20 Songs That Make Me Happy

Many of you have probably seen the “Name 20 songs that make you happy” thing going around the social medias. Well, I took the time to make a quick playlist of 20 songs that make me happy. Listen/stream/download below.

Hope you enjoy.





  1. Manchester by Kishi Bashi

  2. I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Time) by Jaimie xx

  3. Funky Kingston by Toots and the Maytals

  4. Love, Love, Love 2 (Reprise) by Akron/Family

  5. Mustt Mustt (Extended) by Kiran Ahluwalia

  6. Konkon by Oki Dub Ainu Band

  7. Scenario by A Tribe Called Quest

  8. Baba O’Riley by the Who

  9. Here Comes Sunshine by Grateful Dead

  10. Sweet Jane by the Velvet Underground

  11. Sun Hands by Local Natives

  12. Reality Used to be a Friend by P.M. Dawn

  13. Swerve . . . The reeping . . . by Shabazz Palaces

  14. Bam Bam by Sister Nancy

  15. Lalo Schifrin by Blue Scholars

  16. I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Creedence Clearwater Revival

  17. Baby Baby by the Vibrators

  18. Love of My Life Worldwide by Erykah Badu

  19. Boogie on Reggae Woman by Stevie Wonder

  20. Ooh La La by Faces


  • Download a PDF of some pretty bland CD artwork


A Sliver Of The Whole :: A Holiday At The Sea Playlist

This was originally a mix that was supposed to just feature some live Grateful Dead and live Velvet Underground cuts. That mix is still in the works, by the way, but this one morphed out of that project and features several other bands from the 1968-1971 sliver of time. Don’t ask me how it ended up being that, the mix made itself, man.

What we ended up with is a mix that features MC5, the Beatles, the Velvet Underground, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead, and the Stooges (and then kept going until I whittled it back down to these tracks). This is a mix I regularly play around the house, so, I hope you enjoy it; because this mix has been getting lots of Sonos time around here, whether the kids like it or not.

Setlist:

  1. Kick Out The Jams by MC5

  2. Get Back by the Beatles

  3. Sweet Jane by the Velvet Underground

  4. Commotion by Creedence Clearwater Revival

  5. Parachute Woman by the Rolling Stones

  6. St. Stephen by the Grateful Dead

  7. The Eleven by the Grateful Dead

  8. Rock & Roll by the Velvet Underground

  9. Shakin’ Street by MC5

  10. Down On the Street by the Stooges

  11. Dig A Pony by the Beatles

  12. Bootleg by Creedence Clearwater Revival

  13. The American Ruse by MC5

  14. Street Fighting Man by the Rolling Stones

  15. I’ve Got A Feeling by the Beatles

  16. Real Cool Time by the Stooges

  17. Graveyard Train by Creedence Clearwater Revival


  • Visit the Beatles’ official site

  • Purchase the Beatles’ music at Amazon

  • Follow Creedence Clearwater Revival at Facebook

  • Purchase Creedence Clearwater Revival’s music at Amazon

  • Visit the Grateful Dead’s official website

  • Follow the Grateful Dead on Facebook

  • Follow Grateful Dead on Twitter

  • Purchase Grateful Dead music on Amazon

  • Purchase MC5’s music at Amazon

  • Visit the official page for the Stooges

  • Purchase the Stooges’ music at Amazon

  • Visit the Velvet Underground’s official site

  • Purchase the Velvet Underground’s music at Amazon


Matty Bovan and Derek Piotr Collaborate :: Audio Knit Playlist

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To celebrate Derek Piotr’s haunting new album Making and Then Unmaking (which I profiled here), Derek has collaborated with designer Matty Bovan to create a signature look and a custom playlist providing some of context for Piotr’s new album and the listening that went behind it.

Of the look, Bovan says:

“'When Derek first approached me to create a custom look, I was super excited as I always love special commissions - it allows me to explore real characters wearing my pieces. Derek is very interested in British folk life and music, so we connected instantly. I myself am always inspired by the traditions of the UK in my work. The look itself has a folk element, and we used hand-pleated deadstock Liberty prints, alongside a leather gingham apron, screen-printed with mountains and hand drawn on the reverse. The overall look had to be practical and reusable for many situations for Derek, and like myself and my work, the look had to strike the balance of wearability, but still interesting silhouette-wise.’

