Back to business as usual this Sunday, after a successful fundraiser. Many thanks to everyone who supported Melting Pot and KPFK, and keep safe from corporate meddling. Yesterday’s show features the mad mix of styles you’d expect from Melting Pot. We got a bevy of new tunes from the likes of the Strange Boys, Terror Danjah, Phonte, Real Estate, Jose James and Atlas Sound, as well as some recently reissued gems from the Lijadu Sisters, El Rego, the Southland Singers, Hemany Bhole and The Matta Baby. The belle of the ball is the interview and performance from San Francisco’s The Sandwitches that starts off the second hour (separate post coming up). We pre-recorded this one a little over a week ago, but it’s well worth the wait to hear their special and haunting (especially on the last couple of tracks) blend of styles. A band definitely to watch in the next couple of years. Next week we have another recorded session (a preview of which you get in this show, their smashing version of “No No No”) that I’ve been dying to bring to you from the Boogaloo Assassins! Until then enjoy this week’s show.

Melting Pot on KPFK #63: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #63: Second Hour

Playlist: 11-13-11
{opening theme} Booker T & the MGs – Melting Pot – Melting Pot (Stax)

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Heavy D & the Boyz feat. Kool G. Rap, Grand Puba, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Q-Tip and Big Daddy Kane – Don’t Curse – Peaceful Journey (Uptown/MCA)
El Rego – Hessa – El Rego (Daptone)
Southland Singers – Save Me Jesus – This May Be My Last Time Singing (Tompkins Square)
The Flamin’ Groovies – Headin For The Texas Border – Flamingo (Kama Sutra)
The Strange Boys – Omnia Boa – Live Music (Rough Trade)
Roy Ayers – Red, Black and Green – Red, Black and Green (Polydor)

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Roy Ayers – People and The World – Everybody Loves The Sunshine (Polydor)
Terror Danjah feat. Meleka – You Make Me Feel – 12” (Hyperdub)
Hemany Bhole – Sansani Khez Koi Baat – Bollywood Bloodbath (Finders Keepers)
Atlas Sound – Parallax – Parallax (4ad)
Eugene Blacknell – Getting’ Down – These Are The Breaks (Ubiquity)

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Jose James – Trouble – 12” (Brownswood)
Horace Silver feat. Bill Henderson – Senor Blues – Senor Blues (Blue Note)
Boogaloo Assassins – No No No – Recorded Live at KPFK (KPFK Archives)
People Under The Stairs – Too Much Birthday – Highlighter (Piecelock 70)
The Matta Baby – Do the Pearl, Girl Part 2 – Eccentric Soul: The Nickel & Penny Labels (Numero)

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The Sandwitches – Interview and Performance – Recorded Live At KPFK (KPFK Archives)

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The Sandwitches – Joe Says – Mrs. Jones’ Cookies (Empty Cellar)
Real Estate – Younger Than Yesterday – Days (Domino)
Hunx & his Punx – Too Young To Be In Love – Too Young To Be In Love (Hardly Art)

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Phonte feat. eLZhi – Not Here Anymore – Charity Starts At Home (Foreign Exchange)
The Lijadu Sisters – Amebo – Danger (Knitting Factory)
The Rock*A*Teens – Losers Weepers – Cry (Daemon)

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{closing theme} Dungen – C. Visar Vagen – Tio Batar (Kemado)

For the first time in my 18 year radio career, I had the privilege of closing out a fundraiser on this Sunday’s Melting Pot. I was a pretty incredible experience, the chaos, the drama, and ultimately the truly rewarding experience of raising over $3000 for KPFK! Thanks to everyone who listens and especially to those of you who pledged during this, past or future fundraisers. I’m only able to have this kind of show because of the freedom you give us as programmers. Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be broadcasting a couple of amazing performances recorded at KPFK while the fundraiser was going on and at the end of the month we’ll have an all Hendrix Birthday special. Onwards and upwards!

Melting Pot on KPFK #62: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #62: Second Hour

Holy Cow! It’s been a week since my last post and a week since our fundraising special. All apologies but I’ve been massively busy, with all my classes at CSU-Long Beach and this semester teaching a new class at UCLA Extension. I’ll get on track this week with posts, and next week we’ll be back on the air on KPFK raising funds on the final day of this fall Pledge Drive!

Melting Pot on KPFK #61: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #61: Second Hour

Playlist: 10-16-2011
{opening theme} Booker T & the MGs – Melting Pot – Melting Pot (Stax)

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Ocote Soul Sounds – Speak Truth To Power – Taurus (ESL)
Quantic Soul Orcehstra feat. Spanky Wilson – I’m Thankful – Best of Quantic (Tru Thoughts)
Charles “Packy” Axton – Out of Control – Late Late Party 1965-1967 (Light In The Attic)
DJ Shadow – Run For Your Life – The Less You Know, The Better (Verve)

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Phonte feat. Evidence and Big K.R.I.T. – The Life Of Kings – Charity Starts At Home (Foreign Exchange Music)
Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg – Le Chanson De Slogan – Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg (1969) (Light In The Attic)
Tinariwen – Aden Osamnat – Tassili (Anti)
Boogaloo Assassins – No No No – Recorded Live At KPFK (KPFK Archives)

