Meet Me At The Gates :: A Holiday at the Sea Spiritual Rendezvous

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As we enter Junior Year of the Pandemic, I have been looking outside of the expected places for comfort, assurance, and even meaning.

In those olden days of yore, the “Elders” or the “wise ones of a city” might meet at the city gate where they would gather to discuss life’s complexities and to offer advice to those who asked.

I know none of you asked, and I don’t claim to be wise, but if any of you ever wanted to meet at the gate, here would be my advice.

Setlist:

  1. Let Us Make a Record by Sister Gertrude Morgan

  2. I'm So Happy And Free The Lord Save Me by Rev. Lonnie Farris

  3. Wonderful by Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

  4. Guide Me O Thou Great Jehovah by Indian Bottom Association

  5. Jesus Will Provide by Isaiah Owens

  6. Fix It Jesus by Reverend Charlie Jackson

  7. Higher Power by Ramsay Midwood

  8. People Get Ready by Imperial Golden Crown Harmonizers

  9. I Have A Savior I Can by Leon Pinson

  10. Yeah, Lord! Jesus is Able by Rev. Louis Overstreet

  11. I Was Healed By The Wounds In His Side by Sister Gertrude Morgan

  12. A Little More Faith by Reverend Gary Davis

  13. Pray For Me by Leon Pinson

  14. Is There Anybody Here Who Loves My Jesus? by Rev. Louis Overstreet

  15. Take Care of Us by Revelations

  16. God’s Got It by Reverend Charlie Jackson

  17. Joyful Noise by Pastor T.L. Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

  18. The Lord’s Prayer by The Spiritualaires of Hurtsboro, Alabama

  19. God’s Gonna Separate by Reverend Gary Davis

  20. Take Your Burdens To The Lord by Washington Phillips

  21. God’s Mighty Hand by Rev. Utah Smith

  22. I Want To Ride That Glory Train by The Abyssinian Baptist Gospel Choir

Soundtrack to the Collective Meltdown (2021) :: A Holiday At The Sea (MEGA) Playlist

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The next time you’ve got nearly 5 hours to kill, I’ve got the mix for you! These are not necessarily my “favorite songs of 2021.” Instead, these are choice cuts; one representative track from each of my favorite 50 albums of the year. Regardless of length.

Get ready for a ride.

Tracklist:

  1. Pray for Peace by Ustad Saami from East Pakistan Sky

  2. Recessinater by Birds of Maya from Valdez

  3. The People vs. the Rest of Us by Damon Locks Black Monument Ensemble from NOW

  4. Bell Song by 75 Dollar Bill featuring Barry Weisblat from Social Music at Troost Vol. 1

  5. Ya Rossoul by Khaira Arby from Khaira Arby In New York (Live In 2010)

  6. Movement by Bell Orchestre from House Music

  7. Broken Mirror (A Selfie Reflection)/Composition 9 by Matthew E. White and Lonnie Holley from Broken Mirror: A Selfie Reflection

  8. Riddim Rek Sa Niouy Mom by Wau Wau Collectif from Yaral Sa Doom

  9. All That They Left You by Six Organs of Admittance from The Veiled Sea

  10. Days Like These by Low from Hey What

  11. VBS by Lucy Dacus from Home Video

  12. Brothers by Phil Cook from All These Years

  13. Dark In Here by the Mountain Goats from Dark In Here

  14. Djougoh by Nahawa Doumbia from Kanawa

  15. The Call by Madlib from Sound Ancestors

  16. Beat Up Born Where I Come From by Ghost of Vroom from Ghost of Vroom 1

  17. Dovetail by Girls in Airports from Leap

  18. descension (Out of Our Constrictions) III by Natural Information Society and Evan Parker from descension (Out of Our Constrictions)

  19. Beowulf’s Trip by Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders from Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders

  20. World is Turning by Rose City Band from Earth Trip

  21. Disposable Thumbs by Endless Boogie from Admonitions

  22. Staggering With a Lantern by Mountain Movers from World What World

  23. Albuquerque by Nick Cave and Warren Ellis from CARNAGE

  24. OUR SIDE HAS TO WIN (for D.H.) by Godspeed You! Black Emperor from G_d's Pee At States End!

  25. Juvenescence by Yasmin Williams from Urban Driftwood

  26. Invisible Map by Derek Piotr from Making and Then Unmaking

  27. You Can Regret What You Have Done by Matt Sweeney and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy from Superwolves

