06-19-14: You Gotta Live Before You Know The Reason Why

"California Girls" is a top five single from the summer of 1965 by The Beach Boys. Written by Brian Wilson, the chords were inspired by cowboy movie music and the melody by Bach. Wilson's father argued against the orchestral opening to the song, but it stayed. This mix features the hit cover by David Lee Roth from twenty years later as well as an all-vocal version and a stripped down studio version by The Beach Boys to accompany the original single.

"Everybody's Gotta Live" first appeared on Arthur Lee's 1972 debut solo album Vindicator. It later appeared in two different versions on his band Love's 1974 album Reel To Real. This mix includes an early non-album version from 1971 as well as the other three versions.

One other song repeats on this mix: the Leiber/Stoller song "You're The Boss", with duets by Lavern Baker with Jimmy Ricks as well as Elvis Presley with Ann-Margret.

Curtis Knight & The Squires' "How Would You Feel" is a loose interpretation of Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone", also released in 1965, featuring an uncredited Jimi Hendrix.

The rest: the lustful "Chocolate" by Big Boi with Troze, the Purple Rain outtake "We Can Fuck" by Prince & The Revolution, Junie's funky "Super Groupie", a Swamp Dogg-produced cover of The Supremes hit "Someday We'll Be Together" by Sandra Phillips, the religious drug metaphor "Jesus Is My Pusher" by Margie Singleton, the 2Pac comeback single "California Love" with Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman, the backing track of Led Zeppelin's "Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)", the Pink Floyd-sampling "Home" by the Problematics, the mellow "Give Me Your Love" by Paul Skyland, Neil Sedaka's #1 hit from 1975 "Laughter In the Rain" and the tender "Something To Remember Me By" by Brighter Side Of Darkness.

California Girls                                               The Beach Boys
Everybody's Gotta Live (electric ver)             Love
Chocolate                                                         Big Boi ft. Troze
We Can Fuck                                                   Prince & The Revolution
Super Groupie                                                 Junie
California Girls                                               David Lee Roth
Everybody's Gotta Live ('71 ver)                    Love
How Would You Feel                                     Curtis Knight & The Squires
You're The Boss                           Lavern Baker and Jimmy Ricks
Someday We'll Be Together                           Sandra Phillips
Jesus Is My Pusher                                         Margie Singelton
California Love                           2Pac ft. Dre. Dre and Roger Troutman
Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman) (backing track)   Led Zeppelin
Home                                                               The Problematics
Everybody's Gotta Live                                  Arthur Lee
Give Me Your Love                                        Paul Skyland
Laughter In The Rain                                      Neil Sedaka
California Girls (vocals)                                 The Beach Boys
You're The Boss                                              Elvis Presley & Ann-Margret
Something To Remember You By                  Brighter Side Of Darkness
California Girls ("Lei'd In Hawaii" ver)         The Beach Boys
Everybody's Gotta Live (acoustic ver)           Love
                                 

06-12-14: I Sailed My Ship Of Safety 'Til I Sank It, I'm Crawling On Your Shores

"Breakaway" was written by Jackie DeShannon and first released by Irma Thomas in 1964. DeShannon had recorded a demo version around then that wasn't released for another 30 years. And just a few years ago she re-recorded it as a slower, guitar-driven ballad. This mix features both her versions, the Thomas single and an early 80s punk version by Major Accident.

"Some Other Spring" is a standard most closely associated with Billie Holiday, who recorded it first in 1939 and then again for her Lady Sings The Blues album released in 1956.  This mix includes both those versions as well as a live Ella Fitzgerald performance with Count Basie from 1979 and Anita O'Day's version from 1961.

One other song repeats this week: "The Girls Don't Worry My Mind" by The Delmore Brothers from 1934 with a slightly differently-titled version by The Crowder Brothers released a couple years later.

The rest: the lightly psychedelic "St. Stephen" by The Grateful Dead, Mos Def's exotic "The Embassy", a live version of The Psychedelic Furs' "The Ghost In You", the sweet kiddie soul song "I'm Not Like The Others" by Little Jimmy Gandy, the soulful "Street Opera" by Ghostface Killah with Sun God, Otis Clay's wise "That's How It Is (When You're In Love)", the aptly-titled "Lord Jazz Hit Me One More Time (Make It Funky) by Lords Of The Underground, the rare Dickie Betts lead vocal for The Allman Brothers on "Blue Sky", the countryish "Father To A Sister Of A Thought" by Pavement, Led Zeppelin's torch song "I'm Gonna Crawl", Dr. Octagon's travel-minded "Redeye", Heather Lawyer's poignant "Enjoy The Ride" and the earnest "Closer To Fine" by The Indigo Girls.

