Ok, while I’ll admit that there aren’t any “Casey Kasem Long Distant Dedication,” mushy songs on this playlist, there are some mellow and perhaps melancholy tracks… but then when it comes to “affairs of the heart,” melancholy was kinda my thing for a long time… Have no fear, there’s no Bette Midler on this thing. This playlist is chock full of Tom Petty, Springsteen, Jackson Browne and the Stones but that doesn’t mean it’s slamming rock n’ roll for the duration. The heart can be an up and down thing… and so is the tempo of this playlist.

That said, most long time readers know we love our “themed-playlists” here at B&V. A few years back, I did a playlist for Valentine’s Day that was, well… kind of negative. I always looked at Valentine’s Day as a useless, Hallmark holiday. It was more the mile marker that let me know I was half way through the worst of winter than some romance fueled evening. I once heard a DJ on the local heavy metal/hard rock station do an “Anti-Valentine’s” night… so that’s what I based my playlist, “Anti Valentine’s Day” on. Same theme, just different songs. I dedicated that playlist to the broken-hearted. But like Sting, who felt he had to do an antidote for “Every Breath You Take,” (which was not a love song) and wrote “If You Love Someone Set Them Free,” I felt I needed to put together something more positive for Valentine’s Day. The Rock Chick changed this holiday for me in a very positive way – we don’t do dinner or gifts, we always do fondue with our daughter or friends and make it a communal, social thing – so a better take on the playlist for V-Day felt appropriate. Most of us evolve…even me.

I do think it’s fitting to mention that Valentine’s Day got its start with St. Valentine, who appropriately was a martyr. And who hasn’t been a martyr for love, baby. Before the Rock Chick my memories of Valentine’s Day are mostly cringe-worthy. I remember in grade school, our teacher would make us all make a large, highly decorated envelope to tape to the side of our desks and everybody had to bring Valentines for every member of the class. I’m not sure if they still do that but I remember hating the whole Valentine delivery process…wandering through the maze of desks stuffing tiny Valentines in wildly decorated envelopes…at that age I just wanted to be invisible and the whole thing made me feel vulnerable. Years later, my college roommate and I got drunk one Saturday afternoon and bought a box of kiddy Valentine’s at Walmart and mailed them to everyone we knew… I still don’t know why that happened…acting out our childhood, grade school trauma perhaps? Rum is the Devil’s cocktail.

While for years I saw this as a Hallmark holiday with awkward forced sentiment, as mentioned, the Rock Chick changed that for me. When we started doing “fondue night” instead of getting all dolled up and going to an expensive dinner surrounded by other couples, it made me realize that at it’s heart Valentine’s Day is just about connection. Sharing a meal or a phone call with someone you care about. Yeah, I still get a card for my wife, but I focus the sentimental stuff more around our anniversary. So if you’re with someone or not this year, to feel more connection, I’ve put together some rock n roll to get you a little further on in your journey. Consider this my Valentine, stuffed hastily in the envelope taped to the front of your desk… These aren’t exactly all love songs… I have to admit I was always a thief in the house of love… but they’re about the beating heart in each of us.

Of course the heart isn’t all about rose petals and rainbows. The heart is a complicated thing. Take it from me, who was out in the wilderness for a long time, the heart truly is a lonely hunter. If this music is to be believed, the heart can be made of glass, stone or gold. Neil Young is still searching for a “Heart Of Gold.” The heart can be fickle or steadfast. The heart can be full or empty. A heart can be stolen or given freely. A heart can be cold, cold, cold or beating rapidly… Sadly, there are a lot of broken hearts in the world, for a myriad of reasons. As a veteran of many broken hearts, I feel for you. I still think people are basically good… I can honestly say I only really dated one heartless sociopath. If you’re in love and happy – good for you, I’m with ya. If you’re not, hang in there… I’m proof that good things come to those who wait. I think at the end of the day, the most loving thing you can do is to forgive. Forgiveness is the greatest sign of love, at least to me. And yes, because I’m becoming my parents I still order my coffee “black, like my heart” to the embarrassment of all around me.

