I’ve been thinking for a long time about putting together some music that red people and blue people could enjoy together. Because music is often the only thing to get people to stop shouting and just kick back and enjoy themselves. This is all just music, no politics. A couple of love songs, some peppier numbers and others that are slower, along with one or two heartbreakers, maybe.

Remarkably, I found YouTube links for all of them. Which means, as far as I can make out, musicians will soon be extinct as paid professionals. Once you’ve decided which songs you really like, please actually purchase them.

The world’s burning. Here’s some fun and comfort.

Bruce Springsteen, Reason to Believe

Alabama Shakes, Don’t Wanna Fight

Johnny Cash, The Man Comes Around

Detroit Cobra, Shout Bama Lama

Patty Griffin, Up to the Mountain

Bob Dylan, Tangled Up in Blue

Magnetic Fields, Abigail, Belle of Kilronan

Paul Simon, Loves Me Like a Rock (covered by The Dixie Hummingbirds)

Spiritualized, So Long You Pretty Thing

James McMurtry, Walk Between the Raindrops

Tom Waits, Picture in a Frame

Moby, Honey

Janis Joplin, Me and Bobby McGee

Ditty Bops, Sister Kate

Cloud Cult, You’re the Only Thing in Your Way

Joni Mitchell, Case of You

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Aretha Franklin, Respect

Cat Power, Salty Dog

The Traveling Wilburies, End of the Line