10-02-14: Don't Surround Yourself With Yourself

"Paradise" was written by John Prine for his father and first appeared on his eponymous 1971 debut album. He re-recorded it for his 1986 album German Afternoons. Johnny Cash also recorded it twice, once in full band arrangement for his 1982 album Adventures Of Johnny Cash and a year earlier in a stripped-down version for a tv movie. The latter cover is here with the original Prine version as well as covers by Jackie DeShannon, The Everly Brothers and John Fogerty.

"Here, There And Everywhere" is from The Beatles 1966 album Revolver. Paul McCartney wrote it in reaction to "God Only Knows" by The Beach Boys. Previous mixes have included the original, a  cover by Carmen McRae and by Bobbie Gentry singing a Spanish version called "En Todas Partes". This mix includes Gentry's English language version along with other covers by Emmylou Harris, Sarah Vaughan, Helen Merrill and Roberta Flack performing live.

One other song repeats this week: Luther Vandross' 1981 single "Never Too Much" from his album of the same name, with a cover by Mary J. Blige.

"Your Move" by Yes is part of a suite of songs called "I've Seen All Good People".

"Cheer Up, Charlie" is creidted to the actress Diana Sowle who performed it in the 1971 film Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory, but the actual singing was said to be by Diana Lee.

The rest: the rockabilly obscurity "I Love Girls" by The Tampellas, the Latin-tinged McCartney homage "Don't Ask Me Why" by Billy Joel, a cover of Chicago's "Beginnings" by Astrud Gilberto, Kool Keith alias Dr. Dooom's peevish "Leave Me Alone", MF Doom's Raekwon collaboration "Yessir!" with the oft-used sample "UFO" by ESG, Jackie Stoudemire's funky "Don't Stop Dancin'", Run-D.M.C.'s witty "You Be Illin'" and Paul Westerberg's ballad "Even Here We Are" from his 1993 debut album 14 Songs.

Here, There And Everywhere                              Bobbie Gentry
Paradise                                                               Jackie DeShannon
I Love Girls                                                         The Tampellas
Don't Ask Me Why                                             Billy Joel
Here, There And Everywhere                              Emmylou Harris
Paradise                                                              The Everly Brothers
Your Move (edit)                                                Yes
Beginnings                                                          Astrud Gilberto
Here, There And Everywhere                             Sarah Vaughan
Paradise                                                               John Prine
Leave Me Alone                                                 Dr. Dooom
Never Too Much                                                 Luther Vandross
Yessir!                                                                 MF Doom ft. Raekwon
Don't Stop Dancin'                                              Jackie Stoudemire
You Be Illin'                                                        Run-D.M.C.
Never Too Much                                                 Mary J. Blige 
Here, There And Everywhere                             Helen Merrill
Paradise                                                               John Fogerty
Cheer Up, Charlie                                               Diana Sowle
Even Here We Are                                              Paul Westerberg
Here, There And Everywhere (live)                   Roberta Flack
Paradise                                                              Johnny Cash

09-25-14: You Fill The World With Magic

"I Know It's Over" is a ballad from the 1986 album The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths. This mix features the Johnny Marr remaster of the album version, a newly released demo and covers by Elk City and Jeff Buckley.

"Winter Lady" is a song from the the 1967 debut album Songs Of Lenoard Cohen. This mix features Cohen's original along with covers by Will Oldham band Palace Songs, Beck with Binki Shapiro, and Canadian folk duo Kate and Anna McGarrigle, with Kate's daughter Martha Wainwright.

One other song repeats this week: Minnie Riperton's "Seeing You This Way" from her 1974 Stevie Wonder-produced album Perfect Angel. The acoustic version here includes studio chatter between Minnie and Stevie.

