Heat Rocks

Scorching guests and sizzling records: join music writer Oliver Wang and music supervisor Morgan Rhodes each week as they invite their favorite artists, critics and scholars for in-depth conversations about the albums that shape our lives. Each week our special guests will take you deep into their heat rocks from the world of hip-hop, soul, dance, jazz, funk and more. Get with us!

Music and Popcorn #4: April Wolfe on "The Bodyguard" soundtrack (1992) 02/27/2020

Music and Popcorn #3: Sean Fennessey on the "Juice" soundtrack (1992) 02/20/2020

Music and Popcorn #2: Renée Bever on the "Us" soundtrack (2019) 02/13/2020

Music and Popcorn #1: The Medley 02/06/2020

Josh Kun on Manu Chao's "Clandestino" (1998) 01/30/2020

Tall Black Guy on D'Angelo's "Voodoo" (2000) redux 01/23/2020

Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding on the Nat King Cole Trio's "Complete Capitol Recordings of the Nat King Cole Trio" (1991) 01/16/2020

Wendy & Lisa on Prince's "Around the World in a Day" (1985) 01/09/2020

Our Heat Rocks of the 2010s 01/02/2020

Holiday Music Special with Alonso Duralde redux 12/26/2019

Holiday Music Special with Alonso Duralde redux The Albums: Vince Guraldi's A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) Andy Williams' The Andy Williams Christmas Album (1963) Stax Records' Christmas in Soulsville (2007) Heat Rocks was hyped to have film critic Alonso Duralde , one of the hosts of Maximum Fun's movie podcast guest with us to talk about our favorite Christmas songs, holiday fare, songs that should play when it's cold outside, baby. We visit the canon of Christmas music over the years (Andy Williams 1963 The Christmas Album, Vince Guaraldi Trio's A Charlie Brown Christmas and Stax Record's 2007 compilation Christmas In Soulsville and across genres and styles - crooners, sweeping orchestral cinematic pieces, summer songs vs. winter songs, modern Christmas traditions, etc. Alonso broke down the power of nostalgia as it relates to Christmas music and how our tastes in music are informed by tradition. Don't be a grinch. Listen to this wintery wonderland of an episode about favorite Christmas tracks. More on Alonso Duralde Show Tracklisting Andy Williams: The Christmas Song The Waitresses: Christmas Wrapping The Shins: Wonderful Christmastime Tracey Thorn: Snow Yogi Yorgesson: I Yust Go Nuts At Christmas Boyz II Men: Let It Snow Band-Aid: Do They Know It's Christmas Andy Williams: O Holy Night Andy Williams: Kay Thompson's Jingle Bells Andy Williams: It'as The Most Wonderful Time of the Year Andy Williams: Sweet Little Jesus Boy Andy Williams: White Christmas Vince Guraldi Trio: Christmas Time is Here (Vocal) Vince Guraldi Trio: Christmas Time is Here (Instrumental) Vince Guraldi Trio: My Little Drum Vince Guraldi Trio: What Child Is This Vince Guraldi Trio:Skating Vince Guraldi Trio: Hark, The Herald Angels Ring Otis Redding: Merry Christmas Baby take 1 The Staple Singers: Who Took The Merry Out of Christmas Albert King: Santa Claus Wants Some Loving The Emotions: Black Christmas Isaac Hayes: The Mistletoe and Me Booker T and the M.G.'s: Winter Wonderland take 2 Nate Dogg: Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto Little Johnny Taylor: Please Come Home For Christmas Juice Crew: Cold Chillin' Christmas The Free Design: Close Your Mouth (It's Christmas) Kenny Bobien: O Come Let Us Adore Him Here is the of as many songs as we can find on there If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, /episode/index/show/heatrocks/id/12536027

Cristela Alonzo on A Tribe Called Quest's "We Got It From Here...Thank You 4 Your Service" (2016) 12/20/2019

Father Amde of The Watts Prophets on Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" (1971) 12/13/2019

