"You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" is a 1973 #1 single by Stevie Wonder, the second single from his album Talking Book released the year before. The first two lyrics are sung by Wonder's band member Jim Gilstrap, and the following two lyrics by singer Lani Groves before Wonder himself takes over. This version, as well as a live version by Stevie and covers by Frank Sinatra and Leon Thomas, has appeared on previous mixes here. This mix features Stevie in a live duet with Ella Fitzgerald at the 1977 New Orleans Jazz festival, as well as a cover by Brenda Lee and a French duet by Sacha Distel with Brigitte Bardot titled "Le Soleil De Ma Vie".
"She Said Yeah", co-written by Sonny Bono, was originally recorded by soul singer Larry Williams in 1959. Williams was a favorite singer of John Lennon, and his suicide at the age of 44 in 1980 is said to have scared his best friend Little Richard off their mutual drug habit. This mix features a cover by The Rolling Stones from their 1965 album December's Children (And Everybody's) and a cover by Paul McCartney from his 1999 album Run Devil Run as well as the original.
One other song repeats this week: the title track to Merle Haggard's 62nd album, released in 2010, titled "I Am What I Am", here with a recent cover by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy.
Mase's "24 Hrs. To Live" featuring The Lox, Black Rob & DMX samples the Thom Bell-produced "Moses Theme" by Frankie Blue from the soundtrack to the 1979 film The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh.
The rest: the epic "(Soul Fusion) Freewoman And Oh, This Freedom's Slave Cries" by Charlie Mingus from his 1963 album The Black Saint And Sinner Lady, the Eric Clapton-produced cover of The Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by P.P. Arnold from her newly unearthed 1971 album Turning Tide, the 1979 punk track "I'm A Bug" by Southern California band The Urinals, Sonic Youth's abrasive "Drunken Butterfly", a cover of The Monkees standard "Daydream Believer" by The Four Tops, Stevie Windwood's optimistic "While You See A Chance", Bobby Womack's happily defiant "Don't Let Nothing Get The Best Of You", Diamond D's philosophic "When It Pours It Rains", Lil Wayne's tautological "Dr. Carter", Paul Simon's wry "Kodachrome", Raekwon's eerie "Black Mozart" with Inspectah Deck and RZA and an acoustic demo version of the Crosby, Stills & Nash song "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" by Stephen Stills.
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life (live 1977) Ella Fitzgerald & Stevie Wonder
(Soul Fusion) Freewoman And Oh, This Freedom's Slave Cries Charles Mingus
You Can't Always Get What You Want P.P. Arnold
She Said Yeah The Rolling Stones
I'm A Bug The Urinals
Drunken Butterfly Sonic Youth
Daydream Believer The Four Tops
Le Soleil De Ma Vie Sacha Distel with Brigitte Bardot
While You See A Chance Stevie Winwood
Never Let Nothing Get The Best Of You Bobby Womack
When It Pours It Rains Diamond D
I Am What I Am Merle Haggard
Dr. Carter Lil Wayne
Kodachrome Paul Simon
She Said Yeah Larry Williams
24 Hrs. To Live Mase ft. The Lox, Black Rob & DMX
Moses Theme Frankie Bleu
Black Mozart Raekwon ft. Inspectah Deck & RZA
She Said Yeah Paul McCartney
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life Brenda Lee
I Am What I Am Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes (demo) Stephen Stills
