I must confess that none of these songs were recorded in the past year. Many of them weren’t recorded in the last decade, or even the last half-century. Yet these are some of our new finds and most favorite songs of 2023. These are from CDs, those gleaming discs of archaic technology. We find them at fleamarkets, in cardboard boxes on the curb, at second-hand stores and thrift shops. Cast off by others, but so welcome in our Magpies’ nest. Friend of The Magpies Jeffrey Lewis describes it best in this song.

This particular collection is wide-ranging through geography and history. We’ve got some Alan Lomax field recordings in Galicia and Aragon, some Parisian Yé-Yé girl pop, lots of music from Soweto — township sounds from the golden age of Mboanga and psych sounds from the 70s — some Afro-beat funk from Ghana, and some traditional Spanish songs sung by a Frenchwoman born in 1909. Among others. They are all strange and perfect, full of passion, humor, and life.

So here is some joyful music to help you usher in the new year, with fondness and best wishes from the Mapgies. May you all have a year full of creativity, kindness, happiness, and peace peace peace.