The Case of the Spring 2019 Fund Drive Deviation

My special show for the Spring Fund Drive this year is a break with tradition, and the last time I plan to do any deviations from the Africa-Brazil-Latin America formula. The fact is, I have about as many records from the US as I do in my collection of international music... thousands of titles spanning rock, soul, funk, blues, country, jazz, hip-hop, and electronic; a true music lover am I. For your entertainment (and let's be honest: for my own self indulgence) I will play a mix of all home grown music. After that, the gateway to my domestic LP collection shall be closed!

Since I am already indulging myself today, I'll go full throttle and tell you that today's mix is all about me. This is my ultimate self-reflective mix tape. Like any great mix tape, the songs follow one another with musical continuity and flow; but also with continuity and flow to the lyrics and the messages. That's the goal.

Of course, I'm also making XRAY radio here... we're not going to hear any commercial radio cuts. Although some of this material will be familiar to various listeners, I want to avoid anything too well known; our mission is to dig a bit deeper. At the same time, my goal today is not just to unearth the most worthy obscure nuggets; I'm selecting personal favorite music for my ultimate mix tape! 

This is a mix in 4 movements: first I will share music from my youth; postcards from US flyover country during a certain era. These are social and political milestones of growing up disaffected in the heartland before the internet age. Warning for listeners who grew up on the seaboards: twang ahead. 

The second movement today pays homage to that most common of musical themes: here is a collection of my favorite love songs. Note the progression today from casual to commitment. After I play my heart, I'll come back with a set dedicated to my thoughts and beliefs: the second hour today kicks off with righteous soul. 

I close the show today with a set dedicated to the most noble calling of music: pure expression of joie de vivre. We wind up in the US home of joyful music, the Big Easy.