Lauren Laverne Feed

Memory Tapes: Have I Said Amazing Too Much Yet?

2014-10-08T06:33:18+00:00

Today's Memory Tape is from listener Shahina Khan from St Albarn who wanted to share a mix CD she and her husband made for their wedding last year. It's a tale of good times, a shared love of music and a cause to celebrate - plus a sprinkling of cheese - so what's not to like?:

"I love your Memory Tape feature so much and wanted to tell you about a kind of tape me and my now husband made for our wedding; we made a mix CD as a favour for all our guests. We have been together for nearly 14 years and finally tied the knot last last October. It was the best day of our lives cheesily enough! I have attached the track list which we called Love Is a Mix Tape and wanted to have songs we love, songs our friends love, songs that hold special memories, that just reflected us and the last 13 years. Shamefully, I think I spent more time choosing songs and the order than I did any other part of the wedding. Slow Show was our first dance and our friends surprised us and sang All These Things That I've Done at the ceremony. Everybody joined in, it was amazing. Have I said amazing too much yet?

Our 14 year anniversary was at the end of July and I haven't told Russ that I have emailed you, but I think would be a lovely surprise to get some of the songs played for him as a kind of anniversary present (maybe not Fall Out Boy, that’s just a guilty pleasure, there have been some dodgy moments in the last 14 years). He is the best friend a girl could wish for, being together since we were 18 years old our music taste has kind of evolved together. We have been to 10 Glastonburys now and countless gigs. Music has played such an important role in our relationship; it's kind of the third wheel.

Anyway hope you like it, enough of this gushing!"

Memory Tape: Brix Smith's Oh You Pretty Things

2014-10-01T06:40:42+00:00

Ahead of the final episode of Oh You Pretty Things tonight on BBC 4, we're celebrating all things fashion on the Lauren Laverne show this morning. Aside from playing nothing but the 80s and talking to Talking Heads found David Byrne, we have ex-The Fall guitarist, and now fashion and boutique owner Brix Smith sharing her Memory Tape. This was a tape made especially for the show, featuring songs that soundtracked her first shop, to touring with Nirvana:

"Music has always been so important to my life. These are songs that are very evocative, songs that really evoke sense memory and completely take me back to a certain point in my life. Some are songs that stick in my mind because the performers have a strong sense of style, or songs that we played in our first shop like Interpol and RHCP. These were songs that formed the soundtrack to our store. When it comes to the 80s though, nothing beats This Mortal Coil’s It'll End in Tears. That album was a complete masterpiece and so haunting.

I always remember Nirvana’s first European tour as they spent with us (The Fall) in Germany I think it was. They were such a bunch skinny, little guys that we’d had to steal sandwiches to feed them up! I was in L.A. when Nevermind was released and I just played it over and over in the open top car."

Oh You Pretty Things

Pixies – Where Is My Mind - a song that I think about pretty much everyday of my life.

Interpol – Slow Hands

Joy Division – Shadow Play

Sonic Youth – Superstar

Depeche Mode – Personal Jesus

This Mortal Coil – Song To The Siren

Massive Attack – Teardrop

Portishead – Glory Box

Suede – Animal Nitrate

Mazzy Star – Into Dust

Queens Of The Stone Age – No One Knows

The Breeders – Cannonball

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Under The Bridge

Primal scream – Come together

Nirvana – Lithium

The Smiths – How Soon Is Now

New Order – Blue Monday

Virgin Prunes – Sandpaper Lullaby

Rowland S Howard And Lydia Lunch – Some Velvet Morning

The Montgolfier Brothers – Seventeen Stars

Memory Tape: The Why-I-Wanted-To-Play-In-A-Band Mixtape

2014-09-17T07:44:02+00:00

Today's Memory Tapes comes all the Norway and listener Oliver Kersbergen:

The Why-I-Wanted-To-Play-In-A-Band Mixtape

This was late 80`s when Heavy metal was what most kids my age listened to, but that never exited me. Luckily my dad owned a record store and I was able to seek out older stuff, which to me seemed way more cool. Also, finding unknown bands by judging them from the covers at the local library was always brilliant.

Side A:

1) No More Heroes - The Stranglers

They were my favourite band and i found it so interesting how they managed to sound so mean yet very musically sophisticated.

2) Dead End Street - The Kinks

My dad taped a 60`s tape for me before going on holiday in Mallorca. It was The Kinks that I loved the most. Ray Davies is such a brilliant songwriter and this is one of his best.

3) The Model - Kraftwerk

The Model song blew me away the first time I heard it. I was driving home with a girlfriend and she put a mixtape on. This song came on and I almost didn`t want to admit I that I hadn’t heard it before.

4) Ashes To Ashes - David Bowie

I`ve always been a great fan of his (I have had the chance of playing with Mike Garson from his band on two of my albums) and he was so inspirational in the way he transformed music. This is the first track I can remember. We taped it from a music game show and used to listen to over and over again. Other favourites on that video tape were God Save The Queen and Astronomy Domine. It was tough to figure out if we preferred the energy of punk or the spookiness of Psychedelia. So we ended up doing a bit of both.

5) California Uber Alles - Dead Kennedys

We used to play this a lot as kids, practicing it forever. It was always so damn hard to get that ending right.

6) The Wagon - Dinosaur Jr.

They were the epitome of coolness to me at high school. I used to love their noise and beautiful guitar by J Mascis.

7) Are You Gonna Be There (At The Love In) - Chocolate Watch Band

I found them at the local library and thought it had an energy that most Heavy bands at the time were lacking. It made me also check out Nuggets and all the garage bands.

8) Sympathy For The Devil - The Rolling Stones

Bless the Stones. They`ve always been around and I’ve always been a big fan. Sympathy For The Devil was the song that made me love playing solos again after shying away from that during my punk days.

9) Scorpio`s View - Lalo Schifrin

We are sort of from the first generation of kids that grew up with video. We used to love Dirty Harry, especially because of the incredible soundtrack.

10) Oh Yeah - Can

This was a wakeup call literally as everybody at a party had fallen asleep. I still fondly remember waking up to this and slightly dazed and being totally mesmerized.

11) I Want You- Bob Dylan

The first record I got with my turntable was Bob Dylan`s greatest hits. I played it all the time.

12) Death Of A Soldier - Ennio Morricone

We were big fans of this movie and Morricone`s soundtrack for this film is incredible. I always feel a bit of a tear when this song is being played in a very poignant scene of the movie.

Side B:

1) God Only Knows - The Beach Boys

Beach Boys are my favourite band. Hearing Pet Sounds was like feeling a light bulb over your head, and great inspiration to experiment with sounds.

