VW DJ

 Lauren Marks (the pro) and myself (the wanna be)

Last week I was able to have a chance to DJ for an hour on 97.7 The River in Sonoma County. I had "won" the opportunity at a silent auction. 

I actually wasn't quite sure what I had won. I pictured showing up with a stack of my most obscure and snobby records and going at it for an hour. Perhaps 4 minutes from Spiro Agnew Speaks Out (him ripping on young people) followed by The Odds singing "Someone who is Cool" followed by Plow King's 'That's the way it goes". 

Alas, it was much more formatted than that. And they don't have a record player.

I came in during what would normally be the request hour at noon and was able to play songs from a playlist ahead of time. At a loss for what to play, I turned to the VW community on Big Blue's Facebook page for suggestions for a "VW Roadtrip Mix". Many people suggested great songs so I created the following list from their suggestions: 

On the Road Again by Willie Nelson suggested by Chris
Ripple by Grateful Dead suggested by Darrin & heather, and Kelly
Ramblin Man by Allman Brothers Band suggested by Allison
Long May you Run by Neil Young suggested by Chris
Me and Bobby McGee by Kris Kristofferson suggested by Bob
Subway by Quicksilver Messenger Service suggested byAmanda
Willin' by Little feat suggested by Michael
Big Weekend by Tom Petty suggested by Julia
Ventura Highway by America suggested by Mo Jo
America by Simon & Garfunkel suggested by Frank
Wiser Time by the Black Crows suggested by Chris

When I got there I found out they had substituted some songs, so the final playlist looked different. It was a great time and I really enjoyed it. The DJ was Lauren Marks and she couldn't have been nicer. It was awesome talking to her and sharing some stories. 

While we didn't spend a lot of time talking on the air (who wants to hear us, after all) we did get some info out there on the VWs and the scene and this website.

So, here is the final playlist:

Ramblin Man by Allman Brothers Band

Don't Look Back by Boston - the station added this

Me and Bobby McGee by Janis Joplin (they didn't have the Kris version)Long May you Run by Neil Young 

Life is a Highway by Tom Cochrane - the station added this*

Big Weekend by Tom Petty

Ventura Highway by America

America by Simon & Garfunkel

Ripple by Grateful Dead

Wiser Time by the Black Crows

Thanks for all the great suggestions on the Facebook page!

*Please note that the last song I ever think you should play on a roadtrip is "Life is a Highway" by Tom Cochrane. If you like it, fine. But I dislike this song since my hometown radio station played in once an hour for an entire summer. We jokingly called the station "103.3 - where life is a highway". There are plenty better roadtrip songs. Even listening to Spiro Agnew spout off might be better...