Any Major Coffee Vol. 1
Here’s a mix that has been brewing for a number of years now — on the subject of coffee. There are surprisingly many songs that are in some way about coffee, enough to fill a few mixes.
As always, I set myself rules. These sort of reflect our relationship with coffee (if we have one). The featured songs must be about coffee or the act or idea of drinking coffee. In some songs the act of drinking coffee is at the centre of the lyrics, in others coffee plays an incidental but not unimportant role.
So, no songs about coffee machines that need fixing, or metaphors about clouds in your coffee or your brew gone cold because the one you love does not love you anymore. I do allow one coffee as a metaphor song, as a bonus track, because I think you might like it: LaVern Baker’s wonderful 1958 version of Bessie Smith’s Empty Bed Blues, recorded 30 years after the original.
If you are a coffee drinker and this mix — or the mere reminder of caffeine — motivates you to go out in search for a fix, please do me a kindness and seek out an independent coffee shop. These independents are being squeezed out by the franchise stores, led by the unaccountably popular Starbucks. Help keep the independent coffeeshops going.
As always, the mix is timed to fit on as standard CD-R and includes home-percolated covers. PW = amdwhah.
1. The Ink Spots – Java Jive (1941)
2. Ella Mae Morse – 40 Cups Of Coffee (1953)
3. Scatman Crothers – Keep That Coffee Hot (1955)
4. Peggy Lee – Black Coffee (1956)
5. Otis Redding – Cigarettes And Coffee (1966)
6. Delbert McClinton – Your Memory, Me, And The Blues (2005)
7. Mighty Mo Rodgers – Black Coffee And Cigarettes (2011)
8. The Jayhawks – Five Cups Of Coffee (1989)
9. Fountains Of Wayne – Yours And Mine (2003)
10. Landon Pigg – Falling In Love At A Coffee Shop (2008)
11. David Bowie – When The Wind Blows (1986)
12. Bob Dylan – One More Cup Of Coffee (1979)
13. Gordon Lightfoot – Second Cup of Coffee (1972)
14. Glen Campbell – Truck Driving Man (1971)
15. Hank Locklin – You’re The Reason (1962)
16. Lefty Frizzell – Cigarettes and Coffee Blues (1958)
17. Kris Kristofferson – Here Comes That Rainbow Again (1981)
18. Guy Clark – Instant Coffee Blues (1975)
19. Lyle Lovett – Just The Morning (1994)
20. Cowboy Junkies – Anniversary Song (1993)
21. Simon & Garfunkel – The Dangling Conversation (live) (1968)
22. Walker Brothers – Where’s The Girl (1966)
23. Natalie Cole – Coffee Time (2008)
24. Frank Sinatra – Same Old Saturday Night (1964)
25. Julie London – Sunday Mornin’ (1969)
I’m with you on the coffee shop independents – too many of the big franchise names in our town already. Let’s support the little guys. A nice brew of caffeine-themed songs to listen to while mulling over a (wait for it) mug of coffee or three. Many thanks as always. As Natalie Cole’s father might have sung, it’s the cream in my coffee. Cheers!
When I first saw this I thought, Peggy Lee has gotta be in this mix. And there she is at number three. Truck Drivin’ Man was fist recorded in 1954 by it’s author Terry Fell with band member Buck Owens singing harmony. It’s been recorded numerous times over the years and even the band I was in played it every night. So, how did you decide on the Glen Campbell version?
This is a great mix, Dude, and I’m happy to see it is volume one. That means more to come.
I didn’t know the original was as old as that. I chose the Campbell one from the four I have because it was the least country one (of course, it’s still very country). I have too many country coffee songs…
Another superb mix, but someone stole my big coffee cup…. I was a victim of a mug-ging. Put down for consideration “Instant Coffee” by The Fabulous Jokers (1965) and “Second Cup Of Coffee” by Gordon Lightfoot (1972) on your next Java mix. Happy 4th of July weekend, Jbp
Awesome mix! I don’t know if you like suggestions, but here are some songs I have about coffee:
Copeland – Coffee
Jimmy Eat World – Coffee And Cigarettes
Glenn Glen – One Cup of Coffee and a Cigarette
Sleepy LaBeef – Smoking Cigarettes, Drinking Coffee Blues
Prince – Starfish and Coffee
https://youtu.be/GDWfT10RFG8
Looking forward to this as a major caffeine fiend. I did a Top Ten Coffee Songs years ago, but I’m sorry to say I was unable to resist You’re So Vain.
Anyway, I humbly submit the following suggestions for future brews…
The Clint Boon Experience – White No Sugar
Ben Folds – Free Coffee
Blur – Coffee & TV
Crash Test Dummies – Afternoons & Coffeespoons
Hefner – The Hymn For Coffee
James – Coffee & Toast
Supergrass – Coffee In The Pot
The Sleepy Jackson – Caffeine In The Morning
Holly Johnson – Americanos
John Wesley Harding – There’s a Starbucks (Where the Starbucks Used to Be)
And the above mentioned Prince, natch.
Every week I share with my wife whatever delightful compilation you’ve come up with. She’s the caffeinated one in our household, so she was thrilled by this. Thanks!
Also, I know Coffee in a Cardboard Cup probably drifts too far into “metaphor” territory, and you’re not high on Broadway stuff to begin with, but it is one of Kander and Ebb’s best. My humble offering for Round Two.
Maybe it doesn’t meet the stated rules, but I was surprised that my favorite coffee song of all time, “Black Coffee In Bed” by Squeeze was not included.
Still, an excellent mix. Thank you!
Not their best one, but Osibisa nevertheless did “The Coffee Song”.
I did just finish my morning coffee and looking forward to another one with relatives this afternoon.