Best Playlists

Music Inspired by Mad Men

2008-12-11T06:14:44Z

I love the tv show Mad Men on AMC. I think it’s one of the freshest and most interesting shows on tv for a long time. It’s great drama and I really love watching the behind the scenes of the advertising industry in the 60s. Such a unique concept.

The music is always fun and interesting on Mad Men so I figured I should come up with my own mix of tracks inspired by what I’ve heard on the show. I’m really curious as there’s been some really cool obscure cuts so I’ve researched and learned what is the track they are playing.

Why not start the mix with the RJD2 remix of the great Astrud Gilberto song right? Well you all probably know RJD2 did the theme track to Mad Men called A Beautiful Mine so it was pretty convenient to include this track from Verve Remixed 3.

Leslie Gore doing Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows was mostly inspired by the 2 Mad Men kids I thought it was perfect here. Although Tonight You Belong To Me is very cute and has so much childlike qualities to it but I thought a better representation of a song for the kids was the Leslie Gore song.

I wanted to include Yma Sumac because I heard an Yma Sumac song on the show. I don’t remember which song it was but you can’t miss Yma Sumac as her voice is pretty obvious.

Marilyn Monroe ended up in the mix because it was one of the subplots in the show so it had to be included. When you look at the rest of the tracklist you can see every track makes sense to be included on the mix. I love the show so much I had great fun putting together this mix!

It was so much fun! Enjoy.

The Gentle Rain (RJD2 Remix) by Astrud Gilberto
Tonight You Belong To Me by Patience And Prudence
Sunshine, Lollipops and Raindbows by Leslie Gore
Taki Rari by Yma Sumac
Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend by Marilyn Monroe
Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool by Connie Francis
A Man And A Woman by Sir Julian
Catch A Falling Star by Perry Como
Summertime, Summertime by The Jamies
Black Coffee by Julie London
The Monkey Time by Major Lance
Blue Skies (Paul & Price Remix) by Doris Day
Chop Sticks by Xavier Cugat
Sunday In New York by Bobby Darin
Sexe by Line Renaud
It’s Been A Long, Long Time by Ray Coniff
Puttin’ On The Ritz by Terry Snyder
I Thought About You by Miles Davis
Blue Champagne by Anita O’Day
Bless You by Tony Orlando
Sinnerman by Nina Simone

Best Christmas Mix 1

2008-12-06T00:50:31Z

Well what makes the perfect Christmas mix??? Include the best, brightest most cheerful, lively tracks that ever existed. Ok these are not your average Christmas hits that we hear over and over every year at the mall or at the dentists office. Ok they are the same tracks but these are special versions. Unique interpretations of your traditional holiday garbage that is fed to us for 5.99 special disc price at Walmart or some other crap store!

I especially love the Ralph Myerz Remix of Sleigh Ride by Ferrante & Teicher - it’s best remix of an old Christmas track from yesteryear I’ve heard for a really long time. It’s got most of the music as it was but Ralph Myerz and gang have added a great dance beat to it. And I absolutely love the vocals as the original does not have any. It’s perfection! Do seek it out and listen to it at your next Christmas Party. Ok?

Frosty The Snowman by The Ventures
Sun Valley Ski Run by Esquivel
Jing-A-Ling, Jing-A-Ling by The Starlighters
Joy To The World (Mocean Worker Remix) by The Cathedral Brass
Santa Claus Is Coming To Town by Jo Ann Castle
My Favorite Things by Martin Denny
The Nutcracker Suite (Baz Kuts Breaks Mix) by The Berlin Symphony Orchestra
Cha-Cha All The Way by Capitol Studio Orchestra
Holiday On Skis by Al Caiola And Riz Ortolani
Winter Wonderland (Rise Ashen’s Brazilian Beach Mix) by Johnny Mercer
Jingle Bells/Jingle Bell Rock by Hollyridge Strings
The Christmas Song (Tonal Remix) by Jimmy McGriff
Ring Those Christmas Bells by Lawrence Welk & His Orchestra
Sleigh Ride/Jingle Bells by Caiola & Ortolani/Jimmy McGriff
Christmas Trumpets/We Wish You A Merry Christmas by Ray Anthony
Sleigh Ride (Ralph Myerz Remix) by Ferrante & Teicher
Sleigh Ride by Combustible Edison
White Christmas (King Kooba Remix) by Charlie Parker
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus by Jimmy McGriff
Snowfall/Snowfall Cha-Cha by George Sheraing/Billy May
Exotic Night by Martin Denny

All tracks are pulled from the below albums! So make your own mix and enjoy!!!