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Jimi Hendrix Experience – Fire/Lover Man/Sunshine Of Your Love – Winterland Box Set (Sony Legacy)

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Mike & the Censations – Victim of Circumstance – Don’t Sell Your Soul (Ubiquity/Luv‘N’Haight)
Mike & the Censations – Don’t Sell Your Soul – Don’t Sell Your Soul (Ubiquity/Luv‘N’Haight)
Mike James Kirkland – You’re Gonna Share Your Love – Don’t Sell Your Soul (Ubiquity/Luv‘N’Haight)
Mike James Kirkland – Hang On In There – Don’t Sell Your Soul (Ubiquity/Luv‘N’Haight)

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Wanda Jackson – Like A Baby – The Party Ain’t Over (Third Man)
Best Coast – Summer Mood – Crazy For You (Mexican Summer)
The Neville Bros. feat. Aaron Neville – Tell It Like It Is – The Big Easy: Original Soundtrack (Island)

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Jimi Hendrix Experience – Are You Experienced? – Winterland Box Set (Sony Legacy)

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{closing theme} Dungen – C. Visar Vagen – Tio Batar (Kemado)

One of the most beautiful albums of all time, Talk Talk's 1991 masterpiece...Laughing Stock

This Sunday, in addition to an hour of regular programming that featured new music from Real Estate, DJ Shadow, Cooly G, Phonte, Evidence, Dum Dum Girls and more, I paid tribute to one of my absolute favorite albums and artists of all-time, 1991′s Laughing Stock by Mark Hollis and Talk Talk.  I cannot express fully how thankful I am to have a show where I can pay tribute to one of the most amazing pieces of music I’ve ever known.  When I was at KCRW in 2008 I was able to pay tribute to this album’s predecessor Spirit of Eden, by playing a track on each day of my weekly online show.  I’d always wished that I’d played the whole album start to finish.  KPFK is probably one of only a handful of stations that I would have been able to do a tribute like this because of the great freedom we have as programmers and so I am overjoyed to share this entire album with listeners of Melting Pot and also an edited version of a rare interview with Mark Hollis in 1991.  Contrary to my expectations, he is very open about the process behind the album, clearly excited about the recording and most unexpectedly he namechecks multiple artists, Arthur Lee & Love’s Forever Changes, Roland Kirk, Can’s Tago Mago, John Coltrane and Duke Ellington’s “In A Sentimental Mood” and Bob Dylan’s New Morning, that would all rank as some of my favorite all time music.  Listening to this album at KPFK, on probably the loudest speakers I’ve ever been able to use, brought a number of aural surprises that after 13+ years listening to this album (I’ve literally heard it hundreds upon hundreds of times), I’d highly suggest listening to the album as loud as you can, on the best headphones you can find.

If you want to learn more, here are a couple of links to articles that talk in depth about this fascinating album…

After The Flood: Talk Talk’s Laughing Stock 20 Years On by Wyndham Wallace

Tape Op article with producer Phill Brown, discussing the production of Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock

If you’ve never heard this album before this show, I sincerely hope you enjoyed this.  If you’re already familiar with this album, I hope that you heard something new in hearing it this way and found all new reasons to fall in love with it again.  No matter what I do hope you listened to this magnificent work of beauty.  Thank you Mark Hollis and Talk Talk for all the work you put into recording this album.

Melting Pot on KPFK #60: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #60: Second Hour

Playlist: 10-16-2011
{opening theme} Booker T & the MGs – Melting Pot – 7” (Stax)

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DJ Shadow – Stay The Course – The Less You Know The Better (Verve)
Kamal Ahmed feat. Noor Jerhan – Jawani Meri Bijili – Life Is Dance (Finders Keepers)
Cooly G. feat. Karizma – It’s Serious – 12” (Hyperdub)
Phenomenal Hand Clap Band – Following – Form & Control (Tummy Touch)
Evidence feat. Aloe Blacc – The Liner Notes – Cats & Dogs (Rhymesayers)
Jean-Claude Vannier – La Girafe Au Ballon – Electro Rapide (Finders Keepers)

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El Rego – Achuta – El Rego (Daptone)
Dum Dum Girls – Heartbeat – Only In Dreams (Sub Pop)
Real Estate – Municipality – Days (Domino)
Mike & the Censations – Split Personality – Don’t Sell Your Soul (Ubiquity)
People Under The Stairs – Selfish Destruction – Highlighter (Piecelock 70)
Charles Packy Axton – Stone Fox – Late Late Party (Light In The Attic)

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Astrobal – Malaise En Malaise – Poetry & Science Fiction (Plug Research)
Shabazz Palaces – Endeavors For Never – Black Up (Sub Pop)
Icebird – Wander – The Abandoned Lullaby (RJ’s Electrical Connections)
Arthur Verocai – Caboclo (Mario C. & Joey A. Remix) – Timeless Remixed EP (Mochilla)
Phonte feat. Pharoah Monche – We Go Off – Charity Starts At Home (Foreign Exchange)

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Mark Hollis – Mark Hollis Talks About Laughing Stock (Verve)

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Talk Talk – Laughing Stock (Verve/Polydor/BaDaBing)

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{closing theme} Dungen – C. Visar Vagen – Tio Batar (Kemado)

Short show (we were pre-empted for a FIERY talk from Tavis Smiley and Cornel West!), but I tried to pack in as much as I could with only one hour…great new music from Real Estate, Dum Dum Girls, DJ Shadow and nice reissues from El Rego, Bappi Lahiri and Don Gere’s Werewolves on Wheels. Dig On It!

