05-16-13: Que Sea Tu Gran Momento

"Death Is Not The End" is a Bob Dylan song from the 1988 album Down In The Groove. This week features covers by My Morning Jacket's Chris Broemel and The Waterboys as well as the original.

"You And Your Sister" is the b side to the 1978 single "I Am The Cosmos" by former Big Star member Chris Bell. This week features covers by Kelly Willis and This Mortal Coil with Kim Deal and Tanya Donelly of The Breeders on vocals as well as an acoustic version of the original.

One other song repeats this week: the original and Spanish version of Johnny Cash's "The Matador".

The rest: Barry White's seductive composition "Baby Blues" for The Love Unlimited Orchestra, Todd Rundgren's wistful "Cold Morning Light", Ronnie McNeir's languid "In Summertime", the sweet "Day After Day" by Badfinger, Lupe Fiasco's sequel story "Kick Push II",  the catchy "The Train Is Coming Back" by The Galdiators, a Radiohead remix of Jay-Z's "Allure", Fats Domino's cover of Barbara Lewis' "Make Me Belong To You", a J Dilla remix of Masta Ace's "Sitting On Chrome", the bouncy "Happy Go Lucky Girl" by Jackie DeShannon, a cover of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" by Nancy Sinatra, a live cover of The Rolling Stones' "Dead Flowers" by Townes Van Zant, the plaintive "Make A Smile For Me" by Bill Withers and a demo version of "Operator" by Jim Croce.


Baby Blues                                         The Love Unlimited Orchestra
You And Your Sister        This Mortal Coil ft. Kim Deal & Tanya Donelly
Cold Morning Light                            Todd Rundgren
In Summertime                                    Ronnie McNeir
Day After Day                                    Badfinger
You And Your Sister (acoustic)          Chris Bell
Death Is Not The End                         Chris Broemel
The Matador                                        Johnny Cash
Kick Push II                                        Lupe Fiasco
The Train Is Coming Back                 The Gladiators
Allure (Radiohead remix)                   Jay-Z
Make Me Belong To You                  Fats Domino
Sitting On Chrome (J Dilla remix)      Masta Ace
Happy Go Lucky Girl                         Jackie DeShannon
El Matador (Spanish ver)                     Johnny Cash
It Ain't Me Babe                                  Nancy Sinatra
Death Is Not The End                          Bob Dylan
Dead Flowers (live)                             Townes Van Zant
You And Your Sister                          Kelly Willis
Make A Smile For Me                         Bill Withers
Operator (demo)                                  Jim Croce
Death Is Not The End                         The Waterboys

05-09-13: Pretty Girls Have Taken You For A Ride

The interracial love story "Brother Louie" was originally by the UK soul band Hot Chocolate and a top ten hit over there in 1973. But it became a number one hit in the states six months later when it was covered by Stories, and that version was previously included on this blog. This week features covers by The Undisputed Truth, Matumbi and a much more obscure band than the original artist, also called Hot Chocolate, but from Cleveland and the studio band of journeyman soul singer Lou Ragland.

"Speeding Motorcycle"is a Daniel Johnston song.  This mix features versions by The Pastels, Mary Lou Lord and Yo La Tengo.

One other song repeats this week: "Girls" from the 1975 album "Look At Me" by The Moments, with an additional version in French.

"Let's Talk About Girls" by The Chocolate Watchband is their best known song and the only one with African-American session singer Don Bennett.

The rest: a cover of Peter Frampton's "Show Me The Way" by Dinosaur Jr., the spooky "Satan Is Real" by The Louvin Brothers, a cover of The Eagles' "Lyin' Eyes" by Buck Owens, Bruce Springsteen's intricate "Tunnel Of Love", a cover of the Chip Taylor-written standard "Angel Of The Morning" by Maureen Davies, Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince with the teenage lament "Parents Just Don't Understand", the woozy "Pack The Pipe" by The Pharcyde, the bluesy "Invitation To Black Power (parts 1 & 2)" by The Shahid Quintet, the MF Doom/Jneiro Janel collaboration "Winter Blues" as JJ Doom, a demo version of Wings' "Silly Love Songs" by Paul and Linda McCartney and a version of the Tim Hardin standard "If I Were A Carpenter" by Bob Dylan & The Band.

