Thursday, May 6, 2010

05-06-10: I Can't Tell You But I Know That It's Mine

Two songs repeat across this week's mix: "When Will I Be Loved" by The Everly Brothers covered by Linda Ronstadt and Van Morrison's "Come Running", both the album and demo version.

The rest: the anguished "She's Not There" by The Zombies, a remix of Gil Scott-Heron's recent "New York Is Killing Me" featuring Nas, the breezy "Somebody's In My Orchard" by Anita Harris, the Andre 3000 excerpt "International Player" from his UGK collaboration "International Player's Anthem", Sammy Davis Jr.'s theatrical "The Rhythm Of Life", the Marley Marl-produced Barry Manilow interpolation "We Write The Songs" by Biz Markie and Heavy D, Lee 'Scratch' Perry's rare alternate version of Max Romeo & The Upsetters' "Chase The Devil" called "Disco Devil", a mash-up of Talking Heads and Rick James with a little bit of Dazz Band called "This Ain't No Disco", the chaotic "Peace Frog" by The Doors, the funky "Quit Jivin'" by Pearly Queen, Aretha Franklin's cover of "Groovin'" by The Rascals, Fela Kuti's hypnotic "Fefe Naa Efe", the jazzy "They Reminisce Over You" by Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth, the fiery sermon "Are You Bound For Heaven Or Hell?" by the Rev. J.M. Gates, Samuel Barber's haunting "Adagio For Strings" performed by Leonard Bernstein and The New York Philharmonic, Ernest V. Stoneman and The Stoneman Family on the charming "The Spanish Merchant's Daughter" and Puerto Muerto's elegant cover of The Beatles' "With A Little Help From My Friends".

She's Not There The Zombies
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Thursday, April 29, 2010

04-29-10: Crazy What You Could Have Had

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.

Summertime Albert Ayler
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Thursday, April 22, 2010

04-22-10: Only To Realize It Never Really Was

The cover of The Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down" that opens this week's mix is credited to Bruner, and comes from a recently-released home recording by an obscure young singer named Linda Bruner who recorded these songs nearly forty years ago and then disappeared. The last song on this mix also has that spare, home-recorded quality as it was an outtake from Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska sessions called "The Answer".

Guru passed away last week and this mix features both "Now You're Mine" from his Gang Starr days as well as a a Buckwild remix of his "Respect The Architect" with Ramsey Lewis and Bahamadia.

In between is a long series of songs performed live, beginning and ending with Stevie Wonder: first, his cover of Bobby Hebb's pop standard "Sunny" and ending with a 1970 performance of "My Cherie Amour". The other live songs include Hall & Oates' cover of Marvin Gaye's "What's Goin' On", Joe Strummer turning the microphone over to Mick Jones for a cover of The Equals' "Police On My Back", Michael McDonald singing his Doobie Brothers hit "What A Fool Believes" with the song's writer Kenny Loggins, a version of The Replacements' "Answering Machine" by that song's writer Paul Westerberg, REM performing "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" on MTV Unplugged, David Bowie with a version of Jacques Brel's "My Death", an atmospheric performance of "Unravel" by Bjork, a cover of Leon Russell's "A Song For You" by Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye playing the ladies in the crowd with "Distant Lover", Linda Ronstadt performing a version of her hit ballad "Long Long Time", Nina Simone's rendition of Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne" and Gil Scott-Heron with a moving introduction to a live version of"Your Daddy Loves You" with Brian Jackson.

Don't Let Me Down Bruner
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Thursday, April 15, 2010

04-15-10: I Let You Treat Me Bad, Let You Make Me Sad

"I Wish I Knew" is a jazz standard that was written by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon for a 1945 film called Diamond Horseshoe, starring Betty Grable. This week's mix features versions by Bill Evans Trio, John Coltrane Quartet, Ahmad Jamal performing live and Chet Baker both playing and singing.

Also featured on here is Hank Williams' haunting "Alone And Forsaken", including covers by Neko Case and The Mekons as well as the undubbed original.

The rest: the infectious "Why Can't We Be Friends" by War, A Tribe Called Quest's bouncy "Award Tour", the dour "My City Was Gone" by The Pretenders, Kid 'N Play's witty "Do This My Way", Wanda Dee's suggestive "The Goddess", Al Green's sensual "Love Ritual", the chugging "Born On The Bayou" by Creedence Clearwater Revival, T. Rex's ebullient "Cadillac", The Jam's harrowing "Down In The Tube Station At Midnight", an echoey demo version of "On The Wall" by The Jesus & Mary Chain, the lushly melancholic "Everything Means Nothing To Me" by Elliott Smith, the wistful "Place To Be" by Nick Drake, Diana Ross' cover of Aretha Franklin's "I Love You (Call Me)", and Jerry Butler's gorgeous "Just Because I Really Love You".

