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Yesterday, we published Volume One of 50 Fourth of July Songs, a playlist compilation, that features a wide range of artists, genres and time periods. Each track, in its own way, reflects an aspect of the American identity, touching on themes such as patriotism, freedom, fireworks, summertime, baseball, and others that are fitting for a 4th of July playlist series.

Volume One Includes songs from The Stills,

This is Volume Two of the 50 Fourth of July Songs playlist series. If you want to stream these two playlists for your party, we encourage you to. A good deal of consideration, research and debating went into this playlist series, and those are all essential components to creating a solid thematic playlist. Without question, there are thousands of songs that could be included in this series, but the line had to be drawn somewhere.

Volume Two kicks off with an appropriately titled, uptempo song from Galaxie 500, one of the great post-punk bands of the 1980′s, and a band that influenced dozens, if not hundreds, of indie and alternative rock bands over the past two decades. Even though it is a somewhat disappointing Velvet Underground-like lo-fi alt. rock track, we threw in the 2003 single, “Fourth of July,” by Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth) and Mike Watt, mostly because it fits with the playlist theme, and has probably not been heard by many fans of Sonic Youth. The track sounds like they threw it together at the end of a recording session as a studio jam that was never actually finished. Some purists will contend that is Moore and Watt at their rawest.

This mix also features songs from a range of artists that include Johnny Cash, Sam Cooke, Wavves, Air France, Beastie Boys, The Strokes, Bruce Springsteen, Brian Wilson, among others. As well, many of the albums the songs appear on are worth adding to your music collection – no question about it.

“4th of July” - Galaxie 500 from This is Our Music (2006)

“Fourth of July” – Thurston Moore and Mike Watt from single (2003)

“Fireworks” – Polock from Getting Down From The Tree (2010)

“A More Perfect Union” - Titus Andronicus from The Monitor (2010)

“American Tune” – Paul Simon from The Essential Paul Simon (2002)

“Song of the Patriot” – Johnny Cash from The Essential (1999)

“Baseball Cards” – Wavves from King of the Beach (2010)

“Beach Party” – Air France from No Way Down (2008)

“It Always Rains On A Picnic” – Modest Mouse from Sad Sappy Sucker (2001)

“Flags of Freedom” – Neil Young from Living With War (2006)

“(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right” - Beastie Boys from The Sounds of Science (1989)

“We’re an American Band” – Grand Funk Railroad from Grand Funk Railroad Greatest Hits (2002)

“Games” – The Strokes from Angles (2011)

“Surf’s Up” – Brian Wilson from Smile (2004)

“Independence Day” – Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band from Live in New York City Volume 3 (2005)

“Patriots Of Love” – The Catholic Comb from Sincerely (2007)
Unfortunately, the LP is out of print

“New York This Morning” - Roman Candle from The Wee Hours Revue (2006)

“Back In the USA” – New York Dolls from A Hard Night’s Day (2000)

“(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” – Otis Redding from The Very Best of Otis Redding (1968)

“Havin A Party” – Sam Cooke from 60′s Slow Rock (1999)

“Philadelphia Freedom” – Elton John from Greatest Hits 1970-2002 (2003)

“Freedom Hangs Like Heaven” – Iron & Wine from Woman King (2004)

“There’s So Many Colors” – Akron/Family from Love Is Simple (2007)

“Precious Declaration” – Collective Soul from AAAA  (1996)

“America” - Neil Diamond from The Jazz Singer (1981)

“All Sparks” – Editors from The Back Room (2007)
4.5 stars on Amazon – a must have

“Fried Chicken/Mary, Mary” – The Slackers from Redlight (1997)

Finally, we thought it would be a good idea to include a few renditions of traditional American anthems, including a variety of versions of “The Star Spangled Banner” by artists like Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, and the much more mellow cover from Sufjan Stevens.

“The Star Spangled Banner” (Live) – Jimi Hendrix from Woodstock (1969)

“The Star Spangled Banner” (Live 1984) – Marvin Gaye from The Master (1961-1984)

“The Star Spangled Banner” (Live 2004) – Sufjan Stevens

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