Friday, September 2, 2011

09-01-11: She Knew More Than Books Could Teach

The two parts of "On Coming From A Broken Home" by Gil Scott-Heron, which bookend this week's mix, are outtakes from his last album which sample a muffled and surprisingly effective loop from Kanye West's "Flashing Lights" as backdrop to powerful reflections of Scott-Heron's childhood.

The White Stripes cover "Your Southern Can Is Mine" is originally by Blind Willie McTell. Additionally featured is an alternate McTell version called "Your Southern Mama Is Mine".

"I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know" was written by Al Kooper for the debut album by Blood, Sweat & Tears. It soon became a soul standard, perhaps made most famous by Donny Hathaway. In addition to Hathaway's studio version, this mix includes covers by Tina Britt and Carmen McRae.

The rest: Duke Ellington's wistful "Morning Glory", an alternate version of the Bob Dylan non-album track "Blind Willie McTell", Low Profile's bouncy "Pay Ya Dues", Jay-Z's catchy "Heart Of The City (Ain't No Love)", the melodic "I Saw Her Again" by The Mamas & Papas, the guitar-driven "Fall, In A Shade Of Red" by Bedtime, an alternate version of "Disarm" by Smashing Pumpkins, a cover of The Clash's "Guns Of Brixton" by Jimmy Cliff, the Nina Simone-sampling "Don't Get It" by Lil Wayne, Bobby Womack's funky "You're Welcome, Stop On By", Lykke Li's version of the Carole King standard "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" and the haunting "Next Heap With" by Aphex Twin.

On Coming From A Broken Home (Part 1) Gil Scott-Heron
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Thursday, August 25, 2011

08-25-11: Bury Enemies Like They're Treasure

"I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter", written in 1935, is considered part of The Great American Songbook. From the year it was written, this week's mix includes the first big hit version by Fats Waller, as well as recordings by Frank Sinatra in 1954 and Willie Nelson in 1981.

Also featured this week is the Bill Withers song "Grandma's Hands", which first appeared on his 1971 debut album. Covers by Merry Clayton and Marion Gaines Singers accompany the original.

Also appearing here more than once is Tom Waits' "Trampled Rose", with a cover by Alison Krauss from her album with Robert Plant.

The rest: Mos Def's proud "Brooklyn", the sweetly funky "You're Much Too Beautiful For Words" by Sly Stone's sister Rose Banks, the funny "Mama You're A Mess" by Kid Smith And Family, the bouncy "La La La La" by Lone Catalysts with Donte and Plakhan, DJ Shadow's moody "Midnight In A Perfect World", the Biz Markie-sampling "I'm The Original" by MF Doom & MF Grimm, Blue Oyster Cult's catchy "I'm Burnin' For You", the full album version of the disco anthem "Boogie Nights" by Heat Wave, the obscure disco track "Love Fantasy" by Mighty Fire, Yoko Ono's wise "Every Man Has A Woman Who Loves Him" from her album Double Fantasy with John Lennon, the rare 60s soul track "Better Days Are Coming" by Wesley Paige, Hank Williams' bittersweet "Won't You Sometimes Think Of Me" and Roberta Flack's duet with Donny Hathaway of the James Taylor standard "You've Got A Friend".

Grandma's Hands Bill Withers
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Thursday, August 18, 2011

08-18-11: Falling Over You Is The News Of The Day

"Stand By Me" was a hit for Ben E. King in 1961. This week's mix features covers by Jimmy & David Ruffin, The Walker Brothers and John Lennon, recorded in 1970, 1967 and 1974, respectively.

Also featured this week is the Beatles ballad "The Long And Winding Road", with covers by Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone.

Previous mixes have featured various versions of Roberta Flack's "Feel Like Makin' Love". This mix adds renditions by The Dynamics and Barbara Mason.