So, with the heart being that complicated, so too is my playlist today. There’s harder rock all the way down to some sad balladry… I’ve always been a sucker for a sad Tom Waits song. I’m all over the place stylistically but thematically I think I hung together pretty well. I also threw in Springsteen’s “Valentine’s Day” at the end as it seemed fitting to cap the thing off on this particular holiday. Play it straight through or on shuffle, however you like. If you hit a track you don’t like, skip it. If you have suggestions on additional tracks, drop it in the comments and I’ll add it if it fits.

With all of that in mind, I guess you could say that with this new playlist I’m coming to you with my heart in my hand… or perhaps more accurately, my hearts in my hand…or in my ears. Enjoy…

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2I9kAM1w74Ug6TF9fDCz3u?si=a17d04780d6e4555

1. U2, “Two Hearts Beat As One” – It certainly feels this way when you first meet somebody…
2. Bruce Springsteen, “Two Hearts” – Is The River not just a perfect double album?
3. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, “Listen To Her Heart” – Classic tale where a rich dude with blow tries to steal the pretty girl….”You think you’re gonna take her away, with your money and your cocaine.” To no avail apparently.
4. Rush, “Closer To The Heart” – Put your heart into whatever you do…
5. Nirvana, “Heart Shaped Box” – I’ve never been a huge fan of the giant box of chocolates but I love this song.
6. Lenny Kravitz, “Is There Any Love In Your Heart?” – Lenny, asking the question we’ve all asked of someone at least once.
7. Big Brother & The Holding Company (featuring Janis Joplin), “Piece of My Heart” – Janis wailing on a song written by Kris Krisofferson. What’s not to love?
8. Jackson Browne, “Shape Of A Heart” – “People speak of love, don’t know what they’re thinkin’ of,” indeed.
9. Lyle Lovett, “Give Back My Heart” – Oh, this puts a smile on my face. “And I said ooh give back my heart chip kicker-redneck woman…'” Who has Lyle been dating?
10. The Rolling Stones, “Stealing My Heart” – Another thief in the house of love story.
11. Blondie, “Heart Of Glass” – Boxers have a glass jaw… I always had a glass heart. One punch and I’m on the canvass, baby.
12. Sting, “Fortress Around Your Heart” – I love the imagery of the woman ensconced in a fortress built by her lover who is returning to make the peace.
13. Bruce Springsteen, “Cross My Heart” – Cross my heart, hope to die, stick a needle in my eye. The unbreakable vow?
14. Norah Jones, “My Heart Is Full” – Trippy surreal track from Begin Again.
15. Warren Zevon, “Searching For A Heart” – Zevon wrote so many great songs. What a lyric, “They say love conquers all, You can’t start it like a car, You can’t stop it with a gun.” #Truth.
16. Otis Redding, “Pain In My Heart” – Otis is feeling it on this track. I guess we all have. Like the man said, “Oh to be young and feel love’s keen sting…”
17. Johnny Cash, “Heart Of Gold” – Obviously Neil Young’s version of this song is not available on the evil Spotify, but Johnny Cash – backed by 3/4 of the Chili Peppers (Flea, Chad Smith & John Frusciante) does a mind blowing version here. Nice guitar work by Frusciante.
18. Marvin Gaye, “Take This Heart Of Mine” – Did anybody groove like Marvin?
19. Elvis Presley, “I’ll Hold You In My Heart (Till I Can Hold You In My Arms)” – The King out spreading the love.
20. Jackson Browne, “Love Needs A Heart” – Great song from Running On Empty.
21. Don Henley, “The Heart Of The Matter” – In the end, it really just boils down to forgiveness. Henley’s most thoughtful tune. This track is the antidote.
22. Tom Petty, “A Mind With A Heart Of It’s Own” – This could almost be considered autobiographical for some of us. I miss Tom Petty.
