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About Today’s Mix:

In the winter of 2006, I made my way down to the radio station for my usual Sunday night radio show, spinning two hours of heavy metal for the kids.  Pat The Producer and Jim Benson were hosting the Inner Sanctum, a long running local music show here in Cleveland that ran prior to my show on Sundays (and this was prior to my current involvement with the Inner Sanctum.)  On this particular Sunday night, they were being interviewed by a couple of local college students about their time at the classic Cleveland alternative station 107.9 The End.  When I came into the radio station, Pat asked me if I was interested in being interviewed, to share some of my memories for the film.

Setting the scene, imagine that our hero goes down to the radio station on the eve of laundry day.  He’s wearing that shirt that you wear when you’ve got nothing else clean, but it doesn’t matter, because you’re just going to the radio station – you’re not going to see anyone.  Only on this particular evening, he ends up on film, for what will be a 10-15 minute short film for a student project.  Nobody’s ever going to see this, right?

But then, the short film turns into a feature length project that people will actually see.  Our hero sees a trailer for the project, and immediately flashes back to that night, thinking “Oh god.”  Among other things.  As someone that doesn’t enjoy being the center of attention, I was nervous on the night that the documentary had its first screening at the Cleveland Cinematheque.  There I was, in a crowded auditorium with a couple of my friends from high school (I had to share the moment with people who loved The End as much as I did,) and I silently hoped that the editing blade had been kind.  I remembered rambling, and nobody wants to be THAT guy on screen.

I had a good feeling though, and in the end, my first viewing of The End of the World as We Knew It was a wonderfully nostalgic experience.  Young filmmaker Mike Wendt and Jennifer Danolfo had done a great job with the project, and it was cool to see that a wonderful period for me as a music fan, and Cleveland radio history in general, had been properly documented.

Mike Wendt is a bright young talent just beginning to make some noise here in Cleveland.  I think you’ll be hearing more about Wendt in the years to come, and it couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.  We like Mike.

So about that documentary – how can I see it?  Good question.  I understand from talking to Mike, that they are hoping to have it out on DVD for the holidays, expanded with additional interviews, including interviews with Johan, formerly of the Agora and Inner Sanctum, and former End program director Rick Michaels.  Proceeds will go to benefit charity programs funding music in schools.    Put this one on the holiday list now for your favorite Cleveland music fan, who came of age during the early 90s – he or she will love you for it.

All of this is a really longwinded lead in for Mike, who supplies today’s Monday Mix.  Enjoy!

Mix Notes:

I have to admit when I was asked to participate in the Monday Morning Mix, I was pretty excited about it. I tend to make a new mix weekly, play it the whole week and add it to a large pile of discs that sits in my car. But for this one I need to kick it up a notch I suppose. I do enjoy independent music but I kind of stuck to what I know best in this mix, so perhaps this might be one of the more “commercial” mixes, but I hope you will agree that a good song is a good song no matter how popular it might have been. (Also forgive me, yes this is heavy on the 90s but I can’t help it, those are the years I grew up and listened to the radio non-stop).

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1. “Mr. Blue Sky” – ELO –  from Out Of The Blue

This is a brilliant song, almost seems like it is a couple songs combined into one. First, it’s a driving pop song with catchy lyrics and a great beat and then it suddenly turns into an almost angelic melody. I think every morning should start off with a song like this.

2. “One Angry Dwarf” – Ben Folds Five –  from Whatever and Ever Amen

Since I am height challenged I often joke that this song is my anthem. I love the cockiness that this song gives off, it makes a bold statement near the beginning, “If you really want to see me check the papers and the tv, look whose telling who what to do now, Kiss my ass!” Plus some killer piano solos from Mr. Folds make this song one of my faves.

3. “The Power of Love” – Huey Lewis and The News –  from Back To The Future Soundtrack

Back to the Future is one of my all time favorite films and this song makes me smile.

4. “Deceptacon” -Le Tigre –  from Le Tigre

This song is a great mix of rock and electronic. I have to admit I sometimes have no idea what they are trying to say in the song but damn is it fun. They play it often at a bar I love to go to in Akron called Thursdays Lounge. There is nothing better than seeing about 100-150 (probably inebriated) people dancing and singing along to this song on the floor.

5. “Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now)” – Cracker – from Cracker

A really good pump up song for me, gives me the energy for the day.

6. “It’s A Shame About Ray” – The Lemonheads –  from It’s A Shame About Ray

I just love this song …that’s all I have for this one.  (Editor’s note:  And that’s all you need!)

7.  “Backwater” -The Meat Puppets – from Too High To Die

For all the years they have been around I believe this is the one that put them in the mainstream spotlight for a time. A well constructed tune!

8. “Hey Sandy” – Polaris – from Music From The Adventures Of Pete & Pete

One of those songs that you hear and you instantly think: 90s! Great little song!

9. “Queen Bitch” – David Bowie –  from Hunky Dory

I love the guitar riff on this one and love to sing along to it. So if your ever down the highway and see the windows down on a white Honda and hear me butchering Bowie’s sound, I apologize in advance.

10. “Zero” – Yeah Yeah Yeahs from It’s Blitz!

Karen O’s vocals on this song just amaze me. Plus it seems to signal a new direction in sound for the band.

11. “Stand” – R.E.M. from Green

One of those songs that if heard mid-day should brighten it at least a little. Plus it was the theme song to Get a Life the oh-so short lived sitcom with Chris Elliot.

12. “But Anyway” – Blue Traveler from Blues Traveler

I first heard this song from the film Kingpin where it featured the band dressed up to look Amish. This song briefly wanted me to become a harmonica player, but sadly I am no John Popper.

13. “Nothing From Nothing” – Billy Preston from The Kids and Me

I am very grateful to have grown up in a family that loves music and this is one that I discovered while going through a big stack of 45’s we had around the house while I was still young. The song always stuck with me, just very well written and sang.

14. “This Is The One” – The Stone Roses –  from The Stone Roses

One of those slow burners of a song, starts pretty slowly but builds into a memorable ode to finding “the one”.

15. “Yellow Ledbetter” – Pearl Jam from Lost Dogs

Pearl Jam is one of my favorite bands and if I had to pick one that I would be able to listen to on the spot it would be this one. I was always impressed by this song since it was never officially released as an album track. To hear it live is also a very great thing!!

16. “The Impression I Get” – The Mighty Mighty Bosstones from Let’s Face It

When I was a DJ in college this was my sign-off song. I requested to have the Saturday night shift, the reason being was I would get calls of requests from many drunken parties. Callers would often say I was the guy in the back of the room who was making sure everyone was having a good time. This song makes me look back on those days fondly, and part of me would give up everything for one more of those Saturday nights.

17. “Champagne Supernova” – Oasis from (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?

Not too long ago I was in a record exchange and saw this album in the dollar bin. I think it stayed in my car’s disc player for a good solid 2 months. To work on editing for “The End” documentary at the University of Akron’s campus, it required me to drive (often times very late at night) from Akron to home in Cleveland. And usually if timed right, “Champagne” would hit its last few chords as I arrived in my drive way. Since it ends so dream-like,  it’s a perfect segue to the next step of the day: bed.