St. Stephen                                                 Grateful Dead
Some Other Spring                                    Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra
The Embassy (edit)                                   Mos Def
Breakaway  (early ver)                              Jackie DeShannon
Some Other Spring (live)          Ella Fitzgerald & Count Basie And His Big Band
The Ghost In You (live)                           The Psychedelic Furs   
Breakaway                                               Major Accident
I'm Not Like The Others                          Little Jimmy Gandy
Street Opera                                             Ghostface Killah ft. Sun God
That's How It Is (When You're In Love)           Otis Clay
Lord Jazz Hit Me One More Time (Make It Funky)             Lords Of the Underground
Break-A-Way                                            Irma Thomas
Blue Sky                                                   The Allman Brothers Band
Father To A Sister Of A Thought             Pavement
I Don't Let The Girls Worry My Mind      Crowder Brothers
Some Other Spring                                   Anita O'Day
I'm Gonna Crawl                                      Led Zeppelin
The Girls Don't Worry My Mind             The Delmore Brothers   
Redeye                                                      Dr. Octagon
Some Other Spring            Billie Holiday & Tony Scott Orchestra
Enjoy The Ride                                        Heather Lawyer
Closer To Fine                                          Indigo Girls                            

06-05-14: Some People Say I Love Ya Too Much, But I Don't Think I Love You Enough

"Angel Flying To Close To The Ground" is a 1981 single by Willie Nelson from his film Honeysuckle Rose. This week features this as well as a cover by Bob Dylan from sessions for his 1983 album Infidels and a version by former Pixie Kelley Deal from 1996, with a snippet of singing from Kris Kristofferson at the end.

"My Old Pal" is a Jimmie Rodgers song from 1928, on this mix accompanied by Merle Haggard & The Strangers' version from 1969 as well as a newly released version by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy.

One other song repeats this week: the standard "I Found A Million Dollar Baby", first written for a 1931 Broadway musical and performed by Fanny Brice. This mix features two versions released the same year by Bing Crosby and The Boswell Sisters.

"Criminology" from Raekwon's 1995 album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx and "Instant Replay" from Wanda Robinson's 1971 album Black Ivory both sample her labelmate's band of the same name, from their song "I Keep Asking You Questions".

The rest: the rare vocal performance from Alice Coltrane on "Om Shanti", Ol Dirty Bastard's posthumous "High In the Clouds" with Black Rob, Don Covay's sweet "Daddy Loves Baby", the Roy Ayers-produced "Remember To Remember" by Rick Holmes, the funky "Ain't It Good To You" by Ultramagnetic MC's, the forlorn "How Can You Say Goodbye" by Sidney Joe Qualls, the Danger Doom outtake "Mad Nice" featuring MF Doom with Black Thought and a Vincent Price sample, the wise "Trust Your Heart" by Bobby Womack with David Ruffin on back-up vocals from the 1977 album Pieces, a cover of The Psychedelic Furs' "Heaven" by Nouvelle Vague featuring Karina Zeviani and a cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Chris Cornell.

Angel Flying To Close To The Ground                 Willie Nelson
Om Shanti                                                              Alice Coltrane
High In The Clouds                   Ol' Dirty Bastard w/ Black Rob
Daddy Loves Baby                                                Don Covay
I Found A Million Dollar Baby                             The Boswell Sisters
My Old Pal                                             Merle Haggard & The Strangers
Remember To Remember                                    Rick Holmes
Ain't It Good To You                                             Ultramagnetic MCs
Instant Replay                                                        Wanda Robinson
Criminology                                          Raekwon ft. Ghostface Killah
How Can You Say Goodbye                                  Sidney Joe Qualls
Mad Nice                         MF Doom ft. Black Thought & Vinny Price
Trust Your Heart                                      Bobby Womack w/ David Ruffin
I Found A Million Dollar Baby                              Bing Crosby
My Old Pal                                                             Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground       Kelley Deal w/ Kris Kristofferson
Heaven                                             Novelle Vague ft. Karina Zeviani
Nothing Compares 2 U                                         Chris Cornell
My Old Pal                                                            Jimmie Rodgers
Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground               Bob Dylan

05-29-14: What's The Use Of Worrying?

