Thursday, July 8, 2010

07-08-10: Feed The Animals In The Zoo Then Later A Movie Too

This week's mix features the Alice Cooper ballad "I Never Cry" as well as covers by Poison and Nina Simone with a rare rehearsal take.

Also repeating this week are two versions of Martha Reeves & The Vandellas' "(We've Got) Honey Love": the original and a version by The Velvelettes, and Hank Williams' "Moanin' The Blues": a live version and a cover by Merle Haggard.

The rest: a live cover of Prince's "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man" by Eels, a live version of "Perfect Day" by Lou Reed, the garage rocker "Hold Me Now" by The Rumors, the catchy "You're Pretty Good Looking (For A Girl)" by The White Stripes, Giant Panda's mellow "Classic Rock", Joe Tex's Vietnam War ballad "I Believe I'm Gonna Make It", Celine Mastrorelli's cover of The Kinks' "I Go To Sleep", Vangelis' dreamy "La Petite Fille De La Mer", Marlene Dietrich's winsome "Solang Noch Unter'n Linden", an Italian version of The Four Tops' cover of The Left Banke's "Walk Away Renee" called "L'Acrobaleno", the joyful "Golden Gate Gospel Train" by the Golden Gate Jubilee Quartet, Northend's rhythmic "Tee's Happy", a remix of Outkast's "B.O.B." by DJ X-Rated and DJ Esco, D'Angelo's funky "Left & Right" with Method Man and Redman, the breezy duet "Where Is The Love?" by Roberta Flack with Donny Hathaway and Neil Young's haunted "On The Beach".

Moanin' The Blues (live) Hank Williams
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Thursday, July 1, 2010

07-01-10: I'm A Man Of No Conviction

This week's mix is bookended with both the album and acoustic demo version of "Cut Dead" by The Jesus & Mary Chain.

Also featured on here is John Lennon's "Working Class Hero": both the acoustic demo version and a cover by Richie Havens.

The rest: a cover of Culture Club's "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me" by Mark Eitzel, Culture Club's sly "Karma Chameleon", the poppy "Another Nail In My Heart" by Squeeze, Stephen Malkmus' catchy "Death And The Maiden", the airy "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" by The Smiths, the spacey "Who Do You Think I Am" by MF Doom and others, a Spanish version of Smokey Robinson's "Being With You" called "Aqui Con Tigo", the rhythmic "Rastafarian Folk Song" by Cymande, Lee 'Scratch' Perry's Chi-Lites-inspired "Justice To The People", Jay-Z's witty "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)", a mash-up of Billy Joel over Jay-Z called "Big Shot Pimpin'", Raekown's Billy Squier-sampling "Big Beat", James Brown's funky "Get Up (I Feel Like Being A Sex Machine) Pts. 1-2", the odd "Politician Rag" by King Soloman, Babtunde Olatunji's percussive "Menu Di Ye Jewe (Who Is This?)" and the anguished "All I Want Is You" by U2.

Cut Dead The Jesus & Mary Chain
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Thursday, June 24, 2010

06-24-10: The Tall Ones, The Small Ones, I Grab Them Off Like That

"The Dark End Of The Street" was written by Muscle Schoals songwriters Dan Penn and Chips Morman in 1967. It was first recorded by southern soul singer James Carr, but quickly became both a soul and country standard. On this week's mix, in addition to Carr's recording, I have versions by Aretha Franklin, The Afghan Whigs, Frank Black and The Flying Burrito Brothers. I also have duet versions by Lee Hazelwood with actress Ann Margaret as well as a young Dolly Parton with Porter Wagoner and a live duet between Richard and Linda Thompson. Also live is a version by Eels. The Ry Cooder version is instrumental and the very rare Prince Buster version was simply titled "Dark Street".

"Samson And Delilah" by Rev. Gary Davis is an interpolation of Blind Willie Johnson's "If I Had My Way I'd Tear The Building Down".

The rest: a demo version of the Gershwin standard "Summertime" by The Zombies, the spacey "Questions" by Strong Arm Steady featuring Planet Asia & Fashawn, the hushed "Never Saw It Coming" by The Jesus & Mary Chain, the Ice Cube rant "I Ain't Tha 1" by N.W.A., Eddie Cantor's version of the early standard "They Go Wild, Simply Wild Over Me". the futuristic "Where We About To Take It" by Busta Rhymes, Gladys Knight & The Pips' version of The Temptations hit "I Wish It Would Rain", a live version of "I Threw It All Away" by Bob Dylan & The Rolling Thunder Revue and the gorgeously perfect "How Could I Let You Get Away" by The Spinners.

The Dark End Of The Street James Carr
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Thursday, June 17, 2010

06-17-10: What Will Be The Point In Being A Fool Again?

The standard "I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)" was written in 1930. This week's mix includes a version from 1937 by Brown's Musical Brownies as well as versions by Dean Martin, Willie Nelson and Thelonious Monk.

The rest: the Latin-tinged "Chico Cuadradino" by Duke Ellington And His Orchestra, the Duke Ellington tribute "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder, the gleeful "Arthur" by The Kinks, early Talking Heads outtake "I Feel It In My Heart", Kool Keith alias Dr. Octagon with the aptly titled "Wild And Crazy", the spooky "Slide Her Under The Door" by Moses Longpiece, Dilinger's loopy "Cocaine In My Brain", the sly "Mrs. Officer" by Lil' Wayne with Bobby Valentino, the mellow "Love" by Bob Marley & The Wailers, Aretha Franklin's cover of Bobby Womack's "That's The Way I Feel About Cha", Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti with the oddly retro "Can't Hear My Eyes", Air Supply's dramatic "All Out Of Love", M. Ward's reflective "Eyes On The Prize", a live acoustic version of Paul Weller's cover of Sister Sledge's "Thinking Of You" and a newly recorded live version of Jackson Browne's "Running On Empty" with David Lindley.

I'm Confessin' (That I Love You) Dean Martin
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Thursday, June 10, 2010

06-10-10: I'm Sewing Tigers On My Shirt And Alligators

A few songs repeat across this week's mix. Melanie's "Some Say (I Got Devil)" is covered by Tortoise with Bonnie 'Prince' Billy. Beck does a version of Nick Drake's "Which Will". R.E.M.'s minor hit "Superman" was actually an obscure 60s garage rock song by The Clique.

The rest: a dramatic version of The Undisputed Truth's "Smiling Faces Sometimes" by The Temptations, late-period Who anthem "Who Are You", The Notorious B.I.G.'s mellow "Sky's The Limit" with 122 and without the goofy intro on the album, the oddly languid "Power Flower" by Stevie Wonder, Grant Green's lush cover of "Three Times A Lady" by The Commodores, the funky 12 inch version of "Brick House" by The Commodores , Rhymefest's cocky "Chicago" from his new album, the J Dilla-produced "Somethin' That Means Somethin"" by The Pharcyde, Brother Claude Ely with a rollicking version of the spiritual "There Ain't No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down", the ethereal "Spaceball Ricochet" by T. Rex and a live version of "Love My Way" by The Psychedelic Furs.

Smiling Faces Sometimes The Temptations
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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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