Musicheads wonder: Which CD would you play to impress a date?

I would play Rammstein's 'Mutter' because there are some really great songs on there. And then once you translate the lyrics, well...there would definitely be something to talk about! Rammstein aren't a group you can ignore---you either love them or hate them.

That sounds like a litmus test for a date, WS R. *grin* Def. an ice breaker.

I'm finally firing up the whole show audio because I didn't catch their answers yet...

Sorry WS R...I'm not hip to Rammstein.

Lyndon....I'm afraid if I put 2 Live Crew on the stereo I would fear that the date would be over, pronto!

My date doesn't go for my taste in music and there's no changing the date aspect, as I'm married to him. ;-) But to impress a friend, I'd definitely play my daara j CD. (This link takes you to their NPR story from about two years ago.)

That Senegalese hip-hop is da' hot stuff. Besides, it makes a body move and that's a good thing.

Rammstein's better for the end of the date....ooohhhhhhh yeahhh....

In the car during the date....Jimi Hendrix - Electric Ladyland. Or maybe Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks.

In college it was Massive Attack's Mezzanine. Few years have gone by since then though.

I gotta add a little brag, when daara j performed in Minneapolis at Loring Park, I, as in me, all by myself, had the opportunity to sing with them. Just a few notes, but totally incredible. If you listen to their CD Boomerang, well, you'll wish you'd been me two years ago at that concert.

But perusing their various sites, it doesn't look like the band is together any longer. There's a good topic, Bill, what's behind the demise of youngish bands who have amazing talent, but lack the financial backing to stay the course?

Like Mac said, it depends on the end game. Roxy Music's "Avalon" was a good one for a date CD.

For me it's not so much about one CD to impress me, but a person's collection. In the initial dating stages, my now wife and I were chit chatting outside RIverside Perkins and she opened the trunk of her car. There were a whole slew of LPs ranging from Duran Duran to the Plasmatics, Sex Pistols, and such. I knew right then that she was the one for me.

can't claim to really *been in that situation* before..but I get the sense it's actually 2 questions:

1) that you'd play for someone that best REPRESENTS YOU

2) that would be best to play for someone that they might like, that also represents your taste.

1. Many I could pick but the 1 I can't see myself NOT picking would be the album that every music fan should own imo in Kevin Gilbert's - THE SHAMING OF THE TRUE

My name is Johnny Virgil and I'm gonna be a Star.

Gonna get my share of fame

Everybody's gonna love me, everybody's gonna care

Everyone will know my name



I've been listening to Dylan, I've been listening to the Dead

I've been listening to the music that plays inside my head

I've been listening to the Beatles, I've been listening to the Who

And they don't know it yet, but they're gonna listen to me too



My name is Johnny Virgil everybody did you hear

2. I guess could be a number of choices..but to charm or expose something that gives a positive and upbeat vibe..I'm torn between albums like Jellyfish's "Spilt Milk" Queen's "A Night at the Opera"..or Transatlantic's 'The Bridge Across Forever"..even tho it's mainly long prog epics..it's an infectious record that even many folks who don't care for progressive rock enjoy because of it's happy, upbeat nature.

Also the likes of Dream Theater's "Awake"..Marillion's "Clutching at Straws" and "Marbles"..or something like dredg's "El Cielo" or Ours's "Distorted Lullabies" would be great representatives of my own taste and yet still would be accessible enough that I would think that someone unfamiliar might enjoy them.

First, my date would probably not be in my car; he would probably be in my house (having arrived there in his own car) to share a bottle of wine and conversation, or for dinner. After that:

Depends on which one of my countless, extremely handsome hunks this might be.
a. If it's one of the guys I dated in the late 60's and early 70's I'd probably play music from that time period.
b. If it's a new man (after I successfully fit him into my date book) that I'd like to get romantic with, I'd put on some Teddy Pendergrass or Barry White. For instrumental background it would be either the soundtrack from the film "Somewhere In Time", or "March of the Penguins"; they are both hauntingly beautiful.

(Making our own music would be good, too!)

To be honest I have driven around since 1986 or so with a Greatful Dead bootleg in my tape player(I have hundreds) 90% of the time, or Bob Marley. This does not impress a lot of women. I have KQ, Rev 105, cities97, and The current on my presets. I think Coldplay. "A Rush of Blood to the Head" or RadioHead, "In Rainbows" might be ok with most women. I tried listening to KDWB once in a while, thinking that top 40 music is what most women like, Law of averages. New Order, The Cure, The Suburbs might scare away most women. There seem's to be a small fraction of the population that shares my tase in music, maybe 1%, maybe....

I like the thought of something by Roxy Music, one of the more ballady numbers, maybe Tara from the live album of their reunion in 2000 (?).

Or if I was daring, Premiata Forneria Marconi (PFM) Live In Japan 2002 - Impresiones di Setembre, River Of Life, Dove... Quando - links to YouTube clips of these are on http://www.squidoo.com/premiataforneriamarconi PFM are a great mix of Classic Rock, Italian Folk and a hint of Classical. They were one of the leading progressive bands to come out of Italy in the 1970's and still going strong.

