MetaMixTapes: Cats April 5, 2024 9:43 AM   Subscribe

Let's make a mixtape! (I'm never sure how appropriate it is to do something light and fun on MeTa so apologies if there's another corner of the site that I haven't considered that would be better for this.)

Two recent laments/celebrations/shrug-emojis about the death (?) of Pitchfork got me to thinking about the larger web mediasphere of the earlier period of Pitchfork, and how Pitchfork was just one place a music fan would go to before moving on to any number of mp3 blogs and personal review blogs and mommy blogs and . . . sigh, I guess I miss blogs.

Anyway but it got me to thinking about another website of the era whose death I mourned in a truly uncomplicated way, and that's TinyMixTapes. To me, their Mixtapes feature was peak Internet before the Internet became "of things" and was no longer enumerated like software versions and before it royally sucked.

I mean, just look at this fun mix for "Songs to flee the country to," or this one for "Brian Eno Mix Tape (make me love him!)." What a fun website.

So anyway, what I was thinking is I'd pick a random subject and people could submit songs. Maybe the 15 songs with the most favorites make the cut? And then I'll make a Tidal playlist and share it here. (Others could share versions for other platforms, obviously.)

The random subject is: "cats."

My pick is "All Dead, All Dead," by Queen. It wouldn't open any mixtape, as it is about a dead cat, but it is a very sweet song and I would put it elsewhere.
posted by kensington314 to MetaFilter-Related at 9:43 AM (112 comments total) 12 users marked this as a favorite











Jerry Garcia, Cat's Under the Stars
posted by JohnnyGunn at 11:28 AM on April 5 [2 favorites]


Any late-60s/early-70s stuff by Yusuf Islam.
posted by snofoam at 11:30 AM on April 5 [3 favorites]


Kirby - Aesop Rock
posted by pdb at 11:46 AM on April 5 [12 favorites]


Cat's in the Cradle -- Harry Chapin
posted by JanetLand at 1:10 PM on April 5 [4 favorites]


Cat Turned Blue by Rusted Root
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 1:48 PM on April 5 [1 favorite]


Mean Eyed Cat - Johnny Cash
posted by Redstart at 2:03 PM on April 5 [1 favorite]


Oh, what about "Tiger by the Tail" by Buck Owens? Song rules.
posted by kensington314 at 2:06 PM on April 5 [4 favorites]


Elvis Costello's take on Leave My Kitten Alone.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 2:30 PM on April 5 [4 favorites]


For a real throwback, Love Kitten by April Stevens.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 2:31 PM on April 5 [2 favorites]


Why didn't Elvis Costello write Two Little Kitlers?
posted by y2karl at 2:34 PM on April 5 [4 favorites]


"That cat is high
Look at that look in his eye
Oh man, he's high
Yes, higher than a kite"

-'The Ink Spots, That Cat is High
posted by clavdivs at 2:39 PM on April 5 [3 favorites]


Hello Kitty by Cub.

We aren't counting things like my household's catified versions of songs, I take it? We have a great version of PJ Harvey's "All and Everyone" that isn't about death or gunners waiting in the copses, but about kittens playing in some boxes.
posted by Frowner at 2:39 PM on April 5 [2 favorites]


We aren't counting things like my household's catified versions of songs, I take it? We have a great version of PJ Harvey's "All and Everyone" that isn't about death or gunners waiting in the copses, but about kittens playing in some boxes.

Send that right over to MeFi Music!!
posted by kensington314 at 2:47 PM on April 5


Clare Quilty - Cici Ne'st Pas Un Chat It's got a fancy title, but it's in English.

Karma by Taylor Swift
posted by The_Vegetables at 3:33 PM on April 5 [1 favorite]


Some distant relative of mine had a band in his youth/the 90s and I have the album on CD. They have a song called Feed the Cats, it's very good because it features actual cats meowing. The cats are credited by name in the liner notes.
posted by phunniemee at 3:46 PM on April 5 [3 favorites]


Oh good. I have the songs all ripped but sadly I think the original CD and list of credited cats must be at my parents' house. But it means you all get to hear it:

The Source - Feed the Cats

I know it sounds like there's not many cats but I recall there being lots of cats involved, maybe they were producer credits, I can't say. It's been a long time.
posted by phunniemee at 3:54 PM on April 5 [2 favorites]


Cats in the Way - Landis Harry Larry

Kirby is already noted above, but is a must:
Fifteen years taking prescriptions
Now a shrink like, I don't know, maybe get a kitten


More fun, lighthearted Metatalks, please and thank you for your service kensington314.
posted by the primroses were over at 4:17 PM on April 5 [1 favorite]


Buttload of Cats from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

(This is my periodic recommendation that anyone who likes musicals check out Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.)
posted by ActionPopulated at 4:59 PM on April 5 [4 favorites]