Melting Pot on KPFK #59

{opening theme} Booker T & the MGs – Melting Pot – 7” (Stax)

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Booker Little – Victory & Sorrow – Victory & Sorrow (Bethlehem)
Mike & The Censations – Victim Of Circumstance – Don’t Sell Your Soul (Ubiquity)
Phonte feat. Evidence and Big KRIT – The Life Of Kings – Charity Starts At Home (Foreign Exchange)
El Rego – Kpon Fi La – El Rego (Daptone)

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Real Estate – It’s Real – Days (Domino)
DJ Shadow – Enemy Lines – The Less You Know The Better (Verve)
Astrobal – Trains – Poetry & Science Fiction (Plug Research)
Bappi Lahiri – Meri Jaan – Bollywood Bloodbath (Finders Keepers)

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Charles “Packy” Axton – Bullseye – Late Late Party 1965-1967 (Light In The Attic)
Dum Dum Girls – Always Looking – Only In Dreams (Sub Pop)
Jean Claude-Vaniier – Au Desespoir Des Singes – Roses Rouge Sang (B-Music)
9th Wonder feat. Khrysis – Make It Big – The Wonder Years (Self-Released)
Don Gere – Werewolves On Wheels (Main Theme) – Werewolves on Wheels (B-Music)

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{closing theme} Dungen – C. Visar Vagen – Tio Batar (Kemado)

Sorry about how long this has taken (and the general lack of posts), but I’ve been swamped with work, teaching classes at CSU-Long Beach and now UCLA Extension.  Here’s the delayed audio from this past Sunday’s show, which I’d originally hoped would include a guest (or two), but unfortunately Quantic was unable to make it after DJ-ing at the legendary underground party The Lift the night before and having an in-store on Sunday.  So, I had to come up with a whole hour of programming, on the fly!  Allowed me to play a couple of long songs, including one of the greatest drum break tunes of all time, Niagara’s “Sangandongo”.  New music from Phonte, Dum DUm Girls, Real Estate and J-Live.  This coming week I’ll be pushing back the tribute to Talk Talk’s Laughing Stock to the 16th, because we’ll be broadcasting special programming from none other than Tavis Smiley and Cornel West at 5pm!!

Melting Pot on KPFK #58: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #58: Second Hour

{opening theme} Booker T & the MGs – Melting Pot – Melting Pot (Stax)

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The Lumpen – Free Bobby Now – 7” (Seize The Time)
Rob – Boogie On – The First Album/Funky Rob Way (Analog Africa)
Katalyst – Ready To Drop feat. Kween G – Deep Impressions (BBE)
The Martinis – Key Chain – Late Late Party 1965-1967 (Light In The Attic)
J-Live – The Authentic – SPTA (Triple Threat Productions)

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Quantic Soul Orchestra – Super 8 – Best of Quantic (Tru Thoughts)
Niagara – Sangandongo – Niagara (United Artists)

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Phonte – The Good Fight – Charity Begins At Home (Foreign Exchange)
Mike & the Censations – Don’t Sell Your Soul – Don’t Sell Your Soul (Ubiquity)
Googoosh – Digeh Geryeh Delo Va Nemikoneh – Googoosh (Finders Keepers)
Real Estate – Green Aisles – Days (Domino)

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Dum Dum Girls – Coming Down – Only In Dreams (Sub Pop)
Harvey Hall – All In Your Eyes – Boddie Recording Co. Cleveland Ohio (Numero)
Atlas Sound – Terra Incognita – Parallax (4ad)
Pollyn – Same Old Thing – Living In Patterns (Self-released)

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DJ Shadow – Run For Your Life – The Less You Know, The Better (Verve)
The Butterfield Blues Band – East West – East West (Elektra)
Comet Gain – An Arcade From The Warm Rain That Falls – Howl Of The Lonely Crowd (What’s Your Rupture)

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Robin Hannibal – Amends – Bobby EP (Plug Research)
Incarnations – Let Love Find You – With All Due Respect (LoveMonk)
Gil Scott Heron – Delta Man (Where I’m Comin’ From) – Bridges (Arista)

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{closing theme} Dungen – C. Visar Vagen – Tio Batar (Kemado)

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)

Still a little in disbelief that I actually played the Game of Thrones parody song “Damn It Feels Good To Be A Lannister” to start the show, but what can I say, I love that show and was really pulling for Tyrion Lannister aka Peter Dinklage to win an Emmy for the role, and lo and behold he won! So, looks like the song is correct. The rest of the first hour features a lot of new music, brand new Wild Flag (featuring Mary Timony from Helium and Carrie & Janet from Sleater Kinney), Atlas Sound, Robin Hannibal of Quadron, AM & Shawn Lee, Staff Benda Bilili, and a few other choice cuts before we paid tribute to Wardell Quezergue in the whole second hour. This was actually one of the most difficult tributes I’ve done, just because Qeuzergue was involved with so many records, sometimes listed under his full name, sometimes as DC Wardell, The Big Q and several other aliases. Also, since a lot of his work was arranging it didn’t always turn up on the printed labels, but I think I was able to choose the 20+ best tracks from his catalog, including some of the biggest songs he was associated with “Mr. Big Stuff,” “Groove Me” and “Misty Blue” plus some truly dynamite soul numbers that most people don’t know about, like personal favorites from Smokey Johnson, Robert Parker and Gus “The Groove” Lewis. Quezergue tribute begins right at the beginning of the second hour, enjoy the tunes and say a prayer from “the Teacher”…