This week's mix is anchored by two Chuck Berry songs. "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man" is the b-side to his September 1956 single "Too Much Monkey Business" and later appeared on his 1957 debut album After School Sessions. Just a few months after the single's release, Buddy Holly recorded his own version that wasn't released for several years, in 1963, four years after his death. The other two versions on here were recorded by Nina Simone in 1967 and Waylon Jennings in 1970.

"Little Queenie" is from Berry's third album, Chuck Berry Is On Top, released ion 1959. Also included here are Jerry Lee Lewis' version from the same year and live performances by The Kinks and The Rolling Stones from 1964 and 1971.

Two other songs repeat this week: the 1974 single "Mrs. Vandebilt" by Paul McCartney & Wings, with a remix forty years later by Big Boi with Kelly Rowland and Little Dragon; as well as the 1967 single "Love Power" by The Sandpebbles with a cover from the following year by Dusty Springfield.

The 1976 recording "For Real" by Flowers was covered by Roy Ayers and Wayne Henderson a couple years later. The latter has appeared on a previous mix.

The mix is bookended by two Beatles covers by female jazz singers: Keely Smith singing "If I Fell" from the 1964 album Keely Smith Sings The John Lennon - Paul McCartney Songbook and Helen Merrill singing "Because" from the 1970 album Helen Merrill Sings The Beatles.

The rest: Heart's dramatic "Crazy On You", Tim Dog's Jimi Hendrix and Bobby Womack-sampling "Bronx Nigga", Paul Abdul's 1989 #1 single "Cold Hearted", Jimmie Lanceford And His Orchestra with the silly 1935 recording "I'm Nuts About Screwy Music", Glen Campbell's 1972 cover of Roy Orbison's 1962 hit "Running Scared", Harry Nilsson's 1969 version of "Mother Nature's Son" originally released on the 1968 album The Beatles, a cover of The Psychedelic Furs' "Heaven" by Buffalo Tom, a cover of Madonna's "Crazy For You" by Miho Hatori and Ka's Sidney Joe Qualls-sampling "No Downtime".

If I Fell                                                    Keely Smith
Brown-Eyed Handsome Man                 Waylon Jennings
Little Queenie                                         Jerry Lee Lewis
Crazy On You                                         Heart
Mrs. Vandebilt                                        Paul McCartney & Wings
Bronx Nigga                                           Tim Dog
Brown-Eyed Handsome Man                 Chuck Berry
Little Queenie (live at Leeds '71)           The Rolling Stones
Love Power                                             The Sandpebbles
Mrs. Vandebilt (Big Boi remix)              Big Boi ft. Kelly Rowland & Little Dragon w/ Wings
Cold Hearted                                           Paula Abdul
I'm Nuts About Screwy Music                Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra
Little Queenie                                          Chuck Berry
Brown-Eyed Handsome Man                  Buddy Holly
Running Scared                                       Glen Campbell
Mother Nature's Son                                Harry Nilsson
Heaven                                                     Buffalo Tom
Crazy For You                                         Miho Hatori
For Real                                                   Flowers
No Downtime                                          Ka
Love Power                                             Dusty Springfield
Little Queenie (live on the BBC)            The Kinks
Brown-Eyed Handsome Man                  Nina Simone
Because                                                   Helen Merrill

05-22-14: Introducing Phantom Of The Dark, Walk Through My Heaven

"Jump" is the lead single, released in December 1983, from Van Halen's 1984, released the following month. It was #1 in the Unites States and has appeared on a previous mix. This mix features original Van Halen lead singer David Lee Roth doing a bluegrass version with John Jorgensen's Bluegrass Band as well as covers by Paul Anka and The Delorean Sisters. Additionally, also from Van Halen's 1984: "Hot For Teacher".

