Play List
“I’m just trying to find a decent melody,
A song that I can sing in my own company…”
Stuck in a Moment That You Can’t Get Out Of
U2
Growing up, music used to be one of my best friends. It’s what connected me to people I’d never met, experiences I hadn’t had, and perspectives I hadn’t thought about. Music has the ability to soothe men’s souls … just ask harp-playing King David. I also found that listening to quality music was excellent early reinforcement in intuition. In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance there is a thought about Quality [big Q intended] existing before the words to describe it. The idea of it being instinctual truly resonated with me because good music, like good literature or good art, doesn’t require being defined. You just know it’s good when you hear it.
In recent years, for whatever reasons, the music I’d held dear in my earlier life dissipated. Not completely gone – just faint and less frequent. Among other things, this trek is an opportunity to reconnect. So, I’m taking along some of my old friends – and a few new ones – to keep me company and encourage me forward; to give me a focal point during the trail’s monotonous stretches; and to refresh me with waves of melodies while in patches of parch desert. Here they are, in no particular order… I’ve included their YouTube counterpart links, when available, if it appears to be the artists’ source…so you can listen in to a few…
Full albums:
- Bonnie Raitt – Luck of the Draw
- Buena Vista Social Club
- The Lumineers – The Lumineers
- Monks of Norcia – Benedicta: Marian Chant from Norcia
- The Mountain Goats – the Life of the World to Come
- Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – Tearing at the Seams
- U2 – Joshua Tree
- Van Morrison – Philosopher’s Stone
- The Way (various artists – movie soundtrack)
Individual songs:
- Allison Krauss – Down to the River to Pray
- Alman Brothers – Blue Sky
- Aretha Franklin – Think
- Ben E. King – Stand By Me
- Eric Clapton – My Father’s Eyes https://youtu.be/bocDpFVhyDw
- Genevieve Chadwick – Days Like This https://youtu.be/wxr4GCjqk6s
- Jonny Lang – Hit the Ground Running
- Mark Knopfler -The Wild Theme (from the Local Hero film)
- Martyn Joseph – I Searched for You https://youtu.be/tIVA5_k6rfo
- Martyn Joseph – Have an Angel Walk With Her
- Mavis Staples – I’ll Take You There
- Mavis Staples – Oh, Happy Day
- Mondo Cozmo – Shine
- Mumford & Sons -I Will Wait https://youtu.be/rGKfrgqWcv0
- Peter Gabriel – Solsbury Hill https://youtu.be/_OO2PuGz-H8
- Playing for Change – Ripple (Grateful Dead) https://youtu.be/MHo1fNnXFVU
- Playing for Change – Gimme Shelter (Rolling Stones) https://youtu.be/GJtq6OmD-_Y
- Playing for Change – Lean on Me (Bill Withers) https://youtu.be/LiouJsnYytI
- The Proclaimers – I’m Gonna Be https://youtu.be/tbNlMtqrYS0
- Ray Charles- Heaven Help Us All
- Ray Charles / Bonnie Raitt -Do You Ever Think of Me?
- Ray Charles & Van Morrison – Crazy Love
- Ry Cooder – Prodigal Son
- Ry Cooder – Jesus on the Mainline
- Ry Cooder – Everybody Ought to Treat A Stranger Right https://youtu.be/CbQ83HM8C_A
- T-bone Burnett – River of Love
- Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers – Learning to Fly
- U2 – Beautiful Day https://youtu.be/co6WMzDOh1o
- U2 – Still haven’t found (gospel choir version) https://youtu.be/El-TQOeqTIA
- Van Morrison (with Cliff Richard) – Whenever God Shines His Light https://youtu.be/–XE4CYGRSY
I’ve been given some other great suggestions and might add a few more tunes still before I go. I’d love to hear what other folks would include on their hike play lists in the comments!