07-09-15: Without The You Of Us

"Strange Fruit" was written by Abel Meeropol in 1937 first as a poem, then set as lyrics to music as an anti-lynching protest song sung by his wife before it was recorded by Billie Holiday in 1939. Her version, along with her last studio recording of it near the end of her life in 1956, is on this mix along with versions by The Twilight Singers, Nina Simone, Carmen McRae and Bettye Lavette. Kayne West's "Blood On The Leaves" samples both Holiday and Simone.

One other song repeats: Lonnie Mack's 1971 version of Don Nix's "Three Angels" along with Nix's version from the same year.

The rest: The DJ Premier-produced "The 6th Sense" by Common with Bilal, Argent's optimistic "Hold Your Head Up", an alternate mix of Iggy Pop's "China Girl", the recently unearthed mid 70s Neil Young track "Separate Ways", the jazzy opening track to Digable Planets' 1994 album Blowout Comb called "The May 4th Movement Starring Doodlebug", The Human League's wry "The Things That Dreams Are Made Of", the pulsating "This Could Be Love" by The Cars, Norma Tanega's philosophic "Illusion", the bittersweet "Visions" by Stevie Wonder and the stirring "Evening Breeze" by blind Ethiopian nun Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou.

Strange Fruit (1939 ver)                            Billie Holiday
The 6th Sense (my edit)                            Common & Bilal
Hold Your Head Up                                  Argent
Strange Fruit                                             The Twilight Singers
China Girl (alt ver)                                    Iggy Pop
Blood On The Leaves                               Kanye West
Strange Fruit                                             Nina Simone
Three Angels                                            Lonnie Mack
Separate Ways                                          Neil Young
Strange Fruit                                            Carmen McRae
The May 4th Movement Starring Doodlebug      Digable Planets
The Things That Dreams Are Made Of          The Human League
This Could Be Love                                  The Cars
Illusion                                                      Norma Tanega
Visions                                                      Stevie Wonder
Strange Fruit                                             Bettye Lavette
Three Angels                                            Don Nix
Evening Breeze                                        Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou
Strange Fruit  (1956 ver)                          Billie Holiday 

07-02-15: The Moon Is Movin' The Maniacs In A Shitty Decline

"I'd Rather Go Blind" is a song written and first recorded by Etta James and a b-side to her hit single "Tell Mama" from 1968. It has previously appeared on these mixes along with versions by Paul Weller and Rod Stewart. This mix features Rod Stewart's alternate studio version as well as versions by Gemma Ray and Paloma Faith.

The rest: Gil Scott Heron's "Who'll Pay The Reparations On My Soul?" from his 1970 debut album Small Talk On 125th & Lenox, The Alexander Review's determined "A Change Had Better Come". the funky "Prayer" by D'Angelo & The Vanguard, Black Conspirators' sweet "Love", Anita Baker's 1986 single "Sweet Love", Eazy-E's anthemic 1988 Dr. Dre production "Eazy-Duz-It", Men Without Hats' robotic 1983 hit "Safety Dance", the creatively-titled "Disco Music" by RD Burman & Chorus,  Freddie Gibbs' Madlib production "Education" with Yasiin Bey and Black Thought, the sweetly creepy "Midnight Flower" by The Four Tops, Squeeze's wry "If I Didn't Love You", Tarkio's cover of their "Goodbye Girl", Squeeze co-leader Chris Difford's version of their single "Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)", the non-album rare soundtrack song "Till Death Do Us Part" by The Kinks, Annie Eve's cover of their song "This Time Tomorrow", Ezra Furman's furious "Ferguson's Burning" and Bob Dylan's defiant "Only A Pawn In Their Game"

