Showing posts with label Variety Bar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Variety Bar. Show all posts

Thursday, 12 June 2025

Anything Goes & Everything Flows 29 60-minute DJ mixes and playlists

I recently spent an evening scrolling through my Spotify playlists and realised that I had a few of my 60-minute Anything Goes & Everything Flows playlists uncompleted. I published the first one back in June 2021 and my 29th in January 2024. Then, for whatever reason, I stopped.

Anything Goes & Everything Flows is a series of playlists I created that were loosely based on imaginary DJ sets I would play in favourite pubs of mine, like McChuills on High Street or The Variety in Sauchiehall Street. Both pubs encourage DJ's with eclectic taste and knowledge to play music that spans a number of genres to soundtrack the incredible nights that take place in their bars.

While I'm rarely up in Sauchiehall Street these days (what a sorry state it is in!), I still get to McChuills semi-regularly and love the vibe and atmosphere that the DJ's help to create.

Looking back through the blogs and listening to some of the playlists, I realised how much fun I had creating them on an almost monthly basis. This was an excuse to dig deep into my own knowledge of music and also dive headlong into Spotify to discover all kinds of weird and wonderful music. 

Over the years I've DJ'd at weddings, for friends birthdays, in bars and put on my own nights. I love to DJ! Playing music to people and generating a reaction is a real buzz. Don't hesitate to get in touch if you need a DJ and like the music I blog about.

I'll always try to get people dancing, however these playlists/mixes go a little deeper, a little more left field, while still dropping in a well known crowd pleaser's from time to time.

Here are links to the first 29 Anything Goes & Everything Flows playlists/mixes that I published. Numbered and named after the first song in the mix.

Dig in and enjoy.

1 - Felony

2 - Inspector Norse

3 - Dream Baby Dream

4 - Happy

5 - Bentley's Gonna Sort You Out

6 - Didn't I

7 - Close To Me

8 - Hung Up On My Baby

9 - No Golden Throat

10 - Rock The Casbah

11 - I Heard Wonders (Andrew Weatherall tribute)

12 - I'm Chief Kamanawanalea (We're The Royal Macademia Nuts)

13 - Hope Is The Last Thing To Die

14 - Jazzie's Groove

15 - Rose Rouge

16 - What's Goin' On?

17 - Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything)

18 - Love's Theme

19 - Groove Holmes

20 - Afternoon of the Rhino

21 - Heaven Bound

22 - Caitlin's Theme

23 - The Feeling

24 - Beginning of the Heartbreak

25 - Don't You Want My Love

26 - Look Into My Eyes

27 - Embryonic Journey

28 - Let's Go Get Stoned

29 - Music



Thursday, 13 April 2023

Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ Mix 23


Hello and welcome to number 23 in my series of 60-minute mixes/playlists.

When I started this series I said that it was inspired by old visits to favourite haunts of mine like The Variety / McChuills in Glasgow. In my younger days I would regularly visit one of those pubs on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, where DJ's would work their magic to get the crowd in the mood for moving on to a club. 

More often than not, I'd opt to just stay in the bar.

In these magical bars that I frequently visited through my 20's, the DJ's would spin incredibly cool tunes, many that I had never heard before, causing me to go up and ask the DJ what they were playing. McChuills and The Variety were places where the music policy was very much anything goes and everything flows.

It's kind of been a (not so) secret ambition of mine to DJ or put on a night on McChuills for a long time. So I am super delighted that Stevie Elements, one of the bars residents, has asked me to DJ alongside him on Sunday 18th June from 5-9pm.

As it's Fathers Day, this will be my little treat to myself after lunch with my daughters. Lynn and I had a great night in McChuills last summer and danced away to tunes Stevie was playing. It's an honour to be asked to play.


Stevie has given me the choice of DJ-ing digitally or with vinyl. While the flexibility of DJ-ing digitally is incredibly enticing (not to mention the fact I wouldn't have to lug record bags around), the excuse to dig into my record collection is simply too great. So I'm opting for a vinyl set.

It would be great to see you there for a beer and possibly even a dance!

Anyway, on to this months 60-ish minute mix! You can find it on Spotify by searching for Everything Flows DJ Mix 23 or by CLICKING HERE. Full tracklist below.

Lots of recent discoveries here. A few groovers, the mix ebbs and flows with funky stuff and some truly euphoric vocal performances. There are a couple of old faves by Ruby Andrews and Gladys Knight & The Pips and from my latest finds I'm particularly enjoying Stay Here With Me by Sandra Richardson and Fly Me To The Moon by Lyn Collins. The strings in Forever And A Day by Mel & Tim are sensationally sublime. The closing song is mysteriously credited to various artists on Spotify. If anyone reading this knows more about it then please get in touch.