Down To The Waterline                          Dire Straits
Show Me The Way                                  Dinosaur Jr.
Brother Louie (live)                                 Hot Chocolate ft. Lou Ragland
Let's Talk About Girls                             The Chocolate Watchband
Speeding Motorcycle                               The Pastels
Satan Is Real                                            The Louvin Brothers
Lyin' Eyes                                                 Buck Owens
Tunnel Of Love                                        Bruce Springsteen
Speeding Motorcycle                                Mary Lou Lord
Angel Of The Morning                             Maureen Davies
Brother Louie                                           Matumbi
Parents Just Don't Understand                 Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Girls                                                         The Moments
Pack The Pipe                                          The Pharcycde
Brother Louie                                           The Undisputed Truth
Invitation To Black Power (Pts. 1 & 2)    Shahid Quintet
Winter Blues                                              JJ Doom
Girls (French)                                            The Moments
Silly Love Songs (demo)                           Paul & Linda McCartney
Speeding Motorcycle                                 Yo La Tengo
If I Were A Carpenter                                Bob Dylan & The Band

05-02-13: Between Your Head And My Mind

"Listen, The Snow Is Falling" is a Yoko Ono song from 1969, credited to both Yoko and John Lennon, originally appearing on their "Wedding Album" and also a couple years later as the B-side to "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)". It was produced, with remarkable restraint, by Phil Spector. This mix features that song with covers by Swedish band Labasheeda and Galaxie 500, with a rare lead vocal from bassist Naomi Yang.

"The Star Of A Story" first appeared on the 1978 Heatwave album Central Heating. Both this version and a subsequent version a couple years later by George Benson were produced by Quincy Jones. This mix adds a recent live version by D'Angelo And The Vanguard to those two.

The rest: an longer and unedited version of the Allen Ginsberg collaboration "Ghetto Defendant" by The Clash, the Clash-sampling "Police On My Back" by Lethal Bizzle, Bruce Springsteen's 60s-styled "Out In The Street", Rick Ross' cocky "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)" featuring Styles P, a cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up" by The Jam, the instrumental soundtrack groove "'T" Plays It Cool" by Marvin Gaye, the funky "93 'Til Infinity" by Souls Of Mischief, Vic Chestnut's atmospheric "Very Friendly Lightouse", L.V. Jones & His Virginia Singing Class with the hopeful "Will My Mother Know Me There?", Don McLean's wistful Van Gogh ode "Vincent", the sweet "Pot Of Gold" by El Count Executives and the soulful "No Man Is An Island" by The Van Dykes.

Listen, The Snow Is Falling                             Yoko Ono
The Star Of A Story                                          Heatwave
Ghetto Defendant (unedited ver)                      The Clash
Police On My Back                                           Lethal Bizzle
Out In The Street                                               Bruce Springsteen
B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)                           Rick Ross ft. Styles P
Move On Up                                                      The Jam
"T" Plays It Cool                                                Marvin Gaye
93 'Til Infinity                                                    Souls Of Mischief
The Star Of A Story                                           George Benson
Listen, The Snow Is Falling                               Galaxie 500
Very Friendly Lighthouse                                  Vic Chestnut
Will My Mother Know Me There?       L.V. Jones & His Virginia Singing Class
Vincent                                                               Don McLean
Listen, The Snow Is Falling                               Labasheeda
Pot Of Gold                                                        El Count Executives
The Story Of A Story (live)            D'Angelo And The Vanguard
No Man Is An Island                                          The Van Dykes

04-25-13: We Were Talking About The Love That's Gone So Cold And The People Who Gain The World And Lose Their Soul

"You Light Up My Life" was written by ad jingle writer Joseph Brooks for the 1977 film of the same name and performed by ad jingle singer Kasey Cisyk but became a number one hit later in the year by Debbie Boone. This mix features Boone's hit version as well as covers by Whitney Houston and Patti Smith performing with Brooks on piano on the television show "Kids Are People Too".