23. The Rolling Stones, “Heart Of Stone” – Early, classic Stones.
24. Norah Jones, “Cold Cold Heart” – So many cold hearted people out there… Norah could sing the phone book and I’d listen.
25. Ray Charles, “Unchain My Heart” – My favorite Ray Charles tune… Ably done by Joe Cocker as well. “Unchain my heart, cause you don’t love me no more…” Oh my, this brings back memories.
26. Rod Stewart/Ronald Isley, “This Old Heart Of Mine” – I love that Rod brought in Ronald Isley who did the track originally with the Isley Brothers for this version. I also love the opening line, “This ol’ heart of mine, been broke a thousand times…”
27. Bruce Springsteen, “Hungry Heart” – Bruce wrote this and originally gave it to the Ramones. His manager pulled it back realizing it was a hit. But I’m still left wondering… what would a Ramones’ version have sounded like?
28. Aerosmith, “Heart’s Done Time” – Great deep track from Aerosmith on the comeback LP Permanent Vacation.
29. Scorpions, “Shoot For Your Heart” – Picking up the pace with this great rocker from the LP Rock Believer. Oh yes, Klaus, I believe in rock.
30. AC/DC, “Rock Your Heart Out” – Wherever you are, whoever you’re with, whatever you’re doing this V-Day, I hope you do rock your little heart out… I recommend trying the bourbon.
31. Heart, “Heartless” – Like I said, years and years of dating and only one heartless, bad apple in the bunch…
32. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, “Change Of Heart” – One of my all time favorite Petty tunes. “You push just a little too far, You make it just a little too hard, There’s been a change of heart.”
33. Bruce Springsteen, “Janey Don’t You Lose Heart” – I need to do a playlist of only songs about this Jane person…”Sweet Jane,” or “Queen Jane Approximately,”… “No no no no…”
34. Warren Zevon, “Keep Me In Your Heart” – This track can bring tears to your eyes… Warren asking from beyond the grave, to stay in his lover’s heart. Play this one at my funeral.
35. Sting, “Shape Of My Heart” – I don’t know where the red, cleavage at the top/point at the bottom heart we see on playing cards and Valentines came from but I’m like Sting… “that’s not the shape of my heart.”
36. Beck, “Heart Is A Drum” – I’m really into Beck’s acoustic side these days. “Thinking About You” was an amazing song as is this one.
37. Bob Dylan, “Tight Connection To My Heart” – Great lyrics, as you’d expect from Dylan, “My hands are sweating and we haven’t even started yet.” Or even better, “Someday I’ll remember to forget.”
38. Eric Clapton, “I’ve Got A Rock ‘n’ Roll Heart” – I certainly do have a rock n roll heart… I’m glad I married a woman who does too.
39. INXS with Chrissie Hynde, “Full Moon, Dirty Hearts” – I don’t know why this song wasn’t bigger. INXS, with Hutchence singing a duet with Hynde. Sign me up. This song could be used to sum up the second half of the 90s… me and my late friend out till the wee small hours, howling at the full moon.
40. The Runaways, “Heart Beat” – I’ve described these guys as a guilty pleasure, but the more I listen to them, the less guilty I feel.
41. Yes, “Owner Of A Lonely Heart” -From the great 90125, and an apt description of the 80s.
42. The Black Crowes, “Kickin’ My Heart Around” – A great, meet-me-at-the-finish-line track.
43. Def Leppard, “Bringin’ On The Heartbreak” – Perhaps my favorite Def Leppard track… from before Mutt Lange polished the shit out of their music.
44. Stevie Nicks/Tom Petty, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” – Perhaps the greatest duet ever recorded? We love Stevie Nicks around here.
45. The Yardbirds, “Heart Full Of Soul” – With the incomparable Jeff Beck on lead guitar.
46. Paul Simon, “Hearts And Bones” – At the end of the day, we’re all just hearts and bones.
47. Jack Johnson, “You And Your Heart” – I don’t put Jack on many playlists, but I’ve always dug this tune.
