The #1 thing dominating my mind this past week was the executions (and stays of executions) here in the US. It was a strange juxtaposition on wednesday. Two men executed, one a white supremacist in Texas who without a doubt murdered a black man, James Byrd Jr., by tying him to his truck and dragging him to death, the other a black man in Georgia, who was found guilty of killing a white cop. The Troy Davis execution got all the press, since for a number of years evidence hadd been building that there was more than enough reasonable doubt to commute his sentence, but the State of Georgia saw things differently. What I found more fascinating was that in the Texas case the family of James Byrd did not want the death penalty. It unfortunate that more attention hasn’t been paid to this ultimate punishment, but after a week like last week, hopefully there will be. I felt a need to do what little part I could, and so even though I didn’t have them on vinyl, I began the show with two anti-death penalty songs from Steve Earle. I also included “Blues for Brother George Jackson” from Attica Blues and a few other songs that seemed to fit the mood if not directly connected to the issues. The mood brightens in the second hour (except for the story about Sly Stone living on the street, but hopefully that will change soon), courtesy of the Meters, Headnodic (on teenie tiny 5″ vinyl!) the Flamin’ Groovies and more. Next week there’s a real good chance that we might have some super special guests, keep your fingers crossed!
Melting Pot on KPFK #57: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #57: Second Hour
Playlist: 09-25-2011
{opening theme} Boris Gardiner – Melting Pot – Is What’s Happening (Dynamic)
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Steve Earle – Over Yonder (Jonathan’s Song)/Billy Austin – Just An American Boy (Rykodisc)
Talk Talk – Wealth – Spirit Of Eden (EMI)
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Archie Shepp – Blues For Brother George Jackson/Ballad For A Child – Attica Blues (Impulse!)
Max Roach – Motherless Child – Lift Every Voice (Atlantic)
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John Coltrane – Soul Eyes – His Greatest Years (Impulse!)
Novella Nelson – Mean World – Novella Nelson (Arcana)
Al King – What You’re Looking For – 7″ (Ronn)
Clarence Reid – Down The Road Of Love – 7″ (Alston)
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The Meters – Hey Pock-a-way – 7″ (Sansu)
Eddie Palmieri – Pa La Ocha Tambo – Live At Sing Sing Vol. 1 (Tico)
Dj Lengua – Perdido – Cruzando (Club Unicornio)
Headnodic feat. Gift of Gab & Lateef the Truth Speaker – Noddy By Nature – 5″ (Brick)
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Sly & the Family Stone – Can’t Strain My Brain – Small Talk (Epic)
Harry Ray – Ride Your Pony Girl – 7″ (All Platinum)
Tim Maia – Reu Confesso – Tim Maia (1974) (Polydor)
Roy Ayers – Keep On Walking – Everybody Loves The Sunshine (Polydor)
24 Carat Black – I’ll Never Let You Go – Gone: The Promises of Yesterday (Numero)
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The Packers – Pure Soul – Hole In The Wall (Pure Soul)
Myron & E with the Soul Investigators – It’s A Shame – 7″ (Timmion)
Barbara Greene – I Should Have Treated You Right – 7″ (Renee)
The Flamin’ Groovies – Evil Hearted Ada – Teenage Head (Kama Sutra)
Magic Sam – I Feel So Good (I Wanna Boogie) – West Side Soul (Delmark)
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{closing theme} Kenny Baker – Mississippi Waltz – Plays Bill Monroe (County)