Welcome to Twisted MixTape Tuesday, this week we disembark from the 90’s. This decade has been the most versatile and controversial yet. For me the 90’s were an extremely transitional period. I transferred college 6 times, lived in 4 states, graduated in 6.5 years. Took one year off to follow The Grateful Dead. Managed an amazing and doomed Compact Disc Store, and then started my own business, with my mother, that is still going strong after 18 years. Instead of being engrossed in pop music, I was engrossed in Pop TV. I never missed an episode of X-Files, Star Trek Next Generation or Babylon 5. I was such an X-Files junkie, I had X-Files paraphernalia, I also had Star Trek bling, a Starfleet Academy sticker on my car and a tricorder – just incase.
In the 90’s my music choices were influenced by my circumstances, not by radio. And so, while I listened to some music that was technically current, I mostly just listened to what I liked.
If you were my friend in 1995 this is the mixtape I would make for you:
Jen’s Greatest Hits
I don’t talk about my brother a lot. He totally dissed me, took off, and I haven’t talked to him in 10 years. That being said, in the early 90’s he was still sane, and we were living together having an awesome time. He’s 10 years older than me so he is responsible for a lot of the music I listen too. Mostly I would just steal his albums, sometimes I would let him have an opinion. The best thing he ever did was introduce me to Lyle Lovett in the form of me stealing this album out of his room. The first album that hooked me was Pontiac. With lines like “If I had a boat, I’d go out on the ocean, and if I had a pony, I’d ride him on my boat.” Then from the song She Ain’t No Lady She’s My Wife – “She hates my mama, she hates my daddy too, she loves to tell me, she hates the things I do, she loves to lie beside me almost every night, she’s no lady she’s my wife.” There isn’t one song on that album that I wouldn’t listen to over and over again.
On Lyle Lovett and his Large Band there was “I Married Her, Just Because She Looks Like You” and on Joshua Judges Ruth “She’s Leaving Me Because She Really Wants Too.” “Penguins” from I Love Everybody and “Don’t Touch My Hat” from The Road to Ensenada and from the same album “That’s Right, You’re Not From Texas” that’s my son’s theme song, because the stinker got to be born in Texas! There is not one song I don’t love that he has written and recorded, I don’t think I can say that about any other artist. I have mentioned in a previous post, Lyle is IT for me. His singularly brilliant song writing, sense of humor and music composition is beyond compare as far as I’m concerned. I am not a modern country music fan by any stretch of the imagination, this is not modern country music. He is without genre as far as I am concerned. To lump him into the Country genre is unfair to his musical ability. But alack, alas, we all have to “fit” somewhere.
Give Back My Heart – Lyle Lovett off of Pontiac
She’s No Lady – Lyle Lovett (sorry this video is priceless. you must watch it)
In the mid-90’s I was reintroduced to a musician that had crossed my radar before: Elvis Costello was one of my college roommate’s favorites. We even had a giant Elvis Costello – Trust poster on our dorm room wall.
Although she loved his music, there was a lot more Del Amitri and Little River Band playing in our four walls. However, 6 years later, another long time friend and now room-mate in the big city was OBSESSED with Elvis Costello. Every night I would get home from work and Elvis would be blaring from the stereo. It is a wonder we never got any complaints. It was actually to the point of irritation. But sometimes, in hindsight, you realize you really love something too. If only it had been done more gently. I own every single Elvis Costello Album, I love them all. This is one of my favorites.
Green Shirt – Elvis Costello
In the early 90’s I was living at home, my mom wasn’t really living there, she was busy elsewhere. My sister and I had run of the show, we were known as The Schneider Girls. And our house was the party house. These days when someone friends me on facebook and I don’t know who they are, my sister says, “You know, they were at all of our parties.” That’s probably why I don’t remember.
That’s not a coffee table, it’s an amp. My sister’s on the horn letting all our friends know we’re about to get the party started!
Being friends with many musicians, some incarnation of our musician friends would form, and there would always be live music. It was a blast, but when the evening was winding down, and we were chilling on the sofas, you can bet we were listening to this.
Late in the Evening – Paul Simon
Pre-party soundcheck. Bill, on guitar, still playing today. Jim on the bass, he’s the trumpet player from the next story.
