"Sail Away" is the title track from Randy Newman's 1972 album. The lyrics are an imagined sales pitch from a slave trader to potential slaves. It soon became a standard, and previous mixes here have included versions by Ray Charles, Etta James and Newman's album version. This mix includes an earlier studio version by Newman as well as contemporaneous covers by Linda Ronstadt, Harry Nilsson and Bobby Darin. Of Darin’s version recorded shortly before he died in 1972, Newman said "Bobby Darin could sing, but he did "Sail Away", and well...I don't think he understood it. He did it like it was a happy song about coming to America."
"A Song For You" was originally written and recorded by Leon Russell for his eponymous 1970 album. Previous mixes have included versions by Rosemary Clooney, Amy Winehouse, Cher, Lou Rawls, Merry Clayton, Willie Nelson and Donnie Hathaway both live and in the studio. This mix adds Carmen McRae's live 1972 version, as well as studio versions by Al Wilson, Dusty Springfield and Peggy Lee.
One other song repeats this week: the Jneiro Jarel/MF Doom collaboration JJ Doom call "Bookhead" and its remix version titled "Bookfiend".
"Echoes Of My Mind" is a calypso cover of the Fred Neil standard and Nilsson hit "Everybody's Talkin'" by Bahamaian band Ronnie & The Ramblers.
Both "Magic" by Nesby Phipps with Curren$y Stalley and Jay-Z's UK-only single "Wishing On A Star" with Gwen Dickey are interpolations of the Rose Royce single “Wishing On A Star”.
Neil Young's "Campaigner" has appeared on his early greatest hits album Decade and this blog. This week features a longer, newly unearthed version.
The rest: the harpsichord-driven 1965 hit "For Your Love" by The Yardbirds, Gil Scott Heron's uplifting "When You Are Who You Are", the sweet "Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)" by The O'Jays, the wise "When Love Begins Friendship Ends” by Bobby Womack, a cover of The Steve Miller Band's "Fly Like An Eagle" by The Space Lady, a version of the standard "My Blue Heaven" by Smashing Pumpkins and the spiritual "Brother, Be Ready For That Day" by Grady & Hazel Cole.
Sail Away Linda Rondstadt
A Song For You (live 1972) Carmen McRae
Magic Nesby Phips ft. Curren$y Stalley
For Your Love The Yardbirds
Bookhead JJ Doom
A Song For You Al Wilson
Sail Away Harry Nilsson
Echoes Of My Mind Ronnie & The Ramblers
When You Are Who You Are Gil Scott-Heron
Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet Baby Love) The O'Jay's
Sail Away Bobby Darin
A Song For You Dusty Springfield
Wishing On A Star Jay-Z ft. Gwen Dickey
When Love Begins Friendship Ends Bobby Womack
Bookfiend (Clams Casnino ver) JJ Doom
Fly Like An Eagle The Space Lady
A Song For You Peggy Lee
Sail Away (early ver) Randy Newman
My Blue Heaven Smashing Pumpkins
Campaigner (long ver) Neil Young
Brother, Be Ready For That Day Grady & Hazel Cole
