After a Daddy/Daughter movie date to go and see 'Guardians of the Galaxy', Ruby has become slightly obsessed with this film. This includes the soundtrack. Mind you, her little musical antennae were twitching just watching and listening the trailers for it. There is a score soundtrack, but what hooked Ruby's interest was the 'Awesome Mix Vol.1'. The mix tape belongs to the character Star Lord, and it's a gift given to him by his mother. It's his link to her after she dies. The music weaves it's way throughout the film as if it is an extra member of the cast.
The cd is now a permanent member of the Scott family, and has been played non-stop in the car. Since then, I've needed to listen to mix tape style music. That perfect little capsule of tunes that will suit the moods I'm in. Soundtracks are perfect for this, has to be the right mix though. Almost Famous, Northern Exposure and Get Shorty have hit the spot in the last couple of days.
Ahhh, the Mix Tape! Goodness, I LOVE a mix tape!! The mix tape is such a beautiful gift. The fact that someone has spent the time choosing those specific tracks for you *sigh* It's a beautiful thing.
I still have the first mix tape that someone gave me. It was made for me by a friend of a friend's boyfriend. He was in the 6th form and very cool. I wanted to hear the new Blue Aeroplanes album, so he taped it for me. On the other side of the cassette was a mix, and to be fair the Blue Aeroplanes didn't really get much of a look in after hearing it. Some of these tracks were to set me off on great musical adventures to record shops far and wide. Yep, this is it - 'Buy An Anorak'.
The 'Not the Blue Aeroplanes Side' track listing is as follows:
Bambi Slam : Awful Flute Song
Bambi Slam : Hit Me With Your Hair Brush
Bambi Slam : Bamp Bamp (12 inch version)
Bambi Slam : Don't It Make You Feel
Wire : Mannequin
The Fire Engines : Candy Skin
The Pop Group : We Are All Prostitutes
Pulp : My Lighthouse
The Servants : The Sun A Small Star
The Monochrome Set : Jet Set Junta
Josef K : Sorry For Laughing
The Chills : Pink Frost
The Seeds : Pushin' Too Hard
The Go Betweens : A Little Romance
That Petrol Emotion : Zig Zag Wanderer
Sonic Youth : Star Power
Swell Maps : Let's Build A Car.
Making a mix tape is a serious business. The mix tape is a labour of love. It takes time. The person you are making it for is special. It takes planning, and the meticulous counting of seconds. Each length of each track you list has to be added up, and made to fit on the blank C60/90. Take command of your back catalogue, know where those juicy little one-to-two minute tape fillers are. Mix tapes are about spreading the word. If you love music as much as I do, there might be something on this compilation that sets you on fire. Something you want to take into your heart and want to hold on to forever. It's my gift to you to take as your own. Each song is selected with care and set next to it's neighbour with the fastidious care of a jeweller setting precious gems. Together the collection will make up my brilliant gift to you. The gilding on the lily is the snappy title, homemade cover and handwritten insert and A/B side stickers. Bless Letraset transfers and the spare magazine!
Time and technology move on, and to my astonishment so did the mix tape. I still have the first cd mix that a friend made me too. How can this be? Sorcery! Witchcraft!! It was like magic. It was called 'Hell in a Handbasket', and included some fabulous stuff from Stevie Nicks, Phyllis Dillon, Wedding Present, The Pixies, Etta James and Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Yep, took me a while to get even a little computer savvy.... but by gum, being able to make the cd mix erm, tape made me feel like a GOD!! A little different, but still the time taken and aspect of love remain a constant. I even found a nifty little programme that could make cd cover inserts for me too. When I first met my beautiful husband, I wooed him with mix cds. They remain on our playlist even now, 12 years later. I also compiled mix cd for the guests at our wedding so that they knew we loved them, and that they could share in the music we love.
Billy May : So nice (Summer Samba)
Nelson Riddle Orchestra : Theme from Route 66
Brian Setzer : Sleepwalk
Wayne Newton : Shangri-la
Reverend Horton Heat : Martini Time
Dean Martin : Cha Cha D'Amour
Cherry Poppin' Daddies : Come back to me
Count Basie : April in Paris
Frank Sinatra : How About You?
Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald : Gee Baby, ain't I good to you
Gloria Lynne : Bali Ha'i
Louis Prima : Chili Sauce
Luis Oliviera & his Bandodalua Boys : Chihuahua
Elvis Presley : Surrender
Tony Bennett : With plenty of money and you
Les Baxter : Whatever Lola wants
Royal Crown Revue : Hey Pachuco
Julie London : You'd be so nice to come home to
Doris Day : Close Your Eyes
Henry Mancini : Lujon
Henry Mancini : Lujon
Yma Sumac : Gopher Mambo
Brian Setzer : Jumpin' East of Java
Dean Martin : Ain't that a kick in the head
Etta James : Sunday Kind of Love
Louis Jordan : Knock me a kiss
Dean Martin : Ain't that a kick in the head
Etta James : Sunday Kind of Love
Louis Jordan : Knock me a kiss
Frank Sinatra : You're getting to be a habit with Me
Brian Setzer : Sing Sing Sing
I think I will start making Ruby some mix tapes. Show her what I know about music. Help her find her way through tunes old and new. The lyrics will tell you a thousand stories about life. What I am saying to you is "I made you a mix tape. I love you."