One of my closest friends was an amazing trumpet player. He played with a pretty well-known ska band called The Blue Meanies but when he wasn’t being all ska, his true love was jazz. Every Sunday night we would go see him play at a little jazz club called No Exit in Chicago. Sometimes I would go over to his place and listen to him practice, it is the most amazing thing to watch a truly brilliant musician perfect his craft. I thank him for opening the door to the world of jazz, I had always been on the outside looking in but he translated the language and even inspired me to study Jazz Theory for a year with another amazing trumpet player. My friend Jim used to play this song, and I gotta tell you…goosebumps.
Dizzy Gillespie – A Night in Tunisia
For you this mixtape is Music of The 1990′s – You know what you like, and you know what’s playing but the world is going to end in 1999 so there will be no music after that.
The rules of Twisted MixTape are as such: Try and create a 5 song mix based on this week’s theme. As we move through the decades the assumption is you know about the music in the past, but not what is to come. Create your own post and link it up, or put your mix in the comments. If you’re going to link-up there must be a song – relating to the theme – in your post. Share this all over the place, the more the merrier. And go visit my lovely cohort – Kristi at Finding Ninee. She’s always got a song, a funny story and some silly Drawrings. Mostly, just have fun, there’ s no pressure here.
http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=199003
And if you need to own any of these song, and you do if you don’t already own all that Lyle 😉 these links will take you straight to iTunes:
Give Back My Heart – Pontiac
She’s No Lady – Pontiac
Green Shirt – Armed Forces
Late In the Evening – The Essential Paul Simon
Night In Tunisia – Night In Tunisia – The Very Best of Dizzy Gillespie (1994 Remastered)
Here is The List of all Lists:
July 30 – The 00′s part 1
Aug 6 – The 00′s part 2 up to and including 2013
Aug 13 – Duets ( this can be duets or duos like Hall & Oats or Loggins & Messina you decide)
Aug 20 – No Strings Attached (I know none of this feel this way – wink wink. But there are a lot of great songs about having a relationship/one night stand with no strings attached)
August 27 – You know what? I suck/ You suck. Get your venom out here, or maybe that ballad that basically says ‘you suck’”, or play it this way: you’re the one who did wrong and you know it. This is your apology/acknowledgement for being an ass. Or a mix of the two. You decide.
September 3 – “BEST OF” pick a band, any band, and put together a “Best of” playlist. Easy peasy for the holiday weekend.
Jen Kehl 
Huge Paul Simon fan and love “Late in the Evening”. Truly sounded like a great decade for you, Jen and must admit having just graduated high school in 1995, this still in my favorite decade by far and just have such a special place in my heart for this time of my own life. The music, of course, played a big part. Thanks for the trip down memory lane these past two weeks!!
Thanks Janine! Someday I know you’ll play along 🙂
You don’t even realize what you’ve just done for me: I’ve never figured out why I didn’t understand my friends’ Star Trek or X-File references. I think I was too busy waiting for my favorite hip-hop to FINALLY be played on the radio (which only happened at night lest we offend some conservative white people). I would unplug the phone in my room and press record so I could listen to my jams over and over and over. Notorious B.I.G., Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, Janet Jackson. Loved me some Humpty Dance and Rump Shaker and more songs that degraded women but I was too cool to notice.
Nice Stephanie! So while you were sitting there trying to catch your hip hop carefully while avoiding the DJ’s voice. I was glued to the TV waiting for X-Files to start, not answering the phone, not listening to the radio. Maybe you can do a MixTape so I can hear the music that was playing while I was busy watching TV!
Agree, Lyle is a brilliant songwriter, as is Paul. Remember singing “and I stepped outside to smoke myself a j” with quite a lot of gusto. Can’t figure out why. Dizzy is an interesting choice, though jazz will never be my thing. Nice list. Exit light 1990s.
Hey Kat! Is it weird but I always wanted my son to feel about music like Paul does in that song.
I should have known you were the party house 🙂 You were living the life I wanted to be living in the 90’s it seems.
I am all ready to link up, I’m just waiting for my husband to write out his love letter to the 90’s so I can include it.
Can’t wait Jean. I lived a life time in the 90’s, maybe that’s why I feel so old 🙂
Ok Jen, you finally got me. I’ve never been a Lyle Lovett or an Elvis Costello fan, but I know the people that like them LOVE them! To each his own. I do dig Paul Simon a whole bunch though! My trip in the time machine comes up soon, and people will be poking their eardrums out…
Can’t wait Sarah! Amazing that our paths finally diverged, huh?
