Wednesday, December 30, 2020

08-13-15: Is There Only Pain And Hatred And Misery?

"Walk On The Wild Side" is a top twenty single from Lou Reed's 1972 album Transformer. It, alone with a contemporary saxophone-driven cover by Peter North, has appeared on a previous mix. This mix features covers by Herbie Mann, Edie Brickell & The New Bohemians, Jesse Malin and Joseph Arthur.

"Hushabye Mountain" written for the 1968 children's film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. This mix features versions by Tony Bennett, Julie London and both the album and demo versions by Bobbie Gentry.

One other song repeats on this mix: the Nick Lowe-written "(What's So Funny 'Bout Peace, Love And Understanding)", here with Elvis Costello & The Attractions 1978 version produced by Lowe as well as a recent cover by Sharon Van Etten with Josh Homme.

The rest: the ominous "Shape Your Mind To Die" by Leon Thomas, Michigan's MC Breed with the west coast influenced "Ain't No Future In Yo' Frontin'", Randy & The Goats' Lou Reed-esque "N.Y. Survivor". Reed's acoustic take of "Busload Of Faith", MF Doom and Madlib supegroup Madvillain with the witty "All Caps", Bobby Womack's wise "Love Ain't Something You Can Get For Free", KA's reflective "Every Now And Then", Suzanne Vega's original a cappella version of "Tom's Diner", Sinead O'Connor's cover of Nirvana's "All Apologies", Washington Phillips' with the spiritual "A Mother's Last Word To Her Daughter" and Infinity Song's version of "How Deep Is Your Love" by The Bee Gees.

08-06-15: We Stay In The Air Like Aerosol To Carry Y'All

"This Land Is Your Land" is a folk song written by Woody Guthrie in 1940 in response to Irving Berlin's "God Bless America". The late 30s Kate Smith version had irritated him and he borrowed the melody from The Carter Family song "When The World's On Fire". Previous mixes included an alternate version by Guthrie and a young Bob Dylan performing a spare version. This mix includes Guthrie's original along with covers by Odetta, Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, The Waterboys and Bob Dylan performing a live rehearsal version with The Rolling Thunder Revue.

One other song repeats on this mix: Ruby Andrews' 1967 single "Casanova (Your Playing Days Are Over)", here with a cover by Loleatta Holloway from her 1975 album Cry To Me.

The rest: Angelique Kidjo's cover of Talking Heads' "Listening Wind", Smif-N-Wessum's Jamaica-inflected "Sound Bwoy Bureill", U-Roy's Trojan Records release "Dynamic Fasion Way", Talib Kweli & Hi Tek's late 90s collaboration as Reflection Eternal called "On Mission", Barry White's straightforward "Now I'm Gonna Make Love To You", Freddie Gibbs' collaboration with The Alchemist and Rick Ross on the Scottie Pippen-inspired "Scottie Beam". Bobby Dukes' sweet "Just To Be With You", Richie Havens' cover of Bob Dylan's "I Pity The Poor Immigrant", Bill Callahan and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's cover of Steely Dan's "Deacon Blues" with Bill Mackay, Charlie Parker's late period chorus-laden "Old Folks", Professor Johnson & His Gospel Singers' rousing "Angels", Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou's haunting "Tenkou Why Feel Sorry" and the bizarrely cheerful "(Satan Has Been) Paralyzed" by David Ingles.


                                    


Thursday, November 12, 2020

07-30-15: Did I Ever Really Care That Much?

"Storms" is a song written by Stevie Nicks for Fleetwood Mac's 1979 album Tusk. This mix collects two demo versions and covers by Matt Sweeney & Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and Camper Van Beethoven to accompany the original album version.

"I Wonder If I Care As Much" was originally a b-side to the 1957 single Bye Bye Love by The Everly Brothers, who re-recorded a much heavier guitar version in 1968. Both versions are here along with a cover in the latter version's style by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy & The Phantom Family Halo and a version recorded by Neil Young with primitive recording equipment.