The two also collaborated on a playlist; not only to celebrate Piotr’s new album, but the musical heritages of traditionalism and exploration upon which it stands. The playlist features a unique juxtaposition of new and old, traditional and experimental.

Enjoy.

Playlist:

  1. AGF Top Off (Beyoncé remix) [unreleased]

  2. Almeda Riddle I Love my Rooster [Wolf Folk collection]

  3. Derek Piotr The Stake (Territorial Gobbing’s Honking at the Moon Remix) [DPSR]

  4. Madonna Bedtime Story (Orbital remix) [Maverick]

  5. Derek Piotr Odyssey (Matty Bovan score) [unreleased]

  6. Frank Edwards O Lampkins (1 verse) [IU ATM archives]

  7. Björk Bachelorette (Alec Empire The Ice Princess Remix) [One Little Independent]

  8. Björk vs Jean Ritchie Headphones vs Gypsy Laddie (Derek Piotr mash) [unreleased]

  9. Anne Briggs vs Lotic Reynardine x Slay (Derek Piotr mash) [unreleased]

  10. Derek Piotr Bolakins [DPSR]

  11. AGF Antye of Tegea CA 300 BC [AGF Producktion]

  12. Derek Piotr West Redding Woods Field Recording 2021 [unreleased]

  13. Mrs Lena Bare Turbyfill & Mrs Lloyd Bare Hagie Cumberland Gap [unreleased]

  14. Machinedrum The Relic [Ninja Tune]

  15. Derek Piotr Light-Years [DPSR]


  • Visit Derek Piotr’s official website

  • Watch the EPK for the new album

  • Follow Derek Piotr on Twitter

  • Follow Derek Piotr at Facebook

  • Purchase Derek Piotr’s music at Amazon

  • Purchase Derek Piotr’s music at Bandcamp

  • Read my profile of Piotr’s latest album Making and Then Unmaking

  • Visit Matty Bovan’s website

  • Follow Matty Bovan on Instagram


The Way Out Where Is In :: A Holiday At The Sea Playlist

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Here’s a fun little playlist to celebrate Serendipity.

Let me explain: My name is Brent and I love the Grateful Dead. So it makes perfect sense to lead off this mix with the Dead rehearsing with Brent in April 1979 right before his first tour with them.

And, not only is my name Brent and I love the Grateful Dead, I love the music of Miles Davis. So much so that Miles Davis is one of the reasons we named our oldest son Miles. So it makes perfect sense to include Miles Davis playing at the Fillmore West; a bill shared with none other than the Grateful Dead. You can watch video here.

OH, and if all that wasn’t enough, I was born in 1973! Not in Summer, but still, the Dead jamming with Brent for a song named after my birth year, how could I not include it here?!

So we have two tracks from the Dead and Brent rehearsing, two tracks of wild Miles opening for the Dead. Then, we wrap things up with the drums/space segment (except I reversed them here) from Dead and Co. in Phoenix, AZ, 2017. Because, guess what: WE WERE THERE!

So here’s a mix of out there stuff with inward significance. This playlist is not for everyone. But if you know, you know. Ya dig?


Setlist:

  1. “Booji Boy's Bad Trip (Drums, Space, Feedback)” by the Grateful Dead

  2. “Miles Runs The Voodoo Down” by Miles Davis

  3. “Summer of ‘73” by the Grateful Dead

  4. “It’s About That Time” by Miles Davis

  5. “Space/Drums” by Dead and Co.


  • Visit the Grateful Dead’s official website.

  • Follow the Grateful Dead on Facebook.

  • Follow Grateful Dead on Twitter.

  • Purchase Grateful Dead music on Amazon.

  • Visit the official Miles Davis website.

  • Follow the Miles Davis page at Facebook.

  • Purchase Miles Davis music at Amazon.

  • Visit the official Dead and Co. website

  • Browse all Holiday at the Sea playlists


Lanois Live :: A Holiday At The Sea Playlist

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Here is a collection of unreleased live instrumental material by Daniel Lanois that I’ve collected over the years. All of these are available on Youtube, so I have included session info and links to the respective Youtube link if you’re interested. These recordings are not to be sold or distributed individually.

