The best mix tape I ever made

One spring night back when I was in college in Ohio, I got nostalgic for a lazy summer evening on the lake back home, and I sat down and made a mix tape to transport me there musically. It turned out to be the best mix tape I ever made, one I still take out and listen to many times every summer, even though I now live on the lake back home and there are plenty of lazy summer evenings to go around.

But in case anyone else is nostalgic to spend time on a porch swing in the twinkling night of a Wisconsin summer, here is the track listing for the Stardust and Fireflies mix:

Side 1: (Remember, this is a tape)
* Paper Moon by James Taylor (found on the A League of Their Own soundtrack)
* I'm Beginning to See the Light by Ella Fitzgerald
* Crazy Love by Van Morrison
* Summer, Highland Falls (Live) by Billy Joel (from Songs from the Attic)
* The Wind by Cat Stevens
* Dream a Little Dream of Me by Cass Elliot (of the Mamas and the Papas)
* Love's Recovery (Live) by the Indigo Girls (from 1200 Curfews)
* Summer Song by Greg Greenway (local Boston troubadour)
* Warm Love by Van Morrison
* Jim by Billie Holiday
* Pig by Dave Matthews Band
* Two Sleepy People by Art Garfunkel (also on the A League of Their Own sndtk.)

Side 2:
* Nightswimming by R.E.M.
* Bridge Over Troubled Water by Aretha Franklin
* In Another Life by Semisonic
* I Didn't Know What Time It Was by James Taylor (A League of Their Own again)
* Romance in the Dark by Billie Holiday
* Into the Mystic by Van Morrison
* Moonshadow by Cat Stevens
* Mystery by the Indigo Girls
* St. Judy's Comet by Paul Simon
* Someday We'll Be Together by the Supremes
* Pink Moon by Nick Drake

The tape is dated 4.22.00. But trust me, it's actually timeless. Happy summer 2007!

Stay Humble

Nashville singer/songwriter Tyler James hasn't released his debut album yet, so now is a great time to start loving him, while you can still see him in tiny, intimate college venues.

I mean, seriously, check out his list of influences:

"bob dylan, paul simon, paul mccartney, joni mitchell, rainer marie rilke, nick drake, neil young, tom waits, the band, woody allen, jaoa gilberto, bill withers, randy newman, david bowie, mark kozelek, wilco, beck, four tet, jesus christ"

Does it get any better than that? Not in my opinion.

Visit his MySpace page. Or better yet, watch this excellent short film that follows him on tour and chronicles a day in the life of a Nashville singer/songwriter who is working on his first album. The song is "Stay Humble." And I love it.