The rest: the Lou Reed and John Cale-written "Little Sister" from the 1967 debut album Chelsea Girl by Nico, the Velvet Underground-esque "It's Up To You" by The Shop Assistants, Darondo's soulful "Sure Know How To Love Me", Ka's haunting "Conflicted", the anguished "Untrue Woman" by Debonaires, Lupe Fiasco's Pete Rock-sampling "Around My Way (Freedom Ain't Free)", Busta Rhymes' percussive 1997 single "Put Your Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See", the sparsely funky "Super Lady" by Jeff Phelps, Van Halen's suggestive "The Full Bug", the forlorn "Cocaine Habit Blues" by Memphis Jug Band, the spiritual "At The River" by Tennessee Mountaineers and the brief wordless singing of The Beach Boys on "Our Prayer".

Seeing You This Way (acoustic ver)                       Minnie Riperton
I Know It's Over (demo)                                         The Smiths
Winter Lady      Anna McGarrigle, Kate McGarrigle, Martha Wainwright
Little Sister                                                              Nico
It's Up To You                                                         The Shop Assistants
I Know It's Over                                                      The Smiths
Winter Lady                                                             Beck ft. Binki Shapiro
Sure Know How To Love Me                                  Darondo
Conflicted                                                                 Ka
Untrue Woman                                                         Debonaires
Around My Way (Freedom Isn't Free)                    Lupe Fiasco
I Know It's Over                                                      Elk City
Winter Lady                                                             Palace Songs
Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See               Busta Rhymes
Super Lady                                                              Jeff Phelps
The Full Bug                                                            Van Halen
Cocaine Habit Blues                                                The Memphis Jug Band
I Know It's Over                                                       Jeff Buckley
Winter Lady                                                             Leonard Cohen
At The River                                                            Tennessee Mountaineers
Our Prayer                                                                The Beach Boys
Seeing You This Way                                               Minnie Riperton

09-18-14: Give Me A Misty Day, Pearly Gray, Silver, Silky-Faced, Wide-Awake, Crescent-Shaped Smile

"Barbara Allen" is a traditional Scottish ballad considered the most widely collected song in the English language. The lyrics differ across the many versions but involve drinking, unrequited love,  death and regret: a few of this blog's favorite subjects. This mix collects versions by Bradley Kincaid in 1928, Maxine Sullivan in 1940, The Everly Brothers in 1958 and Bob Dylan performing live in 1962.

"Pale Blue Eyes" is the achingly beautiful ballad Lou Reed wrote for his hazel-eyed first love Shelley Albin, for the eponymous 1969 Velvet Underground album. A previous mix featured that album version, this mix includes covers by Clem Snide, R.E.M., Paul Christopher and Joseph Arthur.

One other song repeats this week: the Dennis Wilson-written "Be Still" from the 1968 Beach Boys album Friends, with a cover from twenty years later by Scottish band Felt.

"Child Of The Moon" was recorded by The Rolling Stones between albums Their Satanic Majesties Request and Beggar's Banquet and straddles the line between the psychedelia of the former and the primitivism of the latter. It is said to be written by Mick Jagger for Marianne Faithfull. It never appeared on an official album and instead was the b-side to their 1968 single "Jumping Jack Flash".

Kwest Tha Madd Lad and Ahmad Lewis both recorded acclaimed mid-90s rap debut albums, then never released another official album again. The former's "125 Pennies For Sale" samples the blaxploitation track "It's A New Day" by Skull Snaps and the latter's "Touch The Ceiling" samples the 1979 funk track "Get Up To Get Down". Also sample related: Freestyle Fellowship's "Shammy's/ Heat Mizer" which borrows from Detroit Emerald's 1969 soul song "You're Getting A Little Too Smart".

The rest: a cover of The Rolling Stones "Gimme Shelter" by Detroit with Mitch Ryder and Lou Rawls' cautionary "I'm Not The Staying Kind".

