Wednesday, April 8, 2026

06-23-16: Leaving Everyone's Emotions Lost And Wandering Free

Stevie Wonder's "Evil" is the closing song on his 1972 album Music Of My Mind. He plays the drums on it as well as singing the lyrics where he personifies evil and has a conversation regarding evil's motives in society. This mix is bookended with his version and a cover by Lou Rawls from the same year.

"Bottles Like Superstar" is from the never-released second Madvillain album, with production by Madlib and vocals from MF DOOM and the elusive Mr. Fantastik. As the original unreleased and unnamed track ended with a long instrumental passage, presumably for another verse, the bootleg "Bottles Like Superstar (Remix)" adds vocals from Nowah The Flood.

One theory, unconfirmed and likely not true, was that Mr. Fantasik was Madlib with his voice pitched down. Quasimoto is his alter ego with his voice pitched up, and "Real Eyes" is also produced by Madlib.

The rest: the 12 inch version of Hall & Oates' "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)",  the epic in-studio workshopping of War's "Why Can't We Be Friends", the longer version of Little Beaver's airy 1980 single "Groove On", Olivia Netwton-John's 1982 single follow up to her smash "Physical" and similarly themed "Make A Move On Me", Clara Smith's 1928 version of the Spencer Williams composition "Ain't Got Nobody To Grind My Coffee",  Jerry Butler's Gamble & Huff-produced 1969 single "Since I Lost You Baby", the defiant "No Date" by MexikoDro, the frenetic jungle track "Build Me 3 Coffins (New Blood Crew remix) by Josey Wales with Beenie Man and Ini Kamoze, a demo version of "King Of Pain" by The Police, the mysterious "Ragan" by the Denson-Parris Sacred Harp Singers and a live on the radio version of "Is It Like Today/" by World Party.

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Monday, March 30, 2026

06-16-16: You Don't Have To Run And Hide Away

Tom Waits' "Long Way Home" first appeared on the soundtrack to the 2001 film Big Bad Love. He passed on this demo to Norah Jones, who released a cover of it on her second album Feels Like Home a few years later. A couple years after that, Waits released it on his album of outtakes and rarities called Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards. Both versions appear on this mix.

The rest: Bob Dylan's apocalyptic "It's Alright Ma (I'm Only Bleeding", Dead Moon's reassuring "It's Ok", the frantic "I'm A Cliche" by X-Ray Spex, the yodel-heavy "I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart" by Patsy Montana & The Prairie Ramblers, a demo version of Joni Mitchell's "A Case Of You", part I of "Together" by the obscure Elements Of Peace, the airy "Easy To Love" by Leo Sayer, the Black & Blue album outtake "I Love Ladies" by The Rolling Stones, the playful "Dracula's Wedding" by Outkast with Kelis, the 7 inch version of the non-album single "Temptation" by New Order, Donna Summer's synth-driven "Lucky", a live cover of Summer's "I Feel Love" by Blondie, the satiric "Instant This Instant That" by Taste Test ft. TwinArt, Monaleo's swaggering "Putting Ya Dine", part II of "Together" by Elements Of Peace, the woozy "Cataracts" by Freddie Gibbs & Madlib, the blissful "Strung Out On Your LOve" by The Four Tops and an alternate version of "This Time Tomorrow" by The Kinks.

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Thursday, December 25, 2025

06-09-16: Told Stories Of A Virgin Mother

The Kris Kristofferson song "To Beat The Devil" first appeared on his self-titled 1969 debut album, but was written about Johnny Cash and for him to record, which he did for his album Hello, I'm Johnny Cash from the following year. Cash re-recorded a stripped-down version over two decades later while recording for the Rick Rubin "American" albums. All three of those versions are here along with a version by Waylon Jennings from his 1972 album Good Hearted Woman.

The Janis Ian song "Stars" is the title track from her 1974 self-titled album. This mix includes contemporaneous versions by Cher, Mel Torme and Nina Simone performing live at Montreux Jazz Festival.

The rest: the full extended version of Prince's "Pop Life" from 1985's Around The World In A Day, Bohannon's rhythmic "Dance With Your Parno", Redman's A Tribe Called Quest-sampling "Don't Wanna C Me Rich", the 1976 midwest punk anthem "Bible Belt Baby" by The Gizmos, an acoustic demo of "Cadillac" by T. Rex, the jazz-inflected "EZ On The Motion", Ghostface Killah's vivid "Shakey Dog", the yodeling "I Left Her Standing There" by The Dezurik Sisters, an early alternate version of "Androgynous" by The Replacements and a live 1982 version of "Marie" by Randy Newman.


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Saturday, December 6, 2025

06-02-16: I Can't Bag Your Love

"Cortez The Killer" is a song from Neil Young's 1975 album with Crazy Horse, Zuma. Previous mixes have included the original and a cover by Marissa Nadler. This mix features covers by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and Jay Farrar with Shannon McNally as well as a live version by Neil from 1976.

"Lovin' You" is a number one single by Minnie Riperton from spring of 1975 from her second album, Perfect Angel, released the previous year. This mix features the album version of her single as well as an alternate full band arrangement.