  28. This Old World by Billy Strings from Renewal

  29. Kelp Highway by Drew Gardner from Drew Gardner

  30. Jnoun ! by Bachar Mar-Khalifé from Ghost Songs

  31. In Remembrance Of Those Fallen by Sons of Kemet from Black To The Future

  32. Bertha The Cool by Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog from Hope

  33. Give Me Back My Loving by Leo Nocentelli from Another Side

  34. Don’t Let The Tears by Howlin’ Rain from The Dharma Wheel

  35. Tree of Tule by Daniel Lanois from Heavy Sun

  36. Way To Cairo by Native Soul from Teenage Dreams

  37. Ethiopian Sunshower by Adrian Younge And Ali Shaheed Muhammad from Brian Jackson JID008

  38. Zengadyw Derekou by Hailu Mergia from Tezeta

  39. Ya Habibti by Mdou Moctar from Afrique Victime

  40. Tropicale Moon by Mouth Painter from Tropicale Moon

  41. Natural Facts by Wet Tuna from Eu’d To A Fake Boogie Volume 4

  42. Shrinks the Day by Ryley Walker and Kikagaku Moyo from Deep Fried Grandeur

  43. Musungu Elongo Paints His Face White to Scare Small Children by Kasai Allstars from Black Ants Always Fly Together, One Bangle Makes No Sound

  44. Trap Life by Sault from Nine

  45. Désert by Dobe Gnahoré from Couleur

  46. Part 1 by Elkhorn from The Golden Lag

  47. If It Comes In The Morning by Hiss Golden Messenger from Quietly Blowing It

  48. Morning River by Steve Gunn from Other You

  49. Shiva With Dustpan by Ryley Walker from Course In Fable

  50. Cortez the Killer (live) by Neil Young and Crazy Horse from Way Down In The Rust Bucket

  • Browse my favorite albums of the year

  • Browse my “2021 Yearly Wrap-it-Up” which is really a ramble about seeing Phish

  • Browse my favorite books of 2021

  • Browse my favorite movies of 2021

  • Browse my favorite television of 2021

  • Listen to a nearly 5-hour very low quality mix of one song from each of my favorite albums of 2021 called “Soundtrack to the Collective Meltdown”

2021 Year In Review :: Favorite Albums

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Here’s the dealio, my coolios.

Each year, I keep a running diary of sorts of all of the things I liked each year. If you’re interested (which I doubt you are), you can follow along with my real-time unedited yearly bookkeeping here.

At the end of each year I try to cull down the music section to what really defined my year musically. No ranking. Just great music. Here are 50 of my favorite 2021 albums in alphabetical order.

Albums In Visual Alphabetical Order:

Albums In Alphabetical Alphabetical Order:

  1. Social Music at Troost Vol.1 by 75 Dollar Bill

  2. Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders by Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders // Elixor of Life by Jeffrey Alexander and the Heavy Lidders

  3. Khaira Arby in New York (Live in 2010) by Khaira Arby

  4. House Music by Bell Orchestre

  5. Valdez by Birds of Maya

  6. Carnage by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis

  7. All These Years by Phil Cook

  8. Home Video by Lucy Dacus

  9. Kanawa by Nahawa Doumbia

  10. The Golden Lag by Elkhorn

  11. Admonitions by Endless Boogie

  12. Drew Gardner by Drew Gardner

  13. Ghost of Vroom 1 by Ghost of Vroom

  14. Leap by Girls in Airports

  15. Couleur by Dobet Gnahoré

  16. G_d's Pee At States End! by Godspeed You! Black Emperor

  17. Other You by Steve Gunn

  18. Quietly Blowing It by Hiss Golden Messenger

  19. The Dharma Wheel by Howlin’ Rain

  20. Brian Jackson JID008 by Brian Jackson, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Adrian Younge

  21. Black Ants Always Fly Together, One Bangle Makes No Sound by Kasai Allstars

  22. Heavy Sun by Daniel Lanois

  23. Now by Damon Locks & Black Monument Ensemble

  24. Hey What by Low

  25. Sound Ancestors by Madlib

  26. Hope by Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog

  27. Ghost Songs by Bachar Mar-Khalifé

  28. Tezeta by Hailu Mergia

  29. Afrique Victime by Mdou Moctar

  30. Dark In Here by the Mountain Goats

  31. World What World by Mountain Movers

  32. Tropicale Moon by Mouth Painter

  33. Teenage Dreams by Native Soul

  34. descension (Out of Our Constrictions) by Natural Information Society/Evan Parker

