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VB’s A DJ, Life and MORE!
🕑 Added 2025-03-11 02:44:47 +0000 UTCI’m going through a lot of serious yet incredibly stupid shit right now. (Divorce, life!) One of the few things that can snap me out of it, at least temporarily, is music. For years, I’ve kept monthly playlists of whatever’s in rotation, along with songs and artists I want to dive deeper into. So many of these songs have an aesthetic that triggers my heart and/or brain to a more positive state.
I’m sharing with you my January and February YouTube/YT Music playlists, along with my current March ‘25 mix that I will keep adding to until April, when I start a new one. I’m always amazed at how much music I still haven’t heard, but also at how often I go back to the same songs. Repeated listens of familiar tracks must tap into some weird and/or safe comfort mechanism. The playlists also act as a journal because I can almost always remember where I was when I added a song or why I was listening to the track.
January ‘25 playlist: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwV95EIdLbL9jRui-CYKpKcQ7Wt70aA7o&si=uPV1yJKk2-RLWWk1
February ‘25 playlist: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwV95EIdLbL_Gru8s-tz8Bd4KaEr22EKK&si=b8zlMNj8Il-ozImy
March ‘25 playlist: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwV95EIdLbL8hQrrdzIAvvECPAOZNL0H7&si=kPlnhdpggC2se-8A
Go ahead and dig through those playlists. Maybe you’ll find something new or rediscover a band you had forgotten about. You can even subscribe to the current one and see what I add to them in real time! Wow!
I’ve also completed a mix for your ears that I think you’ll dig. It started out with an eclectic variety but then went deeper into 70s soul, which I’ve been quite into over the past year. Loaded it up with some Marvin. Marvin Gaye is extremely fascinating to me. The more I read about him, the more I love that he was this eccentric artist who was massively successful, yet an oddball in life in many ways. I like that he’d write more openly about his demons as his career progressed, or regressed, depending how you look at it. Millions in debt to the IRS, a horrible drug dependency, a crippling divorce or two and a tragic ending inside his parent’s home where he had taken up residence in his final year even as Sexual Healing was a massive chart hit.
Marvin was married to Gordy Berry’s older sister, Anna. Berry Gordy, as you may know, was the founder of Motown. After their marriage became irreparable and Marvin was spending way too much money causing him to not make support payments to his ex-wife, the judge ordered royalties for his next record to be given exclusively to her. One would speculate that the record titled Here, My Dear would be half-assed and phoned in like the Van Morrison contract-obligated album or Todd Rundgren’s Tortured Artist Effect, but Marvin puts his all into it. It’s all personal subject matter and he sings his heart out. You can feel the emotion and pain, and at times, him coming to terms with it. It’s also an oddball album showcasing him to be a chaotic human like the rest of us. Highly recommend this album if you’re divorced or not. Here’s a cool track from it.
When Did You Stop Loving Me, When Did I Stop Loving You https://youtu.be/IX-Kl7eUdf0?si=Bl1yY_JcS_qpn-9M
I put 1981’s album track Funk Me Funk Me Funk Me by Marvin on this mix. I love the groove and the parts where he claps twice and shouts HEY HEY, but I’m obsessed with the bassline. I read somewhere it may have been Rick James playing it, considering his connection to Marvin and Motown, but I think it’s too complex for it to be Ricky Boy. The nutso bassline along with Mr. Gaye’s backing vocals really bring it together and take it to another level. I only recently gave his final albums a chance and I’m glad I did. There are some gems on them and 1981’s In Our Lifetime is a pleasant, funky listen all the way through even though Marvin was going through hell at this time.
There’s also an Isley Brothers tune I heard while I was out the other day. At first I thought it was Mercy Mercy Me by Marvin because it has the same chord at the start with a similar piano riff (an A chord with a B in the bass aka A/B). So naturally I tied those two tracks together in this mix. Also included a song by The Moments called Sexy Baby. They’re a fun group to put on shuffle. They’re somewhat bizarre at times, recording an album at a women’s state prison and at the Miss Black America Contest, an album of standards from 1972 that nobody asked for. I like the track they did with the Whatnauts called Girls where they sing about all the types of girls they like, even the “fatty girls.” The mild hit by the Moments that I added on here is from The Best Of The Moments LP that was misleadingly NOT a greatest hits record. They also released two albums the same year on two different record labels with both albums featuring unique tracks. I’m not a good business person but I would imagine the confusion hurt sales.