Best Workout Mix - December ‘08

2008-12-04T23:13:40Z

Alright … you absolutely need some banging dance tracks for a workout. Right? You can’t be listening to some twangy country music?? No. You can’t be listening to the classics?? No. Well at least I can’t and wont. I’ll take some pumping dance tracks like the list below. It’s a fun fast mix - perfect for a fast paced workout. Try it you’ll like it!

Things get jamming with this awesome remix of Kelis’s Bossy by Alan Braxe & Fred Falke. I’ve been a big fan of these guys from way back and everything they do they do it 100%. Remixes and their original productions. Theire pretty amazing! And this remix is just quite amazing. It’s nothing like the original which I really dig!

Some of the other key stand out cuts here in this mix are The Final by Phil Fuldner - being very discoey with the sound of horns. The classic trance track Netherworld which is one of my all time faves. So cool! Space Shanty by Leftfield off their masterpiece Leftism and There’s Nothing I Won’t Do (Carl Cox Remix) by JX.

These tracks make a great collection for a fast paced workout. The total running time of this playlist is 1:18 so it’s perfect for a long workout session. So Enjoy!

Bossy (Alan Braxe & Fred Falke Earth Out Remix) by Kelis Feat. Too Short
Miura by Metro Area
The Final (Radio Flight) by Phil Fuldner
Give It 2 Me (Oakenfold Drums In Mix) by Madonna
There’s Nothing I Won’t Do (Carl Cox Full House Remix) by JX
Netherworld by L.S.G.
Bounce (feat. N.O.R.E.) (The Bloody Beetroots Remix) by MSTRKRFT, N.O.R.E.
Two Tribes (Intermission Legend Mix) by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
Space Shanty by Leftfield
This Boy’s In Love (Kevin Saunderson Remix) by The Presets
Papillon (Original Mix) by N-Joi
Klubbhopping by Klubbheads
Kalemba (Wegue Wegue) (Reso’s Aguardente Electro Mash Mix) by Buraka Som Sistema
Superflight by The Supermen Lovers

Bubblegum Electro Pop

2008-12-03T14:50:38Z

Bubblegum? I love bubblegum, don’t we all? Snap, pop, snap pop. Anyway that’s what this mix is all about. Snappy pop electro dance music. It’s a fun, upbeat dance mix heavily relying on the electro sound.

I’ve recently discovered Sally Shapiro and she totally reminds me of Annie. Well she hails from Sweden right next door to Norway where Annie is from. I love this remake of Spacer Woman by Johan Agebjorn. I love the original but this one has the great vocals by Sally Shapiro. Very young childish sounds girl vocals. Definitely check out her music. She’s got one full album plus two remix albums and this Spacer Woman ep. WOW! I can’t get enough of her tracks. Beats Britney for fucks sake! This is real pop music not Britneys overproduced Womanizer track. Blaa!

Chewing Gum Fraise is so fun and cute and bouncy. Love it because it makes you move. But guess what? It’s in French! So get over it and learn some already. The band is from Montreal and I love the whole album. It’s awesome - it’s called L’Idealogie Des Stars. Get it!

Well I had to add Annie as she started the whole bubblegum electro pop movement. Didn’t she? I think so. This one’s Chewing Gum remixed by Mylo. There’s a theme here you see? I love this remix and I absolutely love Mylo’s music - when’s the follow up to Destroy Rock And Roll coming out? Anyway Annie’s got a new album coming out too but while we wait for it we can enjoy this one as it never gets old especially this remix.

Hearts on Fire by Cut Copy totally reminds me of a synth pop track from the mid 80s. Maybe reminds me of Boxcar - anyone remember Boxcar? I think they were from Australia just like Cut Copy. Hearts on fire is such a cute song and deserves repeated play. Off of their recent In Ghost Colours album.

Another French track this time by Yelle with Ce Jeu sampling Heaven 17’s Let Me Go. The Heaven 17 track is somewhat moody and a downer type track but Ce Jeu is quite bubbly fun and upbeat. I actually really love the whistling intro. Totally different and the sample from Heaven 17 really works!

