This is the second in my MixTape series and is all about helping you make those big decisions. It’s about 40-minutes long and I think it would be great to listen to on your commute to work, especially when you have a big decision to make that day!

Here’s the running order:

  1. Year of Decision, The Three Degrees. The first thing to understand is that, in most cases, you need to make decisions quickly, rather than pondering on them forever. This track from Prince Charles’s favourite girl-group encourages you to face into your decisions rather than put them off.
  2. Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind? The Loving Spoonful. As the song goes, making a decision is “not often easy and not often kind.” Still, if you know it needs making, you’d better get it over with.
  3. Should I Stay Or Should I Go? The Clash. Defining your decision is critical in making a wise choice. The Clash were able to clarify their two options and, at the same time, create a classic rock song.
  4. There Are More Questions Than Answers, Johnny Nash. Before you get into all the details involved in this decision you must realise that somethings don’t have a clear right or wrong answer. Life, after all, is complex. As Johnny Nash reflects, “The more I find out the less I know.
  5. Tomorrow Never Knows, The Beatles. Building on Nash’s song, The Beatles’ classic psychedelic track from the Revolver album suggests that you should switch off, relax and not try to force things. Unlike John Lennon, who wrote the song, however, I don’t recommend that you take LSD before doing this!
  6. We Can Work It Out, Stevie Wonder. Another Beatles track, but I prefer this version, which will give you a little bit of positivity before you get into the meat of the decision-making process.
  7. I Want You, Elvis Costello and the Attractions. While this song is really a dark, tortured recounting of his partner’s affairs with others, it does contain these perfect lines for effective decision-making: “The truth can’t hurt you, it’s just like the dark/It scares you witless/But in time you see things clear and stark.
  8. Both Sides Now, Joni Mitchell. Although originally released by Mitchell in 1968, I prefer her re-working of the song in 2000. Either way, the song will encourage you to take different perspectives to the issue at hand and make sure you’ve looked at your choices from both sides.
  9. Trust Yourself, Bob Dylan. So it’s time to make the decision and the real question is, Are you going to trust yourself to make a good decision? In times of doubt, just listen to Bob who advises you that “If you need somebody you can trust, trust yourself.
  10. No Regrets, The Walker Brothers. This is the classic version of the song written by Tom Rush. Though not directly about decision-making, it does encourage you move on from the decision without any remorse or regret.

Do you agree with the list or are there other songs I should have included? Let me know if you have any additions or edits and I can always add them to the list.

Enjoy!

© Stuart Cross 2020. All rights reserved.