20 Songs That Make Me Happy

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Many of you have probably seen the “Name 20 songs that make you happy” thing going around the social medias. Well, I took the time to make a quick playlist of 20 songs that make me happy. Listen/stream/download below.

Hope you enjoy.



  1. Manchester by Kishi Bashi

  2. I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Time) by Jaimie xx

  3. Funky Kingston by Toots and the Maytals

  4. Love, Love, Love 2 (Reprise) by Akron/Family

  5. Mustt Mustt (Extended) by Kiran Ahluwalia

  6. Konkon by Oki Dub Ainu Band

  7. Scenario by A Tribe Called Quest

  8. Baba O’Riley by the Who

  9. Here Comes Sunshine by Grateful Dead

  10. Sweet Jane by the Velvet Underground

  11. Sun Hands by Local Natives

  12. Reality Used to be a Friend by P.M. Dawn

  13. Swerve . . . The reeping . . . by Shabazz Palaces

  14. Bam Bam by Sister Nancy

  15. Lalo Schifrin by Blue Scholars

  16. I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Creedence Clearwater Revival

  17. Baby Baby by the Vibrators

  18. Love of My Life Worldwide by Erykah Badu

  19. Boogie on Reggae Woman by Stevie Wonder

  20. Ooh La La by Faces

  • Download a PDF of some pretty bland CD artwork

Meet Some Of My Friends (the Velvet Underground Edition) :: A Holiday At The Sea Playlist

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Welcome to the first installment of what I hope will be an ongoing playlist series throughout 2023 where I introduce you to some of my favorite music. I often make playlists for my car and I thought I might as well share them here.

We kick off the series with the Velvet Underground. I tried to keep it to cuts from the studio albums, but I really like “I’m Beginning To See the Light” from 1969: The Velvet Underground Live. Whether you know them or not, I hope you enjoy this playlist.

Setlist:

  1. Who Loves The Sun

  2. Some Kinda Love

  3. Sweet Jane

  4. Sister Ray

  5. I'm Waiting For The Man

  6. Rock & Roll

  7. Beginning To See The Light

  8. Here She Comes Now

  9. I'm Set Free

  10. White Light/White Heat

  11. Run Run Run

  12. Oh! Sweet Nuthin'

  13. What Goes On

  14. There She Goes Again

  15. New Age

  • Download the cover art as a PDF

  • Visit the Velvet Underground’s website

  • Browse other Holiday at the Sea playlists

  • Purchase Velvet Underground music at Amazon

Meet Me At The Gates :: A Holiday at the Sea Spiritual Rendezvous

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As we enter Junior Year of the Pandemic, I have been looking outside of the expected places for comfort, assurance, and even meaning.

In those olden days of yore, the “Elders” or the “wise ones of a city” might meet at the city gate where they would gather to discuss life’s complexities and to offer advice to those who asked.

I know none of you asked, and I don’t claim to be wise, but if any of you ever wanted to meet at the gate, here would be my advice.

Setlist:

  1. Let Us Make a Record by Sister Gertrude Morgan

  2. I'm So Happy And Free The Lord Save Me by Rev. Lonnie Farris

  3. Wonderful by Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

  4. Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah by Indian Bottom Association

