Activities: Lying Low On A Sunday Afternoon

Your mornings need a soundtrack. This is music for taking it easy with a newspaper and a big cup of coffee.

Kick back on a weekend morning to let the cares of the week -- or the dust you kicked up last night -- blow easily by in the breeze. Here's some easy-rolling tracks to set the mellow mood for a "no sudden moves" sort of day.

Mind if we spice up your Eggs Benedict? How about another Bloody Mary? Enjoy these jazz inspirations to help you waste the afternoon away.

Take a trip from Haight on down to Sunset with these acoustic-centric songs by California artists from the late '60s and early '70s. Singer-songwriter, folk rock, country rock, soft rock. Lots of harmony, and plenty of mellow.

Welcome to the world of Ray Charles, where you'll encounter not only monumental cuts from the man who melded blues, soul, country, jazz, and gospel into a harmonious whole, but also some titanic tracks by Brother Ray's influences, peers, and disciples.

This playlist features comforting folk songs from the '60s to today, replete with warm acoustic guitars and soothing vocal harmonies.

A blend of hazy rap anthems from old heads and smoked-out upstarts. Roll one up.

Let these laid back, southern-fried hip-hop grooves soundtrack your next good-time BBQ gathering. Slow your roll.

A collection of music created by and/or featuring members of the Atlanta, Georgia based Hip-Hop/R&B/Soul musical collective, the Dungeon Family. Most notable members include Outkast, Goodie Mob, and Organized Noize Productions.

A retrospective of Chicago's legendary Chess Records, America's greatest blues label. Chess was the home of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Etta James, Little Walter, and many more.

What becomes of the brokenhearted? They console themselves with their favorite classic soul tunes about love and loss.

Songs from movies written, directed, and produced by Joel and Ethan Coen, who are known for their excellent taste in music.

Songs by indie artists that are strongly influenced by traditional roots rock, bluegrass, and country. Rootsy and rough around the edges.

Folk and folk-like tunes from both sides of the pond that evoke a forest setting.

Dating back to 1930s, these are some of the earliest recordings of blues music. Though it had humble beginnings, the blues music of the Mississippi Delta paved the way for rock & roll.

This playlist includes all of the early Texas blues pioneers, some of whom were the first to play the blues with an electric guitar.

Folk rock was born when bands started using rock instrumentation to play traditional folk music in the 1960s. These are the songs that defined this important development in popular music history.

A collection of classics and lesser-known gems from the beginning of rock & roll, with an emphasis on country-leaning "hillbilly rock," or rockabilly

In 2005, rock legend Tom Petty began hosting "Tom Petty's Buried Treasure," an XM radio show featuring favorite tracks from his personal record collection. The "treasures" on this mix include songs from garage to soul to blues.

Hawaiian steel guitar classics from the 1920s through the early 1940s.

Classic Jamaican reggae songs, plus newer songs from reggae artists in the U.K., U.S. and Africa.

Classic roots reggae from the 1970s: Rasta, repatriation, and reefer.

A new brand of country music emerged in the '70s that sought to bring raw honky tonk emotion and authenticity back to the genre, which had become increasingly pop-oriented. These are the outlaw country songs that mattered.

A collection of songs featured on the popular country music blog, countryandwestern.tumblr.com. Listen to a mix of good ol' guys and gals, with a sprinkle of modern cowboys and cowgirls.

Home to The Swampers, one of the greatest house bands in American R&B history, Muscle Shoals Studio in Alabama remains the go-to destination for artists seeking that iconic, soulful sound. These are the essential songs recorded there.

Don't fight it, feel it! In the 1960s, gospel music met secular lyrics describing the black experience in America, and soul music was born. '60s soul singers demanded respect, begged for love, and told it like it was, changing popular music forever.

Also known as "white soul" or "pop soul," blue-eyed soul is a term that's commonly applied to white artists whose sound is influenced by classic soul and R&B.

Summery, fun, and jangly lo-fi pop. Grab some friends, pack some munchies, and lie on the grass and watch clouds for hours.

Songs by some of the best female indie pop singers.

Can't wait for "Moonrise Kingdom," the sixth feature film from Wes Anderson? This playlist of songs from all of his films is sure to tide you over.

Say bonjour to French pop from the 1960s, also known as "ye-ye." This sexy, cosmopolitan sound rose to popularity with the mod movement that swept Europe and landed on American shores.

The classic Beach Boys sound of the mid-to-late '60s has influenced generations of artists ever since. Listen to contemporary artists show off their devotion to the genius of Brian Wilson.

Eclectic sounds from the African continent, from afrobeat, highlife and juju to desert blues and Ethio-jazz.

An offshoot of hard bop that flourished in the '60s and early '70s, soul jazz fed on the bluesy passion of R&B. Most associated with hard-driving organ trios and honking, bluesy horns, it's jazz with groove, grit and soul.

Classic female blues singers from the 1920s through the '50s, from the lowdown dirty Beale Street blues to the sanctified gospel of the storefront churches.

Dirty, dusty sounds left out in the sun too long, echoing off the steer skulls and sand dunes into the wide open spaces.

Epic-length explorations from the jam band underground, along with a few tunes by the bands who inspired the style.