Van Hunt on The Sensational Nightingales' "It's Gonna Rain Again" (1972) 12/05/2019

Van Hunt on The Sensational Nightingales' "It's Gonna Rain Again" (1972) We've talked a ton of gospel here on Heat Rocks, but this episode marks the first time we've discussed a full gospel album on the show, and from none other than one of the very first gospel quartets, The Sensational Nightingales. The group was formed in 1942 as simply The Nightingales, but it wasn't until 1946 and the introduction of the sensational singer Julius Cheeks when the band really began to hit their stride. The quartet still tours to this day, albeit with a slightly different lineup, but the soul and tradition of Southern black gospel music is alive and well. Singer/songwriter Van Hunt joins us in the studio to talk about his personal connection to gospel music, the influence of the Sensational Nightingales, and how artists can make the move from gospel to secular music. More on Van Hunt The re-imagined first album, | More on The Sensational Nightingales The group's take on the gospel classic by the National Museum of African American Music Show Tracklisting (All songs from It's Gonna Rain Again unless indicated otherwise): The Last Mile Dionne Farris: Hopeless Van Hunt: Seconds of Pleasure Hold to God's Hand At the Meeting A Heart Like Thine Sam Cooke & the Soul Stirrers: Be With Me Jesus (Live) Van Hunt: Hello, Goodbye Anthony Hamilton and the Hamiltones: Hotline Bling DeWayne Crocker Jr, Kelontae Gavin, Keyla Richardson, and Mikel Simmons: Hold On At the Meeting The Old Account Carlton Pierson: Old School Medley It's Gonna Rain Again At Calvary A Heart Like Thine Sly Stone: Walking in Jesus Name It's Gonna Rain Again The Davis Sisters: Twelve Gates to the City Silvergate Quartet: I'm Going Down in Jesus Name The Daytonians: Let Jesus Work it Out Dr Charles Hayes and Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir: Jesus Can Work it Out Karizma: Work it Out Sam Cooke & The Soul Stirrers: Jesus Gave Me Water Here is the of as many songs as we can find there. If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, /episode/index/show/heatrocks/id/12296435

Phil Yu on Boyz II Men's "II" (1994) redux 11/28/2019

Shana Redmond on Jodeci's "Forever My Lady" (1991) 11/21/2019

Shana Redmond on Jodeci's "Forever My Lady" (1991) “Don’t talk, just listen.” Jodeci announced themselves to the world on their 1991 debut album, Forever My Lady. They didn’t invent new jack swing but few R&B groups so seamlessly melded the bravado of hip-hop style with soulful pipes that could melt hearts and quicken pulses. Backed by the musical mentorship of Al B. Sure and A&R-ed by a young Uptown intern named Sean “Puffy” Combs, Jodeci all but heralded the end of ‘80s quiet storm respectability and stepped left of the youthful innocence of early New Edition and even the genteel charm of their contemporaries, Boyz II Men. K-Ci, JoJo, Mr. Dalvin and DeVanté Swing were the self-proclaimed “bad boys of R&B” and they wore that attitude on their sleeve and in their songs. Forever My Lady was the pick of our guest, UCLA professor, Dr. Shana Redmond who studies popular music, race and politics. Her first book, from 2014, was and she’s currently working on two new books including about the life and legacy of singer, actor and activist Paul Robeson. She discovered Jodeci at the precocious age of 11 and along with Morgan and Oliver, they discussed how Jodeci cut a different path into R&B of the era, whether the album’s ballads or dance jams aged better, and whether or not Jodeci covering the ‘60s pop group, The Association, was a wise decision or not. More on Shana Redmond Interview on with Mark Anthony Neal alongside Evelyn McDonnell and Alice Bag | More on Forever My Lady “” (Dart Adams) “” (The Boombox) “” (The Root) Show Tracklisting (all songs from Forever My Lady unless indicated otherwise): Forever My Lady Stay Pebbles: Love Makes Things Happen MC Hammer: Addams Groove Come and Talk to Me 112: Cupid It's Alright Interlude (553 - Nasty) Stay U and I Come And Talk To Me Jodeci: Feenin (Remix) The Association: Cherish Cherish X's We Share Forever My Lady Here is the of as many songs as we can find there. If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, /episode/index/show/heatrocks/id/12127907