Melting Pot on KPFK #56: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #56: Second Hour

Playlist: 9-18-2011

{opening theme} Booker T & the MGs – Melting Pot – 7” (Stax)

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Connor Shields & Teague Case – Damn It Feels Good To Be A Lannister – Single (Youtube)
Corinithian Singers – Why? (It’s A Shame) – Boddie Recording Co. (Numero)
Hawthorne Headhunters – Teleport – Myriad Of Now (Plug Research)
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou – Egni Miton? Nin Mi Na Wa Gbin – The 1st Album / Funky Rob Way (Analog Africa)

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Googoosh – Pishkesh – Googoosh (Finders Keepers)
AM & Shawn Lee – City Boy – Celestial Electric (ESL)
Robin Hannibal – Transit – Bobby EP (Plug research)
Atlas Sound – Te Amo – Parallax (4ad)
Astrobal – Message from Kobe8 – Poetry & Science Fiction (Plug Research)

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Wild Flag – Endless Talk – Wild Flag (Merge)
Sebadoh – Junk Bonds – Smash Your Head On The Punk Rock (Sub Pop)
Staff Benda Bilili – Avramandole – Tres Tres Fort (Crammed Discs)
Ajit Singh feat. Asha Bhosle – Main Akeli Raat Jawan – Sitar Beat Vol. 2 (Guerilla Reissues)
Superstar Quamallah & Deqawn – Manhattan Reflections – Talkin’ All That Jazz (Brick)
Wardell & the Sultans – Dance Time – 7” (Imperial)

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Royal Dukes of Rhythm – The Flirt – Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye: The Frisco Records Story (Ace)

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Royal Dukes of Rhythm – My Heavy Load – Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye: The Frisco Records Story (Ace)
Wardell & the Sultans – I’m Broke – 7” (Imperial)
Earl King – Trick Bag – 7” (Imperial)
The Dixie Cups – Iko Iko – Iko Iko (Red Bird)
Professor Longhair – Big Chief Pt. 1 – 7” (Watch)
Gentleman June Gardner – Hot Seat – Bustin’ Out (Emarcy)

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Jean Knight – Mr. Big Stuff – Mr. Big Stuff (Stax)
Robert Parker – Let’s Go Baby (Where The Action Is) – 7” (NOLA)
Smokey Johnson – I Can’t Help It – 7” (NOLA)
Bonnie & Sheila – You Keep Me Hanging On – 7” (King)
The Unemployed – They Won’t Let Me – 7” (Cotillion)
The Gaturs – Yeah You’re Right, You Know You’re Right – 7” (Gatur)

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Ruben Bell – Superjock – 7” (Alarm)
Irma Thomas – She’s Taken My Part – 7” (Cotillion)
Gus Lewis – Let The Groove Move You – 7” (Tou-sea)
Robert Parker – Get Ta Steppin’ – 7” (Island)
Jean Knight – Do Me – 7” (Stax)
Gentleman June Gardner – It’s Gonna Rain – 7” (Emarcy)

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King Floyd – Groove Me – 7” (Chimneyville)
Dorothy Moore – Misty Blue – Misty Blue (Malaco)
Charles “Soul” Brown – Standing On The Outside – 7” (NOLA)
The Magnificent Four – You’ve Got Me – Strung Out: The Malaco Sessions (Grapevine)

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{closing theme} Smokey Johnson – It Ain’t My Fault Pt. 1 – 7” (NOLA)

Been looking forward to this show for a while, first “regular” version of Melting Pot in almost a whole month. Lots and lots and lots of new music, including new tunes from Dum Dum Girls, Atlas Sound, Headnodic, Veronica Falls, Total Babe, 9th Wonder feat. Phonte and then a bunch of amazing reissues, Googoosh out of Iran, Ilaiyaraaja out of India, Funky Rob out of Ghana and Zdenez Liska out of Czech Republic. It’s gonna be a couple weeks til we have another show, because next week there is a 9/11 10th Anniversary special going on all day, so enjoy this one until Sept. 18th!

