Back in the day, before domestic bliss set in, my wife and I used to throw a Valentine’s Day party, complete with heart-shaped jello shots. I was in charge of the music and compiled a mix stretching over two cassettes that explored the theme of love from both ends of the spectrum. For each sappy love song, I added a counterpoint, a tune that approached the concept of love with, shall we say, a jaundiced eye. Because the most powerful love songs, like all the greatest art, are not happy occasions. Quite the opposite. Thus was conceived The Bitter With The Sweet Valentine’s Mix.
1. “Tupelo Honey” by Van Morrison
2. “Whipping Post” by the Allman Brothers Band
3. “Wildflowers” by Tom Petty
4. “Dead Flowers” by the Rolling Stones
5. “Baby I Love You” by Aretha Franklin
6. “I Want Your Sex” by George Michael
7. “All I Want Is You” by U2
8. “I Alone” by Live
9 “Love and Affection” by Joan Armatrading
10. “(I Love It When You) Call Me Names” by Joan Armatrading
11. “What The World Needs Now Is Love” by Dionne Warwick
12. “Love Stinks” by the J. Geils Band
13. “Angel Eyes” by Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul
14. “Chained and Bound” by Otis Redding
15. “Get It While You Can” by Janis Joplin
16. “Strange Currencies” by R.E.M.
17. “Stuck On You” by Elvis Presley
18. “Back Door Man” by the Doors
19. “Son of a Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield
20. “Father Figure” by George Michael
21. “Sweetest Thing” by U2
22. “Sweet Papa John” by Johnny Winter
23. “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye
24. “Without Letting Go” by Laurie Sargent
25. “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)” by Bruce Springsteen
26. “Piece of My Heart” by Janis Joplin
27. “Crazy Love” by Van Morrison
28. “She’s On It” by the Beastie Boys
29. “Scarlet Begonias” by the Grateful Dead
30. “Femme Fatale” by the Velvet Underground
31. “Nobody Knows Me” by Lyle Lovett
32. “Can’t You See” by the Marshall Tucker Band
33. “Moonlight Mile” by the Rolling Stones
34. “Some Girls” by the Rolling Stones
35. “You’re The One That I Want” by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta
36. “Be My Number Two” by Joe Jackson
37. “Sexual Healing” by Marvin Gaye
38. “Belle” by Al Green
39. “Best of My Love” by the Eagles
40. “Love Gets You Twisted” by Graham Parker
41. “Blue Eyes” by Middle Brother
42. “Bell Bottom Blues” by Derek and the Dominoes
43. “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses
44. “Still” by Macy Gray
45. “Faithfully” by Journey
46. “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” by Bob Dylan
47. “Born to Run” by Bruce Springsteen
48. “Me & Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin
49. “The Fever” by Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes
50. “Alone Tonight” by Jonny Two Bags