Here is the final post in this week’s look back at the best music from 2011. In a reversal from last year’s list, there are likely a dozen songs that could have been on this list, and many of the top 5 presented here might switch positions depending on which one I’m currently listening to. For what it’s worth these were my Top 5 songs for 2011…share your favorite tracks of 2011 here or on our facebook page!

***Honorable Mentions: Phonte – The Good Fight, The Sandwitches – My Heart Does Swell (live at KPFK), King – The Story, M.E.D. – Blaxican, The Echocentrics feat. Tita Lima – Jardim, Real Estate – Municipality, Real Estate – Green Aisles, WildCookie – Something About Those Days

5. The Strange Boys – “Doueh” – Live Music (Rough Trade)

The Strange Boys – Doueh

Two things stick out to me about “Doueh” (which honestly I have no idea how to pronounce, I just say “Doo-eh” on the air) and are responsible for it being in my Top 5 songs of 2011. First, it’s in the interplay of the guitars. “Doueh” is one of the rare places where the Strange Boys’ love and knowledge of garage rock, country and gritty soul all come together at the same time musically. Though the rhythm stays the same virtually throughout, the guitars are constantly doing something a little different, from that main little strut and all the subtle variations throughout that (I’m not ashamed to say) always causes my shoulders to bounce, to the big wash of finger-picking that I supposed counts as a solo, even though it sounds like there are 2 or 3 additional guitar lines overdubbed along with the two main guitars. The way those guitars intertwine with each other shows how far this band has come in a short period of time.

The second big reason why this was my favorite song from the album Live Music and also one of my favorites of the year is the vocal performance of Ryan Sambol. That seems like a strange thing to say, because Sambol’s voice is not likely to win any competitions (I previously described it as a cross between Bob Dylan and Pat from SNL). It’s likely the quirky-ness of that voice keeps them from being major stars along the lines of the Black Keys or other bands, which given the most recent record from the Black Keys might be a very good thing. However, Sambol’s voice IS one of the more distinctive elements of the Strange Boys. On “Doueh” Sambol delivers maybe his best vocals to date, sounding sly and knowing when he remarks “my body betrays me, but I don’t betray it back,” but also fully confident, assured, forceful and strong in the 2nd verse, especially when he sings “I knew not a word, I couldn’t name a note, I swear I heard a language I didn’t know I spoke.” I don’t know where the Strange Boys are going to go from here, but it’s clear that Sambol and the boys have finally grown comfortable in their own skin and have found their sound and the best way to present it.

4. Lake – “Giving & Receiving” – Giving & Receiving (K Records)

Lake – Giving And Receiving

For my year end show, this track from Olympia, Washington’s very un-Olympia sounding Lake, was the only song that I also played during the summer’s “Best So Far” program. Here’s what I said about this track back in the spring:

“While there are several rather lovely tracks on this album, “Giving & Receiving” is one of the best, not just on this album, but that I’ve heard off of any album all year (I’m always fascinated in how quickly I know a great song when I hear it…after one listen I was absolutely sure that this would be in my year end list of Best of 2011). It has a very early summer, lazy slightly hazy sunday afternoon vibe with its slower than mid-tempo, but still not that slow and soulful beat. Eriksson’s vocals caress the listener with their sweetness, even though lyrically the song seems to point toward a more downbeat mood. I especially like the moment at the literal half point of the song, just before the tempo change that accompanies the “There used to be fish in the Ocean” lyrics, with all those layers of keyboards, subtle notes from the horns and Eriksson’s just slight humming in the background. Just plain gorgeous.”

Months later nothing has dulled my appreciation for the understated beauty and subtle soul in “Giving & Receiving.” The song isn’t just dreamy, it’s literally sounds like the soundtrack of a dream.