2) Copenhagen - Scott Walker

He is just amazing. I remember discovering his albums while working at the library and finding out about his career. I thought tracks like The Electrician was magical and very eerie. He still does very interesting things and it will be exciting to hear him with Sunn o)))

3) Hung Upon A Dream - The Zombies

It`s such a wonderful, peaceful song and really takes me back in time.

4) Birth Of Liquid Plejades - Tangerine Dream

I always connect this piece with Apocalypse Now for some reason.

5) Funtime - Iggy Pop

I thought The Idiot album was very strange and alien at 14, it sounded so strange compared to Raw Power. This was something that I could not really understand, but I just stuck with it.

6) Hey Ladies - Beastie Boys

I was a massive Beastie Boys fan when Licence to Ill was released and we used to run around with skateboards and spray cans. I remember listening to this at a record store and being gobsmacked by the sounds. Sampling The Beatles was so strange to hear and the sheer collage of sounds was brilliant. They were great innovators of music.

7) Becalmed - Brian Eno

I find Eno`s ambient albums the most interesting. One of my most interesting musical experiments was blasting Metal Machine Music and then put on Discreet Music. Becalmed is one of his finest pieces on Another Green World, which is brilliant because it mixes pop tunes with ambient sounds.

8) Repeater - Fugazi

I discovered this album around 1991. I think it was also released that year. Some friends recorded it on a mixtape along with a lot of punk music like Stiff Little Fingers, Subhumans, Nomeansno and many others. This was handy, as the bus ride to school took a few hours and one would get very bored.

9) Echoes - Pink Floyd

It`s got such an incredible groove.

10) Strawberry Fields Forever - The Beatles

It still is incredible to hear this song and all the heart and soul that went into the production of that musical surreal dream.

11) Blue In Green - Miles Davis

This was, as it is for many others, a good starting point for Jazz. Recently I listened to all of his studio albums and most of his live albums. I still have a hard time finding better performances than this ensemble sextet with Bill Powers, Bill Evans, John Coltrane, Jimmy Cobb, Paul Chambers and Cannonball Adderley all on top form

12) Straight To Hell - The Clash

The Clash’s eponymous album was my first punk record (although I did own Raw Power) and I loved the rawness of it. Still I was more drawn to their more musical style. This tune in particular had such great lyrics and is probably my favourite Clash song.

Memory Tapes: Late Night & Lifting The Spirit

2014-09-10T07:24:03+00:00

We don't normally let a mix through that a person made for themselves, but today we had to make an exception, as listener Emma Myr sounds like such an extraordinary woman. Remember, you can send your Memory Tape to us anytime at: lauren.6music@bbc.co.uk. And here's Emma to explain all:

I came up with this Memory Tape it whilst working late at Shepperton Film Studios, alone with my own thoughts which could be just as entertaining as absolutely desolate. I made this tape just for me, just to lift my spirit – there’s nothing cool, new or ground-breaking really. But compiling this proved to be rather difficult! I created one nonetheless and when cycling home to Teddington in the rain at 10pm that night, my head was still buzzing with these very special tunes.

The tracks take me right from my childhood and its great fascination of the world, through the time of black hair, stripy tights and Dr Marten boots. Through a time of being a much too skinny teenager in a heavy metal / rock-focused-small-town bubble in Sweden, to my move to England forever. Through finding out what following your heart really means by going through a painful divorce and right up to the present day with the "happy with life in general” self that I am enjoying now. It takes a whole lot of yoga, meditating and partying - a magic mix I think you’ll agree.

I am fortunate enough to be able to work with what I love - sculpture, art and illustration - and the more I learn to embrace life, the more exciting the opportunities that come my way. It’s rather wonderful really. Currently, I am doing sculpting work for a prosthetic limbs company working from home, listening to your great show whilst planning the decor for an upcoming progressive psy-trance event that I might even be doing a little dancing show for! So that’s my tape.

Wars have been fought for us to have a choice in life, so why choose to be miserable ;-)

Paul Williams – You Give A Little Love

Rage Against The Machine – Killing In The Name

Faith No More – Ashes To Ashes

Lemon Jelly – Ramblin’ Man

Miriam Makeba – Goodbye Poverty

Death In Vegas – Your Loft My Acid

William Orbit – Water From A Vine Leaf

Orbital – Style

Juno Reactor – Pistolero

Underworld – Rez - Bassnectar Remix

Ace Ventura – The Jolly Roger - Zen Mechanics Remix

Bob Marley & The Wailers – Three Little Birds

Memory Tapes: Lands’ End To John O' Groats via The Three Peaks – The Fellowship of the Chainring

2014-09-03T06:36:59+00:00

Remember you can send your Memory Tapes anytime to lauren.6music@bbc.co.uk. That's exactly what Nick Knorr did on his bike ride around the hills of Britain. It was all for charity don't you know and it sounds like it was a real adventure, complete with breakdowns, horrifying weather of biblical proportions and group splits. There was also elation and, thankfully, Nick has very kindly provided us with the soundtrack to his travels:

"In June 2014 three friends (Nick, Jon and Rich) set off on bikes to tackle Britain’s longest end-to-end bike tour and, as if this wasn’t hard enough, we also decided to add walks up the highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland. This made the journey longer and harder, but it was about a personal challenge but was also about raising money for charity. The choice of charity came about because Jon had recently lost a good friend to Leukaemia and his positivity and work with the Anthony Nolan Trust was inspiring. Why the Fellowship of The Chainring? Well a chainring is a fairly critical part of a bike and Rich is a bit of a role playing geek and insisted not only on the Lord of the Rings link but also giving us character’s names which were printed on our sponsorship tops!

I am a music fanatic amongst other things and had my MP3 loaded with as much great music as I could so I could each day pick a track to summarise that days experience and one final track to summarise the overall experience. We set up a website where you can find out more about us and the ride we did here to find out more."

"So here are the songs from my memory tape of this extraordinary trip and a little bit of explanation:

Day 1

Lands’ End to Holsworthy

Track: Ride- Sennen

Riding through Sennen and remembering many, many nights sat listening to John Peel, and on one of those first shows hearing this beautiful noise at a time when I was relatively young and starting out on life’s great adventure. But also the memory of those loved ones now gone but never forgotten, which is partly why we came to be riding through Sennen in the first place.

Day 2

Holsworthy to Weston

Track: Orbital- Somewhere Out There (Part2)

From my favourite Orbital album, this track is an undulating soundscape that perfectly matches this changeable day from a bright start to a doom filled water drenched blissed out end. We then arrived in the sunshine to meet friends and have well deserved food and drinks at the local pub. At times, it was hard to see that the road was “somewhere out there” given the torrential rain, but all ended well.

