Death of the Mixtape Reported

I've been thinking about the mixtape lately, and then this morning on NPR, they mentioned how the Sony Walkman has ceased production, signalling the end of the mixtape. For years, the mixtape has served as a personal introduction, a catalog sampler, and of course, the first step in seduction (remember how Michael from The Office was quick to offer Holly a mixtape for her commute?)

The best mixtapes weren't just about the songs chosen, but the sequencing. I still have sketches I drew of lists of songs, with arrows drawn to rearrange the order until I got it JUST RIGHT. Sometimes you'd work with grades of dynamics, sometimes you'd want to jump from one extreme to another for contrast. Truly a labor of love...
The last "mixtape" I made was a few years back (and I guess it was actually a 'mixdisc' CD compilation). It was for a much younger fellow employee whose love of ska I wanted to expand, with detours into the Beach Boys, Bjork and Judee Sill. Though the media was different, the concept and execution was pretty much the same: the handmade inlay card listing the songs, the care for getting the song order just right, the mix of popular with obscure...as long as people continue to share music, the mixtape will live on in new forms.

Another Short Rant

Watched all 3 DVDs this last week, including bonus material, and my question is: why is every perfomance almost exlusively WHITE? Yes, the screen graphics list (the late) Solomon Burke, Smokey Robinson -- the list goes on -- but do we get to see any of their acceptance speeches or performances? Sure, there are glimpses of some of the soul heroes during the jam sessions, but do they even get a mike?? (Okay, there's a bit with Tina Turner, but come on!) Finally, on the third disc, I see Ray Charles come to the mike -- about time, I'm thinking -- but he's there to induct Billy Joel ?!!?? Am I the only one who finds this terribly, terribly WRONG?
At least in the first DVD, there's a great jam on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" with a supersonic performance by Prince -- totally blows everyone off the stage.
Okay, rant concluded.
Oh, and, um, my initial post featured the wrong set. The one at the top is correct, the one following yet to be viewed -- but from the track list, I have hope!

Very Greasy, Indeed!

David Lindley is probably most well known for being in Jackson Browne's touring band, but as talented a backing musician as he is, his real forte is world music. Now, I don't mean that bland blend where everything exciting is leached out and you're left with inoffensive mush -- David has travelled the world (Madagascar, for instance) to play with the best traditional musicians. The albums pictured here aren't in that camp, however. These are mostly oldies and originals with a reggae beat, irie. And what a hoot -- "Mercury Blues" on "El-Rayo X" charges out of the gate with pure adrenalized slide guitar, then you get the ska/Tex-Mex version of "Twist and Shout". This is music played for sheer love of music. They're all highly recommended -- "Very Greasy" has the 'hits' "Werewolves of London" and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" but they're all great --- and try to track down the live disc. Varying quality, but some real barn burners on there.

My wife and I saw David Lindley in all his greasy polyester glory play in a bar in Bellingham many many years ago (with his band El-Rayo X) and it still stands in the Top Ten Best Concerts EVER.