We are deep in the heart of Summer friends. Today in LA LA land it was HOT and it got me thinking of dreamy summertime tunes instead of thinking of my craptastic cubicle which is where I am stuck. I must confess I LOVE me a good playlist. There is an art to the playlist and not too many people can do it right. I have my good lists and my better lists and occasionally my OMG this lists KICKS ASS. Here are my tips/life lessons when it comes to Susie’s school of Playlists:
• When you are clearly out of your league with a music snob/fan STEP AWAY. Don’t touch their IPod don’t try to talk to them about that Blink 182 show you saw that was awesome. They will kill you and then laugh at your face. Just try to listen and learn friend, if you heard something you like, ask “who is this, I like it” music snob’s love to play teacher.
• Mix it up – if you have a variety then everyone is happy. IE sometimes you have to slip something douchey to appease that random Bro in a drunken stupor to keep him at bay. HE IS NOT DOWN WITH DJANGO FRIEND. (I won’t totally judge you for the one play of the Alien Ant Farm Smooth Criminal cover if it keeps the natives peaceful for an extra hour) As much as I could listen to Henry Mancini ALL DAY most people can’t so keep the shuffle going. ALSO: sometimes MOMS are at the party – so throw MOM a bone. Mine likes ROD STEWARD BABY! Throw some of that in the mix, you will be the new fave and always invited back!
• Make your playlist long – 10 songs does not a playlist make! If the music stops, the party stops. Learn it, live it. Put more songs on there then you think you need. Dead air is a death sentence and Joe Shmo might put on his Russian Hip Hop Reggae Remix – or my worse nightmare Dave Matthews and Jack Johnson live in concert tracks, while you are getting a snack or breaking the seal or something, and then you are going to have to cut a bitch.
• Take Requests – I have more than one iPod so this is a little easier but sometimes you can fake this step if the party goers seem drunk enough and just tell them that their song is coming up next – I used to use this trick when I was a DJ and had no intention of playing that song. Tricky.
The following list is meant for a mellow summer outdoor affair – a BBQ or pool party perhaps.
*I made the list with Rhapsody so hopefully you can click the links and have a listen. If not the internets are a wonderful place to look things up. Happy Summer!
Bittersweet Susie – Summer 2012 (click here for spotify link)
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- Big Wave Jenny And Johnny
- Hot Fun In The Summertime Sly & The Family Stone
- Summer Holiday Cliff Richard & The Shadows
- A Sweet Summernight On Hammer Hill Jens Lekman
- Summertime Sam Cooke
- Between the devil and the deep blue sea Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra
- Summertime Blues Eddie Cochran
- Pineapple Princess Annette Funicello
- Hawaiian Rock Tommy Sands
- The Summer Coconut Records
- I Get Around The Beach Boys
- Hawaiian Paradise Les Paul
- Beach Party Bob Jaxon
- In The Summertime Mungo Jerry
- (Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay Otis Redding
- Why Do Hawaiians Sing Aloha? Various Artists
- Lunar Sea Camera Obscura
- Ease Your Feet In The Sea Belle & Sebastian
- Hop Scotch Santo And Johnny
- Walk-Don’t Run The Ventures
- Summer Skin Death Cab For Cutie
- Let’s Go Trippin’ Dick Dale
- Moonlight Swim Elvis Presley
- Sea Cruise Frankie Ford
- Cold Beverage G. Love And Special Sauce
- Jump In The Line Harry Belafonte
- Wooly Bully Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs
- Love Is Strange Mickey and Sylvia
- Heat Wave, (Love Is Like A) Martha and the Vandellas
- Rockaway Beach Ramones
- Hawaiian War Chant Tommy Dorsey
- The Tide Is High Blondie
- Me Rock-A-Love Bill Haley
- Summertime Is Past And Gone Bill Monroe and His Blue Grass Boys
If you have an Rhapsody account you can get to the playlist here
Bitter Sweet Susie 
Awesome list and great insights. I just wish you had something on tap for this weekends Big 4 Year Old Boy Zoorific Birthday party.
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ALL MOMS LOVE ROD STEWART. Fact. Love this playlist friend.
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