Day 3

Western to Bishops Castle

Track: Jnr Walker And The All Stars - Roadrunner

This was a wonderful day of sights, sounds and sun and made me imagine that a life cycling the roads wouldn’t be a bad thing at all. The day ran into the night and we ended up pitching our tents in the blackness of night, having had a few drinks in the local, truly bohemian pub.

Day 4

Bishops Castle to Llyn Gwynant

Track: The Cure – Boys Don’t Cry

…but we nearly did as Rich’s bike fell apart bit by bit while we were hammered by rain, hail and wind. A late night arrival, but only two of us made it on bikes so not a great day, but a pretty good song to sum up the emotions.

Day 5

Snowdon Walk

Track: Radiohead – Subterranean Homesick Alien

From one of the best albums of all time. A melancholy song of longing for a suitable day where we were missing one of the fellowship and I was reminded of when Joe (my son) and I had walked the same mountain a few years ago. I missed him so much after only a few days away.

Day 6

Llyn Gwynant to Heskin

Track: Smiths – The Boy With The Thorn In His Side

The Smiths at their finest and my favourite song of all time. This was a day of hot, hot sun and many hills which made for tough going. Rich had got his bike sorted the day before and the fellowship was once again united. The song reminds me of many things as we cycled close to the home town of a long lost and dearly missed friend. My best friend Sean and our heady days of youth; true friendships are hard to find and when Sean was lost at a terribly young age, it had a profound effect on my life. Equally the song could have been written about me and the fellowship as we arrived late at another campsite and I really lost my sense of humour!

Day 7

Heskin to Great Langdale

Track: Len – Steal My Sunshine

After the day of sunshine before, this was an overcast day but, thankfully, we started in great spirits. The day closed with an ill-advised celebratory drink in Ambleside, still several miles from the campsite. As a result I was temporarily floored (literally) while I recovered from what became known as the Ambleside mix!

Day 8

Scafell Pike Walk + ride to Glen Ridding

Track: The Verve – Gravity Grave

An early classic from The Verve, the title of which summed up a day which started with a very strenuous walk up Scafell Pike and ended with an equally strenuous ride up Kirkstone Pass. Suffice to say that we all felt the full effects of gravity’s pull, but we had the company of good friends on the walk and the promise of a house and a bed. A great day that couldn’t even be ruined by England’s awful first World Cup match.

Day 9

Glen Ridding – Glen Midge

Track: Rem – Shiny Happy People

A fairly lazy day with a late start, massive breakfast, clean clothes and great company thanks to our being put up by Steve and Sarah. A happy day full of shiny happy people.

Day 10

Glenmidge – Luss

Track: The Leisure Society – Save It For Someone Who Cares

This is a darkish song for what was a very long and very hot day of toil on the bikes. This was made worse by some rather busy / dangerous roads and crazy drivers. The fellowship was straining towards the end of the day, resulting in my temporary departure from the fellowship, but we were reunited at the campsite and the tension was drowned in the pub.

Day 11

Luss – Fort William

Track: The House Of Love – Destroy The Heart

Today was my 45^th birthday and what a morning on Loch Lomond. The scenery all the way to Fort William was breath-taking and the weather made for great riding. It makes me feel 20 years old again, so what better song than one that makes me feel young every time I hear it. We ended the day in the Ben Nevis inn listening to a traditional Scottish band while the sun never seemed to quite set!

Day 12

Ben Nevis Walk

Track: Money – Bluebell fields

One of my favourite songs from last year. This is a majestic and hauntingly mesmerising song that matched the views we had, on what was a hot and clear day. The view from the top of Ben Nevis is as breath-taking as the song and well worth the hours of effort we had to put in to get there and back.

Day 13

Glen Nevis to Tain

Track: Embrace- Fall All The Good Good People

This was a dull day weather wise and accumulating fatigue was beginning to have an effect, but we met some amazingly generous and quite unexpected people along the way. For me, it was quite simply life affirming and returned my faith in human nature, so this song is for all the good, good people who took the time and made the effort to sponsor and encourage us. This adventure was about trying to help others and I have been touched at how generous and genuine people can be.

Day 14

Tain to John O’ Groats

Track: David Holmes – 69 Police

The last day of our adventure. It started with us getting caught up in a police escort, so to match the feeling of elation at nearing the end and the friendly encounter with the police, what better song is there? The last few miles is always the hardest and Lands’ End to John O’ Groats is no exception. We struggled through sheets of driving cold rain but we made it. And when we got to the end the cloud lifted and the sun came out to what is an end to an amazing adventure.

Track to summarise the whole trip

The The – This is the Day

It’s over 30 years since this gem was released and it’s as relevant now as it was then. From one of the albums that kick started my lifelong love of music a song that offers two polar perspectives from the time I first heard it as a 13 year old. I didn’t understand the lyrical emphasis but was amazed by the song’s subtle beauty. I understand only too well the sad and reflective nature of the song and the feelings it evokes (surely the same for most people as they grow older) and yet there is a message of great positivity. It says if you want to change something you can, we all make mistakes or wish for a past that is gone, but it’s what we do after we move on that defines us. It’s never ever too late to make a difference, so that’s what we, and all those who helped and donated, did. What a great experience!!!!!"

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened” – Dr Seuss

Memory Tapes: Songs For Adam

2014-08-27T06:01:38+00:00

Today's Memory Tape was sent in by listener Alex Speirs, who tells us about the loss of her very good friend Adam Savory, and the soundtrack to their cycle ride for him.

"Music has always been a massive part of my friendship circle, attending gigs and festivals together regularly. There pretty much isn’t a song I listen to that doesn’t have an awesome memory attached to it; be it sinking beers in the south coast sunshine together or the sweat and majesty of a brilliant gig.

In September 2012 my one of my best friends Adam Savory died suddenly of a severe form of altitude sickness at just 25 years old. He was a fit, healthy and intelligent man. He was traveling in Cusco Peru at the time with another close friend of mine when the tragedy struck. He became ill very quickly and before anything could be done, he was too far gone and passed away. Losing a great friend so young and in such an unfair way is something we will never fully come to terms with.

Since Adam passed his parents with the help of close friends of Adam’s have set up an amazing charity called Para-Monte (meaning beyond the mountains). This is a charity dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers of traveling at altitude. This can happen to anybody, young or old. Altitude affects every person differently and there is no way of telling how a particular person will or won’t be affected. The charity hopes to stop more stories like Adam’s. I genuinely believe that this charity will save someone’s life in the future.