Barbara Allen (live)                                     Bob Dylan
Pale Blue Eyes                                             Clem Snide
Child Of The Moon                                     The Rolling Stones
Gimme Shelter                                             Detroit With Mitch Ryder
Be Still                                                         The Beach Boys
Pale Blue Eyes                                             R.E.M.
Barbara Allen                                               The Everly Brothers
It's A New Day                                             Skull Snaps
125 Pennies For Your Thoughts                   Kwest Tha Madd Lad
Get Up To Get Down                                   Brass Construction
Touch The Ceiling                                       Ahmad Lewis
Barbara Allen                                               Bradley Kincaid
Pale Blue Eyes                                             Paul Christopher
You're Getting A Little Too Smart               The Detroit Emeralds
Shammy's / Heat Mizer                                Freestyle Fellowship
Not The Staying Kind                                  Lou Rawls
Be Still                                                         Felt
Barbara Allen                                              Maxine Sullivan
Pale Blue Eyes                                            Joseph Arthur

09-11-14: I've Taken Hits Time Just Don't Erase

"Modern Romance" is the closing track for the debut album Fever To Tell for Yeah Yeah Yeahs, released in spring of 2003 just a few months before the debut of these mixes, which now number 578. "Poor Song" was a "hidden track", that appeared after over a minute of silence following "Modern Romance".  In the latter MP3 period it was unbundled and treated as a separate song. Both songs bookend this mix with covers of "Modern Romance" by TV On The Radio, The Rapture and The Twilight Sad mixed in with a cover of Fever To Tell hit "Maps" by Macy Gray.

"What'll I Do" is a standard written by Irving Berlin in 1923. This mix features versions by Judy Garland, Chet Baker, Harry Nilsson and Cher.

One other song repeats this week: Nina Simone's "If You Knew", with a live cover by Jeff Buckley.

"Lamento" is the original version of Brazilian singer Tim Maia's "Where Is My Other Half", which has appeared here previously.

The rest: the satiric "Song For A Future Generation" by B52s, the upbeat 1991 hip hop track "Blue Cheese" by UMCs, the dramatic "70s Scenario" by Hall & Oates, Barry White's seductive "I Love You More Than Anything (In This World)", Rev. J.M. Gates' peevish "Men And Women Talk Too Much", Figures Of Light with their rare 1972 proto punk single "It's Lame", the Citizen Kane-inspired "The Union Forever" by The White Stripes, Ultramagnetic MC's Kool Keith showcase "Poppa Large", the goofy "Gorilla" by The Standells, producer Statik Selektah's Run The Jewels collaboration "Put Jewels On It" and an updated version of Squeeze's "Take Me I'm Yours" by one of the song's co-writers Chris Difford.

Modern Romance                                    Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Maps                                                        Macy Gray
What'll I Do                                             Judy Garland
Song For A Future Generation                B52s
Blue Cheese                                             UMCs
If You Knew                                             Nina Simone
What'll I Do                                              Chet Baker
Lamento                                                    Tim Maia
70s Scenario                                             Hall & Oates
I Love You More Than Anything (In This World Girl)     Barry White
Men And Women Talk Too Much            Rev. J.M. Gates
What'll I Do                                               Harry Nilsson
Modern Romance                                      TV On the Radio
It's Lame                                                    Figures Of Light
The Union Forever                                   The White Stripes
Poppa Large                                             Ultramagnetic MCs
Put Jewels On It                     Satik Selektah ft. Run The Jewels
If You Knew (live)                                  Jeff Buckley
Take Me I'm Yours                                  Chris Difford
Modern Romance                                    The Twilight Sad
Poor Song                                                 Yeah Yeah Yeahs

09-04-14: He Turns His Money Into Light To Look For Her

"Brand New Day" is a song from Van Morrison's 1970 album Moondance. Previous mixes have included an acoustic demo by Morrison as well as the album version. This week's mix includes covers by P.P. Arnold, Dorothy Morrison, Miriam Makeba and Esther Phillips with The Dixie Flyers.

"Any Other Way" is a 1962 Stax single by William Bell. This mix includes studio and live covers by 60s cult singer Jackie Shane as well as a cover by Chuck Jackson to accompany the original.

One other song repeats this week: "Too Much Of Nothing" is a song by Bob Dylan & The Band from The Basment Tapes album. The "Valerie" and "Vivien" in the lyrics refer to the two wives of T.S. Eliot. In the cover here Peter, Paul & Mary change the latter name to "Marion", which reportedly annoyed Dylan.