This soul-heavy mix has some Mizel Brothers-produced tracks like Places and Spaces by Donald Byrd and another Marvin Gaye track that was essentially a sequel to What’s Going On called Where Are We Going. Had they finished it, the album would have come out in between What’s Going On and Let’s Get It On, but record company and general life chaos contributed to it falling apart. I highly recommend any music with the Mizell Brothers attached to it. Love this Barry White track that builds and builds, Hard To Believe That I Found You and Rance Allen singing I Belong To You kills me every time. His voice was like none other. I guess it’s technically a gospel track, so GOD BLESS and AMEN. Makes me wanna testify!
Enjoy the mix and let me know your favorites in the comments and suggest some music if you have anything cool you’ve been listening to!
Comments
Eric Smith
Love you so much Vic! So happy I got to get a pic with you in Michigan when you came through. You’re a legend and an incredibly amazing person! Like everyone has said, we support you. Keep being yourself brother!
creetch
cant get this dang ep to play!
sparkle.boy
thank you mr berger- this mix lifted me to the stratosphere as if I was David Blaine strapped to 100 weather balloons
creg
grateful for you vic and your good music taste 🙏
Kyle B
Hang in there man
Brian Dudley
was just listening to some Cortex, hell yeah thnx V
aaay
This one rocks Vic.
Nick Windolf
I’m sorry about the divorce Mr. Berger - try not to go too deep into the dark side of Gaye. Maybe take a bath in milk and lay on your satin sheets to take the edge off. Best wishes <3
Harald Andersson
Love you Vic-boy!
Martin Fleet
Love you Vic
Chris
Thanks for sharing all of this, Vic, especially the tough news alongside stuff like Funk Me Funk Me Funk Me. Fwiw I'm also going through divorce & appreciate you sharing your news. Some time ago you recommended Sounds of the Dawn's youtube channel, thanks for that as well. Sending peace, love and hugs.
Carol A Dukes
Thanks for these awesome playlists, Vic! I had totally forgotten about POCO. Thanks for the trip down Memory Lane.
Larrold Dump
Going through it myself too, Vic. Sending you and all involved well wishes and only the best ahead. Grateful for your generosity/tunes!
Steezy
Love you Vic ❤️ sending positive vibez
Marika Giacinti
Oh no. So sorry to hear this news. In any case, we love you here. We will remain loyal and wish you the very best. Thanks for the music.
Jeff Sauvageau
I'm heading to Tim Fest in a couple weeks and now I've found Texas Bound and Flyin' to listen to on the plane 🤠
Tuna Can
So good!!
Gabe bond
Much Love To Vic, stay positive.
Tuna Can
It's hard to see now, Vic, but you are blessed. Just keep your head up! You have our support! We love you, dude!
Sarah Hoopes
Divorce solidarity <3
Sean n Raymond
we 🫶 u vic, hoping things get easier for you soon
colindpratt
love and mercy, Vic. appreciate you putting this out there. my mom died last week and i’ve been on a rollercoaster. a couple songs from Milton Nascimento’s ‘Clube da Esquina 2’ album have been helping when i need to be in my feelings https://youtu.be/hKM8S29MsUY https://youtu.be/LjvRWQecr1A
Christopher Laramee
AND listen to more Hamilton Bohannon, I feel it would be right up your alley. He played on some Marv and his run of Brunswick albums are untouchable, individual and strange AF
T
Hang in there Mr Berger
Christopher Laramee
obsessed with Here My Dear over here lately, Vic. A stunner, for sure. Thanks for the tunes and wishing you the best buddy!
Peter Fishbeast
You’re a legend Vic ❤️
Keith Whamond
Vic, I'm so sorry for the crap you're going through. Thank you for all the laughs (and deep, deep weirdness).
Craig
For Vic or anyone going through a hard time, check out the new Bon Iver song Everything Is Peaceful Love. The music video is on YouTube and was made by John Wilson from How To With John Wilson. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaPX-i1TjCc
brainblob
We all love and support you Vic, thanks for always hipping us to cool shit and making us all laugh!
