Because publishing a book is a good excuse to make a mixtape, here’s “Every Song Has a Place,” a playlist inspired by my book, Everything Has a Place, which will find itself in people’s hands tonight. I’ll have a few extra copies on hand at the release show.

1. Onra and Quetzal – In My Place
2. Monsters of Folk – The Right Place
3. David Ruffin – Rode By the Place (Where We Used to Stay)
4. Diana Ross & the Supremes – Baby Love
5. Beyonce – Love on Top
6. Al Green – Tired of Being Alone
7. Adele – Send My Love (To Your New Lover)
8. Beauty and the Beast – Gaston Song
9. Drake – Marvin’s Room
10. Holly Maxwell – Only When You’re Lonely
11. Otis Redding – Pain in My Heart (Live at the Whisky a Go Go)
12. Earth, Wind & Fire – September
13. Coco O – Where the Wind Blows
14. scoop x on planets – Too
15. Akon – Locked Up (or Exile – Fly feat. Blu, depending on your copy)
16. The Sylvers – High School Dance
17. Clarence “Frogman” Henry – Ain’t Got No Home
18. Donny Hathaway – Magnificent Sanctuary Band
19. Freddie Scott – (You) Got What I Need
20. Lester Bowie Brass Fantasy – Two Become One
21. Etta James – I Got You Bab (JR Dynamite’s Back to Funk Edit)
22. Objectiv One – This Is How We Do It (South Central Jazz Festival Mash Up) (Montell Jordan Vs. Hubert Laws)
23. Kirk Franklin – I Smile (New Orleans Bounce Mix)