Playlist of Awesome: California Road Trip 2010
Thanks to the miracle of satellite radio (included in my rental car), I became reacquainted with some great songs during my recent trip up and down the coast of California. Many of the tunes were ones I had either completely forgotten about or never knew the titles and/or artists. But thanks to satellite, which gives the title and artist for every song, that is no longer a problem. (Note to iPhone users: I know Shazam does provide that information, but sometimes Shazam isn’t practical. Or you just don’t hear the songs. Ever.)
Special props go out to the Sirius First Wave channel, which has shows hosted by Richard Blade and Swedish Egil, two awesome DJs who specialize in the 80’s. This channel is essentially a recreation of LA-based KROQ 106.7 in the 80’s which for better or worse, was the soundtrack that I grew up with in LA.

Richard Blade's Flashback Favorites are AWESOME
Every time a new song came on the radio, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It was like listening to junior high and high school all over again. In other words, it was awesome. I wonder if anyone on Highway 101 saw a brunette rocking out in a white Hyundai Elantra and thought, “That chick is crazy!” And you know what? I don’t care.
The songs on the California Road Trip Playlist below are inspired or rediscovered thanks to the magic of satellite radio. I also threw in a few favorites for old times’ sake. And don’t worry, it’s not entirely 80’s. There is some stuff from post-2000. I believe the 90’s are entirely absent. And rightfully so.
If you like any of them, they’re all available at iTunes. I should know, since I dropped at least $20 downloading most of them.
1. Take Your Mama – Scissor Sisters
2. Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone) – Glass Tiger
3. Kiss Me – Stephen Tin Tin Duffy
4. State Farm – Yaz
5. Shy Boy – Bananarama
6. New Song – Howard Jones
7. Sowing the Seeds of Love – Tears for Fears
8. Fields of Fire (400 Miles) – Big Country
9. Feel the Love – Cut Copy
10. Pacific Coast Party – Smash Mouth
11. Strip – Adam Ant
12. Pata Pata – Miriam Makeba
13. Filthy/Gorgeous – Scissor Sisters
14. Sausalito Summer Nights – Diesel
15. King for a Day – Thompson Twins
16. New Direction – Echo & the Bunnymen
17. Kiss Me – Robbie Williams (excellent cover of the Tin Tin song #3 above)
18. What Do All the People Know – The Munroes
19. I Hear the Bells – Mike Doughty
20. 1234 – Feist
21. Buildings & Mountains – Republic Tigers
22. Big Mess – Devo
23. Shattered (Turn the Car Around) – O.A.R.
24. Just Another Day – Oingo Boingo
25. Lovers in the Backseat – Scissor Sisters
26. It’s the End Of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) – R.E.M.
27. Laid – James
28. Life is Long – David Byrne & Brian Eno
29. Forever Young – Alphaville
30. Six Months In a Leaky Boat – Split Enz
If you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to listening to my awesome new playlist. Again.
4 Responses to “Playlist of Awesome: California Road Trip 2010”
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Interesting choices
For some reason I like those kinds of songs while driving but don’t hear them much at home. Don’t know why.
I think “Laid” is from the 90’s! And I love “Pata Pata”, and might have to buy that entire album.
Finally, and I blame you entirely for the fact that I’m even noticing this, but Richard Blade looks exactly like The Situation. Is that intentional on his part?
Ha! Of course Laid is from the 90’s. I believe it is the only song from that decade. And yes, Pata Pata is just a classic. And as for The Situation, I hadn’t noticed, but now that you mention it, it’s there. And I’m sure it’s an entirely unintentional situation.