09-30-10: It's Not Just Music That I Barter With

Barbara Lynn was the rare female blues singer who played guitar and left-handed at that. This week's mix features her iconic "I'm A Good Woman", along with a Latin-tinged cover by El Chicano and a blue-eyed soul version by Cold Blood.

The mix ends with a batch of songs performed live on the BBC: Radiohead's spooky "Idioteque", Marianne Faithfull's haunting "This Little Bird", a cover of Yeah Yeah Yeah's "Maps" by Arcade Fire and an acoustic version of Lupe Fiasco's hit "Superstar" with Matthew Santos. The album version opens the mix.

The rest: the swinging "Riot" by Joe Bataan, a Buckwild remix of Nas' debut album track "Life's A Bitch" with AZ, the funky "Feed Me Your Love" by The Fatback Band, an extended disco version of Johnnie Taylor's smash hit "Disco Lady", the fierce "Re-Up Intro" by Clipse, the bluesy "In My Time Of Dying" by Led Zeppelin, a cover of their ballad "All My Love" by Bettye Lavette, Scott Walker's autumnal "On Your Own Again" and the elegiac "Water Music" by Albert Ayler.

Superstar Lupe Fiasco ft. Matthew Santos

I'm A Good Woman El Chicano

Riot Joe Bataan

Life's A Bitch (Buckwild remix) Nas ft. AZ

Feed Me Your Love The Fatback Band

I'm A Good Woman Cold Blood

Disco Lady (extended disco ver) Johnnie Taylor

Re-Up Intro Clipse

I'm A Good Woman Barbara Lynn

In My Time Of Dying Led Zeppelin

All My Love Bettye Lavette

On Your Own Again Scott Walker

Water Music Albert Ayler

Idioteque (live on the BBC) Radiohead

This Little Bird (live on the BBC) Marianne Faithfull

Maps (live on the BBC) Arcade Fire

Superstar (live on the BBC) Lupe Fiasco ft. Matthew Santos

09-23-10: 'Cause This World Is My College

Last week's Biggie-themed mix inspired me to feature a lesser-known, but also great, rapper: Large Professor. This week features his group Main Source's classic "Fakin The Funk" along with his cameo on A Tribe Called Quest's "Keep It Movin'" and his solo track "For My People".

The recently-released Mavis Staples album features a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Wrote A Song For Everyone". The original is on here as well.

The rest: the Motown standard "What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted" by Jimmy Ruffin, Dillinger's outlaw "Flat Foot Hustling", the melodic "Flowers Blooming In The Wildwood" by Coon Creek Girls, Gwen McRae's disco-tinged "Rockin' Chair", the groovy "I Am Your Mind (Part 2)" by Roy Ayers, New Birth's funky "Honey Bee", the chipper standard "The People Tree" by Sammy Davis Jr., Charles Mingus' piano composition "Myself When I Am Real", Laura Nyro's take of the Burt Bacharach standard "Walk On By", the languid "Lisa Says" by The Velvet Underground, Pavement's witty "Elevate Me Later", a radio version of Talulah Gosh's eponymous single, Iron & Wine's tender "Weary Memory", the prison anthem "Tangle Eye Blues" by Tangle Eye and the anguished "Layla" by Derek & The Dominoes.

What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted Jimmy Ruffin

Fakin The Funk Main Source

Flat Foot Hustling Dillinger

Flowers Blooming In The Wildwood Coon Creek Girls

Wrote A Song For Everyone Mavis Staples

Rockin' Chair Gwen McRae

For My People Large Professor

I Am Your Mind (Part 2) Roy Ayers

Honey Bee New Birth

The People Tree Sammy Davis Jr.