Saul Williams on Portishead's "Dummy" (1994) 11/14/2019

Tisa Bryant on The Emotions' "Rejoice" (1977) 11/07/2019

Jason Concepcion on Herbie Hancock's "Thrust" (1974) 10/31/2019

Jason Concepcion on Herbie Hancock's "Thrust" (1974) Album: Herbie Hancock: Thrust (1974) Thrust followed on the heels of Herbie Hancock’s genre-altering best-seller Head Hunters album, one in which the gifted keyboardist and composer played with new conceptions of fusion jazz and synthesizer technology. Thrust, in many ways, could be considered a second half to Head Hunters; recorded within months of its predecessors with almost all the same players. Once again, Hancock and his team plumbed the possibilities of mixing funk rhythms with jazz improvisation, resulting in four tracks of fusion fire that, to our guest Jason Concepcion, marked a high point before a onslaught of “smooth jazz” would dial everything down. Concepcion is perhaps best known to people as a basketball savant as a staff writer for The Ringer and Emmy-winning producer behind their NBA Desktop segment. I first discovered him via Twitter, thanks to his expert, witty writing as @netw3rk. However, for all his sports acumen, Concepcion is also Berkelee School-trained, having once attended there with the ambition of going into film composition. Thrust was a revelatory way in which he engaged with the possibilities of jazz, soul and funk experimentations. During our conversation, we discussed Hancock’s penchant for innovation in that era, the highs and lows of 1970s fusion jazz plus we took a side trip into the current state of the 365 day NBA “season.” More on Jason Concepcion Jason on what about music school (Grantland) | More on Thrust Album collection (Sputnik Music) Show Tracklisting (all songs from Thrust unless indicated otherwise): Palm Grease Spank-A-Lee Butterfly Actual Proof Van Halen: Cathedral Spank-A-Lee Palm Grease Herbie Hancock: Watermelon Man Herbie Hancock: Rockit Palm Grease Weather Report: Young and Fine Rusty Bryant: Fire Eater Grover Washington Jr.: Hydra Actual Proof Rhodes Piano Demo Actual Proof Butterfly toe: two moons Palm Grease Gil Scott Heron & Brian Jackson: Peace Go With You Brother Herbie Hancock: Chameleon Here is the of as many songs as we can find there. If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, /episode/index/show/heatrocks/id/11859119