So back to the music! Adam was a huge music fan and loved anything from The Kinks to Dillinger Escape Plan, which could be heard booming from his Ford Fiesta on a sunny afternoon. The idea of this memory tape came around because on 1^st August, me and 14 of Adam’s closest friends and family embarked on an epic fundraiser for the charity. We will be cycling from Eastbourne (Adam’s home town) to Poppel in Belgium where he and his family spent many holidays and the 400k ride will not be do-able without some decent tunes along the way! I have put together these songs that remind me of the great times we all had with Adam. We will enjoy and reminisce over these during the grueling cycle.

Although his life was far too short we consider it to have been an honour to have known such an amazingly funny, intelligent, charming, brutally honest, loud, and utterly ridiculous man."

Songs for Adam

Heartbeats – The Knife

Dedicated Follower Of Fashion – The kinks

Lets Stop Hanging out – Reuben

Pattern Against User – At The Drive-In

Supertribe – Errors

Save You’re Scissors – City And Color

My Delirium – Ladyhawke

Special – Mew

Thanks For The Killer Game Of Crisco Twister – Minus The Bear

By The Way – Red Hot Chili Peppers

Mr Brightside – The Killers

Lose It – Austra

Rock Your Socks – Tenacious D

Alt-J – Tessellate

Joy-Discovery-Invention – Biffy Clyro

Memory Tapes: The Sound of Room G09

2014-08-20T07:25:34+00:00

This week’s Memory Tape is a tear-jerker; a love letter to a soon-to-be leaving, much loved colleague. The story is Catherine Porter’s, who writes…

"Next week (Friday the 22^nd to be exact) my beautiful, funny, brilliant, crazy work colleagues Ellie leaves to start a new job elsewhere in the University. I am writing in with a memory tape I have created for my very special work ‘wife’ as a reminder of the time we have spent together in Room G09 (our office!).

"In 2012 I returned to work from maternity leave, everything was a bit of a shock to the system after a new baby and then I was also told I would have a new work colleague sharing my office and I really did not know what to expect….then Ellie came into my life, she is funny, crazy, caring and possibly one of the loveliest people I have ever met - her spirit is incredible, even when I feel like rubbish she can make me laugh till I cry she has an incredible gift of cheering people up and making people laugh and smile and she has made working life and been away from my little ones that little bit more bearable.

"We have gone through good times and bad together, laughed, cried, moaned, giggled, got drunk, planned trips aboard, eaten copious amounts of cake and chocolate, survived a second pregnancy and another baby (and the associated hormones). This year to celebrate my 40^th birthday and Ellie’s 30^th birthday we threw a fabulous joint 1930s and 1940s themed birthday party which was possibly one of the best nights of my life. We had such fun planning it and the music and our outfits it was fantastic.

"Musically we listen to 6music every day, discussing the artists, the music we like, the music we hate – we don’t always agree but hey someone has got to like Mumford and Sons!!! Our tastes are similar but different but music has always plays an integral part of our working day.

"I see more of Ellie than of my husband and it feels a huge wrench that next week I lose her, my working life will never quite be the same again, of course I wish her all the best in her career but man I am going to miss that crazy girl soooooooooo much, I don’t think anyone has ever made me laugh so much!

"Here is my memory tape for Ellie, the music is taken from our party music and the great memories it holds for us and the stand out songs that have influenced us in the time I have been lucky enough to share with my beautiful friend – I am going to miss her soooooo much : - (."

TRACKLISTING:

Jimmy Cliff – The Harder They Come

Mumford and Sons – I Will Wait

Martha and the Muffins – Echo Beach

Rage Against the Machine – Killing in the Name Of

Come As You Are – Nirvana

Praise You – Fat Boy Slim

There is a Light That Never Goes Out – The Smiths

Black Hole Sun – Soundgarden

Alive – Pearl Jam

Dolly Parton - 9 to 5

Talking Heads – Road to Nowhere

Everything but the Girl – Missing

Should I stay or Should I go – The Clash

Foo Fighters – Learn to Fly
Queens of the Stone Age – The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret

Memory Tapes: From Nashville To New Orleans

2014-08-13T06:13:12+00:00

Every now and then we get a Memory Tape submitted to us that is so huge, it can do nothing but inspire awe. And copious amounts of jealousy. Today’s Memory Taper is Nev Tabb in Cornwall and he and his best mate went and travelled on some of the most famous musical roads in history. They were living the dream for all of us! If you fancy sending in your Memory Tapes, then please drop us an email: lauren.6music@bbc.co.uk. That’s what Nev did, and here he is to tell all:

Here's my submission for your always fantastic Memory Tapes feature. It's not a great tear-jerker of a story, I’m afraid, but I reckon the music's half decent.

Not long after starting secondary school down here in mid-Cornwall, a new kid arrived from far away Surrey and I was given the job of showing him around his new school for a few days. Nearly thirty years later, Doug and I are still the best of friends and when our 40^th birthdays started to loom large on the horizon, we decided that we needed to do something to commemorate the occasion.

As music has always played a large part in our friendship whether it be listening to each other's newly discovered records, attending gigs and festivals or even inflicting our own songs on an unsuspecting public with our first band, Crazy Chester, the idea of going to a gig soon became a focal point of our planning. This idea soon developed into a gig abroad, possibly in America which then became a festival and finally a kind of music related road-trip.

The final itinerary saw us flying into Nashville then driving to Memphis via Muscle Shoals then driving down through Mississippi to New Orleans. It was a music nerd's dream as we toured studios, museums, venues and countless other historical sites. Nearly every night of our 10 day trip involved live music of some kind including the Beale Street Festival down by the Mississippi river in down-town Memphis.

Naturally, I just had to put together a personalised soundtrack to our road-trip and one of the few advantages of being a sad, single 39 year old music geek is that I had the time & record collection to put together the mother of all mix-tapes.

Seven individually themed discs built from songs with some sort of (occasionally tenuous) connection to the city/region with one disc devoted entirely to Elvis related stuff for our trip to Graceland:

From Nashville To New Orleans

NASHVILLE

I'VE BEEN EVERYWHERE - JOHNNY CASH

FEELS LIKE RAIN - JOHN HIATT

THE ONE I LOVE - R.E.M.

