Not too long ago my best friend from college sent me a picture of a mix tape that I made for her in 1988 which she remarkably still has. I titled it “Past Tense” after a poem I had written back then. I lost the notebook where I had written that poem, but remembered some of the lines. I also remembered some of the songs on that tape, most notably on all of side a.

Social media humor.
The playlist is the descendant of the mix tape. And like my mix tapes, I make a significant effort to make sure they are right. What I mean by right is that there is a certain cohesion and shared texture; it takes me on a journey and inspires. What I love about digital versus tape is flexibility for experimentation. Though, sometimes I do miss walking around Manhattan with my old yellow cassette Sports Walkman.
Interestingly, I made some mix tapes that I thought were so good, that I remembered them and they now exist as playlists on my iPhone / iPod. I thought I would share some of my favorite playlists on my blog. Here is my first one called “E’s Spanish Jazz 3.” It mixes several Spanish language genres. It is also the third and my favorite version of the “Spanish Jazz” playlists. I have included links to YouTube so you can hear the songs for yourself and maybe add it to your own device.
- La Pluma by Bloque
- La nave del olvido by Buika
- Remedios by Gertrudis
- Sultanas de Merkaillo by Ojos de Brjuo
- Sabor a Mi by Bebo Valdes
- Lo Siento Mi Amor by Rocio Jurado
- Un Mundo Raro by Lila Downs and Diego El Cigala
- Awakeing by The Souljazz Orchestra
- Che Che Cole by Antibalas
- La Media Vuelta by Falete
- Romance de la Luna Tucumana by Diego El Cigala
- Tangos De Pepico by Estrella Moraente
- Sabor a Mi by El Chicano
- Quiereme Mucho by Linda Ronstadt
- Querido Emigrante by Milly Quezada
- Idiilio by Willie Colon
- Bajo La Tormenta by Sergio George’s Salsa Giants
- Perfume de Gardenias by Miguel Zenon
P.S. I have about ten versions of “Sabor a Mi”—it is amazing song that many recording artists have covered and I have yet to hear one I have not liked!
P.S. II La nave del olvido by Buika is in my top ten all-time favorite songs!