Keep It Rollin' (ft. Large Professor) A Tribe Called Quest

Myself When I Am Real Charles Mingus

Walk On By Laura Nyro

Lisa Says The Velvet Underground

Elevate Me Later Pavement

Talulah Gosh (radio session ver) Talulah Gosh

Weary Memory Iron & Wine

Wrote A Song For Everyone Creedence Clearwater Revival

Tangle Eye Blues Tangle Eye

Layla Derek & The Dominoes

09-16-10: Find Your Direction Through Introspection

Over the last several years of putting music together I've picked the slim but brilliant oeuvre of The Notorious B.I.G. pretty clean, but this week I've found a few obscurities that never made a weekly mix. First, a rare demo called "Microphone Murderer" with Biggie rapping over the backing track from Big Daddy Kane's "Ain't No Half Steppin''", then one of his posthumous collaborations called "Dangerous MC's" with Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg and finally the remix of Mary J Blige's early hit "Real Love" featuring a cameo by Biggie well before his first album.

I also have a version of "Real Love" by The Twilight Singers. Other songs featured this week include both the demo and album version of Boris Gardiner's Jamaican blaxploitation track "Every Nigger Is A Star", as well as the more popular version by Big Youth along with Glen Campbell's cover of "Sadly Beautiful" by The Replacements to accompany their demo version here.

The rest: the spirited "Mandinka" by Sinead O'Connor, the sly "Rock The Casbah" by The Clash, Mtume's sweet "Juicy Fruit", Alice Cooper's catchy "No More Mr. Nice Guy", the dramatic "Disarm" by Smashing Pumpkins, dj Gary Byrd's politically conscious "Are You Ready For Black Power", Gang Starr's jazzy "Who's Gonna Take The Weight", Ann Peebles' funky "I Can't Stand The Rain". Nina Simone's swinging "Go To Hell", Robert Plant's version of the traditional "Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down", an unplugged version of "Girl" by T. Rex, the melodic "Falling Through The Roof" by Horse Feathers and the bittersweet "Hope She'll Be Happier" by Bill Withers.

Mandinka Sinead O'Connor

Rock The Casbah The Clash

Juicy Fruit Mtume

Microphone Murderer (demo) The Notorious B.I.G.

Every Nigger Is A Star (demo) Boris Gardiner

No More Mr. Nice Guy Alice Cooper

Disarm Smashing Pumpkins

Real Love The Twilight Singers

Sadly Beautiful Glen Campbell

Every Nigger Is A Star Big Youth

Dangerous MC's The Notorious B.I.G. ft. Busta Rhymes, Snoop Dogg & Mark Curry

Are You Really Ready For Black Power Gary Byrd

Who's Gonna Take The Weight Gang Starr

I Can't Stand The Rain Ann Peebles

Real Love (original 12' mix) Mary J Blige ft. The Notorious B.I.G.

Go To Hell Nina Simone

Satan Your Kingdom Must Come Down Robert Plant

Every Nigger Is A Star Boris Gardiner

Girl (unplugged radio ver. LA 2-15-72) T. Rex

Falling Through The Roof Horse Feathers

Hope She'll Be Happier Bill Withers

Sadly Beautiful (demo) The Replacements

09-09-10: Cuddling A Warm Girl And Smelling Stale Perfume

This week's mix begins with The Jam's sublime "That's Entertainment" and ends with former Jam leader Paul Weller performing a live radio version a quarter century later. Also here is a rare cover by Morrissey.

Three other songs repeat this week: Simon & Garfunkel's wistful "Bleecker Street" covered by Jonatha Brooke, the Gayle Caldwell-written pop standard "Cycles" performed by both Frank Sinatra and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, and both the album and demo versions of Aretha Franklin's "Dr. Feelgood (Love Is A Serious Business)".

The rest: the dramatic "In Den Kasernen" by Marlene Dietrich, Marvin Gaye's anguished "The End Of Our Road", Dudley Perkins' mellow "Solitude", GZA with Method Man on the eerie "Shadowboxin'", the spiritual "I Got Two Wings" by Rev. Utah Smith And Congregation, a Peanut Butter Wolf remix of the brash "Juicy Gotcha Krazy" by Oaktown's 3-5-7, Funkadelic's bouncy "Get Off Your Ass And Jam", EPMD's Zapp-sampling "You Gots To Chill", DJ Munro's remix of the rare "Bi Bi Bi Di Bi Dip Be Happy" by Pierce Bros & Co, the reggae-tinged "Man In A Suitcase" by The Police, Derrick Harriot's cover of "You've Really Got A Hold On Me" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles followed by a "stripped" version of their "More Love", John Phillips' buoyant "Captain (The Mermaid)", Cher's cover of Leon Russell's "A Song For You" and Tom Waits' haunting "The Part You Throw Away".

