10-28-10: Rainbow, Moonbeams And Orange Snow

"Can't Find My Way Home" is an original track from the only studio album by 70s supergroup Blind Faith, which featured Eric Clapton on guitar and Stevie Winwood on vocals. In addition to the original, this week's mix features covers by Gilberto Gil and Ellen McIllwaine.

Other songs that repeat this week include Jelly Roll Morton's standard "Sweet Substitute", covered by Karen Dalton and the country standard "I Wish I Had A Nickel" by Jimmy Wakely as well as a rare demo by Hank Williams.

The version of Stevie Wonder's "Saturn" on here includes a slight edit of the song, with the sound of children playing at the end edited out. Preceding that is Gato Barbieri's cover of Stevie's "I Am Singing".

Kanye West's recently-released single "The Joy" features Jay-Z, Kid Cudi and former Gap Band singer Charlie Wilson as well as killer production by Pete Rock with a Curtis Mayfield sample.

The last two songs on here reflect a recent trend in re-released "stripped" versions of songs, with some of the production taken out to reveal crisper versions. One is a more acoustic version of John Lennon's "Woman", the other a more vocal-focussed version of "Baby, Baby Don't Cry" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles.

The mix begins with the rare album version of James Brown's "Get Up Offa That Thing/Release The Pressure", all glorious nine minutes of it. Listen carefully and you'll hear a swipe at Barry White.

The rest: the aptly-named "Funky 2 Listen 2" by Large Professor, the wistful "I Had It All The Time" by Tyrone Davis, the menacing "Cross The Border" by Clipse, the rhythmic "Ride A White Swan" by T. Rex, the rocking "Fell In Love With A Girl" by The White Stripes, an alternate version of Bob Dylan's "Most Of The Time" and Billy Preston's funky cover of "I've Got A Feeling" by The Beatles.

Get Up Offa That Thing/ Release The Pressure James Brown

Funky 2 Listen 2 The Large Professor

Can't Find My Way Home Gilberto Gil

I Am Singing Gato Barbieri

Saturn (edit) Stevie Wonder

The Joy Kanye West ft. Jay-Z, King Cudi & Charlie Wilson

I Had It All The Time Tyrone Davis

Cross The Border Clipse

Ride A White Swan T. Rex

Fell In Love With A Girl The White Stripes

Sweet Substitute Jelly Roll Morton's Hot Seven

I Wish I Had A Nickel [Shreveport demo] Hank Williams

Can't Find My Way Home Blind Faith

Sweet Substitute Karen Dalton

Most Of The Time (alt ver) Bob Dylan

I Wish I Had A Nickel Jimmy Wakely

Can't Find My Way Home Ellen McIlwaine

I've Got A Feeling Billy Preston

Woman ("stripped" ver) John Lennon

Baby, Baby Don't Cry ("stripped" ver) Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

10-21-10: A-Riggy Diggy Dig Dang Dang

"He'll Have To Go" was first recorded by Jim Reeves and soon became a pop country standard. The Elvis Presley cover also included here was the very last song he recorded. Other covers on this week's mix include a reggae version by Raphael Stewart & The Hot Tops, a studio outtake by a Keith Richards-led Rolling Stones and another by Solomon Burke.

Solomon recently passed away en route to a concert, and much of this mix is dedicated to his music. In addition to "He'll Have To Go", I've included his recent version of the standard "None Of Us Are Free" as well as his hits "Cry To Me" and "Everybody Needs Somebody To Love". I've also included a cover of the latter by The Rolling Stones, as well as two versions of their Exile On Main Street track "All Down The Line", the album version and a rare acoustic demo. Stones-related songs here are rounded out by three covers: Gabor Szabo's instrumental version of "Paint It Black", Bobby Darin's version of "Back Street Girl" and a cover of their standard "Wild Horses" by The Sundays.

The mix is bookended by Merle Haggard's outlaw anthem "I Take A Lot Of Pride In What I Am": the original and a jaunty cover by Dean Martin.

The rest: a mash-up of The Clash's "This Is Radio Clash" and Biz Markie's "This Is Something For The Radio" by dj BC called "This Is Radio Biz", the defiant "I Ain't Got The Love (Of One Girl On My Mind)" by The Ambassadors, Lil Wayne with Drake on the oddly romantic "With You", the dusty soul obscurity "Your Smallest Wish" by 21st Century LTD, the sly "Back Up Plan" by Big Boi, the television theme "Green Acres" by Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor, an acoustic home recording of "Nobody Told Me" by John Lennon.

I Take A Lot Of Pride In What Am Merle Haggard

He'll Have To Go Solomon Burke

All Down The Line The Rolling Stones

This Is Radio Biz The Clash vs. Biz Markie

He'll Have To Go Raphael Stewart & The Hot Tops

Everybody Needs Somebody To Love Solomon Burke

I Ain't Got The Love (Of One Girl On My Mind) The Ambassadors

With You Lil Wayne ft. Drake

Your Smallest Wish 21st Century LTD

Back Up Plan Big Boi

Paint It Black Gabor Szabo

Everybody Needs Somebody To Love The Rolling Stones

None Of Us Are Free Solomon Burke

He'll Have To Go Jim Reeves

Green Acres Eddie Albert & Eva Gabor

Nobody Told Me (home recording) John Lennon

All Down The Line (acoustic demo) The Rolling Stones

Back Street Girl Bobby Darin

He'll Have To Go Elvis Presley

Cry To Me Solomon Burke

Wild Horses The Sundays

He'll Have To Go (outtake) The Rolling Stones

I Take A Lot Of Pride In What I Am Dean Martin

10-14-10: Someone's Always Trying To Tell Them Something They Already Know

Biz Markie's "Alone Again" heavily samples Gilbert O'Sullivan's hit "Alone Again (Naturally)", and was a landmark case of copyright infringement which changed the rules for sampling forever. Seemed an appropriate one to feature on this week's mix: future pressings of Biz Markie's album omitted this song and it is very hard to find a digital copy of it. But not as hard as it is to now find yourself on this blog, gentle reader.

