The Year in Music: The Titular Playlist
If you’re reading this, you made it.
In any given year some of us don’t. You may know someone who was here at the beginning of 2020 and who you never thought wouldn’t be here now. If that’s so, I wish you peace.
Amidst such a mess, maintaining a tradition might seem silly. But I’ve become a big fan of traditions, recognizing them as a useful social lubricant as long as they’re allowed to evolve. Like the transformation of this practice from C-90s to Spotify. Secretly, I suspect more of you listened to the tapes.
This year, I tried hard to include more recent records and venture further back than last year’s 1980s-heavy installment. Still, even the more recent stuff features folks from back when. I’m getting to that age. I hope you give a listen and that among the two hours or so of tunes you find something you like. Or maybe something to read among the books.
But even if you don’t, know that I wish you a better 2021. As a start, hug someone you love.
Peace.
(NB: One last thing: one of the songs listed below was not available on Spotify.)
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Just Like Starting Over—John Lennon, 1980
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Political Word—Bettye Layvette, 2018
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Time of the Season—The Zombies, 1968
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The Prisoner—The Clash, 1978
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You’ve Got Possibilities—Peggy Lee, 1966
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Hallelujah Chorus—The Priests, 2016
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The Killing Moon—Echo and the Bunnymen, 1984
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Punk Rock Girl—The Dead Milkmen, 1988
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Beat the Retreat—Richard & Linda Thompson, 1984
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Polly—Nirvana, 1993
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Charlotte Sometimes—The Cure, 1981
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Long Gone Blues—Billie Holiday, 1939
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Always the Last to Know-Del Amitri, 1992
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Ghosts—The Jam, 1982
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Thinking Blues—Bessie Smith, 1928
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Wordy Rappinghood—Tom Tom Club, 1981
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You Don’t Know What Love Is—Fenton Robinson, 1974
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Key to the Highway—Big Bill Broonzy, 1940
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The More I See—Fun Boy Three, 1983
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I Hear Music—Ella Fitzgerald, 1962
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When the Battle is Over—Aretha Franklin, 1970
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Animal Magic—Peter Gabriel, 1978
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1999—Prince, 1982
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Daddy’s Girl—The Dream Syndicate, 1984 (unavailable at press time)
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The Warmth of the Sun—The Beach Boys, 1964
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Season of the Witch—Donovan, 1966
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Workin’ for a Living—Huey Lewis and the News, 1982
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Daniel—Elton John, 1974
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Judge Not—Bob Marley, 1982
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Last Train—Mavis Staples, 2010
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In the Clouds—The Cult, 1996
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Deal—Jerry Garcia, 1971
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Slip Kid—The Who, 1975
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Penguins—Lyle Lovett, 1994
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Panic Beach–Maria McKee, 1989
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Going Up The Country–Canned Heat, 1968
- Phoenix–Dan Fogleberg, 1979
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Hell of a Year–Parker McCollum, 2017
An Honest Con 