The Feeling - California Soul Explosion
Better Keep Movin' - The Perigents
Where The Lillies Grow - Sidney Joe Qualls
Footsteps - Creations
Things Got To Get Better (Get Together) - Marva Whitney
Stay Here With Me - Sandra Richardson
Your Love Controls My Mind - Johnny Williams
Wonderful Night - Candace Love
Don't It Make You Feel Funky - Joe Hicks
Fly Me To The Moon - Lyn Collins
Don't You Care - Alice Clark
In The Middle - Marva Whitney
I'm In Love With You - Bobby Paterson
Forever And A Day - Mel & Tim
Is This The Way To Treat A Girl (You Bet It Is) - The Hesitations
Let Our Love Grow Higher - Eula Cooper
Just Loving You - Ruby Andrews
Soul Dance No.3 - Carl Homes and The Commanders
This Man - Wally Cox
If You Ever Get Your Hands On Love - Gladys Knight & The Pips
I Need A True Love - Eddie Parker







Tuesday, 21 March 2023

Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ Mix 22

Hello and welcome to my 22nd in a series of 60-minute playlists/mixes. 

With these mixes I  try to create the vibe I would get from entering The Variety / McChuills in Glasgow on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, where DJ's would (and still do) work their magic to get the crowd in the mood for moving on to a club, or in my case, often opting to just stay in the bar.

In these magical bars that I frequently visited through my 20's, the DJ's would spin incredibly cool tunes, many that I had never heard before, causing me to go up and ask the DJ what they were playing. McChuills and The Variety were places where the music policy was very much anything goes and everything flows.

My last few mixes have been very soul heavy, so with this one I really did just go with the flow. We kick off with a sublime instrumental by the super talented Gruff Rhys, then we have divine Whyte Horses before some old faves by The Avalanches, The Go! Team and Jurassic 5.

They still sound so fresh!

Elsewhere we have a brass band covering Joy Division, retro dance sounds by The Bees, a moment of euphoria by Flaming Lips and some blissful electronic music to get lost in by Underworld and LCD.

Throw in the super cool Misdemeanor, The Funk Brothers, Tim Burgess fronting The Chemical Brothers and an instrumental of The Charlatans Sproston Green to close and ... it's a pretty cool eclectic mix.

Search for Everyting Flows DJ Mix 22 on Spotify or CLICK HERE

Enjoy.


Caitlin's Theme - Gruff Rhys

Ecstasy Song - Whyte Horses

Since I Left You - The Avalanches

Ladyflash - The Go! Team

Concrete Schoolyard - Jurassic 5

Misdemeanor - The CB's

Life Is Sweet - Chemical Brothers w/ Tim Burgess

Tell Me It's Just A Rumour Baby - The Funk Brothers

Love Will Tear Us Apart - Hot 8 Brass Band

Chicken Payback - The Bees

Race For The Prize (Mokran Mix) - The Flaming Lips

Jumbo - Underworld

Us V Them - LCD Soundsystem

Sproston Green (instrumental) - The Charlatans



Monday, 19 December 2022

Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ Mix 19


Welcome to my last 60-minute mix of 2022. I've gone a little over, I was really enjoying putting this one together and didn't want to stop. This is one that could have gone on and the last song maybe hints at the direction I could have gone down.

Hammond grooves, funky beats, wah wah guitars, super cool bass, euphoric horns ... I'm really pleased with this one. I was intending for it to be pretty chilled after a rather manic year, but it's still got a groove.

Thanks for checking my monthly mixes. They are the most popular feature on my blog!

Search for Everything Flows DJ Mix 19 on Spotify or CLICK HERE


Groove Holmes - Beastie Boys

3 Kilos - The Prodigy

Song #3 - Marvin Gaye

Outa-Space - Billy Preston

Melting Pot - Booker T & the M.G.'s

Kelly Watch The Stars (Moog Cookbook mix) - Air

Rip Rip - David Holmes

The Well's Gone Dry - The Crusaders

Look-Ka Py Py - The Meters

Soul At Sunrise - Juggy Murray

Son Of A Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield

Family Affair - MFSB  (ft.Leon Huff) 

Love Is Gonna Lift You Up - Bobby Womack

All Our Dreams Are Coming True - Gene Page

Sport - The Last Poets + Lightnin' Rod

Dock Of The Bay - Peggy Lee

Chico's Groove - The Chemical Brothers


Saturday, 15 October 2022

Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ Mix 17

Welcome to my 17th 60-minute mix where I try and capture the vibe from pre-club nights I used to attend in my younger days at the likes of The Variety Bar & McChuills in Glasgow.