3. Katalyst feat. Stephanie McKay – “Day Into Night” – Deep Impressions (BBE)

Katalyst feat. Stephanie McKay – Day Into Night

“Day Into Night” was one of a handful of songs that were a part of my summer playlist in 2011. With it’s reggae riddim and soulful vocals from Stephanie McKay, it just has this late summer vibe that I found irresistible well into winter. For some time I was convinced that this was somehow a sample of Phyllis Dillon’s “Perfidia,” but it’s pretty clear that 9/10’s of the riddim & the vocal sample come from Desmond Dekker’s “No Place Like Home”:

To my ears at least McKay’s vocals DO seem connected to Dillon’s track, which is likely part of the reason why I’m so drawn to “Day Into Night.” Whatever the source material, McKay brings such emotion to her vocals that there’s no way not to pay attention and feel the deep soul she puts into her work.

2. Hunx & his Punx – “Lover’s Lane” – Too Young To Fall In Love (Hardly Art)

Hunx & His Punx – Lover’s Lane

Here’s what I originally had to say about this song from Oakland’s Hunx & his Punx:

“I’ve listened to this track probably 30 times this week and I’m still floored by the way the backing vocals tumble out in waves during the chorus. It seems rare to have multiple singers sing in harmony, yet retain distinctive voices, perhaps it’s a slight studio trick, but it’s something I haven’t heard too much before. The way all those voices come together and separate, particularly in the last third of the song, just kills me everytime. I can almost guarantee that this song will be one of my faves at the end of the year.”

After listening to hundreds of songs, Lover’s Lane remained one of my favorites of the year, and was probably the song I listened to on repeat more than any other throughout 2011. As if things couldn’t have gotten better, they actually made a video for the song:

Totally trashy, in a Jon Waters kind of way and simply adorable…and it’s fascinating to me that after listening to this song hundreds of times, it’s only through the video that I even noticed that there were some subtle organ notes in the background of the whole track. I’d focused on the swirling mix of vocals, Shannon Shaw’s endearing squeal at the end of “I Wanna Go,” the neo-60’s beat and great gritty guitar solo so much that I missed that entirely. With new music from Hunx in 2012 and future music from bassist/vocalist Shannon Shaw’s Shannon & the Clams, it’s likely my musical love affair with the members of this group will only grow.

1. Charles Bradley – “I Believe In Your Love” – No Time For Dreaming (Dunham/Daptone)

Charles Bradley – I Believe In Your Love

As much as I love “Lover’s Lane,” no other song thrilled me in 2011 as much as “I Believe In Your Love” from Charles Bradley & the Menahan Street Band. Here’s what I said earlier:

“In terms of the music, “I Believe In Your Love” also is a standout track instrumentally. Menahan works a Hodges Brothers Hi-Records inspired sound, from the drums and the main guitar, adds washes of organ in the right channel, horns primarily in the left, little bells during the verses, and all the elements come together and just explode with sound during Bradley’s chorus. In the vocal version the interplay is damn powerful, in the instrumental version, the intricacies of the rhythm are a marvel to behold, as is the entire album.”

When people tell me that “retro-soul” is just a copy of older better music, I use this as exhibit A. You never would have gotten this same kind of sound in the 1960s and early 1970s. It’s a thoroughly post-modern pastiche of the best elements of that classic soul sound, updated into something that only could come about in the 21st century. A post-modern retro-soul masterpiece and my favorite song of 2011.

All this week on Melting Pot we’ve been taking a look back at 2011′s year in music. This post covers the best new records that I heard last year. In 2010, I had a really hard time picking my favorite records of the year, and essentially ended up with a 5 way tie for #1…that wasn’t the case in 2011. Some of it might have been how much more significantly busy I was this year as opposed to the prior, perhaps the music just wasn’t as strong as 2010, but there were very clear favorites this year, and my list of the top 5 new releases I heard in 2011 is below…let me know what your favorites of 2011 were in the comments or on our facebook page!

