Fluxblog 616: this was summer 1987...and 1989 and 1995 and 1971 and 1998

I like to publish some “This Was Summer” playlists in the summer because they’re relatively easy to make and give me some time to work out bigger ideas, or just have something when I’ve got no ideas. And also, for obvious reasons, a lot of people love them! I don’t intend a lot of the playlists covering the past to be overtly nostalgic but these are definitely intended to push those buttons. But they’re also meant to be portals to the past more generally. I don’t plan on making any more of these until next year, so here’s the entire crop for 2026.

I have some lovely testimonials for this one from BlueSky!

This features mega-classics by Whitney Houston, George Michael, U2, Prince, New Order, Debbie Gibson, R.E.M., Depeche Mode, Janet Jackson, Terence Trent D’Arby, Pet Shop Boys, Eric B and Rakim, Aerosmith, Grateful Dead, Miami Sound Machine, LL Cool J, Michael Jackson, Erasure, Madonna, The Replacements, The Smiths, Fleetwood Mac, Heart, and many others.

Featuring timeless bangers by Madonna, The B-52’s, Neneh Cherry, De La Soul, Beastie Boys, Soul II Soul, Love & Rockets, Pixies, Tom Petty, The Bangles, Chris Isaak, Indigo Girls, Aerosmith, Guns N Roses, Public Enemy, The Cure, Roxette, U2, Tears for Fears, Fugazi, EPMD, Paula Abdul, New Order, Bobby Brown, Janet Jackson, Dolly Parton, etc.

This includes songs by TLC, Alanis Morissette, The Notorious B.I.G., 2pac, D’Angelo, Madonna, U2, Weezer, Method Man, Mary J Blige, Sheryl Crow, Björk, Ol Dirty Bastard, Raekwon, Tricky, Jodeci, Coolio, Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Matthew Sweet, Jewel, Natalie Merchant, Dave Matthews Band, Hootie and the Blowfish, Oasis, Blur, Pulp, PJ Harvey, Shania Twain, Aphex Twin, Garbage, Fugazi, Chemical Brothers, Pavement, etc.

This includes songs by Funkadelic, James Brown, Curtis Mayfield, Rolling Stones, The Who, Joni Mitchell, T. Rex, Marvin Gaye, Paul McCartney, Carole King, Rod Stewart, Bill Withers, The Doors, Can, Al Green, Delroy Wilson, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, Pharoah Sanders, Cher, Carpenters, Olivia Newton-John, Serge Gainsbourg, John Coltrane, Flying Burrito Brothers, Isaac Hayes, The Jackson 5, and more. Oh, and it’s the rare playlist to feature both Barbara Mandrell and Mandrill!

Featuring beloved classics by Beastie Boys, Lauryn Hill, Black Star, Brandy & Monica, Madonna, Janet Jackson, Garbage, Spice Girls, Mariah Carey, Usher, Faith Hill, Busta Rhymes, Sarah McLachlan, Fatboy Slim, Goo Goo Dolls, Rob Zombie, Shania Twain, Backstreet Boys, Air, Semisonic, Harvey Danger, Elliott Smith, Master P, Hole, Destiny’s Child, Neutral Milk Hotel, Marcy Playground, Wyclef Jean, Will Smith, and more.