"Isn't It A Pity" is a song by George Harrison from his 1970 debut solo album All Things Must Pass. Previous mixes have featured his original and a "Version 2" by him as well as a Beatles-era demo and covers by Nicky Thomas, Galaxie 500 and Nina Simone. This mix features covers by Cowboy Junkies, Bettye Lavette and Elliot Smith performing live.

One other song repeats this week. "Don't Ever Take Yourself Away" is an outtake from Bob Dylan's 1981 "Shot Of Love" sessions. It was released in a "remastered and remixed" version for the 2011 soundtrack to the new version of the television show Hawaii 5-0, and touted as being unreleased. Yet a handful of people in the world had the "unreleased" original bootleg. Nikki Jean, who sang the hook on Lupe Fiasco's "Hip Hop Saved My Life", recorded a loose cover with altered lyrics called "Steal And Feathers (Don't Ever)" that was billed as her version of an "unfinished" Dylan song. The mix features her version as well as Dylan's cleaned-up soundtrack version.

The rest: Lou Reed's album version of the blissful "Perfect Day", the pensive "Everything Changes" by Aceyalone featuring Mystic, Ice Cube protege Yo-Yo with the funky "You Can't Play With My Yo-Yo" featuring Ice Cube, the laid-back "Pad & Pen" by A Tribe Called Quest, the Chicago 80s house song "(I Like To Do It In) Fast Cars" by Z Factor, Public Image Ltd.'s spooky "Careering", an acoustic version of Sophie B. Hawkins' hit "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover", a cover of The George Harrison-written Beatles song "Within You Without You" by Stephanie Dosen, the backing track to "Ruby Tuesday" by The Rolling Stones, Joe Pass' version of the jazz standard "Laura" from his 1979 Charlie Parker tribute album and D'Angelo And The Vanguard's silky "Really Love".

Isn't It A Pity                                                                  Cowboy Junkies
Perfect Day                                                                     Lou Reed
You Light Up My Life                                                   Debbie Boone
Everything Changes                                                       Aceyalone ft. Mystic
Don't Ever Take Yourself Away (remixed ver)         Bob Dylan
You Can't Play With My Yo-Yo                                   Yo-Yo ft. Ice Cube
Isn't It A Pity                                                                  Bettye Lavette
You Light Up My Life                                                   Whitney Houston
Pad & Pen                                                                       A Tribe Called Quest
Steel And Feathers (Don't Ever)                                    Nikki Jean
(I Like To Do It In) Fast Cars                                        Z Factor
Careering                                                                        Public Image Ltd.
You Light Up My Life                                                   Patti Smith
Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover (acoustic ver)    Sophie B. Hawkins
Within You Without You                                               Stephanie Dosen
Isn't It A Pity (live)                                                         Elliot Smith
Ruby Tuesday (backing track)                                       The Rolling Stones
Laura                                                                               Joe Pass
Really Love                                            D'Angelo And The Vanguard 

04-18-13: You'll Keep Searching And Searching Your Whole Life Through

"Lookin' For A Love" was the 1962 debut hit for the family group The Valentinos, featuring a teenaged Bobby Womack. The song was an evolution of an earlier traditional gospel song called "Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray" rewritten and developed by Womack, under the guidance of Sam Cooke. Cooke encouraged him to record the secular reworking and produced both songs. In 1973, well into a successful solo career, Womack recorded another version of "Lookin' For A Love" as a vocal warm-up, but it was released as a single the following year and became a hit.

This blog has that single on a previous mix. This mix features the original Valentinos version, a cover by The J.Geils Band on their 1971 debut album, as well as two other versions of the gospel standard "Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray" by Patti Page and The Paramount Jubilee Singers as well as The Womack Brothers version.

