A couple months ago, Jeff mentioned to me that he was thinking of putting together the Ultimate Drinking Mixtape in time for St. Patrickâ€™s Day. I got so excited that I persuaded him to immediately open the floor to suggestions from the Popdose writers. And the song requests flowed in.

As the resident souse of the Popdose staff, I felt it was my responsibility to filter through the ideas that emerged and weave them together into something slightly more coherent than the drunken rantings Iâ€™d occasionally find typed out on my computer during the extensive beta-testing process. Later, during gamma-testing, the songs started to find their ways into groups. Finally, when I reached the delta-testing phase, things had been organized into chapters that celebrate the many different aspects of that delightful elixir that can lift or lower our spirits, make us in turn beautiful or ugly, and loosen or tangle our tongues with equal abandon.

Here’s the full tape – 116 minutes of pure malt goodness, with some wonderful words of wisdom sprinkled in.Â Just add liquor.

The Ultimate Drinking Mixtape

A playlist follows the jump, but I feel I must warn you – it goes down a lot smoother if you drink straight from the bottle.

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Chapter 1: Weâ€™ll open with a bit of sage wisdomâ€¦

Blutoâ€™s Advice

Red Ingle â€“ â€œCigareets, Whuskey, and Wild, Wild Womenâ€

Chapter 2â€¦and then move on to why your life is so miserable.

Peterâ€™s Complaint

Social Distortion â€“ â€œBall and Chainâ€

The Hold Steady â€“ â€œLord, Iâ€™m Discouragedâ€

Flogging Molly â€“ â€œWorst Day Since Yesterdayâ€

Chapter 3: Perhaps a visit to your local pub will cheer you up.

Normâ€™s Lament

The Replacements â€“ â€œHere Comes a Regularâ€

Dropkick Murphys â€“ â€œBarroom Heroesâ€

The Pogues â€“ â€œSally MacLennaneâ€

Chapter 4: Drink some whiskey firstâ€¦

Homerâ€™s Dilemma

Willie Nelson â€“ â€œWhiskey Riverâ€

Thin Lizzy â€“ â€œWhiskey in the Jarâ€

Chapter 5â€¦and then some bourbonâ€¦

Lionelâ€™s Struggle

Tom Waits â€“ â€œJockey Full of Bourbonâ€

George Thorogood â€“ â€œOne Bourbon, One Scotch, and One Beerâ€

Chapter 6â€¦and finally settle in with some beer.

Homerâ€™s Revelation

The Doors â€“ â€œRoadhouse Bluesâ€

Reel Big Fish â€“ â€œBeerâ€

The Clancy Brothers â€“ â€œBeer, Beer, Beerâ€

Chapter 7: Suddenly, you feel good enough to set up the houseâ€¦

Blutoâ€™s Offer

The Pogues â€“ â€œA Man You Donâ€™t Meet Every Dayâ€

AC/DC â€“ â€œHave a Drink on Meâ€

Chapter 8â€¦and then just as suddenly feel unappreciated, and instigate some fisticuffsâ€¦

Leelaâ€™s Intercession

Nazareth â€“ â€œHair of the Dogâ€

The Rolling Stones â€“ â€œStreet Fighting Manâ€

Chapter 9: Perhaps exercise a bit of bad judgmentâ€¦

Frankâ€™s Call

The Kinks â€“ â€œLolaâ€

Journey â€“ â€œDonâ€™t Stop Believin’â€



Chapter 10 …but then realize your true purpose in lifeâ€¦

Markâ€™s Query

Twisted Sister â€“ â€œI Wanna Rockâ€

Led Zeppelin â€“ â€œKashmirâ€

Carlâ€™s Declaration

Guns N Roses â€“ â€œParadise Cityâ€

Chapter 11…and sing it out for the world to hear.

Ltâ€™s Frank Sladeâ€™s Recommendation

Tom Petty â€“ â€œFree Fallingâ€

The Kingsmen â€“ â€œLouie Louieâ€

Night Ranger â€“ â€œSister Christianâ€

Chapter 12: And finally, bring your evening to a close with a prostate prostrate appeal to divinity.

Bob Dylan â€“ â€œKnockinâ€™ on Heavenâ€™s Doorâ€

Il Duceâ€™s Prayer

Johnny Cash â€“ â€œKneeling Drunkardâ€™s Pleaâ€