The rest: the graphic "Ever So Clear" by Bushwick Bill, the seductive "Sweet Stuff" by Sylvia, the bass-driven "Happy Jack" by The Who, Urge Overkill's minor hit "Turn Your Back On Me", Nancy Sinatra's sassy "These Boots Were Made For Walkin'", the Quincy Jones-produced "I'll Be Good To You" by The Brothers Johnson, the jungle-accented "Monkey Barz" by Sean Price, an MF Doom remix of Nas' "If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)", Charles Mingus' socially conscious "Freedom", the funky "Behind Closed Doors" by Chuck Brooks, the suggestive "Let Me Play With It" by Hartman's Heartbreakers, the dramatic "The Folk Singer" by Johnny Cash and a cover of The Psychedelic Furs' "The Ghost In You" by Robyn Hitchcock.

The Long And Winding Road Diana Ross
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Friday, August 12, 2011

08-11-11: The Older The Grape, The Sweeter The Wine

Bobby Womack wrote "Trust Me" for his friend Janis Joplin, and played acoustic guitar on the version she recorded for her last album. Several years later, he recorded it himself. This week's mix features both of those versions as well as a cover by Jackie De Shannon.

Slim Harpo's "Got Love If You Want It" is also featured this week with covers by The Kinks and Bob Dylan to accompany the original.

One other songs repeats: the early Tom Waits song "I Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You" with a cover by Emilian Torrini as well as a demo version of the original.

The rest: the aptly-titled "Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones, the brassy "I Seen Your Boyfriend" by Get Fresh Girls, the gloriously noisy "Treats" by Sleigh Bells, a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Uptight (Everything's Alright)" by Diana Ross & The Supremes with The Temptations, the Timbaland-produced "Hola Hovito" by Jay-Z, the rarely heard original version of the Michael McDonald hit "I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)" by Chuck Jackson, the peaceful "Cocoon" by Bjork, the Bruce Springsteen B-side "Janey Don't You Lose Heart", the ambivalent "Ultimate Flow" by Clipse and the exuberant "Spirits Rejoice" by Albert Ayler performing live at The Village Vanguard.

Start Me Up The Rolling Stones
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Thursday, August 4, 2011

08-04-11: I'm Still Confusing Love With Need

John Lennon dismissed his song "Yes It Is" for The Beatles as an inferior re-write of "This Boy", but Paul McCartney championed it as one of John's finer songs. It was not on any of their albums, but apparently was their first song to use a guitar effect--George Harrison's tone pedal--and one of their few to employ a three part vocal harmony. This week's mix includes a practice take as well as a live cover by Don Henley to accompany the original.

The 1964 single "Come See About Me" was the third of five consecutive number one hits for The Supremes. I've included cover versions by The Afghan Whigs and Lloyd Chalmers & The Soul Stirrers as well as the original.

Two other songs repeat across the mix: an acoustic home demo and the studio version of T. Rex's "The Slider" as well as two versions of the early Bob Marley song "I'm Still Waiting".

The rest: a cover of Isaac Hayes' "Theme From Shaft" by Jamaica's Groove Band, the Prince Paul-produced "Top Of The Hill" by Groove B Chill, the raw gospel of "In God's House" by Sisters Of Song, the full album version of the funky "Skin Tight" by Ohio Players, the Blackbyrds-sampling "Ghetto Thang" by De La Soul, the mellow "Wilford's Gone" by The Blackbyrds, the electronic groove of "Metal" by Gary Numan, the retro-sounding "Under Your Spell" by Desire, the percussive "Double Life" by The Cars, Clipse's swaggering "What's Up?", the tragic "Goodbye Baby" by Little Caesar and Dexter Gordon's 1964 recording of the jazz standard "Darn That Dream".

Yes It Is The Beatles
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Sunday, July 31, 2011

07-28-11: I Feel Your Taste All The Time We're Apart

"Savoy Truffle" is a George Harrison composition from The Beatles" "White Album". This week's mix features covers by Pete Greenwood and Ella Fitzgerald to accompany the original.

