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In honor of many things, namely: 1) yesterday was the 85th anniversary of Howard Carter's entry into King Tut's sealed burial chamber after nearly 20 years in the Valley of the Kings with only his own convictions and a pith helmet to help him, 2) a mini-reunion of sorts that took place last week of some of my darling travel companions from my trip to Egypt (Egy-pets, if you will) nearly 2 years ago, 3) the general feeling of not ever being able to repay my friend Sherief and his family for hosting me from Aswan to El Gouna (this mix is a mere drop in the bucket), and 4) my mother's survival of TOMB, an Indiana Jones-esque interactive art exhibit in Boston where you're "trapped by the spirit of an ancient pharaoh", I am dedicating this mix to the cradle of ancient civilization.

Here's your Bangles-free mix.

1. "King Tut" - Steve Martin & The Toot Uncommons

My father loves this song. The 45 was played constantly in my house from the time I could hear until I moved out and went to college. So this one's for you, Dad. There is hardly any of it on iTunes, so here's the full mp3 on SeeqPod. Can we discuss the weird tempo changes?

2. "Egypt, Egypt" - Professors of Funk

Imagine if Lady Tigra, Bunny D, and Cameo were on the same tour group at the Pyramids of Giza in 1982. The resulting musical collaboration would sound something like this.

3. "Fire In Cairo" - The Cure

No, this song isn't about an out-of-control blaze at a Khan el Khalili cafe, it's about yearning. It's the Cure, man, what do you expect?

4. "Camel's Rhythm" - Upper Egypt Ensemble

I think the Upper Egypt Ensemble falls in the "New Age" category, but I'm okay with that because I'm picturing belly dancers and smiling musicians.

5. "Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt" - Pharoah Sanders

The lotus and the papyrus! See, I learned something on my trip.

6. "In Cairo" - Hot Hot Heat

A song about the weird comfort of walking through crowded streets and not being able to understand anybody, thereby not reacting to their dramas, so you start to shed your stress and surrender to the energy of a foreign place. Just be sure to not get run over by one of the thousands of speeding cars careening over the 26th of July Bridge while you're at it.

7. "Like Egypt Was" - Michael Penn

I have to admit that I did see a lot of concrete and a few cats. And the river, of course.

8. "Little Egypt (Ying-Yang) - The Coasters

What does the concept of ying-yang have to do with Egypt? According to the Coasters (and Elvis Presley, among others), it has something to do with a stripper. Ok, then.

9. "East of the River Nile" - Augustus Pablo

Arabian riddims.

10. "Immortal Egypt" - Phil Thornton & Hossam Ramzy

Some delicious authentic Egyptian music.

Bonus Tracks

"Bum F**k Egypt - Dash Rip Rock

A sort-of neo-Van Halen Louisiana/Egypt rock and roll love story.

"Out of Egypt, Into the Great Laugh of Mankind, and I Shake the Dirt from My Sandals As I Run" - Sufjan Stevens

This song sounds like what it feels like to be sailing up the Nile as the sun rises.

"Camels Snorting" - Sound Effects

Just for fun.

Happy birthday, Dad, a million shukrans to Sherief, and a large and lovely shout-out to my Egy-pets!