#17: You See What Happens

There was a lot happening during this show. So much, in fact, that I forgot to play several songs I had planned. As for what did happen: My friend Ted falls in and out of love in Palestine and I am happy he left out last names. Rufus Thomas: non-violent hero. Plus songs about bricks.

Nubian Lady - Yusef Lateef

Mr. Big Stuff - Elder Jimmy Hicks

Sophisticated Sissy - Rufus Thomas

The Best Thing You Ever Had - Candi Staton

Grandma's Hands - Marion Gaines Singers

Lee Cross - Aretha Franklin

Sick and Tired - Fats Domino

Friends From Far Away

Cemalin - Erkin Korkay

Summertearz - Little Dragon

Jungle Jezebel - Divine

Bricks - Diagram Brothers

#16: What Difference Does It Make?

When Prince makes good music, it's important to show him support since he hasn't done that in awhile. Welcome back, Prince!! According to my friend Ted, most people in Jordan know how to sing, and he philosophizes on what it would be like to marry a woman you share a language barrier with. And speaking of language barriers, what difference does it make if you can't understand the lyrics of music as long as the music moves you?

Don't Challenge Me - The Makers
Givin Em What They Love - Janelle Monae (feat. Prince)
Breakfast Can Wait - Prince
Jerk & Twine - Jackie Ross
I Don't Wanna Fuss - Sugar Pie DeSanto
Break-A-Way - Irma Thomas
You're No Good - Dee Dee Warwick
Horror Movies - Bollock Brothers
Motion and Heart - OMD
Too Many Creeps - Bush Tetras
Kino - The Knife
Friends From Far Away
Donagan Bar - George Merdiahian and Menachem Dworman
Karlı Dağlar - Erkin Koray
Cambodian Rocks - A2
Ye-Mele - Maria Bethania
Mr. Music - Big Four

#15: Grocery Stores and Free Concerts

Does grocery store music really have to be so bad? I am of the opinion that there is a thin line between muzak lite bullshit and laid-back grooves that make you wanna contemplate healthy food and stay mellow forever. Is this blasphemy? In other news, I tell the story of when Etta James came to my hometown and shocked the heck out of all the families. Gosh, she was overt!

California Soul - Marlena Shaw

Big Herm - L.A.P.D.

Strawberry Letter 23 - Shuggie Otis

Be Thankful For What You've Got - William DeVaughn

Something New In Africa - Solven Whistlers

World Friction - Essential Logic

Deep Sleep - B-52's

Promise - OMD

Emotions - Mariah Carey

Ten to One - Cornell Campbell

Rain Roots - King Tubby and the Upsetters

Give It Up - Lee Dorsey

How Can I Tell My Mom and Dad? - The Lovelites

In The Basement, Part 1 - Etta James with Sugar Pie DeSanto

#14: Botched at Sea

This week's episode was interrupted by a sudden and violent shipwreck. It's a long story. We at least got one good song in before the storm.

It better be a good one!

Can't Be Funky - Bush Tetras

#13: You Had Me At Psychedelic

To the chagrin of many, we are not able to travel back in time as a fly on the wall and listen in on what really precipitated the breakup of the Beatles. Until that happens, I advocate that we give Yoko Ono a break already and listen to more of her far-out music. I say we all listen to more far-out music as a general rule.

 Photo by David Hall

Trouble Man - Marvin Gaye

You Gotta Give Me Some of Your Lovin' -The Honey Bees

The Gong Song - The Ikettes

Moody - ESG

White Girl - X

Retreat - Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

Mulatke Astatke and the Heliocentrics - Esketa Dance

Saturday Night Didn't Happen - Reparata and the Delrons

Got Myself a Good Man - Gladys Knight and the Pips

Stand By Your Man - Candi Staton

Angel of the Morning - Bettye Swann

Jealous Man - The Impressions

Walking on Thin Ice - Yoko Ono

Gravity - Miguel

Apply - Glasser

The Book Lovers - Broadcast

Some Velvet Morning - Rowland S. Howard and Lydia Lunch

Silly Billy - The Ohio Players

#12: Sunny Gets Arrested

Since there was no live show the week before, I talk a lot in this episode about whatever I feel like: new friends, old friends who eat a lot of Indian food, friends you never see and then wind up getting arrested with. How writing a radical, timeless song is a mixed bag: people will cover the hell out of it, but not always in the style that you would prefer (I'm looking at you, Leiber and Stoller).