"You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" is a John Lennon-written ballad from the 1965 Beatles album Help! Previous mixes have featured the original as well as the demo and a cover by Elvis Costello.This mix features covers by American contemporaries The Beau Brummels, The Beach Boys and Waylon Jennings.

The rest: a masterful Tom Moulton mix of Lou Rawls' "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine", Fred Hillebrand's chipper "I'll See You In C-U-B-A", Jay-Z with Pharell on the mellow "So Ambitious", Kanye West's reflective "Everything I Am", Milton Brown And His Musical Brownies with the string-driven "I've Got The Blues For Mammy", Lupe Fiasco's clever "The Coolest", an Andre 3000-produced jazzy cover of the Prince-written Sinead O'Connor standard "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Aretha Franklin, an epic medley of ballard standards by Charlie Parker and Peggy Lee's cover of 10cc's "I'm Not In Love".

You'll Never Find A Love Like Mine (Tom Moulton mix)                Lou Rawls
Lookin' For A Love                                           The Valentinos
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away               The Beau Brummels
I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray                             Patti Page
I'll See You In C-U-B-A                                    Fred Hillebrand
So Ambitious                                                        Jay-Z ft. Pharrell
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away                  The Beach Boys
Looking For A Love                                        The J. Geils Band
Everything I Am                                                 Kanye West
I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray                           Paramount Jubilee Singers
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away                 Waylon Jennings
I've Got The Blues For Mammy      Milton Brown And His Musical Brownies
Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray                            The Womack Brothers
The Coolest                                                           Lupe Fiasco
Nothing Compares 2 U                                  Aretha Franklin
Ballad Medley (All The Things You Are/Dearly Beloved/The Nearness Of You/I'll Get By/Everything Happens To Me/The Man I Love/What's New/Someone To Watch Over Me/Isn't It Romantic)                                                                Charlie Parker
I'm Not In Love                                               Peggy Lee

04-11-13: How Could You Leave Me When I Needed To Possess You?

 "Wuthering Heights" was the debut single by the 19 year old Kate Bush in January 1978. Several years later she re-recorded the vocals for a greatest hits compilation. This mix includes her original as well as covers by The Sweptaways from 2006 and Pat Benatar from 1980.

"(At Your Best) You Are Love" was written for the 1976 album Harvest For The World by Earth, Wind & Fire. This mix includes the original along with covers by a teenaged Aaliyah and Frank Ocean.

One other song repeats on this mix: two covers of Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind": one a Tom Moulton mix of the late Viola Wills' 1980 disco version as well as a more recently recorded cover by Neil Young using a vintage sound booth.

The rest: Alvin Cash & The Crawlers' groovy "Twine Time", William Onyeabor's original mix of the ethereal "Heavn & Hell", Quasimoto's loping "Youngblood", Kool & The Gang's spacey "Little Children", Carly Simon's seductive "You Belong To Me", the defiant "I'm Still #1" by Boogie Down Productions, a cover of The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" by Labelle, a cover of Van Halen's "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love" by The Minutemen, the punchline-driven "Preach" by Lil Wayne with 2 Chainz, Patrinell Staten's sweet "Little Love Affair", a cover of The Cure's "Just Like Heaven" by Dinosaur Jr. and a hushed demo version of Paul McCartney's "Let 'Em In".

