROQ called Loveline, etc. Anyways, thats the last "mix tape" I remember.....all the cool music from the LA radio station. I remember hearing Chili Peppers, The The, Big Audio Dynamite, Pearl Jam, Oingo Boingo, Social Distortion, Depeche Mode, The Cure and Violent Femmes all on one taped recording of live radio. It was a revelation to me that all of these great bands could be on a single radio station. Only on clear days could we occasionally pick up Dallas's "The Edge" (which played "alternative" but wasn't as hip as KROQ in LA) from deep in the piney woods of East Texas.
I saw my dad cut his own hair once while driving. My dad had a bad haircut. I had never heard of Material Issue until seeing this and love that song. Now onto that album. Their bio said the lead singer committed suicide via carbon monoxide poisoning in a garage with his moped. The moped specificity seemed like an odd detail to include in the bio when they could’ve just said he took his own life. Sad regardless. Thanks for sharing this with me!
I had so many mixtapes growing up. My initial reaction to your question though was a tape a friend made for me in high school and although there were a lot of songs on it the one that sticks out the most in my mind is Drive by The Cars. Also, I remember making mix minidiscs. That format was so cool, but just didn’t last. I think we had a very similar musical upbringing, except my dad’s go to car songs were either Israeli folk music or The Gypsy Kings.
What’s on my “mixtape” now? Frank Turner is in constant rotation, and there are too many songs to highlight just one. I really should try to see if I can narrow down a good mix because my digital streaming playlists are extremely long. And like you just did, I should be able to make some tough song choices. I’ll try to make a short list for you here. I’m thinking about you, your fellowship, and just wanting to share some great songs when choosing these:
Frank Turner - Long Live The Queen
The Beatles - Golden Slumbers
Guster - Satellite
The Avett Brothers - Murder In The City
John Prine - Angel From Montgomery
Nirvana - Heart Shaped Box
Brian Fallon - Forget Me Not
Faith No More - Epic
Nas - If I Ruled The World
Jason Isbell - What’ve I Done To Help
Bob Marley - Keep On Moving
Frank Turner - Get Better
Oh yeah, as to your questions:
1) I remember listening to the radio all day at my grandparents house recording a near Beatles anthology as it was played as part of some extensive special on The Beatles. (don't know if this technically meets Mixtape criteria but it's what comes to mind).
2) Mixtape songs right now: Tropic Morning News, The National; Never Going Back Again, Fleetwood Mac; Dance Yrself Clean, LCD Soundsystem; Purple Hat, Sofi Tukker.
Love this post! Can't wait to read the stories that accompany your chosen songs for this Pallimed Mixtape. Glad you're out there doing this meaningful and fulfilling work. Even though I've never met your dad, I kinda feel like I've been on a road trip with him somewhat from your description of him reaching over with his right hand to have someone hand him a snack while keeping his eyes on the road. That image has always stuck with me. Keep telling us your great stories brother.
Heck yeah, Beau. You pretty much have been on a road trip with him with all the drives you and I made together back in med school. A legendary road warrior. Thanks for the kind words this morning!