Yankee And The Brave (pt. 4)                                 Run The Jewels
Who'll Pay The Reparations On My Soul?              Gil-Scott Heron
A Change Had Better Come                                     The Alexander Review
Prayer                                                                D'Angelo and the Vanguard
Love                                                                   Black Conspirators
I'd Rather Go Blind (alternate)                          Rod Stewart
Sweet Love                                                        Anita Baker
Eazy-Duz-It                                                       Eazy-E
The Safety Dance                                              Men Without Hats 
Disco Music (aka Are Dil Se Dil Mile)            RD Burman, Chorus
Education        Freddie Gibbs ft. Yasiin Bey, Black Thought & Madlib
Midnight Flower                                                The Four Tops
I'd Rather Go Blind                                           Gemma Ray
If I Didn't Love You                                          Squeeze
Goodbye Girl                                                    Tarkio
Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)                   Chris Difford
I'd Rather Go Blind                                          Paloma Faith
Till Death Do Us Part                                      The Kinks
This Time Tomorrow                                       Annie Eve
Ferguson's Burning                                          Ezra Furman
Only A Pawn In Their Game                           Bob Dylan 

06-25-15: Special Orders Don't Upset Us

Little Richard's first major hit "Tutti Frutti" was recorded in 1955 and considered maybe the birth of rock and roll. Included here with that song are Creedence Clearwater Revival's 1969 cover of his 1965 hit "Good Golly Miss Molly" and his similarly lyrically loose cover of their hit "Born On The Bayou".

Betty Wright's biggest hit was "Clean Up Woman", released before she was technically a woman, a month before she turned 18. She also appears here on as a guest on Lil Wayne's very loose interpolation of The Rolling Stones' hit "Play With Fire".

One song repeats this week: a cover of Neil Diamond's 1971 hit "I Am...I Said" by Bunny Rugs And The Upsetters to accompany the original.

The rest: the jazzy "Josie" by Steely Dan, the Stevie Wonder-produced "Spring High" from Ramsey Lewis' 1977 album Love Notes, the airy "Capricorn Rising" by Richard Evans with Linda Williams, the paranoid "Year Of The Dragon" by Wyclef Jean with Lauryn Hill, After The Fire's English-language cover of Falco's "Der Kommisar", the melodic "Grey Skies" by Turquoise Days, Devo's frantic "Too Much Paranoias", the rollicking "There Goes My Gun" by The Pixies, Ka's mournful "Sins Of The Father" with Roc Marciano, Etta James' wordless lament "Feelin' Uneasy" and Pharoah Sanders jubilant "Love Is Everywhere".

Born On The Bayou                                          Little Richard
Good Golly Missy Molly                                  Creedence Clearwater Revival
Clean Up Woman                                              Betty Wright
Josie                                                                   Steely Dan
Spring High                                                       Ramsey Lewis
Capricorn Rising                                               Richard Evans w/ Linda Williams
I Am, I Said                                               Bunny Rugs And The Upsetters
Year Of The Dragon                                  Wyclef Jean ft. Lauryn Hill
Der Kommisar                                                   After The Fire
Grey Skies                                                         Turqouise Days
Too Much Paranoias                                          Devo
There Goes My Gun                                          The Pixies
Tutti Frutti                                                          Little Richard
Playing With Fire                                        Lil Wayne ft. Betty Wright
I Am....I Said                                                      Neil Diamond
Sins Of The Father                                      Ka ft. Roc Marciano
Feelin' Uneasy                                                    Etta James
Love Is Everywhere                                           Pharoah Sanders

06-18-15: Get Your Instructions, Follow Directions, Then You Should Change Your Address

"Run Joe" is a calypso-tinged song by Louis Jordan from 1948. This mix features covers by Maya Angelou, Freddie Scott, Sir Lancelot and Chuck Berry as well as the original.

"New York State Of Mind" is a song from Billy Joel's 1976 album Turnstiles. This mix features versions by Carmen McRae, Mel Torme and Leon Russell as well as the original.

Run The Jewels' single "Ooh La La" features a sample by Greg Nice of Nice & Smooth and also samples Biz Markie's "Biz Is Goin' Off", also here.

The later version of "Gangsta Of Love" by Geto Boys adds production by Rick Rubin and vocals by Bushwick Bill with a sample of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" to replace the original version's sample of The Steve Miller Band's "The Joker".

