The Animal Tracks Mix

To be honest, it took me a few minutes to get the connection between the tracks in this playlist. Then I realized that either the artist or the song had some sort of animal reference in the name. Once that was clear, things made a bit more sense. I always appreciate someone who can find creative ways to stick to a theme, so well done Alan. I'm sure I couldn't have been as creative.

This is a fairly diverse mix of songs, including soundtracks, pop songs, a novelty tune, a new wave classic, and others. Some of it I liked, most of it I didn’t, but that’s how this goes, correct? I’d rather listen to something new and maybe find something I like than just listen to exactly the same things over and over again. Thanks to Alan Williams for putting this together.


Main Title/John Williams/Jaws - From The “Jaws” Soundtrack
I wonder if there is anyone over a certain age who would not instantly recognize this. I’m reasonably sure that my niece who is 15 would recognize this. To be honest, I’m more familiar with this piece of music than the movie, which I think I might have seen once back in the 70s.


The Bird On The Second Floor - Bernard Cribbins
For some reason, probably due to some weird licensing restriction, this track isn’t available to me (listening on Spotify, because I can't find the CD that Alan sent in the pile of junk on my desk).


The Animal Song - Savage Garden
I had heard of Savage Garden, but until today I had never heard Savage Garden. I’m pretty certain that this will be my only exposure to Savage Garden.


House Of The Rising Sun - The Animals
As with the Jaws theme, this is a track that I would be surprised if someone who grew up in the US or UK didn’t instantly recognize. A classic tune, always welcome.


Kitty Jay - Seth Lakeman
This is… some sort of folk song? Fiddle, voice, maybe some other instrument? In my mind I imagined sweeping vistas of green mountains with men in kilts and women with flowing red hair and some villainous English lord skulking in the background. Or maybe I’ve just seen too many shows on Masterpiece Theater on PBS (which in the US shows a lot of BBC period dramas).


Bond Smells a Rat - John Barry Orchestra (Diamonds Are Forever)
I haven’t seen this movie in decades, but I still recognized this piece of music.


A Good Heart - Feargal Sharkey
For some reason I was sure that Feargal Sharkey was much older than 59 (only six years older than me), but obviously I was wrong. How the man who recorded “Teenaged Kicks,” which John Peel considered his all-time favorite song went on to record this is beyond me. The weird thing is that I’m a fan of Maria McKee (the songwriter, from the band Lone Justice), but this song isn’t for me.


Dolphins Make Me Cry - Martyn Joseph
What is this I can’t even.


Shoot the Dog - George Michael
All I know about George Michael is that he was in WHAM!, and my sister liked them back when. I knew he had a solo career, but I couldn’t name you one song from it. Songs like this (and the one above) remind me just how out of touch I am with popular music.


Where Eagles Dare - The Band of Royal Lancers
I think I saw this movie with my maternal grandfather, a WWII veteran and former US Marine. This has that classic WWII war movie / action-adventure sound to it. I can see the credits rolling over an airfield somewhere in Europe with strapping young men about to take off into the wild blue to do heroic battle, interrupted by a commercial for Turner Classic Movies.


Stand and Deliver - Adam & The Ants
A classic from the New Wave/New Romantic times. Early Adam & The Ants was always over the top and fun.

I Came Upon A Roadkill Deer - Bob Rivers
One of my cousins has a huge collection of novelty songs like this. I avoid that cousin whenever I’m back home.


Blackbird - Dido
As with Savage Garden, Dido is someone I’d heard of, but had never heard. And as with Savage Garden, I’m pretty certain this will be all I ever hear from Dido. Good beat, though.


Bat Out of Hell - Meat Loaf
Another one that is unavailable to me for some reason. No matter, because I’ve heard this song eleventy billion times on various classic rock stations over the years. Don’t let your meat loaf, or something (I think that’s a Butt-head quote, but I could be wrong…) (listening on Spotify).


Eleanor - The Turtles
A classic tune. I have an aunt that I like named Eleanor (everyone calls her Ellie), so I always have fond memories of this song.


Wild World - Yusuf Islam / Cat Stevens
“Tea For The Tillerman” is such a classic album. I think at one point I owned it on vinyl. I was glad to hear this track.


The Future Holds A Lion’s Heart - Darren Hayes
My initial impression is that this is the main theme to an 80s teen movie where the protagonist from the wrong side of the tracks fights against some kind of injustice and eventually prevails and gets the girl from the rich family, and walks off with her into the sunset with the collar on his polo shirt popped and a bandanna around his neck, and I’m just going to stick with that.


Four White Stallions - Counting Crows
Every time I hear this band I want to punch the lead singer in the face, so my opinion of this track should be considered biased and unreliable.


Albatross - Fleetwood Mac
Early Fleetwood Mac. I’m only familiar with their “Rumors” era stuff, but they’ve really got a deep and interesting early catalog also.