Tyler's Philly Playlist
In honor of this weekend's MAFCA Fall Conference in Philadelphia, here's a list of Philly songs to enjoy on the way.
- Private Lives - Low Cut Connie
The eponymous leadoff tune from Philadelphia’s Low Cut Connie 2020 album emphasizes community: the various forms it can take, and all of the ways we all need to feel connected and supported. Brotherly love with an irresistible backbeat. - Storm Warning - The Volcanos
One of THE sweetest Philly soul tunes ever, soaring harmonies and a love-lorn lyric to make a grown man cry. As a longtime music and vinyl obsessive people always ask “if you had to pick one desert-island disc…”, 99 times out of 100 this is my answer. Founded by Philadelphia DJ Jimmy Bishop in the early 60s, Arctic Records was a black-owned label recording and releasing hundreds of great tunes from 1964-1971 before Jimmy Bishop mysteriously disappeared and is still missing to this day. - Put a Dime on D-9 - The Rotations
Who can resist a good jukebox song?? This soulful Philly tune is one of the finest! Record nerd meets economy nerd trivia: the initial promo copies of this single were “Put a Nickel on D-9” but inflation must have quickly caught up and it hit stores at double the cost of a play! - Point Breeze - Marah
Shambolic Philly rockers Marah put out a handful of albums in the late 90s - early 2000s, this track from their epic “Kids in Philly” record captures the frenetic energy and spirit of the city. You can practically smell the south Philly bar they no doubt wrote this song in. - Baby Cakes - Dee Dee Sharp
“Some cats got it, and some cats ain’t…” Dee Dee has it all, one of many classics, Dee Dee could fill this whole playlist. - Over the Rainbow - Byard Lancaster
Yes, this is THAT tune but Philly native saxophone colossus Byard Lancaster’s spiritual, maker-meet take is stunning.
