My favorite thing to do in college was to inspect the CD collection of everyone I met. Back in the old days (the 90’s), before Spotify, you just didn’t know what was happening in Omaha or Cleveland’s music scene. But, if you met someone from there in college, you could see if they had bands you never heard of.
Now, this playlist has nothing to do with those bands from Omaha or Cleveland (sorry, no 311), but it certainly was a peek into what a typical girl from the other side of the country may have been listening to. Especially, if this girl was a lacrosse playing, Grateful Dead tape trading, free spirit that taught me the correct way to say “Wooster” er…Woostuh…
This mix tape was on an actual tape and the mix was only on one side. The “A” side was Luna’s album “Lunapark”. It was a great album and one that I really grew to like. Interestingly, they will be playing live at Pappy and Harriet’s out here in Pioneertown next month.I will say this was given to my around 1991 or 1992.
On to the music and memories….
Who Loves the Sun – The Velvet Underground – A very light way to start the mix. This song is a punch way to start the songs as nothing says “I’m cool” in college than to use the Velvet Underground.
I’m a Little Dinosaur – Jonathan Richman – I have sat at the feet of Jonathan Richman while he has sung this song. Really. Three years in a row Richman played at the Commons at the U of R. We all got to interact with him and everything.
Government Center – Jonathan Richman – Normally I would be critical of two songs from the same artist, but they are Jonathan Richman songs so it is ok. The best part of this song was knowing what the Government Center in Boston was way before I ever visited it.
I’ve Been Tired – Pixies – At my school there was a dorm called Melrose Hall. It had quiet hours and one day while walking past (during quiet hours) a guy named Sergio blasted this loud enough to get written up I am sure. He was a rebel. He wore unique hats. Second, a nice recall to Lou Reed (from the first track).
Bird Dream of the Olympus Mons – Pixes – She did it again. Again, if you are going to repeat a band, the Pixies work for me.
Fools Gold – The Stone Roses – Don’t forget, this is the height of the Manchester area of music and the Stone Roses ruled. This beat get’s seared into your brain and since she put the long ( 9min 53 second remix version), your will for sure never lose this beat.
She’s a Rainbow -The Rolling Stones – I was never much of a Rolling Stones fan, but this song was a bit different to me. During the 80’s and 90’s the Rolling Stones I heard was much different to this and it was nice to know that they made songs like this. Now, later, I realized that the Rolling Stones are almost as good as the Beatles…
Oye Como Va – Santana – Carlos Santana should be on every mix tape that I make or review. Why not?
Going Down the Road Feelin’ Bad (Live Version from Frankfurt) – Grateful Dead – Why did I have to put that this version is the live version from Jahrhundert Halle in Frankfurt? Because, some Deadhead will know this exact version and tell me that the version they did in Munich or something had a much better guitar solo because the beer was better that night (or whatever they take). Really. When I met my friend I saw her collection of live Grateful Dead cassettes that took up an entire drawer in her dresser.
Not Fade Away – Grateful Dead – I am not going to say where this was recorded because if you were a real fan, you probably know. Well, since this is on Spotify you probably can see where this was recorded. Also, this is another violation of the two band rule, but I told you how much she liked the Grateful Dead so…
Pearl – Chapterhouse – I write this as I am listening and to be fair, I don’t know much about Chapterhouse. Maybe I knew about them back then, but that was 25 years ago (maybe more). Checking out the wiki on the band I see that they compare to Lush, Ride and Slowdive. I didn’t need Wikipedia to tell me that.
Taste of Cindy – The Jesus and Mary Chain – My friend Jennifer and I used to listen to Bauhaus and the Jesus and Mary Chain in the dark in my house when we were in high school. Anytime I listen to those bands I think of her. She unfortunately is not with us anymore, but the memories will never fade.
Skyway -The Replacements – The Replacements were the first band that I saw in college. What a great time. I don’t remember if they played this, but I’ll just say they did and it was magical. See, Paul Westerberg could be sappy and romantic without being a weenie. I am looking at you “Dyslexic Heart”!!!
There you have it. My recollections on this playlist done very quickly while I was listening to this(hence the occasional lapse in judgement and or knowledge of grammar). I have many more so I apologize in advance.
Oh, you might be wondering where the title came from. This is what our campus phones would say to you when you checked your message on your answering machines….
https://open.spotify.com/embed/user/1210495053/playlist/2oRXvdl8OHCaUUrpWeApM7
Trail and Music 
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