Grave Songs : Mark Hutchinson


The scenario: Today's the day you are going to die. You walk into a saloon that contains a jukebox with every song known to man. What would you want to hear on your last day? In no particular order, here are my Grave Songs.

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01. Nirvana - "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
The timing of this song could not have fit more perfectly in my life. The single was released September 10th, 1991 - just a few days into my freshman year of high school. Gone were the days of Warrant's "Heaven" or Skid Row's "I Remember You" as anthems for teenage love and the verses of adolescent life. To the masses, Nirvana came out of nowhere. But the spirit, and the angst, was a build-up of our generation's frustrations with our parents, our MTV, and our world as a whole. We knew: this was just the beginning.

02. Smashing Pumpkins - "Bullet With Butterfly Wings"
By the time the high school years were over, Cobain was dead, the industry had taken everything it could out of the grunge bands, and The Smashing Pumpkins put together two discs full of what may still be one of the greatest albums of the 90s. Billy Corgan found a way to have people of all faiths to curse and praise him in the same sentence. It's a gift few have been given, and few use. However, with this track, I remember hearing others question whether he was bashing Kurt Cobain or the music industry. There were other interpretations not worthy of mentioning now; but nonetheless, when the Pumpkins came on the radio or performed on television, everyone listened and watched intently.

03. John Lennon - "Imagine"
I probably first heard this song the night John Lennon was shot. However, being just a few months shy of the age of 4, I would gather that the memory is deep within my subconscious and has yet to resurface. The reason I am certain of this is my mother's great love of The Beatles, and John Lennon specifically. All that said, my first true recollection of hearing this song - and by hearing, I mean truly listening - would have been at some point in the early Belmont years. Grunge was long gone, and music in general had gone to near complete shit. It may have been the best thing, for us, though. Now, our generation was forced to look back, to listen, and to find some of the truths those before us presented to the world. Lennon's "Imagine," albeit sweet at times, has the spirit of truth no other song has been able to touch before or since.

04. Radiohead - "Paranoid Android"
Making a mix like this can be quite unfair, especially to bands like Radiohead. On an earlier draft, I had included "High and Dry" as Radiohead's entry into my mix. Listening to the mix a few times, I knew the song didn't quite fit; it didn't quite represent, either, what I was hoping to illustrate to my audience. "Paranoid Android," on the other hand, is that song I come back to over and over throughout the past decade. I remember listening to OK Computer over and over in 1997, and especially "Paranoid Android". Repeat the song too much and you'll soon see how two hours of your life has passed by in no time. As a music student, at the time, I would listen to this song over and over. Structure, time signature, lyrics, instrumentation, did someone just say "I may be paranoid but not an android"??? The analysis continues even today.

05. Faces - "Stay With Me"
I can't take too much credit for my knowledge of The Faces (or just Faces). The summer before I moved to Los Angeles, I spent most of my time in school, work, and drinking all hours of the night with a select group of friends. One of those friends included the now ex-husband of Allison Moorer. We were completely out of our minds after drinking a keg's worth of alcohol, and had smoked an ungodly amount of weed. Next thing I know, I'm getting a lesson from Butch on the last true Rock 'n Roll band: Ronnie Lane, Ian McLagan, Ron Wood, Kenny Jones, and Rod Stewart - The Faces... or as Butch said, "IT'S THE GODDAMN FACES, MARK!!!" Sadly, The Faces (and it's predecessor Small Faces) only put out a few albums of such classic, and unforgettable songs. "Stay With Me" is one of those songs that, musically, just gets my blood pumping and reminds me that at any given moment, another great song and moment is just around the corner.

06. Jeff Buckley - "Hallelujah"
You know a song is great when another artist arranges and performs it better than the original. No human being is perfect, but there are some songs that are simply perfect. And chapters, even books, could be written about this song and about Jeff Buckley. But those words cannot touch the feelings conjured when the doors are locked, the lights turned off, and this epic track from "Grace" is played softly. Light a candle, and see if you know what I'm talking about here.

07. U2 - "All I Want Is You"
When a band has 30 years of music to choose from, one may find it difficult to select just one song as the band's greatest hit. For me, it wasn't about simply selecting the greatest hit. It was about the one song that can bring both tears of joy and sadness, can remind me of great people in my life, can make me sing a half-step below Bono and not give a shit how awful I sound. The Edge's guitar screams, and Larry Mullen's drumming causes my heart to a rate of 185. What more can I ask for out of a song?