Melting Pot on KPFK #55: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #55: Second Hour

Playlist: 09-04-2011

{opening theme} Booker T & the MGs – Melting Pot – Melting Pot (Stax)

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The Minutemen – This Ain’t No Picnic – Double Nickels On The Dime (SST)
Veronica Falls – Bad Feeling – 7” (Slumberland)
Pollyn – Ay Ya Ya Ya (Forever In My Hands) – Living In Patterns (Self-released)
Os Ritmistas – Samba De Pacto – Oi! A Nova Musica Brasileira! (Mais Um Discos)
The Stepkids – Shadows On Behalf – The Stepkids (Stones Throw)

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Los Ecos – La Fuga Del Bandido – Peligro…Ritmo Explosivo (FTA)
Ilaiyaraaja – Ponnana Neram feat. S. Janaki – Solla Solla (B-Music/Finders Keepers)
Dum Dum Girls – Bedroom Eyes – Only In Dreams (Sub Pop)
Real Estate – Out Of Tune – 7” (True Panther)
Low – Over The Ocean – The Curtain Hits The Cast (Vernon Yard)

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A.C. Jones & the Atomic Aces – Oh Baby – Boddie Recording Co.: Cleveland Ohio (Numero)
The Bandana Splits – My Love – Mr. Sam Presents The Bandana Splits (Boy Scout)
Hunx & His Punx – Bad Boy – Too Young To Fall In Love (Hardly Art)
Serge Gainsbourg – Black And White – Comic Strip (Polydor)
Chain & the Gang – For Practical Purposes (I Love You) – Music’s Not For Everyone (K Records)
Quantic – New Morning – The Best Of Quantic (Tru Thoughts)

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Googoosh – Shekayat – Googoosh (Finders Keepers/B-Music)
9th Wonder feat. Phonte & Median – Band Practice Pt. 2 – The Wonder Years (It’s A Wonderful World)
Stevie Wonder – Hey Love – Down To Earth (Motown)
Devon Williams – Revelations – Euphoria (Slumberland)
Total Babe – You’ll See – Daytrotter Sessions (Daytrotter.com)

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Atlas Sound – Terra Incognita – Parallax (4ad)
Zdenek Liska – Aquatic Babicak – Mala Morska Vila (B-Music/Finders Keepers)
Amon Tobin – Lost & Found – Isam (Ninja Tune)
Robin Hannibal –Voltaire – Bobby EP (Plug Research)

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Headnodic – Dirty Diamonds – Red Line Radio (Brick)
Rob – More – Funky Rob Way/1st Album (Analog Africa)
AM & Shawn Lee – Promises Are Never Far From Lies – Celestial Electric (ESL)
Katalyst feat. Stephanie McKay – Day Into Night – Deep Impressions (BBE)

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{closing theme} Dungen – C. Visar Vagen – Tio Batar (Kemado)

Can’t express to you how great it was to be back at KPFK hosting Melting Pot this week. It had been 2 weeks since my last show and I was jonesing to play you some tunes. Had to pay tribute to one of my all-time heroes MLK, on the 48th anniversary of his “I Have A Dream” speech, so the show starts off with that speech in full. So many times people just focus on the closing, but there’s a lot going on in this speech given in 1963 at the March on Washington. Rest of the first hour features music that I’ve picked up in the last couple of weeks, being in the Bay Area and around LA for our anniversary and my birthday. Some nice choice cuts, a couple of which have already made their way here and most (and a few more I didn’t get to play) will be making their way here soon. Second hour belongs to DJ Lengua who gives us almost 45 minutes of seriously laid back and extra tight cumbia tracks. We have a far too short conversation about his style as a DJ and musician. He’ll definitely be coming back to Melting Pot some time in the near future, so much music, much more to discuss, just not enough time this time around. Enjoy!

Melting Pot on KPFK #54: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #54: Second Hour

Playlist: 08-28-2011

{opening theme} Boris Gardiner – Melting Pot – Is What’s Happening (Dynamic)

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Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. – I Have A Dream – I Have A Dream (20th Century Fox)

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Ice Water Slim & the 4th Floor – Dream On, Dream On – 7” (Hawk Sound)
Novella Nelson – Long Road Home – Novella Nelson (Arcana)
Wanderlea – Que Besteira – Feito Gente (Polydor)
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – War – 10” (Self-released)
Archie Shepp – Attica Blues – Attica Blues (Impulse)
Joe Henderson – Fire – The Elements (Milestone)

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Gloria Taylor – Born A Woman – 7” (King Soul)
Ike & Tina Turner – Bold Soul Sister – The Hunter (Blue Thumb)
The Racket Squad – Get Out Of My Life Woman – Corners Of Your Mind (Jubilee)
The Counts – Bills – What’s Up Front That Counts (Westbound)
Dizzy Gillespie – Getting’ Down – Sweet Soul (Gateway)

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Guest DJ Set from DJ Lengua

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DJ Lengua – Selections From DJ Lengua – DJ Lengua (Club Unicornio)
DJ Lengua – Sampu – Cruzando (Club Unicornio)

Had a truly grand time filling in for Chuck Foster on KPFK’s Reggae Central. Chuck hosts one of the most far ranging and diverse reggae shows I’ve ever heard, instead of just focusing on roots, he plays the full variety of Jamaican music from the 1950s to the present time. As such, it makes it really hard to predict what he’ll play and so I tend to stay away from playing much Jamaican music on Melting Pot, which is hard on me, because I LOVE Jamaican music. This was a rare opportunity to play 2 hours of some of my favorite ska, rock steady, roots, reggae and Jamaican soul on the radio and I think it’s one of my best guest hosting jobs in my career. Thank you Chuck for letting me sit in and make sure that YOU listen to Reggae Central every Sunday from 2-4pm on KPFK!