The rest: an early version of Prince's "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man", the 7 inch single version of Raydio's playful "More Than One Way To Love A Woman", hip hop duo JJ Doom's disturbing "GMO" featuring Beth Gibbons, a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" by Infinity Song, the take 1 solo version of Bob Dylan's "A Simple Twist Of Fate", Beth Orton and M Ward's cover of Dylan's "Buckets Of Rain", a solo piano version of The Rolling Stones' "A Hundred Years Ago", Busta Rhymes' Jackson 5-sampling "Look Over Your Shoulder" with Kendrick Lamar, the sublime "Bad Boy" by The Jive Bombers and Dr. Octagon's foreboding "Black Hole Son".

I Wonder If I Care As Much                  The Everly Brothers

Sunday, August 30, 2020

07-23-15: And I Can Be Inside Your Dreams

"Is That All There Is?" is a Leiber & Stoller song first made a hit by Peggy Lee in late 1969. This mix features her hit recording, a live recording by her as well as a 1980 no wave version by Cristina.

"Flowers" is the opening track from the 1988 debut album Today by Galaxie 500. This mix features that version as well as covers by Slow Down, Molasses and Orange Cake Mix.

One other song repeats here: Slim Harpo's 1960 blues recording "Buzz Me Babe", with a 1975 rock cover by The Count Bishops.

The rest: Sun Ra's apt "I Am Strange", the eerie "It Never Rains In Outer Space" by Futurhythm, the proto hiphop track "Fly Guy And The Unemployed" by Ramsey 2d - 3d, Black Thought's Swizz Beats-produced "Good Morning" with Pusha T and Killer Mike, The Normal's sardonic "T.V.O.D.", Helen Humes' bouncy 1945 single "Be-Baba-Leba", the percussive "Wig Out" by Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth, Chocolate Watchband's psychedelic-tinged cover of Bob Dylan's "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue" simply titled "Baby Blue", Justin Townes Earle's cover of The Replacements' "Can't Hardly Wait", Replacements leader Paul Westerberg's melancholic "A Star Is Bored", the original Australian version of Air Supply's "Lost In Love", an incomplete take of Bob Dylan's "I Want You" from his 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue rehearsals and Charlie Parker performing a version of his Neal Hefti-co-written "Repetition" live at Birdland.

Is That All There Is?                               Peggy Lee
I Am Strange                                           Sun Ra
It Never Rains In Outer Space                Futurhythm
Fly Guy And The Unemployed              Ramsey 2c - 3d
Flowers                                                   Galaxie 500
Buzz Me Babe                                        Slim Harpo
Good Morning                  Black Thought ft. Pusha T & Killer Mike
T.V.O.D.                                                  The Normal
Is That All There Is?                               Cristina
Be-Baba-Laba                                         Helen Hume
Wig Out (my edit)                                   Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
Flowers                                                   Slow Down, Molasses
Buzz Me Babe                                        The Count Bishops
Baby Blue                                               Chocolate Watchband
Can't Hardly Wait                                   Justin Townes Earle
A Star Is Bored                                       Paul Westerberg
Lost In Love (orig ver)                           Air Supply
Flowers                                                   Orange Cake Mix
I Want You (incomplete rehearsal)         Bob Dylan
Is That All There Is? (live)                     Peggy Lee
Repetition (live at Birdland)                  Charlie Parker


               


Sunday, August 2, 2020

07-16-15: Advertising Lies That Are Whiter Than Yours

"Hey Joe" was first copyrighted as a song in 1962 but its authorship has been contested ever since. The first commercially released version was by The Leaves in 1965, soon followed by the iconic recording by The Jimi Hendrix Experience the following year. Those versions are here with subsequent versions by Cher, Wilson Pickett and Patti Smith with some improvised rap at the beginning of her debut single.

"Lotta Love" is a song from Neil Young's 1978 album Comes A Time, and was a top ten hit for his former back-up singer Nicolette Larson the following year. Previous mixes have featured both of those versions as well as Young performing it live. This mix collects versions by Dinosaur Jr., Sharifah Ani, The Laurie Bower Singers and She & Him.

One other song repeats on this mix: "Something In The Night" from Bruce Springsteen's 1978 album Darkness On The Edge Of Town, here with a cover by Matthew Ryan.

