summer twang mix tape

My summertime mix tape was so popular last week, I’m stoked to be able to bring you another one!  This one was compiled for you by reader Mab of Still On The Ground, whose song suggestions on the last post were so great that I asked him if he would make his own mix tape for me.  Here’s what he has to say about his amazing summer twang mix:

“When the summer temperatures begin to rise, I start to get the insatiable itch for some good ol’ country music. I’m not sure why this is, but I think that it has something to do with the fact that I’m not really a huge fan of the summer heat, so somehow the twang of country music, or anything country-related, soothes my restlessness. The following selection ranges from upbeat, almost rockabilly sounding country from the 1950s, to the deranged interpretation of roots music by some punks in the 1980s, to some contemporary acts trying to keep the old sound alive. There’s even a British band (Demented Are Go) on the mix, which I find interesting. Regardless of how the music is played, the recurrent strand of good, twangy guitars is what helps me pass the all too-warm Southern California nights. Enjoy! ♥ mab”

Summer Twang Mix Tape via Mediafire

1. Why Baby Why – George Jones
2. Hillbilly Fever – Little Jimmy Dickens
3. Hold On – Slim Cessna’s Auto Club
4. (I Was Born A) Busted Hymen – Demented Are Go
5. American Nightmare – Misfits
6. Mama Tried – Merle Haggard
7. Drivin’ Nails in My Coffin – Ernest Tubb
8. My Rough and Rowdy Ways – Lefty Frizzell
9. I Was A Teenage Werewolf – The Cramps
10. Thunderstorms and Neon Signs – Wayne Hancock
11. Country Heroes – Hank Williams III
12. Ramblin’ Man – Hank Williams

A huge thanks again to Mab for curating this incredible list of jams!

summertime girl groups mix tape

Either ’60s girl groups put me in a summer mood, or summer puts me in a ’60s girl groups mood — whichever it is, I figured I’d share a summer mix tape with you guys.  These are all ’60s girl songs, mostly about boys and summer and love and dancing, and they all feel so summery to me they practically smell like Banana Boat.  Every song is totally danceable —  put this mix on at your next barbecue, bonfire, or beach blanket bingo sesh.

Summertime Girl Groups Mix Tape via Mediafire — sort by date to get them in the order below:

1. Lookin’ For Boys – The Pinups
2. He Was Really Sayin’ Somethin’ – The Velvelettes
3. Boys – The Shirelles
4. Dream Boy – Jackie DeShannon
5. She Don’t Deserve You – The Honey Bees
6. I’m Gonna Destroy That Boy – The What Four
7. Steady Boyfriend – April Young
8. Needle in a Haystack – The Velvelettes
9. I Have A Boyfriend – The Chiffons
10. Funnel Of Love – Wanda Jackson
11. Don’t Ever Leave Me – Connie Francis
12. Sophisticated Boom Boom – The Goodies
13. Egyptian Shumba – The Tammys

Enjoy!  ♥

summer love, punk rock style part 2

My friend Allison is a punk rock megababe from Brea who likes baking, Lemmy, and being a creep.  She chimed in with a few of her favorite romantic punk jams on my post a few days ago, and her picks were all so spot-on that I invited her to make her own list for you guys!  After you’ve checked out her top ten punk rock love songs, you should probably follow her on Twitter @AllisonMarie666.  Thanks again for contributing, Allison!  Here are her picks and commentary:

1. Silly Girl – The Descendents

Allison says:  I have no idea how Milo ever got turned down by any girl.  If I were ever to be serenaded by him, I would instantly melt. This song is so adorable, it makes you feel like you’re 14 and you just got your first boyfriend. Then again, just about every Descendents song about a girl makes me feel that way.

2. I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend – The Ramones

Allison says: A classic! What better way to tell a girl how you really feel then to just let her know you wanna be her boyfriend. Probably one of the best ways to ask out any girl in a studded belt that you’re crushing on.

3. Please Don’t Touch – Motörhead/Girlschool

Allison says: Who would have thought Motörhead to be romantic? There are quite a few Motörhead songs that could have made the list, but I find this one to be the best (although “Jailbait” was a close second).  Sara adds: Oh, hell yeah.  When Lemmy remembers the first time he took her to a cheap motel, I get these weird tingles.

4.  GG Allin & the Jabbers – Cheri Love Affair

Allison says: I mentioned this one in my original comment, but I had to include it again. While he keeps it kinda sleazy with lines like, “looking at you make me cream in my jeans”,  GG redeems the sweetness by saying “I’d like to take ya to a real nice place”.  Dinner and sex, anyone?

5. Iggy & the Stooges – I Wanna Be Your Dog

Allison says: This song screams sweaty, sticky, summer love. A few beers, this record, a hot boy, and you are instantly in the heavy petting mood.

6. Nasty Facts – All Half Yours
(so fuckin punk it’s not even on Youtube!)
Allison says: I didn’t hear about this band till I recieved my very own punk rock love song mix. This song is playful and fun, and perfect for that summer fling you may find yourself in.

7. The Damned – New Rose

Allison says: “I’ve got a feeling inside of me, it’s kinda strange like a stormy sea” — Isn’t this the way everyone feels when they start to fall in love without knowing it?

8. Stiff Little Fingers – Barbed Wire Love

Allison says: This one was chosen because it holds more sentimental value than anything. This song is great, Stiff Little Fingers is great, and it reminds me of being 18 and in love.

9. Black Flag – Slip It In

Allison says: This one is kinda a creeper on the list. I mostly put this on here for me. Something about Henry Rollins is so undeniably sexy, and listening to this song instantly makes me wanna make out. I’m kind of a pervert, Henry Rollins is a total babe, and so this made it!

10. The Undertones – Teenage Kicks

Allison says: I almost forgot about this one, and then I kicked myself in the ass for doing so. This song describes all the best parts about being young and in love, and is definitley in the top 10 punk rock love songs of all time.

Dude, she’s right on, right?  What are your punk rock love picks?  Let me know, and who knows, maybe you can make your own list!

summer love, punk rock style

Summer is the best time for romance and summer is the best time for punk rock (though clearly both things are also really, really good all year long), so why not combine them? Here are five punk rock love songs you can put on that mix tape you’re making for that dude (or lady) you met at the bar/beach/show/holding cell a couple weeks ago.

Punk Rock Girl – The Dead Milkmen

This song makes me want to move to Philly and go to Zipperheads until my own personal Rodney Anonymous taps me on the shoulder and asks if I have a beau. Edited to add Trusty reader Linda has informed me that Zipperheads is no more. I guess I will also need a time machine.

Dead Boys – All This And More

Stiv wants to do more than just describe what it’s like to have sex with the light on. “A teenage feelin, rockin’ and a reelin'” is one of the most accurate descriptions of infatuation that I can think of.

Descendents – Nothing With You

“I don’t wanna move, I’ll just sit here in my living room and see what’s on the tube while I’m hanging out with you.”  If that’s not one of the romantic sentences ever uttered, I don’t know what is.

The Vibrators – Baby Baby

This is one of the sweetest, most innocent new-love songs in the punk rock oeuvre — especially coming from a band whose patch my mom would barely even let me wear when I was a teenager.

Richard Hell & The Voidoids – All The Way

Richard Hell covers the classic Ol’ Blue Eyes tune and somehow makes it sound even better and even more plaintive.  I totally want this to be played at my wedding, and if the dude doesn’t agree I guess we aren’t getting married after all.

What are your favorite punk rock love songs? I swear you could probably make a tape with nothing but Descendents jams and be golden.