STUCK INSIDE OF MOBILE WITH THE MEMPHIS BLUES AGAIN - BOB DYLAN

EVERYONE'S IN LOVE WITH YOU - STEVE EARLE

IN DREAMS - ROY ORBISON

SHAKEDOWN ON 9TH STREET - RYAN ADAMS

BOX FULL OF LETTERS - WILCO

WAYFARING STRANGER - EMMYLOU HARRIS

LONELY BOY - THE BLACK KEYS

IT CAN'T BE NASHVILLE EVERY NIGHT - THE TRAGICALLY HIP

JOLENE - DOLLY PARTON

I BURN TODAY - FRANK BLACK

SIXTEEN SALTINES - JACK WHITE

YOU'RE STILL ON MY MIND - THE BYRDS

ANGEL DANCE - ROBERT PLANT

CAN'T LET GO - LUCINDA WILLIAMS

STRINGS OF NASHVILLE - PAVEMENT

MUSCLE SHOALS

BORN TO BE WILD - WILSON PICKETT

SWEET HOME ALABAMA - LYNYRD SKYNYRD

WILD HORSES - THE ROLLING STONES

FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH - CHER

ALABAMA PINES - JASON ISBELL

SLIP AWAY - CLARENCE CARTER

LOAN ME A DIME - BOZ SCAGGS

TELL MAMA - ETTA JAMES

I WALK ON GUILDED SPLINTERS - JOHNNY JENKINS

EVERLASTING LIGHT - THE BLACK KEYS

SHE THINKS I STILL CARE - LOU JOHNSON

I'LL TAKE YOU THERE - THE STAPLE SINGERS

I NEVER LOVED A MAN (THE WAY I LOVE YOU) - ARETHA FRANKLIN

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN - DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS

HEY JUDE - WILSON PICKETT

TAKE A LETTER TO MARIA - R.B. GREAVES

MEMPHIS

MEMPHIS - FACES

SON OF A PREACHER MAN - DUSTY SPRINGFIELD

LONELY WEEKENDS - CHARLIE RICH

MOVIN' ON UP - PRIMAL SCREAM

YOU DON'T KNOW LIKE I KNOW - SAM & DAVE

DEBONAIR - AFGHAN WHIGS

I WALK THE LINE - JOHNNY CASH

SEPTEMBER GURLS - BIG STAR

TO LOVE SOMEBODY - JAMES CARR

TURN YOU INSIDE OUT - R.E.M.

SWEET CAROLINE - NEIL DIAMOND

LOVE AND HAPPINESS - AL GREEN

HEY JEALOUSY - GIN BLOSSOMS

WINE - JIM DICKINSON

WILD ONE - JERRY LEE LEWIS

ALEX CHILTON - THE REPLACEMENTS

SHOULDN'T BE ASHAMED - WILCO

SOUL FINGER - BAR-KAYS

MEMPHIS - PART 2

THE LETTER - THE BOX TOPS

WALKING WITH THE DECO MAN - RICK VITO

GIMME BACK MY DOG - SLOBBERBONE

BLUE SUEDE SHOES - CARL PERKINS

HAPPY MAN (MEMPHIS VERSION) - SPARKLEHORSE

BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN - ALBERT KING

THE NORTH POLE - THE WALKMEN

THEME FROM SHAFT - ISAAC HAYES

JESUS CHRIST - U2

YOU AND YOUR SISTER - CHRIS BELL

MELTING POT - BOOKER T & THE MGs

UNTIL YOU CAME ALONG - GOLDEN SMOG

HILLBILLIES FROM OUTERSPACE - VAUGHAN BROTHERS

RAINDROPS KEEP FALLIN' ON MY HEAD - B.J. THOMAS

DOWN IN THE VALLEY - OTIS REDDING

SCREAMADELICA - PRIMAL SCREAM

JUST WALKIN' IN THE RAIN - THE PRISONAIRES

ELVIS SPECIAL

ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT (LAUGHING VERSION) - ELVIS PRESLEY

ALL SHOOK UP - RY COODER

THAT'S ALRIGHT, MAMA - ROD STEWART

ELVIS IS EVERYWHERE - MOJO NIXON

DOWN IN THE ALLEY - JEFF HEALEY BAND

SUSPICIOUS MINDS - MARK JAMES

HEARTBREAK HOTEL - BERT JANSCH

VIVA LAS VEGAS - DEAD KENNEDYS

IN THE GHETTO - NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS

ALWAYS ON MY MIND - RYAN ADAMS

I WISH I COULD MEET ELVIS - ALEX CHILTON

JAILHOUSE ROCK - JOHN COUGAR MELLENCAMP

BIG BOSS MAN - JIMMY REED

CAN'T HELP FALLING IN LOVE - EELS

GUITAR MAN - THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN

HOUND DOG - BIG MAMA THORNTON

MARIE'S THE NAME/RUSHOLME RUFFIANS - THE SMITHS

ALL SHOOK UP - OTIS BLACKWELL

LOVE ME TENDER - JAMES BROWN

BLUES TRAIL

HIGHWAY 49 - HOWLIN' WOLF

HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED - KAREN O & THE MILLION DOLLAR BASHERS

I AIN'T SUPERSTITIOUS - WILLIE DIXON

ODE TO BILLY JOE - BOBBIE GENTRY

TERRAPLANE BLUES - ROBERT JOHNSON

THE THRILL IS GONE - B.B. KING

THIS IS HIP - JOHN LEE HOOKER

SUMMERTIME - SAM COOKE

ROCKET 88 - IKE TURNER/JACKIE BRENSTON & HIS DELTA CATS

TAXMAN - JUNIOR PARKER

I CAN'T BE SATISFIED - MUDDY WATERS

JACKSON - LUCINDA WILLIAMS

THE SUN IS SHINING - ELMORE JAMES

BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY - JIMMY REED

THEY'RE RED HOT - ROBERT JOHNSON

KILLING FLOOR - HOWLIN' WOLF

MONKEY TO MAN - ELVIS COSTELLO

NOBODY KNOWS YOU WHEN YOU'RE DOWN & OUT - BESSIE SMITH

NEW ORLEANS

TUTTI FRUTTI - LITTLE RICHARD

DROP ME OFF IN NEW ORLEANS - KERMIT RUFFINS

LITTLE LIZA JANE - HUEY 'PIANO' SMITH

ON YOUR WAY DOWN - ELVIS COSTELLO & ALLEN TOUSSAINT

TIPITINA - PROFESSOR LONGHAIR

STAGGER LEE - LLOYD PRICE

IKO IKO - THE DIXIE CUPS

IT'S RAINING - IRMA THOMAS

CISSY STRUT - THE METERS

THIS CITY - STEVE EARL

HOLY COW - LEE DORSEY

TELL IT LIKE IT IS - AARON NEVILLE

RIGHT PLACE, WRONG TIME - DR. JOHN

BLUEBERRY HILL - FATS DOMINO

OOH POO PAH DOO, PTS 1-2 - JESSIE HILL

A CERTAIN GIRL - ERNIE K-DOE

VOODOO - THE NEVILLE BROTHERS

LIPSTICK TRACES - BENNY SPELLMAN

MOST OF THE TIME - BOB DYLAN

YES WE CAN CAN - THE POINTER SISTERS

HOT TAMALES - PT 1 - PRIME MATES

HERCULES - AARON NEVILLE

SOMETHING YOU GOT - ALVIN ROBINSON

I WISH I WAS IN NEW ORLEANS - SCARLETT JOHANSSON

Memory Tapes: NOW That’s What I Call HMV 98-04

2014-08-06T05:55:30+00:00

Today's Memory Tape is a bit of a goodie! Ladies and gentlemen, please meet Steve Paul Myers. He's our Memory Tape assistant in the 6 Music Shop today. He's got his name badge on and here is:

"This is the first time that I’ve sent one of these in.