Gabrielle Civil on Prince's "Parade" (1986) 10/24/2019

Luis Xtravaganza on the "Grease" soundtrack (1978) 10/17/2019

Gerrick Kennedy on Whitney Houston's "My Love Is Your Love" (1998) 10/10/2019

Luz Mendoza on Nina Simone's "To Love Somebody" (1969) 10/03/2019

Jason Woodbury on Karen Dalton's "In My Own Time" (1971) 09/26/2019

Jeff Chang on the "Wild Style" soundtrack (1983) 09/19/2019

Jeff Chang on the "Wild Style" soundtrack (1983) The Album: (1983) Wild Style began as a low budget but ambitious film project, centered around Zoro, a young graffiti writer swashbuckling his way through the style wars of early ‘80s New York. Directed by Charlie Ahearn and starring Lee Quinones as Zoro, Wild Style would become more of a quasi-documentary of hip-hop’s on its cusp from South Bronx street culture into the global phenomenon we know today. Filled with MC, graffiti, DJ and b-boy performances from a host of now legends, Wild Style would inadvertently spread the hip-hop gospel to a generation of youth around the world, enraptured with how it depictions of an explosive, impossibly colorful subculture that few had laid eyes on outside of the five boroughs. Its soundtrack, overseen by Fab Five Freddy and Blondie guitarist Chris Stein, was largely built off an exclusive disc of original breakbeats that became the sound bed for various live performance scenes throughout the movie. Electric, dynamic and fly as hell, the Wild Style soundtrack helped capture the sound of early hip-hop’s energy and flair from A to motherf—ng Z. For a young Jeff Chang, growing up far away from the Bronx in Honolulu, Wild Style was like a secret cypher that he and his friends could pass around and decrypt. Long before the days of streaming video, if you didn’t catch a theatrical screening of this tiny, indie flick, you had to rely on nth generation bootleg dubs on VHS but as crappy as the images might have been, the inspiration was no less dimmed. This put Chang on the path to eventually become one of the most accomplished hip-hop critics in the formative ‘90s era, eventually culminating in his award winning (2005), which, among other things, digs deep into hip-hop’s earliest days preceding even the Wild Style era. He’s since followed that up with Who We Be: The Colorization of America (2014) and most recently, We Gon’ Be Alright: Notes on Race and Resegregation (2016) which became the inspiration behind the of the same name which just debuted this year. More on Jeff Chang about Can't Stop Won't Stop by Jeff, written for Cuepoint | More on The Wild Style soundtrack (Red Bull Academy) (Complex) Show Tracklisting (all songs from The Wild Style soundtrack unless indicated otherwise): Stoop Rap Stoop Rap - Film Version Cuckoo Clocking Military Cut Nas: The Genesis Stoop Rap Gang Star: DJ Premier In Deep Concentration Gangbusters Common: Gettin' Down At The Amphitheater MC Battle at the Dixie A Tribe Called Quest: Sucka N**** Fantastic Freaks at the Dixie Public Enemy: Raise the Roof Wild Style Lesson MC Battle at the Dixie Down By Law Grandmaster Flash: Flash it to the Beat (Live) Lisa Lee Wild Style deleted scene T's Limo Ride Double Trouble at the Amphitheater Basketball Throwdown Gangbusters South Bronx Subway Rap Subway Theme Here is the of as many songs as we can find there If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, /episode/index/show/heatrocks/id/11319767

Lee Fields on Sam Cooke's "Portrait Of A Legend" (2003) 09/12/2019

Lee Fields on Sam Cooke's "Portrait Of A Legend" (2003) The Album: Sam Cooke (2003) Legendary soul singer Lee Fields (Daptone, Truth & Soul, Big Crown Records) stopped by Heat Rocks to discuss the 30 tracks compiled by ABKCO records on Sam Cooke, Portrait of A Legend, released in the summer of 2003. The album covers multi-genres including gospel, pop and soul - Sam's hits, during his storied 15 year career which ended tragically with his untimely death at 33. Referred to as, "the man who invented soul" Sam Cooke hummed and crooned his way into soul music's canon starting with three words: You Send Me. Lee Fields' career began 50 years ago with the release of his first single on the Bedford label "Bewildered". Since then he's released dance tracks, recorded with The Expressions, had his music placed in shows like Atlanta and Dear White People, toured the country and has his songs remixed by some of the best. He and Morgan discussed the gospel according to Sam Cooke, symbolism in A Change Is Gonna Come, Sam Cooke as a lyricist, Sam Cooke as a storyteller. A veteran soul singer in conversation about one of the architects of soul music It gets no better. More on Lee Fields | More on Sam Cooke Show Tracklisting (all songs from Portrait Of A Legend unless indicated otherwise): Nothing Can Change This Love Lee Fields & The Expressions: Honey Dove Touch The Hem of His Garment You Send Me You Were Made For Me Only Sixteen Soul Sam Cooke & The Soul Stirrers: The Last Mile of the Way Little Red Rooster Chain Gang Cupid Bring It On Home To Me Nothing Can Change This Love (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons Summertime You Send Me Sugar Dumpling Muhammad Ali: The Gang's All Here A Change Is Gonna Come Aretha Franklin: A Change Is Gonna Come Otis Redding: A Change Is Gonna Come Touch The Hem Of His Garment You Were Made For Me Here is the of as many songs as we can find there If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, /episode/index/show/heatrocks/id/11229581