"Hot Wire My Heart" is a 1976 single from Crime, and considered the first single released by a West Coast punk band. It is here along with a version by Sonic Youth from their 1987 album Sister.

The rest: Suburban Lawns' witty "Unable" from their eponymous 1981 album,  the melodic "Rock City" from the 2025 album Phonetics On And On by Horsegirl, Chicago's own Mannequin Men with the anthemic "22nd Century" from their 2007 album Fresh Rot, Jewel T's booming 1988 single "I Like It Loud". the 1975 #1 single "Philadelphia Freedom" by Elton John, the philosophic "P.O.P." by Denzel Curry with Key Nyata and Sauce Walka, William Bell's mellow 1974 single "Get It While It's Hot" by William Bell, the frenetic 2007 single "I'm Me" by Lil Wayne, the Bob Dylan co-written outtake "Nowhere To Go (Take 1)" by George Harrison from the sessions for his 1970 album All Things Must Pass, a retro-inspired 1970 cover of The Beatles' "Something" by the one album band The Templeton Twins and the funky title track to Fela Kuti's 1975 album He Miss Road.

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Thursday, October 23, 2025

05-26-19: Let The Buzzards Eat Me Whole

"Last Kind Words Blues" was written and first recorded by Geeshie Wiley in 1930. This mix features recent versions by Robert Plany & Alison Krauss as well as Rhiannon Giddens to accompany the original.

"Human Nature" was released as the fifth single from Michael Jackson's Thriller album in the summer of 1983. This mix features Miles Davis' instrumental cover from a couple years later as well as a more recent cover by Laura Mvula to accompany the original.

The Madlib-produced "DBZ" by Your Old Droog with Method Man and Denzel Curry samples the obscure soul track "Deep Shadows" by Little Ann.

The rest: the wry "Please Mrs. Henry" by Bob Dylan & The Band from The Basement Tapes, a cover of Prince's "She's Always In My Hair" by D'Angelo, Prince's original version of The Time's 1984 hit single "Jungle Love" that he helped write, a remix of the Foster Sylvers' 1973 hit "Misdemeanor",  the J Dilla remix of D'Angelo's "Me And Those Dreamy Eyes", the menacing "Deadly Combination" by Big L and 2Pac released after both of them were murdered, the frenetic "Keleya" by Malian singer MOussa Doumbia, a cover of Seals & Krofts's hit "Summer Breeze" by The Main Ingredient, a cover of Barry Manilow's "Copacabana" by Shirley Bassey, Paul Westerberg's melancholic "Self-Defense" and a cover of Prince's "Sometimes It Snows In April" featuring Princess.

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Friday, October 10, 2025

05-19-16: Make Love Singing Songs

"Love You To" is a George Harrison compostion for The Beatles 1966 album Revolver that refers to their earlier hit "Love Me Do" and also incorporates Indian musical elements including tabla and sitar. This mix features the original version along with two earlier takes.

Three other songs repeat across the mix: Lee Hazlewood's 1966 ballad "My Autumn's Done Gone" with an early 21st century version by Tindersticks; Merle Haggard's 2011 song "What I Hate" with a recent snippet by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy; and a BBC version Radiohead's "No Surprises" along with another show recording by Michael Kiwanuka.

Sadevillain is a blending of MF DOOM vocals over the music of Sade, as in "Hot Pants", featured here.

The rest: the funky "Flavors Of Karma" by Earthgang and Spillage Village, the full 12 inch version of "Flash Light" by Parliament, the spacey track "The Ultimate Warlord" by the mysterious artist known as The Warlord, Corey Hart's 80s smash "Sunglasses At Night", the dramatic "Showdown" by Electric Light Orchestra, the strings-heavy "Alice" by Jev, the opening voiceover for the 1979 film Manhattan by Woody Allen, an extended disco remix of Love Unlimited Orchestra's "Love's Theme", a cover of The Beatles' "Don't Let Me Down" by Ghanian singer Carlotte Dada  and the Wu-Tang Clan-sampling "Problems (Triangle Park mix)" by Ray Vaughn with Pusha T.

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Tuesday, September 30, 2025

05-12-16: People Come And Go And Forget To Close The Door

"Gymnopedie No. 1" is part of Erik Satie's piano compositions Gymnopedies or Trois Gymnopedies (Three Nude Dances) written in 1888. This mix features Francis Poulnec's 1951 version, Yusef Lateef's 1965 version, Gary Numan's 1980 version and Coctails' 2010 version.

"Some Of Them Are Old" was written by Brian Eno for his 1973 debut album Here Come The Warm Jets. This mix features covers by Outrageous Cherry and St. Vincent as well as the original.

The mix is bookended with the first and last song from Bruce Springsteen's 1975 album Born To Run: "Thunder Road" and "Jungleland".