  35. Another Side by Leo Nocentelli (1971)

  36. Making and Then Unmaking by Derek Piotr

  37. Earth Trip by Rose City Band

  38. East Pakistan Sky by Ustad Saami

  39. Nine by Sault

  40. The Veiled Sea by Six Organs of Admittance

  41. Black to the Future by Sons of Kemet

  42. Renewal by Billy Strings

  43. Superwolves by Matt Sweeney and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

  44. Deep Fried Grandeur by Ryley Walker And Kikagaku Moyo

  45. Course In Fable by Ryley Walker

  46. Yaral Sa Doom by Wau Wau Collectif

  47. Eau’d To A Fake Boogie Volume 4 by Wet Tuna

  48. Broken Mirror: A Selfie Reflection by Matthew E. White and Lonnie Holley

  49. Urban Driftwood by Yasmin Williams

  50. Way Down in the Rust Bucket by Neil Young and Crazy Horse

  • Browse my favorite albums of the year

  • Browse my “2021 Yearly Wrap-it-Up” which is really a ramble about seeing Phish

  • Browse my favorite books of 2021

  • Browse my favorite movies of 2021

  • Browse my favorite television of 2021

  • Listen to a nearly 5-hour very low quality mix of one song from each of my favorite albums of 2021 called “Soundtrack to the Collective Meltdown”

The Freeform Family Dinner Radioshow (04) :: A Holiday At The Sea Playlist

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I have this playlist on my laptop called “Mix: Home Listening.” It’s currently at 1,331 songs. When our family is just hanging around the house, or especially when Kristi and I cook, we put that playlist on shuffle and just hope for the best. Well, not really, since everything in that playlist is hand-picked.

There are some evenings when my wife and I will look at each other and just wish we could have that same mix of music that just came up to enjoy later on. So, some time ago, I started keeping track of some of the evenings we really liked and I started making mixes of them for the car or just to re-play. We don’t replay them often, but since I have several of them, I thought: why not share them with my Holiday at the Sea online friends and family.

I do pick the first song but from then on out, it’s all shuffle. We’ve been making these mixes about an hour to an hour-and-a-half since that’s what will fit on a blank CD. So, it has to be on shuffle and play good songs for at least an hour. If I skip a song, then the whole mix is thrown out.

I’m not sure how many of these mixes I will end up posting, but I’ve got several ready to go, so I figured that now is as good a time as any. I hope you enjoy and that these songs accompany as many good family times for you as they have for us.

Enjoy.

  1. “Never Say Never” by the Linda Lindas

  2. “Every Grain of Sand” by Emmylou Harris

  3. “Super Bon Bon” by Mike Doughty

  4. “Apology” by the Posies

  5. “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye

  6. “Down There By The Train” by Tom Waits

  7. “So Much Things To Say” by Bob Marley & the Wailers

  8. “One Twenty One” by Aaron Strumpel

  9. “Nuthin’ But A G Thang by Dr. Dre

  10. “Isis” by Bob Dylan

  11. “Twisty Bass” by Neil Finn

  12. “The Gospel According to Water” by Joe Henry

  13. “Black Coffee In Bed” by Squeeze

  14. “How Long?” by the Boggs

  15. “Baby Blue” by Mount Moriah

  16. “Moonlight Mile” by the Rolling Stones

  17. “Rockin’ In The Free World” by Neil Young

  18. “Proud Mary” by Creedence Clearwater Revival

  19. “Cardigan” by Taylor Swift

  20. “So Good So Far” by O.A.R.

  • Browse all Holiday at the Sea playlists

The Freeform Family Dinner Radioshow (03) :: A Holiday At The Sea Playlist

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I have this playlist on my laptop called “Mix: Home Listening.” It’s currently at 1,331 songs. When our family is just hanging around the house, or especially when Kristi and I cook, we put that playlist on shuffle and just hope for the best. Well, not really, since everything in that playlist is hand-picked.

There are some evenings when my wife and I will look at each other and just wish we could have that same mix of music that just came up to enjoy later on. So, some time ago, I started keeping track of some of the evenings we really liked and I started making mixes of them for the car or just to re-play. We don’t replay them often, but since I have several of them, I thought: why not share them with my Holiday at the Sea online friends and family.

I do pick the first song but from then on out, it’s all shuffle. We’ve been making these mixes about an hour to an hour-and-a-half since that’s what will fit on a blank CD. So, it has to be on shuffle and play good songs for at least an hour. If I skip a song, then the whole mix is thrown out.

I’m not sure how many of these mixes I will end up posting, but I’ve got several ready to go, so I figured that now is as good a time as any. I hope you enjoy and that these songs accompany as many good family times for you as they have for us.