Lorraine Ali on M.I.A's "Kala" (2007) 09/05/2019

Lorraine Ali on M.I.A's "Kala" (2007) The Album: M.I.A. (2007) In 2005, when M.I.A. dropped onto the pop scene with her debut, Arular, heads weren’t quite ready. It was like she brought the full force of Global South dance culture in with her — gloriously bombastic — and the Sri Lankan/British singer/rapper simply didn’t sound like anyone else on the charts. For her follow-up, the idea on paper seemed smart: why not pair M.I.A. with one of the most innovative American producers of that era: Timbaland. Alas, in a post-9/11 world, Homeland Security deemed M.I.A. a threat to national security and refused to give her the necessary visa to come work in the U.S. Undaunted, M.I.A. and producer Switch jumped around the world, recording parts of what would eventually become Kala in cities across South America, Africa and Asia. The resulting masterpiece, propelled on the strength of the eventual mega-smash “Paper Planes,” all but established M.I.A. as a key voice in a different kind of new world order, one in which the borders of nationalism and colonialism were imploding and emergent movements and calls to action were part of that destabilization. As it turned out, M.I.A. didn’t need to come to the U.S. to help invade it with her sound. Kala was the album pick of this week’s guest, Lorraine Ali who currently writes about television for the Los Angeles Times but also got her start as a music critic. As one of the few Muslim American culture critics out there, Lorraine connected heavily with who and what M.I.A. represented and during the course of our conversation, we got into what it was like to listen to Kala in the wake of the second Gulf War, burgeoning refugee crises and the shifting geo-political map in which the music of the Global South could be heard as a subversive force, bamboo bangas and all. More on Lorraine Ali Her on M.I.A. for Spin Her LA Times | More on Kala Oliver's original (Stereogum) (Dazed) Show Tracklisting (all songs from Kala unless indicated otherwise): Paper Planes M.I.A.: Galang XR2 Come Around Bird Flu 20 Dollar The Turn Mango Pickle Down River M.I.A.: Bad Girls Boyz World Town Jimmy Paper Planes The Clash: Straight To Hell Hussel Bamboo Banga Paper Planes Diga Rhythm Band: Razooli Mohammad Rafi and Kishore Kumar: Humko Tumse Ho Gaya Hai Pyar Here is the of as many songs as we can find there If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, /episode/index/show/heatrocks/id/11140910

Allen Thayer on João Gilberto's "João Gilberto" (1973) 08/29/2019

Allen Thayer on João Gilberto's "João Gilberto" (1973) The Album: João Gilberto (1973) Before the summer got away from us, we wanted to record one more episode for the season and we invited a guest to pick the perfect LP for the end of the summer. We were not disappointed... João Gilberto was as integral to Brazil’s bossa nova movement as Ray Charles was to soul or Run DMC was to hip-hop; it’s impossible to imagine its sound and style without his touch. By 1973, Gilberto was largely living outside of Brazil and on a stint in the U.S, he rolled through New Jersey with just a single accompanying musician, percussionist Sonny Carr. Together, they crafted what’s considered a minimalist masterpiece of the genre, Gilberto’s equivalent to the Beatles’ White Album. Parts of it sound like a dream, others like a lullaby, but at the heart, it’s the soothing voice of Gilberto and his nimble guitar playing that anchors all of it. Our guest Allen Thayer, aka The Ambassador, is no stranger to Brazilian music. Though he hails from the Pacific Northwest, he’s long been fascinated with south Atlantic sounds. Author of last year’s , Thayer also hosts the weekly on KMHD and you can find him spinning Brazilian grooves (amongst other tasty treats) in and around Portland on the regular when he’s not . More on Allen Thayer Interview with (Wax Poetics) | More on João Gilberto (Worlds of Wanwood) (Turntable Kitchen) New York Times' for Gilberto Show Tracklisting (all songs from João Gilberto unless indicated otherwise): É Preciso Perdoar Eu Quero Um Samba João Gilberto: Chega Se Saudade Chet Baker: My Funny Valentine Izaura Elis Regina and Tom Jobim: Águas De Março Águas De Março Undiú Gilberto Gil: Esotérico (Acustico) - Ao Vivo Glucklich: To Be Earth, Wind & Fire: Brazillian Rhyme The Rolling Stones: Dance (pt 1) Undiú Valsa (Como São Lindos Os Youguis) (Bebel)) Na Baixa Do Sapateiro É Preciso Perdoar Águas De Março Eu Vim Da Bahia Falsa Baiana Valsa (Como São Lindos Os Youguis) (Bebel) Eu Quero Um Samba Águas De Março The Third Wave: Waves Lament Caetano Veloso & Gal Costa: Avarandado Sessa: Dez Total (Filhos de Gandhy) If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, /episode/index/show/heatrocks/id/11049953

