We get older and the music stays the same. With summer officially beginning, we have the perfect way to celebrate. From its rock and roll soundtrack to a funny, affectionate sense of nostalgia, Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused has grown into a beloved classic able to present a dead-on depiction of the ’70s, while also capturing the uneasiness of the 1990s. The Criterion Collection has now shared a letter written by Linklater to the cast and crew of D & C with some required listening — “here are some music tapes to check out,” he begins — and a full playlist of his suggestions.
Beyond these choices, Linklater meditates on the task that faces them all with D & C still ahead of them, and talks about trusting his gut instinct, stating that if the final product is 100% verbatim what is in the script, he will consider it a massive underachievement. His words are humble and encouraging, a glimpse into a young filmmaker with a talent for working with others and understanding the core of what he is trying to accomplish.
Listen to the full mixtape below on Spotify, and see Linklater’s letter.
Dazed and Confused is available on The Criterion Collection and its spiritual sequel Everybody Wants Some!! is now available to stream.