That's Entertainment The Jam

In Den Kasernen Marlene Dietrich

Bleecker Street Simon & Garfunkel

Dr. Feelgood (Love Is A Serious Business) Aretha Franklin

The End Of Our Road Marvin Gaye

Solitude Dudley Perkins

Shadowboxin' GZA ft. Method Man

I Got Two Wings Rev. Utah Smith And Congregation

Juicy Gotcha Krazy (Peanut Butter Wolf remix) Oaktown's 3-5-7

Get Off Your Ass And Jam Funkadelic

Bi Bi Bi Di Bi Dip Be Happy (DJ Munro remix) Pierce Bros & Co

Man In A Suitcase The Police

You Really Got A Hold On Me Derrick Harriott

More Love (Stripped Mix) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

That's Entertainment Morrissey

Cycles Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

Captain (The Mermaid) John Phillips

Song For You Cher

Bleecker Street Jonatha Brooke

The Part You Throw Away Tom Waits

Cycles Frank Sinatra

Dr. Feelgood (Love Is A Serious Business) (demo) Aretha Franklin

That's Entertainment (live on the BBC) Paul Weller

09-02-10: Emotional Feedback On Timeless Wavelength

"Our Day Will Come" was first recorded by Ruby & The Romantics in 1963 and soon became a pop standard. This week's mix includes their version along with covers by Isaac Hayes, Willie Bobo, Jimmy Scott and a duet between Betty Everett and Jerry Butler.

Two other songs appear on here more than once. "Crying" by Roy Orbison is covered by The Morning Benders and "Foolish Fool" by Dee Dee Warwick is also on here as a cover by Chaka Khan.

"Fuego D'Amor (Anillo De Fuego)" is Johnny Cash singing "Ring Of Fire" in Spanish.

The rest: Jackson Browne's moody "The Fuse", Common's detailed "I Used To Love H.E.R.", the Bollywood soundtrack song "Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu" by Geeta Dutt, Chubb Rock's upbeat "Treat 'Em Right", the pop standard associated with Stevie Wonder called "For Once In My Life" performed by The Four Tops, the laid back "Regrets" by Jay-Z, an alternate version of "Ordinary Guy" by Joe Bataan, the lush "Gotta Find A Way" by The Moments, Cee Lo Green's fun "F**k You", Rush's hopeful "The Spirit Of Radio", Santo & Johnny's cover of The Monkees' "Daydream Believer" and the odd "New Pretty Blonde (New Jole Blon)" by Moon Mullican.

The Fuse Jackson Browne

Crying The Morning Benders

Foolish Fool Dee Dee Warwick

Our Day Will Come Isaac Hayes

I Used To Lover H.E.R. Common

Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu Geeta Dutt

Treat 'Em Right Chubb Rock

Our Day Will Come Betty Everett & Jerry Butler

For Once In My Life The Four Tops

Regrets Jay-Z

Ordinary Guy (alt ver) Joe Bataan

Our Day Will Come Willie Bobo

Fuego D' Amor (Anillo De Fuego) Johnny Cash

Our Day Will Come Ruby & The Romantics

Gotta Find A Way The Moments

Foolish Fool Chaka Khan

F**k You Cee Lo Green

The Spirit Of Radio Rush

Daydream Believer Santo & Johnny

New Pretty Blonde (New Jole Blon) Moon Mullican

Crying Roy Orbison

Our Day Will Come Jimmy Scott

08-26-10: Help Me Make The Most Of Freedom And Of Pleasure

"Take Me To The Pilot" by Elton John bookends this week's mix, with the album and demo version. The mix also includes covers by Jose Felicano and Ben E. King.