Ghostface Killah's "2Getha Baby" samples "Together" by The Intruders.

"Yo Vivere" is Gloira Gaynor singing the 12 inch version of her hit "I Will Survive" in Spanish.

The rest: Kayne West's Smokey Robinson-sampling "Devil In A New Dress", the disco-tinged "Lemon" by U2, Ride's dense "Drive Blind", Kool Keith's odd "MC Voltron" with Craig G, Betty Davis' sensuous "My Man", the nocturnal "Moonlight Drive" by The Doors and a cover of their song "The Crystal Ship" by Robyn Hitchcock.

Brand New Day                                        P.P. Arnold
Any Other Way                                        William Bell
Devil In A Blue Dress                              Kanye West
Too Much Of Nothing                              Bob Dylan & The Band
Brand New Day                                        Dorothy Morrison
Any Other Way                                         Jackie Shane
Lemon                                                       U2
Drive Blind                                               Ride
Too Much Of Nothing                               Peter, Paul & Mary
MC Voltron                                               Kool Keith ft. Craig G
Brand New Day                                        Miriam Makeba
Any Other Way                                         Chuck Jackson
For My Man                                              Betty Davis
2Getha Baby                                             Ghostface Killah
Together                                                    The Intruders
Any Other Way (live)                               Jackie Shane
Yo Vivere                                                  Gloria Gaynor
Moonlight Drive                                        The Doors
The Crystal Ship                                       Robyn Hitchcock
Brand New Day                  Esther Phillips with The Dixie Flyers

08-28-14: Treating Me Like I'm For Sale

"Mother Nature's Son" is a Beatles song from their 1968 eponymous double album commonly referred to as "The White Album". It was written by Paul McCartney, who plays every instrument. Previous mixes have included a demo version and a cover by Harry Nilsson. This mix includes the album version as well as covers by Ramsey Lewis, Neville Skelly and Helen Merrill.

"Some Guys Have All The Luck" was a top 40 hit for The Persuaders in 1973. It has appeared on a previous mix. This mix has the other top 40 version, Rod Stewart's top ten hit from 1984, as well as versions by Camera Obscura, Inner Circle and Bette Bright's new wave version with reversed genders.

One other song repeats this week: Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders' 1967 single "I Want Her, She Wants Me" written by Rod Argent of The Zombies, whose version is also here.

"I Thought I Could" is a remix of Nas' "I Know I Can" by Abstrakt Soundz.

"I'm Your Captain (Closer To Home)" by Grand Funk Railroad was thought to be about the Vietnam war and was popular with soldiers at the time.

The rest: Kamasai Washington's John Coltrane-esque "Change Of The Guard", 1980 funk single "Love Rescue" by Project, the DJ Premier-produced "The Enemy" by Big L with Fat Joe, the Timbaland-produced "Big Pimpin'" by Jay-Z with UGK and Eunice Collins' explicit "At The Hotel".

Change Of The Guard                                         Kamasi Washington
Mother Nature's Son                                            Ramsey Lewis
Some Guys Have All The Luck                          Inner Circle
I Thought I Could                                               Abstrakt Soundz & Nas
Love Rescue (12" ver)                                        Project
The Enemy                                                          Big L
Some Girls Have All The Luck                          Bette Bright
Mother Nature's Son                                           Neville Skelly
I Want Her She Wants Me                Wayne Fontana & The Mindbenders
Big Pimpin'                                                         Jay-Z ft. UGK
Some Guys Have All The Luck                         Rod Stewart
At The Hotel                                                       Eunice Collins
Mother Nature's Son                                           The Beatles
I Want Her She Wants Me                                   The Zombies
Some Guys Have All The Luck                          Camera Obscura
Mother Nature's Son                                           Helen Merrill
I'm Your Captain (Closer To Home)                   Grand Funk Railroad

08-21-14: You're Telling Me Lies In Your Sleep

"Don't Make Promises" is the opening track to Tim Hardin's eponymous 1966 debut album. This mix features versions by Marianne Faithfull, Bobby Darin and Paul Weller to accompany the original.

