“Halloween”, The Dream Syndicate

This way: Halloween

The Dream Syndicate is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles, California, originally active from 1981 to 1989, and reunited since 2012. The band is associated with neo-psychedelia and the Paisley Underground music movement; of the bands in that movement, according to the Los Angeles Times, the Dream Syndicate "rocked with the highest degree of unbridled passion and conviction." Though never commercially successful, the band met with considerable acclaim, especially for its songwriting and guitar playing. Bandleader Steve Wynn reformed the band in 2012, and a fifth studio album was announced in February 2017.  

[Spotify] Halloween

“Halloween”, Siouxsie and the Banshees

This way: Halloween

Siouxsie and the Banshees were a British rock band, formed in London in 1976 by vocalist Siouxsie Sioux and bass guitarist Steven Severin. They have been widely influential, both over their contemporaries and with later acts. Mojo rated guitarist John McGeoch in their list of "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" for his work on "Spellbound". Preaching to the choir never sounded so good.

[Spotify] Halloween

“Goo Goo Muck”, The Cramps

This way: Goo Goo Muck

The Cramps were an American punk rock band formed in 1976 and active until 2009. The band split after the death of lead singer Lux Interior. Their line-up rotated frequently during their existence, with the husband-and-wife duo of Interior and guitarist Poison Ivy comprising the only ever-present members. The addition of guitarist Bryan Gregory and drummer Pam Balam resulted in the first complete lineup in April 1976. 

They were part of the early CBGB punk rock movement that had emerged in New York. The Cramps were one of the first punk bands, and also widely recognized as one of the prime innovators of psychobilly.

[Spotify] Goo Goo Muck

“Riboflavin Flavored, Non-Carbonated, Poly-Unsaturated Blood”, 45 Grave

This way: Riboflavin Flavored, Non-Carbonated, Poly-Unsaturated Blood

45 Grave are an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1979. The band was founded by Paul B. Cutler in Los Angeles, California during the punk rock movement, formed alongside another band with almost the same lineup called Vox Pop, which produced two singles.[1] Its original lineup consisted of Cancer (formerly of Castration Squad) on vocals, Cutler (formerly of the Consumers-Hello Phoenix!) on guitar, Rob Graves (also known as Rob Ritter, formerly of the Exterminators, the Bags and the Gun Club) on bass, and Don Bolles (of the Exterminators, the Germs and Nervous Gender) on drums. The name, according to Bolles, derived from a mysterious button Cutler found at a thrift store and gave to Bolles for Christmas that said “WE DIG 45 GRAVE”. Bolles stated that this needed to be the name of the band, and everyone agreed.  

In 1980, 45 Grave recorded their first released song, “Riboflavin Flavored, Non-Carbonated, Poly-Unsaturated Blood”, included on the Los Angeles Free Music Society compilation album, Darker Skratcher. The song was a cover version of the novelty song originally performed by Don Hinson and the Rigamorticians on their 1964 album release Monster Dance Party. The 45 Grave recording (as with the original, produced by Gary S. Paxton of Skip & Flip) achieved cult status and became a signature song of the band's live sets.

Despite never achieving major success, 45 Grave were recognized as being one of the first American gothic bands, predating the formation of Christian Death. The Grammy Museum in Los Angeles listed 45 Grave and Christian Death as early proponents of American Gothic Rock. 

[Spotify] Riboflavin Flavored, Non-Carbonated, Poly-Unsaturated Blood

The original: Riboflavin Flavored, Non-Carbonated, Poly-Unsaturated Blood

“I walked with a Zombie”, Roky Erickson

This way: I walked with a Zombie

Roky Erickson (July 15, 1947 – May 31, 2019) was an American musician and singer-songwriter. He was a founding member of the 13th Floor Elevators and a pioneer of the psychedelic rock genre.

I would just like to reiterate, He walked with a Zombie, and I’m pretty sure this happened last night.

[Spotify] I walked with a Zombie

“Horror Business”, Misfits

This way: Horror Business

“Horror Business” is the third single released by the American horror punk band Misfits. It was released on June 26, 1979 through vocalist Glenn Danzig’s own label, Plan 9 Records, and is commonly said to have been inspired by the unsolved murder of Nancy Spungen. The B-side of the single features the songs “Teenagers from Mars” and “Children in Heat”. 

The single’s cover artwork features a skeletal figure inspired by the titular character from the 1946 film serial The Crimson Ghost. The figure became a mascot for the band, and its skull image would serve as the Misfits’ logo for the rest of time. 