"Snoop's Nu Shooz" by dj BC is a mash-up of various Snoop Dogg raps over "I Can't Wait" by Nu Shooz, which is also here in its original form.

The rest: the snyth-driven "Pale Shelter" by Tears For Fears, Patti Smith's cover of Tears For Fears' "Everybody Wants To Rule The World", the gently lascivious "I'd Love Just Once To See You" by The Beach Boys, a live version of "People's Parties" by Joni Mitchell, the moody "Moves" by Charles Mingus, the melodic "Fool In Love" by The Veltones, Billie Holiday's version of the standard "I Can't Pretend", the ominous "Games Without Frontiers" by Peter Gabriel, the raucous "Everybody Out'ta The Pool" by The Lifeguards, Tom Waits' eerie "Circus", RZA's loping "Hidden Track", Dan The Automator's dense "A Better Tomorrow Pt. 2" with Kool Keith, Bob Wills joyful "Stars And Stripes On Iwo Jima", Radiohead's wistful "High And Dry", Leonard Cohen's elegiac "So Long, Marianne" and the melancholic "Ghosts" by Randy Newman.

Take Me To The Pilot Elton John

Pale Shelter Tears For Fears

Everybody Wants To Rule The World Patti Smith

I'd Love Just Once To See You The Beach Boys

Take Me To The Pilot Ben E. King

People's Parties (live) Joni Mitchell

Moves Charles Mingus

Fool In Love The Veltones

I Can't Pretend Billie Holiday

Games Without Frontiers Peter Gabriel

I Can't Wait Nu Shooz

Everybody Out'ta The Pool The Lifeguards

Circus Tom Waits

Snoop's Nu Shooz dj BC

Hidden Track RZA

A Better Tomorrow Pt. 2 Dan the Automator ft. Kool Keith

Stars And Striped On Iwo Jima Bob Wills

Take Me To The Pilot Jose Feliciano

High And Dry Radiohead

So Long, Marianne Leonard Cohen

Ghosts Randy Newman

Take Me To The Pilot (demo) Elton John

08-19-10: 'Cause The Real Set Don't Get Started 'Til Everyone Else Is In

This week's mix is bookended with a live and studio version of Bjork's "All Is Full Of Love".

"Under The Bridge" by Red Hot Chilli Peppers and "Misery" by Soul Asylum are from an era when "college rock" went mainstream just as yours truly went from college to mainstream.

The rest: the DJ Premier-produced "Represent" by Nas, Peggy Lee's sweet version of the 40s standard "Chi-Baba Chi-Baba (My Bambino Go To Sleep)", the playful "Stay Up Late" by Talking Heads, Joe Bataan's cover of Tommy James & the Shondells' "Crystal Blue Persuasion", the frenetic "Run For Cover" by Eric B. & Rakim, Bobby Womack's exuberant "Daylight", RJD2's Pure Essence-sampling "Clean Living", Aceyalone's RJD2-produced "Fire", Reverend Billy H. Grady's joyful "Holy Rock", the determined "I'm Bound To Pack It Up" by The White Stripes, a cover of Bob Dylan's "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" by Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Dylan with Joan Baez on a live version of "Mama, You Been On My Mind", a cover of Dylan's "The Man In Me" by The Clash, a cover of The Spinners' "I'll Be Around" by Gregory Isaacs, the lush "I Don't Want To Lose You" by The Spinners and the romantic Billy Strayhorn composition "Noir Bleu" with Barney Bigard and His Orchestra.