I feel like I have become the "Dude" from the Big Lebowski. Maybe Credence Clearwater Revival is what i need to impress the women. Maybe I have a Dyslexic Heart.

I heard an adage once: "Wanna get a girl to do whatever you want? Put on U2's The Joshua Tree."

I should add that I was never quite so crass.

It's likely that if someone wants to date me, he's already impressed with me, so I'd play the CD I like. Since I like more than one, I'd probably pick the one he's least likely to mind, an old Chicago CD that we liked when we were younger and Chicago was hotter. I also like Andrea Bocelli, but that would be a pretty iffy choice.

To be really safe, though, I'd turn on an a.m. talk-radio station. When Rush Llimbaugh came on, we'd see how well we get along.

Elizabeth, I dunno....I'd probably end up angry with the radio on Rush!

Mac, I'd probably take Achtung Baby over the Joshua Tree

I agree with you Frick, "you can't go wrong with Avalon"

Come to think of it. Silence might be a good option on the 1st date!

Come to think of it. Silence might be a good option on the 1st date!

Yeah, playing John Cage's 4'33" always sets the mood!! ;)

*busted out laughing @ "you can't go wrong with Avalon"* Whooooo, no kidding. Or the soundtrack to "Stealing Beauty." We gals usually love that stuff.

While I'm over 10 years from my most recent first date, I still like to find and secret away new or fresh music for dates with my sweetness. Just because the couplehood takes, it doesn't mean the dating should end. If the unthinkable happened and I were going on a first date, I'd play something I was into at the time (right now I'm leaning to the Everly Brothers and Buddy Holly) and I'd ask my date to bring some tunes too. As passenger I'd listen to whatever was on deck and def. check the radio presets on the car ;-)

Mac, good luck with your date once you come around to "I dreamed about killing you again last night, and it felt alright to me."

Who needs a barrage of lyrics to get in the way of good conversation on a date? I'd go with Joe Pass' "Virtuoso".

I found a wikipedia site about John Cage's 4'33" wiki 4'33" Frank Zappa, John Lennon, and Sonic Youth all recorded it. I am not sure which one has the best sonic quality. I have heard that vinyl records are better than CD, which are better than mp3. I wannt to hear every nuance of the performance. Sounds like the concensus is Roxy Music, "Avalon". I like mac's U2 I dea too. As far as Joe Pass, I might have to substitute Miles Davis, Kind of Blue, for the end game, since I own that one. Call me a heretic if you want. I take pride in it.

Any CD by G Love and Special Sauce

A classic jazz album from Miles would be a good pick! G Love is not bad either. Though your date might think you a bit odd if you were singing "Cold Beverage" on your 1st date!

Sunday Morning Coffee or any of the Fresh Aire CDs by Mannheim Steamroller and Chip Davis

Hey Bill,

The show stomps: A typhoon of fresh airwaves here in the land of rising sums and lower expectations.

What was Barb Abney playing for her date? Sounds excellent- how about some more... or a link in the right direction.

To impress I play early Nick Cave- especially Ship Song. Stranglers Golden Brown is a crowd pleaser as well. Both just the right amount of lift, and introspection.

I think I would have to play what the mood called for. It would depend on where we were off to. Maybe Bill Withers if it was dinner or coffee. Maybe something a little crazier if it was a concert. Not to mention, summer is a factor too. That always changes the mood of driving in a car on a first date, I think.

If you like Bill Withers, and like to see a great local band. I would like to give a shout out to a great Minnesota band that does one or two Bill Withers covers, and could use a little help about now. I have seen them 50 times or more at Bunkers, Whiskey Junction, The Narrows, and PD Pappy's, and Nye's.
kurtjorensenband_KJB They won 7 Minnesota Music Awards in 2003, and 6 in 2002. Call me crass if you want. They are great music, and good people.

Its the Kurt Jorgensen Band, Typo above. Bob Mould is playing Very Temporary on the Current right now. I do have a few KGB cd's I could play in the car on a first date. They are great. I am looking forward to regular sunday afternoons at PD Pappy's in Stillwater this summer. Here is a link to Bill Withers Bill Withers wiki A lot of bands have covered his songs including my favorite Widespread Panic widespread panic Ain't no sunshine, Use me, and Lean on me are all great songs.

Back to the question, I'm wondering if we couldn't make a first-date-mix based on some of these suggestions...

What about the music to play to get rid of a date?????

Hmmm I distinctly remember Eric playing Static X's "destroyer" and instantly loving him for it!!!!!

Jeff Buckley's "Grace" is impressive. My ex girfriend/ now good friend turned him onto my wife. She hasn't turned back since. If my wife can discard stereotypical jealousy to share joy over a man's music, he must be good. I promise you, single men: Jeff Buckley's "Grace" WILL DO WONDERS!

(Play Portishead's "Dummy" if you get reallyclose)

I guess it would depend on what she likes or something