New Wave Outpost Forum

My girlfriend isn't too familiar with '80s music, but she appreciates it when I try to <strike>convert</strike> educate her. I was putting my latest mix tape together when I thought I'd get some input.

What order do you guys think these should go in? I have a preliminary track list, but I'd like to see what the other aficionados think. If you don't know or want to consider all the songs, just pick some you think would sound good back to back.

(The song mix is pretty much set. I stuck mostly to love songs, but I wanted a decent mix of both topic and sound. Some songs that would fit on here better were put on a previous mix tape, and some songs on here are near and dear to me.)

Thanks, and have fun with it!

"Lost Continent" -- The Comsat Angels
"He Could Be The One" -- Josie Cotton
"Someday, Someway" -- Marshall Crenshaw
"Somebody" -- Depeche Mode
"Home Town" -- Joe Jackson
"Wild In Love With You" -- Greg Kihn
"Just A Dream" -- Nena
"No Reason" -- Nick Lowe
"Not My Slave" -- Oingo Boingo
"Reflections" -- Original Mirrors
"The Bed's Too Big Without You" -- The Police
"Don't Get Me Wrong" -- Pretenders
"Teacher Teacher" -- Rockpile
"The Queen Of Eyes" -- The Soft Boys
"Annie Get Your Gun" -- Squeeze
"This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" -- Talking Heads
"I Could Get Used To This" -- 'Til Tuesday
"I Only Want To Be With You" -- The Tourists
"Delta Sleep" -- Trees
"I'll Do You" -- Wire Train

I like kicking mix tapes/cds off with a bang ("Someday, Someway"), and ending with a cool down song ("This Must Be The Place...").

When putting together mixes I consider it to be an art, and one I like to think I am good at. Let me know how you think this flows.

"I Only Want To Be With You" -- The Tourists
"He Could Be The One" -- Josie Cotton
"No Reason" -- Nick Lowe
"Teacher Teacher" -- Rockpile
"Someday, Someway" -- Marshall Crenshaw
"Wild In Love With You" -- Greg Kihn
"Annie Get Your Gun" -- Squeeze
"The Bed's Too Big Without You" -- The Police
"I'll Do You" -- Wire Train
"Lost Continent" -- The Comsat Angels
"Reflections" -- Original Mirrors
"The Queen Of Eyes" -- The Soft Boys
"This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" -- Talking Heads
"Home Town" -- Joe Jackson
"Don't Get Me Wrong" -- Pretenders
"Not My Slave" -- Oingo Boingo
"Just A Dream" -- Nena
"Somebody" -- Depeche Mode
"Delta Sleep" -- Trees

I hope those ladies in the eighties appreciated it when a guy gave them a mix tape and how much time he spent in thinking about the mix That means you Heidi!

Thanks to those who have chimed in! Anyone else? I'm finalizing the mix tomorrow.

And, heh, after my going on, I went and changed the mix a bit. "I'll Do You" was a little too dissimilar to everything else, so I removed it. I added "Wonderland" by Big Country and "Love On A Farmboy's Wages" by XTC.

I would have kept "I'll Do You" by Wire Train, "Wonderland" is not a fine example of Big Country's work imo and the XTC song is ok at best. If you are keen on a Big Country song, how about "Look Away" as I think that would fit nicely in right before "Not My Slave" by Oingo Boingo.

Yachtingtype, I highly agree with all your comments and suggestions. My substitutions also have to do with the sort of sound my girlfriend likes, based upon the feedback from the mix tapes I've made her before. So you're spot on, but I'm also taking into account her personal taste.

Glad to be of assistance rsgonzalez. Since I am not familiar with what "sounds" your girlfriend likes, it's best for you to be the judge. I just know when I first listened to "Wonderland" by Big Country it was a turn off for me. "Look Away" has a more of a mainstream feel to it even though the song did not chart here in the states. I am curious to know her reaction to your comp!

Here's what I finally went with:

1. "Home Town" – Joe Jackson
2. "Reflections" – Original Mirrors
3. "Delta Sleep" – Trees
4. "The Bed's Too Big Without You" – The Police
5. "Love On A Farmboy's Wages" – XTC
6. "This Must Be the Place (Naive Melody)" – Talking Heads
7. "Don't Get Me Wrong" – Pretenders
8. "He Could Be The One" – Josie Cotton
9. "Teacher Teacher" – Rockpile
10. "Not My Slave" – Oingo Boingo
11. "Wonderland" – Big Country
12. "Wild In Love With You" – Greg Kihn
13. "Someday, Someway" – Marshall Crenshaw
14. "The Queen Of Eyes" – The Soft Boys
15. "No Reason" – Nick Lowe
16. "Annie Get Your Gun" – Squeeze
17. "I Could Get Used To This" – 'Til Tuesday
18. "Just A Dream" – Nena
19. "I Only Want To Be With You" – The Tourists
20. "Lost Continent" – The Comsat Angels
21. "Somebody" – Depeche Mode

Yachtingtype, thanks for your input! It was fun seeing another mind at work on these songs. I tried to keep the guitar-oriented and the synth-oriented tunes more segregated, with some overlap. I had originally intended to open with "Reflections" so she'd begin the CD thinking "Hey, I know that song!" but I couldn't find a good place for "Home Town," so it moved to the front.

Of course, now the big test ... what she thinks of it! I'll report back after she listens to it.