"Oh Happy Day" is late 60s gospel arrangement of an18th century hymn, and became a 1969 hit for the Edwin Hawkins Singers. This mix features that version along with rare versions by Paul Weller and Nina Simone performing live.
"What Cha' Gonna Do For Me" was a hit single for Chaka Khan in 1981, but previously recorded by Average White Band and the song's co-writer,, Ned Doheny. All three of those versions are here.
Dire Straits' "Skateaway" is from their album Making Movies, released at the end of the peak disc era in 1980. On this mix is it sandwiched between two disco skate-tehmed songs, Vinzerelli's 1979 disco platter "Skate Dancer" and the obscure early 80s disc side "Skateboard" by Chemistry.
The rest: late 80s female rap pioneers Fresh To Rock with "Get On Down", the James Brown-sampling "I Got It" by Three Times Dope, the garage rocker "She Gives Me Time" by Just Too Much, the 80s UK guitar fuzz song "Don't Slip Up" by Meat Whiplash, Medicine's guitar-heavy "A Short Happy Life" from their 1992 debut, Talib Kweli's b-side "Distractions", the soul obscurity "Color Me Blue" by Decisions and a live version of "repetition" by Charlie Parker.
Oh Happy Day Edwin Hawkins Singers
Whatcha' Gonna Do For Me Average White Band
Skate Dancer Vinzerelli
Skateaway Dire Straits
Skateboard Chemistry
Get On Down Fresh To Rock
What Cha' Gonna Do For Me Ned Doheny
Oh Happy Day Paul Weller
I Got It Three Times Dope
She Gives Me Time Just Too Much
Don't Slip Up Meat Whiplash
A Short Happy Life Medicine
Distractions Talib Kweli
Color Me Blue Decisions
What Cha' Gonna Do For Me Chaka Khan
Oh Happy Day (live) Nina Simone
Repetition (live at Birdland) Charlie Parker