Misfits are an American punk rock band often recognized as the progenitors of the horror punk subgenre, blending punk and other musical influences with horror film themes and imagery. Founded in 1977 in Lodi, New Jersey, by vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist Glenn Danzig, and drummer Manny Martínez. Eventually Jerry Only joined on bass guitar and Danzig and Only were the only consistent members throughout the next six years

[Spotify] Horror Business

“The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead”, XTC

This way: The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead

XTC were an English rock band formed in Swindon in 1972. Led by songwriters Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding, the band gained popularity during the rise of punk and new wave in the 1970s, later playing in a variety of styles that ranged from angular guitar riffs to elaborately arranged pop. Partly because the group did not fit into contemporary trends, they achieved only sporadic commercial success in the UK and US, but attracted a considerable cult following. They have since been recognized for their influence on Britpop and later power pop acts. 

[Spotify] The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead

Songs compiled monthly

What if I complied the MP3s into a zip and posted them for download?

I guess that could happen.

Realizing that the YouTube method is lame, but MP3s are not lame.

Try it: Hi

—brENDan

“Dying on the Vine”, John Cale

This way: Dying on the Vine

Or this way: Dying on the Vine—Live

I love this song by John Cale, but it turns out I only love the stripped down live versions. The official studio release does  not do it for me. The version above is my copy and you can download it here if you’d like to have and hold (can’t hold digital?).  

John Cale, is a Welsh musician, composer, singer, songwriter and record producer who was a founding member of the American rock band the Velvet Underground. Over his five-decade career, Cale has worked in various styles across rock, drone, classical, avant-garde and electronic music.


He studied music at Goldsmiths College, University of London, before relocating in 1963 to New York City's downtown music scene, where he performed as part of the Theatre of Eternal Music and formed the Velvet Underground. Since leaving the band in 1968, Cale has released 16 solo studio albums, including the widely acclaimed Music for a New Society. Cale has also acquired a reputation as an adventurous producer, working on the debut albums of several innovative artists, including the Stooges and Patti Smith.

[Spotify] Dying on the Vine

“Are ‘Friends’ Electric?”, Tubeway Army

This way: Are ‘Friends’ Electric?

Tubeway Army were a London-based new wave and electronic band led by lead singer Gary Numan. They were the first band of the electronic era to have a synthesiser-based number-one hit, with their single "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and its parent album Replicas both topping the UK charts in mid-1979. After its release, Numan opted to drop the Tubeway Army name and release music under his own name as he was the sole songwriter, producer and public face of the band, but he retained the musicians from Tubeway Army as his backing band. 

[Spotify] Are ‘Friends’ Electric?

“Houseplants”, Squids

This way: Houseplants

British punk outfit.  A lovely song.

[Spotify] Houseplants

“See You Around”, Vic Chestnutt

This way (my copy): See You Around

It really does not get much better than Vic Chestnutt. One of the great songwriters of his day, a real American treasure. He figured out how to play guitar with sever limited use of his hands due to his partial paralysis. His songwriting style is so unique and odd ball. It’s hard to know where he fits into any musical style. He collaborated with may other accomplished musicians and had a side band project with Widespread Panic called Brute.

Vic Chesnutt (November 12, 1964 – December 25, 2009) was an American singer-songwriter from Athens, Georgia. His first album, Little, was released in 1990, but his breakthrough to commercial success did not come until 1996 with the release of Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, a charity record of alternative artists covering his songs.

Chesnutt released 17 albums during his career, including two produced by Michael Stipe, and a 1996 release on Capitol Records, About to Choke. His musical style has been described by Bryan Carroll of allmusic.com as a "skewed, refracted version of Americana that is haunting, funny, poignant, and occasionally mystical, usually all at once".

Injuries from a 1983 car accident left him partially paralyzed; he used a wheelchair and had limited use of his hands.

[Spotify, not likely] 

“Sorrow”, The National

This way: Sorrow

The National is an American rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio, formed in 1999. The band consists of Matt Berninger (vocals), Aaron Dessner (guitar, piano, keyboards), Bryce Dessner (guitar, piano, keyboards), Scott Devendorf (bass) and Bryan Devendorf (drums).

Founded by Berninger, Aaron Dessner, and Scott and Bryan Devendorf, The National released their self-titled debut album, The National (2001), on Brassland Records, an independent record label founded by Dessner and his twin brother, Bryce Dessner. Bryce, who had assisted in recording the album, soon joined the band, participating as a full member in the recording of its follow-up, Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers (2003).

