This mix from four years ago is peppered with references to my hometown Chicago as my boyhood team The White Sox were on their way to capturing what will probably be the only World Series they will win in my lifetime.
So there's two versions of the blues standard "Sweet Home Chicago" by perhaps my two favorite bands ever: a sloppy live version by The Replacements and studio outtake by The Rolling Stones. Additionally, there's James Brown's game and idiosyncratic version of the standard "Chicago" as well as Sufjan Stevens' live version of his own composition also titled "Chicago". Rounding it out is the early Louis Armstrong & His Hot 5 song "Chicago Breakdown".
Also featured on here are three covers of The Rolling Stones ballad "Under My Thumb": by Wayne Gibson, The Who and a loose backstage rehearsal by Joe Cocker's band.
Speaking of The Stones, Merry Clayton was the original back up singer on their song "Gimme Shelter". On this mix I've included her cover version of that song
Other stuff: the apocalyptic collaboration by RZA& MF Doom called "Biochemical Equation", Captain Funkaho's odd "My 2600", Liz Lands' early Motown version of the standard "He's Got The Whole World In His Hands", Willie Nelson's mellow cover of the Kenny Rogers song "Just Dropped In", Paul Westerberg's defiant "MamaDaddyDid", N.W.A.'s crass "A Bitch Iz A Bitch", Donovan's funky "Season Of The Witch", the witty "The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill" by The Beatles, the bizarre yet heartfelt medley of Elton John covers by Solomon Burke called "Three Psalms Of Elton: Your Song/Border Song/ Take Me To The Pilot", Keith Sweat's smooth new jack anthem "I Want Her", Prince's elegiac "Purple Rain" and Jimi Hendrix's tender "May This Be Love".