This mix might have a late afternoon/early evening in McChuills kind of vibe. Old Nick would be behind the bar pulling all kinds of cd's out and just going with the flow.

Kicking off with a 12 minute live groove from Donny Hathaway and his band, you are in for a treat with that song alone, never mind the full mix! Hathaway announces he is going to break the song/groove down into 4-movements, allowing each of his band to a chance to shine, a chance for them all to stretch out.

It's a stunner. I love the way piano really takes things a little higher, a little further at around the 3-minute mark and then brings it all back .... then Donny introduces 'the second movement y'all' allowing his guitarist to go for it. Wait for the bass groove though!!!! 'That sounds pretty good y'all!'

I remember getting this album for a fiver from FOPP many years ago, it's been great to revisit it.

Betty Davis' Hangin' Out features, possibly for the 3rd time in one of these mixes. I keep coming back to this song. It's super cool and funky with a catchy chorus.

Elsewhere, most of these songs are new discoveries over the last month or so. God I love music and having the time to explore different artists and sounds.

Search for Everything Flows DJ Mix 17 on Spotify or CLICK HERE

Love the Herbie Mann song, not the album cover!

Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything) - Donny Hathaway

Vampin - The Mack/Soundtrack - Willie Hutch

Push Push - Herbie Mann ft. Duane Allman

Funky Thithee - Shuggie Otis

These Are The JB's - Pt 1 & 2 - The J.B.'s

Thinking Black - Ike Turner & The Kings Of Rhythm

Instant Groove - King Curtis

A Day In The Life - Chocolate Snow

Soul & Sunshine - Harvey & The Phenomenals

Hangin' Out - Betty Davis

I Love Music - Lafayette Afro Rock Band

Unwind Yourself - Marva Whitney

It's My Thing (You Can't Tell Me Who To Sock It To) - Marva Whitney



Wednesday, 14 September 2022

Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ mix 16


Hello and welcome to my 16th 60-minute DJ mix where I apply the philosophy that Anything Goes & Everything Flows, attempting to create a mix that would go down well in the likes of The Variety & McChuills. 

Those 2 bars were scene for many a memorable night 'back in the day' and I'd often prefer to just stay in the bars all night listening to the DJ there rather than go to a club.

I do focus on soul and funk this month, trying to create a real groove (easy when you're playing Sly & The Funk Brothers) but also providing some euphoric moments courtesy of The M.V.P.'s (pretty sure I first heard this song in McChuills at a Friday Street preclub), a sensational cover by Peggy Lee and the irresistable soul pop of The Jackson 5.

I hope you enjoy this mix. Search for Everything Flows DJ Mix 16 on Spotify or CLICK HERE

Here is the tracklist;

What's Going On (Instrumental) - Marvin Gaye / The Funk Brothers

Positive (Instrumental) - Sly & The Family Stone

Sexy -  MFSB

Turnin' Mt Heartbeat Up - The M.V.P.'s

K-Jee - The Nite-Liters

Everyday People - Sly & The Family Stone

Give Me Your Love - Sisters Love

Space Funk (Dopebrother 7-inch remix) - Manzel

Everybody Have A Good Time - Archie Drell & The Drells

You + Me = Love (12 inch single version) - The Undisputed Truth

Dock Of The Bay - Peggy Lee

I Want You Back - The Jackson 5




Saturday, 13 August 2022

Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ Mix 15




Welcome to my monthly 60-minute DJ mix where I like to throw in an eclectic bunch of tunes and see if my motto of Anything Goes & Everything Flows works! 

These mixes are inspired by DJ's I would catch in Glasgow bars like McChuills or The Variety Bar back in my younger days when I'd often go for a pre-club night and end up just staying in the bar.

I was in McChuills a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday night and my wife and I ended up dancing at the end of the bar as DJ Stevie Elemements played a great mix of everything from The Sonics to Madonna, with everything in between. It was so good to hear brilliant music played loudly and to see people responding. Strangers (in some cases)  coming together through music.

We kick off with some laid back soulful & jazzy grooves before going on a real mix from the super cool sounds of Liquid Liquid, a detour into Mexican spiced rock, outrageous soul, electro pop, classic Bowie, crazy pop courtesy of The KLF before ending with the euphoric Loaded by Primal Scream.