The rest: the pulsating "We Are So Fragile" by Gary Numan & Tubeway Army, a cover of his hit "Cars" by Katzenjammers, DJ Muggs' sinister "Assassination Day" with MF Doom and Kool G Rap, the educational beat piece "Basic Hip" by Del Close and John Brent, the wry "Break The Ice At Parties" by Tesco Bombers, the hushed and harsh "Bum Leg" by Cake, Kamal Hassan's giddy "Vikram Vikram", the Madlib-produced "Black Mirror" by Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire, the Thom Bell-produced "The Track Of The Cat" by Dionne Warwick, the confident "The Fruits Of The Spirit" by Jay Electronica and Michael Miglio's smooth "Never Gonna Let You Go".

Hey Joe (Version)                               Patti Smith

Sunday, July 12, 2020

07-09-15: Without The You Of Us

"Strange Fruit" was written by Abel Meeropol in 1937 first as a poem, then set as lyrics to music as an anti-lynching protest song sung by his wife before it was recorded by Billie Holiday in 1939. Her version, along with her last studio recording of it near the end of her life in 1956, is on this mix along with versions by The Twilight Singers, Nina Simone, Carmen McRae and Bettye Lavette. Kayne West's "Blood On The Leaves" samples both Holiday and Simone.

One other song repeats: Lonnie Mack's 1971 version of Don Nix's "Three Angels" along with Nix's version from the same year.

The rest: The DJ Premier-produced "The 6th Sense" by Common with Bilal, Argent's optimistic "Hold Your Head Up", an alternate mix of Iggy Pop's "China Girl", the recently unearthed mid 70s Neil Young track "Separate Ways", the jazzy opening track to Digable Planets' 1994 album Blowout Comb called "The May 4th Movement Starring Doodlebug", The Human League's wry "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of", the pulsating "This Could Be Love" by The Cars, Norma Tanega's philosophic "Illusion", the bittersweet "Visions" by Stevie Wonder and the stirring "Evening Breeze" by blind Ethiopian nun Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou.

Strange Fruit (1939 ver)                            Billie Holiday
The 6th Sense (my edit)                            Common & Bilal
Hold Your Head Up                                  Argent
Strange Fruit                                             The Twilight Singers
China Girl (alt ver)                                    Iggy Pop
Blood On The Leaves                               Kanye West
Strange Fruit                                             Nina Simone
Three Angels                                            Lonnie Mack
Separate Ways                                          Neil Young
Strange Fruit                                            Carmen McRae
The May 4th Movement Starring Doodlebug      Digable Planets
The Things That Dreams Are Made Of          The Human League
This Could Be Love                                  The Cars
Illusion                                                      Norma Tanega
Visions                                                      Stevie Wonder
Strange Fruit                                             Bettye Lavette
Three Angels                                            Don Nix
Evening Breeze                                        Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou
Strange Fruit  (1956 ver)                          Billie Holiday 

Saturday, May 30, 2020

07-02-15: The Moon Is Movin' The Maniacs In A Shitty Decline

"I'd Rather Go Blind" is a song written and first recorded by Etta James and a b-side to her hit single "Tell Mama" from 1968. It has previously appeared on these mixes along with versions by Paul Weller and Rod Stewart. This mix features Rod Stewart's alternate studio version as well as versions by Gemma Ray and Paloma Faith.

The rest: Gil Scott Heron's "Who'll Pay The Reparations On My Soul?" from his 1970 debut album Small Talk On 125th & Lenox, The Alexander Review's determined "A Change Had Better Come". the funky "Prayer" by D'Angelo & The Vanguard, Black Conspirators' sweet "Love", Anita Baker's 1986 single "Sweet Love", Eazy-E's anthemic 1988 Dr. Dre production "Eazy-Duz-It", Men Without Hats' robotic 1983 hit "Safety Dance", the creatively-titled "Disco Music" by RD Burman & Chorus,  Freddie Gibbs' Madlib production "Education" with Yasiin Bey and Black Thought, the sweetly creepy "Midnight Flower" by The Four Tops, Squeeze's wry "If I Didn't Love You", Tarkio's cover of their "Goodbye Girl", Squeeze co-leader Chris Difford's version of their single "Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)", the non-album rare soundtrack song "Till Death Do Us Part" by The Kinks, Annie Eve's cover of their song "This Time Tomorrow", Ezra Furman's furious "Ferguson's Burning" and Bob Dylan's defiant "Only A Pawn In Their Game"

