Zen Running Order - Mixtape Community

This mix was originally posted on Art Of The Mix on December 5, 2007. The original notes and comments are as follows:

ATTENTION! This is not a re-formatting! This is a brand spanking new mix that I just put together the night before. [Or it was at the time, remember? ;-)] It's certainly been a while, hasn't it? Well, right now I'm actually down to my last two Sony CD-R blanks, and so I'm going to wait until I've chosen a really good lineup before proceeding with the next one. I'm not just going to throw together any old set of songs, and a lineup is coming together inside my head even as we speak, so I may end up posting it sooner than expected!

Anyway, DISC #1 may look like it's a tad short on songs, but that's only because the proceedings kick off with a huge epic from Yes! Actually, I think DISC #1 turned out just a little bit better than DISC #2, because I had a more fully-formed plan for the first half than I did for the second - although I certainly think the second part turned out okay. What's really funny is that the Mott/CSN/Tool sequence gelled together a whole lot better than logic or common sense might dictate that it should have (ha, ha!)

And yes, you would be correct. Ready For Love is more or less the same song which guitarist Mick Ralphs brought with him to Bad Company after leaving Mott, and which also made that band's first album. I also included a Metallica song which is one of only three songs in which former bassist Jason Newsted got a co-writing credit (the other two being Blackened and My Friend Of Misery). (Poor guy! Even producer Bob Rock got co-writing credits for the entire friggin' St. Anger album!) By the way, I'd just like to dedicate Track 11 to KathrynandRupert - once again!

As far as DISC #2 is concerned, don't let certain song selections deceive you into thinking that I'm "hipper" than I actually am - I just happen to have the Pulp Fiction: Collector's Edition and Zodiac soundtrack discs. Ha, ha, ha! (Just a few more notes: Mudhoney's Let It Slide was more or less a last-minute inclusion for DISC #1. I actually had Nirvana's Very Ape (1993) in mind to precede Metallica's Where The Wild Things Are. But first of all, it wasn't as effective a bridge between Tool's Forty Six & 2 and Metallica. And second of all, I then came up with the idea of including Nirvana's Where Did You Sleep Last Night? toward the end of DISC #2, which nixed the inclusion of anything else by Nirvana - strictly against my rules, y'know!)

doowad (12-05-2007): I like the VU-Nirvana bit, the Link Wray-TDN I would have to hear to believe ;-) and the Neil tune is very good rock with very bad history. Kudos for the Mick Ralphs track on side 1.

KathrynandRupert (12-05-2007): Another dedication.There will be smutty whisperings at AOTM or they'll think you're either Kathryn or Rupert letting their rock side out :) As I always say to Yes, NO! On a more positive note,I'll admit to liking that Joe Walsh song and wholeheartedly endorsing the Manics, Clash, Sly & Family, VU, Mudhoney, Neil Young, Beatles and the Pretenders. I had to brace myself there, I realized I like about 30% of your mix.

Darth Pazuzu (12-06-2007): Well, I'm sorry you don't care for Yes, KathrynandRupert. :-( Personally, they've always been my #3 favorite band (behind only the Beatles and Led Zeppelin). However, the song of theirs I chose is from Tales From Topographic Oceans, which is admittedly an acquired taste even for Yes apologists. ;)

SwankQueen (12-08-2007): What's all the pazuzu about? Hey, my fave Neil young tune! Lots of other great stuff!

Hey, whatever did happen to KathrynandRupert, by the way? I kinda miss them... :-(