Although Summer doesn’t officially start for a few weeks, today, Memorial Day, marks the cultural start of summer for people in the US who experience seasons. Two years ago, today’s song inspired a summer playlist so I figured what better day than today to post it? By the by, the weather is absolutely terrible by me now today and it’s storming and hailing so it’s actually quite the terrible start to summer. Anyway, I think from now through Labor Day, the sad end of summer, I’ll be making every Sunday into Summer Sunday and posting a track from my 2008 summer playlist. Enjoy some 1970′s Mungo Jerry.

PS – Sorry there were no posts this weekend. I was quite busy.

Mungo Jerry – In The Summertime [YSI]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Ok, so I know this isn’t actually music but this mp3 was worthwhile to post. It’s, by far, one of the best comedy skits by this duo. I don’t care if you know the punchline. Listen to the entire thing.

Anyway, this is all I’ve got for today. Hope you enjoy!

Abbott and Costello – Who’s On First [YSI]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

To completely honest, I am not a hardcore Hendrix fan. He’s very hit or miss for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love Purple Haze, All Along The Watchtower, Fire, Foxy Lady and the the rest of the single, but there are many Hendrix songs I just don’t enjoy. However, one of my absolute favorite Hendrix songs is not even one of his singles: Castles Made Of Sand. There’s just something about the overall sound that draws me in every time I hear. It did, however, take me a few listens before I really got into it. I guess the biggest draw is how light the music is but how heavy the lyrics are.

Jimi Hendrix – Castles Made Of Sand [YSI]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Bonus Track: Here’s a relatively recent song from Lupe Fiasco that samples Hendrix’ “Fire.”

Lupe Fiasco – Fire (Hendrix Sample) [YSI]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

So I was looking through my older music collection and found a playlist called ‘Slow” that I must’ve made close to a decade ago. It featured some of the greatest (according to me at that age) slow songs of all time including, but not limited to, Sarah McLachlan, Edwin McCain, KC and JoJo, and a duet by Luther Vandross and Mariah Carey. Yeah the list kinda makes me laugh a little now because I think it would be great for an 8th grade dance maybe. One other song that was one it was Eve 6′s Here’s To The Night. I think if I remade a “Slow” playlist, this song would definitely remain on it. Not sure why. It just strikes a chord with me.

Eve 6 – Here’s To The Night [YSI]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

It’s been way too long since I’ve heard something new (and enjoyable) from Norman Cook AKA Fatboy Slim. I’ve always dug listening to his music, especially the ones that weren’t the radio singles. He came out with a Collab album under the name The Brighton Port Authority but there has been no true Fatboy Slim music since Palookaville in 2004. And that’s just too long.  Cook’s released another album this year in collaboration with David Byrne as well as a bunch of guest vocalist. I have not heard anything from it, probably because it just hasn’t done well. So here are two older Fatboy Slim songs in the hopes he’ll do something like this again. I had trouble choosing only two songs so I just stuck with the Palookaville album as well as a video from that album below.

Fatboy Slim – Wonderful Night [YSI]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Fatboy Slim – Don’t Let The Man Get You Down [YSI]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

So this was just sent to me. I am digging the overall sound of it but I think it needs to be longer, especially when featuring that many artists. Also, I’m not sure it quite reaches a climax, just a constant upbeat wall of sound. It’d be great for a dance party, though. I’m not dissing the song because I do like it overall. I have a feeling listening to the mashup album as a whole may be a better experience than individual songs. Check out Mochi Beats here and listen to more of the mashups on Soundcloud here.

Mochi Beats – “Gifted Stop” (Glee + N.A.S.A. + Kanye West + Sia + Santigold + Paula Deanda + Kylie Minogue) [YSI]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

My friend introduced to this artist just this past weekend and after I saw a video of him play (below), I became even more impressed. Take a little bit Jason Mraz, a little bit Stevie Wonder, a little bit jazz, and a little something unique and you’ve got Raul Midon. I must’ve listened to this song at least a dozen times in the past day and I do not think it will grow old on me.

Oh, and by the by, for any of you that don’t know the artist, Raul Midon is blind. Now watch the video be that much more impressed.

Raul Midon – State Of Mind [YSI]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Raul Midon Live on Letterman

Alright, I’ve survived a week vacation in Vegas. I’m a little more broke than I was a week ago but it was completely worth it. I only gambled about 10 minutes total and I’m up $12. Woowoo. We went to 4 shows, 3 of which were great. And it was just overall one of the most amazing weeks I’ve ever had and a huge reason for that goes to the friends I went with. So here’s two songs for you guys that I think will forever and ever will go hand in hand with this trip.

P.S. – No one judge me for posting Soulja Boy. It’s an inside joke and I actually hate his music. Also, check out my story about a week in Vegas through music here.

Styx – Come Sail Away [YSI]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Soulja Boy Tellem – Turn My Swag On [YSI]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

And, no, I don’t have the powder!!!

Vegas, day 5. I’m thinking thank god this is the last day here. If you read yesterday’s post, you can prob imagine how this morning felt. This might have been the worst hangover I’ve ever had, but I guess that’s what I get for waking up in Vegas. Yes today’s post features The Offspring and Katy Perry ending out my 5 day vacation in the one and only Las Vegas.

Note to my readers once again, the past 5 days of Vegas posts were pre-written before my trip and are here for your enjoyment telling a story through music. This was not my actual experience of the city. But feel free to read the rest of my Vegas story here.

The Offspring – Worst Hangover Ever [YSI]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Katy Perry – Waking Up In Vegas [YSI]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Vegas, day 4. My bankroll has got to be hitting zero somewhere around now so I guess we may as well turn to the next best thing in Vegas: drinking, and probably a lot of it. It’s all about a mindset ahead of time and how you’re gonna spend the night. Then start getting a little tipsy, and finally ending the night unpleasantly alone. Here’s 3 for you today describing that first night you just can’t afford to gamble or really anything else: Start Trouble, J-Kwon, and Buckcherry. Rest of my Vegas posts here.

Start Trouble – Let’s Get Fucked Up [YSI]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

J-Kwon – Tipsy [YSI]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Buckcherry – Too Drunk [YSI]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.