Twine Time                                         Alvin Cash & The Crawlers
Heaven & Hell (original mix)                                         William Onyeabor
Youngblood                                                                     Quasimoto
Little Children                                                                 Kool & The Gang
Wuthering Heights                                                           The Sweptaways
(At Your Best) You Are Love                                          Frank Ocean
If You Could Read My Mind (Tom Moulton mix)          Viola Wills
You Belong To Me                                                            Carly Simon
Wuthering Heights                                                            Kate Bush
I'm Still #1                                        Boogie Down Productions
Won't Get Fooled Again                                                   Labelle
Ain't Talkin' About Love                                                  The Minutemen
Preach                                               Lil Wayne ft. 2 Chainz
Little Love Affair (7" single)                                           Patrinell Staten
(At Your Best) You Are Love                                           Aaliyah
Wuthering Heights                                                            Pat Benatar
Just Like Heaven                                                               Dinosaur Jr.
Let 'Em In (demo)                              Paul McCartney & Denny Laine
(At Your Best) You Are Love                                           The Isley Brothers
If You Could Read My Mind                                             Neil Young

04-04-13: I Fell For You Like A Child

"Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)" was written and produced by Motown composer Norman Whitfield for The Temptations. He had assembled The Undisputed Truth as an in-house session band to experiment with songs like this as part of a genre soon known as "psychedelic soul". This mix features both their versions as well as a reggae cover by A Darker Shade Of Black.

Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire" was written by June Carter Cash, and first recorded by her sister Anita, before her husband Johnny added mariachi horns and made it a hit. This mix includes both versions as well as a version June recorded a few years before her death in 2003.

One other song repeats this week: The Fleetwoods' 1959 hit "Mr. Blue" as well as a cover by Bob Dylan & The Band.

The rest: Kendrick Lamar's Isley Brothers-sampling "i", the early gospel song "Move Members Move" by Rosie Hibler And Family, an early version of Milton Wright's jazzy "My Ol' Lady",  the sweet "Deep Down" by Hazel & The Jolly Boys, the 70s British soul hit "Sad Sweet Dreamer" by Sweet Sensation, the full album version of "Walking In Rhythm" by The Blackbyrds, Hugo Montenegro's version of the Ennio Morricone spaghetti western piece "Aces High", the Leaders Of The New School song that samples the previous called "Sobb Story", Bobby Womack's lush "How Could You Break My Heart?", Dee Dee Warwick's cover of Spiral Starecase's "I Love You More Today Than Yesterday", J Mascis' cover of Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You", the backing track to "This Time Tomorrow" by The Kinks, the blissful "The Day We Fall In Love" by The Monkees and an acoustic demo of "Spaceball Ricochet" by Marc Bolan of T. Rex .

Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today)     The Undisputed Truth
i                                                                       Kendrick Lamar
Ring Of Fire                                                   Johnny Cash
Move Members Move                                 Rosie Hibler And Family
My Ol' Lady (early ver)                               Milton Wright
Deep Down                                                 Hazel & The Jolly Boys
Mr. Blue                                                      The Fleetwoods
Sad Sweet Dreamer                                     Sweet Sensation
Walking In Rhythm (album ver)                           The Blackbyrds
Ball Of Confusuon (That's What The World Is Today)             The Temptations
Aces High                            Hugo Montenegro & His Orchestra and Chorus
Sobb Story                                                    Leaders Of The New School
How Could You Break My Heart?                             Bobby Womack
More Today Than Yesterday                                Dee Dee Warwick
Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is All About)          A Darker Shade Of Black
Ring Of Fire                                                   June Carter Cash
Mr. Blue                                                              Bob Dylan & The Band
Fade Into You                                                     J Mascis
This Time Tomorrow (instrumental)                   The Kinks
The Day We Fall In Love                                    The Monkees
Spaceball Ricochet (autumn '71 home demo)             T. Rex
Love's Ring Of Fire                                          Anita Carter

03-28-13: And Though Devotion Rules My Heart I Take No Bows

Joni Mitchell wrote "Both Sides Now" in 1967, inspired by a passage from Saul Bellow's "Henderson the Rain King".  It was first commercially recorded by Judy Collins, becoming a top ten hit the following year. This mix features Mitchell's original version from 1969, as well as covers by Frank Sinatra and Willie Nelson from the year before and after that, respectively.

Tom Waits' "Picture In A Frame" is from his 1999 album Mule Variations. The mix features covers by Norah Jones and Kimmie Rhodes with Willie Nelson as well as the original.