"Why Don't They Let Us Fall In Love", produced by Phil Spector, was a very early song for The Ronettes, then known as The Veronicas yet already fronted by Ronnie Spector. Also on here are covers by The Morning Benders and Sonny & Cher.

One other songs repeats here: "There Goes My Baby" by The Drifters, with a cover by Otis Redding to go with the original.

The rest: the frantic "Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang" by Raekwon, the kazoo-driven "K.C. Moan" by The Memphis Jug Band, the graceful "What Is And What Should Never Be" by Led Zeppelin, the percussive "Get Some" by Lykke Li, the spacey "Theme From The Planets" by Dexter Wansel, the dream-like "A Real Hero" by College ft. Electric Youth, the violently staccato "Broken Language" by Smooth Da Hustler and Trigga Da Gambler, the heavy "Balls To The Wall" by Accept, the melodic "No More Goodbyes" by Ernest V. Stoneman, the wry "Conversation" by Joni Mitchell, the bouncy "Groovy Times" by The Clash, the defiant "Id Rather Be An Old Man's Sweetheart (Than A Young Man's Fool)" by Candi Staton, the full album version of the languid "I Juswanna Chill" by The Large Professor, the oft-sampled "Think (About It)" by Lyn Collins, the sports/life metaphor "The Ball Game" by Sister Wynona Carr and Joe Jackson's forlorn "Is She Really Going Out With Him?".

Savoy Truffle The Beatles
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Thursday, July 21, 2011

07-21-11: Like A Dirty French Novel, The Absurd Courts The Vulgar

Stevie Wonder's "Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer" appears on his 1971 album Where I'm Coming From, released a month before his 21st birthday. This week's mix features that version as well as covers by Joan Baez and The Waker Brothers.

Also featured this week is the country standard "Little Green Apples", with renditions by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Bobbie Gentry with Glen Campbell.

The third, self-titled album by The Velvet Underground has an alternate version produced by band leader Lou Reed called the "Closet Mix". Each song from the album is the same performance under different production except for one featured in both incarnations here: "Some Kinda Love". The lyrics vary slightly in the two versions.

The rest: the contemplative "A Love Supreme - Acknowledgement" by The John Coltrane Quartet, the James Brown-sampling "Get Down" by Nas, the anguished "This Love Starved Heart Of Mine (It's Killing Me)" by Marvin Gaye, the Isaac Hayes-sampling "Born And Raised In Compton" by DJ Quik, the melodic "Lady" by Fela Kuti, the menacing "Play UR Part" by Clipse, the gentle "I Am So Glad I Took My Time" by The Floaters, the sweet "Don't Make Me Wait Too Long" by George Harrison and the airy "The Shallow End" by Grant Lee Buffalo.

A Love Supreme, Part 1 - Acknowledgement John Coltrane Quartet
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Thursday, July 14, 2011

07-14-11: Though Your World Is Changing I Will Be The Same

"Walk A Mile In My Shoes" was written by Joe South in 1970 as a plea for racial tolerance. This week's mix features his original along with covers by Bob Andy and Elvis Presley performing live.

Also featured this week is Bryan Ferry's "Slave To Love" with covers by Roisin Murphy and Jimmy Scott to accompany the original.

One other song appears here more than once: Pavement's "We Dance", the original and a cover by Cat Power.

Sweet Sable's "Old Time's Sake" samples Eddie Kendricks' "Intimate Friends".

The rest: the furious "1977" by The Clash, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts' sneering "Bad Reputation", the witty "Straight From The Sewer" by Das EFX, Beck's funky "Where It's At", the bouncy "Gingerbread Man" by MF Grimm, the gentle "Singer Not The Song" by The Rolling Stones, the soulful "One Woman" by Al Green, the mellow "Just You 'n' Me" by Chicago, a cover of Bread's "Make It With You" by Sugar Minott, the hushed "Assez" by Marlene Dietrich, a Paul Nice remix of "the Bizness" by De La Soul with Common and the tender "And I Love Her" by The Beatles.

1977 The Clash
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