Search for Everything Flows DJ Mix 15 on Spotify or CLICK HERE

Rose rouge - St Germain

The Beat Goes On (live) - Buddy Rich Band

Be Thankful For What You've Got - Massive Attack

I Heard It Through The Grapevine - The Slits

Cavern - Liquid Liquid

The Mexican - Babe Ruth

You - Spanky Wilson

Sound and Vision - David Bowie

I Could Be Happy - Altered Images

Electricity - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

Sliced Tomatoes - Just Brothers

California Soul - Marlena Shaw

Justified & Ancient - The KLF

Loaded - Primal Scream


Tuesday, 19 July 2022

Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ Mix Summer 2022


Welcome to an extended Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ mix/playlist where I go way beyond my 60-minute mark and stretch out to over 2-hours in a summer/heatwave special.

I hope you're enjoying the sun, I also hope you're staying safe. And please, do what you can to help protect this wonderful world we live in before it is too late. We are living in a Climate Emergency, we need urgent change and we need it now.

My daughter Zoe and I marched in Glasgow during COP26 last year. We felt hopeful, we felt like we were part of a movement. We are part of a movement, but we need governments across the world to take much more swift, urgent & decisive action.

Governments worldwide can find money for weapons, or for health emergencies like COVID. The Climate Crisis is the biggest health emergency we will ever face.

Back to the music. Most (if not all) of these songs will have featured on previous Anything Goes & Everything Flows mixes. So it was nice to bring some real sunshine favourites together.

Search for Everything Flows DJ Mix Summer 2022 on Spotify or CLICK HERE

Tracklist

Love Is A Hurtin' Thing (12 inch version) - Gloria Ann Taylor

Gone With The Wind Is My Love - Rita & The Tiaras

Going Back To My Roots - Ritchie Havens

I've Got The Music In Me - Thelma Houston

Delorean Dynamite - Todd Terje

Thinking Of You (Dimitri from Paris mix) - Sister Sledge

You - Spanky Wilson

Your Love (ft. Jamie Principle) - Frankie Knuckles

Stella - Jam & Spoon

That's The Way Love Is - Ten City

Kelly Watch The Stars (Moog Cookbook mix) - Air

Let's Dance - David Bowie

Talking Bout My Baby - Fatboy Slim

Soul Time - Shirley Ellis

Buffalo Stance (12 inch mix) - Neneh Cherry

In My Arms - Mylo

It Ain't Long Enough - Judy Clay

Keep On Keepin' On - Nolan Porter

Nothing But A Heartache - The Flirtations

Crosstown Traffic - Jimi Hendrix

Come Together - Primal Scream

Temptation - New Order

Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads

Together In Electric Dreams - The Human League

If Everybody Looked The Same - Groove Armada

I Believe In Miracles - The Jackson Sisters

I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston

Heatwave -  Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

Thursday, 9 June 2022

Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ Mix 14


Patti Jo - Make Me Believe In You

Welcome to my 14th 60-minute DJ mix under the title of Anything Goes & Everything Flows. 

This series has quickly become my most viewed blogs with most of the 13 to date being viewed 1,500 + times, with quite a few well over 2,000. So thanks if you read the blog and enjoy the mixes/playlists.

My idea was to create a monthly 60-minute playlist/mix to try and create the vibe I would get from entering The Variety / McChuills in Glasgow on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night. DJ's would work their magic to get the crowd in the mood for moving on to a club, or in my case, often opting to just stay in the bar.

In these magical bars that I frequently visited through my 20's, the DJ's would spin incredibly cool tunes, many that I had never heard before, causing me to go up and ask the DJ what they were playing. McChuills and The Variety were places where the music policy was very much anything goes and everything flows.
Tom Moulton, two of his mixes feature in this playlist

I've tried to create mixes that are 60-minutes in length with real thought behind the song selection and order. Search for Everything Flows DJ Mix 14 on Spotify or CLICK HERE

This month has a soul and funk flavour. There are dirty grooves, but also some really euphoric moments, notably Thelma Houston tearing through I've Got The Music In Me and Tom Moulton getting that little extra through his mix of one of my all-time favourite songs - Don't Leave Me This Way. Moulton also really works on the groove on Al Green's classic Let's Stay Together, while Otis Clay's The Only Way Is Up will receive it's own blog in the near future!

Dig in and enjoy. This is probably my favourite 60-minute mix so far. 