Chromeo totally take you back to the 80s with Call Me Up. I’ve been a fan of Chromeo way back when they were part of Turbo Recordings in Montreal and now they are on their second album, Fancy Footwork. Both albums are fun, bright poppy 80’s sounding dance music. Really worth the purchase.

I had to include a cut from Felix Da Housecat and I thought Rado (Shinishi Osawa Edit) would be the best track to include. I love this remix by Shinishi Osawa it’s fun and very upbeat with the cute electronic samples. It’s much livelier than the original so that’s what I was going with this mix.

Anyway hope you enjoy the mix!

Spacer Woman From Mars Johan Agebjorn With Sally Shapiro
Chewing-Gum Fraise by Numero# Featuring Omnikrom
Candy Castle by Glass Candy
Chewing Gum (Mylo Remix) by Annie
Tokyo Girls by Matinee Club
Hearts On Fire by Cut Copy
Ce Jeu by Yelle
Call Me Up by Chromeo
Sunset Blvd by Pacific!
Could You Like Her? by Copy
Crimewave (Crystal Castles Vs. Health) by Crystal Castles
Radio (Shinichi Osawa Edit) by Felix Da Housecat
Dancing Girls (Suite 304 Demo) by Farah
Make Me Your Picture by Huski
(Far From) Home (Speed Of Sexor Reprise) by Tiga
Hold On by Hot Chip
Easy Love by Mstrkrft

Big Band Beatz

2008-11-28T07:47:14Z

I wanted to make a mix of tracks that sounds like would be played at a swing/jazz big band club back in the old days. I wanted to make sure the music was still electronic music so this mix came together pretty nicely. The mix kicks in to high gear with Mocean Worker with Chick A Boom Boom Boom. It’s a great swing jazz inspired track that’s totally fun to dance to. Next up is Touch & Go doing Would You …? It’s a fun track … the singer (and I don’t really know much about this band) keeps repeating “I find you attractive” several time until finally she says “Would you go to bed with me?” then the track just gets crazy, fast and fun! I’d like to find out more about Touch & Go. Does anyone know they can fill me in a bit? I now of their track Straight To Number One (Dreamcatchers Mix) which I first heard on Buddha Bar 6 but other than those two track I know nothing about them so it’ would be great to learn a bit more.

A Go Go starts out like an African beat inspired track then the jazz instruments kick in but you still get the African beat there. It was fun to throw this in there it’s the perfect segway to our next track Mais Pourquois? (Le Swinging Mix) by the Pinker Tones from Spain. I love this track as it’s very cartoony as the Pinker Tones are with all their tracks. This one has the old swing sounds with the French female vocal samples.

Next up I threw in Dizzy Gillespie’s Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac (Geraldo Frisina Remix) off of Impulsive! I wanted to have at least a remix of an older track. This ones quite a lively upbeat track and has Dizzy’s great vocals. A fun one! I love Nicola Conte so I had to include a track by him on here. I don’t know if he has any other albums besides Bossa Per Due but I decided to fall back on Bossa Per Due and use La Coda Del Diavolo. Again another lively track - more 60s sounding than 40s or 50s but it’s a great track to include here in this mix.

Oh we have to include St. Germain in this playlist don’t we? This one is his hit Rose Rouge - a very lively jazzy piece with the old samples.

G-Swing does Diga Diga Doo and does it awesomely. I love this album by G-Swing Swing For Modern Clubber. Luckily I ran across it in Paris a couple of years back at the Fnac and snapped it up. You know me I love everything remixed so this one is perfect!! Diga Diga Doo is already a great swing track but this one adds the great electronic dance beats to make it even more fun and lively. If you haven’t checked out Swing For Modern Clubbers you definitely have to!! Get it before it’s out of print completely I think it’s only available as an import.

Wanted to include this great Django Reinhardt track Minor Swing (John Beltran’s Remember New Orleans Remix) on here as well. I love this track - I love the original and I loved it when Esthero had sampled it in her track Wikkid Little Girls track from several years back. Whatever happened to Esthero? She tried to make it a couple of times and didn’t go anywhere. Oh well!

I end the mix with Terramonte Swing by DJ DSL. It’s a quirky track with beats and scratching and old swing syle sounds.

