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
(more…)

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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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get your Paul McCartney fix at amazon.com -

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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

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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

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