I love that song ‘She’s No Lady’!!! Great list. I agree with the link up Country meets the 90’s. It was a time of merging over onto the charts wasn’t it. Faith Hill and Leann Rimes hitting the Pop charts. Music was changing and I’m not sure I quite grasp that at the time. lol.
It really was Donetta, I remember hearing Leann Rhimes and being wowed. I also remember wanting her so bad to get control of her life, she was so young, but she made it happen!
EEEP you were SO adorable in front of your ginormous Elvis & Costello poster. And dude. I am so jealous that I wasn’t your neighbor back in the day. I’d have been sneaking out all over the place to come to that party. So awesome.
As in, I wish I knew you then…
I wish I knew you when Kristi! I think we would have had some awesome parties drinking each other under the table!
So great to hear you are a fellow X-Phile. Back before DVRs and NetFlix we had to be home every Friday or Sunday night to keep up with our fave show. Enjoyed you music selections and live the picture with the Elvis poster.
Exactly John! I would rush home from work, grab BBQ along the way and sit down for my Friday night ritual!
I was heavy into Elvis during his Veronica and Shipbuilding days. The Dead had been a fav of mine since Truckin’ was released in the 60’s, and Ship Of Fools rang clear in the 70’s. I’m sure you had to be listening to a little Spacehog (“In The Meantime”) and some revived Pink Floyd during those times, too! A couple of my favorites from those days were “Standing by a broken phone booth with money in my hand” and “Jesus, built my Hotrod”. I’m gonna bet five to one odds that you know the artists that performed those songs. Of course, Megadeth, Ministry and Queensryche were still going strong, but Metallica was starting to suffer from the reverse sympathy over their crusade against copying music. Some interesting times, to say the least. A post filled with memories. Good Job!
Thanks Rich! I loved Veronica, but then I listened to the lyrics one too many times and it started to make me feel a little queasy, so I went back to the old stuff and it’s absurdity. I have love Truckin because now I can play it for the kid and he likes it too, Ship of Fools is one of my favorites to sing the whole “Mars Hotel” album is on rotation quite often in my house. Did you read my 80’s post, is that why you mentioned “Jesus Built My Hot Rod”? I used to listen to Ministry all the time, saw them live too. Loved Primitive Radio Gods even more, that song was so awesome, I had completely forgotten about it until you mentioned it. Thanks so much for bringing me the memories!
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Have Lyle in my list as well.
I suspect I’ve said it before, but there are some artists that, from the first note from the first song, you know that they are something remarkable, (my own list includes Living Colour, Pearl Jam, Hendrix), and Lyle Lovett was one of those people. I recall channel surfing* and coming across a PBS channel (it may have been Austin City Limits, maybe not) and there was Lyle Lovett and his Large Band. I think we caught it right at the beginning and the song was (one of your choices), ‘She’s No Lady’
Totally loved it.
*this was back before the corporate state decided that it wasn’t fair that people could entertain themselves while a commercial was on by looking for other shows to watch during commercials. Of course, with a little *coordination* of the timing of commercials, that was effectively eliminated.
Technology has not necessarily benefited us in all aspects of our lives. I listen to my music on Pandora now, I watch TV on the computer or Netflix, if I want to find something new I have to actively seek it out. No more channel surfing, TV or radio….
Most eclectic mix…love it!
You really snagged me on the x-files. One of my all times favs:)
You make me long for the 90’s LOL
Girlie, X-Files will always be in my top 10 TV shows of all time!
I will love Paul Simon forever.
Haven’t though about the Little River Band in a long time. I need to go rediscover them.
Tracie, def go back to Little River Band, you won’t be sorry!
As I go through and comment on each of the linked posts every week, I inevitably forget to comment on yours. I’m trying to do better about that. Maybe its because your list are on the opposite end of the spectrum as mine and I end up on Google researching bands and singers I’ve never heard of and then forget to comment. Oops. Anyway, loved your list this week and I was actually familiar with them all so I could just enjoy the music!
That is so funny Dream! I google searched some of the stuff on your list too! I think that’s why I love this decade, there are so many different points of view!
Yay, Blue Meanies!!!
