1977

Sorry to come in late this week, I was on a plane yesterday, so Tuesday will have to for 1977.

This is a very similar - if slightly better - mix to 1978: lots of punk, and some mid-era disco. The biggest difference here is the reggae, two very different tracks from great artists. The Congos self-titled LP is one of the great reggae albums ever, and Jamming may be one of Bob Marley's most famous songs. I also decided to pick the live version of "Got to Give it Up." It was Marvin Gaye's last number one, and it's a sexy, sexy track.

Two notable tracks are Giorgio Moroder's "First Hand Experience in Second Hand Love" and the Giorgio Moroder-produced track "I Feel Love." The latter was one of the first songs backed completely by electronics to hit the charts (maybe the first, but I could be mistaken). Both are cheesy as hell, but so fun and infectious as to not matter in the least.

I open with "Lust for Life," which our generation probably remembers from Trainspotting and the younger generation will probably remember from Norwegian Cruise line commercials, a very sad fate for such a great song. All this reappropriation for commercials in recent years hasn't really been questioned, and call me old-fashioned, but I really think artists should think twice before forever associating their music - and their legacy - with a product, essentially turning their songs into jingles. While many of the songs used recently don't have the same emotional connection that, say, "Revolution" had when it was sold to Nike ("Just What I Needed" for Circuit City is pop going pop), it's still sad to think that young kids will see that commercial and, never having heard the song before, will assume it is a Circuit City jingle, and will never discover it in its original context. I know those ads are made for people old enough to recognize the song, but commecials are played for everyone. Maybe we need a different kind of v-chip, to block out good songs from being spoiled by crappy commercials.

Anyway, enjoy.

Download the mix here.

1. Lust For Life - Iggy Pop
2. Psycho Killer - Talking Heads
3. Blank Generation - Richard Hell and the Voidoids
4. Sheena Is A Punk Rocker - The Ramones
5. Orgasm Addict - Buzzcocks
6. In The City - The Jam
7. Oh Bondage Up Yours! - X-Ray Spex
8. Complete Control - The Clash
9. See No Evil - Television
10. Heroes - David Bowie
11. Allison - Elvis Costello
12. Mr. Blue Sky - Electric Light Orchestra
13. I Feel Love - Donna Summer
14. Fist Hand Experience in Second Hand Love - Giorgio Moroder
15. Flash Light - Parliament
16. Best of My Love - Emotions
17. Trans-Europe Express - Kraftwerk
18. Got To Give It Up - Marvin Gaye
19. Congoman - The Congos
20. Jamming - Bob Marley