There are only a few spots in each city that define its culture, create neighbors out of strangers, and become a weekly part of life for everyone from grandpa to high school emoboys and girls. Lou’s Records, which has been around since 1980, is one such institution in North County San Diego. It’s part of what I like to call the Holy Trinity of Leucadia, which includes The Pannikin, Ducky Waddles and of course, Lou’s.
Record shops infamously employ some interesting characters and Lou’s is no exception. Neil McLean, the creator of this installment of Minstrel Fridays (and a loyal Lou’s employee), is from England, stands about eye-level with me (6’7″), and shares music knowledge with a humble and thorough passion. Never aloof, always generous, and naturally jovial, Neil is one of a kind. After walking – yes walking– 6 miles to attend one our Sanctuary143 art events, he waltzed into the gallery with a smile and proceeded to jot down about 30 or 40 bands he suggested I check out. His hand-writing is shitty, but that list was like a gold mine for me.
But Neil McLean is more than that – he’s also a creative genius who’s hard at work creating a stop-motion animation series in his garage. This “televisual situation comedy” entitled DUNGEON is 6 years in the making, and the disturbingly funny trailer shows signs of greatness with Adult Swim written all over it. Like any creative pursuing an ambitious feat (or what he calls “my idea”), Neil has moments of doubt about the project, stemming from his lack of funds to the validity of spending 6 years building animatronic puppets and miniature sets.
That’s where you come in. This mixtape is obviously a shameless plug for Lou’s, keyword shameless. Many of you will recognize several tracks, but there are plenty of obscure gems that only Neil could dish out. Enjoy the mix, support a noble record store, and in the process, Neil’s project!
So where’s the tracklist?
It’s up to you to uncover the tracks! We’re giving away a Josh Higgins print for the first person to get the entire tracklist correct. Take a guess in the comment field below. Or go visit Lou’s and ask Neil… he’s always happy to share.
The winner gets to choose between these two limited edition hand-screen prints by Josh Higgins. Both are out of print and impossible to find.
9
Track #1 Frank Black – Selkie Bride
Track #2 The Coral – Leizah
Track #3 Radiohead – Jigsaw faling in Place
Track #4 Captain Beefheart – Blabber ‘N Smoke
I think I’ve got all but one, anyone want to help me out with the song before When you Wore the Tulip, we can split the poster — I want the left half.
Frank Black – Selkie Bride
Leizah – The Coral
Radiohead – Jigsaw Falling into Place
Captain Beefheart – Blabber N Smoke
Caetano Veloso – Lost in Paradise
???
George Lewis – When You Wore a Tulip
Pierre Henry and Michel Colombier – Psyche Rock
Dan Deacon – Ohio
Portishead – Silence
Simon and Garfunkel – America
Divine Comedy – Lost Property
Magnetic Fields – 100,000 Fireflies
The Stranglers – Duchess
T. Rex – Mambo Sun
The Beatles – I’m only Sleeping
John Cale – You Know More Than I Know
Scott Walker – Duchess
Don Charles – Walk with Me my Angel
Impressive!
Did you try Shazam on the missing track? If that doesn’t work it looks like you’ll need to find a zydeco or French expert.
There’s a few missing tracks..
1. the track after Caetano
2. between Psyche Rock and Ohio
3. between Portishead and S&G (very short track)
Streaming now, hoping to help.
BTW, I can’t download the file, says I don’t have permission.
(Soothing) Aaaaaah, long live Shazam!!
Contest ends at midnight tonight!
Jeff Hammett is the winner of our Minstrel Fridays contest! He came closest by naming 18 of 21 tracks on Neil’s mixtape.. pretty impressive considering a few of these tracks are a little obscure.
Here is the official tracklist:
Frank Black – Selkie Bride
Leizah – The Coral
Radiohead – Jigsaw Falling into Place
Captain Beefheart – Blabber N Smoke
Caetano Veloso – Lost in Paradise
Fais Pas Tout Ca! – Les Amis Creole
George Lewis – When You Wore a Tulip (Alternate Version)
Pierre Henry and Michel Colombier – Psyche Rock
Gershon Kinsley – Hey, Hey
Dan Deacon – Ohio (demonstration version)
Portishead – Silence
Stark Trek Sound Effects – Door Open
Simon and Garfunkel – America
Divine Comedy – Lost Property
Magnetic Fields – 100,000 Fireflies
The Stranglers – Duchess
T. Rex – Mambo Sun
The Beatles – I’m only Sleeping
John Cale – You Know More Than I Know
Scott Walker – Duchess
Don Charles – Walk with Me my Angel