Rob Sheffield’s Love is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time is an emotional memoir and tribute to his late wife, explored through the music the two shared. The Rolling Stone contributing editor appears at BookPeople on Sunday, but sent over his most recent playlist.
Louis Jordan, “Don’t Worry ‘Bout That Mule”
A 1940s jump blues classic, always on my mind this time of year. Don’t worry about that mule, baby, just hold the line.
Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, “Oozlin’ Daddy Blues”
I just heard this one recently. Filth! Awesome.
Aretha Franklin, “My Way”
From 1970, an outtake on the Rare & Unreleased CD that came out last year. The closest we’ll ever get to hearing Aretha sing David Bowie’s “Life on Mars.”
Erase Errata, “He Wants What’s Mine”
Less than two minutes long, but a perfect post-punk stumble-and-snarl from Nightlife, one of my most played albums of the decade so far.
Spoon, “The Underdog”
It’s actually not easy to imitate Billy Joel, not without sounding more like Springsteen or Harry Chapin or somebody. But this sounds so precisely like B.J., from the lyric to the acoustic guitar to the way the singer says “riiight,” I have to assume this is fully intended as yet another scene from that Italian restaurant.
Sade, “Smooth Operator”
I’ve always been slightly scared of the guy she sings about in this one.
Of Montreal, “Trouble”
From some live radio session last fall, a gentle piano ballad cover of Lindsey Buckingham’s finest solo hit.
Fleetwood Mac, “What Makes You Think You’re the One”
Lindsey Buckingham’s greatest non-solo hit, and nobody could ever cover it, not that anyone would try.
Mary J. Blige, “Just Fine”
The Dream and Tricky produced a lot of R&B hits last year, but this is my favorite by a mile (never dug “Umbrella,” sorry).
Mission of Burma, “2Wice”
I heard them play this the other night in Brooklyn. One of their greatest songs ever.
Stephen Malkmus, “Real Emotional Trash”
What if you could put “Dark Star” and “Casey Jones” into the same song?
Gladys Knight & the Pips, “Midnight Train to Georgia”
Always had it, always will.
This article appears in January 18 • 2008.