Why Can't We Be Friends? War
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Thursday, April 8, 2010

04-08-10: You Can Take Part In The All-American Dream, Just Fill Your House Up With Products You Don't Need

This week's mix features "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down": covers by Joan Baez and Solomon Burke as well as the original by The Band. Also originally by The Band: "The Weight", covered here by The Staple Singers.

A couple other songs are featured here this week: "Love Vigilantes" by New Order with covers by Laura Cantrell and a rare alternate to Iron & Wine's cover version; and Marlena Shaw's "Woman Of The Ghetto", also on here as a cover by Hortense Ellis.

The rest: Darondo's uplifting "How I Got Over", the Jay-Z-sampling Diplo mix of M.I.A.'s "Bingo", the brassy "Let Me Off Uptown" with Anita O'Day and Roy Eldridge, T La Rock's cocky "Breaking Bells", the funky "Hot Stuff" by The Rolling Stones, the groovy "Madison Avenue" by Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson, the J Dilla-produced "Bullshit" by The Pharcyde, Weldon Irvine's sunny "I Love You", Francoise Hardy's yearning "J'Aurais Voulu", a stripped-down mix of "I'll Be There" by The Jackson 5, Johnny Cash's cover of Leonard Cohen's "Bird On A Wire" and the spiritual "Church In The Wildwood" by The Carter Family.

How I Got Over Darondo
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Thursday, April 1, 2010

04-01-10: You Can Be The Side Effect, I'd Rather Be The Dope

This week's mix features George Harrison's cautionary "Beware Of Darkness": including an acoustic demo along with his original as well as covers by Leon Russell, Marianne Faithfull and Matthew Sweet with Susanna Hoffs. George's music is also represented here by Peggy Lee's cover of The Beatles' "Something", a cover of his "Isn't It A Pity" by Galaxie 500 and a demo version of his "I Me Mine" for the Beatles album Let It Be.

The rest: Eddie Money's pleading "Baby Hold On", a hushed live version of the standard "My Foolish Heart" by the Bill Evans Trio, the "Blue Mix" of JVC Force's "Strong Island", the funky "Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll (pt. 1)" by Vaughan Mason & Crew, Prince's witty "Pope", Main Source's menacing "Just A Friendly Game Of Baseball", the Mark Bell "Optimism" remix of Bjork's "Bachelorette", Paul Simon's mellow "Run That Body Down", Vetiver's chipper "Everyday", the calypso tribute "Bing Crosby" by The Lion, the dense "Older Gods" by The Wu-Tang Clan, the spiritual "A Little Talk With Jesus" by Ernest Phipps & His Holiness Singers and Belle & Sebastian performing the cryptic "Judy And The Dream Of Horses" live on the BBC.

Beware Of Darkness George Harrison
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Thursday, March 25, 2010

03-25-10: All These Girls They Come And Go

Alex Chilton died last week, so this week's mix is a small tribute to him with his hit "The Letter" from his teenage years fronting The Box Tops, and a demo version of his "What's Going Ahn" with Big Star. The latter song has slightly different lyrics than the album version, where the word "resigned" replaced "forsaked". There's also an extra line at the end of this version.

Also featured on here is the Kinks ballad "Strangers", which was one of the rare ones written not by Ray Davies but his brother Dave. I have a live version by him, as well as the original and covers by Alexis P. Shuter, Golden Smog and Norah Jones performing live.

The rest: the shambling "Darklands" by The Jesus & Mary Chain, the sunny "Dinninit" by De La Soul, the wry "What Is It, Sisters" by The Watts Prophets, the Smokey Robinson-written "Ain't That Peculiar" by Marvin Gaye, the dramatic "Somebody To Love" by Jefferson Airplane, the beat-boxing "Stick 'Em" by The Fat Boys, Gene Pitney's anguished "Every Breath I Take", the forlorn "The Man Who Wrote Home Sweet Home Never Was A Married Man" by Charlie Parker & Mack Woolbright, Beck's countrified "Sleeping Bag", the groovy "Evil Vibrations" by The Mighty Ryeders, Jay Electronica's confident "Exhibit C", Jay-Z's petulant "Can I Get A...", a cover of Hall & Oates' "Sara Smile" by the Bird And The Bee, the lush "Elizabeth Waltz" by John Barry and the wise "Living A Little, Laughing A Little" by The Spinners.

The Letter The Box Tops
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Thursday, March 18, 2010

03-18-10: Clowns To The Left Of Me, Jokers To The Right

Only one song repeats on this week's mix: the bass-heavy "Seven Nation Army" by The White Stripes, also on here as a falsetto-led reggae-tinged cover by The French band The Dynamics.

I saw Gil Scott-Heron in concert recently where he played the gorgeous "Your Daddy Loves You" and dedicated it to his son who was in the audience. On this mix, it's followed by Cat Stevens' poignant "Father And Son".