Jazzie's Groove - Soul II Soul

Make Me Believe In You - Patti Jo

Let's Stay Together (Tom Moulton mix) - Al Green

Love Having You Around - Stevie Wonder

The Only Way Is Up - Otis Clay

Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Inner Life

Moira Jane's Cafe - Definition Of Sound

It's A Shame (My Sister) - Monie Love 

I've Got The Music In Me - Thelma Houston

Got To Get You Into My Life - The Beatles

Don't Leave Me This Way (Tom Moulton mix) - Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes



Thursday, 12 May 2022

Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ Mix 13


Welcome to the latest of my monthly 60-minute mixes inspired by the kind of pre-club nights I would go to 'back in the day' at The Variety Bar or McChuills in Glasgow. I loved the music the DJ's played in there, both pubs had a real anything goes and everything flows philosophy. 

As a result you'd get a real mix of music played through the night and I regularly preferred to stay in the pub until closing time (sometimes after) rather than go to a club.

So, my 13th mix - lucky for some and lucky for you! This is definitely one of my favourites. I love the way it flows. Opening with a (relative) newbie by David Holmes and going into a brilliant funky electro pop song by Lou Hayter who used to be in New Young Pony Club. Really love this song and her album that she released last year.

There are some big hitting club acts involved - Simian Mobile Disco, Todd Terje and Justice! No messing! Also the brilliant track by Queen Of Japan that Too Many DJ's used to great effect circa 20-years ago.

How cool is the DFA remix of Gorillaz DARE? WOW! It goes on and on, I would be in heaven if I heard this in a club or at a pre-club night!

Then Swoon ... aptly named. Before closing with an outrageous song by The Juan Mclean.

Check the full tracklisting below and you can play the list by searching for Everything Flows DJ mix 13 on Spotify or by CLICKING HERE

Hope Is The Last Thing To Die - David Holmes w/ Raven Violet & Laura Lippie (photo above)

Time Out Of Mind - Lou Hayter (photo below)

I Believe - Simian Mobile Disco

Ready 2 Wear - Felix Da Housecat (photo below)

Inspector Norse - Todd Terje 

I Was Made For Loving You - Queen Of Japan

D.A.N.C.E - Justice

DARE (DFA remix) - Gorillaz 

Swoon - The Chemical Brothers

Happy House - The Juan Maclean (photo above)




Sunday, 17 April 2022

Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ Mix 12


Welcome to the latest of my monthly 60-minute mixes inspired by the kind of pre-club nights I would go to 'back in the day' at The Variety Bar or McChuills in Glasgow. I loved the music the DJ's played in there, both pubs had a real anything goes and everything flows philosophy. 

As a result you'd get a real mix of music played through the night and I regularly preferred to stay in the pub until closing time (sometimes after) rather than go to a club.

This month's mix kicks off with a crazy tune by The Turtles and somehow makes it way to The KLF via Kraftwerk, Aphex Twin, Marlena Shaw and many more. It's quite an eclectic mix with some extended electronic numbers to get lost in. And check the euphoric song by The Allergies in the middle! Oh and Stars by Mr Fingers!

I really enjoyed putting this mix together and hope you enjoy listening.

Search for Everything Flows DJ Mix 12 on Spotify or CLICK HERE

I'm Chief Kamanawanalea (We're The Royal Macadamia Nuts) - The Turtles

Pass The Peas - The J.B.'s

Liberation Conversation - Marlena Shaw

Le Responsable - Jacques Dutronc

Strawberry Letter 23 - Shuggie Otis

Red Lady - Phil Cordell

Jumpin' Jack Flash - Ananda Shankar

Since You've Been Gone - The Allergies

Talking About My Baby - Fatboy Slim

Europe Endless - Kraftwerk

Stars - Mr Fingers

Jumbo - Underworld

Star Guitar - The Chemical Brothers

Pulsewidth - Aphex Twin

Justified & Ancient - The KLF



Sunday, 20 March 2022

Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ mix 11 - Andrew Weatherall

Andrew Weatherall seemed to sprinkle magic on absolutely everything he touched. Coming to my attention through Primal Scream's seminal 1991 album Screamadelica, Weatherall's taste was cool and unique. If he loved something, if he thought it was interesting - then he was all in.

This resulted in him working with an incredible range of bands and artists through his career. From bands at their peak, to new bands breaking through. Old friends and new friends.

His talent and taste was well supported by labels like Heavenly Recordings, recognised by peers and worshipped by devoted fans.

In short, Weatherall was special. A visionary. He heard things in songs that us mere mortals couldn't. Or at least we couldn't until he got his hands on them and remixed them. 

On the second anniversary of his death, I found myself checking Twitter for tributes and fans posting their favourite Weatherall moments. Leading to me going down a delightful Andrew Weatherall rabbit hole for a few hours and clicking on some remixes that I hadn't heard before. As well as old favourites.

So for my regular Anything Goes & Everything Flows 60-minute mixes I've compiled one of Weatherall mixes. Only it's gone way beyond 60-minutes. That's probably apt as Andrew Weatherall was a guy who didn't believe in boundaries.

