Otessa Moshfegh – My Year of Rest and Relaxation

I read some excellent books in 2019 as well.

—

Above these thoughts are a few photos from my phone.

The last time I can remember being ahead of the times was in 1976, when I became a vehement Jimmy Carter supporter at age 4. The next step off the cliff of the present was in 1985 or so, when I turned from the pop radio station to the oldies station. Within a few years, I had a copy of Joel Whitburn’s Top 40 Hits, a book listing every song that had been on the charts from 1955 to the present.

As I write this, I’m listening to Making Love Out of Nothing at All, written by Jim Steinman, recorded by Air Supply. To this day, I think I’d rate Air Supply in my most memorable shows of all time. For the sake of honesty, let’s see if I’m correct.

• Ray Charles
• Frank Sinatra
• James Brown
• They Might Be Giants
• Battershell
• Blossom Dearie
• Willie Nelson
• Air Supply
• Harry Belafonte
• Billy Joel
• Eagles of Death Metal
• Violent Femmes

I’m sure I’m missing something, but that’s about right for now.

In the past, I’ve found that learning how to play a song, getting it inside you, so that you can play it again to yourself, or for a friend, that’s the best way to get rid of what they call “an earworm.” Should I be working harder on my Air Supply covers? That’s a good question. The answer is: probably. At least this one. I don’t think I’ll ever be manic enough to do another birthday tribute show again, or at least another new one. So far, I’ve done several tributes to Johnny Cash and one each for Katy Perry and Frank Sinatra. I was really stoked about doing a BeeGees show for awhile, but that idea faded away.

Damn, that Jim Steinman can write a song. I’d love to see him in concert someday.

Above these thoughts are a few photos from my phone.

The Nightlife was originally conceived as a template for a midnight, three hour radio show. I tried to envision myself at a radio station on a Saturday night, pulling records off of the infinite shelves of Spotify. But because I wasn’t talking between the songs, at times I felt like I was back at the old tape deck, making a mix tape for a friend. Now I’ve got this box of mix tapes, and I wish I’d labeled them better. But if you’re going somewhere, or cleaning the house, and you wanted to hear a few of my favorite tunes and artists, The Nightlife is here for you.

Episode 20 / Episode 19

Episode 18 / Episode 17

Episode 16 / Episode 15

Episode 14 / Episode 13

Episode 12 / Episode 11

Episode 10 / Episode 9

Episode 8 / Episode 7

Episode 6 / Episode 5

Episode 4 / Episode 3

Episode 2 / Episode 1

The Nightlife is a weekly playlist based on what I think it’d sound like if I had a free-form midnight radio show. I look at this like I’ve rolled into the radio station to have the best time of my life playing great records in sequence and hearing the beautiful stories they tell each other across time. Another way to think of it, is like I just sent you two 90 minute mixtapes in the mail. And of course you don’t have to listen at midnight. You can listen anytime.

As I understand it, Spotify Premium members can listen to these shows complete and in order, whereas Spotify Free users can listen to a shuffled version of each playlist with added commercials and missing the songs only allocated for premium members.

The Nightlife: Episode 1 – 10/5/19

The Nightlife: Episode 2 – 10/12/19

The Nightlife: Episode 3 – 10/19/19

The Nightlife: Episode 4 – 10/26/19

The Nightlife: Episode 5 – 11/4/19