Hope you enjoy the mix!

Chick A Boom Boom Boom by Mocean Worker
Would You …? by Touch & Go
A Go Go - 2003 by Truby Trio
Mais Pourquois? (Le Swinging Mix) by The Pinker Tones
Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac (Gerardo Frisina Remix) by Dizzy Gillespie
Brazilian Hipster by Fort Knox Five
La Coda Del Diavolo by Nicola Conte
Rose Rouge by St. Germain
Diga Diga Doo by G-Swing Featuring DJ Brame
Get A Move On by Quantic
El Manisero (Giacomo Bondi’s Cuban Jazz Rework) by Bebo Valdes
Minor Swing (John Beltran’s Remember New Orleans Remix) by Django Reinhardt
No No (Vs. Mr. Scruff Featuring Elsa Esmeralda) by Swell Session
Struck On Jazz by Doctor Abstract
It’s A Cool World by Cool World Ensemble
The Newcomer by Zeljko Kerleta/Karel Velebny & SHQ
Terramonte Swing by Dj DSL

Acoustic Chill

2008-11-27T17:47:35Z

This is a mellow chill playlist and mostly vocal pieces. Sometimes I like to listen to vocal tracks even though I prefer my music mostly in instrumental form - specifically focussing on electronic beats but I crave the vocal tracks here and there every now and then. So to satisfy my vocal craving I’ve put together this mix.

I start things off with Everything But The Girl doing Driving (Acoustic Version). I got into EBTG with their big dance pop hit Missing (Todd Terry Remix) but I like this track as it’s very sooting yet somewhat sad.

If you notice the list of tracks in this mix you’ll notice that there are several acoustic version of tracks that are pretty well known in their normal form. I’ve decided to the mix because I love these tracks as what they are but it’s always nice to hear a different version of a track like the Modjo track Lady. Totally different here without any beats.

I decided to add Days Go By on here by Dirty Vegas. I do like the original version but this version kind of doesn’t work for me but oh well I threw it in the mix.

Even though Otherwise by Morcheeba has a pretty mellow beat in the background it’s still pretty acoustic and vocal so I’ve added it to this mix.

I had to also add Plans (Acousitc Version) by Bloc Party. I love all the great remixes of Bloc Party tracks and this ones quite nice as well - totally different than the original.

I love to mess around with tracks and make them sound different. Don’t you?

Anyway hope you enjoy this mix! Let me know what you think?

Driving (Acoustic Mix) by Everything By The Girl
Lady (Acoustic Version) by Modjo
Flying High (Acoustic Version) by Jem
Strange And Beautiful (I’ll Put A Spell On You) by Aqualung
Love’s Divine (Acoustic) by Seal
Mind Of The Wonderful (Acoustic Version) by Blank & Jones Featuring Elles
A Timeless Place (Acoustic Version) by Urban Dwellers
Days Go By (Acoustic Version) by Dirty Vegas
Otherwise by Morcheeba
Gotta Get Thru This (Acoustic Version) by Daniel Bedingfield
Freedom (Acoustic Version) by Erasure
Hey Sweet Man by Madeline Peyroux
Voices (Acoustic Version) by Dario G
Good People by Jack Johnson
Missing (Acoustic) by Nicola Fasano Featuring Paula B.
Plans (Acoustic) by Bloc Party
Romeo (Acoustic) by Basement Jaxx
Unintended by Muse

Mystical Sexy

2008-11-27T19:30:37Z

Here’s a sexy kind of mysterious and operatic mix of downtempo electronica and world ambient beats. The music flows smoothly one after another. This mix is perfect for a dinner for two or even a romantic night at home with a glass of wine sitting next to a warm fire on a cold night.

Check out some of the tracks below and the albums I pulled the tracks from.

Mystic Roya (Danameis Mix) by Holmes Ives
Zurich by Skygazer
The Don (Edit) by Boymerang
Barkensignal by Boozoo Bajou
Hidden by Ambient Generation
Call To Mind by Pressure Drop
Everlasting Pictures (The Way I See) by B-Zet
The Sound Of Thunder (Carl Vega Mix) by Skygazer Featuring Angrave
Lullabye by My Ghost
Return To The Beautiful by Andy Britton & David Goldsmith
Tears Of Gratitude by United Future Organization
The Dream by The Orb
The River by Transambient Communications
Hello And Welcome by Enigma

Best Workout Mix - Nov ‘08

2008-12-04T23:08:56Z

Here’s a fast paced dance mix - perfect for the workout crowd. Take it to the gym and work up a sweat on a cardio machine. Lose unwanted calories that you’ve consumed and gain tasty calories from big electronic dance beats. Yum! Best diet on the planet. Right?