Previous mixes featured the original O'Sullivan hit, as well as a cover by Esther Phillips and reggae group The Now Generation. This week's features covers by Gene Ammons, Sarah Vaughan, Bobby Darin and a typically personal and idiosyncratic version by Nina Simone.

The Darin cover is live, filling out a suite of live songs here. First, Bob Dylan's Vegas-like version of "One More Cup Of Coffee (Valley Below)" performed in Budokan, followed by Darin, then a young Neil Young with a stripped-down version of "Tell Me Why", followed by Paul Westerberg's similarly unadorned version of his Replacements single "I Will Dare". The concert continues with a live version of Cat Stevens' "Moonshadow" followed by Gladys Knight & The Pips' live cover of The Temptations' "I Wish It Would Rain".

The other song featured this week is the inscrutable but moving "Mohammed's Radio" by Warren Zevon: the album version, a solo piano demo and a cover by Linda Ronstadt.

The rest: the funky "No Diggity" by Blackstreet with Dr. Dre and Queen Pen, Funk Factory's languid "Rien Ne Va Plus", the spacey "ATLiens" by Outkast, Eddie Floyd's wise "Why Is The Wine Sweeter (On The Other Side)", Waylon Jennings' cover of Kris Kristofferson's "Me and Bobby McGee", the romantic vocal version of Philippe Sarde's "La Chanson D'Helene" and George Fromby's chipper "I Told My Baby With The Ukulele".

Alone Again Biz Markie

Mohammed's Radio Warren Zevon

No Diggity Blackstreet ft. Dr. Dre & Queen Pen

Rien Ne Va Plus Funk Factory

ATLiens Outkast

Why Is The Wine Sweeter (On The Other Side) Eddie Floyd

Me and Bobby McGee Waylon Jennings

Mohammed's Radio Linda Ronstadt

Alone Again (Naturally) Gene Ammons

La Chanson D'Helene (vocal ver) Philippe Sarde

Alone Again Naturally Sarah Vaughan

I Told My Baby With A Ukulele George Fromby

One More Cup Of Coffee (Valley Below) (live at Budokan) Bob Dylan

Alone Again (Naturally) (live) Bobby Darin

Tell Me Why (live at Massey Hall '71) Neil Young

I Will Dare (live) Paul Westerberg

Moonshadow (live) Cat Stevens

I Wish It Would Rain (live) Gladys Knight & The Pips

Mohammed's Radio (solo piano ver) Warren Zevon

Alone Again Naturally Nina Simone

10-07-10: We Can Be Like They Are

The first song I ever learned to play on guitar as a teenager was either "Sunday Bloody Sunday" by U2 or "Clampdown" by The Clash. But the first one that ever felt really powerful to play was Blue Oyster Cult's darkly majestic "Don't Fear The Reaper". While it was a song that seemed to belong, unlike the others, to a much earlier generation, there is something about it that now feels timeless and reminds me of brisk fall nights.

One song repeats this week: Merle Haggard's prisoner lament "I Wonder If They Still Think Of Me", both the album version and a rare stripped-down demo. He must have drawn on his own days as an inmate.

Etta James' "All The Way Down" seems to also draw on personal history as she entered rehab shortly after recording it in the early 70s.

The rest: Lil Wayne's profane "Gonorrhea", Marvin Gaye's romantic "Soon I'll Be Loving You Again", Gang Starr's purposeful "Work", the funky "Because I Got It Like That" by Jungle Brothers, Pulp's slowly-building "Help The Aged", Gang Of Four's fierce "To Hell With Poverty", the playful "Wack Wack" by The Young Holt Trio, Larry Young's groovy "Spaceball", Neil Diamond's peppy "Cherry, Cherry", a duet of John Hartford's pop folk standard "Gentle On My Mind" by Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry, O.V. Wright's soulful "Sacrifice", Bobby Womack's cover of The Carpenters' "(They Long To Be) Close To You", Tom Waits' wistful "Had Me A Girl" and John Coltrane with his Classic Quartet on the contemplative "Crescent".

Don't Fear The Reaper Blue Oyster Cult

Gonorrhea Lil Wayne

Soon I'll Be Loving You Again Marvin Gaye

Work Gang Starr

All The Way Down Etta James

Because I Got It Like That Jungle Brothers

Help The Aged Pulp

To Hell With Poverty Gang Of Four

Wack Wack The Young Holt Trio

Spaceball Larry Young

Cherry, Cherry Neil Diamond

I Wonder If They Ever Think Of Me Merle Haggard

Gentle On My Mind Glen Campbell and Bobbie Gentry

Sacrifice O.V. Wright

(They Long To Be) Close To You Bobby Womack

Had Me A Girl Tom Waits

I Wonder If They Ever Think Of Me (demo) Merle Haggard

Crescent John Coltrane

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