08. The Beach Boys - "God Only Knows"
Just recently I sat with a new friend and an old friend listening to the vocal tracks of this epic album. The intricate details Brian Wilson demanded are in a word, scary. The few recording sessions I was a part of back in the day at Belmont obviously was nothing like the "Pet Sounds" sessions; however, to know that in one song, Brian had 72 tracks of his voice before even laying down the instruments seems unfathomable, but true. This song in particular may have only used 30+ tracks for vocals, but dammit I like it.

09. The Verve - "Lucky Man"
I remember the first time I saw the video for "Bittersweet Symphony" and thought that music was about to change again - and that Richard Ashcroft was an ugly son-of-a-bitch. However, lyrically and musically it is this song from "Urban Hymns" that sticks out to me. Include some great experiences at the Sherlock Holmes in Nashville (now closed, sadly), with the bartender raising a glass your direction and you've got a song that may get played in your funeral.

10. Neil Diamond - "Sweet Caroline"
Yet another artist I know I am being incredibly unfair to in this mix. Not many people know this, but during my 40-day sobriety earlier this year, I came to one realization: That Neil Diamond is Jesus Christ. Let me explain. By using analogical reasoning, I came to understand through previous knowledge that Neil Diamond is considered the Elvis Presley of the Jews; and Elvis Presley to this day is still known as the King of Rock n Roll; and Jesus Christ was King of the Jews; therefore, Neil Diamond is Jesus Christ. All that said, sure, tell me how safe I was in selecting "Sweet Caroline." Don't think I did not consider "Cracklin' Rosie" or "And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind." I felt it important to have a standard here, if you will.

11. Hank Williams - "Lost Highway"
Sure, follow one standard with another - why wouldn't I? I started getting into Hank, Sr., shortly after turning 21. By the masses, his songs are considered country. And though it does not follow the design, I would argue that he's singing the gospel at all times... yes, including "Cold Cold Heart" and all his songs about whiskey and getting his bitch in the kitchen... but I digress. I find it hard to make such a mix without hearing Hank sing "Lost Highway."

12. Santo & Johnny - "Sleep Walk"
You're Welcome.

13. Ben Folds - "The Luckiest"
How can Ben record so many songs with a piano and his voice and yet it is this song that is one of the most beautiful songs I have ever listened to in my entire life. If you want my full thoughts on this song, e-mail.. otherwise, I'm gonna shut up so you can listen and take it all in.

14. Catherine Wheel - "Future Boy"
Just added in the late stages of producing this mix, how can I forget the Catherine Wheel? First off, a freaking seriously great name for a Rock band. Rob Dickinson lives in LA now, and is writing decent stuff. But, it was this album at the cusp of the 21st Century that Brian McSweeney would play hours on end for me and a few of our close friends. I seem to have a different "favorite" CW song every week, but this song is kinda like my first love; I'll never forget her, and I'll always love her, too.

15. Oasis - "Wonderwall"
Call me safe. Call me a Brit-lover. Call me what you may. Yes, I see the effect the English (and Irish) have on me. Just imagine being in Ireland, having a couple guys from Dublin buying every drink for you telling you you're fooking epic, and singing every word of this song at the top of your lungs while you're arm in arm with the entire pub. Now. This is a great fucking song.

16. The Flaming Lips - "Do You Realize"
Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots could be the entire mix. I think since the day of my birth maybe two other albums could be viewed the same. Each and every song is a masterpiece. Here's the Mona Lisa.

17. Johnny Cash - "We'll Meet Again"
Originally set aside for "Ring of Fire," I listened to every Cash song I had the last few days. This one really stood out. It always does. It is one that must be played the day those I love say good-bye to me wherever and whenever that may be.

18. Elvis Presley- "How Great Thou Art"
I've done my best to make an official mix for each season the last few years. Originally, I always wanted to end with a Gospel song. I was able to do that almost every mix up to this point. I had to ensure that this, my Best Of... would do likewise. The tough pick now is which one. What better song than the King of Rock give it up to the King of Kings. This hymn was sung at my dad's funeral and it truly made a lasting impression (not the Elvis version, however). I can see the file video in my mind: Elvis in his white jumpsuit, half unzipped, huge gold and diamond rings, perfect hair, and a genuine soul singing what was to be one of his last live performances.
©® 2006 - All copyrights belong to their respective writers / publishers / etc. Used without permission. (but I encourage you to BUY anything you like) - Artists, if you want your song removed I would be happy to contact me at markandrewhutchinson at gmail dot com. I am not doing this in an encouragement to not buy your music, this is a celebration of your music and a small sampling to show people what they need to buy.