ECLECTICA #23: Silicon Valet
compiled October 1999 by Paul Estin
http://home.intranet.org/~estin/cd/

In this collection, I was getting towards the end of my pre-prepared categories.  
So, the songs contained herein concern a number of topics which don’t 
particular relate to one another.  All the more eclectic, I say.

The section on computers [1-6] includes eclectic songs by Tom Smith, Capitol 
Steps, Peter Paul & Mary, Mojo Nixon, John Forster, and filker Steve 
MacDonald (covering what I think is probably a Frank Hayes song).

MacDonald’s song also leads us into the next category, aging & nostalgia [6-
9], which also includes songs by Weird Al, Talking Heads, and Cliff 
Eberhardt.  From there we segue into “self-improvement” [10-12], with 
contributions from the Arrogant Worms, Sudden Death, and Moxy Früvous.  
The latter two songs also segue into “medicine” more generally [13-15], with 
songs by Eclectica perennials Weird Al, Bob Rivers, and Christine Lavin.

Lavin’s song “Music to Operate By” also segues into the topic of “musicians” 
[16-22], with songs by Tom Smith, Mojo Nixon, Wally Pleasant, the Arrogant 
Worms, Laurie Anderson (using her own head, electrified, as an instrument), 
and finally Tom Smith.

About the cover
This is “IM4U,” the robot alien servant from the comic strip “Eyebeam” by 
Sam Hurt, by far the least known of what I consider to be the four great comic 
strips of the ‘80s, along with Bloom County, The Far Side, and Calvin & 
Hobbes.  If you didn’t live in Texas, or knew someone who did who 
introduced you to “Eyebeam,” you probably never heard of this wonderfully 
clever, surreal creation.

“Actually, I don’t exist.  I’m all in your head.”  -- Hank the Hallucination