Squeeze, "Cool For Cats"
YouTube comment: "I played this for my cat and he did seem cooler afterwards"
posted by kirkaracha at 5:32 PM on April 5 [11 favorites]


Shonen Knife’s Catnip Dream
posted by Paragon at 5:47 PM on April 5 [3 favorites]


What about something by Cat Empire? Maybe The Lost Song -- begins "Oh, I had nine lives but I lost all of them."
posted by eirias at 5:52 PM on April 5


Josie and the Pussycats, "Josie and the Pussycats" (from the movie)
Tom Jones, "What's New Pussycat?"
Granger Smith, "I Happen To Like Cats"
Phoebe Buffay, "Smelly Cat"
The Coasters, "Three Cool Cats"
Al Stewart, "Year of the Cat"
The Presidents of the United States of America, "Kitty"
Four Teens, "Go Little Go Cat"
posted by kirkaracha at 6:01 PM on April 5 [3 favorites]


Oh baby I'm getting no votes for this but besides Al Stewart the other obvious choice here is Black Cat by Gentle Giant.
posted by saladin at 6:03 PM on April 5


Oh God or maybe Cats on Mars by Yoko Kanno from Cowboy Bebop...
posted by saladin at 6:04 PM on April 5


She will never be big by ff00ff
posted by moonmilk at 6:48 PM on April 5


Kittie - Brackish.
posted by signal at 6:58 PM on April 5




Catwalk - Art of Noise
posted by niicholas at 10:33 PM on April 5


All Cats Are Grey by The Cure

(And anything by Elvis since he's known as The Cat King in China)
posted by Rash at 10:54 PM on April 5 [1 favorite]


Plus a Petula Clark song from the beginning of her slide off the charts, in 1967, The Cat in the Window
posted by Rash at 10:58 PM on April 5


Plea from a Cat Named Virtute by The Weakerthans

"I know you're strong"
posted by Hardcore Poser at 11:08 PM on April 5 [12 favorites]


Les Kili-Cats was a fleeting big band in early 1960s France that dressed like cats and had a singer/model (am not sure!) who was always pictured in cat jumpsuits on their record covers. They were an answer band to another band, but that's a longer story. The aesthetic reminds me of the killer cat women in Sarban's Sound of His Horn, but that is another story altogether.

There's a cabaret feel to the music. Here's (arguably) the best track: a cover of You're the Boss by LaVern Baker translated into French as Oui Patron
posted by einekleine at 11:09 PM on April 5


Love cats by the Cure, because of course.
posted by Too-Ticky at 12:53 AM on April 6 [1 favorite]


Mod note: [Oh, meow! This thread has been added to the sidebar and Best Of blog, and has won the award for "Best Scratching Post of the Week!"]
posted by taz (staff) at 4:05 AM on April 6 [10 favorites]


Run The Jewels - Meowpurrdy
posted by juv3nal at 4:11 AM on April 6 [1 favorite]


Morphine - Sheila
posted by otolith at 9:00 AM on April 6 [3 favorites]


Mannie's Smile by Her's, is about the singer Stephen's cat who passed.
posted by lianove3 at 12:17 PM on April 6


Can Your Pussy Do The Dog The Cramps
posted by chococat at 1:23 PM on April 6 [3 favorites]




... And the Mouse Police Never Sleeps by Jethro Tull
posted by thatwhichfalls at 3:10 PM on April 6


Primus - Tommy the Cat
posted by emelenjr at 4:32 PM on April 6 [2 favorites]




Ben Webster -- Kitty
posted by y2karl at 8:01 PM on April 6 [1 favorite]


The Monk and His Cat
posted by amtho at 8:36 PM on April 6


Also I found the iconic picture fka Sex Kitten. Whatever happened to Sex Kitten? It was the bomb of the time -- as the kids of the time used to say -- I found out about it here long long ago and even linked to it in 2016 but the original link is long dead. But surely the OG Sex Kitten should on the album cover of this mixtape for obvious reasons since we still have the picture.

Upon review: D'oh! My 2016 mention had two links -- here is the 2002 post. Note the goatse reference in the original link repeated in that post title. Man, it doesn't get much more back in the day than that unless it's in ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, so to speak.
posted by y2karl at 8:44 PM on April 6 [1 favorite]








“Delilah” by Queen/Freddie Mercury from Innuendo. His ode to his favourite tortie.
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:16 AM on April 7 [1 favorite]


Murder or a Heart Attack by the Old 97's is about trying to find a lost cat.
posted by gingerbeer at 7:21 AM on April 7 [2 favorites]


To piggyback on Hardcore Poser's comment, there are 4 songs by the Weakerthans/John K. Samson about Virtute the Cat. Three are written from the point of view of Virtute, one from her person:

