Cherry Mash's Rockin' New Years Eve Playlist

Ain't There Something Money Can't Buy - Young-Holt Unlimited
Reggae Merengue - Tommy McCook & The Supersonics
Ride Your Donkey - Tennors
Could You Be Loved - Bob Marley
How Long Do I Have to Wait for You? (Ticklah Remix) - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
Proud Mary - Ike & Tina Turner
Chained (Alternate Take) - Mavis Staples
Pushin' On - The Quantic Soul Orchestra & Alice Russell
Raise Your Hand - Eddie Floyd
I Heard It Through The Grapevine - Gladys Knight & The Pips
First I Look at the Purse - The Contours
Respect - Aretha Franklin
V Neck Sweater - The Greyboy Allstars
Dolemite - Rudy Ray Moore and The Soul Rebellion Orchestra
Lady Marmalade - Patti LaBelle
Jungle Boogie - Kool & The Gang
Brick House - The Commodores
Eltsuhg Ibal Lasiti - The Daktaries
Gotta Clean Up the World, Pt. 1 - Funky Music Machine
Hard to Handle - Otis Redding
Soul Man - Sam & Dave
I Can't Get Next to You - The Temptations
Standing in the Shadows of Love - Four Tops
Take Care of Business (Pilooski Remix) - Nina Simone
Heavy Soup - Cornershop
The Love You Save - The Jackson 5
Let's Get It on (Single) - Marvin Gaye
I Believe to My Soul - Donny Hathaway
Superfly - Curtis Mayfield
Tell Mama - Etta James
Legs - Darondo
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Across 110th Street - Bobby Womack
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
Budos Rising - The Budos Band
So Glad - The Evil D's

The Crystals

The Crystals were a girl group out of New York that recorded their first hit while still in high school. They recorded with Phil Spector and his wall of sound is in full force on their recordings. They recorded the previously mentioned flop, He Hit Me, and it Felt Like a Kiss. The classic He's a Rebel was recorded in California after Spector moved his studio to the West Coast. Impatient to begin recording, Spector brought in Darlene Love of the Blossoms, along with several other studio musicians, and recorded the song under the Crystals name.

Over the years, members of the Crystals have come and gone but they are still performing. Beware when buying songs by the Crystals. Their biggest hits have been re-recorded by them several times and, frankly, the newer tracks lack the pizazz of the originals.

Playlist for Christmas Eve

Harlem Shuffle - Bob & Earl
Invisible Man - Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators
Budos Rising - The Budos Band
Proud Mary - Ike & tina Turner
Mr. Pitiful - Otid Redding
K.C. Stomp - Timothy McNealy
Just My Imagination - The Temptations
I Believe to My Soul - Donny Hathaway
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
Didn't I - Darondo
Behind the Blue Curtains - El Michels Affair
I Say a Little Prayer for You - Aretha Franklin
Stop in the Name of Love - The Supremes
Sugar - Stevie Wonder
It's a Shame - The Spinners
Rudy Got Soul - Desmond Dekker & The Aces
Get Up Off of That Thing - James Brown
Who's That Lady - The Isley Brothers
Stubborn Kind of Fellow - Marvin Gaye
Rescue Me - Fontella Bass
Dedicated to the One I Love - The Shirelles
Soulful Strut - Young-Holt Inlimited
Do What you Wanna - Ramsey Lewis
Get on the Good Foot - James Brown
V Neck Sweater - The Greyboy Allstars
Kasalèfkut Hulu (From All the Time I Have Passed) - Mulatu Astatke
Movin' On - Ray Camacho
Tell Mama - Etta James
Night Time is the Right Time - Ray Charles
'Cause I Love You - Carla & Rufus
Ain't That Nice - The Dixie Cups
Come and Get These Memories - Martha and the Vandellas
Beechwood 4-5789 - The Marvelettes
When the Boy's Happy the Girl's Happy, Too - The Chiffons
Dancing in the Street - Martha and the Vandellas
Baby, Baby, Baby - Sam Cooke
It's the Same Old Song - Four Tops
Open the Door to Your Heart - Darrell Banks
The Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
ABC - The Jackson 5
Twenty-Five Miles - Edwin Starr
Make The Road By Walking - Menahan Street Band
I Can't Get Next to You - The Temptations
I Just Want to Celebrate - Rare Earth
Respect Yourself - The Staple Singers