Yankee And The Brave (pt. 4)                                 Run The Jewels
Who'll Pay The Reparations On My Soul?              Gil-Scott Heron
A Change Had Better Come                                     The Alexander Review
Prayer                                                                D'Angelo and the Vanguard
Love                                                                   Black Conspirators
I'd Rather Go Blind (alternate)                          Rod Stewart
Sweet Love                                                        Anita Baker
Eazy-Duz-It                                                       Eazy-E
The Safety Dance                                              Men Without Hats 
Disco Music (aka Are Dil Se Dil Mile)            RD Burman, Chorus
Education        Freddie Gibbs ft. Yasiin Bey, Black Thought & Madlib
Midnight Flower                                                The Four Tops
I'd Rather Go Blind                                           Gemma Ray
If I Didn't Love You                                          Squeeze
Goodbye Girl                                                    Tarkio
Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)                   Chris Difford
I'd Rather Go Blind                                          Paloma Faith
Till Death Do Us Part                                      The Kinks
This Time Tomorrow                                       Annie Eve
Ferguson's Burning                                          Ezra Furman
Only A Pawn In Their Game                           Bob Dylan 

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

06-25-15: Special Orders Don't Upset Us

Little Richard's first major hit "Tutti Frutti" was recorded in 1955 and considered maybe the birth of rock and roll. Included here with that song are Creedence Clearwater Revival's 1969 cover of his 1965 hit "Good Golly Miss Molly" and his similarly lyrically loose cover of their hit "Born On The Bayou".

Betty Wright's biggest hit was "Clean Up Woman", released before she was technically a woman, a month before she turned 18. She also appears here on as a guest on Lil Wayne's very loose interpolation of The Rolling Stones' hit "Play With Fire".

One song repeats this week: a cover of Neil Diamond's 1971 hit "I Am...I Said" by Bunny Rugs And The Upsetters to accompany the original.

The rest: the jazzy "Josie" by Steely Dan, the Stevie Wonder-produced "Spring High" from Ramsey Lewis' 1977 album Love Notes, the airy "Capricorn Rising" by Richard Evans with Linda Williams, the paranoid "Year Of The Dragon" by Wyclef Jean with Lauryn Hill, After The Fire's English-language cover of Falco's "Der Kommisar", the melodic "Grey Skies" by Turquoise Days, Devo's frantic "Too Much Paranoias", the rollicking "There Goes My Gun" by The Pixies, Ka's mournful "Sins Of The Father" with Roc Marciano, Etta James' wordless lament "Feelin' Uneasy" and Pharoah Sanders jubilant "Love Is Everywhere".

Born On The Bayou                                          Little Richard
Good Golly Missy Molly                                  Creedence Clearwater Revival
Clean Up Woman                                              Betty Wright
Josie                                                                   Steely Dan
Spring High                                                       Ramsey Lewis
Capricorn Rising                                               Richard Evans w/ Linda Williams
I Am, I Said                                               Bunny Rugs And The Upsetters
Year Of The Dragon                                  Wyclef Jean ft. Lauryn Hill
Der Kommisar                                                   After The Fire
Grey Skies                                                         Turqouise Days
Too Much Paranoias                                          Devo
There Goes My Gun                                          The Pixies
Tutti Frutti                                                          Little Richard
Playing With Fire                                        Lil Wayne ft. Betty Wright
I Am....I Said                                                      Neil Diamond
Sins Of The Father                                      Ka ft. Roc Marciano
Feelin' Uneasy                                                    Etta James
Love Is Everywhere                                           Pharoah Sanders

Sunday, May 3, 2020

06-18-15: Get Your Instructions, Follow Directions, Then You Should Change Your Address

"Run Joe" is a calypso-tinged song by Louis Jordan from 1948. This mix features covers by Maya Angelou, Freddie Scott, Sir Lancelot and Chuck Berry as well as the original.

"New York State Of Mind" is a song from Billy Joel's 1976 album Turnstiles. This mix features versions by Carmen McRae, Mel Torme and Leon Russell as well as the original.