"Plea from a Cat Named Virtute"
"Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure"
"17th Street Treatment Centre"
"Virtute at Rest"

Conveniently, there is a YT playlist that includes all four.
posted by baseballpajamas at 8:40 AM on April 7 [9 favorites]






Shonen Knife’s Catnip Dream

Also, their I Am A Cat
posted by hanov3r at 11:55 AM on April 7 [3 favorites]


Just as long as there is nothing from from.Cats. "Midnight and the kitties are sleeping..." -- give me a break.
posted by y2karl at 12:00 PM on April 7


Deee-Lite - Pussycat Meow
Cy Coleman - Pussycat
Matthew Sweet - The Big Cats of Shambala
Honorable mention due to the chorus: CSNY - Our House
[yes, eponysterical]
posted by jocelmeow at 12:16 PM on April 7 [1 favorite]


Cat People (Putting Out Fire) by David Bowie
posted by chavenet at 2:02 PM on April 7 [2 favorites]


Granddaddy, Where I'm Anymore
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 2:58 PM on April 7


Faster Kill Pussycat by Paul Oakenfold featuring Brittany Murphy
posted by qthrul at 3:16 PM on April 7 [1 favorite]


Just a reminder to smash that favorite button on the songs you like. Most favorited make the final mix.
posted by kensington314 at 3:41 PM on April 7




I will try to come back and post when a good song for the mixtape occurs to me, but for the moment I just wanted to say I love this idea and I love this post and I love all you fabulous MeFites for making this mixtape.

OH! An idea has occurred!

Good Day, by Luce
Got the coffee on and the pancakes done
Cat sleeping outside in the sun

Thank you, kensington314!
posted by kristi at 5:40 PM on April 7


What an excellent idea!
posted by dg at 6:02 PM on April 7


Are songs in other languages okay?

"Nekomimi Switch" by daniwellP feat. Hatsune Miku (translated lyrics)
posted by May Kasahara at 6:16 PM on April 7


Songs in any language and from any country encouraged.
posted by kensington314 at 6:18 PM on April 7


"Facts About Cats," Timbuk 3
posted by dlugoczaj at 6:39 PM on April 7 [2 favorites]


Jorge Ben - Menina Gata Augusta
(Here's a translation. Augusta is a street in São Paulo that was a hangout spot for the hip teen crowd in the early 60s.)

James Knight And The Butlers - Funky Cat
Carl Perkins - Put Your Cat Clothes On
The Wedding Present - Catwoman
The Kinks - Phenomenal Cat
Dirt Dress - Stray Cats
Adrian Belew - Big Electric Cat
Daniel Santos - Bigote De Gato (Cat Mustache)
posted by hydrophonic at 9:28 PM on April 7


The Jazz Butcher - Love Kittens
posted by xil at 10:18 PM on April 7


Ladytron - Black Cat
posted by Pronoiac at 10:51 PM on April 7


Old 97s -Murder or a Heart Attack is about a lost cat, though it's not specified in the song.

Some Velvet Sidewalk - Mousetrap
posted by The_Vegetables at 8:38 AM on April 8


How about marching music performed by adorable (animated) cats? Here is mitchiri Neko.
posted by jolenex4 at 12:06 PM on April 8




Just a second reminder to smash that favorite button on the songs you like. Songs with the most favorites will make the final mix.
posted by kensington314 at 2:56 PM on April 8


You could extend the list to include big cats, if you need even more songs than this. Or symbolic cats?
Symbolic big cats: The Lion sleeps tonight?
posted by Coaticass at 3:26 PM on April 8


Pictures of Cats by Jonathan Coulton.
posted by jzb at 9:30 AM on April 9 [1 favorite]


Previously
posted by meemzi at 12:37 PM on April 9


Sorry You Died.
Yes, self-linky song about our cat dying but also
……………..👇
posted by chococat at 1:34 PM on April 9 [6 favorites]


chococat, I really like this song! A message to MeFites, listen to chococat's song about the cat dying.
posted by kensington314 at 12:29 AM on April 10 [1 favorite]


Cat Party by Koo Koo. This song is dumb and meant for kids but it’s still been stuck in my head for years.
posted by caution live frogs at 5:31 AM on April 10


A Fan's Mail by Thundercat
posted by supermedusa at 10:52 AM on April 10


One mustn't forget El Gato Volador
posted by cortex (retired) at 2:58 PM on April 10


A message to MeFites, listen to chococat's song about the cat dying.

Counterpoint: Don't listen to chococat's song at work when you can't immediately run home and cuddle your own cats.
posted by Sparx at 2:29 PM on April 11 [1 favorite]


0h, and throw Feeling Good by Sofi Tukker from the Birds of Prey soundtrack into the mix
posted by Sparx at 2:31 PM on April 11


Okay folks, I have made the final thing! I added every song that got at least three votes (9), and then had three instances of the Mixer's Privilege:

(1) I added "Walkin' My Cat Named Dog" by Norma Tanega because the song compels it.