Playlist for December 17th

Girl groups and their female soloist counterparts

It's in His Kiss - Betty Everett
The Loco-Motion - Little Eva
Da Doo Ron Ron Ron - The Crystals
Dancing in the Streets - Martha and the Vandellas
Ain't That Nice - The Dixie Cups
You're no Good - Dee Dee Warwick
I'm Blue ( The Gong Gong Song) - The Ikettes
Tweedle Dee - LaVern Baker
The Boy From New York City - The Ad Libs
Mama Said - The Shirelles
When the Boy's Happy ( The Girl's Happy, Too) - The Chiffons
My Boyfriend's Back - The Angels
I Wish I Never Saw the Sunshine - The Ronettes
I Say a Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin
Shake a Tail Feather - The Ikettes
Come See About Me - The Supremes
Needle in a Haystack - The Velvelettes
Bye Bye Baby - Mary Wells
Please Mt Postman - The Marvelettes
Chains - The Cookies
The Way Watusi - The Orlons
A Lover's Concerto - The Toys
Mashed Potato Time - Dee Dee Sharp
After Laughter (Comes Tears) - Wendy Rene
Out in the Streets - The Shangri-las
You Don't Have to Say you Love Me - Dusty Springfield
You Don't Own Me - Lesley Gore
Be my Baby - The Ronettes
He's a Rebel - The Crystals
Will You Love me Tomorrow - The Shirelles
At Last - Etta James
Keep Your Hands off of my Baby - Little Eva
Don't Hang Up - The Orlons
I'm Gonna Get You - The Dixie Cups
Stop! In the Name of Love - The Supremes
Sophisticated Boom Boom - The Goodees
He Was Really Sayin' Somethin' - The Velvelettes
You Beat me to the Punch - Mary Wells
The First Cut is the Deepest - PP Arnold
Every Little Bit Hurts - Brenda Holloway
May my Heart be Cast Into Stone - The Toys
You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes
(Love is Like a) Heat Wave - Martha and the Vandellas
I'll Keep Holding On - The Marvelettes
It's My Party - Lesley Gore
Leader of the Pack - The Shangri-las
I Adore Him - The Angels
One Fine Day - The Chiffons

Eddie Floyd

Eddie Floyd may not come to mind when you think about soul legends but his song writing prowess shaped the sound coming out of R&B powerhouse, Stax Records. Teaming up with Steve Cropper, Booker T. Jones, and many other Stax artists, Floyd created hits for Sam & Dave, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding and more. Almost every Stax artist you can think of, from early Carla Thomas to the final days of the label, Floyd wrote chart topping numbers. He wrote some killer numbers for himself as well.

Knock on Wood from a live performance in 1967. Bonus points: Backed by Booker T. and the MG's

Playlist for December 10th

ABC - The Jackson 5
Papa's Got a Brand New Bag - James Brown
I Heard it Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Dancing in the Street - Martha and the Vandellas
You're Not All That - The Herbaliser (featuring Jessica Darling)
Pushin' On - The Quantic Soul Orchestra & Alice Russell
Sugar - Stevie Wonder
It's a Shame - The Spinners
Young & Holtful - Young Holt Unlimited
Summertime - Billy Stewart
I Believe to my Soul - Donny Hathaway
Knock on Wood - Eddie Floyd
I Just Want to Celebrate - Rare Earth
Dolemite - Rudy Ray Moore and the Soul Rebellion Orchestra
Bosco's Blues - The Sugarman Three & Co (Bull Jun remix feat. Large Professor)
Uprising - Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra
Make the Road by Walking - Menahan Street Band
Compared to What - Roberta Flack
Take Five - Dave Brubeck
Hang on Sloopy - The Ramsey Lewis Trio
Build me up Buttercup - The Foundations
Open the Door to Your Heart - Darrell Banks
To be Loved - Jackie Wilson
Fool Fool Fool - The Clovers
Stubborn Kind of Fellow - Marvin Gaye
One Fine Day - The Chiffons
Invisible Man - Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators
Mercy - Duffy
I Wish I Never Saw the Sunshine - The Ronettes
Anyone Who Had a Heart - Dionne Warwick
Night Time is the Right Time - Ray Charles
Every Little Bit Hurts - Brenda Holloway
Baby I Need Your Loving - Four Tops
See Saw - Aretha Franklin
Satisfaction - Otis Redding
I'm Movin' On - Ike and Tina Turner
Chained - Mavis Staples
Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield
Why Can't There be Love? - Dee Edwards

Playlist for December 3rd

An evening with a liberal dose of afrobeat

Harlem Shuffle - Bob & Earl
How I Got Over - Darondo
Astawesalehu - Lemma Demissew
Voodoo Soul Stew - The Daktaris
Lady - Fela Kuti
Water No Get Enemy - Fela Kuti
I Put a Spell on You - Nina Simone
Kasalefkut Hulu - Mulatu Astatke
Eltsuhg Ibal Lasiti - The Daktaris
Ooh Child - The Five Stairsteps
Money i$ King - The Expressions
Could You Be Loved - Bob Marley
How Long Do I Have to Wait For You? - Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings (Tiklah Remix)
I Can't Get Next to You - The Tempations
Pushin' On - The Quantic Soul Orchestra
Gopher - Yma Sumac
Budos Rising - The Budos Band
Tezeta - Tesfa-Maryam Kidane
Almokerkum Neber - Hirut Beqele
Maw Expensive (a tribute to Fela) - Masters at Work
Yegelle Tezeta - Mulatu Astatke
Lekar Ham Diwana Dil - Asha Bhosle
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Make the Road by Walking - Menahan Street Band
Yekermo Sew - Mulatu Astatke
Feeling Good - Bama & the Family
Mas y Mas - Bronx River Parkway
Pretty Green - Mark Ronson (featuring Santo Gold)
Got to Give it Up (part 1) - Marvin Gaye
Behind the Blue Curtains - El Michels Affair
Heywete Abatey New - Alemayehu Eshete
Chura Liya Hai Tum Ne - Asha Bhosle
Funky for You - Deadbeats
Abbey Rockers #1 - The Superpowers