I believe in you, I've got no bounds

As mentioned in previous blogs. I started the 60-minute mixes based on favourite pubs in Glasgow like The Variety Bar and McChuills. I think this would go down a storm on a Friday/Saturday night in either.

I hadn't heard a number of these songs/remixes before. I particularly love the Silver Apples song, while both The Asphodells songs are fantastic and I'm exploring them a little more. Elsewhere long-time favourite bands of mine are well represented. 

Enjoy. Search for Everything Flows DJ mix 11 - Andrew Weatherall remixes on Spotify, or CLICK HERE

I Heard Wonders (Andrew Weatherall Instrumental Mix) - David Holmes

2013 (Andrew Weatherall Dub) - Primal Scream

Another Lonely City - The Asphodells (Andrew Weatherall & Timothy J Fairplay)

101 (Andrew Weatherall Intensity Mix) - Finitribe

Make It Right (Andrew Weatherall Vocal Remix) - Frank Butters Presents

Edge Of Wonder (Andrew Weatherall Remix) - Silver Apples

Wide Eyed (Andrew Weatherall Remix) - The Horrors

Feathers - Andrew Weatherall

Only Love Can Break Your Heart (Andrew Weatherall Mix) - Saint Etienne

Hallelujah (Club Mix by Andrew Weatherall & Paul Oakenfold) - Happy Mondays

Mainia Theme (Andrew Weatherall Remix) - Hardway Brothers

Restless (Andrew Weatherall Remix) - New Order

A Love From Outer Space - Version 2 - The Asphodells (Andrew Weatherall & Timothy J Fairplay)

Come Together - Primal Scream






Saturday, 12 March 2022

Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ Mix 10

 



Welcome to the 10th in my series of 60-minute DJ mixes where I try and play tunes that I think would do down well in 2 of my favourite bars in Glasgow - McChuills and The Variety Bar. I used to visit these bars regularly in my younger years and the music the DJ's played tended to keep me in the bar all night long. Often giving up the chance to go on to a club just to stay there.

This month, I've gone for a more guitar focused mix than usual. Tunes like Crosstown Traffic can transform the atmosphere and vibe of a night immediately thanks to that incredible vibrant and urgent intro. The pace doesn't let up as Hendrix plays with sexual innuendo as he and his band rip through the song.

Louie Louie by The Kingsmen is a song I have heard many, many times in McChuills. It must be one of the coolest songs of all time. Then again, so must Roadrunner by The Modern Lovers.

Lennon's Instant Karma is euphoric and raw, Primal Scream sit next to their beloved Stones, the way Roger Daltrey sings why don't you all f-f-f-fade away still excites and thrills in 2022 and there is power pop perfection from Elvis Costello and also Buzzcocks.

Enjoy this mix. You can search for Everything Flows DJ mix 10 on Spotify or CLICK HERE

Rock The Casbah - The Clash

Let's Dance - David Bowie

Pump It Up - Elvis Costello & The Attractions

Town Called Malice - The Jam

Crosstown Traffic - Jim Hendrix

Rocks - Primal Scream

Get Off Of My Cloud - The Rolling Stones

Louie Louie - The Kingsmen

My Generation - The Who

Another Girl, Another Planet - The Only Ones

Here Comes The Summer - The Undertones

Roadrunner - The Modern Lovers

Have Love Will Travel - The Sonics

Transmission - Joy Division

Here Comes Your Man - The Pixies

Hotel Yorba - The White Stripes

Instant Karma - John Lennon

Ever Fallen In Love - Buzzcocks



Saturday, 12 February 2022

Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ mix 9



Welcome to my 9th DJ mix blog and playlist. A series of 60-minute playlists/mixes trying to create the vibe I would get from entering The Variety / McChuills in Glasgow on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, where DJ's would work their magic to get the crowd in the mood for moving on to a club, or in my case, often opting to just stay in the bar. 

This time I've gone for a slightly different vibe, a late Saturday afternoon in McChuills kind of vibe where DJ's or old Nick behind the bar would have even more freedom to play all kinds of stuff. Maybe they would reach a little deeper into their record collection for this kind of slot/time.

Kicking off with a slow improvised groove by Lizzy Mercier Descloux, I hope this mix throws up all kinds of new discoveries for you; the instant rush of Hush by Joe South, the warm and lovely Will You Promise by Ebo Taylor, the oustanding psychedelic It's Not Easy by Ofege is a song I only discovered at the end of 2021. I'll be blogging on the band in the future.