All Is Full Of Love Bjork

Represent Nas

Under The Bridge Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Chi-Baba Chi-Baba (My Bambino Go To Sleep) Peggy Lee

Stay Up Late Talking Heads

Crystal Blue Persuasion Joe Bataan

Run For Cover Eric B. & Rakim

Daylight Bobby Womack

Misery Soul Asylum

Clean Living RJD2

Fire Aceyalone

Holy Rock Reverend Billy H. Grady

I'm Bound To Pack It Up The White Stripes

Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues Ramblin' Jack Elliott

Mama, You Been On My Mind (live 1964) Bob Dylan & Joan Baez

The Man In Me The Clash

I'll Be Around Gregory Isaacs

I Don't Want To Lose You The Spinners

Noir Bleu Barney Bigard And His Orchestra with Billy Strayhorn

All Is Full Of Love (live) Bjork

08-12-10: You Took The Blue Out Of The Sky

"Walkin' Down The Line" is a Bob Dylan song from 1963 that never made an official album but, like many other obscure songs of his, was sought out by other singers for their own albums. This week's mix features covers by Odetta, Jackie DeShannon and Joan Baez, as well as his original.

Beth Orton's recording of "I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine" is a cover of the Phil Spector-produced epic by The Ronettes.

Merle Haggard wrote "You Don't Have Far To Go" for his debut album, and a few years later re-recorded it as "You Don't Have Very Far To Go", with the changes being the title and a more Spanish-tinged guitar in the latter version. In addition to both versions, this week features Candi Staton's recent recording of it.

"Me And The Devil" by Gil Scott-Heron is a modern reworking of Robert Johnson's "Me And The Devil Blues".

The very rare recording of "I Wish I Never Had Met Sunshine" by a teenaged June Carter is a cover of the Gene Autry hit, which is also on here.

The original "Jamaican Version" of "Baby, We've Got A Date" by Bob Marley & The Wailers from their major label debut Catch A Fire sounds punchier and leaner than the regular album version.

The rest: Just Ice's defiant "Goin' Way Back", Sonny Rollins' Brazilian-flavored version of the standard "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes", Seu George's cover of Roy Ayers' "Everybody Loves The Sunshine", MF Doom's mellow Steely Dan-sampling instrumental "Dature Stramonium", Al Green's blissful "Soon As I Get Home", MF Doom again with J Dilla's production on "Sniper Elite", the spacey "Beyond Real" by Jigmastas and a hushed version of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's "The Prince of Bel-Air Theme" by Sparrows and Crows.

Funny How Things Can Change The Watts Prophets

Me And The Devil Gil Scott-Heron

Goin' Way Back Just Ice

You Don't Have Far To Go Merle Haggard

Walkin' Down The Line Bob Dylan

I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine The Ronettes

The Night Has A Thousand Eyes Sonny Rollins

Everybody Loves The Sunshine Seu George

Dature Stranomium MF Doom

Soon As I Get Home Al Green

Walkin' Down The Line Jackie DeShannon

You Don't Have Very Far To Go Candi Staton

I Wish I Never Saw The Sunshine Beth Orton

Walkin' Down the Line Odetta

I Wish I Had Never Met Sunshine Gene Autry

Sniper Elite J Dilla & MF Doom

Beyond Real Jigmastas

Baby We've Got A Date (original Jamaican ver) Bob Marley & The Wailers

I Wish I Had Never Met Sunshine June Carter

Walkin' Down The Line Joan Baez

You Don't Have Very Far To Go Merle Haggard

Me And The Devil Blues Robert Johnson

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Theme Sparrows and Crows

08-05-10: Don't Ask Me What You Know Is True

"You Are My Sunshine" is a standard first recorded in 1939, written by country singer and Louisiana governor Jimmie Davis. This week's mix features three different 60s soul versions by Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles and Dyke & The Blazers. Also featured here are two versions by Johnny Cash, one a late 60s duet with Bob Dylan and the other an acoustic studio version recorded decades later.

This mix also includes multiple versions of the John Lennon-sung early Beatles song "You Can't Do That": the album and demo versions as well as covers by The Supremes, Harry Nilsson and Booker T. & The MG's. The Nilsson version is from his first album in 1967 and is stuffed with snippets of other Beatles songs.

Roy Orbison's melodic "Oh, Pretty Woman" also repeats on here, with a cover by Al Green.

