Summer Loop

I have a long tradition of summer mixtapes. This one is fresh for Summer Solstice 2023. It is in two sides, and it doesnt matter which one you play first. As the title implies, you can also play them in a loop.

Easy Side

1. Shade Sheist feat. Nate Dogg & Kurupt “Where I Wanna Be”
   From Informal Introduction (MCA 2002)

   This song feels like summer, and I wanted to make a mix that felt like this song. A one-bar loop from a Toto record—the repetition should drive me crazy but somehow it doesnt—and some competent emceeing from Shade & Kurupt. The star is Nate Dogg and the melody he sings. Not much to this record but I could lissen to it all day.



2. Lambert, Hendricks and Bavan “Watermelon Man”
   From At Newport '63 (RCA Victor 1963)

   The vocal trio perform their supersmooth rendition of Herbie Hancock's tune with Hendricks's lyric. Clark Terry & Coleman Hawkins help out.



3. De La Soul “A Rollerskating Jam Named ‘Saturdays’”
   From De La Soul Is Dead (Tommy Boy 1991)

   Stone cold classic from De La. Another song that sounds like summer.




4. The Staple Singers “I'll Take You There”
   From Be Altitude / Respect Yourself (Stax 1972)

   Nothing much I need to say about this song: you know it, you love it.




5. Van Morrison “Dweller On The Threshold”
   From Beautiful Vision (Warners 1982)

   Can't seem to make a mix without Van Morrison on it. Used to be Steely Dan filled that role. Both “problematic faves”! Funky groove. Horns. Yearning vocals. Catchy as fuck, for me at least.



6. David Lindley “Ain't No Way”
   From El Rayo-X (Asylum 1981)

   RIP to evryone's faverit roots rock multiinstrumentalist virtuoso sideman. Bandleader here, he & his crew do some fake reggae that just makes me smile.



7. Jungle Brothers “My Jimmy Weighs A Ton”
   From J. Beez Wit The Remedy (Warners 1993)

   Jokey hip hoppas getting self-referential. This record samples the J. Beez's own classic “Jimbrowski”, the KRS-One song that refrences that tune, and Public Enemy's “Miuzi Weighs A Ton”, among others. Layerd and weird-sounding production—almost too kitchen-sinky—but still boombap as hell. From the criminally underappreciated third album.



8. XTC “Summer's Cauldron”
   From Skylarking (Geffen 1986)

   Here's another album that's weird, layered and kitchen-sinky; but this one is popular and rightly hailed as a masterpiece.



9. The Pharcyde “Runnin'”
   From Labcabincalifornia (Delicious Vinyl / Capitol 1995)

   Classic early Jay Dee (AKA Dilla) production. That laid-back, jazzy sound that was so familiar by the time his golden era came around a few years later.

Hard Side

1. Hound Dog Taylor and the HouseRockers “What'd I Say”
   From Genuine Houserocking Music (Alligator 1982)

   This kind of righteous noise is exactly my taste. I don't know why I didn't get into Hound Dog Taylor 25 years earlier.



2. R.L. Burnside “Shake 'Em On Down”
   From Too Bad Jim (Fat Possum / Epitaph 1994)

   More righteous blooze noise from one of the greats. The first cut on Too Bad Jim, a classic album that still gets me evry time.



3. Ibibio Sound Machine “Casio (Yak Nda Nda)”
   From Electricity (Merge 2022)

   Righteous electronic noise. Needs to be playd loud. Def fave album of last year.



4. Yeasayer “Ambling Alp”
   From Odd Blood (Secretly Canadian 2010)

   Righteous anthem with some weird sounds.



5. The Northern Boys “Give It To Me” (Sindhu World 2023)
   Not on a record, just on youtube

   The reason why this is the hard side. This is the hardest shit ever. A couple of retirees from Northern England expressin themselves. Raisin a glass to the gays and the bi's and the trans and the girls and the BIG BALD MEN!



6. Amy Winehouse “Rehab”
   From Back To Black (Island/Universal 2006)

   Where my alcoholics at?



7. Fiona Apple “Heavy Balloon”
   From Fetch The Bolt Cutters (Epic 2020)

   I spread like strawberries. I climb like peas and beans.



8. Hot Chip “Motion Sickness”
   From In Our Heads (Domino 2012)

   Badass synth noise. Remember when people thought the world was round?



9. Eddie Bo “Getting To The Middle Pt. 2”
   Bo Sound 45 BS-5555 (1970) collected on Eddie Bo's Funky Funky New Orleans (Funky Delicacies 1999)

   Killer funk record, the instrumental version from the B side.



10. Tina Turner “You Got What You Wanted”
    Pompeii Records 45-66682 (1968) collected on any number of cheapo Ike & Tina compilations (would really be nice if there were re-issues of their work that were comprehensive and sounded decent)

    RIP to a great blues shouter.

Whaddaya think??