Any Major Dude With Half A Heart

This year I reduced the number of mixes I posted slightly — and still came in at 25 CD-R length mixes, 12 In Memoriams, as well as two Song Swarms (though one of these was recycled and the other was a guest contribution) and two Christmas mixes.

There were old favourites, like Not Feeling Guilty or Covered With Soul, a few Songbooks and three Singing Star Sings Covers (usually to celebrate somebody’s 75^th or 80^th birthday, and in the case of Marvin Gaye, the 40^th anniversary of his death), more Beatles in foreign languages (this time Spanish, to follow French and Italian), and one brand-new concept, the Any Major Backing Singers Mix.

I have a few more mixes on the boil, playlists all ready, being listened to, and awaiting the taxing task of having linernotes written about them (well, the playlists don’t await the task; that’ll be my job).

The very attentive regulars may wonder: Where’s the traditional Party It’s Like… mix for New Year’s Eve? Well, I’ve scrapped it. Firstly, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to bang together a collection of dance tracks from 1984 which I’d like to listen or boogie down to myself. Secondly, for years these mixes have elicited barely any comments (in four out of six years, zero!). I therefore assume there’s no market for them. The vox populi speaks also through silence. So last December’s Party Like It’s 1983 ended that series.

As I’ve said before, comments are the only indicator I have for how well mixes are received. Sometimes the lack of comments causes me disappointment. Was there not at least somebody who liked the Any Major Love Vol. 2 mix, which was one of my favourites this year? But, well, vox populi and all that. Maybe I’ll do a mix of songs about divorce this Valentine’s Day….As every year, I’ve picked one track from each mix of the year, beneath which you’ll find the link to the relevant post — a good way of catching up with mixes you might have mixed, or to remind you of mixes you liked. The text above and list below is included as a PDF, fir easy reference.

Now, which mix of 2024 have you enjoyed?

1. John Prine – Sweet Revenge (1973)
   Any Major Backing Singers Vol. 1
2. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band – Trapped (1985)
   Bruce Springsteen Sings Covers
3. Karla Bonoff – Personally (1982)
   Not Feeling Guilty Mix Vol. 13
4. Al Stewart – Valentina Way (1978)
   Any Major Guitar Vol. 3
5. Richard Hawley – Baby, You’re My Light (2001)
   Any Major Love Vol. 2
6. Teri Moïse – Je serai là (1996)
   Any Major ABC of France
7. Nino Ferrer – South (1974)
   Any Major Albums Of The Year: 1974
8. Redbone – Come And Get Your Love (1973)
   Any Major Hits from 1974 Vol. 1
9. The Three Degrees – Stop In Nevada (1976)
   Any Major Billy Joel Songbook
10. Diana Ross – Reach Out, I’ll Be There (1971)
    Diana Ross Sings Covers
11. Marlena Shaw – Go Away, Little Boy (1969)
    Any Major Soul Women
12. Matt Bianco – More Than I Can Bear (1984)
    Any Major Album of the Year: 1984
13. David Essex – Gonna Make You A Star (1974)
    Any Hits from 1974 Vol. 2
14. Billy Paul – Takin’ It To The Streets (1977)
    Covered With Soul Vol. 25
15. Thelma Houston – Me And Bobby McGee (1972)
    Any Major Kris Kristofferson Songbook
16. Gladys Knight & The Pips – (I Know) I’m Losing You (1970)
    Gladys Knight Sings Covers
17. Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings – Take Me With U (2009)
    Purple Rain Recovered
18. Oliver Cheatham – Get Down, Saturday Night (1983)
    Party Like It’s 1983
19. Cameo – She’s Strange (1984)
    Any Major Soul 1984
20. Fourplay feat. El DeBarge – After The Dance (1991)
    Any Major Marvin Gaye Songbook
21. James Taylor – Hound Dog (2009)
    Song Swarm: Hound Dog
22. New Riders Of The Purple Sage – Dim Lights, Thick Smoke And Loud Music (1972)
    Any Major Nicky Hopkins Collection
23. Eagles – Ol’ 55 (1974)
    Any Major Tom Waits Songbook
24. Skeeter Davis – Gonna Get Along Without You Now (1964)
    Song Swarm: Gonna Get Along Without You Now
25. Ink Spots – Someone’s Rocking My Dreamboat (1941)
    Any Major ABC of the 1940s
26. Ella Fitzgerald – Ringo Beat (1964)
    Any Major Bizarre Beatles
27. Los Loud Jets – La Felicidad Es Un Arma Caliente (Happiness Is A Warm Gun) (1969)
    Any Major Beatles in Spanish

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