The rest: an alternate version of Talking Heads' "Life During Wartime", the spiritual "Easter Day" by The Dixon Brothers, a cover of Talking Heads' "Heaven" by KD Lang & The Siss Boom Bang, Sly & The Family Stone's languid album outtake "Sittin' On My Fanny" Bohannon's funky "South African Man", Prince Buster's bouncy "Ghost Dance" and a cover of Talking Heads' "Once In A Lifetime" by Philip Bailey.

New York State Of Mind                                    Carmen McRae
Run Joe                                                                Louis Jordan
Biz Is Goin' Off                                                   Biz Markie
Life During Wartime (alt ver)                             Talking Heads
Ooh La La                   Run The Jewels ft. Greg Nice & DJ Premier
Run Joe                                                                 Maya Angelou
New York State Of Mind                                     Billy Joel
Easter Day                                                            Dixon Brothers
Heaven                                             KD Lang and Siss Boom Bang
Run Joe                                                               Freddie Scott
Sittin' On My Fanny                                           Sly & The Family Stone
New York State Of Mind                                    Mel Torme
Run Joe                                                                Sir Lancelot
South Africa Man                                                Bohannon
Gangsta Of Love (later ver)                                The Geto Boys
Run Joe                                                               Chuck Berry
Ghost Dance                                                        Prince Buster
Once In A Lifetime                                             Philip Bailey
New York State Of Mind                                    Leon Russell

06-10-15: The Girls Like When I Orange Peel Off Their Mind

"Hello In There" is a song from John Prine's eponymous 1971 debut album. This mix features the original album version, an earlier demo version, a version he recorded nearly 30 years later, Joan Baez's cover from her 1975 album Diamonds & Rust and a live duet from the same era by Baez with Kris Kristofferson.

"Harlem" is the opening track from Bill Withers' 1971 debut album Just As I Am. This mix features that with covers by Creative Source, The 5th Dimension and The Three Degrees performing live.

The rest: the languid "Time" by Sly & The Family Stone, a cover of their "Family Affair" by Iggy Pop with Bootsy Collins, the dreamy Pete Rock production "Hold The Drums" with Smoke DZA and Royce da 5' 9", a cover of George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" by Hurray The Riff Raff, an alternate countrified take of "If Not For You" by Bob Dylan, the harrowing tale "The Story Of Susie" by Billy Ray, the sly "I Can Get Off On You" by Willie Nelson & Waylon Jennings, the jazzy "In A Strange Strange Land" by Bobby Boyd Congress, the J Dilla production "The Questions" by Common & Mos Def, the ethereal "We Travel The Spaceways" by Sun Ra & His Arkestra w/ June Tyson, Dr. Octagon's eerie "Operation Zero" and John Lee Hooker's defiant "Burning Hell".

Harlem                                        Bill Withers
Hello In There (album ver)         John Prine
Time                                            Sly & The Family Stone
Family Affair                              Iggy Pop /w Bootsy Collins
Harlem                                        Creative Souce
Hold The Drums                  Smoke DZA w/ Pete Rock ft. Royce da 5'9"
Hello In There (later ver)            John Prine
My Sweet Lord                           Hurray For The Riff Raff
If Not For You (alt ver)               Bob Dylan
Hello In There                             Joan Baez
The Story Of Susie                      Billy Ray
I Can Get Off On You                 Willie Nelson & Waylon Jennings
Hello In There (live)                    Kris Kistofferson w/ Joan Baez
Harlem (live)                               The Three Degrees
In A Strange Strange Land           Bobby Boyd Congress
The Questions                              Common & Mos Def
Harlem                                         The 5th Dimension
We Travel The Spaceways           Sun Ra & His Arkestra w/ June Tyson
Operation Zero                             Dr. Octagon
Burning Hell                                 John Lee Hooker
Hello In There (early ver)            John Prine

06-04-15: I Don't Love You For Your Many Reasons, Propagandas, Doctrines, Treasons

"The Lament of The Cherokee Indian" was written by John D. Loudermilk and first recorded by Marvin Rainwater in 1959 as "The Pale Faced Indian". It's been recorded under different titles and slightly different lyrics since/ This mix includes Loudermilk's 1965 version, a version by Roy Acuff from 1967, an instrumental version by Santo & Johnny from the following year and the 1971 #1 hit version by Paul Revere & The Raiders.

