Here’s a batch of songs, all released before 2011, that didn’t find their way to me (or I to them) until this year. As usual, it’s a mixed bag here so try some on and see how they fit.
To save any of these songs either control+click (mac) or right-click (PC) on the link and save to your computer. If you’re into the sounds, be sure to support the artists and buy some of their stuff directly.
And, by popular demand, click here to get *some* of these songs in a Spotify playlist!
And don’t forget to check out The Best Songs of 2011! It’s my pick of the best songs released this year.
Limited notes and anecdotes threaded below. Enjoy!
Aloe Blacc - I Need a Dollar Good record from Aloe this year. Keep an eye out for big things from this guy.
Betty Davis - Anti-Love Song Bass line of the year, and the vocals ain’t bad either!
Donovan Careless - Be Thankful For What You’ve Got Jamaican cover of the WIlliam DeVaughn soul classic.
Frank Mitchell Jr. - Booty Lock Produced by Thievery Corporation (really?). This is just a fun dance-floor banger.
Michael Jackson - Butterflies How have I missed this sweet MJ nugget?
George Duke - Capricorn DJ Ranztron dropped this during one of his Soul Junction radio shows, and pretended that no one would notice. Busted! Been loving this smoothed out song.
Das Racist - You Oughtta Know That sample! Who knew Billy Joel could be so enjoyable when sped up so fast (or maybe that’s why). Big year for Das Racist - go get ‘em boys.
LCD Soundsystem - Freak Out/Starry Eyes 2011 saw the fond farewell of LCD Soundsystem, and I was lucky enough to catch a few of their last gigs ever. It was there where I first heard the non-album cut “Freak Out”, with it’s lyric “If you do it again I’m going to freak out. So do it again”. Have a listen.
Lord Echo -Thinking of You Another track where I’m not sure where it came from, if it’s a remake, an edit or otherwise. All I know is it’s GOOD.
Amy Winehouse - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? RIP Amy. I could care less about the off-stage drama and rumors. Winehouse has a sick voice, and her passing brought us this rarely heard cover of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”.
Bo Diddley - We’re Gonna Get Married Great, fun, track, shared with me by Big Shanz on the eve of same-sex marriage being legalized in NY. So topical!
The Olympic Runners - Put the Music Where Your Mouth Is I swear I’ve heard this song a million times, but never knew exactly who it was. The Olympic Runners of course!
Prince - Sticky Like Glue This song comes from a Prince album “20Ten” (I just learned it’s his 35th studio album, what???). There’s some crazy story about this record like it was released only in London on CD, distributed in a newspaper available at newsstands on the moon, or something. Who cares, this song is funky as all get out.
Althia and Donna - Uptown Ranking Actually got hipped to this via the Beastie Boys blog. Yeah, they know a thing or two about music.
Sharon Revoal - Reaching For Our Star Just good female vocal soul music on this one. And a stupidfresh bass line.
Dorothy Morrison - Spirit In the Sky Yes, that Spirit in the Sky! But done in a gospel fashion.
Vera Hamilton - But I Ain’t No More - My first introduction to this track was via a sample included in the amazing Quincy Bright “My Ghetto Looked Like This” sound collage. Turns out it’s a ridiculous song unto itself!
[Image courtesy of Marcele Augustine from Mobile Artbox]