The rest: a live version of The Rolling Stones' then-newly recorded "Far Away Eyes" with fiddler Doug Kershaw, John Prine's ever-relevant "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven", the dire "God's Getting Worried" by Virginia Dandies, an abridged reading by Allen Ginsberg of his "Howl (Part II)", Lenny Bruce's jazz--accompanied "Psychopathia Sexualis", the bizarre "Cocktails Darling" by Gordo, The Mexican OT & Curren$y & LES with the moody "1982", Lionel Richie's final Commodores 1982 hit "Oh No", the recent Ghostface Killah collaboration with Kanye West "No Face",  Alan Burnham's eerie 1981 track "Science Fiction", Tave's philosophic "Block" featuring IDK & Musiq Soulchild and an early take of "Gold Dust Woman" by Fleetwood Mac.


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Friday, July 25, 2025

05-05-16: But It's Your Mind That I Want

"Don't Worry Kyoko (Mummy's Only Looking For A Hand In the Snow)" was written by Yoko Ono about a protracted custody battle for her daughter and first released in October 1969 for her husband John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band album. This mix features that version as well her solo album version from four years later, as well as a rare version by The B-52s that was originally released and then pulled from their 1983 album Whammy! and a version by Yo La Tengo.

"Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots" is the title track to the 2002 album by The Flaming Lips and has appeared on a previous mix as has a cover by Jesse Malin. This mix features a version sung in Japanese as well as a live BBC version.

The rest: the original unedited mix of WAR's "Low Rider", a cover of their hit "Why Can't We Be Friends" by Inner Circle lead singer Jacob Miller, William Onyeabor's blissful "Everyday", the robotic "Computer" by Microbes, a mash of of Nas' "The Flyest" against MF DOOMs beats called "The Flyest Angel", Etel Beatty's languid "It's Your Love", the sinister "Ace Trumpets" by Clipse, a cover of Bob Dylan's "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry" by Yo La Tengo, a cover of Dylan's "She Belongs To Me" by Dr. Marigold's Prescription, an outtake from Dylan's 1976 album Desire called "Rita May", a cover of his "Masters Of War" by Cher, a cover of his "Maggie's Farm" by Linda Gayle, a Dirt7 remix of Digable Planets' "9th Wonder" and Nikki Giovanni's wry "Luxury Poem".

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Friday, June 20, 2025

04-28-16: Cooling Out With Ol Girl On A Fat Ass Date

Sly & The Family Stone's "Stand!" was the lead single of their 1969 album of the same name. Previous mixes featured an extended version of the song as well as a cover by Solomon Burke. This mix features a live version from the Isle of Wight Festival recorded the following year as well as a cover by The Jackson 5. It also features Funkadelic's "Funk Gets Stronger (Killer Millimeter ver)" with vocals by Sly Stone and his song snippet "Sylvester", both from the early 80s, and a new edit of Sly & the Family Stone's "Family Affair" by Questlove.

A few other songs repeat across the mix: the title track from The Beach Boys' 1971 album "Surf's Up" along with an a cappella version, Prince's non-album track "Sex Shooter" with the original version he wrote and produced for Apollonia 6 and the 1974 track "It Don't Get Pay To Get Up In The Morning" by Johnny Taylor along with the original demo by songwriter Mack Rice.

The rest: a demo version of Christopher Cross' 1980 hit "Sailing", Heltah Skeltah's menacing "Undastand", Blackalicious's blissful "Make You Feel That Way", a demo version of Liz Pahir's 
"Whip Smart" Copperfield's spacey "Make It Good To Me Baby", Cherrelle's original 1984 version of the Robert Palmer hit "I Didn't Mean To Turn You On" written and produced by Jam & Lewis, Black Star's frantic "So Be It", the satiric "Hang Fire" by The Rolling Stones and a 2003 recording of his 1970s album track "Sail Away" by Randy Newman.


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Thursday, May 1, 2025

04-21-16: All Paint Chips, All Love Fades

"Take Care" is a song from Big Star's third album 3rd, recorded in 1974 but shelved until years later. This mix features the original album version along with a demo and a cover by Yo La Tengo.

One other song repeats on this mix: the 1982 top ten hit "Only The Lonely" by The Motels, along with an acoustic version recorded years later.

The J Dilla-produced "Little Brother" by Black Star samples "Ain't Got Time" by Roy Ayers Ubiquity, both here.

The rest: early Jimmy Cliff ska single "King Of Kings", the Ayers production "You Said" by Sylvia Striplin, the Dum Ditty Dum mix of "Behind Bars" by Slick Rick with Warren G, the grateful "The Day I Found Myself" by The Honey Cone, J-Live's jazzy "A Charmed Life", The Unknown's hypnotic "Dream Sequence", the giddy "Just Like Me" by Paul Revere & The Raiders, Huggy Bear's fierce "Her Jazz", John Lennon & Yoko Ono's Angle Davis tribute "Angela", Broadcast's atmospheric "Before We Begin", the defiant "The Kids Are Having None Of It" by Frazey Ford, Connie Converse's spare "Sad Lady", the early 80s home recording "Hold Me In Suspension" by Paul Westerberg of The Replacements, Sidney Joe Qualls' dreamy "I'm Being Held Hostage" and the spiritual "Prince Of Peace" by Pharoah Sanders with singing by Leon Thomas.

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