SUMMER OF OUR DISC CONTENTS - JULY 13, 2026
Moodscapes: Mellow Yellow (2000) is a compilation CD released by Direct Source, a Canadian music label who seemed to specialize in this sort of thing: chintzy themed compilations of songs they presumably obtained a cheap license for. This particular disc is part of the larger Moodscapes set, a set that is woefully undocumented online, to the extent that, at time of writing, I have absolutely no idea how many discs constitute the full set.
Regardless, the series has a clear vision and premise: each disc is a compilation of tracks curated to evoke a specific mood corresponding to a particular color and image chosen for the album. In the case of Mellow Yellow, our color is yellow, and our image is a sweeping, pastoral photo of a hay field, presumably located somewhere in the American west. As such, the music chosen centers strongly on that sort of imagery. Many of the tracks are humble and idyllic, ranging from sleepy instrumentals to modest covers of old western folk ballads. While a few break away from it, the general vibe is, well... mellow. This is the sort of music to waft gently in on a scene of elderly homesteaders on their front porch, surveying the peaceful land they care for.
My copy of this disc was found in the depths of a Christian thrift shop. Intrigued by it and finding maddeningly little information, I decided to archive it to the best of my ability, birthing this, the SUMMER OF OUR DISC CONTENTS project.
My goal is simple. I simply want to archive the contents of the odd, oft-forgotten discs I find on my travels, to preserve these odd little bits of cultural ephemera for what they are: curious little time capsules.
You can find a download of the contents of this disc, as well as photos of the packaging and a hand-typed lyrics sheet here.
Alternatively, you may listen to a mirror of the CD here.
I hope you enjoy it!