  5. Jesus Will Provide by Isaiah Owens

  6. Fix It Jesus by Reverend Charlie Jackson

  7. Higher Power by Ramsay Midwood

  8. People Get Ready by Imperial Golden Crown Harmonizers

  9. I Have A Savior I Can by Leon Pinson

  10. Yeah, Lord! Jesus is Able by Rev. Louis Overstreet

  11. I Was Healed By The Wounds In His Side by Sister Gertrude Morgan

  12. A Little More Faith by Reverend Gary Davis

  13. Pray For Me by Leon Pinson

  14. Is There Anybody Here Who Loves My Jesus? by Rev. Louis Overstreet

  15. Take Care of Us by Revelations

  16. God’s Got It by Reverend Charlie Jackson

  17. Joyful Noise by Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

  18. The Lord’s Prayer by The Spiritualaires of Hurtsboro, Alabama

  19. God’s Gonna Separate by Reverend Gary Davis

  20. Take Your Burdens To The Lord by Washington Phillips

  21. God’s Mighty Hand by Rev. Utah Smith

  22. I Want To Ride That Glory Train by The Abyssinian Baptist Gospel Choir

The Way Out Where Is In :: A Holiday At The Sea Playlist

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Here’s a fun little playlist to celebrate Serendipity.

Let me explain: My name is Brent and I love the Grateful Dead. So it makes perfect sense to lead off this mix with the Dead rehearsing with Brent in April 1979 right before his first tour with them.

And, not only is my name Brent and I love the Grateful Dead, I love the music of Miles Davis. So much so that Miles Davis is one of the reasons we named our oldest son Miles. So it makes perfect sense to include Miles Davis playing at the Fillmore West; a bill shared with none other than the Grateful Dead. You can watch video here.

OH, and if all that wasn’t enough, I was born in 1973! Not in Summer, but still, the Dead jamming with Brent for a song named after my birth year, how could I not include it here?!

So we have two tracks from the Dead and Brent rehearsing, two tracks of wild Miles opening for the Dead. Then, we wrap things up with the drums/space segment (except I reversed them here) from Dead and Co. in Phoenix, AZ, 2017. Because, guess what: WE WERE THERE!

So here’s a mix of out there stuff with inward significance. This playlist is not for everyone. But if you know, you know. Ya dig?

Setlist:

  1. “Booji Boy's Bad Trip (Drums, Space, Feedback)” by the Grateful Dead

  2. “Miles Runs The Voodoo Down” by Miles Davis

  3. “Summer of ‘73” by the Grateful Dead

  4. “It’s About That Time” by Miles Davis

  5. “Space/Drums” by Dead and Co.

  • Visit the Grateful Dead’s official website.

  • Follow the Grateful Dead on Facebook.

  • Follow Grateful Dead on Twitter.

  • Purchase Grateful Dead music on Amazon.

  • Visit the official Miles Davis website.

  • Follow the Miles Davis page at Facebook.

  • Purchase Miles Davis music at Amazon.

  • Visit the official Dead and Co. website

  • Browse all Holiday at the Sea playlists

Dubspace :: A Holiday At The Sea Playlist

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Clasp the helmet and lower yourself into the Dubspace.

20 Dub heavy hitters.

Enjoy.



Tracklisting:

  1. “Love and Fire” by Ruts DC

  2. “Independent Intavenshan” by Linton Kwesi Johnson

  3. “Black Right” by Keith Hudson

  4. “Staga Dub” by King Tubby

  5. “Babylon Gone Down” by Yabby You

  6. “Jumping Jack” by Herman Chin Loy

  7. “Above and Beyond” by Lee “Scratch” Perry

  8. “In King David’s Style” by Mad Professor

  9. “Some Bizarre” by African Head Charge

  10. “Back Weh” by Prince Far I

  11. “Capitol Radio Rock” by Sir Coxsone Sound

  12. “East Of The River Nile” by Augustus Pablo

  13. “Higher Ranking” by Dennis Bovell

  14. “Blood On His Lips” by Scientist

  15. “Refraction” by Phase Selector Sound

  16. “Swords of Vengeance” by Prince Jammy

  17. “Stalag” by Winston Riley

  18. “Theme Dub” by Jah Lloyd

  19. “The Road Is Rough” by Tommy Cowan

  20. “Sata Dub” by Errol “Flabba” Holt

  • Browse other Holiday at the Sea Music Playlists









"Egad Józsi, and (what about) the mask?" (A Holiday At The Sea Quarantine Playlist)

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Here’s a Quarantine-inspired playlist. With a story arc of sorts. Sort of like a concept album, except it’s a mix.

