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Playlists

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April 23, 2022 by Simon Sweetman

Playlist: Phil Spector’s Greatest Hits

Okay, okay, Phil Spector is obviously a despicable – and probably fully cancelled – individual. But the music he made, stood over, demanded from people…that’s not going anywhere. Some of it is some of the best music ever. Almost all of it is worth savouring. I recently found a very cool single-LP greatest hits album – called, funnily enough, Phil Spector’s Greatest Hits.

This is just a single shot – so it doesn’t have everything, there are other great songs not included. But as a one-stop shop this is pretty amazing. And I wanted to share it – so I made up a playlist of the tunes for you. Read More »

Posted in Blog, Playlists · Tagged 1976, Compilation, Greatest Hits, LP, Phil Spector, Playlist: Phil Spector's Greatest Hits, Record, Spotify, Vinyl ·

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April 19, 2022 by Simon Sweetman

Playlist: Graham Brazier’s Top 20 (1978)

Someone shared a picture of Graham Brazier on social media the other week. It was from 1978, from Rip It Up and it featured a list by The Braz of his Top 20 songs. What a list. I decided we needed this out in the world to listen to right now – so I made it up as a playlist. You know most of these songs already I’m sure. But it’s fun to listen to them in this order and with Graham Brazier in mind. What did he hear in them? Why did he like them? Did he ever line them all up and play them in a row? Read More »

Posted in Blog, Playlists · Tagged 1978, Graham Brazier, Graham Brazier's Top 20 (1978), Playlist, Playlist: Graham Brazier's Top 20 (1978), Rip It Up, Spotify, You can follow me on Spotify for my playlists. Click here to check out any of the other playlists on Off The Tracks You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron Want more? Check out my Substack ·

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March 4, 2022 by Simon Sweetman

Playlist: A Year of Little Somethings….

Every week – as part of my Substack newsletter I share a weekly playlist. A Little Something For The Weekend. That’s what I call it. It’s there on my Spotify for anyone to check out of course. But it arrives in your inbox when you subscribe to the newsletter. Every Friday, a new playlist. The same rule applies: It’s always 20 songs. These things arrive into being by fluke. You keep doing them they become a habit. Twenty songs seemed right. Longer than an album, but not so long as to lose interest (hopefully). Each week is different – the mood is often random. But I like the vibe of most of these playlists. And I figure some other people will too. I’m essentially making a playlist every week for an imaginary audience. I have no idea how wide it is going to go or how wide it will be. But I like to think it’s music I like and you might too. That’s the only plan. There’s something here for your weekend. That’s the idea. And to give you an idea – or in fact 52 ideas – here’s the first year of weekly playlists all in one place for you to sample. Read More »

Posted in Blog, Playlists · Tagged A Little Something For The Weekend, A Year of Little Somethings...., Music, Playlist, Playlist: A Year of Little Somethings...., Playlists, Sounds Good, Spotify, Substack, Want more? Check out my Substack You can also support Off The Tracks via PressPatron ·

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June 27, 2021 by Simon Sweetman

Playlist: There’s Worse People

Time for another playlist. I made this one last night – it’s called “There’s Worse People” because that line came out during the day and I want to remember it for a song or a poem or…something, so I title this playlist There’s Worse People. If you’d like to read into the contents of the playlist and apply the title, then be my guest. But that’s certainly not the intention. This is an epic-serve playlist of trip-hop and late-90s/early 00s ephemera relating to the commerical side of electronica. So there’s some cheese. And some straight up bangers. There’s one or two things that don’t quite fit that description but are absolutely linked, era-wise. We had this on last night and liked it. So you might like it too. Read More »

Posted in Blog, Playlists · Tagged Click here to check out any of the other playlists on Off The Tracks You can support Off The Tracks via PressPatron Want more? Check out my Substack, Early-00s, Late-90s, Playlist, Playlist: There's Worse People, Spotify, There's Worse People, Trip-Hop ·

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October 16, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

Playlist: Random Record Crate # 22

crateFrom time to time I put together a playlist based on random selections from my record collection – random, in that I just look at the back covers and pick a song, sometimes the most obvious song, sometimes the least-recognised, or less obvious tunes…and now it’s time for another one, bits of jazz, some folk, some funk, rock, pop – whathaveyou, plenty of whathaveyou…

So here goes: Read More »

Posted in Blog, Playlists · Tagged 22, LP, Playlist, Playlist: Random Record Crate, Playlist: Random Record Crate # 22, Random Record Crate, Random Record Crate # 22, Record Crate, Spotify, Vinyl ·

Archive

July 25, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

Playlist: She-Bop (DJ Set)

She-Bop1Earlier in the year I played a DJ set called She-Bop – it was simple really, just play a bunch of tunes by or featuring women. It was a great night – from slow, low-key beginnings to a big, long, loud party…

Well, I’m doing it all again with She-Bop 2 so thought I’d share the tunes from the first one, a perfect warm-up, many of them will be repeated this time no doubt, but in a different order and at different times in the night. It’s also fine to hear, I think, as a standalone playlist of tunes. I hope you enjoy it…
Read More »

Posted in Blog, Playlists · Tagged DJ, DJ Set, DJ Setlist, Female, Playlist, Playlist: She-Bop (DJ Set), Pop Music, Records, San Fran, She Bop, She-Bop 2, Spotify, Vinyl, Women ·

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March 29, 2017 by Simon Sweetman

