The Byrdland Vintage Playlist

We asked Byrdland co-owner Joe Lapan to create a vintage playlist of his favorite retro songs across genres. Check out what made the list below and download the Spotify playlist here.

1. “Stage Fright – Live at the Academy of Music /1971” by The Band
Capturing a classic rock/jam band at an important live performance is definitely of some vintage significance.

2. “Sho Nuff” by Leon Bridges
One of our current throwback soul superstars who authentically channels the vintage vibes.

3. “Chan Chan” by Buena Vista Social Club
There’s something severely nostalgic, timeless and enchanting about classic Cuban sounds.

4. “Suzie Q” by Creedence Clearwater Revival
CCR’s version of the rockabilly standard that oozes vintage.

5. “Bodhisattva” by Steely Dan
I’m a Steely Dan “Stan” in no small part to what their musicality and innovation provided to the hip-hop canvas.

6. “Nasty Gal” by Betty Davis
R&B and funk pioneer that we lost this year but who is credited with paving the way for generations of female artists to get funky.

7. “Pretty Girl” by Bo Diddley
A guitar blues-rock legend who many people don’t know spent a lot of time in D.C. in the 1950s and 1960s.

8. “L.A. Woman” by The Doors
Final album with Jim Morrison, who spent formative years in Fairfax, Virginia.

9. “Heartache Tonight” by the Eagles
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, the Eagles are a country-blues-rock-pop sensation that was definitely in my parents’ collection.

10. “I Wish It Would Rain” by Aretha Franklin
The Queen of Soul covers The Temptations, enough said.

11. “Pelota (Cut a Rug Mix)” by Khruangbin
Khruangbin might be the most timeless artist we have right now, simultaneously retro and futuristic.

12. “I’m Free (Heaven Helps The Man)” by Kenny Loggins
Anything from the Footloose soundtrack evokes big-time nostalgia from most music lovers of my age.

13. “Good Feeling” by Jackie Mittoo
Early reggae/ska sounds are just so transcendent of any time period or mood.

14. “Sun is Shining (Over You)” by Lee “Scratch” Perry
We lost Lee Perry this year and his music deserves a spot on almost any playlist.

15. “All Night Long (All night)” by Lionel Ritchie
An album that gives me nostalgia for the record collection my parents had and one I bet everyone else’s parents had, too.

16. “Under My Thumb” by The Rolling Stones
Classic early Stones.

17. “Footprints” by Lonnie Liston Smith & The COSMIC ECHOES
A soul-jazz pioneer with ties to the D.C. area as well; along with Roy Ayers and others, Smith provided a rich trove for hip-hop sampling.

18. “Searching” by Pete Rock & CL Smooth
I’m terribly nostalgic for 1990s “Golden Era” hip-hop and especially the artists and songs that draw from the Roy Ayers catalog of samples.

19. “Meet Me at the Go-Go” by Hot, Cold Sweat
In D.C., it’s impossible to talk about important music or vinyl records without a classic go-go track.

20. “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by The Who
Tapping directly into the vintage nostalgia of the “Almost Famous” era.

21. “Castles in the Sand” by Stevie Wonder
Young Stevie, the ultimate surf/soul nostalgia blend.

22. “For Once in My Life” by Stevie Wonder
Stevie is the only artist who deserved two songs on this list.

23. “Dollar Bill Blues” by Townes Van Zandt
TVZ’s catalog has been mined heavily in providing rugged vibes to some of the best movies and TV shows of our lifetime.

Read our full coverage of Byrdland Records here. 

Byrdland Records: 1264 5th St. NE, DC; byrdlandrecords.com // @byrdlandrecords

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Trent Johnson