Dallas Observer Mixtape with DeeJay CeePee: Can, Alice Cooper and More

Chris Penn has spent a decade at the forefront of the vinyl resurgence in Dallas. He co-owns one of the city's most beloved record stores, Good Records with business partner and Polyphonic Spree frontman Tim Delaughter. When Penn isn't busy with day-to-day store operations, though, he moonlights as a DJ at several bars and events in the area as DeeJay CeePee — a natural fit for someone that spends all of his time submerged in music inside his store. For this week's mixtape, Penn delivers an eclectic two-hour mix of psych, funk and rock with a very groovy slant.


Dallas Observer: How did you get started deejaying? How long have you been at it?

DeeJay CeePee: I started in 2003 in the U.K., of all places. While on tour with the Polyphonic Spree, the promoters would set up after-parties at nearby or adjacent bars to the venues we were playing. I would be the one to be in charge of the tunes, with folks in the band stepping in a bit here and there too. Once we got back from tour, I think the opportunity to have a weekly at the Cavern arose. I did that for a couple of years, then also did Billiard Bar for two years pretty much right after that.

How was this mix made? Is there a particular theme for the track selection?

I am doing the second and fourth Fridays at Independent Bar & Kitchen now, so when this opportunity arose I figured I would use Mixxx to record the first two hours of my four-hour set with this in mind. I went psychedelic for the most part on this one. I typically will start a set by picking a song and see where that song leads me to my next selection.

How does owning a record store affect your listening habits?

Great thing about owning/working at a record store is you get to weed out/learn which the good cuts are. I will be working in the office and something catches my ear out on the floor that Jacob, Kevin or Alex are playing. It is an ongoing process of us turning ourselves onto stuff and our customer base.

Is there common ground between how you curate the stock of your store and how you curate your DJ sets?

When myself, Tim DeLaughter and Julie Doyle started Good Records, we wanted to stock what we deemed to be "good." We wanted to curate a store that if you walked in and took a chance, nine times out of 10 you are going to walk out with something great that you knew about or something the staff turned you onto. When I DJ, I like to run the gamut of genres and play songs that hopefully perk folks' ears up.

What recent releases have caught your ear?

Ryley Walker's Golden Sings That Have Been Sung and Morgan Delt's Phase Zero are pretty great current psych records. I am also into what Wick/Daptone Records is releasing. The Mystery Lights and the Frightnrs records are pretty great.

What has been your most significant musical experience of the past year?

The tail end of 2015 I was able to reunite the surviving members of the Alice Cooper Group at Good Records for their longest set since 1974, which has bled into 2016 as I am releasing two songs from the event as a limited edition 7-inch on Black Friday Record Store Day (Nov. 25). Seeing your favorite band in your record store and releasing a record by them is kind of hard to top in record store geekdom. I still have to pinch myself.

What is new with Good Records?

We are in our 16th year and plan to continue fighting the good fight. We still offer the best of local and national in-store performances on our pink AstroTurf stage. We have satellite locations at Off the Record, Tone Shop Guitars and Goodfriend Package Store and will be adding more locations soon to spread the good word. We will also be opening a new boutique on Garland Road called The Good Pagoda. The Good Umbrella continues to grow.

What upcoming DJ gigs do you have?

I am deejaying the Smoked festival this weekend. I also have the second and fourth Fridays of each month at Independent Bar & Kitchen happening. I am also helping curate the musical soundtrack for Here, which is opening Oct. 1.

Tracklist:
1. David Axelrod - Urizen
2. Pastor T.L. Barrett And The Youth For Christ Choir - Like A Ship
3. The United States Of America - Coming Down
4. The Fiery Furnaces - Single Again
5. Gruff Rhys - Gwn Mi Wn
6. Blonde Redhead - In Particular
7. Jacco Gardner - Another You
8. The Free Design - Kites Are Fun (Mellow Mix)
9. The Millennium - Prelude
10. Novos Baianos - Tinindo Tricando
11. Can - Turtles Have Short Legs
12. Mor Thiam - Ayo Ayo Nene
13. Minnie Riperton - Les Fleurs
14. Black Mountain - Druganaut (Extended Remix)
15. The Pastels - One Wild Moment (Stereolab Remix)
16. Jorge Ben - Ponta de Lanca Africano (Umbarauma)
17. Mac Rybell - The Lantern
18. The Zombies - Hung Up On A Dream
19. The Monkees - Porpoise Song
20. Cat Stevens - Sitting
21. Friend & Lover - Reach Out Of The Darkness
22. David Bowie - Sound and Vision
23. Salt - Lucifer
24. Brightblack Morning Light - Everybody Daylight
25. African Music Machine - Black Water Gold (Pearl)
26. Melvin Jackson - Funky Skull (Parts 1 & 2)
27. Bob Dylan - All The Tired Horses
28. Bobby Hebb - Sunny
29. Big Star - The India Song
30 Benni Hemm Hemm -BeginningEnd
31. Brenton Wood - Oogum Boogum
32. Jean Claude Vannier - Danse Des Mouches Noires Gardes Du Roi
33. Tiny Tim - Livin' In The Sunlight, Lovin' In The Moon Light
34. Alice Cooper - Grande Finale
35. Tim DeLaughter - Acceptance (Price Is Right Mix)