Enjoy.

  1. “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver

  2. “Pump It Up” by Elvis Costello

  3. “Swing Wide The Glimmering Gates” by Andrew Osenga

  4. “When It Don’t Come Easy” by Patty Griffin

  5. “This Tornado Loves You” by Neko Case

  6. “Hold On” by Alabama Shakes

  7. “The Last Of The Famous International Playboys” by Morrissey

  8. “Carry Me Ohio” by Sun Kil Moon

  9. “Brimful of Asha” by Cornershop

  10. “Silence Kit” by Pavement

  11. “Welcome to Struggleville” by Vigilantes of Love

  12. “Mr. Mudd & Mr. Gold” by Townes Van Zandt

  13. “Blanket of Ghosts” by Dustin Kenstrue

  14. “Distress Signal” by Jeremy Casella

  15. “Lincoln Town” by John Hiatt

  16. “This Empty Northern Hemisphere” by Gregory Alan Isakov

  17. “Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore” by John Prine

  18. “Narcissus Soaking Wet” by Chris Robinson Brotherhood

  19. “Be Thankful” by Jackie Mittoo

  20. “Funeral Singers” by Califone

  21. “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart” by Jeff Tweedy

  • Browse all Holiday at the Sea playlists

The Freeform Family Dinner Radioshow (02) :: A Holiday At The Sea Playlist

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I have this playlist on my laptop called “Mix: Home Listening.” It’s currently at 1,331 songs. When our family is just hanging around the house, or especially when Kristi and I cook, we put that playlist on shuffle and just hope for the best. Well, not really, since everything in that playlist is hand-picked.

There are some evenings when my wife and I will look at each other and just wish we could have that same mix of music that just came up to enjoy later on. So, some time ago, I started keeping track of some of the evenings we really liked and I started making mixes of them for the car or just to re-play. We don’t replay them often, but since I have several of them, I thought: why not share them with my Holiday at the Sea online friends and family.

I do pick the first song but from then on out, it’s all shuffle. We’ve been making these mixes about an hour to an hour-and-a-half since that’s what will fit on a blank CD. So, it has to be on shuffle and play good songs for at least an hour. If I skip a song, then the whole mix is thrown out.

I’m not sure how many of these mixes I will end up posting, but I’ve got several ready to go, so I figured that now is as good a time as any. I hope you enjoy and that these songs accompany as many good family times for you as they have for us.

Enjoy.

  1. “Livin’ Was Easy” by the Glands

  2. “Sisters and Brothers” by the Vespers

  3. “G’Dang Diggy” by Common Market

  4. “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead” by XTC

  5. “Second Hand News” by Fleetwood Mac

  6. “Black-Throated Wind” by Bob Weir

  7. “Mr. Tambourine Man” by Brothers And Sisters Of Los Angeles

  8. “Anxious” by the Housemartins

  9. “Grace” by Star & Micey

  10. “Acid Boys” by Susto

  11. “I Believe (In Everything)” by JJ Grey and Mofro

  12. “Wichita Lineman” by Johnny Cash

  13. “Raw Power” by Iggy and the Stooges

  14. “Two Little Feet” by Greg Brown

  15. “Chickens on the Lamb” by Ramsay Midwood

  16. “Bed Jammin” by Lee “Scratch Perry

  17. “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye

  18. “Scarred But Smarter” by Model Engine

  19. “I Could Be Wrong (But I Don’t Think I Am)” by Vigilantes of Love

  20. “Madness” by Madness

  21. “Country Girls in City Dresses” by Doug Burr

  • Browse all Holiday at the Sea playlists

The Freeform Family Dinner Radioshow (01) :: A Holiday At The Sea Playlist

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The Freeform Family Dinner Radioshow.jpg

I have this playlist on my laptop called “Mix: Home Listening.” It’s currently at 1,331 songs. When our family is just hanging around the house, or especially when Kristi and I cook, we put that playlist on shuffle and just hope for the best. Well, not really, since everything in that playlist is hand-picked.

There are some evenings when my wife and I will look at each other and just wish we could have that same mix of music that just came up to enjoy later on. So, some time ago, I started keeping track of some of the evenings we really liked and I started making mixes of them for the car or just to re-play. We don’t replay them often, but since I have several of them, I thought: why not share them with my Holiday at the Sea online friends and family.

I do pick the first song but from then on out, it’s all shuffle. We’ve been making these mixes about an hour to an hour-and-a-half since that’s what will fit on a blank CD. So, it has to be on shuffle and play good songs for at least an hour. If I skip a song, then the whole mix is thrown out.