"The End Of The World" is a 1962 single written by novelist Sylvia Dee and first recorded by Skeeter Davis. Improbably, it was the first and likely last single to make the top five in Country, Black (sic), and Easy Listening charts.  This week features covers by Nancy Sinatra and Sharon Van Etten. One other song repeats this week: the studio and BBC version of Pavement non-album track "Harness Your Hopes".

Camp Lo's 1997 hit "Luchini - This Is What" samples Dynasty's 1980 track "Adventures In the Land Of Music".

The rest: the rollicking "Scratching On My Screen" by Ric Cartey, Pumpkinhead's bitter "Here", the psychedelic "Suzy Creamcheese" by Teddy And His Patches, Dana Dane's witty "Nightmares", the Mike Maurro mix of The Spinners' "I'll Be Around", Sam McGee's winsome "Chevrolet Car", an alternate folksy version of "Rain On The Scarecrow" by John Mellencamp, Ella Mae Morse with Freddie Slack & His Orchestra on the 1942 single "Cow Cow Boogie", Badbadnotgood featuring Elzhi and Ghostface Killah on the atmospheric "Gunshowers", Apple And The Three Oranges on the sweet "True Love Will Never Die" and Amy Winehouse on the wry "I Heard Love Is Blind".

Hot For Teacher                                        Van Halen
Jump                                                          Paul Anka
Scratching On My Screen                         Ric Cartey
Here                                                          Pumpkinhead
Suzy Creamcheese                                   Teddy And His Patches
Harness Your Hopes (BBC ver)               Pavement
Nightmares                                               Dana Dane
Adventures In The Land Of Music          Dynasty 
Luchini - This Is It                                   Camp Lo
I'll Be Around (Mike Maurro remix)        The Spinners
Jump                   David Lee Roth & John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band
The End Of The World                             Sharon Van Etten
Chevrolet Car                                           Sam McGee
Rain On the Scarecrow (alt ver)              John Mellencamp
Cow Cow Boogie      Ellie Mae Morse w/ Freddie Slack & His Orchestra
The End Of The World                            Nancy Sinatra
Jump                                                        The Delorean Sisters
Harness Your Hopes                                Pavement
Gunshowers                         Ghostface KIllah & Badbadnotgood ft. Elzhi
True Love Will Never Die                       Apple And Three Oranges
I Heard Love Is Blind                              Amy Winehouse
The End Of The World                            Skeeter Davis

05-15-14: Teenage Dreams So Hard To Beat

"Teenage Kicks" is a 1978 single by Northern Irish band The Undertones. Influential British DJ John Peel has said he burst into tears the minute heard heard it. He rated songs on a scale of one to five asterisks but rated this song twenty-eight asterisks. He lived twenty-eight more years but maintained it was favorite song until death, when in keeping with his wishes the opening lyrics "teenage dreams so hard to beat" were inscribed on his tombstone. The original has appeared on a previous mix, this mix features covers by The Dawn Chorus And The Blue Tits, The Headcoattees and Nouvelle Vague.

Paul McCartney supposedly said that "Don't Worry Baby" by The Beach Boys was the greats song ever written. Brian Wilson wrote it as a response to his own favorite song, "Be My Baby" by The Ronettes, featured in a recent mix. This mix includes the original Beach Boys recording as well as covers by Bryan Ferry and Big Star.

"I Call My Baby Pussycat" was originally recorded by Parliament for their 1970 album Osmium. A slowed down version appeared a few years later by George Clinton's other band Funkadelic on their 1972 album America Eats Its Young. Both versions are here.

"Court And Spark" is the title track from Joni Mitchell's 1974 album, this mix includes a cover by Herbie Hancock with Norah Jones from 2007.

"Be Alright" is from Ohio funk band Zapp's 1980 eponymous debut album. It is featured here in its original version as well as songs the following hip hop tracks that sampled it: "Prince Of Darkness" by Big Daddy Kane, "Shakiyla" by Poor Righteous Teachers and "Keep Ya Head Up" by 2Pac.

The Soul Clan were a soul singer supergroup orchestrated by Solomon Burke in 1966 with fellow Atlantic artists Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, Don Covay and Joe Tex. the idea was to ask their label for a million dollars to help rebuild poor black communities. Redding soon died in a plane crash, replaced by Arthur Conley. Pickett left in a huff, and was replaced by Ben E. King. With that crew in place they recorded one single, "Soul Meeting" and the b side "That's How It Feels", included here. Many years later they all reunited for a 1981 concert in New York City, followed by a brief European tour both of which included Pickett now replacing Conley, who was busy. By the end of 2015 they were all deceased.