This year (2014) marks the 10 year anniversary of when I stopped working for 415 HMV Newcastle on Northumberland Street. I started working there at the tender age of 16 in 1998, working both part and full time for six years up until 2004...when I left. Since then, I went to university, got myself a degree in Interactive Media Design and now work as designer and illustrator.

I cherish the memories and the friends that I made at HMV, some of whom are still there, or at least still working for the company. This memory tape is dedicated to those people and the songs that will always make me think of them and the musical education that I received.

From 1998 to 2004 I worked in every department within the store apart from the cash office and security, each one still holds great memories for me, like the time I got trapped in the service lift for over an hour and was discovered by accident, or the many nights spent in the local pub after a long shift.

That very store in Newcastle has now left Northumberland Street after its 15 plus years (it moved on 31^st of July) and moved into Eldon This means that I will no longer be able to look fondly in at the shop on Northumberland Street and remember the day I served Peter Beardsley, when The Undertaker did a PA, listening to Mark & Lard on Radio 1 while sticking campaign stock in the old haunted cafe, hangover Sunday shifts or even the horrific stock counts!

Each track of my memory tape reminds me of a certain person, time or place of HMV Newcastle. I’ve even added a front and back cover of the album. So without further ado here is my memory tape of the 6 years I spent at 415 HMV Newcastle":

NOW That’s What I Call HMV 98-04

1. House of Bamboo - Andy Wiliams (Paul “Tallest Paul" Davis)

2. New York City Cops - The Strokes (Dave Lord)

3. London England - Corduroy (Dave Jarmain)

4. ELPE - Royksopp (Kath Anderson)

5. I've Known Rivers (4hero Remix) - Courtney Pine (John Baig)

6. Sometimes - Les Rythmes Digitales (Basement Sundays)

7. F*** the Pain Away - The Peaches (Keith Robinson)

8. Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash (Gordon Riley)

9. Emerge - Fischerspooner (Back Counter 2003)

10. Number One - Playgroup (Basement 2002)

11. Hey Ya! - Outkast/Andre 3000 (Dave McGovern)

12. Ug - Mr Scruff (Stock Room)

13. Buffy the Vampire Theme - Nerf Herder (Bruce Coyle)

14. Witness the Fitness - Roots Manuva (Rachel Clark)

15. Cold Water Music - Aim (Louise Myers/My Sister - HMV Metrocentre)

16. In The Bath - Lemon Jelly (Front Counter 2001)

17. In the Waiting Line - Zero 7 (Sundays on the Back Counter)

18. Since I Left You - The Avalanches (Floor Walking at Christmas on the Ground Floor)

19. Hate to Say I Told You So - The Hives (Caroline Thorpe/Sheehan)

20. Freak on a Leash - Korn (Glen Tebble)

21. The Perfect Drug - NIN (Michelle Bannan)

22. Change - Deftones (Stu Patterson)

23. What’s My Age Again - Blink 182 (Pete McCloskey)

24. Round Our Way - Oasis (Matt Stockwell)

25. Yellow - Coldplay (Saturday Night at Scott MacFarlane's)

26. Where’s Your Head At - Basement Jaxx (Scott Wilkinson)

27. A Little Samba - Ugly Duckling (Nick Wrightson)

28. Shapeshifter - Timo Mass (Craig Hampton)

29. Satisfaction - Benni Benassi (Gail Summerbell - Hancock/Beirex)

30. Holy Calamity - Handsome Boy Modelling School (Dan Hedley)

31. Music is My Radar - Blur (Dave Price & Dave Newton)

32. Intergalactic - Beastie Boys (Mark McCarthy)

33. Brown Paper Bag - Roni Size (Craig “Craggz Craggz" James)

34. Loneliness - Tomcraft (Tom Hewison)

35. Mashin' on the Motorway - DJ Shadow (Kev Auld)

Memory Tapes: Memoirs Of A Shoe Gazing Gentleman

2014-07-30T08:23:35+00:00

Today we have an extra special Memory Tape from music writer, critic and journalist David Quantick, who takes us down Memory Lane with a Shoe-Gazing theme tape! You may remember David wrote a column called Memoirs of a Shoe Gazing Gentleman in the NME as Lord Tarquin back in the 90s. Let him guide through this tape filled with nostalgia and shoe-gaze splendour!

"OK - this tape collects my memories of Shoe-Gazing and the music that reminds me of that era from when I wrote the NME column Memoirs Of A Shoe Gazing Gentlemen by Lord Tarquin i.e. me.

It begins with Melt by Siouxsie And The Banshees, a pre shoegaze classic by a big influence on that era and then into Fallin by Lush, one of my favourite bands of the time doing a rare Dennis Wilson song - an interesting angle. I knew Lush and in fact still do. Emma from Lush is my neighbour. Soon By My Bloody Valentine is a great song by the emperors of shoe gaze, the Beatles of the movement and I love MBV and their continuing career. Twisterella by Ride reminds me of when every band was labelled shoegaze. SUGAR HICCUP by the COCTEAU TWINS is another 'gaze influence and a great song. Prize by Kitchens Of Distinction might be shoegaze or not but they're a massively under-rated band and they're back too. When The Sun Hits by Slowdive is archetypal shoey. Just Like Honey by The Jesus And Mary Chain is a classic and Phil from Lush is now in them. Leaving the oddly hooky Breather by Chapterhouse which is great and finally the debut by a band who were labelled shoegaze for a week - There's No Other Way by Blur.

I remember going to Syndrome and the Powerhaus, drinking with these bands, reviewing them, watching them get big or small, and then seeing "nu-gaze" make some of them cool again."