Playlist: From “The Greatest Music In The World” DJ Set

download131The other week I played a bunch of records down at the San Fran – I dubbed it “The Greatest Music In The World”, the aim was simply to play funk, soul and R’n’B with a little bit of jazz and blues – if I take those genres and put them together I can honesty/easily say that’s my favourite, the best. Obviously I love stuff from all over the musical spectrum but that’s a nice place to be, in that space, listening to those records. Funk, soul, R’n’B – it gives me strength, it feels right, it’s always correct… Read More »

Posted in Blog, Miscellany, Playlists · Tagged Blues, DJ, DJ Set, Funk, Jazz, LP, Playlist, Playlist: From “The Greatest Music In The World” DJ Set, R'n'B, Record, San Fran, Soul, Spotify, The Greatest Music In The World, Vinyl ·

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November 11, 2016 by Simon Sweetman

Playlist: Favourite ‘Live Album’ Tracks

imagesBack around 2010 I had this little agreement with a bar – a tiny wee bar that was part of a theatre. They asked me to coordinate some sort of “Live Listening Experience”. That was the brief. It was a tiny bar and there was no room to DJ, they thought I could make them playlists – but wanted something (slightly) more than that. So I called them Live Listening Sessions. I’d create a theme, and a playlist and I’d welcome whoever was there with a short reading/speech-thing and that was that. Hit play. And let the people go about their night, chat about music – the aim was to encourage music discussion – and it kinda worked. It was a regular wee crew that turned out. And bonded over music and booze and banter. And I’ve just found the notes from that first session. So I’ve turned them into a playlist – if I find the others I’ll add those up too. Some good tunes here. This first one was a bunch of favourite live-versions of aaaadgasgasfsongs off some of my favourite live-concert albums. I didn’t want to just choose all the obvious staples so there’s some random stuff in here as well as a few obvious classics.

I reckon it’ll play through quite nicely. So maybe some weekend listening for you. Forty songs – just under four hours…lots of longer versions here, a few interesting covers…have at it.

Click here to be taken to the playlist on Spotify.

Click here to check out other playlists on Off The Tracks.

Posted in Blog, Playlists · Tagged DJ, Favourite Live Album Tracks, iPod, Live, Live Album, Live Albums, Playlist, Playlist: Favourite ‘Live Album’ Tracks, Spotify ·

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November 3, 2014 by Simon Sweetman

Playlist: Random Record Crate # 10

Crate cartoonYou know the deal here, from time to time I dig through the record crate and just randomly pick a selection of tunes to sculpt into a playlist. I say sculpt but the unwritten rule (though I guess now, technically it’s being written) is that I can’t plan the order, just listing one song after another – I look at the back cover, find a song, list it – quick as I can go. Just a few minutes per setlist, as long as it takes to find the songs and line them up. And so now here’s the latest. I reckon this one will be a bit of fun. Hope you enjoy…

Posted in Blog, Miscellany, Playlists · Tagged DJ, LP, Playlist, Random, Random Record Crate, Random Record Crate # 10, Records, Spotify, Vinyl ·

Archive

July 7, 2014 by Simon Sweetman

Playlist: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America

jwIn John Waters’ latest book he imagines hitchhiking across America via a couple of novellas – then he documents his actual journey. In the book’s back page he offers the following playlist:

1. Marvin Gaye, Hitch Hike
2. Nervous Norvus, Transfusion
3. Del Reeves, Looking At The World Through A Windshield
4. Pat and The Wildcats, The Giggler
5. Cornbread and Jerry, Loco Moto
6. David Seville and The Chipmunks, Witch Doctor
7. Bobby Scott, Chain Gang
8. Zeb Turner, Travelin’ Boogie
9. Jerry Wallace, Swingin’ Down The LineCarsick
10. Stan Farlow, Hot Wheels
11. Billy Lee Riley, Flying Saucer Rock and Roll
12. Connie Francis, V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N
13. Bobby Curtola, Hitchkiker
14. Jimmy Dan, Bumming Around
15. Webb Pierce, There Stands The Glass
16. Johnny Sea, Hithcin’ and Hikin’
17. The Addicts, You Are The Finger of God
18. Everly Brothers, Torture
19. Joanie Leeds, Tofurky Song
20. Leon Payne, I’m A Lone Wolf
21. The Robins, Riot in Cell Block # 9
22. The Sonics, Strychnine
23. Jericho Brown, Lonesome Drifter
24. The Singing Dogs, Jingle Bells
25. Dale Hawkins, Cross-Ties
26. Buzz Clifford, Baby Sittin’ Boogie
27. Josie Cotton, Who Killed Teddy Bear
28. Doris Day, Ohiojohn waters hitch
29. Red Simpson, Runaway Truck
30. Judy Garland, San Francisco

He tells readers to go online and find these songs – one reader has already put together a YouTube mix. Enjoy.

Posted in Blog, Playlists · Tagged Book, Carsick, Carsick: John Waters Hitchhikes Across America, CompilationS, John Waters, Mix, Playlist, Soundtrack, YouTube ·

Archive

October 20, 2013 by Simon Sweetman

Playlist: Random Record Crate # 3

record bagSet up my old Numark turntable today, doing some Record 3spring-cleaning, sat down and worked through a few LPs too; bit of fun. So here’s another random record crate playlist for you to enjoy/endure/ignore.

Posted in Blog, Playlists · Tagged 3, DJ, LP, Numark, Playlist, Random Record Crate, Random Record Crate # 3, Record Crate, Spotify ·

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Off The Tracks is the home of Sweetman Podcast, a weekly interview/chat-based pod. It's also home to my reviews across film, TV, music and books and some creative writing as well.

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