Memory Tapes: Holly, The Undisputed Queen of the Mixtape

Listener Ana Fletcher celebrates her great pal, The Mixtape Queen - Holly, for this week's Memory Tapes.

"I'd like to share a mixtape with you to celebrate my mate Holly, the undisputed Queen of the Mix-Tape in our group of friends.

Anyone who's been friends with Holly for long enough will have received the gift of a mixtape from her. You normally get one on your birthday, but they can crop up at any time of year. They always come on a CD with a handwritten track list and their own album cover. And no one will make you a better mixtape than Holly: she has a knack for knowing just what you'll like; she always introduces you to new stuff and makes you fall in love again with the old stuff. Her own musical knowledge is huge and only continues to grow as she gets to review gigs and albums for a living. There's a whole group of people out there who share the bond of having received a Holly mix-tape: it's a pleasure to be part of it.

I was spoilt for choice when it came to choosing the mix to send you, having collected a bunch of them over the years – not just ones made for me, but ones made for friends that I systematically pilfered. But in the end I plumped for the very first one I got, back in 2006 when we were going into our last year of university together. 

I don't know how many times I must have listened to this mix in the year after I got it. I had it on my very first iPod; I'd put it on at every house party; I'd take the CD into the sandwich shop I worked at and put it on the stereo and subject all our customers to it. I'll admit some of these songs have aged better than others, but they all bring back much joy.

Just over a year ago I moved to Brazil. By that point I'd known Holly for just under ten years and lived with her for the last three of those years. Obviously I miss her, and all the brilliant friends we share. So it was particularly lovely to receive my most recent birthday mix-tape even though I was here, on the other side of the Atlantic. Here's hoping Holly never tires of the tradition."

Holly - The Undisputed Queen Of The Mix-Tape

1. New Way, New Life – Asian Dub Foundation

2. I'm In The Mood For Love – Jools Holland ft Jamiroquai

3. Northern Lights – Super Furry Animals

4. Get Up – Badmarsh & Shri

5. Ghostwriter – RJD2

6. Jayou – Jurassic 5

7. Zion Youth – Dreadzone

8. Over and Over – Hot Chip

9. Brown Sugar – The Rolling Stones

10. Cramp Your Style – Breakestra

11. Give Me One Reason – Tracy Chapman

12. Whippin Piccadilly – Gomez

13. Judy and the Dream of Horses – Belle & Sebastian

14. There Is A Mountain – Donovan

15. Let The Caged Bird Sing – Alabama

16. Don't Leave – Faithless

17. The Sea – Morcheeba

18. California – Joni Mitchell