{I know I was away for ALL of December, but now that I’ve gotten all caught up, I’ll be taking the rest of the week off and then next week we’ll be taking a look back at all of our picks for the best music from 2013! Have A Happy New Year!!!}
Traditionally, the last show of the year has been reserved for the best vinyl that I dug up (including online) over the past 12 months. My collection still isn’t anywhere near it’s former glory, but it’s slowly getting there and this year I clearly did a lot of musical therapy in picking up so many records. It was almost too many records, not only did I have to leave a crate of records at home since I already had two bags packed, but I didn’t even play some of the best records I bought this year. With these vinyl freeform shows, I just go where the spirit moves me, and a day after Funky Sole’s 14th anniversary, I was very much in a funky mood for most of the show. Quite a lot of the things I picked up this year were records that Matthew Africa turned me onto, or reminded me of good times shared in Oakland with him, so it seemed fitting to have a set of a few of those records. The show closes up with what I think is one of the best sets I’ve ever spontaneously produced, coming together with roughly two minutes to go before I had to drop the needle on the first song, which ended up being maybe my top find of the year, Hopeton Lewis. I already know that 2014 is going to be a much leaner year on the homefront, so there won’t be nearly as many records to showcase, but at least in terms of music, 2013 was pretty good to me.
Melting Pot on KPFK #150: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #150: Second Hour
Playlist: 12-29-2013
{opening theme} Boris Gardiner – Melting Pot – Is What’s Happening (Dynamic)
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Yusef Lateef – Russell & Elliot – The Best Of Yusef Lateef (Atlantic)
Eduardo Aruajo & Silvinha – Opinage – Sou Filho Desse Chao (Beverly)
The Grodeck Whipperjenny – Evidence For The Existence Of The Unconsciousness – The Grodeck Whipperjenny (People)
Johnny Pate – Constant Wind – Outrageous (MGM)
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Lebron Bros. – Dance, Dance, Dance – Brothers (Cotique)
The Isley Bros. – Keep On Doin’ – 7” (T-Neck)
Horace Silver – Acid, Pot & Pills – Total Response (Blue Note)
Johnny Frigo Sextet – Scorpio – The Electric Jazz OF Gus Giordano (Orion)
Junior Mance – Don’t Rush Us – With A Lotta Help From My Friends (Atlantic)
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Miguel De Deus – Black Soul Brothers – Black Soul Brothers (Underground)
Dave Pell Singers – Oh, Calcutta – Mah-Na-Mah-Na (Liberty)
Weldon Irvine – I Love You – Sinbad (RCA)
Marvin Gaye – Where Are We Going – 12” (The Power Of Funk & Soul)
Donald Byrd – You and Music – Places and Spaces (Blue Note)
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Sugar Billy – Brand New Girl – 7” (BGP)
Mongo Santamaria – Coyulde – Live At Yankee Stadium (Vaya)
Dee Edwards – Why Can’t There Be Love – 7” (GM)
The Jackson Sisters – I Believe In Miracles – 7” (Mums)
The Ohio Players – Ecstasy (Matthew Africa Edit) – 7” (Dub Plate)
Mary Jane Hooper – I’ve Got Reasons (Instrumental) – Psychedelphia (Funky Delicacies)
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Di Melo – Ma-Lida – Di Melo (Odeon)
Gabor Szabo – Galatea’s Guitar – Dreams (Skye)
Darondo – Listen To My Song – 7” (Music City)
Erasmo Carlos – Minha Gente – Sonhos E Memorias (Polydor)
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Hopeton Lewis – Hardships Of Life – Take It Easy (Merritone)
Johnny Hartman – Down In The Depths – Songs From The Heart (Bethelem)
George Jones & Tammy Wynette – Never Grow Old – George Jones With Love (Musicor)
Irma Thomas – Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand) – Take A Look (Imperial)
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{closing theme} Dungen – C. Visar Vagen – Tio Bitar (Kemado)