From Brother Ray: his early hit "I Got A Woman", the decadent "Let's Go Get Stoned", his iconic take of "Georgia On My Mind" and his rendition of "America The Beautiful". This recording should be the national anthem.
Stevie Wonder was, for obvious and more subtle reasons, sort of a kid brother or nephew to Ray Charles. He even recorded an album as a child called A Tribute To Uncle Ray, featuring cover versions of Ray Charles songs. So on this mix he is here with a live version of "If You Really Love Me" recorded on tour opening for The Rolling Stones. And I have his cover of the Supremes' "My World Is Empty Without You".
Other stuff: P.M. Dawn's witty "Reality Used To Be A Friend Of Mine", Freelance Hellraiser's brilliant mash-up of The Strokes over Christina Aguilera called "Stroke Of Genius", Kelis' airy "Millionaire" featuring a sly cameo by Andre 3000, Tears For Fear's romantic "Closest Thing To Heaven", Cliff Richard's paranoid "Devil Woman", Jimmy Cliff's cheerful "Let Your Yeah Be Yeah", Cee-Lo's joyous "The Art Of Noise" featuring Pharrell, The Mary Jane Girls with the suggestive "In My House", Prince's forlorn "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore", take 2 of Duke Ellington's languid "Sloppy Joe", Buju Banton's hopeful "Untold Stories", a rare bootleg take of Bob Dylan playing The Beatles' "Yesterday" with his pal George Harrison, Bobby Caldwell's smooth "What You Won't Do For Love", and Bjork's sensual "Venus As A Boy".
