Mixtape: F-Hole Variations

In what scant fantasies I have left at my disposal, one of the most prevalent is performing a song in front of a full orchestra, probably at a publicly funded civic event where neckties are encouraged but not mandatory. That's right, I'm a string sucker. That's why Mixtape #65 contains a rash of songs from pop and rock artists (mainly) that feature violins, violas, cellos and contrabasses if at all possible. In addition to the somewhat usual suspects (Costello, Townshend, Divine Comedy, Randy Newman, of course ELO) we have some adventurous turns from folks we'd normally assume would have broken violins over their knees (KISS, Sex Pistols). I also solicited some help from others on this list, which is why it also has wonderful songs from the likes of Duke Special, Butterfly Child, Elbow and, yes, Yes. Enjoy, longhairs.

Tracklist: 

Talvin Singh - Traveller (PSHRG Edit)

Pete Townshend - Football Fugue

Elvis Costello & the Brodsky Quartet - I Almost Had a Weakness

Procol Harum - Conquistador

KISS & the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra - Detroit Rock City

Duke Special with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra - Diggin' an Early Grave

The High Llamas - Literature Is Fluff

The Divine Comedy - Tonight We Fly

The Sex Pistols - EMI (Orchestral Version)

Scott Walker - Next

Yes - Clear Days

Tindersticks - (Tonight) Are You Trying to Fall In Love Again

Tom Waits - Potter's Field

Ramones - Baby, I Love You

Love - The Good Humor Man He Sees Everything Like This

Butterfly Child - Drunk On Beauty

XTC - I Can't Own Her

Kronos Quartet - Marquee Moon

Richard Hawley - Open Up Your Door

Electric Light Orchestra - Night in the City

Elbow & the BBC Concert Orchestra - Starlings

Squeeze - F-Hole

David Axelrod - Holy Thursday

Caetano Veloso - Cucurrucucu Paloma

Randy Newman - The Great Debate

Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat - The Sadness in Your Life Will Slowly Fade

Joni Mitchell - A Case of You (2000 Version)

Special thanks to Scott Askew, Matt Hopper, Waldo Jeffries, Andy Lewis, David Newman, Tom Vasquez, Ricardo Wang, Scott West and Dennis Yudt.