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damn it has been a hot ass summer. just look at my poor excuse of a fescue lawn. I’ve never seen my grass look so bad in all the years I’ve lived here. I haven’t looked up the local stats, but I’m pretty sure we’ve broken the record of the most 100+ degree days this summer. good lord. and we’re still in early august. not only can’t my lawn take it, my A/C unit is on its last leg. We’ve already had it serviced twice this year and I don’t want to call for service yet again. please send relief!! someone please.

In the meantime, enjoy some heat related tunes!

Too Hot to Sleep by Survivor -Too hot to sleep, give up the fight, throw back the sheets, shoot out the lights…

Summertime by Paul McCartney [soundcheck 1993] – It’s summertime and the living is easy, fish are jumping and the cotton is high

The Sun Always Shines on TV [extended version] by A-Ha – Touch me, how can it be?, believe me the sun always shines on TV

Some Like it Hot by Power Station [12" mix] – Feel the heat pushing you to decide, feel the heat burning you up, ready or not

Hot in the City [1988 remix] by Billy Idol - ‘Cause when a long-legged lovely walks by yeah you can see the look in her eye, then you know that it’s hot in the city tonight…

Love is like a Heat Wave by Phil Collins – It’s like a heat wave burning in my heart, I can’t keep from crying, it’s tearing me apart

the Heat Goes On by Wetton Downes [Icon, live, 2006] – You box shy, you’re hard to get, you got the face that I can’t forget and I know, I know the heat goes on
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Yeah, I’m sure you’re all sick and tired of all the Christmas music by now. But for those that just can’t get enough of that stuff, here are a few more to fill your stockings with…

enjoy!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Lady Antebellum
O Come all Ye Faithful – Chris Tomlin
Mr. Heatmiser – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Home for Christmas – Hall and Oates
Feliz Navidad – Chicago
Christmas Worship Medley – Israel Houghton and New Breed
Toy Packaging – Sara Groves
In the Bleak Midwinter – Indigo Girls
Joy – Wilson Phillips
Jingle Bell Rock – Brian Setzer

click here for the rar. [approx. 70MB - download available for only a limited time]

Happy Holidays!

In honor of the start of another summer season, I thought I’d post a set of songs linked to this lovely (but HOT) time of the year. Can’t believe it’s already summer. Gotta hurry and plan out some fun excursions with the little ones before they go back to school. Summer’ll be over before ya know it!

enjoy!

Some Like to Hot – The Power Station
Some like it hot and some sweat when the heat is on
Some feel the heat and decide that they can’t go on
Some like it hot but you can’t tell how hot ’til you try
Some like it hot so let’s turn up the heat ’til we fry

Waiting on a Sunny Day – Bruce Springsteen
Funny, thought I felt a sweet summer breeze
Must of been you sighin’ so deep
Don’t worry we’re gonna find a way
I’m waitin’, waitin’ on a sunny day
Gonna chase the clouds away, waitin’ on a sunny day

Summer of Love – The B-52′s
It’s the summer of love, love, love
I’m in love with love, love, love
For everyone transcends here, I’m thinking of you boy
Love energy is giving us a shove, making this the summer of love

Summer Dress – Shawn Colvin
I put on my finest summer dress
So light and thin, torn at the chest
I brushed my hair, I held my breath
I went out to face the wilderness,
I went out to face the wilderness…

Too Hot to Sleep – Survivor
Too hot to sleep Come take me higher
caught up in the heat of the moments fire

My Paradise (live version 2003) – The Outfield
Everbody’s got one thing on their mind
A set of wheels and a cranked up radio
In this town there might be nowhere to hide
In this town there might be nowhere to go but
On my left, to my right, this is my paradise
You can call it what you like
I know, this is my paradise

Summer (Can’t Last too Long) – Demo version by Wetton/Downes
Spring, winter or fall but out of them all
The summer can’t last too long

Summer Skin – Death Cab for Cutie
The water’s warm and children swim
And we frolicked about in our summer skin

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In honor of Valentine’s day I thought I’d post another installment of the RetroBlog mix tape. This time around, it’s a collection of the bittersweet aspects of love. yeah, I guess I’m just a cynical old fart. heh. check it out, enjoy the tunes.