"Hasten Down The Wind" is a song produced by Jackson Browne from Warren Zevon's eponymous 1976 album. This mix includes the album version, a band demo version, an early piano demo version and a duet version from 1977 by Linda Ronstadt with Don Henley from her album of the same name.

The rest: rapper Ka's project Hermit & The Recluse with "Fate", Devo's ironic "Beautiful World", the UK Power Mix of 3Rd Bass' "Brokklyn/Queens", Loleatta Holloway's bouncy "All About The Paper", Puffy Daddy's similarly avaricious "It's All About The Benjamins" with The Notorious B.I.G.. Lil' Kim and The Lox, an instrumental cover of the Laura Nyro standard "Stoned Soul Picnic", J Dilla's sample snippet "Glazed", the rustic "Carried Water For The Elephant" by Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell, R.E.M.'s pensive "Low", Hole's defiant "Teenage Whore", a cover of Hole's "Doll Parts" simply titled "Doll" by Tricky with Avalon Lurks, Patrik Fitzgerald's spare punk anthem "Safety Pin Stuck In My Heart". a cover of The Beatles' "Yesterday" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Susan Christie's airy "Paint A Lady" and Native American group XIT with the angry "End?"

Golden Chickens                                          Ramon & The Crystalites
Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation)        Paul Revere & The Raiders
Fate                                                                Hermit & The Recluse
Hasten Down The Wind (band demo)          Warren Zevon
Beautiful World                                             Devo
Brooklyn/Queens (UK Power Mix)              3rd Bass
All About The Paper                                     Loleatta Holloway
It's All About The Benjamins           Puff Daddy ft. The Notorious B.I.G., Lil' Kim & The Lox
Stoned Soul Picnic                                        Roy Ayers
Glazed                                                           J Dilla
Indian Reservation                                        Santo & Johnny
Carried Water For The Elephant                   Leroy Carr & Scrapper Blackwell
Hasten Down The Wind                                Warren Zevon
Low                                                                R.E.M.
Teenage Whore                                              Hole
Doll                                                                Tricky ft. Avalon Lurks
Safety Pin Stuck In My Heart                        Patrik Fitzgerald
The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian        John D. Loudermilk
Yesterday                                                        Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Hasten Down The Wind                                Linda Ronstadt & Don Henley
Paint A Lady                                                  Susan Christie
The Lament Of The Cherokee Reservation Indian        Roy Acuff Jr.
End?                                                               XIT
Hasten Down The Wind (solo demo)            Warren Zevon

05-28-15: Play It For The Dog That Got No Master

"I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" is a song from the album Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys released in May 1966. The original appears on a previous mix. This mix features an all vocal mix as well as covers by Carmen McRae, Gaz Coombs, Peggy Lipton, Jim James version which samples Isaac Hayes' definitive take of the Jimmy Webb standard "By The Time I Get To Phoenix" and an interpolation by Bullion.

The rest; Paul McCartney's robotic "Temporary Secretary", Thomas Leer's eerie "Private Plane", Donna Summer's hopeful "Our Love", the DJ Premier -produced "Platinum Plus" by Big L with Big Daddy Kane, Outkast's languid "Crumblin' Erb", James Brown's languid "The Boss", Artifacts' James Brown-sampling "Dynamite Soul", Bobbie Bolden's suggestive "Hall Of Shame", the spooky "Terrible Angels" by Coco Rosie, John Cooper Clarke's frantic "Chickentown", Bob Dylan's epic "murder Most Foul" and the dissonant "Answering Machine" by The Replacements