Gang Starr's "Sacrifice" featuring Scarface samples the moody "Deliver The Word" by War.

The rest: the giddy "Rio" by Duran Duran, the aggressive "World Destruction" by Time Zone featuring John Lydon and Afrika Bambaata, Dan The Automator's frantic "A Better Tomorrow" featuring Kool Keith, a cover of The Chordettes' "Mr. Sandman" by The Supremes, the chipper "Optimistic Voices" by The MGM Orchestra with The Debutantes and The Rhythmettes from the film The Wizard Of Oz, a remix of Ghostface Killah's "Mighty Healthy" by KinG, the punchy "Bloodshot" by The String Kings, the poppy "Stuck In the Middle With You" by Stealers Wheel, a live acoustic version of "Up The Junction" by Squeeze, a cover of Bob Dylan's "Simple Twist Of Fate" by Jeff Tweedy, the pained "Here Comes The Night" by the Van Morrison-led Them, a version of the standard "Bye Bye Blackbird" by Albert Ayler, a cover of 10cc's "I'm Not In Love" by Dee Dee Sharp and the forlorn "I Can't Feel At Home In This World Anymore" by Edith and Sherman Collins.

Rio Duran Duran
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Thursday, March 11, 2010

03-11-10: For In This Crazy Paradise, You Are In Love With Pain

On previous mixes, I've included covers of Stan Getz's classic bossa nova collaboration with Joao and Astrud Gilberto called "The Girl From Ipanema" by both Frank Sinatra with Joao Gilberto and Archie Shepp. On this week's mix I've included live covers by Sammy Davis Jr. and Lou Rawls as well as a version by Cher to go with the original also on here.

Pavement's "Unseen Power Of The Picket Fence" is their homage to R.E.M., who are on here with their melancholic "(Don't Go Back) To Rockville".

Ron Banks of The Dramatics passed away this week, so "Highway To Heaven" by him and them seemed appropriate.

The rest: a remix of Real Live's "Real Live Shit" with Ghostface Killah and Cappadonna teaming up with Killa Sin and Lord Tarik, early John Lee Hooker with the traditional "Moses Smote The Water", a long and slow cover of The Four Tops' "Reach Out And I'll Be There" by Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder's layered "Ordinary Pain", RZA's atmospheric "Bobby Did It (Spanish Fly)" with Ghostface Killah and Jamie Sommers among others, The Bar-Kays' Issac Hayes sequel "Son Of Shaft", Ice Cube's witty "Check Yo Self" with Das EFX, a live version of "One More Cup Of Coffee (From The Valley Below)" by Bob Dylan with The Rolling Thunder Revue, the languid "I'm Wishin'" by Lorez Alexandria, Peter Gabriel's somber cover of Paul Simon's "The Boy In the Bubble", the moody "Everything In Its Right Place" by Radiohead, Marlene Dietrich's wise "Illusions" and a live version of Paul Westerberg's purposeful "MamaDaddyDid".

The Girl From Ipanema (live) Sammy Davis Jr.
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Thursday, March 4, 2010

03-04-10: Lemonade Was A Popular Drink And It Still Is

The version of Barry White's "Playing Your Game, Baby" on this week's mix is labelled on his recent box set as an "alternate", but actually it's a modern remix by his original music director and engineer. Generally, I would say don't mess with perfection, but I like how some of the percussion is brought more to the forefront and the instruments sound a little more crisp. The remix of Black Moon's "I Got Cha Opin" samples the original Barry White tune.

Given Guru's near death scare this week, I had to throw up Gang Starr's classic "DWYCK" with Nice & Smooth.

Marvin Gaye's "Got To Give It Up" was supposedly about his fear of dancing, a phobia I share. The version on here is the rare full version, nearly twelve minutes.

The rest: Peggy Lee's brassy cover of Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay", the dramatic "Mount Harissa" by Duke Ellington, the subduded "Breakdown" by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Eddie Cochran's rhythmic "Nervous Breakdown", Black Flag's frantic song of the same name, the wry "19th Nervous Breakdown" by The Rolling Stones, the David Bowie-sampling "Dirty Run" by Ol Dirty Bastard, the odd "Please Don't Go Topless, Mother" by Troy Hess, the soulful "If You Lived Here, You'd Be Home By Now" by The Philadelphia Story, the mash up of "C.R.E.A.M." By the Wu-Tang Clan over instrumental covers of Beatles songs, the live "unplugged" version of "Pennyroyal Tea" by Nirvana, Leonard Cohen's somber "Famous Blue Raincoat", a cover of Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne" by Nina Simone, an acoustic version of "Love" by John Lennon and a demo version of "I Give Up" by Roy Orbison.

(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay Peggy Lee
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