Run The Jewels' single "Ooh La La" features a sample by Greg Nice of Nice & Smooth and also samples Biz Markie's "Biz Is Goin' Off", also here.

The later version of "Gangsta Of Love" by Geto Boys adds production by Rick Rubin and vocals by Bushwick Bill with a sample of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" to replace the original version's sample of The Steve Miller Band's "The Joker".

The rest: an alternate version of Talking Heads' "Life During Wartime", the spiritual "Easter Day" by The Dixon Brothers, a cover of Talking Heads' "Heaven" by KD Lang & The Siss Boom Bang, Sly & The Family Stone's languid album outtake "Sittin' On My Fanny" Bohannon's funky "South African Man", Prince Buster's bouncy "Ghost Dance" and a cover of Talking Heads' "Once In A Lifetime" by Philip Bailey.

New York State Of Mind                                    Carmen McRae
Run Joe                                                                Louis Jordan
Biz Is Goin' Off                                                   Biz Markie
Life During Wartime (alt ver)                             Talking Heads
Ooh La La                   Run The Jewels ft. Greg Nice & DJ Premier
Run Joe                                                                 Maya Angelou
New York State Of Mind                                     Billy Joel
Easter Day                                                            Dixon Brothers
Heaven                                             KD Lang and Siss Boom Bang
Run Joe                                                               Freddie Scott
Sittin' On My Fanny                                           Sly & The Family Stone
New York State Of Mind                                    Mel Torme
Run Joe                                                                Sir Lancelot
South Africa Man                                                Bohannon
Gangsta Of Love (later ver)                                The Geto Boys
Run Joe                                                               Chuck Berry
Ghost Dance                                                        Prince Buster
Once In A Lifetime                                             Philip Bailey
New York State Of Mind                                    Leon Russell

Monday, April 27, 2020

06-10-15: The Girls Like When I Orange Peel Off Their Mind

"Hello In There" is a song from John Prine's eponymous 1971 debut album. This mix features the original album version, an earlier demo version, a version he recorded nearly 30 years later, Joan Baez's cover from her 1975 album Diamonds & Rust and a live duet from the same era by Baez with Kris Kristofferson.

"Harlem" is the opening track from Bill Withers' 1971 debut album Just As I Am. This mix features that with covers by Creative Source, The 5th Dimension and The Three Degrees performing live.

The rest: the languid "Time" by Sly & The Family Stone, a cover of their "Family Affair" by Iggy Pop with Bootsy Collins, the dreamy Pete Rock production "Hold The Drums" with Smoke DZA and Royce da 5' 9", a cover of George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" by Hurray The Riff Raff, an alternate countrified take of "If Not For You" by Bob Dylan, the harrowing tale "The Story Of Susie" by Billy Ray, the sly "I Can Get Off On You" by Willie Nelson & Waylon Jennings, the jazzy "In A Strange Strange Land" by Bobby Boyd Congress, the J Dilla production "The Questions" by Common & Mos Def, the ethereal "We Travel The Spaceways" by Sun Ra & His Arkestra w/ June Tyson, Dr. Octagon's eerie "Operation Zero" and John Lee Hooker's defiant "Burning Hell".

Harlem                                        Bill Withers
Hello In There (album ver)         John Prine
Time                                            Sly & The Family Stone
Family Affair                              Iggy Pop /w Bootsy Collins
Harlem                                        Creative Souce
Hold The Drums                  Smoke DZA w/ Pete Rock ft. Royce da 5'9"
Hello In There (later ver)            John Prine
My Sweet Lord                           Hurray For The Riff Raff
If Not For You (alt ver)               Bob Dylan
Hello In There                             Joan Baez
The Story Of Susie                      Billy Ray
I Can Get Off On You                 Willie Nelson & Waylon Jennings
Hello In There (live)                    Kris Kistofferson w/ Joan Baez
Harlem (live)                               The Three Degrees
In A Strange Strange Land           Bobby Boyd Congress
The Questions                              Common & Mos Def
Harlem                                         The 5th Dimension
We Travel The Spaceways           Sun Ra & His Arkestra w/ June Tyson
Operation Zero                             Dr. Octagon
Burning Hell                                 John Lee Hooker
Hello In There (early ver)            John Prine