Anyway, I hope you’re having a fantastic weekend but with all the snow around the east coast, please drive safe!


I can see your face but I know it’s not real
too much confusion caused by how I used to feel…
Eric Clapton – Old Love


We used to say “Ah Hell, we’re young”
But now we see that life is sad
And so is love …
Kate Bush – And So is Love


well, you’ve gotta be crazy to want a guy like me
yeah, you’ve gotta be out of your mind, crazy
Well, there must be some kind of mistake to give your heart away
yeah, you’ve gotta be out of your mind, crazy…
Icehouse – Crazy


Dr. Yang, now her voicemail box is full
And she won’t call me, I’m feeling like a fool
The last time I saw her in her car
I threw her shit out in the yard
Locked her out and headed to the bar…
Ben Folds – Lovesick Diagnostician


There’s a tension I can taste that speaks for the danger
Let the warnings go to waste
Eyes that reflect a secret fire that covers the fear inside
In a flash we’re lost from sight to explore the romance that we hide
And the thrill of the chase plays a part in the chances we take
We escape to the world after dark…
Survivor – Backstreet Love Affair


All my girls are no where to be found
they all split when I’m in trouble
but I’ll tell you all my secrets if you stick around
the “undercover-lovers” under the covers
I just wanna use your love…
Katy Perry – Use Your Love


you are my weakness, my weakness
You’re my Achilles’ Heel
The flame that melts the steel in my heart…
Todd Rundgren – Weakness


And once again she calls to me
Then she vanishes in thin air
And how she takes my breath away
Pretending that she’s not there
I would bleed to love her…
Lindsey Buckingham – Bleed to Love her


It’s not too late for us
We still got hope and trust
We can still hang tough and let it slide
And when it’s all too much
We’ll leave it in the dust
Climb up on that bus and ride…
Shawn Colvin – Let it Slide

Well folks, it’s time for another edition of the RetroBlog mix tape. And surprise, surprise, it’s the annual Valentine’s edition. Since last year’s theme was skewed toward the cynical end of things, so I thought I’d balance it out by swinging back toward the sappy side. I’ll call this set, “Love, AOR style”. for those that might not get the term – AOR refers to an old rock radio format called “Album Oriented Rock”. enjoy.

I Believe in a Thing Called Love – The Darkness
Can’t explain all the feelings that you’re making me feel
My heart’s in overdrive and you’re behind the steering wheel
Touching you, touching me,
Touching you cause you’re touching me

Love Will Find a Way – Yes
Here is my heart waiting for you
Here is my soul, I eat at chez nous

No Matter What – Def Leppard
No matter what you do, I will always be around
Won’t you tell me what you found, girl
Ooh girl, I want you

Oxygen – Bryan Adams
My pulse racin’, my head’s in a spin,
I need to see you darlin’, ’cause you’re my oxygen

Every Night – Paul McCartney (soundcheck, 1993)
Every night I just wanna go out, get out of my head
Every day I don’t wanna get up, get out of my bed
Every night I want to play out
And every day I wanna do
But tonight I just wanna stay in
And be with you, and be with you

I Want You So Bad – Heart
When the wind blows through your hair
I want you so bad, want you so bad
I see your smile boy everywhere
I want you so bad, want you so bad

When You Love a Woman – Journey
When you love a woman
You see your world inside her eyes
When you love a woman
You know she’s standin’ by your side
A joy that lasts forever
There’s a band of gold that shines waiting somewhere..

Hold On my Heart – Genesis
So hold on my heart please tell her to be patient
‘Cause there has never been a time
That I wanted something more..

Keep it Right Here – Survivor
There will be nights some restless nights
When you’re alone your thoughts start to wander
Wonderin’ if it’s right, you search the night
Baby you’re home, why look any farther..

*Note*: as always, files are hosted on savefile.com for a limited time. So get ‘em while you can.
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OK, have you O.D.’d on all the saccharine sweet holiday muzak on the radio like I have? Please for the love of all that’s decent in the world, there is absolutely no need for anyone to hear another rendition of “Jingle Bell Rock” or “Winter Wonderland”… and oh Lord, don’t even get me started on describing to you which level of hell Celine Dion’s version of “Blue Christmas” is.

