Arizona Skies - A Raving Playlist

This playlist was created one exceptionally clear and striking day three years ago in Southeast Arizona. It's difficult to describe Arizona to those who've never been there, especially the parts of Arizona that many have never visited - like the high Sonoran desert. Despite the decade-long drought there, the high desert with its many mountain ranges is more green than many might imagine - with mesquite trees at lower elevations and pine trees that climb up the peaks. Once you drive out of the high desert headed to towards Tuscon you'll begin to see the massive Saguaro cactus that Arizona is famed for. As you turn North from Tuscon headed towards Phoenix you'll see Joshua Trees - countless of them between those desert cities.

The view from the Huachuca mountains in the Sonoran high desert

Arizona impressed U2 as well back during the early 1980's - so much so that they titled one of their Albums "Under the Joshua Tree" and opened that tour in Phoenix (they then filmed Rattle & Hum in Arizona as well). Anyone who has lived in Arizona will instantly be able to visualize Where the Streets have no Name and Red Hill Mining Town from personal experience. So what is Arizona like? Well, imagine a place where you can see 20, 30 or more miles in the distance. Imagine a place where Earth tones paint the landscape in all directions. Imagine being surrounded by mountains on all sides yet not feeling bounded by them. Imagine a place where Roadrunners are real - and a host of other remarkable desert wildlife is just around the corner.

This is a place that inspires, evokes a mood and we choose the following music in an attempt to capture that feeling. As usual this playlist is available on Spotify as well...

Quite possibly, the best album ever recorded...

Arizona Skies

U2 – Where The Streets Have No Name
Collective Soul – Gel
The B-52's – Roam [Edit]
Genesis – In Too Deep - 2007 Remastered Album Version
U2 – Red Hill Mining Town
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers – Yer So Bad
Alan Parsons – Mr Time
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Suzie Q
Stone Temple Pilots – Vasoline
Vangelis – Blade Runner (End Titles)
U2 – Elevation
Kings Of Leon – Arizona
Counting Crows – Hanginaround
Counting Crows – Mrs. Potters Lullaby
Vangelis – The Tao Of Love
Sting – Desert Rose
The Marshall Tucker Band – Can't You See
Joe Walsh – Rocky Mountain Way
Rascal Flatts – Life is a Highway
U2 – City Of Blinding Lights
Counting Crows – Accidentally In Love
10,000 Maniacs – The Painted Desert
Counting Crows – Speedway
Vangelis – Rachel's Song
Sting – If I Ever Lose My Faith In You
U2 – Desire
Kings Of Leon – Cold Desert
Violent Femmes – Blister In The Sun
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers – Runnin' Down A Dream
Counting Crows – Mr. Jones
Sting – We'll Be Together - 2011 Remix
U2 – Desert Of Our Love
The Fixx – Red Skies - Original Version
Stone Temple Pilots – Plush
U2 – Window In The Skies
Los Lonely Boys – Whatever Gets You Thru The Night
Barenaked Ladies – It's All Been Done
Cowboy Junkies – Sweet Jane
Joe Cocker – Unchain My Heart
Eric Clapton – It's In The Way That You Use It
ZZ Top – Viva Las Vegas - Remastered LP Version
Chris Cornell – You Know My Name
The Alan Parsons Project – Eye In The Sky
Don Henley – The Heart Of The Matter
Collective Soul – Under Heaven's Skies - Acoustic Version
Kansas – Dust In The Wind
Barenaked Ladies – One Week
The Marshall Tucker Band – Desert Skies
The Jayhawks – Waiting For The Sun
Don Henley – The Last Worthless Evening
Talking Heads – And She Was
Nirvana – Come As You Are
Toad The Wet Sprocket – Something's Always Wrong
U2 – Wild Honey
ZZ Top – Cheap Sunglasses
Vangelis – Love Theme From Bladerunner
Joe Cocker – You Are So Beautiful
Steve Winwood – The Finer Things
Eric Clapton – It's In The Way That You Use It
Creedence Clearwater Revival – Have You Ever Seen The Rain?
U2 – Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
3 Doors Down – Away From The Sun
U2 – One Tree Hill
Better Than Ezra – At The Stars
Alan Parsons – Dreamscape
Eric Clapton – Forever Man
Chicago – Wishing You Were Here
Joe Walsh – Ordinary Average Guy
Toad The Wet Sprocket – All I Want
U2 – Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of
Joe Cocker – Shelter Me (Single Edit)
3 Doors Down – Your Arms Feel Like home
Bruce Springsteen – Girls In Their Summer Clothes
Bruce Hornsby – Fields Of Gray - Remastered 2003
The Moody Blues – Your Wildest Dreams
Third Eye Blind – How's It Going To Be
Counting Crows – Four Days
Linkin Park – Burning In The Skies
U2 – Bullet The Blue Sky
George Michael – Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me
Lit – My Own Worst Enemy
The Beatles Tribute Band – Here Comes The Sun
War – The Cisco Kid
U2 – Beautiful Day

Cover art from U2's Actung Baby

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