100th Episode Spectacular: Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings' "100 Days 100 Nights" (2007) 08/22/2019

100th Episode Spectacular: Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings' "100 Days 100 Nights" (2007) The Album: Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (2007) On the occasion of our 100th episode, we decided to devote a Host’s Choice episode to talking about the breakout 2007 album from Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings. Coming out hot on the heels of Amy Winehouse’s best-selling Back to Black (2007) which featured the Dap-Kings horn section, 100 Days, 100 Nights made it clear who the queen (and kings) of the retro-soul sound was. As their third album, that latest LP showcased the group’s growing prowess as songwriters and Jones was in top form with a voice able to bring heft and spark to the group’s stylings on Southern soul, uptempo funk and deep gospel. Morgan and Oliver are mostly excited to have made it to #100 and we wanted to thank all our listeners, guests and producers for their support of our show over its first two years. Here’s to 100 more! More on 100 Days, 100 Nights (The New York Times) Gabriel Roth's essay Show Tracklisting (all songs from 100 Days, 100 Nights unless indicated otherwise): 100 Days, 100 Nights Nobody's Baby Amy Winehouse: He Can Only Hold Her Solange: I Decided, Part 1 Raphael Saadiq: 100 Yard Dash Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings: She Aint A Child No More Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings: Stranded In Your Love Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings: All Over Again Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings: Cut That Line Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings: Window Shopping Amy Winehouse: You Know I'm No Good The Poets of Rhythm: More Mess On My Thing Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators: If This Ain't Love (Don't Know What Is) Repercussions: A Gentle Kind of Love Repercussions: Let's Do It Again Alice Russell: Somebody's Gonna Love You Mayer Hawthorne: Just Ain't Gonna Work Out Durand Jones & the Indications: Can't Keep My Cool Saun & Starr: Big Wheel Keep On Looking Let Them Knock 100 Days, 100 Nights Otis Day & The Knights: Shout Tell Me When The Other Foot Drops, Uncle LeAndria Johnson: I Couldn't Have Done It Answer Me Thee Lakesiders: Parachute Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings: All Over Again James Ingram: One Hundred Ways Here is the of as many songs as we can find there If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, /episode/index/show/heatrocks/id/10962152

Raphael Saadiq on Earth, Wind & Fire's "That's The Way Of The World" (1975) + Remembering Nipsey Hussle 08/15/2019