I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (vocals)                The Beach Boys  
Temporary Secretary                                                       Paul McCartney
Private Plane                                                                   Thomas Leer
Our Love                                                                         Donna Summer
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times                              Carmen McRae
Platinum Plus                                                                  Big L w/ Big Daddy Kane
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times                              Bullion
Crumblin' Erb                                                                 Outkast
The Boss                                                                         James Brown
Dynamite Soul                                                                Artifacts
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times                              Gaz Coombs
Hall Of Shame                                                                Bobbie Bolden
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times                              Peggy Lipton
Terrible Angels                                                               Coco Rosie
Evidently Chickentown                                                  John Cooper Clarke
Murder Most Foul                                                           Bob Dylan
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times                              Jim James
Answering Machine                                                       The Replacements

05-21-15: We Vibrated Rock 'N Roll Dreams

"Love's In Need Of Love Today" is the opening track of Stevie Wonder's 1976 album Songs In The Key Of Life. This mix features live versions by John Minnis' Big Bone Band and George Michael as well as the original.

"The Day The World Gets 'Round" is from George Harrison's 1973 album Living In The Material World. This features a version from 2009 by the former Cat Stevens, Yusuf Islam, with former Harrison associate Klaus Voorman.

Covers of Fred Neil's "The Dolphins" by Linda Ronstadt, Al Wilson and Richie Havens have appeared on previous mixes. This mix features Neil's original along with a cover by Beth Orton with Terry Collier.

The rest: the jaunty "Champagne Charlie Is My Name" by Blind Blake, Jay Electronica's recent Jay-Z collaboration "The Neverending Story", Lake Street Dive's cover of George Michael's "Faith", Peter Ivers' odd "You Used To Be Stevie Wonder", Prince's forlorn "So Blue", a mashup of Beatles material with The Notorious B.I.G. on "Lonely Thoughts", Liz Phair's punchy "Help Me Mary", the spiky "Janitor" by Suburban Lawns, Hole's sing-songy "I Think That I Would Die", an alternate version of "Lola" by The Kinks, Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth's percussive "I Get Physical", the smooth "Unwanted Company" by Jeannie Reynolds and a cover of Guns & Roses' "Patience" by Norah Jones with Pete Remm.

Love's In Need Of Love Today (live)       John Minnis' Big Bone Band
The Day The World Gets 'Round             George Harrison
The Dolphins                                            Fred Neil
Champagne Charlie Is My Name             Blind Blake
The Neverending Story                            Jay Electronia w/ Jay-Z
Faith                                                         Lake Street Drive
Love's In Need of Love Today (live)       George Michael
You Used To Be Stevie Wonder              Peter Ivers
So Blue                                                    Prince
Lonely Thoughts               The Notorious B.I.G., The Beatles & Friends
Help Me Mary                                          Liz Phair
Janitor                                                       Suburban Lawns
I Think That I Would Die                         Hole
Lola (alt ver)                                             The Kinks
I Get Physical                                            Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth
Unwanted Company                                  Jeannie Reynolds
Patience                                           Norah Jones & Pete Remm
Love's In Need Of Love Today                 Stevie Wonder
The Day The World Gets 'Round      Yusuf Islam & Klaus Voormann
Dolphins                                            Beth Orton w/Terry Collier

05-14-15: And I'll Take You On All The Rides

"Jersey Girl" is song written and first performed by Tom Waits for his 1980 album Heartattack and Vine. This mix includes the original as well as a live version by Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Ban from 1981 and subsequent versions by Corrine Bailey Rae and Dave Von Ronk.

One other song repeats: a newly unearthed demo of "Something" by The Beatles and a cover by Chet Baker from his 1970 album Blood, Chet and Tears.

The rest: Sting singing a Japanese version of his band The Police's "De Do Do Do De Da Da Da Da", Ol' Dirty Bastard's philosophic "Don't U Know Part II", Beck's tender "Debra", The Strangler's 1978 new wave cover of the Bacharach/David standard "Walk On By", Universal 2's proto rap ""Dancing Heart", Gladys Knight & The Pips' sweet "Can You Give Me Love With A Guarantee", Peggy Lee's cover of Randy Newman's standard "I Think It's Gonna Rain Today", Digable Planets' jazzy "Last Of The Spiddycocks", Dee Dee Bridgweater's Hall & Oates gender-switched cover "He's Gone" and Robyn Hitchcock's studio cover of The Psychedelic Furs' "The Ghost In You".