Reggae Central 08-07-2011: First Hour
Reggae Central 08-07-2011: Second Hour

Playlist: Reggae Central 08-07-2011

{opening theme} King Tubby – Dub Fi Gwan – Dub Gone Crazy (Blood & Fire)

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Hemsley Morris – Stay Loose – Clancy Eccles Presents His Reggae Review (Heartbeat)
Freddie McGregor – Get Involved – Darker Than Blue: Soul From Jamdown 1973-1980 (Blood & Fire)
The Mighty Diamonds – Why Me Black Brother Why? – Right Time (Virgin)
Rico – Ramble – Man From Warieka (Blue Note)
Hopeton Lewis – Sounds & Pressure – 7” (K&K Records)
Ernest Ranglin – Exodus – Scandal Ska (Mango)

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The Lions feat. Alex Desert – Pieces of A Man – 7” (Lions Bread)
Stranger Cole – These Eyes – Bangarang: The Best Of Stranger Cole 1962-1972 (Sanctuary)
Gregory Issacs – Native Woman – Cool Ruler (Virgin)
Derrick Harriot – Candy – Music Got Mo’ Soul (Westside)
Phyllis Dillon – Perfidia – Midnight Confessions: Classic Rock Steady & Reggae 1967-1971 (Westside)
The Silvertones – True Confession – Classic Hits From Treasure Isle (Attack)
Jackie Mittoo – Hot Milk – Evening Time (Coxsone)

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Princess Buster & her Jamaicans – Ten Commandments From Woman To Man – 7” (King)
U-Roy – Jump For Joy – Rock With I (Ras)
Byron Lee – Soul Ska – Rock Steady (BRA)
Sugar Simone – King Without A Throne – 7” (Sue)
Toots & the Maytals – Premature – Reggae Got Soul (Island)
I-Roy – Hot Stuff – Touting I Self (Heartbeat)
Brentford All-Stars – Greedy G – Better Dub (Studio One)

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Horace Andy – Musical Episode – Exclusively (Wackie’s)
Winston Wright – Jam #1 – Jamaican Funk: Original Jamaican Funk and Soul 45s (Soul Jazz)
King Tubby – A Rougher Version – King Tubby’s Special 1973-1976 (Trojan)
Don Drummond – Addis Adaba – 7” (Coxsone)
Althea & Donna – Jah Rastafari – Uptown Top Ranking (Frontline)
Tapper Zukie – Dub MPLA – Dubwise & Otherwise (Blood & Fire)

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The Heptones – Do Good To Everyone – Book Of Rules (Island)
Keith & Tex – Stop That Train – 7” (Trojan)
Tapper Zukie & Lynval Thompson – Rush I Some Dub – Tappa Zukie In Dub (Blood & Fire)
Desmond Dekker – Reggae Recipe – The Original Reggae Hit Sound of Desmond Dekker & the Aces (Trojan)
Baba Brooks – Shank I Sheck – 7” (King Edwards)
The Soulettes – Hey Senorita – Ska Au Go Go (Studio One)
Tommy McCook & the Supersonics – Mabrouk – 7” (Treasure Island)

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Marcia Griffiths – There’s No Me Without You – Put A Little Love In Your Heart (Trojan)
The Eternals – Queen of the Minstrels – Studio One Soul (Soul Jazz)
Bob Marley – Soul Rebel – Rasta Revolution (Trojan)
Johnny Clarke – Do You Love Me – Don’t Trouble Trouble (Attack)
The Aggrolites – Trial and Error – Rugged Road (Young Cub)

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{closing theme} The Skatalites – Herb Man Dub – Heroes Of Reggae In Dub (Motion)

Been a real long time since I was on the air for four straight hours, but I had so much music I wanted to play I could have been on for another 4. August 7th was Rahsaan Roland Kirk’s birthday, so I had to start the show off with music from him, as I mention on the show, he’s the patron saint of Melting Pot. Rahsaan was a master musician who understood and reveled in the connections between all the varieties of music. Everything that his music was about is neatly wrapped up in “Bright Moments,” which is why I started off with that song. I also was able to rectify leaving “Compared To What” at home last week, so I’ve included that as a further tribute to Eugene McDaniels. Throughout the show, lots of new music, from the Bandana Splits, Amor De Dias, Amon Tobin, The Stepkids and classics from Can, King Crimson and Donato.

Next week Chuck Foster of KPFK’s Reggae Central will be sitting in for me and playing some classic and classy Rhythm & Blues, Soul and Jazz. Chuck has one of the best and most diverse Reggae shows, it will be real interesting to see what he brings out. I might not be back until August 28th for a new show with a mini-fundraiser on August 21st. Hoping to be back with some nice vinyl and possibly a special guest or two. Until the next time enjoy the show!