Curious? Why don’t you give it a listen. I’d like to hear someone else try and describe the journey of discovery I was trying to capture here. What do you think? How would you tell this story?


Playlist:

  1. “Cold Hard Times” by Lee Hazlewood

  2. “Don’t Come Around Here No More” by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

  3. “We Will Become Silhouettes” by the Postal Service

  4. “T.B. Sheets” by Van Morrison

  5. “Sorry You’re Sick” by Ted Hawkins

  6. “It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” by R.E.M.

  7. “American Heartache” by the Wood Brothers

  8. “Down With Disease” by Phish

  9. “Down With Desperation” by Sammy Brue

  10. “Sometimes It’s Hard” by Rainer

  11. “Consider the Ravens” by Dustin Kensrue

  12. “Love Is Everywhere (Beware)” by Wilco

  13. “Shelter From The Storm” by Bob Dylan

  14. “Love Knows (No Borders” by Howe Gelb

  15. “I’ll Be Your Shelter” by the Housemartins

  16. “Sisters and Brothers” by the Vespers

  • Browse other Holiday at the Sea playlists.

Hope Is A Mood More Than A Color (A Holiday At The Sea Playlist)

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I was going through some old files on my computer the other day and I came across the art for a mix called “Hope Is A Mood More Than A Color”. I don’t remember making this mix but I do remember listening to it in the car.

I have racked my brain trying to remember the circumstances of putting together this mix and I can’t. Oh well, because the title and mood of the mix certainly seemed like they would be appropriate for the current coronavirus social distancing experiment. So, no matter where you currently find yourself on the social distancing scale, enjoy some music:

Tracklisting:

  • “Distress Signal” by Jeremy Casella

  • “Guess I’m Doing Fine” by Beck

  • “Don’t Be Sad” by Whiskeytown

  • “Fires” by David Ramirez

  • “Day O Day (Love So Free)” by Hiss Golden Messenger

  • Shelter From The Storm by Bob Dylan

  • “Wild Horses” by the Rolling Stones

  • “Everything (Overture")” by Chris Bathgate

  • “Hope” by Dirty Three

  • “Old Man’s Town” by the Hollands!

  • “Keep Your Head Up” by Ben Howard

  • “Headache” by Seryn

  • “Letting Go And Holding On” by Shawn Skinner and the Men of Reason

  • “Western States” by Matt Haeck

  • “Good Good End” by Waterdeep

  • Browse all the Holiday at the Sea playlists.


Daily Driver Summer 2019 (Trailer)

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Back in August as Summer was closing out, I posted a personal music mix that I had been listening to during the heat of the sunbaked Phoenix Summer. I called it “Daily Driver Summer 2019”. I know, not the most creative title, but, as I said at the time, I hadn’t really planned on posting it. It was just something I made for myself to listen to on my daily commute. What I neglected to tell you at the time, my dear readers is that there are actually two volumes. So I figured why not share the sequel as well. Please don’t hold it against me. I really didn’t mean to keep anything from you. Please enjoy now.

Download the jewel case art as a PDF file.

Tracklisting:

  1. “Suzie Q” by Creedence Clearwater Revival

  2. “Suena” by Ondatrópica

  3. “Mustt Mustt (Extended)” by Kiran Ahluwalia

  4. “Kukuchi” by Letta Mbulu

  5. “Kogarashi” by Kikagaku Moyo

  6. “On the Road Again” by Canned Heat

  7. “Turn On Your Love Light” by the Grateful Dead

  8. “I Like It (I Like It Like That)” by Pete Rodriguez

  9. “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley and the Wailers

  10. “Golden Clouds” by The Orb Featuring Lee "Scratch" Perry

  11. “Hey Ya!” by OutKast

  12. “Boogie On” by Rob (Funky Rob Way)

  13. “Hymn of the Big Wheel” by Massive Attack