"Never My Love" was a hit single by The Association in 1967 and is the second most played song of the 20th Century on radio and television. Previous mixes have included versions by Etta James and Donny Hathaway as well as the original. This mix includes versions by Astrud Gilberto, Wilson Pickett, The Four Tops and military band Soap.

One other song repeats this week: the 1973 single "Tequila Sunrise" by The Eagles, here with a cover by Buck Owens from a few years later.

The rest: a cover of Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" by Lani Hall, a debut album demo outtake called "I'm Going Home" by Elton John, the girl group ballad "Baby Are You Putting Me On" by The Royalettes, DJ Quik's smooth "Hand In Hand" with 2nd II None and El DeBarge, the early Gil Scott Heron piece "Artificalness" with legendary drummer Pretty Purdie and his band The Playboys, the rhythmic "Don't Sweat The Technique" by Eric B & Rakim, Otis Clay's optimistic "The Only Way Is Up", X'Clan's Tom Tom Club-sampling "In The Way Of The Scales", the Ellie Greenwich-written "Nobody Knows What's Goin' On (In My Mind But Me)" by The Chiffons, Johnny Tyler & His Riders Of The Rio Grande with the playful "I'm A Married Man", an early version of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' hit "Don't Do Me Like That" by his previous band Mudcrutch, a live cover of James Taylor's "Fire And Rain" by Richie Havens and Ernest Stoneman's Dixie Mountaineers with the spiritual "Down To Jordan And Be Saved".

Don't Make Promises                         Tim Hardin
Never My Love                                  Astrud Gilberto
Tiny Dancer                                        Lani Hall
I'm Going Home (demo)                    Elton John
Baby Are You Putting Me On            The Royalettes
Don't Make Promises                         Marianne Faithfull
Never My Love                                  Wilson Pickett
Hand In Hand            DJ Quik ft. 2nd II None & El DeBarge
Artificialness              Pretty Purdie & The Playboys ft. Gil Scott Heron
Don't Sweat The Technique               Eric B & Rakim
The Only Way Is Up                          Otis Clay
In The Way Of The Scales                 X-Clan
Nobody Knows What's Goin' On (In My Mind But Me)   The Chiffons
Don't Make Promises                        Bobby Darin
Never My Love                                 The Four Tops
Tequila Sunrise                                  The Eagles
I'm A Married Man         Johnny Tyler & His Riders Of The Rio Grande
Don't Do Me Like That                     Mudcrutch
Don't Make Promises                         Paul Weller
Never My Love                                  Soap
Fire And Rain (live)                           Richie Havens
Down To Jordan And Be Saved         Ernest Stoneman's Dixie Mountaineers
Tequila Sunrise                                   Buck Owens

08-14-14: How Could So Much Love Be Inside Of You?

"You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" is a 1973 #1 single by Stevie Wonder, the second single from his album Talking Book released the year before. The first two lyrics are sung by Wonder's band member Jim Gilstrap, and the following two lyrics by singer Lani Groves before Wonder himself takes over. This version, as well as a live version by Stevie and covers by Frank Sinatra and Leon Thomas, has appeared on previous mixes here. This mix features Stevie in a live duet with Ella Fitzgerald at the 1977 New Orleans Jazz festival, as well as a cover by Brenda Lee and a French duet by Sacha Distel with Brigitte Bardot titled "Le Soleil De Ma Vie".

"She Said Yeah", co-written by Sonny Bono, was originally recorded by soul singer Larry Williams in 1959. Williams was a favorite singer of John Lennon, and his suicide at the age of 44 in 1980 is said to have scared his best friend Little Richard off their mutual drug habit.  This mix features a cover by The Rolling Stones from their 1965 album December's Children (And Everybody's) and a cover by Paul McCartney from his 1999 album Run Devil Run as well as the original.

One other song repeats this week: the title track to Merle Haggard's 62nd album, released in 2010, titled "I Am What I Am", here with a recent cover by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy.

Mase's "24 Hrs. To Live" featuring The Lox, Black Rob & DMX samples the Thom Bell-produced "Moses Theme" by Frankie Blue from the soundtrack to the 1979 film The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh.

