first things first, meet my beloved Sony CD Walkman
His name is DJ (after his model name D-EJ725). I got him in May of last year so I could live the fantasy of being the cool girl on public transit without my phone out. I've been living the fantasy ever since! I collect a lot of CDs so he's been put to very good use. My favorite CDs to listen to in public are my Mozart CDs, Van Halen I, and all my Billy Idol ones of course.
I learned about the actual differences between streamed and analog listening quality while getting my degree in Audio Production, and I really believe that listening to music portably on a clunkier device makes you feel more connected to the music you love. For an entire essay on why you should get a CD walkman, read this on my substack!
The Road to the Sony CD Walkman- the maccadot press
CD Collection
- Art Garfunkel- Breakaway
- Ben Platt- Sing to Me Instead
- Carly Rae Jepsen- The Loneliest Time
- David Bowie- Best of Bowie
- David Bowie- Let's Dance
- Dayglow- Fuzzybrain
- Elton John- Duets
- Enya- A Day Without Rain
- Michael Jackson- Off the Wall
- Norah Jones- Come Away with Me
- Paul McCartney- Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
- Rupaul- Supermodel of the World
- The Beatles- Magical Mystery Tour
- The Beatles- Revolver
- Billy Joel- The Stranger
- Billy Idol- Whiplash Smile
- Billy Idol- Storytellers
- Bon Jovi- Greatest Hits
- Def Leppard- Hysteria
- Def Leppard- Pyromania
- Def Leppard- Vault
- Electric Light Orchestra- Best of ELO
- Elton John- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- Meat Loaf- Bat Out of Hell
- Ninja Sex Party- Cool Patrol
- Ninja Sex Party- The Prophecy
- Steely Dan- Aja
- T.Rex- Electric Warrior
- Tears for Fears- The Seeds of Love
- Van Halen- Van Halen
- Van Halen- Van Halen II
- Wings- Red Rose Speedway
- Yes- Best of Yes
- Yes- Big Generator
- My Chemical Romance- Danger Days
- Panic! at the Disco- Pretty Odd
- Laufey- A Matter of Time
- Paul McCartney- Kisses on the Bottom
- Sidney Bechet- Best of Sidney Bechet
- John Mock- Celtic Highlands
- Mozart- Mozart in the Morning
- Mozart- Mozart for the Millennium
- Mozart- Mozart for Your Mind
- Mozart- Mozart at Midnight
- Wagner- Opernarien Lauritz Melchoir
- Howard Shore- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
- Mario Galaxy Orchestra- Super Mario Galaxy Soundtrack
- Neville Marriner- Amadeus Soundtrack Recording
- Original Cast 1972- Cabaret
- Original Cast 1993- Cabaret
- Prince- Batman 1989
- Ronan Hardiman- Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance
- Sherman Brothers- Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 1968 Film
- Stephen Trask- Hedwig and the Angry Inch
- David Bowie- Serious Moonlight Live in 1983
- Elton John- Here and There
- Ozzy Osbourne- Tribute Live in 1981
- Wings- Wings Over America
- Hayashibara Megumi- With You
- America- Homecoming
- Batdorf and Rodney- Portfolio
- k. d. lang- recollection
- Squirrel Nut Zippers- The Inevitable Squirrel Nut Zippers
Vinyl Collection
- Chappell Roan- Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
- Culture Club- Colour By Numbers
- The Beatles- Rubber Soul
- Billy Idol- Rebel Yell
- Cutting Crew- Broadcast
- David Bowie- Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars
- David Bowie- Young Americans
- Elton John- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
- Elton John- Madman Across the Water
- John Lennon- Double Fantasy
- John Lennon- Milk and Honey
- John Lennon- Walls and Bridges
- T.Rex- Electric Warrior
- Van Halen- Van Halen
- Wings- Venus and Mars
- Count Basie- Pop Goes the Basie
- Laufey- Bewitched (Goddess Edition)
- Laufey- Everything I Know About Love
- Liana Flores- Flower of the Soul
- Hector Berlioz- Romeo et Juliette
- David Bowie, Trevor Jones- Labyrinth
- Original Cast- The Rocky Horror Picture Show
- Vince Guaraldi Trio- A Charlie Brown Christmas
- Dave Brubeck- Adventures in Time
- Ensemble HD- Live at the Happy Dog
- Laufey- A Night at the Symphony
- Laufey- A Night at the Symphony: Hollywood Bowl
- Wings- Wings Over America
- Batdorf and Rodney- Batdorf and Rodney
playlist
certified bangers
maccadot
• updated March 2026 •
10 songs, 58 min 16 sec
1
Funeral For a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding
Elton John
11:07
I would be disowned if this were not the first song on this list. When my father decided he'd buy himself a nice pair of headphones, he was determined that I'd sit down and listen to the full eleven minutes of this song with my eyes closed in the dark. Raised on Elton John, I knew I'd enjoy it... but wow. This song is lifechangingly good. Whenever this plays, I'm supposed to play air guitar and my dad's playing the air castanets. We're pretty good!