Yes, I’m in a “mood”. Let me express it with my very own Christmas mix tape. I’ve got the songs that are a little more in-line with reality. and don’t worry, there’s no Celine Dion here. I call this Retroblog’s moody Christmas music 2008. enjoy!

Broken Heart for Christmas by Steve Lukather
I’m all alone this Christmas, nothing’s merry ’bout today
Yeah, I’m all alone this Christmas
Nothing’s merry ’bout today
It’s quiet here this evening, it’s a lonely holiday..

That was the Worst Christmas Ever by Sufjan Stevens
Our father yells
Throwing gifts in the wood stove, wood stove
My sister runs away
Taking her books to the schoolyard, schoolyard..

Christmas, Baby Please Come Home by Death Cab for Cutie
They’re singing deck the halls
But it’s not like christmas at all
I remember when you were here
All the fun we had last year…

December Child by Cindy Lauper
Snuggle up and let me hold kiss
Your baby breath in the dark and cold
On a silent night long ago
Another mother held her babe and told him
Close your eyes December Child..

Sweet Secret Peace by Neil Finn
Beautiful are you, your hands are new
All you feel is real and right and true..

In the Bleak Mid-Winter by Shawn Colvin
In the bleak midwinter
Stormy winds may blow
Earth stood hard as iron
Water like a stone..

When I Get Home for Christmas by Snow Patrol
It’s funny how you misunderstand
I only wanna hold her hand
You’re so far from me all year long
I can’t seem to right my, right my wrong

The Christmas Song by Weezer
You told me you would bring presents and treats
Cheering my spirits with homemade sweet meats
Here I sit waiting beside the tree all by myself..

OK now, go have a moody Christmas!!
laterz!
Retroblog

well, it appears that Tropical Storm Hanna is heading straight for the Carolinas tonight. I don’t live right on the coast but we are still going to get lots of rain and heavy winds as the storm moves inland. argh. I always worry about these gigantic trees that stand adjacent to my house whenever a strong storm blows through the area. I really don’t want to find a huge tree in my living room tomorrow morning.

So, enjoy today’s Retro-mix: storm’s a-comin’. ..and I’ll see ya on the other side…

Gnarls Barkley – Storm Coming
Run towards the hills to avoid the high flood
I can do a dance that will make the sky cry blood

Robert Cray – Forecast (Calls for Pain)
I can feel the thunder, I can see the lightning
I can feel the pain, Oh it’s gonna rain

Billy Joel – Storm Front
There’s a storm front coming
White water running and the pressure is low
Storm front coming, small craft warning on the radio

Asia – Who will Stop the Rain?
Who tells the wind which way to blow?
I wonder who will stop the rain
The rocks that hold the secrets, they don’t know
So who can stop the rain?

Big Country – The Storm
Through forest and moor as the clouds filled the sky
The storm broke upon us with fury and flame
Both hunters and hunted washed out in the rain

the Alarm – Eye of the Hurricane
Oh eye of the hurricane
I walk away in the wind and the rain
Into the eye of the hurricane of my life
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There’s no denying that Paul McCartney is a rock legend. He has written countless of songs that will continue to be played and enjoyed for generations to come. Having said that, I also have to point out that he has released some utter crap as well. No one can really say if it’s because of some sort of lack of motivation on his part or sheer vanity in thinking he could shit gold, but the fact remains that he has written just as many duds as there are classics in his catalog. so, for today’s RetroBlog mix tape, I thought I’d highlight some of Sir Macca’s lowlights. enjoy.

1) Rockestra Theme – OK, this is actually Duane Eddy’s remake of the Wings song from 1979 with Paul McCartney producing as well as playing on the track. The original song really didn’t merit a remake. It’s a mind-numbingly simple instrumental with the inexplicable vocal line – “Why didn’t I have any dinner?” huh?

2) Press (the Hugh Padgham mix) – McCartney’s 1986 album Press to Play holds a special place in my heart but really, did he actually think this song would be a successful single? come on – “Oklahoma was never like this? oh it was never like this!” groan. Is this really the man that wrote “Yesterday”?

