There was a point in early December where we here at Vanyaland internally kicked around the idea of a New Year’s Eve party at a lounge somewhere around Boston, spinning only music from those who died in 2016. The potential post-midnight playlist was bittersweet — some “Modern Love” by Bowie into George Michael’s “Freedom ’90” into Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy”, with a few Tribe Called Quest cuts for Phife Dawg and some soul jams from Sharon Jones sprinkled in.
It never came to fruition (we agreed no one was really in the mood), but San Jose DJ and producer Peanut Butter Wolf has the next best thing — a 46-song, three volume mix that explores some deep cuts from notable artists and manages to include some of the lesser covered losses, like the deaths of Blowfly and Colonel Abrams.
RIP 2016 begins with Bobby Hutcherson’s 1970 jazz track “Now”, and the mix just simmers with purpose and inspiration from there on out. Prince’s selection dates back to the ’70s (“We Can Work It Out”), and Bowie’s is instrumental cut “V-2 Schneider” from 1977 album “Heroes”. Also included are Sucide’s Alan Vega, pop singer Vanity 6, and of course, Leonard Cohen.
Marvel at the magnitude of it all below.
[h/t SPIN/FACT; featured Peanut Butter Wolf photo by Stacy Lucier via the Windish Agency]
1. Now – Bobby Hutcherson
2. Where The Moon Goes – Weather Report (Victor Bailey)
3. The Star Of The Story – Heatwave (Rod Temperton)
4. 4 Moms – A Tribe Called Quest (Malik Isaac Taylor aka Phife Dawg)
5. Mom – Earth, Wind, & Fire (Maurice White)
6. This Masquerade – Leon Russell
7. We Can Work It Out – Prince
8. Time and Space – Ohio Players (Marshall Jones)
9. When the Apple Blossoms Bloom in the Windmills of Your Mind I’ll Be Your Valentine- Emerson, Lake, and Palmer (Keith Emerson, Greg Lake)
10. Aranjuez – Tomita
11. On A Clear Day – Billy Paul
12. Today – Jefferson Airplane (Paul Kantner, Signe Anderson)
13. Thirteen Eight – Mother Gong (Gillian “Gilli” Mary Smyth)
1. Diamonds, Fur Coat, Champagne – Suicide (Alan Vega)
2. V-2 Schneider – David Bowie
3. Breakdown – Colourbox (Steven Young)
4. The Mood – Kashif
5. Make-Up – Vanity 6
6. The Elephant Never Forgets – Jean Jacques Perrey
7. Blue Jay Way – The Beatles (George Martin)
8. Pictures Of Matchstick Men – Status Quo (Richard John Parfitt)
9. I’ll Be With You – Bernie Worrell
10. Nothing Looks The Same In The Light – Wham! (George Michael)
11. I’m Not Gonna Let You – Colonel Abrams
12. Inspiration Information – Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings
13. The Dip – The Whispers (Nicolas Caldwell)
14. Judge Dread – Prince Buster
15. Howlin For Judy – Jeremy Steig
16. Space Invaders – Alphonse Mouzon
1. My Conversation – The Uniques (Jimmy Riley)
2. When I Think – Andy “Thunderclap” Newman
3. Winter Lady – Leonard Cohen
4. Those Shoes – Eagles (Glen Frey)
5. Red Light – Siouxsie & The Banshees (Nigel Gray)
6. Selfish Side – Dead Or Alive (Pete Burns)
7. Beri-Beri – Kleenex (Marlene Marder)
8. Egg Raid On Mojo – The Beastie Boys (John Berry)
9. Sesame Street – Blowfly
10. My Old Flame – Paul Bley
11. Cold Gray Dawn – Lee Andrews
12. Dónde Andará – Juan Gabriel
13. Ode To A Forgetful MInd – Prince B
14. Im Out To Catch – Leon Haywood
15. I Just Wanna Love You – Force MD’s (Trisco Pearson)
16. Adios Part II – Gato Barbieri
17. Da Da Da – Trio (Peter Behrens)