The rest: the epic "(Soul Fusion) Freewoman And Oh, This Freedom's Slave Cries" by Charlie Mingus from his 1963 album The Black Saint And Sinner Lady, the Eric Clapton-produced cover of The Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want" by P.P. Arnold from her newly unearthed 1971 album Turning Tide, the 1979 punk track "I'm A Bug" by Southern California band The Urinals, Sonic Youth's abrasive "Drunken Butterfly", a cover of The Monkees standard "Daydream Believer" by The Four Tops, Stevie Windwood's optimistic "While You See A Chance", Bobby Womack's happily defiant "Don't Let Nothing Get The Best Of You", Diamond D's philosophic "When It Pours It Rains", Lil Wayne's tautological "Dr. Carter", Paul Simon's wry "Kodachrome", Raekwon's eerie "Black Mozart" with Inspectah Deck and RZA and an acoustic demo version of the Crosby, Stills & Nash song "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" by Stephen Stills.

You Are The Sunshine Of My Life (live 1977)          Ella Fitzgerald & Stevie Wonder
(Soul Fusion) Freewoman And Oh, This Freedom's Slave Cries          Charles Mingus
You Can't Always Get What You Want                      P.P. Arnold
She Said Yeah                                                             The Rolling Stones
I'm A Bug                                                                    The Urinals
Drunken Butterfly                                                       Sonic Youth
Daydream Believer                                                    The Four Tops
Le Soleil De Ma Vie                              Sacha Distel with Brigitte Bardot    
While You See A Chance                                          Stevie Winwood
Never Let Nothing Get The Best Of You                  Bobby Womack
When It Pours It Rains                                              Diamond D
I Am What I Am                                                        Merle Haggard
Dr. Carter                                                                   Lil Wayne
Kodachrome                                                              Paul Simon
She Said Yeah                                                           Larry Williams
24 Hrs. To Live                          Mase ft. The Lox, Black Rob & DMX 
Moses Theme                                                            Frankie Bleu
Black Mozart                                  Raekwon ft. Inspectah Deck & RZA 
She Said Yeah                                                           Paul McCartney
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life                          Brenda Lee
I Am What I Am                                                      Bonnie 'Prince' Billy
Suite: Judy Blue Eyes (demo)                                 Stephen Stills

08-07-14: Cuz We Ain't Got It Too Good In America

"Breakdown" is the first single from the 1976 eponymous debut album by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. It has appeared on a previous mix. This mix includes covers by Grace Jones, Suzi Quatro and The Replacements performing live.

The mix is also bookended by two songs from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' 1985 album Southern Accents: the leadoff track "Rebels" and the title track that closed side one. "Trailer", included here, was left off that original album and resurfaced decades later on a box set. Also here is a Johnny Cash cover of "Southern Accents" with Petty's band playing back up.

The standard "Superstar", most associated with The Carpenters' hit version from 1971, was originally written and recorded by Delaney & Bonnie and titled "Groupie (Superstar)" on a December 1969 b-side. A previous mix included a Sonic Youth cover. The original Delaney & Bonnie version, featuring Eric Clapton on guitar, is included here along with covers by Peggy Lee and Cher.

The rest: a demo version of "There Goes My Gun" by The Pixies, the fierce "Endangered Species (Tales From The Darkside)" from Ice Cube's 1990 debut album "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted" with Chuck D, El P & Killer Mike's Run The Jewels debut album track "Banana Clip" featuring Big Boi, Bob Dylan's proto rap "Subterranean Homesick Blues", a cover of Dylan's "Lay Down Your Weary Tune" by The Byrds, Barry White's romantic "September When I Met You", a cover of White's "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Isaac Hayes, Eric B & Rakim's confident "No Competition", a reworked version of Joe Bataan's "Ordinary Guy" and the mellow "Love Is Gone" by The Blackbyrds.

