Playlist

It’s interesting to look at someone’s bookshelf.  You can tell a lot about a person by knowing what they read, that you might not be able to see otherwise.   In our home we have three main sets of shelves with some nooks and crannies here and there with smallish stacks.  We also have baskets of books – mainly mine – that are on the “to read” list.  I have one basket that is just from my mom’s house, the last few books left around there since she gave away her books almost as fast as she read them.  There is the smallish stack on the nightstand (and under it).  There is a magazine rack next to the sofa. 

The same is true when you see folks’ music collections.  Do they like Sinatra, The Talking Heads, Taylor Swift?  Nine Inch Nails, The Doobie Brothers, The Doors?  The Beatles, Creed, Linkin Park?  Of course, these days a lot of people keep their music collections privately tucked away on their ipods.  No longer can you browse a record collection and even CDs are becoming a thing of ht past.

This morning I was cleaning out a file cabinet drawer (the detritus of many years that I couldn’t bring myself to toss).  I found some old writer’s notebooks with snatches of songs I wanted to write, short stories I wanted to complete, some original songs that did make it to their playable stage, outlines for letters I wanted to write (some I probably did).  And lists.  I used to play out a lot at this coffee house in southern Indiana.  Sometimes I played with my buds in a band called EMERALD.  Other times it was just a loose connection of friends who sat in with each other whenever we played and they would show up with their instruments.  A lot of times I just played by myself.  I played a mix of originals and cover tunes.

Before playing at The Daily Grind in Nashville, Indiana, I would create a list of possible songs to perform, songs I knew by heart.  I knew lots of songs back then but, of course, could only play about 25 or so in an evening.  I had the list there for comfort.  I didn’t want to draw a blank on what to play next.  So I kept this little notebook with me with my current playlist, tunes I wouldn’t screw up too bad if I had the notion to play them.

I think a person’s playlist says a lot about them – in the same way that their bookshelf does.  This particular one was dated May 3, 1986.  It was probably one of the last times I played at The Grind.  Depending on your age and stage, you may not recognize many of these.  There were only a few top 40 songs in the mix and those are old folky songs.  I don’t remember exactly what I played that night all those years ago, but more than likely – the set came from these.

Heart of Gold – Neil Young

Mercedez Benz – Janis Joplin

You Show Me Yours and I’ll Show You Mine – Kristofferson

Sugar Mountain – Neil Young

Fish and Whistle – John Prine

Needle and the Damage Done – Neil Young

Paradise – John Prine

A Love Song – Kenny Loggins

Till The Morning Comes – Neil Young

Cripple Creek Ferry – Neil Young

Moon Shadow – Cat Stevens

Father and Son - Cat Stevens

The Boxer – Paul Simon

April Come She Will – Paul Simon

House of the Rising Sun - Traditional

Summertime – George Gershwin

That’s The Way The World Goes ‘Round – John Prine

Illegal Smile – John Prine

Teach Your Children – Graham Nash

My Heroes Are Cowboys – Willie Nelson

Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison

I’m Not Saying – Gordon Lightfoot

Friend of the Devil – Jerry Garcia

The River – Dan Fogelberg

There’s a Place in the World for a Gambler – Dan Fogelberg

Lookin’ Out My Backdoor – John Fogerty

As the Raven Flies – Dan Fogelberg

Tequila Sunrise – The Eagles

Don’t Cry Blue – Jonathan Edwards

Sometimes – Jonathan Edwards

Desperado – The Eagles

Peaceful Easy Feeling – Jack Tempchin (Eagles)

Simple Twist of Fate – Bob Dylan

Colours – Donovan Leech

4 and 20 – Stephen Stills

Redneck Friend – Jackson Browne

Something Fine – Jackson Browne

Ready or Not – Jackson Browne

Rosie – Jackson Browne

The Captain and the Kid – Jimmy Buffett

He Went to Paris – Jimmy Buffett

Never Been To Spain – Hoyt Axton

Boney Fingers – Hoyt Axton

Inch by Inch – Dave Mallett

Carolina On My Mind – James Taylor

Hey Mister, That’s Me Upon the Jukebox – James Taylor

Right Between the Eyes – Graham Nash

Little Boxes – Malvina Reynolds

I Know You Rider – Traditional

Black Cat Blues – Bill Wilson

Flowers are Red – Harry Chapin

Carefully Taught – Rogers and Hammerstien

I can’t play a lot of these any more.  I’ve forgotten how some of them go and I’ve lost my chord sheets for others.  But just typing out the list brings back those smoky evenings in that wooden space with the sounds of cappuccino machine and clinking silverware and laughter and conversations.  And it brings back those old friends – most of whom I have lost touch with. 

I still play out at church and in the classroom with my young friends, I still jam every once in a while with my friends Dave and Chris.  I swap songs with my son Colin occasionally.  We have a few sing alongs ‘round the campfire every year.  But I miss those evenings playing for ten-bucks-and-tips and free coffee and the precious moments of having someone call out the name of an original song or when folks would sing along to an old familiar tune.