***Honorable Mentions: Headnodic – Red Line Radio (Brick), Amon Tobin – Isam (Ninja Tune), The Sandwitches – Mrs. Jones’ Cookies (Empty Cellar), Chain & the Gang – Music’s Not For Everyone (K Records), Hunx & his Punx – Too Young To Fall In Love (Hardly Art), Algodon Egipcio – La Lucha Constante (Lefse)

5. M.E.D. – Classic – Stones Throw

M.E.D. feat. Talib Kweli – Classic

Original Post

For much of 2011, I was thoroughly unimpressed by the slate of Hip-Hop releases, all the way up until the Fall. The last several months saw the release of a number of very good independent Hip-Hop releases, including this long-awaited LP from Oxnard’s M.E.D. Featuring production work primarily from the ever fascinating MadLib (plus assists from Karriem Riggins, Georgia Anne Muldrow and The Alchemist), and guest rhymes from Kweli, Planet Asia & Kurupt. M.E.D. is at his best when he’s anthemic as he is on “Where I’m From” and “Blaxican,” but even when he detours into very different themes on “Mystical Magical,” “Love & War,” “Classic” (with a breezy Phil Upchurch sample) and “Flying High,” he consistently shines brightly.

The amazing video for Blaxican (something that I’ll likely be using in my classes for years to come) in and of itself might have warranted inclusion on this list, but the depth and quality of the entire record deserves notice on this aptly named LP.

4. Phonte – Charity Starts At Home – Foreign Exchange Music

Phonte feat. Evidence and Big Krit – Life Of Kings

Original Post

For almost 10 years, Phonte Coleman has been my favorite MC, so it’s no surprise that this, his debut “solo” release is on this list. Charity covers much of the territory you’d expect based off of his work with Little Brother and Foreign Exchange, but Phonte’s verbal skills keep it all fresh. This album in some ways marks the long awaited reunion of Phonte with 9th Wonder, though the two have been collaborating quite a bit over the past year or so (and hopefully will be swinging into LA for some shows in 2012). 9th’s production graces the best tracks on the album, from the working man/mc anthem “The Good Fight” to “Life of Kings” a treatise on humility featuring Big Krit and Evidence along with Tigallo. I don’t know if they can mend things with Rapper Big Pooh, but as long as these collaborations continue you can expect to see Phonte’s music on these lists for years to come.

3. The Strange Boys – Live Music – Rough Trade

The Strange Boys – You Take Everything For Granite When You’re Stone

Original Post

I’m still a bit in shock that the Strange Boys released an album this good, so quickly after releasing last year’s Be Brave, which was also a pretty fantastic album. The casual listener might not note the growth between the two albums, but I certainly have. No longer content with being a garage band with a quirky singer, the Strange Boys are poised to get called up to the Show. Live Music is as good as Jeff Tweedy’s prime material with Wilco, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. It’s a record that really deserved to get much more press and airplay than it has. If I ever decided to record my dream album, the Strange Boys are exactly the band that I would want to back me up.

2. Charles Bradley & the Menahan Street Band – No Time For Dreaming – Dunham

Charles Bradley & the Menahan Street Band – Lovin’ You, Baby

Original Post

Nobody does soul reclamation quite like Daptone (Truth & Soul perhaps comes in 2nd), and with the pairing of the Menahan Street Band with Bradley’s powerful vocals, they’ve got a nice compliment to Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings, certainly the best 1-2 punch in all of retro soulsville. I’ve already said so much about this album that instead of repeating myself, I’ll just quote myself from the review linked above.

“No Time For Dreaming is also a product of these specific times even though the sound is from 1960s. Though Bradley mines some of the same subjects, hard times, heartbreak & loss (particularly the death of his brother in “Heartaches & Pain”), there’s a righteousness in these songs that leans more towards optimism than depression. Whether it’s his pleading, “Got to make it right, all that I’ve done wrong” on “The Telephone Song” or on the title track, as he preaches “No time For dreaming, Go to get on up and do my thing.” Times maybe hard, but in line with James Brown’s most inspiring late 60s/70s material, Bradley wants us to get involved and get OURSELVES together. Even when things turn darker, such as on “The World” Bradley’s role is more of as a truth-teller, diagnosing the ills of the world not simply to gripe about them, but to bring to our attention the problems we experience and to get us focused on doing what we can to solve them (kinda like a musical sociologist!)”