Memory Tapes: Happy, Crazy, Fun Filled Memories

2014-07-23T06:31:58+00:00

Today's Memory Tape comes from Nina McNair, who's sharing a tape all about her best friend Denise. They met, they partied, they grew up, they're the best of friends. Remember, you can send in your story and tracklist anytime to: lauren.6music@bbc.co.uk. And here's Nina to tell us all about the tape, and her friend:

"It was my great friend Denise's Hen Do (I am one of the Bridesmaids) on 4^th July. Denise used to make us proper Mix tapes called ‘Nice Tracks’ that we used to play whilst driving back from clubbing with chilled out tunes from Groove Armada & Zero 7 and Massive Attack.

I first met Denise about 1993 when I was a grungy 17 year old student wearing second jeans and tie dye, listening to a lot of Nirvana and Pearl Jam. She was a super glam 20 year old with a great job and amazing clothes which she got from Hyper Hyper in Kensington. She was friends with my first boyfriend and a big gang of us would go clubbing together to Club UK & Satellite Club in Vauxhall. Unexpectedly, we became great friends and started going to girls only club nights to places like Malibu Staceys at Hanover Grand and Nicky Holloway’s club (our fave) Velvet Underground in Soho. We had a shared love of getting glammed up, dancing all night and making new friends. As you did! The relationship with the fella fizzled out but I am still great friends with Denise and – our other friend – Laura 20 years on.

I picked the Florence song as we saw her at the first Camp Bestival in Dorset, she was just starting out and we loved seeing her crazy stage antics and her vocals were immense. A few years later we saw her at our local venue in Bournemouth and we had the pleasure of bumping into her in the Urban Beach Pub beforehand. She was very sweet and charming to us, slightly inebriated and giggly ladies, and told us to get down there early or we would miss the support act…the XX!

We had an amazing time in Benicassim in 2004 dancing in the Spanish heat to Basement Jaxx and Kasabian ‘til sun rise. We’ve been to countless raves, parties and festivals together, as well as life’s highs and lows. We even had children around the same time, one year apart, and we ended up both living the beach life in Bournemouth with our families. Now we’re a big extended group of party loving friends and this year we are off to Lindos, Rhodes to celebrate the wedding of Denise & Kev.

After 23 years of larging it in Fleet, London, Bournemouth & travelling the world, having several careers and two children, they have decided to finally tie the knot. Laura, myself and our kids are bridesmaids & page boys. My husband Flash is best man and lots of our closest friends are coming out to Rhodes to join the celebrations. This mix tape is dedicated to Denise the gorgeous bride and all the happy, crazy, fun-filled memories we've had over the years.

She has been a fantastic friend and I want to wish them loads of love & laughter for years to come.

And you can check out the full tracklisting on Spotify.

Much love

Nina x"

Memory Tapes: Thanks Lads! (We're no longer together, but I'm keeping your vinyl)

2014-07-16T07:00:19+00:00

Another week, another Memory Tape-r, but this one is not exactly typical: Listener, Victoria Sowerby, is anything but sentimental about her ex-boyfriend inspired mix. You’ve got to hand it to the guys, though, cracking tase in tunes…

"Dear Lauren,

I find myself sobbing uncontrollably most Wednesday mornings when it’s Memory Tapes and I know you’re often left emotionally wrung out after reading them aloud, so I thought I’d provide a more up-beat offering containing some great tracks.

Basically at the wise old age of twenty-five, I’m still absolutely useless at finding suitable suitors. I honestly wish we could go back to a simpler time of dance cards and courtship. According to my friends my main problem is that I go for “cool” band guys. I’m definitely guilty as charged and although these guys are generally useless individuals/boyfriends, they’ve introduced me to some great tracks over the years.

I reckon the feeling is mutual, as although these relationships are no more, I have a habit of impending my tastes and musical whims on guys like a tenacious terrier, so I’m pretty sure some of my suggestions have stuck with them too.

Anyway here’s a brief introduction to the guys and the music they introduced me to (I don’t want this to be like Tracey Emin’s tent so I think its best they remain anonymous)

The School Girl Crush

At 16, this guy was obviously undoubtedly the love of my life; also he was a student, which made him the epitome of cool. He introduced me to some great tunes via the medium of Myspace and we saw some amazing gigs at Middlesbrough Empire.

The Walkmen- Wake up
Gang of Four – Damaged Goods

The Fine Art Guy

At art college, the cool fine art guy who was in a band, had a cool bike and hated everything but The Black Lips.

The Black Lips - Veni Vidi Vici (Diplo Remix)

The Moustache Man

Think serious Tom Selleck lip action, Shoreditch’s finest. I remember getting photographed for vice magazine with him, he was THAT hip

Crocodiles - Groove is in the Heart/California Girls
Foals – Miami

The Irish one

That Irish charm combined with a formidable taste in music . . . seriously deadly.

Jai Paul – BTSTU
Bruce Springsteen – I’m on Fire
Ariel Pink – Can’t Hear My Eyes
Notorious B.I.G – Hypnotize

The one in the moderately successful band

Not so keen on his actual music but he definitely had impeccable taste

Spacemen 3 – 2.35
Eels – Fresh Blood "

Memory Tapes: 24 Hour Party People

2014-07-09T07:45:21+00:00

Today's Memory Taper is known as Hannah to her friendsm she's from Haggerston in that there London, and she's made a tape for somebody very special in her life. And what a great way to meet the love of your life:

"It was my husband’s 44th birthday last month. I wanted to send this to you sooner, but being a bit rubbish it's somewhat delayed! It's not just for his birthday; it's more just to show how much I LOVE him.

We're quite partial to a silent disco ( it has to be silent as last time we had a loud one, our tenants in our flat below threatened to move out) in our loft AKA the Paradise Garage.

We had one on Saturday night after seeing Arcade Fire at Earls Court. There aren’t many people who would set up a disco complete with lights, silly sunglasses, Keith Haring backdrop and have a full on dance whenever they fancy. We sometimes have them on a Sunday but the curfew has to be the start of Antiques Roadshow. That’s how rock & roll we are these days and we can't even use the kids as an excuse…because we don't have any.

We met in the very early hours of 3^rd March on the dance floor of the set of 24hour Party People when they rebuilt the Hacienda in a mill in Ancoats & filmed all the club footage for the film.

We're also in the film but if you blink you miss us!

After 10 weeks of knowing him I'd moved to London and we've been together ever since. We married on 3^rd March 2007 - just to keep things simple - and our friend Tom Wainwright played a blinding Hacienda Classic set at our reception.