Blizzard Wuffy
I've sent you quite a number of great tunes and videos in your Instagram DMs if you're ever looking for some good music! I'm sure a lot of people also do that, but as a co-worker you should hear them out sometime, I think you'd really like them :)
Seth Carriere
Love you Vic 💖🫂💖
Matt James
Saved em all and no doubt I'll find a few gems ( really needed some new stuff to listen to too) you've already shown me some songs I connect with on a deeply personal level so a big thank you is overdue. Life really fucking blows sometimes. Hang in there. We love you.
Papa C
Vic I’m going through the aftermath of divorce/lawyers still. Keep your head up, it will get better!!
Bill Collins
Love ya, Vic. You're the heart of the Trinity!
Leathan Milne
Thanks Vic! Love it! Bytheway the bass player on Funk Me is Frank Blair. Hang in there buddy.
Björn Lindgren
❤️❤️❤️
Ryan Wilcox
This is fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing these. I feel like we have similar taste and I love the hunt for new music to listen to. Hope you are taking good care of yourself Vic. You have a large community of us that genuinely care about you and your wellbeing. Hang in there brother.
Stingray
Holy cow thank you Vic!
Colton Caulkins
Love you Vic I’m sorry you’re going thru the shit right now. Thanks for sharing ❤️
chaoserene
Vic!! This is amazing, thanks so much for sharing as always, even in vulnerable places- it's one of the best things about the OHL community I think and you've helped that to be with your contributions. And this is just a badass way for us to come together and share the music, which is everything, really! ✌🏻💚
lilula9
Vic, you did it. You got me to fully surrender to Youtube music so I can hear your playlists. I listen to music from Youtube all day at work 5 days a week so I'm excited to check out what you have. I also appreciate you sharing how personal these playlists can get. I hope other's art can lift and transport you away from the stress and pain. My paltry offer would be the cover of "Teardrops" by Roosevelt, my favorite indie synth pop artist right now. At first, I didn't know it was a cover of the song by Womack & Womack, which has more sadness to it. But I saw you had a couple of songs from Bobby Womack, a Womack brother, on your playlist, and I can't wait to expand my funk horizons (if I pick my guitar up after setting my pen down, I really want to learn funk guitar). of course, as a huge fan of the New Wave sound, I loved seeing some classics on your lists. A recent discovery I made was New Order's song "Crystal" from an album I only discovered this year. I wanted to see their ex-bassist, Peter Hook, live in St Louis this summer and he is playing the whole album "Crystal" is from. There's the usual New Order melancholy in the song, but I find it haunting in a way that draws me back, even without the heavy synth. Trance-like (I'm not even sure if I like the other songs but hearing "Crystal" live will make my night). Thanks for the shares, and hang in there!
Blake Wilshaw
Sorry Vic. Everyone loves you.
Doctor Tony
Maybe it wasn't about the sales.
Brian Schafer
Sorry Vic, to both you and Marvin. Never knew what happened to him til I read his wiki. Dude had a ROUGH life
Journe
Hang tuff Victor! In my early 40s too. Life catches up with its many follies and fillies. Check out Gene Clark's Lover's Turnaround. Real recognize real!
Oopie Doopie
Vic, fun fact: The Otis Clay song “Trying to Live My Life Without You” was rewritten by Eagles as “The Long Run”.
Dillo
Where’s the Randy VanWarmer? ❤️
Melissa
I love the Wendy Rene song "Young and Foolish"
Dan
I love Hear, My Dear so much. A Funky Space Reincarnation is insane- from gettin’ down on a space bed to smoke from Venus to getting Plutotized.
Chase
Love you Vic! Music is a great healer! Glad it’s helping. If you ever need to talk to someone who’s been through it, I’m always here my dude
DAW
Bummer… This mix is bulbous and smooth, though! and don’t worry… We will never ever let you go, Vic. Even if you want to 👀🔪
Alex Steele
Keep your head up vic. We are all rooting for you for real. You're gonna be fine.
David Osborne
Hang in there Vic. Love your work mate. Sending good vibes to you from down under ❤️
William Glosup
Sending you patience and strength VB! Here my dear is a masterpiece by a flawed genius, one of my faves. Stoked for your mix
Sean
Sorry to hear about the Big D, Vic. Music is a salve!
