The death of George Floyd on May 25th, 2020 re-ignited a global movement. We have seen an overwhelming outcry and outpouring of solidarity from folks across races and creeds who have the desire to support the Black community and be better educated, more aware, to listen and learn, and to take this tragedy as an opportunity for societal change, personal growth, and the commitment to be better to one another. Humankind’s ability to rally together —in the midst of an isolating global pandemic— to pursue the eradication of racial injustice is nothing short of awe-inspiring. This challenge and rallying cry has been echoed across the music industry, both in the creation of new music and in the promotion of songs that have been the soundtrack of civil protest for decades. I never cease to be amazed by the ability of musicians and artists to channel pain, anguish, and even hatred into beauty. And to communicate what words alone cannot.

Bella Donna is the title track from Stevie Nicks’ solo debut album released in 1981. It’s worth noting that Nicks recorded many of the tracks on this album while also working on Fleetwood Mac’s third album, Tusk. Bella Donna would ultimately be Nick’s best selling album, netting over 4 million copies sold and featuring well known tracks like Edge of Seventeen.

I unearthed this album first while watching HBO’s documentary The Defiant Ones, which chronicles the rise and relationship of music legends Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine (highly recommend). The 2nd episode of the show highlights a romance between Nick’s and Iovine during a time when Iovine was also producing a record for Tom Petty.

• Iovine convinced Petty to provide a single for Nick’s debut album after realizing that Bella Donna’s current lineup didn’t have a track that could be featured in that format

Featured Find: Hero of the Day, Metallica (Live w/ the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra)

Take a minute to think back. Can you remember the first mixtape — or CD, for you millenials — that you ever received as a gift? Can you remember how that mix came to be and who made it for you? Was it it from your Dad, trying with all his might to drown out the “uninspired droning” of Green Day and Linkin’ Park with Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin? Or was it maybe from your secret grade school crush channelling Seal and Savage Garden to communicate what words could not?

For me, it wasn’t one mix but five, titled simply “Dew Mix 1-5”. These first mix CD’s were given (regifted?) as a Christmas gift to my brother from a family friend who was living with us at the time. She burned copies of five mix CD’s that were, in turn, given to her by her younger brother, “Dew.” I am sure that Dew has no idea how much of an impact that gift would make on the music that my brother and I would listen to and come to love. I would listen to the Dew Mixes over and over again. They were my first introduction to Ozzy Osbourne, Van Halen, and Weezer. They expanded my interest in U2, Creed (I know…), and The Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Featured Find: Duncan - Live 1973, Paul Simon (w/ The Jessy Dixon Singers & Urubamba)

Duncan is, admittedly, well… a weird song. I’m not going to endeavor to explain what the song is all about - I’ll leave that to someone much better qualified. Paul Simon is an exquisite storyteller, but I chose to feature the song less because of the story it tells and more because of the stories around it. In digging into its back-story I discovered some great Easter eggs and stories surrounding the song.

Featured Find: Waitin’ for a Superman, The Flaming Lips

I received a copy of the The Soft Bulletin, the 9th studio album from The Flaming Lips, as a part of my subscription to theVinyl Me, Please essentials track. While I have known the band for some time, I had only found a few of their tracks previously that really worked for me. As I began listening to the album, I was blown away by the creativity and intensity of the drum-line throughout.

Featured Find: Daddy Lessons, Beyoncé

When I first started the Unearthed series of playlists, I definitely wouldn’t have guessed that a Beyoncé song would make it into one of these lists, let alone as my favorite find of the month. Perhaps because I’m pretty disconnected from what is getting airplay on the radio, or being performed at the Grammy’s, I have the opportunity to be truly surprised by a song like this.