All my songs are either from when we met, or just remind me of Corin:

Grace Jones - Feel Up - We both adore Grace Jones & he played this back at a friends house the night we met. Corin also knew Liz but from 10years before when he'd been living in Manchester.
Frankie Knuckles - The Whistle Song - Coring bought this from King Bee Records in Chorlton one weekend he came to stay with me & used to play it when him & his friends DJ'd at a night in Soho.
Electronic - Getting Away With it - this is one of Corin's favourite songs & I always think if him when I hear it & it makes me a bit emotional.
Bassheads - Is There Anybody Out There - it's one of the few songs I remember from the night we met.
PJ Harvey - We Float - Stories From The City had just been released & it was one of our first Albums, that & Coldplay Parachutes, but I'd rather keep that quiet.
The Joubert Singers - Stand on the Word ( Larry Levan Mix )
The Clarke Sisters - You brought The Sunshine ( Danny Krivit Edit )
Janet Jackson - When I think of you
Depeche Mode - Enjoy the Silence
Sister Sledge - Lost in Music ( Bernard Edwards & Nile Rogers 1984 )
Stevie Wonder - I Love Every Little Thing About You
Altered Images - Don't Talk to Me about Love
The Smiths - There Is a Light That Never Goes Out
Kings of Tomorrow - Finally
The Goodies - The Funky Gibbon: Apologies for this one but Corin's surname is Gibbon & this was our first dance at our wedding!
Gwen McRae - Funky Sensation ( has to be the version from Kenny Dope - Roller Boogie 80's )

Well I guess I've gone on enough, I hope my stories not bored you & you're now intrigued by this slightly odd 40 something couple who have discos in there loft together.

Hannah :)"

Send us your story and tracklists to: lauren.6,music@bbc.co.uk

Memory Tapes: The Illustrator’s Mix

2014-07-02T06:31:10+00:00

Today's Memory Taper is from David Roberts, illustrator extraordinaire. Check out some of his incredible work here. Here he is, in his words:
"This tape, and the friend who made it, have had such an influence on my music collection and my life. In fact, it's the reason I am doing the job I do today. It's all down to him. I am a children’s book illustrator and have been for the past 17 years, but it was while studying for a degree in fashion design at Manchester Polytechnic, that I shared a falling-down house in West Didsbury with Dom Mansell, who was illustrating children’s books at the time.

Dom introduced me to the music of John Martyn, Nick Drake, The Roches, Danielle Dax, Tom Waits and the Amazing Mary Margeret O' Hara and many more. He also encouraged me to pursue my dream of illustrating for children’s books. I have since been lucky enough to work on over 150 children’s books, for authors like Kenneth Grahame, Tom Baker [ Dr Who !!!], Carol Ann Duffy, Philip Ardagh, and the awesome Julia Donaldson, as well as my own series 'Dirty Bertie'. Dom is nine years older than me, and so his music collection was much more varied as he introduced me to stuff that I would never have known existed, we shared a love of Kate Bush, and he lent me his copy of the Dreaming, that I think he regretted after I played Suspended In Gaffer, for the hundredth time! He really turned me on to folk music too, through his copy of the first Roche LP. Being an illustrator of children's books I do love a song that tells a story.

This tape was pretty much a sound track to my early twenties, though many of these tracks I haven't heard for many years, as I am no longer the owner of a tape recorder. I know Dom listens to the show so it would be a delight to hear some of these tracks again and remind me of my lovely friend. I am a big fan of 6 Music and have illustrated many books while listening to your station."

And here is the mix:

Side A (Percy Hyde's Greatest hits - Percy Hyde was our land lord)
The Pixies - Monkey gone to heaven
Swans - Saved
Patsy Cline - Imagine that
Momus - Hair style of the Devil
Al Bowlly - The very thought of you
Bonnie Rait - Baby of mine
Julie Cruise - Right back inside my heart,
Robert Crumb and the cheap seat Serenaders - Singing in the bath tub,
Tom Waits - Downtown train
Jesus and Mary chain - You turn me up
Nick Cave - By the time I get to Phoenix
Psychadelic Furs - Pretty in pink

Side B (From Northern Grove to Memphis - we lived on Northern Grove)
Trumpton intro
Tom Waits - Swordfish trombones
Danielle Dax - inky bloaters
Momus ; Bishonen
Patsy Cline - Crazy
Swans - Can't find my way home
Robert Robert - Hula Girl /pedal your blues away
MARY MARGERET O HARA - dear darling ( this is my favourite )
The Lilac Time - Love becomes a savage
Swans - God damn the sun
Ngareo o Mokoia - Tuhourangi
Vivian Stanshall - Socks

We want to hear your memories and the music that soundtracked them. Drop us a line to: lauren.6music@bbc.co.uk

Memory Tapes: The Catalyst

2014-06-25T07:31:46+00:00

Today's Memory Tape-r comes from love struck listener Harriet Titmus. Here she explains how she put the tape together for her boyfriend.

The Catalyst

I'm sending you my memory tape as it holds a special place in my heart, as it was a mix tape that was the catalyst to start my relationship with my boyfriend, Rupert. 8 years on and I feel compelled to share this playlist alongside some other songs that have been special for us both as a couple.

Some background on how this playlist finally brought us together….. Despite his attentiveness and my feelings for him, I resisted starting a relationship due to previous horrible experiences which had left a bitter taste in my mouth. Due to my nervous disposition around falling in love, I made my position clear and we decided to remain friends. A big part of our friendship had always been music, and we would talk at length about artists or albums we loved and go clubbing together.

Following this Rupert decided to leave 10 CD’s for me which were his favourite albums and sent me an email entitled ‘Music, pure class!’ describing why they were the most influential to him, and why I would like them. This beautiful gesture was the clincher for me, and my true feelings for him were suddenly crystal clear. I knew that someone that shared the same passion for music that I did, and cared for me so much to do such a lovely thing was someone too good to lose. As cheesy as it sounds we've both always believed that a song can change your life, and I like to think that this personalised mixtape did change ours!

Music is still a massive part of our lives; from sharing new stuff we’ve heard, going to gigs together, compiling our own Desert Island Disc style playlists, or spending time reminiscing about older stuff we love. This playlist triggers lots of happy memories of singing, laughing, dancing and concludes with our most favourite song of all, Les Fleur.

1. All That You Give – The Cinematic Orchestra

2. The Girl Who Fell Through The Ice – Aim

3. Summer Sun – Koop

4. Twice – Little Dragon

5. We Haven’t Turned Around - Gomez

6. All I Need - Air

7. Let Go - Frou Frou

8. Blue Blood – Foals

9. Morning Sun – Plump DJ’s

10. Cris Chana – Wagon Christ

11. Superstylin’ - Groove Armada

12. Racing Green – High Contrast

13. Got To Be Real – Cheryl Lynn

14. Les Fleur - Minnie Riperton