One other song repeats this week: Nick Drake's "Saturday Sun", the original and an early cover by a young Elton John.

The rest: Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth's "The Creator" from their 1991 debut E.P. "All Souled Out", a cover of Barry White's "Love's Theme" by Ferrante & Teicher,  Vincent Montana Jr.'s disco jam "It Looks Like Love" featuring his daughter Denise Montana, a cover of Elton John's "Philadelphia Freedom" by Esther Phillips, a version of the Laura Nyro standard "Wedding Bell Blues" by Bobbie Gentry, Millie Jackson's take on the Dolly Parton hit "Here You Come Again", the vintage Wu Tang Clan track "Windpipe" from the soundtrack to the 1998 film Belly, Common's Ice Cube feud track "The Bitch In Yoo", Joe Cocker's spiritual version of Bob Dylan's "Just Like A Woman" and Chicago's hopeful "Beginnings".

The Creator                                                        Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
Love's Theme                                                     Ferrante & Teicher
It Looks Like Love           Vincent Montana Jr. ft. Denise Montana
Philadelphia Freedom                                         Esther Phillips
Saturday Sun                                                      Elton John
Picture In A Frame                                             Tom Waits
Both Sides Now                                                 Willie Nelson
Wedding Bell Blues                                           Bobbie Gentry
Here You Come Again                                      Millie Jackson
Windpipe                Wu Tang Clan ft. RZA, ODB & Ghostface Killah
Both Sides Now                                                 Frank Sinatra
Picture In A Frame                                             Norah Jones
The Bitch In Yoo                                               Common
Just Like A Woman                                           Joe Cocker
Saturday Sun                                                     Nick Drake
Both Sides Now                                                Joni Mitchell
Picture In A Frame                        Kimmie Rhodes & Willie Nelson
Beginnings                                                        Chicago

03-21-13: Half My Life's In Books' Written Pages

"We Have All The Time In The World" is a James Bond theme from the 1969 film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The music was composed by John Barry and the lyrics by Hal David. The title is taken from Bond's last words in the movie and book, delivered after his wife's death.  Louis Armstrong was chosen to perform the song but was too ill to play the trumpet. Nevertheless, Barry chose Armstrong because he felt he could "deliver the title line with irony". This mix features Armstrong's original version along with versions by My Bloody Valentine and Iggy Pop.

One other song repeats this week, the album and demo version of Roy Orbison's posthumously released "She's A Mystery To Me", co-written by U2's Bono and The Edge.

The rest: Aerosmith's dramatic "Dream On", a 1969 live version of Stevie Wonder's "My Cherie Amour" by Rashaan Roland Kirk, the James Brown-sampoling "Do The James" by Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud, Bullion's J Dilla-inspired reworking of the Beach Boys' "Wouldn't It Be Nice", Esther Phillips' version of The Originals' Marving Gaye-written "Baby, I'm For Real", the funky "Buck Tha Devil" by Da Lench Mob, a demo version of "Add It Up" by The Violent Femmes, a demo version of "Give It Up For Love" by Ned Doheny, an acoustic version of "To Live And Die In L.A." by Wang Chung, a murky alternate take of "Dreams" by Fleetwood Mac, Pusha T's mechanical "Suicide" with Ab-Liva, Frank Sinatra's version of Sonny Bono's standard "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)", a later version of "Your Daddy Loves You" by Gil Scott-Heron, an alternate version of Randy Newman's "Marie", Francoise Hardy's version of Newman's "I Think It's Going To Rain Today" and a cover The The Zombies' "The Way I Feel Inside" by Phox.