Enjoy.


Tracklisting:

  1. Iceland // #

  2. Souix Lookout // #

  3. Harvest Picnic Rehearsals // %

  4. Sci Fi // @

  5. Satie // +

  6. Burning Spear // $

  7. Aquatic // #

  8. Elevator // @

  9. Senegal // $

  10. Opera // $

  11. Apres Calypso // @

  12. Soho Dourado // ^

  13. The End // #


Key and Source Links:

# = Artbound Presents Studio A: Daniel Lanois (2014). KCETOnline. Daniel Lanois on various instruments and Kyle Crane on drums.

% = Harvest Picnic Rehearsals: Daniel Lanois, Jim Wilson and Steve Nistor Rehearsing (August 2013).

@ = NPR Tiny Desk Concert (2015). Daniel Lanois on knobs and wires, Jim Wilson on Bass, and Brian Blade on drums.

+ = Daniel Lanois and Rocco DeLuca live in Lanois’ studio. Song from the album 'Goodbye To Language' (2016).

$ = KEXP presents Daniel Lanois performing live in the Robert Lang Studios. Recorded February 27, 2015. Daniel Lanois, Jim Wilson, and Kyle Crane.

^ = Unknown live television appearance 


  • Visit Daniel Lanois’ official website

  • Follow Daniel Lanois at Facebook

  • Follow Daniel Lanois at Twitter

  • Purchase Daniel Lanois’ music at Amazon


Holiday At The Sea's Favorite 2020 Music Mix (Volume 01)

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Volume 01 of some of Holiday at the Sea’s favorite 2020 music. I chose 75 albums this year and the playlists total 74 songs since “Microphones in 2020 by the Microphones” is 45 minutes long and I didn’t want to include the whole album as part of a mix.

Anyways, enjoy!

Tracklisting:

  1. “(Brother Lee) Womblife Blues” by Dire Wolves (Just Exactly Perfect Sisters Band)

  2. “exile” by Taylor Swift

  3. “Tattooed Love Boys” by Beauty Pill

  4. “Good News” by Mac Miller

  5. “Djatigui Baro” by Babani Koné

  6. “I Know Alone” by Haim

  7. “Flourish” by Modern Nature

  8. “Murder Most Foul” by Bob Dylan

  9. “Picture Of My Dress” by the Mountain Goats

  10. “We” by the Soft Pink Truth

  11. “Shout Across Mountains” by Growing Concerns Poetry Collective

  12. “Mystic Mountain” by Chris Forsyth & Garcia Peoples

  13. “Angels And Demons At Play” by Sun Ra Arkestra

  14. “Heavy Baloon” by Fiona Apple

  15. “The Wicked Shall Not Prevail” by Angel Bat Dawid & Tha Brothahood


  • asdf


Dubspace :: A Holiday At The Sea Playlist

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Clasp the helmet and lower yourself into the Dubspace.

20 Dub heavy hitters.

Enjoy.



Tracklisting:

  1. “Love and Fire” by Ruts DC

  2. “Independent Intavenshan” by Linton Kwesi Johnson

  3. “Black Right” by Keith Hudson

  4. “Staga Dub” by King Tubby

  5. “Babylon Gone Down” by Yabby You

  6. “Jumping Jack” by Herman Chin Loy

  7. “Above and Beyond” by Lee “Scratch” Perry

  8. “In King David’s Style” by Mad Professor

  9. “Some Bizarre” by African Head Charge

  10. “Back Weh” by Prince Far I

  11. “Capitol Radio Rock” by Sir Coxsone Sound

  12. “East Of The River Nile” by Augustus Pablo

  13. “Higher Ranking” by Dennis Bovell

  14. “Blood On His Lips” by Scientist

  15. “Refraction” by Phase Selector Sound

  16. “Swords of Vengeance” by Prince Jammy

  17. “Stalag” by Winston Riley

  18. “Theme Dub” by Jah Lloyd

  19. “The Road Is Rough” by Tommy Cowan

  20. “Sata Dub” by Errol “Flabba” Holt


  • Browse other Holiday at the Sea Music Playlists