Elsewhere Grace Jones and DJ Shadow make it seem so effortless, Nancy and Lee sound super cool, how good is Like A Ship?! I'll be blogging on that song soon. And the two closing songs are sublime.

Enjoy. You'll find it on Spotify under Everthing Flows DJ Mix 9 or CLICK HERE

No Golden Throat - Lizzy Mercier Descloux

Le couer au bout des coigts - Jacqueline Taieb

Fantastic Man - William Onyeabor

L Elephant - Tom Tom Club

Hush - Joe South

It's Not Easy - Ofege

Yegulle Tezeta - Mulatu Astake

Will You Promise - Ebo Taylor

Williams Blood - Grace Jones

This Time (I'm Gonna Try It My Way) - DJ Shadow

I Heard It Through The Grapevine - The Slits

Big Red Balloon - Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazelwood

Sunday Morning - Margo Guryan

Like A Ship - Pastor TL Barrett and the Youth for Christ Choir

Action Line - Dorothy Ashby

Love Is A Hurtin' Thing (7-inch version) - Gloria Ann Taylor



Saturday, 22 January 2022

Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ mix 8


Welcome to my 8th DJ mix blog and playlist. A series of 60-minute playlists/mixes trying to create the vibe I would get from entering The Variety / McChuills in Glasgow on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, where DJ's would work their magic to get the crowd in the mood for moving on to a club, or in my case, often opting to just stay in the bar. 

Starting with the stunningly sublime 7.5 minute Hung Up On My Baby by Isaac Hayes, I'm amazed that I still pack 20-songs into this 60-minute mix! I love the journey you can take people on within just 60-minutes. 


The vast majority of the other songs in this mix are under 3-minute long, but look out for Hangin' Out by Betty Davis that is over 4-minutes and just develops into a real groove with euphoric vocals. Frankie Valli's Beggin' still gets dancefloors jumping, the power in The Flirtations Nothing But A Heartache never ceases to surprise me and hit me hard. Marlena Shaw and Ike & Tina show what you can do in only 2-minutes, the funk groove of Sport puts a smile on my face. And listed for the glorious horns on The Chi-Lites Are You My Woman that Jay-Z sampled decades later for Beyonce's Crazy In Love

I'm really pleased with this mix. Hope you enjoy it.

Search for Everything Flows DJ Mix 8 on Spotify or CLICK HERE.

Tracklist

Hung Up On My Baby (Extended Jam) - Isaac Hayes

Somebody, Somewhere, Help Me - Quincy Conserve

I Can't Believe (What You Say) -Ike & Tina Turner

House of the Rising Funk - Afrique

Sport - Lightnin' Rod

Searching for Soul Part 1 - Jake Wade & The Soul Searchers

Mighty Mighty (Spade & Whitey) - The Impressions

(For God's Sake) Give More Power To The People - The Chi-Lites

Instant Groove - King Curtis

Soul Time - Shirley Ellis

Soul Finger - The Bar-Keys

Twenty Five Miles - Edwin Starr

Beggin' - Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

I'm On My Way - Dean Parrish

Berts Apple Crumble - The Quik

Soul Drums - Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie

Liberation Conversation - Marlena Shaw

Hangin' Out - Betty Davis

Nothing But A Heartache - The Flirtations

Are You My Woman? (Tell Me So) - The Chi-Lites


Thursday, 9 December 2021

Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ mix 7

 


This months 1-hour DJ mix, inspired by the kind of tunes that would be played in McChuills or The Variety Bar back in the early 00's (where the motto was anything goes and everything flows) is another eclectic mix with a kind of early evening moving towards the bar getting busier with pre-clubbers kinda vibe

I used to love going into McChuills in particular at that time. Sitting at the bar with a beer, enjoying the tunes and a chat with the bar staff and friends. Then just getting more and more in the mood for a dance and a big night out as the evening wore on and the tunes changed.

So we start with The Cure, New Order and The The - cool indie tunes with playful melodies and grooves, moving to the simply sublime Sister Sledge with the gorgeous Thinking Of You. Moving into the soulful shuffle and crystal clear vocals of Sharon Jones, we then add a dash of funk with The Quantic Soul Orchestra, before The Spinners with It's A Shame, the kind of song you can sing the chorus after one listen - what a tune!

Getting busy in the bar, it's time to ramp things up a little with the stone cold gem of Bowie's Sound & Vision is dropped. Always likely to get those in the know smiling and nodding in appreciation - maybe even a little dance.

And if you want to make people feel good on a Friday/Saturday night then a little Prince with I Wanna Be Your Lover can go a long way! Greg Wilson's mix of Confidence Man starts a little slow for 20 seconds and then the bass and beats kick in - what a tune! The last 2-minutes are particularly euphoric!