Melting Pot on KPFK #53: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #53: Second Hour

Playlist: 08-07-2011

{opening theme} Booker T & the MGs – Melting Pot – Melting Pot (Stax)

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Rahsaan Roland Kirk – Bright Moments – Bright Moments (Atlantic)
Les McCann – Compared To What – Swiss Movement (Atlantic)

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Atmosphere – She’s Enough – The Family Sign (Rhymesayers)
Ocote Soul Sounds – Guantanamo – Taurus (ESL)
Pablo Sanchez & Watch TV – Sunstar – Nickodemus Presents Turntables On The Hudson Volume 8: Reflecting Cielo (Wonderwheel)
Donato – Malandro – A Bad Donato (Blue Thumb)

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The Bandana Splits – All You Gotta Do Is Fall In Love – The Bandana Splits (Boy Scout)
The Menahan Street Band – Lovin’ You, Baby – No Time For Dreaming: The Instrumentals (Dunham/Daptone)
Hawthorne Headhunters – If You Were My Baby (Reprise) – Myriad Of Now (Plug Research)
The Stepkids – Suburban Dream – 12” (Stones Throw)

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Amor De Dias – Late Mornings – Street Of The Love Of Days (Merge)
Damon & Naomi – Walking Backwards – False Beats & True Hearts (20/20/20)
King Crimson – I Talk To The Wind (Duo Version) – In The Court of the Crimson King: 40th Anniversary Edition (Discipline)
Bon Iver – Blindsided – For Emma, Forever Ago (Jagjaguwar)

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Amon Tobin – Dropped From The Sky – Isam (Ninja Tune)
Can – Spray – Future Days (United Artists)
King Midas Sound – Earth A Kill Ya (Mala Remix) – Waiting For You (Hyperdub)

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Cut Chemist – Eastwide (excerpt) – Sound Of The Police (A Stable Sound)
Edan – Echo Party (excerpt) – Echo Party (Traffic)

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{closing theme} Dungen – C. Visar Vagen – Tio Batar (Kemado)

End of the month brings out the vinyl, for our all-vinyl freeform shows. Had a bit of added “seat of the pants” radio experience swinging into the studio literally just as the program began. Once I was there and got my records out of the bag, things settled into a fairly laidback show, perhaps inspired by “Jagger The Dagger” as the lead song, in tribute to Eugene McDaniels who recently passed away. At the top of the second hour we have a guest DJ set from Soul Marcosa (separate post coming soon), who brings in some heavyweight sounds from all over the spectrum. Next week I’m going to be hosting BOTH Melting Pot and Reggae Central!!! So tune in at 2pm to hear some classic Jamaican ska, rock steady, reggae, dub and more!

Melting Pot on KPFK #52: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #52: Second Hour

Playlist: 7-31-2011
{opening theme} Booker T & the MGs – Melting Pot – Melting Pot (Stax)

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Eugene MacDaniels – Jagger The Dagger – Headless Heroes Of The Apocalypse (Atlantic)
Betty Davis – Game Is My Middle Name – Betty Davis (Just Sunshine)
Freedom – Nobody – Freedom (ABC)

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Byron Lee & the Dragonaires – Every Day Will be Like A Holiday – 7” (JAD)
Cold Blood – If You Will – Cold Blood (San Francisco)
Toni Tornado – Juizo Final – B.R.3 (Odeon)
Juan Pablo Torres – Guajira 2001 – Algo Nuevo (Arieto)

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Robert Cray – I Wonder – Strong Persauder (Mercury)
Jerry Butler – Said A Mother, Said A Father – The Sagittarius Movement (Mercury)
Isaac Hayes – Our Day Will Come – …To Be Continued (Stax)
Eric Dolphy – Serene – Far Cry (New Jazz)

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DJ Soul Marcosa Guest DJ Set

Bobby Byrd – Fight Against Drug Abuse – 7” (King)
Les Problémes – Dodécaphonie – 7” (Vogue)
Roberto Carlos – Voce Nao Serve Pra Mim – Original Soundtrack: Ritmo de Aventura (CBS)
Eyes of Blue – Apache ’69 – 7” (Mercury)
Miki Hirayama – Lonely Girl – 7” (Columbia)
Toni Mathis – Everything You Feel Is Me – 7” (Nectar)
Brainbox – Down Man – 7” (Elektra)
Black Merda – Cynthy-Ruth – 7” (Chess)
Zsuzsa Koncz – Visz A Vonat – Szerelem (Qualiton)
Ajit Singh feat. Asha Bhosle – Main Akeli Raat Jawan – Original Soundtrack: Purana Mandir (CBS)
Pedro & Capricious – Cisco Kid – Kareinaru New Pops No Sekai (Atlantic)
Curiosity Shoppe – Baby I Need You – 7” (Deram)
Rare Earth – Sidewalk Café – Dreams & Answers (Verve)
The Kollektion – Savage Lost – 7” (Heads-Up)
David – Selppin – 7” (Fontanta)

The Corporation – India – The Corporation (Capitol)

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The Three Pieces – Backed Up Against The Wall – Jazz Dance Classics Vol. 1 (Luv’N’Haight)
Tim Maia – Nao Vou Ficar – Tim Maia (1971) (Polydor)

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{closing theme} Kenny Baker – Mississippi Waltz – Plays Bill Monroe (County)

Bittersweet show this past Sunday. Just the day before we’d gotten the sad, sad news that Amy Winehouse had passed away. I’d already planned on doing an hour long tribute to “Fonce” Mizell who passed on July 11th, but decided the start the show with what I think will ultimately be the song we remember Amy Winehouse for, “Love Is A Losing Game.” During the show, in addition to the tributes, there are quite a few new releases, brand new music from Real Estate, Dum Dum Girls, Headnodic, The Aggrolites and more. The whole second hour is filled with some of my favorite Mizell Bros. produced tracks. These songs never fail to put a smile on my face. They fill me with such great and beautiful feelings that I wish I’d put together this set under different circumstances. I’d hoped one day to interview Larry and Fonce Mizell, I still hope I’ll be able to interview Larry & Rodney Mizell in the near future. Until then we have the music.

