Sometimes spring feels like a restless wait for summer, and then suddenly it feels like summer. So, calender be damned, it seems time to start my weekly mix with Albert Ayler's indescribably sublime version of the Gershwin standard "Summertime".
Two songs repeat across the mix: the original version of Randy Newman's "No One Ever Hurt This Bad" as well as a cover by Linda Ronstadt and both the demo and official take of Ray Charles' "Funny (But I Still Love You)".
I've always loved demo or more stripped-down versions of songs. I suppose all-vocal tracks fall in that category, such as the "a cappella" version of "99 Problems" by Jay-Z. Other demo versions on here include "Leave Me Be" by The Zombies and "Yesterday" by The Beatles.
Speaking of The Beatles, "Uh- Huh" is the Method Man track mashed up with The Beatles' "You Know My Name (Look Up The Number)". Method Man and the rest of The Wu-Tang Clan are also on here with the menacing "Careful (Click, Click)".
Last week's mix featured a bunch of songs performed live and this week's ends with two more: "Country Feedback" by R.E.M. and Paul Westerberg's version of "Things" on the BBC.
The rest: Prince's salacious "Head", the funky "Things Could Be Better" by Ernie & The Top Notes featuring Raymond Winnfield, Prince Paul's bouncy "Steady Slobbin'" featuring Breeze, the bizarre "Thinking About God In Room 335 While The Guys Next Door Are Getting Blow Jobs" by Redemption Thong, the tender "Can We Pretend" by Bill Withers, the forlorn "Pieces" by Miwa Gemini, the languid "Obscured" by Smashing Pumpkins, Willie Nelson's version of the Leon Russell standard "A Song For You" and the defiant "My Love For You (Has Turned To Hate)" by Hank Williams.