The rest: Peggy Lee's languid cover of Aretha Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman", Big Boi's loping "Lookin' For Ya" featuring Andre 3000 and Sleepy Brown, Mos Def's Big Boi-referencing "Twilite Speedball", Amy Winehouse's forlorn "Love Is A Losing Game", the swaggering "Brass Monkey" by Beastie Boys, Bo Diddley's sly "Bo's A Lumberjack", Kool Keith's bizarre "Lost In Space", the tortured "Behind Blue Eyes" by The Who, the slow-burning "The Lonely One" by Wipers, U2's propulsive "Two Hearts Beat As One", Elvis Costello's cover of The Beatles' "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away", St. Vincent with Beck on a cover of INXS' "Never Tear Us Apart" and Bettye Lavette's live cover of The Who's "Love Reign O'er Me".

You Are My Sunshine Aretha Franklin

(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman Peggy Lee

Oh, Pretty Woman Al Green

You Can't Do That (demo) The Beatles

You Are My Sunshine Johnny Cash & Bob Dylan

Lookin' For Ya Big Boi ft. Andre 3000 & Sleepy Brown

Twilite Speedball Mos Def

You Can't Do That The Supremes

Love Is A Losing Game Amy Winehouse

You Are My Sunshine Ray Charles

Brass Monkey Beastie Boys

You Can't Do That The Beatles

Bo's A Lumberjack Bo Diddley

Lost In Space Kool Keith

You Are My Sunshine Dyke & The Blazers

You Can't Do That Booker T. & The MG's

Behind Blue Eyes The Who

The Lonely One Wipers

Two Hearts Beat As One U2

Oh, Pretty Woman Roy Orbison

You Can't Do That Harry Nilsson

You've Got To Hide Your Love Away Elvis Costello

You Are My Sunshine Johnny Cash

Never Tear Us Apart St. Vincent w/ Beck

Love Reign O'er Me (live) Bettye Lavette

07-29-10: Givin' 'Em Information Like Encyclopedia

This week's mix features "Instant Karma! (We All Shine On)" by John Lennon and The Plastic Ono Band, featuring George Harrison and Billy Preston among others, along with covers by Paul Weller and Bobby Shad and His Bad Men.

The newly-released "Rill Rill" by Sleigh Bells samples "Can You Get To That" by Funkadelic.

The rest: J Dilla's funky "Reality Check" with Black Thought, the loping "Groove Me" by King Floyd, the cocky "Set 'Em Straight" by Eric B. & Rakim, the infectious "Get Down" by Curtis Mayfield, a demo version of "Talk Of The Town" by The Pretenders, the sly "Johnny Sunshine" by Liz Phair, the organ-driven "Chitlin' Strut" by The Backyard Heavies, Speech Debelle's clever "The Key", Busta Rhymes frenetic "Gimme Some More", Norman Connors' spacey "You Are My Starship" with Michael Henderson on vocals, the sweet "Electrified Love" by Ernie Hines, a live version of David Bowie's "Heroes" by Blondie, a jaunty live version of "All I Really Want To Do" by Bob Dylan, Boz Scaggs' exuberant "Lido Shuffle", the tender "Liza" by Bill Withers and a live cover of The Rolling Stones' "Let It Bleed" by Caetano Veloso.

Instant Karma! (We All Shine On) John Lennon And The Plastic Ono Band

Can You Get To That Funkadelic

Rill Rill Sleigh Bells

Reality Check J Dilla ft. Black Thought

Groove Me King Floyd

Set 'Em Straight Eric B. & Rakim

Get Down Curtis Mayfield

Instant Karma Paul Weller

Talk Of The Town (demo) The Pretenders

Johnny Sunshine Liz Phair

Chitlin' Strut The Backyard Heavies

The Key Speech Debelle

Instant Karma Bobby Shad And The Bad Men

Gimme Some More Busta Rhymes

You Are My Starship Norman Connors

Electrified Love Ernie Hines

Heroes (live) Blondie

All I Really Want To Do (live at Budokan) Bob Dylan

Lido Shuffle Boz Scaggs

Liza Bill Withers

Let It Bleed (live 5/74 Rio De Janeiro) Caetano Veloso