I Need A Fix (LP #43)

This week on LONGPLAY, the set is a trip.

Music has always had a drug problem. Or maybe drugs have always had a music problem. Either way, they’ve been tangled together since the beginning: a pair of junkies chasing the same high.So this week, we’re listening to songs that don’t just mention drugs—they’re soaked in them.

Some are cautionary tales.

Some are cries for help.

Some are invitations.

Some are just... high as hell.

We’ll hear heroin and coke, champagne and reefer, prescriptions, psychedelics, powders, pills, and pipes. From the raw ache of Elliott Smith to the slow unraveling of Neil Young. From Rick James laughing in the clouds to Gil Scott-Heron staring down the comedown. From waiting for the man to trying to say no to drugs.

This isn’t just about substance, it’s about escape. Addiction, avoidance, the thrill, the regret, the ritual. Because everybody needs a fix.

Some of us chase it.

Some of us survive it.

Some of us make music about it.

We’ll be tracing the steps to the ultimate high, starting slow then building up to ecstasy.

So roll it, drop it, pour it, light it or just sit still and breathe.

This is LONGPLAY.

Thanks for tuning in.

About varied/mix & Brainrot Radio Partnership

To bring our playlists to life on air we work with Brainrot Radio, a non-profit independent internet station broadcasting coast to coast.

Tune in live at brainrotradio.com every Tuesday from 11 PM – 12:30 AM for the show, where we curate playlists that reflect the moods and energies of the midnight hours (though they’re great at any time).

The next day, catch our writing and the full playlist right here on Substack.

Listen along as you read.

Listen to the recording of the live show above or find the playlist on Spotify below.

Thank you for tuning into LONGPLAY.

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