The rest: Billy Joel's new waveish "Sometimes A Fantasy", the buoyant "Chatty Chatty Mouth" by The Gladiators, Johnny Carroll's eerie "Bandstand Doll", the b-side to Clyde McPhatter's final 1970 single "Mixed Up Cup", the sweet "One Is Enough For One" by Jack & The Mods and a cover of Joni Mitchell's standard "Both Sides Now" by Glen Campbell.

Don't Worry Baby                           The Beach Boys
Be Alright                                        Zapp
I Call My Baby Pussycat                 Funkadelic
Teenage Kicks                                 The Dawn Chorus And The Blue Tits
Sometimes A Fantasy                      Billy Joel
Prince Of Darkness                          Big Daddy Kane
That's How It Feels                          The Soul Clan
Court And Spark                              Herbie Hancock ft. Norah Jones
Chatty Chatty Mouth                       The Gladiators
Shakiyla                                           Poor Righteous Teachers
I Call My Baby Pussycat                 Parliament
Teenage Kicks                                 The Headcoatees
Don't Worry Baby                            Bryan Ferry
Bandstand Doll                                Johnny Carroll
Mixed Up Cup                                 Clyde McPhatter
Keep Ya Head Up                            2Pac
One Is Enough For One                   Jack & The Mods
Both Sides Now                               Glen Campbell
Court And Spark                              Joni Mitchell
Teenage Kicks                                  Nouvelle Vague
Don't Worry Baby                            Big Star

05-08-14: Mindin' My Business, Hangin' On The Scene, Kangaroos Rolled By, But I Was Clean

"You're The First, My Last, My Everything" was a top 10 hit from Barry White's 1974 album Can't Get Enough. One of his co-writers had written a country version of the song some twenty years earlier before this disco smash.  A previous mix included the single version, this mix features the full album version as well as a countryish cover from the following year by Brenda Lee and a duet version between Gloria Gaynor and Isaac Hayes some two decades later.

"Living For The City" was also a top 10 hit, but from a year earlier on Stevie Wonder's Innervisions album.  Previous mixes have included covers by Ray Charles and Pat Rhoden. This mix features the original as well as covers by Bonnie Tyler and Ramsey Lewis.

"Like To Get To Know You" was a top 20 hit in the summer of 1968 by Spanky & Our Gang. This mix includes a cover from the following year by Julie London as well as the original.

"Jackie Blue" was a 1975 top 5 single by The Ozark Mountain Daredevils. This mix includes a 1991 cover by Smashing Pumpkins as well as the original.

Frank Ocean's "American Wedding" from his 2011 mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra uses the entire instrumental from The Eagles' 1977 hit "Hotel California".

"Thief On The Cross" was Bob Dylan's last gospel song, performed only once: in New Orleans on November 10th, 1981 in the track included here.

The rest: Doja Cat's trance-like "So High", the funky "Feelin' Alright" by Jungle Brothers, the sample-heavy "Egg Man" by Beastie Boys, Red River Dave's spooky "California Hippie Murders!", the sardonic "Holiday In Cambodia" by Dead Kennedys, the cautionary "This Old World Is Going Down" by Modulations, Bobby Bare's cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "Early Morning Rain" and Run-D.M.C.'s self-referential "Hit It Run".

You're The First, My Last, My Everything               Barry White
American Wedding                                                    Frank Ocean
So High                                                                      Doja Cat
Feelin' Alright                                                            Jungle Brothers
Living For The City                                                   Ramsey Lewis
Egg Man                                                                     Beastie Boys
Like To Get To Know You                                         Spanky & Our Gang
California Hippie Murders!                                        Red River Dave
Holiday In Cambodia                                                 Dead Kennedys
Jackie Blue                                                                Smashing Pumpkins
Living For The City                                                   Stevie Wonder
This Old World Is Going Down                                Modulations
Thief On The Cross                                                   Bob Dylan
Early Morning Rain                                                   Bobby Bare
Living For The City                                                   Bonnie Tyler
Hit It                                                                          Run D.M.C.
You're The First, My Last, My Everything      Gloria Gaynor w/ Isaac Hayes
Like To Get To Know You                                        Julie London
Jackie Blue                                              The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
You're The First, My Last, My Everything               Brenda Lee

05-01-14: All Of Us Down Here Are Strangers

"Nights In White Satin" is from the 1967 Moody Blues album Days Of Future Passed. The single version was a modest hit, the album version here includes the spoken word passage "Late Lament. This mix feature that version as well as separate parts recorded by Eric Burdon & War in 1970 and a more recent version by 70s soul singer Bettye Lavette recorded in 2010.