2
Eyes Without A Face
Billy Idol, Steve Stevens
4:59
This is a universally beloved song, or should be, but what makes this song special to me is my piano rendition I invented at 17. I've played the piano since I was little much due to the support of my parents, specifically my dad. We both love the studio version of the song, and I decided I'd make a more lyrical piano rendition, and it completely transformed this song for the both of us. The musicality behind this banger is seriously gorgeous. I love playing this song and I get emotional whenever I hear it!!
3
Let's Dance- Live in '83
David Bowie
4:34
THIS ROCKS!! The guitar on this sounds like someone dropped a piano on the lead guitarist's foot and he's howling. Oh my god! Listening to this song my freshman year of college singlehandedly made me transfer schools to pursue audio engineering. Fun fact!
4
Medicine Jar- Live
Wings
4:07
I'm VERY passionate about Wings, and I love to remind others that my favorite member is in fact not lead singer and ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, but the 26yo teeny tiny guitarist Jimmy McCulloch. He wrote two songs I really love from the Wings discography (this and Wino Junko) which are interestingly both about addiction. They are both really interesting and creative songs with tougher lyrics but beautiful musicality. The studio version of this is also super neat and has the most wild bass processsing, but the live version has my heart and hours playing on repeat.
5
Home Again
Batdorf and Rodney
6:29
Once again, my father showed me this group after he found a few of their albums in a record store somewhere in Connecticut in the 70s. I've truly never heard another person ever mention this band, but it's been the secret soundtrack to lots of my life. The reason many claim that they didn't go mainstream is because they jam too much on their guitar; to that I say BOOOO! BOOOO LAME LOSER WANNABES!! You're just mad they're that good.
6
(I Just) Died In Your Arms- 12" Mix
Cutting Crew
6:47
This favorite cemented itself into my lifetime playlist during my senior year of high school. I really enjoyed the layering of the guitars during the solo, and it inspired me to look more into audio production and 80s pop.
7
As The World Falls Down
David Bowie
4:51
My older sister is responsible for introducing me to Bowie, and we joke to this day that if sexy goblin king David Bowie stole ME away that she's leave me be knowing I'm in good hands. This dance scene in the movie is gorgeous, quintessentially 80s high fantasy, and juuuust the right amount of glittery.
8
Year Of The Knife- Canadian Radio Mix
Tears For Fears
5:38
My high school guitar teacher (who referred to me exclusively as 'punkeroo') told me I should look further into this Tears For Fears album, and he was on to something! This album is DELICIOUS and filled with interesting, complex songs. This song in this mix specifically sticks out to me because the sound feels full and luscious.
9
Goddess- Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Laufey, Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra
5:05
I'm a huge Laufey fan and have been since her first EP :) I bonded with one of my coworkers by singing all of her songs in perfect three part harmonies during late shifts. I really believe in her work and her talent, and this recording of her performing really encapsulates all I think is incredible about her songwriting and vocal talent. I still get chills whenever she hits the top note in the bridge and the crowd cheers go from a simmer to a roar.
10
Man For All Seasons
Billy Idol, Steve Stevens
4:39
Recent favorite during which I discovered that Steve Stevens' instrumental skill is responsible for much of my favorite Billy Idol sound. This song is very strange lyrically, much like most of this album, but the giutar solo takes up truly a third of the song and is stunning. Wow! Love this.