De Do Do Do De Da Da Da (Japanese ver)             The Police
Don't You Know Part II                                            Ol' Dirt Bastard
Debra                                                                        Beck
Jersey Girl                                                                Tom Waits
Something                                                                Chet Baker
Walk On By                                                              The Stranglers
Dancing Heart                                                          Universal 2
Can You Give Me Love With A Guarantee     Gladys Knight & The Pips
Jersey Girl (live Rutherford NJ, 7-9-81)       Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band
I Think It's Gonna Rain Today                                 Peggy Lee
Last Of The Spiddycocks                                         Digable Planets
Jersey Girl                                                               Corrine Bailey Rae
He's Gone                                                                 Dee Dee Bridgewater
Something (demo)                                                   The Beatles
The Ghost In You                                                     Robyn Hitchcock
Jersey Girl                                                                Dave Von Ronk

04-30-15: Won't Turn The Other Cheek, To Me That's Weak

"Exactly Like You" is a jazz standard written and introduced on Broadway in 1930 and recorded by Louis Armstrong the same year. This mix features his re-recording in 1957, Nina Simone's live version from 1959, Sam Cooke's 1961 version and Willie Nelson's 1981 version.

"50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" is a song from Paul Simon's 1975 album Still Crazy After All These Years. The original appeared on a previous mix. This mix features covers by Rosemary Clooney, Miley Cyrus performing live and PPP featuring Rogier.

One other Paul Simon song repeats here: "Some Folks Lives Roll Easy" from the same Simon album and his later rendition of the song for his 2018 album of rearrangements from his catalog called In The Blue Light.

The rest: Bob James' version of Eugene McDaniels' soul standard "Fell Like Makin' Love", an acoustic demo of Prince's "I Feel For You", Spike Jones' 1946 recording "I Dream Of Brownie With The Light Blue Jeans", 2 Chainz' swaggering "2 Dollar Bill" with Lil Wayne and E-40, Dave Allsion's remix of Darondo's "Didn't I", Ultimate Force's 1990 recording "Revolution Of The Mind", a cover of the Beatles' "Revolution" by The Brothers Four that omits the "Chairman Mao" lyric, the Prince Paul-produced "Mama Gave Birth To The Soul Children" by Queen Latifah with De La Soul, Headless Heroes' cover of Daniel Johnston's "True Love Will Find You In The End", Sharon Van Etten's version of The Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize??" and Harry Nilsson's alternate version of The Drifters' pop standard "Save The Last Dance For Me".

Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover                             Rosemary Clooney
Feel Like Making Love                                            Bob James
Exactly Like You                                                      Willie Nelson
50 Ways To Leave Your Lover (live on SNL)          Miley Cyrus
Some Folks' Lives Roll Easy                                    Paul Simon
I Feel For You (acoustic demo)                                Prince
I Dream Of Brownie With The Light Blue Jeans      Spike Jones
Exactly Like You                                                      Sam Cooke
2 Dollar Bill                                            2 Chainz ft. Lil Wayne & E-40
Didn't I (Dave Allison remix)                                  Darondo
Revolution Of The Mind                                          Ultimate Force
Revolution                                                                 The Brothers Four
50 Ways To Leave Your Lover                                 PPP ft. Rogier
Mama Gave Birth To The Soul Children     Queen Latifah ft. De La Soul
Exactly Like You                                                       Louis Armstrong
True Love Will Find You In The End                       Headless Heroes
Do You Realize??                                                      Sharon Van Etten
Some Folks' Lives Roll Easy (later ver)                   Paul Simon
Exactly Like You (live)                                            Nina Simone
Save The Last Dance For Me (alternate ver)           Harry Nilsson