"You Make Me Feel Good" is the b side to the Zombies late 1964 hit "She's Not There". This mix features a cover from around then by The Buckinghams, a more recent cover by Yo La Tengo and a Spanish langauge cover by I Kings called "Sei Stata Tu" to accompany the original.

One other song repeats this week: "Pull Up The Roots" by Talking Heads from their 1983 album Speaking In Tongues, as well as a more recent cover by The Morning Benders.

"Chase" by Giorgio Moroder is from the soundtrack to the 1978 film Midnight Express. He won the Academy Award the following year for best score.

Bill Murray's brief version of The Beatles' "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" is from the 1980 film Where The Buffalo Roam.

George McRae's "You Can Have It All" was covered decades later by Yo La Tengo on a track that appeared here previously.

The rest: early 80s Boston rap "Sweat (The B Side"' by Kevin Fleetwood & The Cadillacs Of Sound, the gosepl funk track "Been Trying" by Chicago Travelers, the posthumously released "Memory Of Our Love" by Donny Hathaway, the witty "Sunny Meadowz" by Del Tha Funky Homosapien, Blind Willie Johnson's high-minded "Everybody Ought To Treat A Stranger Right" and Tim Maia's earnest "These Are The Songs".

Nights In White Satin 1                        Eric Burdon & War
You Make Me Feel Good                     The Zombies
Sunshine Men                                       Freestyle Fellowship
Pull Up The Roots                                Talking Heads
Sweat (The B Side)             Kevin Fleetwood & The Cadillacs Of Sound
Chase                                                    Giorgio Moroder
You Make Me Feel Good                     The Buckinghams 
Been Trying                                          Chicago Travelers
Memory Of Our Love                          Donny Hathaway
Nights In White Satin (The Night)       The Moody Blues
Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds         Bill Murray
Sunny Meadowz                                    Del Tha Funky Homosapien
You Can Have It All                              George McRae
You Make Me Feel Good                      Yo La Tengo
Nights In White Satin                           Bettye Lavette
Pull Up The Roots                                The Morning Benders
Everybody Ought To Treat A Stranger Right        Blind Willie Johnson
Sei Stata Tu                                            I Kings
These Are The Songs                             Tim Maia
Nights In White Satin II                         Eric Burdon & War

04-24-14: Life Seems Empty, But It Won't Last For Long

"Shack Up" is a 1975 funk single by Banbarra, who quickly disappeared into obscurity. It was most famously covered by Manchester post-punk band A Certain Ratio in 1980. That version appeared on a previous mix. This mix features the original with covers by 70s Filipino funk band Blackbuster and Nouvelle Vague.

"I'll Be Home" is a Randy Newman song that first appeared on Harry Nilsson's 1970 album Nilsson Sings Newman, but wasn't recorded for the studio by Newman until his 1977 album Little Criminals. In the several years in between it was recorded by many artists. This mix includes both these versions as well as a cover by Lorraine Ellison.

One other song repeats this week: Sun Ra's early single with The Cosmic Rays called "Somebody's In Love", released in 1955. This week includes a cover by Yo La Tengo from 60 years later.

"Right Start" is an unfinished outtake from the 1980 Talking Heads album Remain In Light. It eventually evolved into "Once In A Lifetime", itself influenced by the new genre of rap, and sampled on Jay-Z's 1998 collaboration with Memphis Bleek from the movie Streets Is Watching.

