Tuesday, October 26, 2021

10-01-15: Lotta Chicks Will Pull In The Book I Read

"U.F.O." is the title track to Jim Sullivan's only album, recorded in 1969. This mix features covers by Grey Lands featuring Nils Edenloff as well as Okkervil River to accompany the original.

"Are My Thoughts With You?" was written and recorded by Mickey Newbury in 1968. This mix features contemporaneous covers by Linda Ronstadt and Etta James as well as the original.

One other song repeats on the mix: covers of British singer-songwriter Jonathan King's "Everyone's Gone To The Moon" by Bobby Womack and Nina Simone.

The rest: the hazy French pop cover "(L'ete Indien) Indian Summer" by Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra, a cover of Air Supply's "Lost In Love" by Bill Callahan and Bonnie 'Prince" Billy featuring Emmette Kelly, R.E.M.'s spiritual "Talk About The Passion", X Clan's Parliament-sampling "Heed The Word Of The Brother", Funkadelic's lewd "Icka Prick", the ethereal "Run The Heart" by Sleigh Bells, Nakhane's cover of New Order's "Age Of Consent", Isaac Hayes' version of The Carpenters' pop standard "(They Long To Be) Close To You", the funky "Confetti Emcees" by Krown Rulers, Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar's deranged "Family Ties", Mark Slade's surreal "Are They Going To Shoot God?", The Dezurik Sisters' dulcet "Arizona Yodeler" and Andre 3000's heart-rending "Me&My (To Bury Your Parents).

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Wednesday, September 29, 2021

09-24-15: My Heart Runs Away With My Head

Fats Waller's "I"m Crazy 'Bout My Baby" was written and first recorded by him in 1931, and then re-recorded in different versions over the next dozen years of his life. This mix includes a 1931 version by Ted Lewis as well as a version by Louis Armstrong & His All-Stars from his 1955 album Satch Plays Fats and a version by Tom Waits featured in the 1992 Jeff Bridges film American Heart.

One other sing repeats this week, Michael Johnson's top 20 hit "This Night Won't Last Forever" from 1979 and Bob Dylan's contemporaneous studio rehearsal version.

The rest: the vocal track to Earth, Wind & Fire's "September", the Tivan throat singing of D. Damba-Darja with "Artyy Sayyr", Imaad Wasif and Two Part Beast with the atmospheric "Oceanic", The Cranberries anguished "Zombie", Egyptian Lover's early alias Jamie Jupiter's "Computer Power", Niteflyte's post-disco song "If You Want It", Dj Jazzy Jeff's Barry White-sampling "Hold It Down" with Method Man, an extended version of Minnie Riperton's "Perfect Angel", Redbone's 1974 top 5 hit "Come And Get Your Love", Lee Hazlewood's dramatic "The Nights", Kayne West's recently leaked "Life Of A Party" with Andre 3000, Hall & Oates' melodic "Lily (Are You Happy)" from heir 1972 debut album Whole Oat, Mazzy Star's ethereal "Happy" and Teddy Grace's blissful "Turn Off The Moon".

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Tuesday, August 31, 2021

09-17-15: Not Respected, Can't Accept It

"I Feel Like Going Home" was written by Charlie Rich and he recorded it a few times in his career. This mix features his 1973 version that appeared as a B-side as well as a cover a few years later by Rita Coolidge and a more recent version by J Mascis.

"It's A Hard Life" was written by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and first recorded for his 2003 album Master And Everyone. This mix features covers by Tiger Saw and Seekers Who Are Lovers to accompany the original.

One other song repeats across the mix: the 1977 punk single "First Time" by The Boys, with a contemporaneous cover by Special Duties.

The rest: a cover of America's "Horse With No Name" by Eon, Clyde McPhatter's Trojan Records single "Suffering In The Land", Jay Electronica's ethereal "Ezekiel's Wheel" with The-Dream and Jay-Z, the goofy "Ezhupaalam Kadmnu" by Janak, MF DOOM's original 12 inch version of "I Hear Voices Pt. 1", the melancholic "I'm Used Now" by Grab Grab The Haddock, Bloodstone's smooth "Who Has The Last Laugh Now", Freddie Gibbs' Madlib-produced "Fake Names", Charles Mingus' majestic "IX Love (Long Version)", a cover of Bob Dylan's "Just Like A Woman" by Brothers & Sisters and a rehearsal version of Dylan's "Every Grain Of Sand".

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09-10-15: How We Break Each Other's Hearts And Cause Each Other Pain

"Why Try To Change Me Now" is a standard written by Cy Coleman and first recorded by Frank Sinatra in 1952. This mix features Sinatra as well as versions by Bob Dylan, Jimmy Scott and Fiona Apple.

"Can't Seem To Make You Min" was written and recorded by Sky Saxon in 1965 for his band The Seeds. This mix features the original as well as covers by Johnny Thunders & Patty Palladin, Yo La Tengo and Alex Chilton.

One other song repeats this week: Harry Chapin's #1 hit "Cat's In The Cradle" from 1974, along with a cover by Johnny Cash from a decade later.