I’m not sure how many of these mixes I will end up posting, but I’ve got several ready to go, so I figured that now is as good a time as any. I hope you enjoy and that these songs accompany as many good family times for you as they have for us.

Enjoy.

  1. “That’s What Love Will Make You Do” by Jerry Garcia

  2. “Aquarius” by Boards of Canada

  3. “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere” by Neil Young

  4. “Afrikaner Barista” by Beauty Pill

  5. “Rastaman Chant (live)” by Bob Marley and the Wailers

  6. “Praise God I’m Satisfied” by Blind Willie Johnson

  7. “China” by Greg Brown

  8. “Can I Kick It?” by A Tribe Called Quest

  9. “Me and Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin

  10. “‘Ol ‘55 (live)” by Tom Waits

  11. “Homestead” by Northern Hustle

  12. “Love, Love, Love (Everyone” by Akron/Fmily

  13. “Oppenheimer” by Old 97’s

  14. “The King Is Half-Undressed” by Jellyfish

  15. “Kinky Afro” by Happy Mondays

  16. “Penny Lane” by the Beatles

  17. “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers

  18. “Unfortunately, Anna” by Justin Townes Earle

  19. “Laughter (live)” by Josh Rouse

  20. “Self Care” by Mac Miller

  21. “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” by Lee Hazlewood

  22. “Precita” by Mount Moriah

  • Browse all Holiday at the Sea playlists

Dubspace (02) :: A Holiday At The Sea Playlist

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A Holiday at the Sea playlist of 20 more Dub heavy hitters.




Tracklisting:

  1. “Binshaker Dub Plate” by Twilight Circus Dub Sound System

  2. “Black Rock” by Black Jade

  3. “Daisy Temple” by Serge Gainsbourg

  4. “Fence Dub” by Vital Dub

  5. “Mother Liza” by Jimmy Radway

  6. “Fire Bun” by Ja-Man All Stars

  7. “Worrier” by Joe Gibbs

  8. “Dub MPLA” by Tappa Zukie

  9. “Bubble Up” by Wayne Jarrett

  10. “Zombie Zones” by Dennis Bovell

  11. “Dub To The Vein” by Skin, Flesh & Bones

  12. “Jungle Shuffle” by Morwell Unlimited

  13. “Satisfied Dub” by Ossie Hibert

  14. “Dub Out” by Oku Onoura

  15. “JBC Days & Proper Education Dub” by Mikey Dread

  16. “White Whale” by Ranking Barnabas

  17. “Dem Never Know” by Rhythm & Sound (with Jah Cotton)

  18. “Tempo Dub” by Rupie Edwards All Stars

  19. “Channel One In Dub” by Linval Thompson

  20. “Genesis 1-11” by Sly and the Revolutionaries

Tuareg Guitar: Welcome To Saharan Desert Rock

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I have made my love of Tuareg Guitar music known to you, dear friends. So the following mix should come as no surprise. As if any of you are waiting around to be surprised by the music mixes I post. But, hey, you go have your own weird daydreams, alright?!

The Sahel Sounds Records Tuareg Guitar page says:

“Tuareg guitar has become one of the most popular folk music in the contemporary Sahara. Originally political ballads, created in exile in Libya, today the sound has expanded to encompass everything from introspective love songs, blistering psychedelic rock, and synthesizer and drum machine. At its core, the music still relies on poetry to transmit a message, carried by the pentatonic solos of a guitar.”

Here is a mix of songs from some of my current favorite Tuareg albums.

Tracklisting:

  1. “Itous” (Live) by Tamikrest

  2. “Nar djenetbouba” by Tinariwen

  3. “Wiwasharnine” by Mdou Moctar

  4. “Idrach” by Timasniwen

  5. “Afous Dafous” by Tartit

  6. “Ici Bas” by Songhoy Blues

  7. “ASCO” by Ali Farka Touré

  8. “Chebiba” by Tallawit Timbouctou

  9. “Imigradan” by Les Filles de Illighadad

  10. “Alemin” by Group Inerane

  11. “Tenere” by Afous d'Afous

  12. “Tekana” by Etran Finatawa

  13. “Dounia” by Toumast

  14. "Amidinin Senta Aneflas” by Terakaft

  15. “Tamudre” by Imarhan

  16. “Ameji (douleur)” by Imaran

  17. Tumastin by Amanar

  • Browse other Holiday at the Sea playlists.