…Speaking of Mizell Bros. tributes, for a significantly more comprehensive mix of the Mizell Bros. music check this link from Matthew Africa…

Melting Pot on KPFK #51: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #51: Second Hour

Playlist: 7-24-2011

{opening theme} Donald Byrd – Flight Time – Black Byrd (Blue Note)

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Amy Winehouse – Love Is A Losing Game – Back To Black (Island)
Damon & Naomi – Shadow Boxing – False Beats & True Hearts (20/20/20)
Dum Dum Girls – Coming Down – Only In Dreams (Sub Pop)
The Stepkids – Legend In My Own Mind – 12” (Stones Throw)
Donald Byrd – Black Byrd – Black Byrd (Blue Note)

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Real Estate – It’s Real – Single (Domino)
Brilliant Colors – Hey Dan – Again And Again (Slumberland)
Pollyn – Sometimes You Just Know – Recorded Live At KPFK
Headnodic feat. Mission – Red Line Radio – Red Line Radio (Brick)
Breakestra – Need A Little Love – Dusk Till Dawn (Strut)
Johnny Hammond – Shifting Gears – Gears (OJC)

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AM & Shawn Lee – Spin It Around – 12” (ESL)
The Aggrolites – The Aggro Band Plays On – Rugged Road (Young Cub)
The Menahan Street Band – Eyes On The Prize – No Time For Dreaming: Instrumentals (Dunham / Daptone)
The Hawk feat. Little Hannah Collins – Don’t Judge A Book By It’s Cover – 7” (Record Kicks)
Camp Lo – Luchini aka This Is It – Uptown Saturday Night (Arista)
Bobbi Humphrey – Jasper County Man – Blacks & Blues (Blue Note)

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Donald Byrd – Lansana’s Priestess – Street Lady (Blue Note)
Gary Bartz – Music Is My Sanctuary – Music Is My Sanctuary (Capitol)
Bobbi Humphrey – Blacks & Blues – Blacks & Blues (Blue Note)
Bobbi Humphrey – San Francisco Lights – Satin Doll (Blue Note)

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Donald Byrd – Think Twice – Stepping Into Tomorrow (Blue Note)
The Blackbyrds – Rock Creek Park – City Life (Fantasy)
Johnny Hammond – Gambler’s Life – Gambler’s Life (Salvation)
Donald Byrd – Miss Kane – Street Lady (Blue Note)

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Bobbie Humphrey – Harlem River Drive – Blacks & Blues (Blue Note)
Donald Byrd – (Fallin’ Like) Dominoes – Places and Spaces (Blue Note)

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{closing theme} Donald Byrd – Sky High – Black Byrd (Blue Note)

Here is the audio from the 75th anniversary special on the music of the Spanish Civil War.

The Music of the Spanish Civil War: 1st Hour
The Music of the Spanish Civil War: 2nd Hour

{opening theme} Copla De Barcelona – Himno De Riego – Songs of the Spanish Civil War

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Ramon Calduch – La Santa Espina – El Burro Catala, Batecs Del Cor I De La Terra
Oscar Chavez – Los Quatro Generales – Canciones De La Guerra Civil y Resistencia Espanol
Hector Alterio – Francisco Franco En Los Infiernos – Pablo Neruda: Espana En El Corazon
Cobla De Barcelona – El Tren Blindado – Songs of the Spanish Civil War
Las Ramonas – A Las Mujeres

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Ernst Busch – Song of The International Brigades – Songs of the Spanish Civil War Vol. 1
Woody Guthrie – Jarama Valley – Songs of the Spanish Civil War Vol. 2
Paul Robeson – Peat Bog Soldiers – Songs of Free Men
Pete Seeger & Group – Cookhouse / Young Man From Alcala – Songs of the Spanish Civil War Vol. 1
Rolando Alarcon – Viva La Quinta Brigada – Canciones De La Guerra Civil Espanola

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Liberation Music Orchestra – Introduction/Song of the United Front/El Quinto Regimiento/Los Cuatro Generals/Viva La Quince Brigada/Ending – Liberation Music Orchestra

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Max Parker – Selections from Al Tocar Diana: Songs From A Franco Prison

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Phil Ochs – Spanish Civil War Song – Broadside Tapes Vol. 1
Christy Moore – Viva La Quinta Brigada – Ride On
The Clash – Spanish Bombs – London Calling
Manic Street Preachers – If You Tolerate This Then Your Children Will Be Next – This Is My Truth Tell Me Yours
Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade / Charlie Haden’s Liberation Music Orchestra – La Pasionaria – Spanish Civil War: It Seems So Long Ago / Ballad Of The Fallen

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Josh White – Beloved Comrade – Best Of
Liberation Music Orchestra – Els Segradors – Ballad Of The Fallen