Rebels                                              Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Superstar                                          Cher
Breakdown (live)                             The Replacements
There Goes My Gun (demo 2)         The Pixies
Endangered Species                         Ice Cube ft. Chuck D
Breakdown                                       Grace Jones
Banana Clipper                                EL-P & Killer Mike ft. Big Boi
Subterranean Homesick Blues         Bob Dylan
Lay Down Your Weary Tune           The Byrds
Trailer                                               Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Southern Accents                             Johnny Cash
Groupie (Superstar)                         Delaney & Bonnie
September When I Met You            Barry White
Never Gonna Give You Up              Isaac Hayes
No Competition                               Eric B & Rakim
Ordinary Guy (Jazzanova ver)         Joe Bataan
Love Is Gone                                   The Blackbyrds
Breakdown                                       Suzi Quatro
Superstar                                          Peggy Lee
Southern Accents                             Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

07-31-14: Somebody's Gonna Be Sorry They Laughed At Me

"Sail Away" is the title track from Randy Newman's 1972 album. The lyrics are an imagined sales pitch from a slave trader to potential slaves. It soon became a standard, and previous mixes here have included versions by Ray Charles, Etta James and Newman's album version. This mix includes an earlier studio version by Newman as well as contemporaneous covers by Linda Ronstadt, Harry Nilsson and Bobby Darin. Of Darin’s version recorded shortly before he died in 1972, Newman said "Bobby Darin could sing, but he did "Sail Away", and well...I don't think he understood it. He did it like it was a happy song about coming to America."

"A Song For You" was originally written and recorded by Leon Russell for his eponymous 1970 album. Previous mixes have included versions by Rosemary Clooney, Amy Winehouse, Cher, Lou Rawls, Merry Clayton, Willie Nelson and Donnie Hathaway both live and in the studio. This mix adds Carmen McRae's live 1972 version, as well as studio versions by Al Wilson, Dusty Springfield and Peggy Lee.

One other song repeats this week: the Jneiro Jarel/MF Doom collaboration JJ Doom call "Bookhead" and its remix version titled "Bookfiend".

"Echoes Of My Mind" is a calypso cover of the Fred Neil standard and Nilsson hit "Everybody's Talkin'" by Bahamaian band Ronnie & The Ramblers.

Both "Magic" by Nesby Phipps with Curren$y Stalley and Jay-Z's UK-only single "Wishing On A Star" with Gwen Dickey are interpolations of the Rose Royce single “Wishing On A Star”.

Neil Young's "Campaigner" has appeared on his early greatest hits album Decade and this blog. This week features a longer, newly unearthed version.

The rest: the harpsichord-driven 1965 hit "For Your Love" by The Yardbirds, Gil Scott Heron's uplifting "When You Are Who You Are", the sweet "Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)" by The O'Jays, the wise "When Love Begins Friendship Ends”  by Bobby Womack, a cover of The Steve Miller Band's "Fly Like An Eagle" by The Space Lady, a version of the standard "My Blue Heaven" by Smashing Pumpkins and the spiritual "Brother, Be Ready For That Day" by Grady & Hazel Cole.

Sail Away                                                      Linda Rondstadt
A Song For You (live 1972)                         Carmen McRae
Magic                                                            Nesby Phips ft. Curren$y Stalley
For Your Love                                              The Yardbirds
Bookhead                                                      JJ Doom
A Song For You                                           Al Wilson
Sail Away                                                     Harry Nilsson
Echoes Of My Mind                                      Ronnie & The Ramblers
When You Are Who You Are                       Gil Scott-Heron
Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet Baby Love)      The O'Jay's
Sail Away                                                       Bobby Darin
A Song For You                                             Dusty Springfield
Wishing On A Star                                        Jay-Z ft. Gwen Dickey
When Love Begins Friendship Ends             Bobby Womack
Bookfiend  (Clams Casnino ver)                   JJ Doom
Fly Like An Eagle                                         The Space Lady
A Song For You                                             Peggy Lee
Sail Away (early ver)                                     Randy Newman
My Blue Heaven                                            Smashing Pumpkins
Campaigner (long ver)                                   Neil Young
Brother, Be Ready For That Day                   Grady & Hazel Cole