The rest: Ted Taylor's forlorn "Houston Town", Lake Street Dive's cover of Hall & Oates' "Rich Girl", Jimmy Reed's violent "I'm Going Upside Your Head", the funky "C'mon Wit Da Git Down", Syl Johnson's yearning "I'm Talkin' 'Bout Freedom", Ice Cube proteges Da Lench Mob with 1992's "Freedom Got An A.K.", Don Covay's "We Can't Make It No More" from his 1975 album Hot Blood, a cover of New Order's "Age Of Consent" by The Golden Filter, David Bowie's rare French version of "Heroes", Buddy Holly's bittersweet "That Makes It Tough", Leon Thomas' cover of Stevie Wonder's "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" and tehe early Kinks demo "There's A New World Just Opening For Me".

Somebody's In Love                             Sun Ra & The Cosmic Rays
Shack Up                                              Banbarra
Right Start (unfinished outtake)           Talking Heads
It's Alright                                             Jay-Z
Houston Town                                      Ted Taylor
I'll Be Home                                         Harry Nilsson
Rich Girl                                               Lake Street Drive
I'm Going Upside Your Head               Jimmy Reed
Shack Up                                              Blackbuster
C'mon Wit Da Git Down                     Artifacts
I'm Talkin' Bout Freedom                    Syl Johnson
Freedom Got An A.K.                         Da Lench Mob
We Can't Make It No More                 Don Covay
I'll Be Home                                        Randy Newman
Age Of Consent                                   The Golden Filter
Heros (French single ver)                    David Bowie
Shack Up                                             Nouvelle Vague
That Makes It Tough                           Buddy Holly
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life      Leon Thomas
I'll Be Home                                        Lorraine Ellison
There's A New World Just Opening Up For Me          The Kinks
Somebody's In Love                             Yo La Tengo

04-17-14: It's A Place I'd Like To Be

"Rock With You" is a Michael Jackson single released in late 1979 that was a number one hit for a month beginning in January 1980. "Love Will Tear Us Apart" is a Joy Division single released a few months later, shortly after the suicide of their lead singer Ian Curtis. Both the original hit singles have been featured on this blog, as well as a cover of the latter by Nouvelle Vague.  This week features a live version of the former by The Jacksons backing their younger brother Michael shortly after the song's release, as well as covers by The Laurie Bower Singers and Seu Jorge with Almaz.  The latter of these two singles is represented by a live Joy Division performance as well as covers by Jose Gonzalez and Revere with Toumani Diabate.

One other song repeats this week: the 1988 Galaxie 500 single "Tugboat", with a cover by Submarine.

The J Dilla remix of Jay-Z's "The Ruler's Back" posthumously applies Dilla's production to the Jay-Z track.

The Liberation, here with "What It Do", is a collaboration between Talib Kweli and Madlib.

The rest: the chipper "We Can Make It" by Starbound, the keyboard-driven "Hello Again" by The Cars, Peter Gabriel singing a German version of his hit "Shock The Monkey" titled "Shock Den Affen", Kas Product's French new wave single "Mind", Trio Sourire's girl band French cover of "Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones, Roy Ayers' percussive "Africa, Center Of The World (Kuti)", an acoustic version Radiohead's "Blow Out" by lead singer Thom Yorke with The Posies, a rare goofy take of The Beatles' "Something" by Pavement, John Lee Hooker's principled "Democrat Man", the 70s soul obscurity "What Goes Around" by Cody Black, Real Live's fierce "They Got Me" and the somber "It's Getting Late" by Small Stars.

Love Will Tear Us Apart (live)                            Joy Division
Rock With You (live)                                           The Jacksons
We Can Make It                                                    Starbound
Hello Again                                                          The Cars
Shock Den Affen                                                   Peter Gabriel
Mind                                                                      Kas Product
Satisfaction                                                           Trio Sourire
Rock With You                                                    The Laurie Bower Singers
What It Do                                                           The Liberation
Africa, Center Of The World (Kuti)                     Roy Ayers
The Ruler's Back (J Dilla remix)                         Jay-Z
Blow Out (acoustic ver)                                       Radiohead
Love Will Tear Us Apart                                     Jose Gonzalez
Something                                                            Pavement
Tugboat                                                                Galaxie 500
Democrat Man                                                     John Lee Hooker
What Goes Around                                              Cody Black
They Got Me                                                       Real Live
Rock With Me                                                     Seu Jorge and Almaz
It's Getting Late                                                   Small Stars
Love Will Tear Us Apart             Revere with Toumani Diabate
Tugboat                                                               Submarine