We Have All The Time In The World          My Bloody Valentine
Dream On                                                                          Aerosmith
She's A Mystery To Me                                                     Roy Orbison
My Cherie Amour (live)                               Rashaan Roland Kirk
Do The James                                              Super Lover Cee & Casanova Rud
Wouldn't It Be Nice                                                           Bullion
Baby, I'm For Real                                                             Esther Phillips
Buck Tha Devil                                                                  Da Lench Mob
Add It Up (demo)                                                               Violent Femmes
Give It Up For Love (demo)                                               Ned Doheny
To Live And Die In L.A. (acoustic ver)                             Wang Chung
Dreams (take 2)                                                                   Fleetwood Mac
Suicide                                                                                Pusha T ft. Ab-Liva
We Have All The Time In The World                                Iggy Pop
She's A Mystery To Me (demo)                                          Roy Orbison
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)                              Frank Sinatra
Your Daddy Loves You (later ver)                                    Gil Scott-Heron
Marie (alt ver)                                                                      Randy Newman 
I Think It's Going To Rain Today                                      Francois Hardy
The Way I Feel Inside                                                         Phox
We Have All The Time In The World                                Louis Armstrong

03-14-13: A Kiss For Luck And We're On Our Way

"Help Me Make It Through The Night" was written and recorded by Kris Kristofferson for his 1970 debut album and soon became a standard. The biggest hit version was Sammi Smith's 1971 cover.  A previous mix included Ken Parker's reggae version. This week, the 500th weekly playlist, features Smith's version along with a 1974 version by Tammy Wynette and a 1972 version by Gladys Knight & The Pips which includes a spoken word introduction.

"We've Only Just Begun" was written by Roger Nichols and Paul Williams for The Carpenters, who released the single in 1970. Previous mixes have included versions by Young Holt Limited and Grant Lee Buffalo. This week features versions by Johnny Hartman, Bobby Womack and Curtis Mayfield performing live.

One other song repeats this week: Sade's 1985 hit single "Smooth Operator" with a cover by Senor Coconut And His Orchestra.

The rest: an alternate version of Marvin Gaye's hopeful "Everyone Needs Love", Jamose's 1989 single "The Rhymthologist",  Masta Ace's instructive "Top Ten List", a cover of Neil Young's "Heart Of Gold" by Charles Bradley & The Menahan Street Band, a live version of "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by The Rolling Stones performing for the 1968 television special Rock And Roll Circus, Lil Wayne's swaggering "Shoot Me Down" featuring D. Smith, Frank Sinatra with Tommy Dorsey's Orchestra on the World War II standard "I'll Be Seeing You", a cover of Sinatra's "Strangers In The Night" By The Morning Benders, the blissful "I Love You Like The Way I Used To Do" by Rocketship, a demo version of The Lemonheads' "It's A Shame About Ray",  a cover of David Bowie's "Blue Jean" by papercranes, Cher's version of Carole King's pop standard "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?" and Michael Jackson's unadorned vocal track of The Jackson 5 hit "I Want You Back".

Help Me Make It Through The Night       Gladys Knight & The Pips
We've Only Just Begun (live)                                   Curtis Mayfield
Everyone Needs Love (alt ver)                                 Marvin Gaye
The Rhymthologist                                                   Jamose
Smooth Operator                                                      Sade
Top Ten List                                                             Masta Ace
Heart Of Gold                        Charles Bradley & The Menahan Street Band
Help Me Make It Through The Night                     Tammy Wynette
We've Only Just Begun                                           Johnny Hartman
You Can't Always Get What You Want (live)         The Rolling Stones
Shoot Me Down                                                      Lil Wayne ft. D. Smith
Smooth Operator                                   Senor Coconut And His Orchestra
I'll Be Seeing You                      Tommy Dorsey And His Orchestra with Frank Sintara
Strangers In The Night                                             The Morning Benders
I Love You Like The Way I Used To Do               Rocketship
It's A Shame About Ray (demo)                             The Lemonheads
Blue Jean                                                                 papercranes
Will You Love Me Tomorrow?                               Cher
Help Me Make It Through The Night                      Sammi Smith
We've Only Just Begun                                           Bobby Womack
I Want You Back (a cappella)                                 Michael Jackson