No Time For Dreaming is a brilliant LP and hopefully just the first of many between Menahan and Mr. Bradley.

1. Real Estate – Days – Domino

Real Estate – Green Aisles

Real Estate’s Days is here for a simple reason. No other record met and exceeded expectations, or gave me as much joy in listening to it, as this the 2nd full-length release from these Jersey Boys. Last year’s Out of Tune 7” held out quite a lot of promise, and Days delivered in spades. A thoroughly listenable album, from start to finish, so good in fact that I really can’t pick a favorite track from the LP. If “Out Of Tune” hadn’t been released last year it might have ended up on my Top 5 Songs list, but there’s no way to chose from “Green Aisles,” “It’s Real,” “Municipality,” “Younger Than Yesterday,” “All The Same,” “Easy,” or “Three Blocks” for the best song of this LP. Thankfully they even kept a little of that easy going boardwalk spirit with the instrumental “Kinder Blumen.” For my money Real Estate is the best Indie-Rock band in all the world, and I can’t wait to hear what they have in store for us next.

All this week on Melting Pot we’re taking a look back at the best music in 2011. Today’s post focuses on the best reissues of the year. 2011 continued the recent trend in just amazing reiusses, especially on the international front and for lovers of American soul music. Here is my list of the top 5 reissues I heard in 2011, let me know what you think and what was in your own top 5!

***Honorable Mentions: Those Shocking Shaking Days (Now-Again), Local Customs: Burned at Boddie (Numero), The Lijadu Sisters – Danger (Knitting Factory), El Rego – El Rego (Daptone), Life Is Dance: Plugged-In Sounds of Wonder at the Pakistani Picture House (Finders Keepers), Father’s Children – Father’s Children (Numero), Charles “Packy” Axton – Late Late Party 1965-1967 (Light In The Attic)

5. Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou – The First Album / Rob – Funky Rob Way (Analog Africa)

Rob – More

Orignal Post

Analog Africa always seems to deliver top shelf material, and this split LP/CD is no exception. Orchestre Poly Rythmo De Cotonou is an amazing group, and I’ll never get tired of hearing their sound, but I was really surprised by Rob, which I’d never heard before. I’m right now really wishing I had a residency someplace, just so I could see what dancers would do when I dropped the needle on “More.”

4. Shin Joong Hyun – Beautiful Rivers and Mountains: The Psychedelic Rock Sound of Shin Joong Hyun (Light In The Attic)

Shin Joong Hyun – I’ve Got Nothing To Say

Original Post

Light In The Attic had a very strong year (including twin reissues of material from the Louvin Bros.), but this collection of rock, psych and psychy rockin’ funk from South Korean guitarist Shin Joong Hyun was an ear-opener for sure. For me, Hyun’s music is at its best when it’s slowed down and spaced out, but the shorter, tighter and often funkier tracks, such as “I’ve Got Nothing To Say” (which sounds lifted from a film) are just as tasty.

3. Googoosh – Googoosh (Finders Keepers)

Googoosh – Digeh Geryeh Delo Va Nemikoneh

Original Post

“Truly Exceptional” just doesn’t seem to be a good enough description of how I feel about the music of Iranian songstress Faegheh Atashin, aka Googoosh. From the opening drums of “Shekeyat” I was completely hooked, every note that followed only continued to blow my mind. The story behind this music is just as amazing, with much of this music being banned (and in some cases destroyed) in Iran after the Revolution of 1979, making it exceedingly rare. In addition to often being seriously funky, the music and the singing from Googoosh is seriously beautiful and well deserving of many, many listens.