If Queen of Japan's I Was Made For Loving You is good enough for Too Many DJ's then it is good enough for me - edgy sexual pop perfection. Felix Da Housecat works with the magical Nina Simone's Sinnerman and then we have Hot Chip to move further into the night.

Enjoy this mix. Search for Everything Flows DJ mix 7 on Spotify or CLICK HERE

Close To Me - The Cure (Oakenfold mix)

Age Of Consent - New Order

Uncertain Smile - The The

Thinking Of You - Sister Sledge

How Long Do I Have To Wait For You? - Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings

Pushin' On - The Quantic Soul Orchestra

It's A Shame - The Spinners

Sound and Vision - David Bowie

I Wanna Be Your Lover - Prince

Out The Window - Confidence Man (Greg Wilson mix)

I Was Made For Loving You - Queen of Japan

Sinnerman - Nina Simone (Felix da Housecat mix)

Boy From School - Hot Chip






Tuesday, 9 November 2021

Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ mix 6



This months 1-hour (62-minute) DJ mix, inspired by the kind of tunes that would be played in McChuills or The Variety Bar back in the early 00's (where the motto was anything goes and everything flows) is a real mix of electronica, soul and northern soul, hip hop and pop. 

Having been in McChuills quite a few times over the last couple of months. I can gladly report that the focus on music is still very much anything goes and everything flows. It's an incredible place.

I'm pretty pleased with this months mix. It's quite eclectic and hopefully contains a couple of jaw dropping tracks. The kind that, if you hadn't heard them before, would cause people to come up to the DJ and ask 'What/Who is that?!' 

Kicking off with a beautiful sunshine soul funk jam by Darondo, reworked by Dave Allison - all wooooohs, strings, grooves and harmonies ... utterly sublime. If I heard this in a bar I would be asking the DJ or bar staff the song title.

Basement Jaxx still sound fresh and fun. Especially when mixed and mashed with The Clash! Daft Punk's Da Funk will stop you in your tracks with its power and intensity, Todd Terje is super playful, Peggy Lee's take on Otis Redding's classic is euphoric, Barbara Ralph is super cool, Andy Smith highlights what he can do in 7-minutes (never mind 60).

De La Soul are utterly magical with Saturdays, Neneh Cherry's Buffalo Stance still excites, Modjo and Phoenix provide euphoric vocal electro pop, Blue Boy play with a classic and then we have pure pop fun with House Arrest by Crush.

Enjoy this mix. Search for Everything Flows DJ mix 6 on Spotify or CLICK HERE

Tracklisting;

Didn't I (Dave Allison rework) - Darondo

Magnificent Romeo - Basement Jaxx

Da Funk - Daft Punk

Inspector Norse - Todd Terje

Dock Of The Bay - Peggy Lee

Can I Get A Witness - Barbara Randolph

Freestyle Mash Up - DJ Andy Smith

Saturdays - De La Soul

Buffalo Stance (12-inch mix) - Neneh Cherrry

Lady - Here Me Tonight - Modjo

Too Young - Phoenix

Remember Me - Blue Boy

House Arrest - Crush




Thursday, 7 October 2021

Anything Goes & Everything Flows DJ mix 5

 


This months 60-minute mix, inspired by the kind of tunes that would be played in McChuills or The Variety Bar back in the early 00's (where the motto seemed to be anything goes and everything flows) is very electronic focused, with more than a passing nod to euphoric pop. 

It might be my favourite 60-minute mix to date that I've done. It certainly is at present! If you're my age then you'll remember when Madonna came back from 5/6 years of blandness with the epic Ray of Light. It was a sensational return to form, instantly reminding everyone she was the Queen of Pop. 

There is more! 

Pet Shop Boys mixing Blur, then what about OMD, Talking Heads and Human League one after another! The blissful One Dove, the genius of David Holmes, a real old fave to kick things off and more!

Search for Everything Flows DJ mix 5 on Spotify or CLICK HERE

Bentley's Gonna Sort You Out - Bentley Rhythm Ace

69 Police - David Holmes

Only Love Can Break Your Heart - Saint Etienne

White Love (Radio Mix) - One Dove

Hit - Sugarcubes

Ain't No Love (Ain't No Use) - Sub Sub

Time Is Now - Moloko

Electricity - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark

Once In A Lifetime - Talking Heads

Together In Electric Dreams - Human League

Ray of Light - Madonna

Girls & Boys (Pet Shop Boys Remix) - Blur

Getting Away With It - Electronic