*NEW* Sounds of Spring playlist

(Yes, @MrsFatass, this note’s for you.)

The sun finally came out and it was time to create a new play list. I used it for the first time Friday to do Pat’s Run and it was quite a success. I hope you guys like this one.

1. Here Comes the Sun (live) – George Harrison
2. Thunderstruck (live) – AC/DC
3. Free Nelson Mandela – the Specials
4. Do You Believe in Love – Huey Lewis & the News
5. Rockin’ in the Free World – Neil Young
6. Give It to Me Baby – Rick James
7. I Want You to Want Me (live) – Cheap Trick
8. Surrender (live) – Cheap Trick
9. Bad Reputation – Half Cocked
10. You Shook Me All Night Long (live) – AC/DC
11. Pet Names – Smash Mouth
12. Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top
13. Cold Shot – Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble
14. Holiday – Madonna
15. Centerfield – John Fogerty
16. Smile – Uncle Kracker

So, the George Harrison is a lovely start. Very bright and ’sunny’ and I was immediately in a good mood. A friend suggested Thunderstruck and I have a live AC/DC cd that I ripped that from. A tad slow starting out, but it picks up soon enough. Clap along when they’re chanting, “Thun-der!” Then, the Specials, a wonderful old ’80s song. Nelson Mandela has been free from prison for 20 years, but this song is still so powerful. Great for keeping things moving. Next, you know I’m from the Bay Area, so I loves me some Huey. Legs getting tired? No problem. Bop along to this bouncy number and you won’t even notice. Extra points if you can sing the high parts from your diaphragm while you’re moving. More Bay Area goodness with Neil Young. This is a grinder. Political commentary aside, the beat says shut up and run. And then God bless Horn Dog #1 Rick James for his funky, meaty, pervy grooves. Full of fat bass line and wantonness. How do you NOT move your ass to that? Next, a mini Cheap Trick concert live from Budokon, with two oldskool faves. Drums on I Want You to Want Me will keep you moving and you’ll be singing “Mommy’s all right” to your pace on Surrender. Now, to get a little cocky, how about Half Cocked’s version of the Runaways classic, Bad Reputation? This version is from one of the Shrek soundtracks. Lots of elbow digging here as I tried to keep up with the beat. More live AC/DC to keep the pace going. Yet another Bay Area fave, my hometown boys, Smash Mouth. (San Jo in da house!) This song is not well known, but I love the Dick Dale surf-style guitars, and the lyrics are pretty funny. Now, how about a little Texas blues/rock with Sharp Dressed Man? ZZ Top’s Eliminator was pretty popular during my high school years, and this song really takes me back. Be sure you are RUNNING when Frank bashes the high-hats. Very motivating. And then more Texas music, one of my all-time favorites, the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan. Cold Shot is like the perfect example of his genre. Excellent pace as you’re about to wind down your workout and his guitar skills are incredible. Holiday from Madonna is a song that speaks to me – can’t hear it without wanting to get up and dance. Alllllllllllllll those ’80s aerobics classes. That song is the perfect grapevine beat. In fact, it was hard to run to it, I wanted to jump off and dance. But I put it in that spot because I knew it would signal that I was nearing the end. (”Time to cel-e-brate!”) To match my joyous spring mood, I had to include one more Bay Area guy, John Fogerty, and his tribute to baseball, Centerfield. When I was doing Pat’s Run, I actually hit my 4.2 mark when he sang, “I got it, I got it!” (right after the crack of the bat) Finally, I saw this on @MrsFatass’ post and knew I had to include Uncle Kracker’s Smile, so I chose it for my cooldown. Perfect and I can’t help but sing along.

So there you have it, the Sounds of Spring.

OK, now you: What’s your favorite music for a workout?