The Flim-Flam Tape

I was talking with a couple of my buddies a few weeks ago, and we were talking about the Grateful Dead. I made the statement(I make a lot of statements) that you could get all you need out of them on one Greatest Hits-type tape. My buddy Manny expressed his shock and awe as he questioned my ability to reduce decades of work onto one tape. (Yeah, I know everything goes on cd’s or mp3 players or phones and such, but I still call it a tape! When I was growing up, we made TAPES!) He called me a “Flim-Flam man” for thinking I could pull off such a stunt! (All in our trademark sarcasm, of course) I embrace this term. From this point on, if there is a group whose, best efforts can be burned onto 1 cd, it will heretofore be called a “Flim-Flam Tape”.

For example, a typical conversation may go like this…

Bill:
Hey, OKen, are you a fan of Steely Dan?

OKen:
A tiny bit, they have a few good songs

Bill:
I am unfamiliar with them. What ever am I to do?

OKen:
No problem, I’ll make you a Flim-Flam Tape of Steely Dan (It will consist of 4 songs, Reelin’ in the Years, Dirty Work, Peg, and Rikki Don’t Lose That Number)

Rules on the Flim-Flam Tape:
1. It can be 1 or 2 cd’s but if it goes to 2, you must fill them both
2. You cannot include solo work by an artist in the band. He/she must have their own Flim-Flam tape
3. You must write in marker the name of the band on the CD and include a song list inside the sleeve. Commentary optional!

Flim-Flam Tape FAQ
1. Does the Flim-Flam tape have to have the hits?
A: It depends on the person you are giving it to. If it is a casual Deep Purple fan who has a greatest hit lp , then you make a Deep Track Flim-Flam Tape. I personally like to mix both in.

2. What if there are only a handful of songs worth it?
A: It is acceptable for a 1 cd Flim-Flam Tape to not take the whole length

3. Are there any bands that are impossible to Flim-Flam?
A: Yes. The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Kinks, Thin Lizzy (Do not question! I will have a whole separate blog about that) Black Sabbath, The Spice Girls (just wanted to see if you were paying attention…although “Wannabe” is a secret jam!)

4. Do the dongs have to be in chronological order?
A: No, but it’s professional if you do!

5. How dare you!
A: Dude, I’m just trying to help! Maybe you don’t want to buy all of Spirit’s albums! (although that would be a mistake!)

OK…here is the first Flim-Flam Tape…The Cult!!!!

1. Nirvana
2. Big Neon Glitter
3. Rain
4. She Sells Sanctuary
The above from the lp: Love
5. Wild Flower
6. Peace Dog
7. Lil’ Devil
8. Love Removal Machine
The above from the lp: Electric
9. Sun King
10. Fire Woman
11. Edie (Ciao Baby)
12. Sweet Soul Sister
The above from the lp: Sonic Temple
13. Wild Hearted Son
14. Full Tilt
The above from the lp: Ceremony
15. The Saint
16. Take the Power
The above from the lp: Beyond Good and Evil
17. Dirty Little Rockstar
The above from the lp: Born Into This