2. Mike James Kirkland – Don’t Sell Your Soul (Luv’N’Haight / Ubiquity)

Mike & the Censations – Victim Of Circumstance Part 1

I’ve been a fan of Mike James Kirkland’s brand of soul music since the earliest days of Luv’n’Haight and their reissue of his classic “Hang On In There.” Don’t Sell Your Soul brings together Kirkland’s early career with Mike & the Censations with his solo albums (on the double CD) and unreleased material (on the double LP). Highly recommended listening, deep deep soul with slyly socially conscious underpinnings on tracks that on their face appear to be “just” love songs. “Victim Of Circumstance” might just be the best “lowrider/oldies” track of all-time, the horns, the singing, the sentiment…just perfect. Hard to believe this was only the beginning, being his very first song. If you didn’t check it out before, be sure to check out my interview with the man himself, Mike James Kirkland for even more insight into this music and into this musician’s incredible career and world-view.

1. Boddie Recording Company, Cleveland Ohio (Numero)

Corinthian Singers – Why? (It’s A Shame)

Original Post

Last year when Numero went extra hard on the Syl Johnson “Complete Mythology” release, I didn’t think they’d be able to top that anytime soon. Instead, the intrepid crew out of Chicago, doubled down on a total soul excavation of Cleveland, Ohio’s Boddie Recording Company. Sifting through the 300 records and 10,000 hours of tape that the Boddie bunch recorded from 1958 to 1993, Numero raises their own super high bar and releases (on 3CD’s or 5LP’s) one of the most incredible love letters to underground soul music I’ve ever seen. A brilliant release and absolutely deserving of the #1 spot…now the question is how will they top THIS in 2012???

Here we are at the start of a new year taking a look back at the year in music for 2011. As with last year’s show I’ve put together a special web only mix of “honorable mentions,” though next year I may just drop that title, ’cause in truth, the web-only set simply includes all the other things I would have liked to have had in the live program, but just couldn’t because of time constraints. All week I’ll be running through my favorite music from 2011, including many of the records from this show, Enjoy!

Melting Pot’s Best of 2011: Honorable Mentions
Melting Pot’s Best of 2011: First Hour
Melting Pot’s Best of 2011: Second Hour

Melting Pot’s Best of 2011: Honorable Mentions (Web Only Mix)
{opening theme} Booker T & the MGs – Melting Pot – Melting Pot (Stax)

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Bing Ji Ling – Hypnotized – Shadow To Shine (Tummy Touch)
Love Inks – Can’t Be Wrong – ESP (Hell Yes)
DJ Shadow – Circular Logic (Front to Back) – The Less You Know The Better (Verve)
Charles “Packy” Axton – Holiday Cheer w/ the Martinis – Late Late Party 1965-1967 (Light In The Attic)
People Under the Stairs – Too Much Birthday – Highlighter (Piecelock 70)
Orchestre Poly-Rythmo De Cotonou – La La La La – The First Album / Funky Rob Way (Analog Africa)
Hypnotic Brass ensemble – Champion – Bulletproof Brass EP (Choice Cuts)

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Clean Break Intro for Samuel L Jackson reading adam Mansbach’s – Go The Fuck To Sleep (Audible.com)
Lijadu Sisters – Lord Have Mercy – Danger (Knitting Factory)
Crystal Stilts – Sycamore Tree – In Love With Oblivion (Slumberland)
Kode9 & the Spaceape – Black Smoke – Black Sun (HYperdub)
Ikebe Shakedown – No Name Bar – Ikebe Shakedown (Ubiquity)
Wild Cookie feat. Anthony Mills & Freddie Cruger – Freddie Cruger & Anthony Mills Are Wildcookie (Tru Thoughts)
J. Rocc – Chasing The Sun – Some Cold Rock Stuff (Stones Throw)

