The fourth installment for Mixtape Week comes from my friend Carrie, titled “For Sarah-Bean (VIII)” (there is a VII in my collection but no I-VI), my best guess is that she compiled it sometime in the early 90’s based on the prevalence of Robert Earl Keen songs and overall country-tinged flavor of the mix; Carrie lived in Austin around that time so Texas must have seeped into the tape deck.  With the exception of Prince’s “Raspberry Beret” and Bob Dylan’s “Gospel Plow,” it’s also a real heartbreaker of a tape. Stevie Wonder’s “Superstitious” is musically upbeat but lyrically dark: years of bad luck with broken mirrors, etc.  The comp has TWO songs by Suzanne Vega, a track by the reliably depressing Simon and Garfunkel and ones from Billy Bragg and John Denver. Like Jim’s tape, she also didn’t provide the artists so there are a few I don’t know. I’ll put in brief descriptions so if anyone can help fill in the gaps, please do.

Side A

Melissa Etheridge – “Brave and Crazy”

Stevie Wonder – “Superstitious”

Pat Benetar – “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”

Prince – “Raspberry Beret”

Bonnie Raitt – “Love Letter”

???? – “Right Now”

John Cougar (Mellencamp) – “Hurts So Good”

Suzanne Vega – “Queen and Soldier”

John Prine – “Sam Stone”

Robert Earl Keen – “Mariano”

Simon and Garfunkel – “59^th Street Bridge Song”

Suzanne Vega – “Luka”

Elvis Costello – “Different Finger”

Side B

????? – “Walk Down the Street” – kinda country

Indigo Girls – “Watershed”

????? – “I’m Fine” – sort of sounds like Joni Mitchell

Robert Earl Keen – “Love’s a Word I Never Throw Around”

????? – “Always Your Face” – a sappy 70s/80s ballad

John Denver – “Rhymes and Reasons”

Robert Earl Keen – “Leavin’ Tennessee”

Bob Dylan – “Gospel Plow”

Robert Earl Keen – “Five Pound Bass”

Billy Bragg – “Lovers Town Revisited”

????? – “I am the Storm” – also kinda country

Bonnie Raitt – “Have a Heart”

Fleetwood Mac – “I Don’t Want to Know”