Raphael Saadiq on Earth, Wind & Fire's "That's The Way Of The World" (1975) + Remembering Nipsey Hussle The Album: Earth, Wind & Fire (1975) On March 15, 1975, Columbia Records released "That's The Way Of The World" the sixth studio album of Earth Wind & Fire, a band of 10 members who fused rock, jazz, funk and soul. The album sold five million units, and won a Grammy for the single "Shining Star" (Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group). Produced by Maurice White and Charles Stepney, the album focused on EWF's familiar themes, spirituality, oneness, love. Oscar and Golden Globe nominated composer Raphael Saadiq joined Oliver and Morgan in studio to talk "That's The Way of The World" and all the things that made EWF iconic including, Philip Bailey's falsetto, Maurice White's mysticisms and drum heroics, Charles Stepney's production and the harmonies that caught his ear and his attention and the happy feelings the band's music inspired in his own musicianship as a youth growing up in Oakland. You'll want to catch this one. Because Reasons. And stay tuned after the interview for a special segment celebrating the life and music of Nipsey Hussle, who would have turned 34 this week. Rest in power, Nipsey. More on Raphael Saadiq (The New York Times) (Afropunk) | More on That's The Way Of The World (Rolling Stone) (Red Bull Music Academy) Show Tracklisting (all songs from That's The Way Of The World unless indicated otherwise): See The Light Raphael Saadiq: So Ready Earth, Wind & Fire: On Your Face The Jacksons: Show You The Way To Go Al Green: I'm Still In Love With You B.B King: Heed My Warning War: Why Can't We Be Friends Rick James: Bustin' Out 2 Men, A Drum Machine and A Trumpet: Tired of Getting Pushed Around Funkadelic: (Not Just) Knee Deep Earth, Wind & Fire: Love Music Earth, Wind & Fire: Love's Holiday Earth, Wind & Fire: Imagination Earth, Wind & Fire: Yearnin' Learnin' (Live) Minnie Ripperton: Les Fleur Africano Earth, Wind & Fire: Can't Let Go All About Love (First Impression) Shining Star That's the Way of the World Shining Star Happy Feelin' Reasons Shirley Murdock: As We Lay Erick Sermon: Stay Real Earth, Wind & Fire: Boogie Wonderland The Emotions: Don't Ask My Neighbors Ramsey Lewis: Sun Goddess The Randy Watson Experience & Bilal: Can't Hide Love Nipsey Hussle: Hussle in the House Nipsey Hussle: FOREVER ON SOME FLY SHIT Nipsey Hussle: They Roll Nipsey Hussle: Face the World Nipsey Hussle: Shell Shocked DJ Khaled: Higher Here is the of as many songs as we can find there If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, /episode/index/show/heatrocks/id/10893735

Mark "Frosty" McNeill on Nina Simone's "It Is Finished" (1974) 08/08/2019

Mark "Frosty" McNeill on Nina Simone's "It Is Finished" (1974) The Album: Nina Simone (1974) It Is Finished is an ominous title, least of all given where Nina Simone was in her personal life at the time. Much of the early ‘70s had seen the High Priestess of Soul escaping to Barbados, first to avoid a troubled marriage, then to avoid the IRS. But RCA Records lured her back to New York to tape a live show, much of which would go into It Is Finished alongside a few tracks from an earlier studio session. One of those vault cuts, “Funkier Than a Mosquito’s Tweeter” would become an unlikely hit on the funk/soul dance floor circuit but It Is Finished was far more than one-tracker, especially as Simone dipped into Afro-Caribbean spirituality via the (under-credited) participation of Exuma on much of this album. Our guest, Mark “Frosty” McNeill is the co-founder of the long-running Dublab internet (now terrestrial) radio station and together, we got deep into Nina’s public and personal tribulations of that era, how the album reflects a particular moment in black cultural identity and a spirited debate about Tina vs. Nina. More on Mark McNeill (LA Record) | More on It Is Finished (NPR) (A Short Man In A Wide World) Show Tracklisting (all songs from It Is Finished unless indicated otherwise): Obeah Woman Nina Simone: Wild Is The Wind Nina Simone: See Line Woman (Masters at Work Remix) To Love Somebody Nina Simone: Revolution (Live at the Harlem Cultural Festival) Mr. Bojangles Kumbaya (earliest known recording) Walter Hawkins: Come By Here Good Lord Com' By H'Yere Good Lord Exuma: Mama Loi, Papa Loi Ike and Tina Turner: Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter Let It Be Me Elvis: Let It Be Me I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl Obeah Woman Esther Phillips: Home is Where the Hatred Is Ganga and Hess OST: Survival Drive Exuma: Exuma, The Obeah Man Here is the of as many songs as we can find there If you're not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, /episode/index/show/heatrocks/id/10827938

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