The rest: Lou Reed's urgent "There Is No Time", Bruce Cloud's pop soul single "My Book", Mos Def and Talib Kweli's project Black Star with "Hater Players", Sun Ra's playful "Rocket Number Nine", Ka's contemplative "Grateful", a demo version of Aretha Franklin's "Until You Come Back To Me", A.A. Gray & Five-Foot Dilly with the Biblical "The Old Ark's A-Moving", Public Enemy's layered "Brothers Gonna Work It Out", the vocal track from The Clash's cover of The Bobby Fuller Four's "I Fought The Law", a cover of The Clash's "Straight To Hell" and take 2 of George Harrison's mournful "Isn't It A Pity".


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Tuesday, April 13, 2021

09-03-15: I'ma Be That Seed That Doesn't Need That Much To Succeed

"Theme From Valley Of The Dolls" was composed by Andre and Dory Previn in 1967 for the film of the same name. It was intended for Judy Garland, who was then fired from the film. Dionne Warwick was given the song, and it became a big hit but could not be included on the film soundtrack. The soundtrack version, included here, begins with a spoken word piece by the film's star Barbara Perkins and is sung by the song's co-writer Dory Previn and conducted by Johnny Williams, later known simply as John Williams who later composed film scores for Jaws, Star Wars and many more films. Other versions featured on this mix include covers by Dorothy Ashby, Shawn Colvin, K.D. Lang and live versions by Ahmad Jamal and Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.

One other song repeats on the mix: Jane's acapella "It's A Fine Day" from 1983, later redone as a dance track in 1992 by Opus III.

Led Zeppelin's "Everybody Makes It Through The Night" is an early version of their "In The Light", featured on a previous mix, from their 1975 album Physical Graffiti.

The rest: Kendrick Lamar's cautionary "Humble", Peter Ivers' demo version of his Eraserhead soundtrack piece "In Heaven", the dreamy "Did U Ever Notice" by Travis Bretzer, a mash up of Beatles covers and epehemera against Wu-Tang Clan's "Back In The Game", a cover of Hall & Oates' "Kiss On My List" by The Bird And The Bee", Hall & Oates' folky "I'll Be By", the jangly "All That Stuff' by The Windbreakers, a demo version of "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M., the hushed "Some People Sleep" by The Tokens, DMX's heart-tugging "Slippin'" and the spiritual "Inside The Pearly Gates" by Florida-Alabama Progressive Seven-Shape-Note Singing Convention.

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Wednesday, March 31, 2021

08-27-15: Losing The Candy You Should Be Winning

"Maybe I'm Amazed" is a song from Paul McCartney's 1970 debut album McCartney. A live version by his band Wing became a top ten hit several years later, but his original was never a song. A previous mix included the studio album version by The Faces. This mix features the album version along with covers by Sunday's Child, Zulema, Lena Horne, Bettye Lavette and The Faces performing live on the BBC.

"Stakes Is High" is credited to "Fela Soul", a mash up of the music of Fela Kuti against the original De La Soul vocals for their song "Stakes Is High".

The rest: the demo version of PJ Harvey's version of "This Is Love", Al Jolson's chipper take of the old standard "Me And My Gal", the blissful "Ain't Nothing But A Love Thang" by Peace Love And Happiness, the Madlib-produced "Closer" by his alter ego Quasimoto with the MF Doom guest spot in a Madvillain reunion, Rose Murphy's playful "Busy Line", Amaarae's rhythmic "Hellz Angel", the percussive "Malukayi" by Mbongwana Star featuring Konono No 1, the dramatic "Somebody's Gonna Off The Man" by Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra, the tender "Sugar Rose" by Fats Waller, the languorous "Sugar Shuffle" by Lynsey De Paul, Lea Delaria's jazzy cover of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun", ex-soundgarden singer Chris Cornell's cover of John Lennon's "Watching The Wheels" and the Escher demo version of The Beatles' "Dear Prudence".

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Monday, February 1, 2021

08-20-15: We Did This Research For True Nerds And Two Birds

This mix is dedicated to the memory of MF DOOM. His music bookends the mix with the Madlib reunion track "Avalanche" and his early non-album single "Is He Ill?" In between, his debut album track "Gas Drawls", the unofficially released Jay Electronica collaboration "True Lightyears", "Rapp Snitch Knishes" from his 2004 album MM..Food and "That's That" from his final album Born Like This from 2009. 

"Begin The Beguine" is a song written by Cole Porter and first performed by June Knight for the 1935 musical Jubilee. This mix features versions by Ella Fitzgerald with The Buddy Bregman Orchestra, Louie Prima & Keely Smith, Neal Hefti & His Orchestra with The Ray Charles Choir as well as a demo version by Pete Townshend and an extended mix of Johnny Mathis' disco hit.

"Souvenirs" is a song written by John Prine for his 1972 album Diamonds In The Rough. This mix features covers by Bettye Lavette, Country Gentlemen, Maggie Bell and Paul Westerberg alias Grandpaboy.

The rest: Ernest & Hattie Stoneman's "The Road To Washington", The Velvet Underground-esque "Bright Lights" by England's Glory, the melodic "Mystery" by Wipers, the acoustic take one of Smashing Pumpkins' "Medellia Of The Grey Skies" and Don Covay's version of Morris Albert's standard "Feelings".


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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.

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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.


                                    


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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
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