3) Vanilla Sky – this is Macca just being lazy. He ripped off his own minor chord progression from his 1993 single “Biker Like an Icon”. Biker was just plain horrid. and so is this song. I guess Cameron Crowe didn’t have the balls to tell Macca that this song was shit.

4) Spies like Us (the Art of Noise Mix) – ouch. The record label commissioned numerous remixes for this song. obviously they were hoping one of the remixers would know what to do with this song. I think the Art of Noise did a pretty good job considering the source material.

5) Freedom – It was great seeing Macca being so supportive with the rebuilding/healing efforts after 9/11 but he should have spent more time on this song before releasing it. He probably spent less than five minutes writing this lil’ ditty. it’s painful to listen to now.

6) P.S. Love Me Do – yeah, you know dance music and Macca go so well together. not. So recording a dance version of “P.S. I Love You” and “Love Me Do” was an obvious choice, right? right? Bueller? Bueller?

as always, all tracks are hosted on savefile.com. they will only be available for a limited time. so, grab ‘em while you can.
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I’ve got some fun oldies but goodies for today’s edition of the RetroBlog Mix Tape. I picked some favorite dance remixes from the 80′s. Hey, I didn’t call this site “RETROblog” for nothin’.

enjoy.

New Order – Bizzare Love Triangle (extended Dance mix)
Every time I see you falling
I get down on my knees and pray
I’m waiting for that final moment
You say the words that I can’t say

Kon Kan – I Beg Your Pardon (original club mix)
Smile for the while and let’s be jolly
We shouldn’t be so melancholy
Come along and share the good times while we can

Simple Minds – All the Things She Said (original extended 12 inch)
If freedom comes and goes, you know I’ll still be waiting
All the things she said, she said
You’ve fought the fight so long, no surrender to temptation
Of all the things she said, she said

ABC – Look of Love remix
And all my friends just might ask me
They say, “Martin, maybe one day you’ll find true love”
And I say, “Maybe there must be a solution to
The one thing, the one thing we can’t find”

Hall and Oates – Out of Touch (Dub version)
Reaching out for something to hold
Looking for a love where thw climate is cold
Manic moves and drowsy dreams
Or living in the middle between the two extremes

IceHouse – Crazy (extended)
I’ve got a pocket full of holes
head in the clouds the king of fools
you’ve got a ribbon of rainbows
the sun in your eyes burning through
could be I’m happy and sad
could be I’m losing my head over you

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note: links expire after 30 days of inactivity

here are some of my all time favorite mashups. when NOT done quite right, mashups can sound terribly grating but every once in a while you do encounter some that are fun, inventive and tuneful. check ‘em out! yeah, I know most of these are a few years old but that was when I was heavily “into” mashups. Now, not so much. anyway, enjoy.

Beach Boys/Depeche Mode – I Feel Loved Be Still Mix
It’s the dark night of my soul and temptation’s taking hold
But through the pain and the suffering, through the heartache and trembling

Huey Lewis/Snoop Dogg – Drop It Like It’s Huey by CompactRisk
When the pimp’s in the crib ma, Drop it like it’s hot
When the pigs try to get at ya, Park it like it’s hot
And if a — get a attitude, Pop it like it’s hot
I got the rolly on my arm and I’m pouring CHANDON
And I roll the best — cause I got it going on

Annie Lennox/Rush – Annie Rush by Go Home Productions
I look up to the little bird that glides across the sky
He sings the clearest melody it makes me want to cry
It makes me want to sit right down and cry, cry, cry

GWen Stefani/Cameo – Hollaback Girl (ZAX Word Up Radio Edit) by DJ ZAX
A few times I’ve been around that track
So it’s not just gonna happen like that
‘Cause I ain’t no hollaback girl, I ain’t no hollaback girl

Spice Girls/Usher – Who? Yeah! by DJ Matt Hamer
She’s all up in my head now
got me thinking that it might be a good idea to take her with me
cause she’s ready to leave now I gotta keep it real now
Cause on a 1-to-10, she’s a certified twenty and that just ain’t me

Kanye West/Cake – Kanye Mahna by Lenlow
Cutie the bomb, met her at a beauty salon
With a baby Louis Vuitton under her underarm
She said, I can tell you rock, I can tell by your charm
Far as girls you got a flock, I can tell by your charm

*note: all files hosted on savefile.com