The Nickel is a weekly(ish) feature on Mixologists where we highlight 5 songs that will elevate your mixes to a new level that you could not possibly have previously imagined. We here at Mixologists have no problem making you cooler. After all, you need the help.Hey, remember the 70's? If you're like me, then you don't, because you weren't born yet. But dig this, chumly, there was music before you and I even knew what music was. Rockin' music in some cases. Soulful music in other cases. Terrible music in most cases. So if you're sick of your parents arguing about who was better:
Captain and Tenille or
Barry Manilow, check out these 5 songs (and in general, any music by these artists), and your friends will like you more, because you'll no longer be putting
"Iron Man" on every 70's mix you make.
- "Marquee Moon" - Television - Marquee Moon
Television is one of the most ignored and underrated bands to surface in the late 70's. They spit in the face of those who said you could no longer rock 'n' roll unless you used effects on your guitars. No sir, they played them clean, and they played them with an intensity that you just don't see enough of. Listen to these CBGB darlings as the rhythm guitar plays a staccato riff, and the lead guitar brings in a little noodle riff that is simply divine.
Recommendation: On the latest reissue of this album, this song (the original cut) clocks in at over 10 minutes, so you may want to limit your use to "jam" mixes, or throw a curveball by sticking this as the last song of an art punk mix.
- "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" - T. Rex - Electric Warrior
Right now, you're laughing to yourself. You're criticizing me for highlighting a song that everybody and their mother can sing the chorus to. Well, you know what you can go bang on. I don't care how many times you have heard this song, it will still get your ass on the dancefloor with your bad disco moves and your devil-may-care attitude.
Recommendation: This song clearly belongs on any mix about breaking things or hitting things or causing general damage to items that make noise.
- "Mercy Mercy Me" - Marvin Gaye - What's Going On
Did you know that Marvin Gaye's mind wasn't always in the bedroom? It's true; just listen to the What's Going On album, which is full of socially conscious songs such as "Mercy Mercy Me". Listen closely to this one: Did he just sing "Fish full of mercury"? Yes sir. But this track just grooves, baby.
Recommendation: Place this one on your next Artists Whose Music is Most Defiled by Bad Rap Music mix, or, alternately, your next Boy, This Song's Music is So Good It Distracts Me from the Message Because I Can't Chew Gum and Walk at the Same Time mix. It's sure to be a winner either way.
- "The Girls Want To Be With The Girls" - Talking Heads - More Songs About Buildings And Food
Hey, it's another CBGB's band! Man, what I wouldn't give to have had the opportunity to come up with lame excuses for not going out to CBGB's in the late 70's. Those would have been the times. As it is, all I can do at this point is listen to bands who played there, and Talking Heads were the best of the best. With their frantic, nervous instrumentation and David Byrne's nerdy voice belting lines including the phrase "abstract analysis", you just can't go wrong here.
Recommendation: You can stick this one on your Confused Sexual Identities mix. Save a spot on there for Blur's "Boys & Girls" too. But I'm not telling you how to make your mixes, you leech.
- "Loose" - The Stooges - Fun House
Oh, Iggy Pop. You and your dirty thoughts. What are we to do with you? Iggy sings "Loose" with his mouth so close to the microphone that you literally have to check your ears for spit after listening to this one. Am I entirely sure what he's talking about in this song? Couldn't say. But I'll tell you that I feel like I need a shower.
Recommendation: "Loose" belongs on a mix that you won't be playing for your parents. And if you ever catch them talking about The Stooges, well, you can snicker to yourself about the loose morals of their youth.