Yay, the inclusion of Dizzy and Tunisia!
Yay, giant Elvis Costello staring down at you while you’re trying to sleep, only to not be able to because there’s a giant Elvis Costello staring down at you!
Now I get the Yay Blue Meanies comment Troy! They have an interesting story, google it if you have the time!
I have to admit, there are times where I don’t know most of the songs you pick,Jen. You have such a wider musical repertoire than I do. But I do know and love Paul Simon, and I love listening to one of your picks while I write a comment. You rock!
I’m happy to get to share some new music with you Dana! come play again so you can do the same!
The Grateful Dead revelation is something I’m still processing. I think we need a conference, blogging or other, to figure this out.
Good songs, regardless. You know I love Declan McManus/the real Elvis.
wow, between the pictures and tales o yore, we peel the Jen onion.
Lance we haven’t even scratched the surface.
I am not a fan of this decade of music, BUT I LOVE Elvis Costello, and I have a story to share…I had a boyfriend who had a best friend who was in Paul Simon’s band in the 90’s. So we got to hang out with them a few times during rehearsal, and got really great seats to two concerts on his tour with Bob Dylan. It was great! I’m a huge Dylan fan, although he completely phoned it in for both concerts! I didn’t get to meet Dylan, but did pass him in the hallway! ha/ha!
That’s so awesome Rachel. I love stories of brushes with fame, and also am a little jealous. Not that I would have done anything different!
Awesome Jen… Very cool that we both have Lyle. Love the list. If you have a chance, go back to mine and read my Reply to your comment… 🙂 Slu
Slu that is awesome that you are from Carrollton, I bet it’s a lot different now. It was clearly being built up when we were there!
The songs are great, but lets skip to the important bit – you had a TRICORDER?!
You’re my hero 😀
Lizzi! You are so awesome, I wish we could meet IRL, oh well someday I’ll cross that pond!
OMG, I snuck a peek and I’m so excited about August! I LOVE the mixtape idea and regret not making it again this week.
I am so happy you didn’t know me in the 90’s because you’d never hang out with me. I was lame. You were cool. On the other hand, you may have introduced me to that gorgeous line from Lyle Lovett: “I Married Her, Just Because She Looks Like You” and got me hooked. I guess well never know. I LOVE that phrase, I wish someone said this to me. I’d marry them, even though they’re already married. Even if they’re Lyle Lovett. 🙂
I HAVE to do August!
Katia, I would so marry Lyle for every line! Especially that one. And this “and for every time you said no, she said “honey I’d be glad to” And for every time you left me she says “darling, I’ll be there.”
Now be there in August!
Ah yes,the 90s. Wasn’t that when that Clinton dude was in office? 🙂 I’m pretty sure I was in college for some of it, then working at really depressing low-paying jobs for part of it, then depressing high-paying jobs, then on to grad school to escape real life. What was I listening to? Alanis Morrisette – You Oughta Know; anything off Pearl Jam’s Ten album – and I mean anything, even if I couldn’t understand one single word Eddie said; anything on the Dixie Chicks’ Wide Open Spaces – I love them forever; Duran Duran’s Ordinary World, because true love never dies; and Montell Jordan’s This is How We Do It.
And that doesn’t even scratch the surface of this onion.
Miss~ It’s OK to love Duran Duran forever, I can still listen to them after *? years and that’s saying a lot! Love the Dixie Chicks, although I forget they exist sometimes. Come play next week!
I missed week one of the 90’s but I’ll do extra this week! I am always into extra credit (at least I was back in middle school in the 90’s!) Yup… I was a teeny bopper most of the 90’s and this list will reflect that… Sorry (not at all).
I want you Back- N’Sync (and proud of it!)
Hit me baby One More Time- Britney Spears (Ohh baby, baby… how was I supposed to know)
Every Morning- Sugar Ray (Who didn’t love those frosted tips??)
My Heart Will go On- Celine Dion (OH LEO!)
Wonderwall- Oasis (Still a fav to sing along to)
Linger- Cranberries (The first CD I ever stole from my sister)
End of the Road- Boyz II Men (They taught me everything I needed to know about sex)
Waterfalls- TLC (the first CD I owned [vs. tape] and I know EVERY word and EVERY dance move…)
I could go on and on and on and on and on. FUN WEEK!