[Spotify] Sorrow

[Spotify full playlist] Playlist

“Echo Beach”, Martha and the Muffins

This way: Echo Beach

Here is a great one from back in the day.  “Echo Beach” is a song recorded by the Canadian group Martha and the Muffins in 1979. Written by band member Mark Gane, it was released as a single from their album Metro Music in 1980 and won the Juno Award for Single of the Year. It was certified gold in Canada on 1 October 1980, a month after Metro Music achieved gold status. It was the band's only significant international hit, although they had several others in Canada.

[Spotify] Echo Beach

“Just Like We Never Said Goodbye”, Sophie

This way: Just Like We Never Said Goodbye

Sophie (stylised as SOPHIE), is a Scottish record producer, singer, songwriter, and DJ. Xeon is known for her synthesised and "hyperkinetic" take on pop music, and came to prominence with singles such as "Bipp" (2013) and "Lemonade" (2014). Her compilation Product was released in 2015, and the debut album Oil of Every Pearl's Un-Insides followed in 2018. The latter earned her a nomination for the Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album. Xeon has worked closely with artists from the PC Music label, including A.G. Cook and GFOTY, and has produced for acts such as Madonna, Charli XCX, Vince Staples, Let’s Eat Grandma, Kim Petras, Flume and Namie Amuro. 

[Spotify] Just Like We Never Said Goodbye

“Up The Neck”, Pretenders

This way: Up The Neck

I was sure this band were poseurs. This was (and still is to me) the largest insult one could level. An A&R mans wet dream of a band. The name, the look. really, I avoided them. Punk is not some leather jacket that you can buy at the fashion shop. But what slays me? Great songs slay me. And yes, there are great songs in spades here. And of course Chrissie Hynde is one of the great forces of nature. Not poseurs. 

The Pretenders are an English-American rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of initiator and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), James Honeyman-Scott (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), Pete Farndon (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Martin Chambers (drums, backing vocals, percussion). Following the drug-related deaths of Honeyman-Scott and Farndon, the band experienced numerous subsequent personnel changes. Hynde has been the band's only consistent member. 

[Spotify] Up The Neck

“She’s a Mystery to Me”, Roy Orbison

This way: She’s a Mystery to Me

Roy Orbison (April 23, 1936 – December 6, 1988) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician known for his impassioned singing style, complex song structures, and dark, emotional ballads. Many critics described his music as operatic, nicknaming him "the Caruso of Rock" and "the Big O". While most male rock-and-roll performers in the 1950s and 1960s projected a defiant masculinity, many of Orbison's songs conveyed vulnerability. He performed standing still, wearing black clothes to match his dyed black hair and dark sunglasses.

Orbison began singing in a rockabilly and country-and-western band in high school. He was signed by Sam Phillips, of Sun Records, in 1956, but his greatest success came with Monument Records. From 1960 to 1966, 22 of his singles reached the Billboard Top 40, and he wrote or co-wrote almost all that rose to the Top 10, including "Only the Lonely" (1960), "Running Scared" (1961), "Crying" (1961), "In Dreams" (1963), and "Oh, Pretty Woman" (1964). Soon afterward, he was struck by a number of personal tragedies while his record sales declined.

In the 1980s, Orbison experienced a resurgence in popularity following the success of several cover versions of his songs. In 1988, he co-founded the Traveling Wilburys, a rock supergroup, with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, and Jeff Lynne. Orbison died of a heart attack in December 1988 at the age of 52. One month later, Orbison's song "You Got It" (1989), co-written with Lynne and Petty, was released as a solo single and became his first hit to reach the U.S. Top 10 in nearly 25 years.

“She’s a Mystery to Me” is a song by Roy Orbison, written by Bono and the Edge of U2. It was released on Orbison's final (posthumous) album, Mystery Girl (also inspiring the album title). The song was received favorably by several music critics and is considered one of the highlights of the album.

[Spotify] She’s a Mystery to Me

“Superman’s Song”, Crash Test Dummies

This way: Superman’s Song

The Crash Test Dummies are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The band is most identifiable through Brad Roberts (vocals, guitar) and his distinctive bass-baritone voice. The band members have fluctuated over the years, but its best known line-up consisted of Roberts, Ellen Reid (co-vocals, keyboards), Dan Roberts (bass guitar, backing vocals), Benjamin Darvill (harmonica, mandolin), and Mitch Dorge (drums, percussion). 

[Spotify] Superman’s Song

“Tarzan at the Met”, The Philistines Jr.