48. Fleetwood Mac, “Steal Your Heart Away” – From Say You Will, the Mac LP they did without Christine McVie… Think of it as Buckingham-Nicks 2.0. I like this Lindsey track.
49. The Rolling Stones, “Living In The Heart Of Love” – Outtake from Tattoo You.
50. Social Distortion, “A Place In My Heart” – Even though certain people didn’t fit into my life or I into theirs, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a place in my heart for them. Maybe I’m just gettin’ soft.
51. Motley Crue, “Kickstart My Heart” – Written by Nikki Sixx when they literally had to bring him back from the dead and restart his heart. It may not exactly fit, but who hasn’t felt like their heart has stopped beating from time to time.
52. John Mellencamp, “Thundering Hearts” – This takes me back to high school, drinking beer after school. Probably the first Mellencamp song I really liked.
53. Iggy Pop, “Break Into Your Heart” – From the great Post Pop Depression, backed by Josh Homme of the Queens of the Stone Age. I never really felt like I was invited into anybody’s heart… so why not break in?
54. Depeche Mode, “Poison Heart” – From the fabulous Spirit, a late career gem from Depeche.
55. Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes, “Hearts Of Stone” – Written by Springsteen but I love this version of the song, the first one released.
56. Big Head Todd & the Monsters, “Broken Hearted Savoir” – That’s the dream for so many people, that despite their broken heart they’re gonna “save” somebody. Stop telling yourself fairy tales people.
57. Chris Cornell, “Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart” – From the sensational Higher Truth.
58. Keith Richards, “Heartstopper” – From Crosseyed Heart, which sort of hits at the theme of today’s playlist.
59. The Rolling Stones, “Hearts For Sale” – “and they’re going cheap…”
60. Fleetwood Mac, “Affairs Of The Heart” – Great, lost Stevie Nicks song from the album Behind The Mask, which featured her and Christine McVie, but no Lindsey. Don’t let anybody tell you it’s better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. People who say that have never loved and lost.
61. The Kinks, “Heart Of Gold” – Not to be confused with the Neil Young-written track above. A jaunty little tune from the Kinks. The Kinks have a song for every playlist!
62. Pete Townshend, “Let My Love Open The Door” – One of my favs from Pete.
63. Sting, “Be Still My Beating Heart” – I always told myself this when walking into a first date. I do not miss going on first dates.
64. Lou Reed, “Legendary Hearts” – When discussing a weighty topic like the heart, we had to hear from Lou Reed.
65. Eagles, “Heartache Tonight” – A song about heartache but Glenn Frey sings it so cheerfully, like he’s looking forward to the impending heartache. It’s cognitive dissonance summed up in a 4 minute song.
66. Stevie Nicks, “Wild Heart” – From her great, second solo LP.
67. R.E.M., “Oh My Heart” – From R.E.M.’s last studio LP… those last 2 LPs were fabulous.
68. Tom Waits, “Bad Liver And A Broken Heart” – Oh, now we’re getting to the heart of the matter. “I don’t have a drinking problem, except when I can’t get a drink.” A truly B&V track if there ever was one.
69. Bruce Springsteen, “Valentine’s Day” – Capping it off with a song for the actual holiday. “I’m driving a big lazy car, rushin’ up the highway in the dark, I got one hand steady on the wheel and one hand’s tremblin’ over my heart.” That sums up a lot of my youth… driving down the road headed… somewhere?

Happy Valentine’s Day to everybody out there who celebrates. Remember, while St. Valentine was a martyr, you don’t have to be. Connection can be had in many other ways than just romance. Grab a friend, get a drink, forget about that ex. Pour something strong and put this music on.

Cheers!