Photo by Gordon Parks

Soul Island - The Meters

Out of Breath - Ronnie Whitehead

I'm Still In Love (With You Boy) - Loverboy

You and Me - Penny and the Quarters

Stompin' At the Savoy - Bennie Goodman

Tipping Strings - The Knights

Parking Lot Blues - ESG

Is That All There Is? - Cristina

The Bogus Man - The Bryan Ferry Orchestra

Nuthundian Waltz - Andrew Bird

Sit Down Baby - Otis Rush

I Thank the Lord - Mighty Voices of Wonder

Eu Vou Me Salvar - Rita Lee

Smiling Faces Sometimes - The Undisputed Truth

Yaad Kila Dil - Friends From Far Away

Get Thy Bearings - Donovan

If You Feel It (Instrumental) - Ms. Tyree "Sugar" Jones

Arm Around You - Arthur Russell

#11: Sore Throats Mean More Music

This week, my cute blonde friend Lynn was on hand to request Nina Simone and dance to the groovier tracks. You won't hear her, though. In fact, you won't hear me much either due to a sore throat. However, Eminem gets discussed, as does Prince (it's important to keep him fresh in one's memory). Prince still comes out victorious, though how he managed to hit a woman onscreen and still stay in my good graces is anyone's guess.

Baltimore - Nina Simone

Song For the Man - The Beastie Boys

To Love Someone - The Kaldirons

Flying - The Beatles

Kooks - David Bowie

Aht Uh Mi Hed - Shuggie Otis 

Kaleidoscope Dream - Miguel

Reasons - Minnie Riperton

Funnel of Love - Wanda Jackson

Oi Gere - Watusi

Novo Dia - Balança Povo

Hunger - Rhye

Try - Delta 5

Why Can't I Touch It? - The Buzzcocks

The Motivator - T. Rex

Need Your Love So Bad - Little Willie John

Turn Me On - Nina Simone

Stoned Love - The Supremes

T - Glasser

#10: Fandom Disguised as Guilty Pleasure

Can anyone use the letter K these days without sounding like a klan member? This week, we explore the intersection of calling a band your "guilty pleasure" and actually loving that band. Listen as I reveal the exploits of a far away friend. And how do you bridge the gap between generations? You play songs for people, of course!

Back In Our Minds - Funkadelic

Lolita Ya-Ya - Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra

Stoned Soul Picnic - The 5th Dimension

My Baby Cried All Night Long - Lee Hazlewood

Crying Over You - Ken Boothe

Shame, Shame, Shame - Shirley & Company

Mera Mann Kehne Laga - Nautanki Saala

Friend From Far Away

It Took a Long Time - LaBelle

Chistelle - ESG

Change - Tears For Fears

Darkness - The Human League

Garlands - The Cocteau Twins

Ana - The Pixies

Naive Melody (This Must Be the Place) - The Talking Heads

Rumors - Timex Social Club

#9: The 3rd Iteration of Sunny

There was lots of newness in this episode. To begin, we've got a new home at spaz.org on fridays. Also, it was DJed on the spot. Live. Cue the sweating! On the bright side, the music didn't suffer. Something else that didn't suffer is a long-distance friendship, since I dedicate not just one but TWO songs to a friend who is far away.

Slippery People - The Staple Singers

Hollywood Swinging - Kool & the Gang

Midas Touch - Midnight Star

Soulful Strut - Young Holt Unlimited

Opportunity - The Jewels

Nothing But A Heartache - The Flirtations

Sanjina - Orchestre Regional de Kayes

Love Without Anger - Devo

Making Plans for Nigel - XTC

If You Want Me To Stay - Sly and the Family Stone

I Think I'll Call It Morning - Gil Scott-Heron

Mirrors - Dam Funk

Still Love Me - Jessie Ware

Transparent - Casa Del Mirto

Grandma's Hands - Bill Withers

Rain From the Skies - Horace Andy

I Want Your Love So Bad - Darondo

Unomeva - Dolly Rathebe

Single Life - Cameo