There’ll Be New Dreams, Maybe Better Dreams

The Year in Music: The Titular Playlist

My grandmother used to say, “Blessed are they that go in circles, they shall be called wheels.”

It’s always been a bit unclear what that last noun meant. Maybe it literally referred to a wheel. Maybe she was just poking fun at the Beatitudes. Maybe it was her own personal synonym for Lord-knows-what.

Yet somehow I think we’ve all become wheels these past 12 months, scurrying and fretting and endlessly hoping some semblance of normalcy will return–as if there’s an agreed-upon definition of that.

The wise thing, I think, is to dwell upon whatever good fortune we have. For me, that always includes music, now endlessly and bottomlessly available on-demand. I hope you find something to enjoy in this year’s playlist, all of which contributed in various ways as post titles.

And I hope you find a new normal that allows you the space to find enjoyment.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

1. I Think I’ll Just Stay Here And Drink–Merle Haggard, 1980
2. Language is a Virus–Laurie Anderson, 1986
3. Revenge of the Nerds–The Rubinooos, 1984
4. Roam–B52s,  1989
5. Candida–Tony Orlando & Dawn, 1970
6. A Theory–Tracy Chapman, 2008
7. Sketches of China—Paul Kantner, 1973
8. The Swamp–That Petrol Emotion, 2001
9. Libertango–Grace Jones, 1982
10. A New England–Billy Bragg, 1983
11. Lights Out–Michael Bloomfield, 1978
12. Magic Man—Heart,  1975
13. Picture of Matchstick Men–Camper Van Beethoven, 1989
14. It Must Have Been the Roses–Grateful Dead, 1980
15. And She Was–Talking Heads, 1984
16. Gimme a Pigfoot (and a Bottle of Beer)–Bessie Smith, 1933
17. Talk Talk–Talk Talk, 1982
18. Three Little Birds–Bob Marley, 1978
19. Mad Dogs & Englishman–Andy Caine · The Easy Virtue Orchestra, 2008
20. Here Comes the Rain Again–Macy Gray, 2012
21. Fables and Trouble–Amelia Curran, 2009
22. U.S. Blues–Grateful Dead, 1974
23. Sheep–The Housemartins 1986
24. Undertow–Lisa Hannigan, 2016
25. The Honesty’s Too Much–Dan Hill, 1978
26. On Saturday–The Clarks, 2002
27. Crossword Puzzle Blues–Steve Mardon, 2004
28. See You in September–The Happenings, 1966
29. See How We Are–X, 1985
30. Small Town, John Mellencamp, 1985
31. Hit it and Quit It—Funkadelic, 1971
32. Monkey Man—The Rolling Stones, 1970
33. Beat Surrender–The Jam, 1982
34. We Don’t Need This Fascist Groove Thang–Heaven 17, 1982
35. Harlem Shuffle–Bob & Earl, 1962
36. Tell Me a Story–Iggy Pop, 1979
37. Words–Missing Persons, 1982
38. Teacher, Teacher–Rockpile, 1980
39. Hold On-En Vogue, 1990
40. The Republic–Gang of Four, 1980
41. Oh, Tannenbaum–Vince Guaraldi Trio, 1965
42. The Circle Game–Joni Mitchell, 1970

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The Year in Music: The Titular Playlist

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The Year in Music: A Titular Playlist

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