Perhaps this is the one that started it all. Years ago I had my first Thanksgiving in New York, away from my family, at my friend Roxanne's apartment. Every year she hosts a huge dinner for those of us who can't get home to celebrate with their families, and we all gather together and eat and play games until we go into food comas. At the very first dinner I became pre-occupied with ipod DJing a whole set of food themed songs. The following Thanksgiving I found that original playlist and added even more songs. And then I did that again that next year, nd the next, and the next until I arrived at the playlist you see below. This one is pure food fun, a good mix of soul and 60s pop, and other fun tunes. I hope you'll consider it the next time you come together with friends or family for a holiday meal!
Gentle Hour
This playlist is title after "Gentle Hour" by Snapper, which is a song that's been covered by two of my favorite bands, Yo La Tengo and The Clean. I was thinking about framing a playlist around the idea of the song, around its sort of earnest, open tenderness. But then I went out on a bike ride and I let my "liked from radio" (over 600 songs) playlist on Spotify and the shuffle button be the DJ. The result is what you'll hear in this playlist, which I liked so much I copied everything down in the order it played. It's a fun mix of new and old, sweet and upbeat, and I think it'll make a fine kitchen accompaniment. I hope you'll enjoy, and also check out this amazing cover by The Clean.
Sweet Soul
In our first addition of Cookin' Kitchen I'm sharing some of my all time Soul favorites. I'll be making a more upbeat, dance worthy playlist as a follow up, but this one is a little more mellow and you might find yourself breaking out into a song or a slow dance. Either way, I hope you enjoy it!