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Wanda Jackson – Thunder On The Mountain – The Party Ain’t Over (Third Man)
Nostalgia 77 – Sleepwalker – The Sleep Walking Society (Tru Thoughts)
Jean Claude Vannier – Au Desespoir Des Singes – Roses Rouge Sang (Finders Keepers)
Robin Hannibal – Voltaire – Bobby EP (Plug Research)
Damon & Naomi – Helsinki – False Beats And True Hearts (20/20/20)
La Sera – Dedcated To the One I Love – Devil Hearts Grow Gold 7” (Hardly Art)

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Shin Joong Hyun – J Blues 72 – Beautiful Rivers And Mountains: The Psychedelic Rock Sound of South Korea’s Shin Joong Hyun (Light In The Attic)

KPFK’s Melting Pot Best of 2011 Playlist:

Ocote Soul Sounds – Speak Truth To Power – Taurus (ESL)
M.E.D. – Blaxican (Video Mix) – Classic (Stones Throw)
Boogaloo Assassins – No No No – Recorded Live At KPFK (KPFK Archives)
Katalyst feat. Stephanie McKay – Day Into Night – Deep Impressions (BBE)
DJ Lengua – Perdido – Cruzando (Club Unicornio)

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Hunx & his Punx – Lover’s Lane – Too Young To Fall In Love (Hardly Art)
Le Nombre – Loving You – Burned At Boddie (Numero)
Headnodic feat. Latyrx & Kat – Movin On Up – Red Line Radio (Brick)
Algodon Egipcio – Los Temas Turbios – La Lucha Constante (Lefse)
King – Supernatural – The Story EP (Self-released)
Astrobal – Message From Kobe8 – Poetry & Science Fiction (Plug Research)

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Boom Clap Bachelors – Andres Haender – EP (Plug Research)
Shabazz Palaces – Are You…Can You…Were You (Felt) – Black Up (Sub Pop)
The Echocentrics – Jardim – Sunshadows (Ubiquity)
King James Version – He’s Forever (Amen) – Boddie Recording Co.: Cleveland, Ohio (Numero)
Amon Tobin – Journeyman – Isam (Ninja Tune)

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The Sandwitches – My Heart Does Swell – Recorded Live At KPFK (KPFK Archives)
Shimmering Stars – No One – Violent Hearts (Hardly Art)
Mike James Kirkland – Don’t Sell Your Soul – Don’t Sell Your Soul (Ubiquity/Luv’n’haight)
Holly Golightly & the Brokeoffs – Rest Of Your Life – No Help Coming (Transdreamer)
Chain & the Gang – For Practical Purposes (I Love You) – Music’s Not For Everyone (K Records)
The Gang Of Harry Roesli – Don’t Talk About Freedom – Those Shocking Shaking Days (Now-Again)

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Charles Bradley & the Menahan Street Band – I Believe In Your Love – No Time For Dreaming (Dunham/Daptone)
The Strange Boys – Doueh – Live Music (Rough Trade)
Vieux Farka Toure feat. Derek Trucks – Aigna – The Secret (Six Degrees)
Googoosh – Shekayat – Googoosh (Finders Keepers)
Phonte – The Good Fight – Charity Starts At Home (Foreign Exchange Music)
Thundercat – Golden Boy – The Golden Age of Apocalypse (Brainfeeder)

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Brave Irene – Good Ideas – Brave Irene (Slumberland)
Hemant Bhole – Sansani Khez Koi Baat – Bollywood Bloodbath (Finders Keepers)
Amor De Dias – Late Mornings – Street Of The Love Of Days (Merge)
Real Estate – Municipality – Days (Domino)
Lake – Giving & Receiving – Giving & Receiving (K Records)

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{Closing Theme} Dungen – Oga, Nasa, Mun – 7” (Third Man)

{I’ll be taking a bit of a break until the start of next week when I’ll be kicking off the new year with a series of posts on the best music from 2011…until then enjoy the rest of your holidays and Happy New Year!!!}