This way (my copy): Tarzan at the Met

I don’t know a lot about this band. When my friend John Liebrand died I inherited some of his possessions, one of which was a cassette by this band. Fascinating lo-fi bedroom pop. They went on to become record producers of some note. This song stands out as ambitious. From 1991 . . .  

[Spotify] Tarzan at the Met

“Drive to the Store”, Brendan deVallance

This way: Drive to the Store

Robots speak the words, brENDan writes the words . . . 

[My copy] Drive to the Store

“The World’s a Mess; It’s in My Kiss”, X

This way: The World’s a Mess; It’s in My Kiss

Does it get much better than this? I don’t think so. Great LA punk rock. I saw them live several times live as recently as 2 years ago. X are an American punk rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1977. The original members are vocalist Exene Cervenka, vocalist-bassist John Doe, guitarist Billy Zoom and drummer D. J. Bonebrake. The band released seven studio albums from 1980 to 1993. After a period of inactivity during the mid- to late 1990s, X reunited in the early 2000s, and currently tours, as of 2019.

Los Angeles is the debut studio album by American rock band X, released on April 26, 1980 by Slash Records. Produced by ex-Doors keyboard player Ray Manzarek (hello organ solo!), it includes a cover of the 1967 Doors song “Soul Kitchen”. It placed at No. 16 for the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop Critics Poll.

[Spotify] The World's a Mess; It's in My Kiss

“Shake Some Action”, Flamin’ Groovies

This way: Shake Some Action

 Flamin’ Groovies is an American rock music band that started in San Francisco in 1965, led by Roy Loney and Cyril Jordan. After the Groovies released three albums, on Epic (Supersnazz) and Kama Sutra (Flamingo and Teenage Head), Loney left the band in 1971. He was replaced as co-leader by Chris Wilson, and the band's emphasis shifted more toward British Invasion power pop. Shake Some Action is the fourth studio album by American rock band the Flamin’ Groovies. The album was released in June 1976 by Sire Records. The title Shake Some Action originates from a line in the 1965 film None but the Brave.

The band signed to United Artists Records in 1972, releasing just three more singles until 1976. The Groovies then signed to Sire Records and released three albums between 1976-79, Shake Some Action, Flamin’ Groovies Now (both produced by Dave Edmunds at Rockfield Studios in Wales) and Jumpin’ in the Night. The 1976 album's title track “Shake Some Action” (also released as a single) became a power pop anthem and is revered by many, including Greil Marcus in his book, The History of Rock and Roll in Ten Songs. 

[Spotify] Shake Some Action

“I’m Gonna be (500 Miles)”, The Proclaimers

This way: I’m Gonna be (500 Miles)

The Proclaimers are a Scottish music duo composed of twin brothers Charlie and Craig Reid (born 5 March 1962).  The band tours extensively throughout the world. They have released 11 studio albums since 1987, with the latest being The Angry Cyclist (August 2018). 

[Spotify] I’m Gonna be (500 Miles)

“Bell Bottom Blues”, Cher

This way: Bell Bottom Blues

This is my favorite train wreck of a song ever. It is horrible, but I can’t look away. From the album Stars, the 12th studio album by American singer-actress Cher. The album was one in a string of commercial flops for Cher in the 1970s and failed to chart within the top 100. The album is by-and-large a covers album. But this gem is one of the wonders of the world. An Eric Clapton song from the Derek and The Dominos period.

[Not on Spotify—Here is my copy] Bell Bottom Blues

[Live on Flip Wilson Show!] Bell Bottom Blues

“I'm Not Afraid To Die”, Gillian Welch

This way: I'm Not Afraid To Die

Timeless music from Gillian Welchs 1998 “Hell Among the Yearlings”. Gillian Welch is an American singer-songwriter. She performs with her musical partner, guitarist David Rawlings. Their sparse and dark musical style, which combines elements of Appalachian music, bluegrass, country and Americana, is described by The New Yorker as "at once innovative and obliquely reminiscent of past rural forms."

[Spotify] I'm Not Afraid To Die

“The October Man”, Bill Nelson

This way: The October Man

One of my all time favorite performers. Bill Nelson is an English singer, guitarist, songwriter, producer, painter, video artist, writer and experimental musician. He rose to prominence as the chief songwriter, vocalist and guitarist of the rock group Be-Bop Deluxe, which he formed in 1972. Nelson has been described as one of the most underrated guitarists of the seventies art rock movement. This song is from his 1982 album “The Love that Whirls”. In 2015, he was recognized with the Visionary award at the Progressive Music Awards.

A great track from “the Love That Whirls” LP.

[Spotify] The October Man