Thursday, June 3, 2010

06-03-10: A Gathering Of Angels Appeared Above My Head

This week's mix features both the acoustic demo and album versions of Big Star's "You Get What You Deserve" and Bruce Springsteen's "Downbound Train".

I've used Colin Meloy's cover of Morrissey's "Every Day Is Like Sunday" before, but the recording on this week's mix is a different performance, slower and crisper. Similarly, I've had versions of "Time For Livin'" by Sly & The Family Stone and "Loving Cup" by The Rolling Stones on past mixes, but this time it's the album version, not the alternate, for the former. The reverse is true for the latter, with the alternate off the newly-released deluxe version of Exile On Main Street.

The rest: the apocalyptic "Approach To Danger" by N.W.A., the post-apocalyptic "Cities In Dust" by Siouxsie And The Banshees, the peevish "I'm A Singer" by M.I.A., the dismissive "Into Yer Shtik" by Mudhoney, a cover of Mudhoney's "Touch Me, I'm Sick" by Gemma Ray, the gentle "I'll Be Your Lover, Too" by Van Morrison, Al Green's sensuous reading of Kris Kristofferson's "For The Good Times", Ronnie Wood's pre-Rolling Stones collaboration with Mick Jagger called "I Can Feel The Fire", Andre 3000's cover of "All Together Now" by The Beatles, RZA's spacey "Try Ya Ya Ya", Darondo's funky "My Momma And My Poppa", the forlorn "Let's Say Goodbye Like We Said Hello" by Ernest Tubbs, the countryish "The Spirit Moves Me" by Beck, the old maritime standard "Rio Grande" by The Foc'sle Singers and the more modern maritime standard "Sail Away" by Styx.

Approach To Danger N.W.A.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

05-27-10: Nowadays Kids Don't Get Beat, They Get Big Treats

This week's mix features two versions of Elton John's "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me": the original and a newly recorded cover by Bettye Lavette.

The J Dilla-produced Ghostface Killah track "Whip You With A Strap" samples "To The Other Man" by Luther Ingram. DJ Quik's "Loked Out Hood" samples B.T. Express' "Once You Get It".

The rest: the forlorn "Never Had It So Good And Felt So Bad" by The Chi-Lites, the swaggering "Play Dis" by Saukrates featuring Common, the chaotic "Bone Machine" by The Pixies, the fiery "Fire Shed In My Bones" by Boyd Rivers, Yo La Tengo's cover of Prince's "Raspberry Beret", Prince's funky "319", the new Big Boi single "Shutterbugg", the percussive "Car Jamming" by The Clash, Junior Murvin with The Upsetters on a re-working of Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready" called "Rasta Get Ready", an Italian-sung version of The Rolling Stones' "As Tears Go By" called "Con Le Mie Lacrime", Randy Newman's sweet "Marie", Peggy Lee's cover of Newman's "Love Story" and a live version of the standard "In A Sentimental Mood" by McCoy Tyner.

Never Had It So Good And Felt So Bad The Chi-Lites

Thursday, May 20, 2010

05-20-10: Take A Tip From One Who's Tried

I'd once heard that Bob Dylan called "I Threw It All Away" the saddest song he ever wrote. This week's mix features his album version as well as two covers by Scott Walker and Cher.

I think "Smoke On The Water" by Deep Purple might have been the first song I learned to play on guitar as a kid. "Ya Slippin'" by Boogie Down Productions samples it to great effect.

The rest: the full version of "Boogie Down" by Eddie Kendricks, the sweet "Girl In My Life" by Final Solution, a remix of the DJ Muggs collaboration with GZA called "Those That's Bout It", a RZA remix of Bjork's "Bachelorette", the odd "No Awareness" by Kool Keith alias Dr. Octagon with Sir Melenik, the ebullient "All Night Long (All Night)" by Lionel Richie, the aptly titled "Make It Funky (Pts. 1, 2, 3 & 4)" by James Brown, Hi-Tek's funky "Keep It Moving" with Dion and Q-Tip as well as Kurupt, Tom Petty's chipper "The Apartment Song", the official Fireballs Overdub version of Buddy Holly's bittersweet "Peggy Sue Got Married", the wry "Philadelphia Lawyer" by Woody Guthrie, a live version of the standard "Just Friends" by Charlie Parker, a version of the standard "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall" by The Ink Spots with Ella Fitzgerald and the melancholic "If I Have To Go" by Tom Waits.

Smoke On The Water Deep Purple

Thursday, May 13, 2010

05-13-10: I Don't Bother Chasing Mice Around

This week's mix, like last week's, begins with The Zombies. "Can't Nobody Love You" was originally recorded by Solomon Burke, whose version is here as well at the end of the mix.

A few other songs repeat across the mix. "Ballade De Melody Nelson" was originally part of a Lolitaesque concept album by Serge Gainsbourg and written for Jane Birkin, who appears on the song. She also sings on the Portishead cover included here. "I Ain't Got Nobody (For Real)" is very early Sly & The Family Stone. I've also added an early take of this song and a jazzy piano demo by Sly Stone without The Family. "Taste Of Cindy" by The Jesus & Mary Chain is on here in all of its fuzzed-out glory and as an acoustic demo as well.

Two tracks on here are late-80s rap classics with self-referential titles: "The R" by Eric B. & Rakim and "Life Is...Too $hort" by Too $hort.

The demo version of "Me & Bobby McGee" by Kris Kristofferson was eventually better known as a posthumous hit by Janis Joplin. In addition to another Kristofferson song, Waylon Jennings' cover of "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", I've included Joplin's cover of The Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody".

Other stuff: the upbeat "Try Me" by Justin Hinds & The Dominoes, the desperate "Hold My Life" by The Replacements, the playful "Pussy Pussy Pussy" by The Light Crust Doughboys, the cool "Stray Cat Strut" by The Stray Cats, the Madlib-produced "True Champs" by Strong Arm Steady with Montage One and Evidence as well as Oh No and Ron C, a demo version of Marvin Gaye's "If I Should Die Tonight", a cover of Gaye's "What's Going On" by the obscure Mr. Clean & The Soul Inc., Donovan's blissful "Jennifer Juniper" and a live version of Jackson Browne's "These Days" by Luz Casal accompanied by Browne and David Lindley.

Can't Nobody Love You The Zombies

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

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

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

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

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

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