[Editor's note: All of the following is by Jorma Whittaker; I am but a messenger. Hope you enjoy! - Jon]

(Photo: Lisa Fett)

Hello! Here is the very first installment of a series of playlists I am contributing to MFT. These mixes are going to focus on the endless oodles of great music friends have given to me over the years.

I've decided to pick at random favorites from various mixes I've already made, so don't be alarmed if I love your songs and you don't appear here. You'll most likely show up somewhere with one of your greats. I've concentrated on contributing tracks that aren't already on MFT, but some of them already are.

But enough of my yakking, what a ya say? Let's boogie!

MFT JORMA'S PICKS

1. "Carrousel" - Mark Edward Cutsinger

This has always been one of my very favorite songs written & recorded by a friend. Taken from his as-yet-unreleased mid-90s album, A Cry for Help, "Carrousel" blows everyone's minds whenever I play it for them.

2. "Silver Dagger" - Sophia Travis

Anyone who ever knew the great Sophia Travis from Bloomington IN knows that she had the ultimate gift for whimsical melody. This song was most likely a work in progress that I procured from LonPaul Ellrich's laptop sometime in the early 00s.

3. "Envelope" - Marty Green

One of Indianapolis' finest singer/songwriters in a lot of folks' opinions can knock out gems like this one so effortlessly. My old band Marmoset covered this one on our Florist Fired from 2007.

4. "The Liftoff" - Brando

Brando are quite simply my favorite ever Indiana band. I didn't like them at all at first, but after a year or so of exposure and meeting most of the cats involved, I began to take an avid interest. Derek Richey, who lives in Bloomington IN, is the leader and in fact plays 98% of the instruments on any Brando song you may hear. This particular track is one of countless unreleased songs in the archives.

5. "Genetically Modified Chicken" - Meat Flag

Meat Flag basically existed around 2002 - 2003 and wrote and recorded (to my knowledge) around a dozen songs. Angela and Naitha's music inspired me to no end. I love all of their stuff.

6. "Ostrich" - Uvula

Uvula were a Bloomington IN band in the 90s that Marmoset would play a lot of shows with. Chris Kupersmith had to be one of the most inspired and accomplished guitarists of the era. On this wonderful track, written and sung by bassist Tina Barbieri, the band unleashes one of their catchiest.

7. "Honky Tonk" - Pretty Pony

Pretty Pony were a Bloomington IN party punk band from the late 90s that put on a great live show. This kickin' track was recorded during the sessions for their one and only album. Produced by Vess Ruhtenberg and LonPaul Ellrich.

8. "Sober" - The Everydays

From Muncie IN comes the indie pop of Justin North, who is the brainchild behind The Everydays. Over the years, this fellow has written and recorded hundreds of songs. I was lucky enough to hear his very first collection of songs on CD in 2000. Forgive me Justin, but here is the very first song on that very first CD.

9. "Broken Down Car" - Finn Swingley

Not only is Finn one of my favorite guitarists I've ever known, he happens to be one of my best friends. This track hails from the early 00s and showcases his gift of working the Tascam 4-track cassette.

10. "The 90's" - Pravada

Jesse Lee and Casey Tennis have been making music together as Pravada for what seems like eternity now and are just releasing their second album! Here is an unreleased song from around the time of their first album, Manus Plere, written and sung by the inimitable Fred Brown, who was still in the band at that point.

11. "Memento Mori" - You Will Die

This three piece instrumental band from Indianapolis have made some of the most ferocious music I've heard from around town or anywhere. Scoth Broccoli is in a league of his own when it comes to drumming. This track is the first one on their debut album, released on Hawthorne Street records in 2005.

12. "Waking to the Sounds of the Day (first mix)" - Dave Jablonski

I've known Dave since the early 90s. That's a whole lot of songs ago, but this unreleased cut ranks among my very favorites. Recorded in one late night / early morning session in 2006 with Casey Tennis on drums / tambourine / acoustic guitar, Hubert Glover on vibes / guitar solo, and Dave playing electric guitar / air organ / singing.

- Jorma Whittaker