Sorry this took a little while to get up here, I had some problems with my audio and then some problems getting a dub of the second hour. As soon as I have a higher quality copy I’ll post it here. Spent our last Sunday of 2011 running down some of the things I dug (in stores or digitally) up over the year. With all the fundraisers and special shows it’d been a while since I’d done one of these vinyl freeforms and I’d forgotten both how thrilling it can be and how crazy it can get when you have absolutely nothing planned out. In some cases I’d change my mind with only seconds left and in at least one instance didn’t get the record cued in time, but that’s the way it goes…next show will be the year in review, Best of 2011 show, like last year I’ll very likely include a web only mix of some of the honorable mentions that didn’t make it into the live show. See you in the new year!

Melting Pot on KPFK #68: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #68: Second Hour

Playlist: 12-25-2011
{Opening Theme} Booker T & the MGs – Melting Pot – Melting Pot (Stax)

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Albert Ayler – Music Is the Healing Force of the Universe – Music Is the Healing Force of the Universe (Impulse!)
The Amboy Dukes – Inside the Outside – Journeys and Migrations (Mainstream)
The Counts – Rhythm Changes – What’s Up Front That Counts (Westbound)
Cymande – Rickshaw – Cymande (Janus)

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Lionel Robinson – Stepping Out – 7” (Knight)
Emilio Santiago – Bananeira – Emilio Santiago (CID)
Roy Ayers – The Third Eye – Everybody Loves The Sunshine (Polydor)
Ice Water Slim & the Fourth Floor – Dream On, Dream On – 7” (Hawk Sound)
Leon Thomas – Echoes – Spirits Known and Unknown (Flying Dutchman)
Frank Strozier feat. Booker Little – Waltz of the Demons – Fantastic Frank Strozier (VeeJay)

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Irma Thomas – Wish Someone Would Care – Irma Thomas Sings (Change)
Tom Waits – Please Call Me Baby – Heart of Saturday Night (Asylum)
Butterfield Blues Band – Keep On Moving – Keep On Moving (Elektra)
Johnny Ace – The Clock – Johnny Ace Memorial Album (Duke)

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Asha Bhonsle & Suresh Wadkar – Yeh Hawa Yeh Fiza – Sadma: Original Soundtrack (CBS)
David Axelrod – The Sick Rose – Songs of Experience (Capitol)
Crazy World of Arthur Brown – Come & Buy – The Crazy World of Arthur Brown (Atlantic)
The Louvin Bros. Keep Your Eyes On Jesus – The Great Gospel Singing Of The Louvin Bros. (Capitol)

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The Main Attraction – Everyday – And Now, The Main Attraction (Tower)
Betinho – Lucia Esparadrapo – O Cafona: Original Soundtrack (Som Livre)
Harvey Averne – Shake Your Money Maker – Viva Soul (Atlantic)
Gloria Taylor – Born A Woman – 7” (King Soul)
Sound Foundation – Bruised – Sound Foundation (Smobro)
The Politicians – Close Your Big Mouth – The Politicians (Hot Wax)

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Yaphet Kotto – Have You Dug His Scene? – 7” (Chisa)
Elis Regina – Giro – Como Y Porque (Philips)
Nina Simone – Funkier Than A Mosquita’s Tweeter – It Is Finished (RCA)
John Klemmer – Free Soul – Blowin’ Gold (Cadet Concept)

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{Closing Theme} Gary Bartz NTU Troop – Dr. Follow’s Dance – Follow, The Medicine Man (Prestige)