I try and only include my favorite - all time favorite tracks in my workout mixes because you want them to be really good so you’re not skipping forward when your working out. Make sense?

So these are really energetic tracks and some of my most favorite. Some old and some new. Enjoy!

Reflexion by Oxia
E Talking (Tiga’s Disco Drama Remix) by Soulwax
Same Man by Till West & DJ Delicious
White Horse (Original) by Wonderland Avenue
Playing With Knives (Quadrant Mix) by Bizarre Inc.
Wow! Mr. Yogi (Control The Mind) - F.A.M. TrancePort Mix by The Overlords
Café Del Mar (Three ‘n’ One Remix) by Energy 52
Dvno (Petits Pilous Remix) by Justice
Here To Stay (Felix Da Housecat - Thee Extended Glitz Mix) by New Order
Bonafied Lovin (Yuksek Remix by Chromeo
High by Hyper Go Go
Southside by Dave Clarke
CCTV (Ban Gang VS Van She Tech Remix) by Los Valentinos

Disco Africa

2008-11-27T19:31:56Z

Here’s a fun, tribal electronic dance mix utilizing African sounds or real African musicians from Africa. Famous artists like Cesaria Evora’s beautifully mellow song Sodade nicely remixed with the added upbeat touch by DJ Rork and Demon Ritchie or the upbeat remake of remix & Mariam’s Beaux Dimanches by Mone Djs.

Overall though there are some upbeat tracks like Tropical Soundclash by DJ Gregory (my favorite) or some mellower laidback cuts like Afro Loft Theme by Fred Everything off of the Om Records label.

Afro Loft Theme by Fred Everything
African Drug (original tribal mix) by Bob Holroyd
Sodade (Dj Rork And Demon Ritchie Mix) by Cesaria Evora
Ashewo Ara (Mama Mix) by Kabbala
Babalawo Featuring Wumni by Pastaboys
Saber (La Poussiere) by Frederic Galliano
African Fever by Centovalley
Summer Moon (Bob Sinclar Remix Main) by Africanism All-Stars
My Africa by Kaxsambou
Beaux Dimanches (Mone Djs Remix) by Amadou & Mariam
No Risk of Sexual Side Efx by Organic Grooves
AFRICA (Quicksound / Alain Vinet Remix) by Cirque Du Soleil
Tropical Soundclash by DJ Gregory

Punky French With A Little Bit Of Elektro!

2008-11-27T19:34:28Z

This is a really fun mix of tracks. Most are in French with some tracks sung in English with a heavy French accent and of course there are instrumental tracks on here as well that have the ooh la la French touch.

It’s a fun mix of punky French tracks and some punky electro/elektro tracks. Check it out and you’ll agree it’s a fun mix.

I especially love Be Yourself … what a great track. This of course is the Laurent Garnier remix. He’s a pretty great musician!

Here’s the first round of tracks from this playlist:

Be Yourself (Reworked by Laurent Garnier) by Avril
Aventures Fictives by Vive La Fete
Mauvais Garcon by Naast
Ça Me Vexe by Mademoiselle K
Où Allez-vous Si Vite? by Les Breastfeeders
Sans Commentaire by Autour de Lucie
Qui S’ra My Love by Plastic Bertrand
M.C. Kudasa by Bosco
La Tuerie by Sebastien Tellier
Embrasse-Moi by Adam Cohen
Les Beats Qui Tapent Fort by DSL
Plastic Stereo Total
Droit Devant by Dobacaracol
Ou Je Voulais Aller by Ghislain Poirier
Travailler (Orgasmic Remix) by TTC
Monique by Numero#
A Cause Des Garcons (Riot In Belgium remix) by Yelle
Meet Sue She Be by Miss Kittin
La Nuit, Tout Est Mieux by Jean-Francois Coen
Youpi (Space Spaghetti Mix) by Cornu