The Friday Mixtape: 10/15/10

It’s October and the downhill run into the end of the year and I, for one, welcome it openly.

I was singing a different tune earlier this year, once winter had finally taken its claws out of us. In the area from where I hail, the Northeast US region, we had snowstorm after snowstorm. I spent over $200 that season in rock salt and broke more than a few shovels clearing the sidewalks, not to mention the sidewalk pavers I trashed in the process. I was ready for summer. Heat’s coming, I taunted, bring it on.

Idiot.

Our region had the hottest summer on historical record. On an ordinary summer, we’d have one or two heatwaves, averaging maybe four days a piece so in a generous tabulation, that would top out at ten days of 90+ degree heat. This year, we had above 90 degrees for more than thirty days, not counting the abnormally hot late spring and the recent “Indian Summer” outbursts. Hell, the first official day of autumn around here went into the 90s too. We’re also not counting the days where the temps lingered in the 89 degree range, at 90% humidity, something New Jersey just seems to enjoy marinating in.

So yeah, bring on the fall. I’m ready for it. Early sunsets, changing leaves, sweaters and sweatshirts without all the sweating, apple cider and cinnamon potpourri, trick-or-treaters, everybody come on down. October is also the month of my birthday, so that adds extra significance to the timeframe for me. I’m sure that if we don’t have the unusually mild winter the forecasters all claim we’ll have, and Jack Frost kicks me in the nethergroinery for my bravado, I’ll be kvetching like a whiny child again about how cold it is. I’ll take that risk. For right now, for this very moment, let’s all salute the departure of the Summer of 2010 with middle fingers raised on high. You did us no favors and we’re glad to see you go.

I, for one, will be glad to no longer smell and feel like a used gym sock.

With the help of the Popdose Staff, we ventured forth with an edition of the Mixtape you will want with you throughout the season, or so we hope. Special thanks to Jack Feerick for his coordinating efforts in getting things off the ground.

Autumn Leaves – Eric Clapton from Clapton (2010)

Autumn Sweater – Yo La Tengo from I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One (1997)

Autumngirlsoup – Kirsty MacColl from Tropical Brainstorm (2001)

Blue Sweater – Frank Bango from Fugitive Girls (2006)

Ghosts Of Autumn – Spock’s Beard from Feel Euphoria (2004)

Halloween – Harold Budd with Robin Guthrie from Mysterious Skin / O.S.T (2005)

Harvest Festival – XTC from Apple Venus Volume 1 (1999)

Harvest Home – Big Country from The Crossing (1983)

Harvest Moon – Blue Oyster Cult from Heaven Forbid (1998)

Last Day Of Summer – Skillet from Surfonic Water Revival (2000)

Rider On The Wheel – Nick Drake from Time of No Reply (1986)

Rose Hip November – Vashti Bunyan from Just Another Diamond Day (2004)

Season Of The Witch – Jellyfish from Fan Club (2002)

September Song – Jeff Lynne from Armchair Theatre (1990)

Summer Moved On – a-ha from Minor Earth Major Sky (2000)

Summer’s End – Foo Fighters from Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (2007)

Summer’s Over – Rialto from Rialto (1998)

Trees – Pulp from We Love Life (2001)

Wake Me Up When September Ends – Green Day from American Idiot (2004)

When The Summer’s Gone – Derek Webb & Sandra McCracken from Ampersand EP (2008)

Wild Is The Wind – David Bowie from Station To Station (1976)

Withering Tree – Traffic from Last Exit (1969)

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