This is a commissioned mix from a supporter on Patreon! If you want something like this why not sign up at patreon.com/centuriesofsound
One of the tensions at the heart of this project is my desire to capture the feeling of a time versus the impossibility of making something coherent out of the sounds of the entire world for an entire year. Usually a narrative of some sort emerges, but I’m under no illusions that this represents any kind of truth. So when Alan approached me to put this together I was excited to make something much more specific and personal.
For a little over two hours you will be transported to a house in Philadelphia. In the room with us is the radio, playing warm and fuzzy FM radio hits from the year, coverage of a Phillies game and a selection of radio dramas. To the left side you will hear the TV in the next room with St. Elsewhere, Family Ties and North & South as well as the usual commercial breaks. To the right side, someone is playing on a ColecoVision or an Atari 2600.
Usually these mixes are packed with detail to pay attention to – this time you are excused any focus on individual elements. The juxtapositions are not exactly random, but much of this came together through happy accident.
Central Channel: Radio
0:00:00 Jean-Michel Jarre – Oxygene IV
0:02:11 Al Jarreau – Morning
0:06:34 Jeffrey Osborne – Don’t You Get So Mad
0:10:10 Culture Club – Time (Clock of The Heart)
0:12:48 Rufus & Chaka Khan – Ain’t Nobody
0:18:19 Evelyn King – Betcha She Don’t Love You
0:21:45 James Ingram with Michael McDonald – Yah Mo B There
0:24:37 Cyndi Lauper – Time After Time
0:28:49 38 Special – If I’d Been The One
0:32:00 Spandau Ballet – True
0:37:04 Irene Cara – Flashdance (What A Feeling)
0:41:12 Hall And Oates – One On One
0:44:32 Deniece Williams – I’m So Proud
0:47:47 Journey – Send Her My Love
0:52:29 George Duke – Give Me Your Love
0:56:48 Brian Daley – The Empire Strikes Back Radio Drama (Excerpt)
1:02:00 Harry Kalas – Post-game Interview with Bo Diaz
1:05:08 The Isley Brothers – Between The Sheets
1:09:46 The Manhattan Transfer – Spice Of Life
1:13:16 Don Henley – Dirty Laundry
1:16:43 Agnetha Faltskog – Once Burned, Twice Shy
1:19:58 Joe Jackson – Steppin’ Out
1:24:39 CBS Radio Mystery Theater – The Last Duel (Excerpt)
1:30:40 Barclay James Harvest – Waiting For The Right Time
1:36:57 Indeep – Last Night A DJ Saved My Life
1:41:55 Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers – Islands In The Stream
1:46:15 Michael Jackson – Human Nature
1:50:37 Anita Baker – Angel
1:55:10 DeBarge – Time Will Reveal
1:57:34 Patti Austin & James Ingram – Baby, Come To Me
1:59:33 CBS Radio Mystery Theater – Resident Killer (Excerpt)
2:04:36 Dionne Warwick with Luther Vandross – How Many Times Can We Say Goodbye
2:06:55 Lionel Richie – All Night Long (All Night)
2:13:27 Brian Eno – Stars
Plus radio:
WIP 610 – Ken Garland
WIP 610 – Brian Miller
WYSP 94 – Mike Picozzi
WSNI-FM Paul Michael Tyler
KYW-TV 3 – Radio Red Hot & Right Now
WIFI 92 – Rock of the 80s – Lee Paris
WYSP – Randy Kotz and Friday Night Dance Party promo
& Harry Kalas baseball calls
Left Channel: TV
St. Elsewhere S2E06 “Under Pressure”
Family Ties S02E06 “Speed Trap”
North and South S01E02
& various commercials
Right Channel: Video Games
Adventure (Atari 2600)
Spider Man (Atari 2600)
Smurf Paint ‘n’ Play Workshop (ColecoVision)
Looping (ColecoVision)
This is a commissioned mix from a supporter on Patreon! If you want something like this why not sign up at patreon.com/centuriesofsound