Sorry it’s taken so long to get this posted, I’ve been in the middle of a mega-grading for all my classes at CSU-Long Beach and UCLA Extension. Sunday’s show was mighty nice, with several different tributes. At the top of the 2nd hour I pay tribute to one of my favorite guitarists and a true legend, Hubert Sumlin, who passed away recently at the age of 80. Sumlin is best known as the lead guitarist on most of Howlin’ Wolf’s greatest sides in the late 1950s and early 1960s and I tried to highlight some of his best work as a modest tribute. In the first hour there’s a set in honor of LA independent record label Stones Throw that is turning 15 years old…and most importantly at the start of the show I play a couple of songs for my wife who recently celebrated her birthday. Some thoroughly digable tunes throughout, new music from the Black Keys, M.E.D., Ali Koehler (formerly of Best Coast and the Vivian Girls), and maybe the coolest most over the top gospel song I’ve ever heard from the King James Version near the end of the show. Won’t be on this week, we’ll be back in time for Christmas likely with an all-vinyl show playing some of the best things I dug up this year and maybe with a special guest too.

Melting Pot on KPFK #67: First Hour
Melting Pot on KPFK #67: Second Hour

Playlist: 12-11-2011
{opening theme} Booker T & the MGs – Melting Pot – Melting Pot (Stax)

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Al Green – Simply Beautiful – I’m Still In Love With You (Hi Records)
Charles Bradley – Lovin’ You, Baby – No Time For Dreaming (Dunham)
Charles Mingus – Celia – Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus (Impulse!)

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M.E.D. – Mystical Magical – Classic (Stones Throw)
Koushik – Be With – Out My Window (Stones Throw)
J-Dilla – Don’t Cry – Donuts (Stones Throw)
Peanut Butter Wolf feat. The Lootpack & Quasimoto – Styles, Crew, Flows, Beats – My Vinyl Weighs A Ton (Stones Throw)
Damon – Don’t You Feel Me – Forge Your Own Chains (Now-Again/Stones Throw)
Mad Villian – Money Folder – Madvilliany (Stones Throw)
The Heliocentrics – Sirius A – Out There (Now-Again/Stones Throw)
Aloe Blacc – I Need A Dollar – Good Things (Stones Throw)

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Mike & the Censations – You’re Living A Lie – Don’t Sell Your Soul (Ubiquity/Luv’n’Haight)
Black Star – You Already Knew – Single (Self-Released)
M. Ashraf feat. Nahid Akhtar – Dear I Love You – Life Is Dance (Finders Keepers)
Ali Koehler – Unwell – Demo (Self-Released)

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Howlin’ Wolf feat. Hubert Sumlin – Killing Floor – Real Folk Blues (Chess)
Howlin’ Wolf feat. Hubert Sumlin – Going Down Slow – Howlin’ Wolf (Chess)
Howlin’ Wolf feat. Hubert Sumlin – Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy – Real Folk Blues (Chess)
Howlin’ Wolf feat. Hubert Sumlin – Hidden Charms – The Chess Box (Chess)
Howlin’ Wolf feat. Hubert Sumlin – I Ain’t Supertitious – Greatest Hits (Chess)
Howlin’ Wolf feat. Hubert Sumlin – Shake For Me – Howlin’ Wolf (Chess)
Howlin’ Wolf feat. Hubert Sumlin – Tail Dragger – Ain’t Gonna Be Your Dog (MCA/Chess)

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The Black Keys – Money Maker – El Camino (Nonesuch)
The Sonics – Strychnine – Here Are The Sonics!!! (Norton)
Wanda Jackson – Let’s Have A Party – Wanda Jackson (Capitol)
Hound Dog Taylor & the Houserockers – 55th Street Boogie – Hound Dog Taylor & the Houserockers (Alligator)

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The Louvin Bros. – The Kneeling Drunkard’s Plea – Satan Is Real (Light In The Attic)
King James Version – He’s Forever – Boddie Recording Co., Cleveland, Ohio (Numero)
The Strange Boys – You Take Everything For Granite When Your Stone – Live Music (Rough Trade)
Shin Joong Hyun – J Blues 72 – Beautiful Rivers and Mountains (Light In The Attic)

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