(2) I added "Giant Kitty" by Shonen Knife because they rule and neither SK song suggested her is actually on Tidal (a tragedy of streaming).

(3) I added John K. Samson's entire Virtute cycle, because in the old days of mixtapes and mix CDs, I always loved a framing device. (Thanks, baseballpajamas, for pointing out "17th Street Treatment Centre--I didn't know about that one previously.)

I couldn't add all of the two-vote ones or any of the multi-song recommendations--you have to draw a line somewhere and I drew it at three votes. I am sad that I couldn't include the Ink Spots, but we can all agree that a fourth use of the Mixer's Privilege would kinda wreck things, no?

MetaMixTapes: Cats (singing the song that you found for me)
1. The Weakerthans, "A Plea from a Cat Named Virtute"
2. Shonen Knife, "Giant Kitty"
3. Stray Cats, "Stray Cat Strut" (5)
4. Morphine, "Sheila" (3)
5. The Weakerthans, "Virtute the Cat Explains Her Departure"
6. John K. Samson, "17th Street Treatment Centre"
7. Harry Chapin, "Cat's in the Cradle" (3)
8. Norma Tanega, "Walkin' My Cat Named Dog"
9. Aesop Rock, "Kirby" (7)
10. Presidents of the United States of America, "Kitty" (3)
11. The Cramps, "Can Your Pussy do the Dog" (3)
12. Squeeze, "Cool for Cats" (7)
13. The Cure, "Lovecats" (7)
14. John K. Samson, "Virtute at Rest"

Here is the Tidal playlist (sorry, I follow Joni where she goes). If others would like to share via other platforms this would be very much encouraged and even appreciated.
posted by kensington314 at 3:36 PM on April 11 [7 favorites]


Spotify playlist.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:52 PM on April 11 [3 favorites]


Our House Crosby Stills Nash and Young
posted by coevals at 4:55 PM on April 11




Elvis Costello - Pads, Paws, and Claws?
posted by adekllny at 8:35 PM on April 12


FWIW the bestest of all ... from Cab of course: We The Cats Shall Hep Ya

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loJ1WzC_Rog
posted by Droll Lord at 11:36 PM on April 12


(Droll Lord: Reminder that urls aren’t automatically turned into links, but can easily be made linkable (thus contributing to site accessibility) by using the “link” button in the quick-access edit buttons immediately below the comment input window. (The link button is the one on the far right of the row of buttons just under the comment box.) Linking urls properly ourselves saves mod time for actual site moderation, too!)


Los Straightjackets - Kitty Kat
posted by eviemath at 6:04 AM on April 13


Thanx -- just testing it out
posted by Droll Lord at 6:14 PM on April 13 [1 favorite]


ok got it, thanx again
posted by Droll Lord at 6:15 PM on April 13 [1 favorite]


Aside: in terms of blogs doing great playlists/mixtapes I am currently a big fan of headphonecommute
posted by zenon at 5:52 AM on April 16 [1 favorite]


I mean, Felix da Housecat and Miss Kittin's collaborations kind of have to be there, don't they? especially those from the former's album Kittenz and Thee Glitz?
posted by senor biggles at 6:55 PM on April 16


This 1931 classic by Harry Roy, with an NSFW title. You have been warned. 1931 was randy!
posted by not_on_display at 11:41 PM on April 17




The Monk and His Cat - Samuel Barber, can be performed by tenor or mezzo-soprano.
posted by amtho at 7:35 AM on April 19








Sniff. When I did this, I didn’t get a best of or sidebar treatment!
posted by kitten kaboodle at 3:33 PM on April 27 [2 favorites]


Could be any song by Meow Meow (and Thomas Lauderdale), but this is my favorite, Mausi.
posted by hydra77 at 12:29 PM on April 29


The Cat Carol
posted by fourpotatoes at 6:50 PM on April 29


I was reading about the von Trapp family yesterday, and saw that descendants of the family were still in the singing business until recently, as the Von Trapps. They made an album of songs with Pink Martini, including a cover of Kuroneko no tango (e. Black Cat Tango). Before that they joined Pink Martini and Rufus Wainwright on a cover of Kate and Anna McGarrigle’s Kitty Come Home.
posted by Kattullus at 4:06 AM on April 30


Apple Music playlist
posted by m@f at 6:08 PM on April 30


Whoops, second to make that one. Big thread!
posted by m@f at 7:48 PM on April 30 [1 favorite]


This is actually Far North New Zealand.

Australia has no kiwi birds outside of zoos.


D'oh!
posted by y2karl at 8:26 AM on May 2


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