Darondo

Ladies' man, bon vivant, former pimp (maybe), and come-back soul musician, Darondo can give Al Green a run for his money any day. Recently rediscovered and put on Gilles Peterson's Gilles Peterson Digs America, Darondo is seeing an uptick in his musical career. This NPR article gives a brief bio and, more importantly, access to his transcendental single Didn't I. His recent shows were backed by Nino Moschella's band. Very hot. Good thing he didn't have to count on his public access TV show to make money.

Watch Darondo's opening number at Bumbershoot 2008

Playlist for November 26th

The Loco-Motion - Little Eva
Will You Love Me Tomorrow - The Shirelles
night Time is the Right Time - Ray Charles
At Last - Etta James
Respect - Aretha Franklin
Papa's Got a Brand New Bag - James Brown
Heard it Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
Rescue Me - Fontella Bass
Build Me Up Buttercup - The Foundations
It's the Same Old Song - Four Tops
Beggin' - Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons
Proud Mary - Ike and Tina Turner
This Old Heart of Mine - The Isley Brothers
ABC - The Jackson 5
Get on the Good Foot - James Brown
Papa was a Rollin' Stone - The Temptations
Shotgun - Jr. Walker and the All-Stars
Blue Monday - Fats Domino
Dancing in the Street - Martha and the Vandellas
Please Mr. Postman - The Marvelettes
Shop Around - The Miracles
The Ghetto - Donny Hathaway
Tramp - Otis Redding
Soul Man - Sam & Dave
The Tears of a Clown - Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
Slave - Rolling Stones
Baby Love - The Supremes
Uptight (Everything's Alright) - Stevie Wonder
I Can't Get Next to You - The Tempations
In the Midnight Hour - Wilson Pickett
Midnight Train to Georgia - Gladys Knight and the Pips
Son of a Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield
Green Onions - Booker T & The MG's
Heatwave - Martha and the Vandellas
I'm Movin' On - Ike and Tina Turner
Twenty-five Miles - Edwin Starr
Give me Just a Little More Time - Chairmen of the Board
Young & Holtful - Young Holt Unlimited
Love and Happiness - Al Green
Let's Get it On - Marvin Gaye

Little Eva

Known for her hit The Loco-Motion, Little Eva is a case study in being in the right place at the right time. In 1962, Eva Boyd moved to Brooklyn to stay with some family. There she met members of an after-school group named the Cookies. When one of the girls couldn't get out of class, Eva would fill in for her on stage.

Looking to earn more money, she began babysitting for the songwriting duo of Gerry Goffin and Carole King. Carole and Gerry had written a song for Dee Dee Sharp (Warning: may cause eyes to catch on fire. Here is a better one)Upon hearing Eva sing, they decided to record a demo with Carole singing backup. Music producer Don Kirshner liked it as is and a smash hit was born.

Some say that Eva's crazy dance moves inspired the song in the first place. Little Eva certainly did inspire another song written by King and Goffin. After learning that Eva's boyfriend regularly beat her, she told them it was a sign that he truly loved her. It inspired the song He hit me (and it felt like a kiss) that was recorded by The Crystals under the guidance of Phil Spector. The song was a flop due to the creepy nature of the lyrics. A recent cover of the song by Grizzly Bear does, in my opinion, a better job of interpreting the song.

Little Eva did a bit of recording with the Cookies, who eventually had a few hits of their own, but never had another success like she did with the Loco-Motion. She passed away in 2003.

Legendary Motown bassist James Jamerson

Jamerson terrified bassists all over the world. Read this great bio on James Jamerson, the man who played a masterful bass on hits like Stevie Wonder's I was made to love her.

Playlist for November 19

Build me up buttercup - The Foundations
It's the same old song - The Four Tops
Mr. Big Stuff - Jean Knight
The old one, two - Ramp
Ain't no stoppin' us now - McFadden & Whitehead
Let's groove - Earth, Wind, and Fire
That kind of man - The Heavy
Take care of business - Nina Simone (Pilooski remix)
Ain't got no time to waste - Mixmag (gotta look this one up!)
V neck sweater - Greyboy Allstars
Signed, sealed, delivered I'm your's - Stevie Wonder
Big bird - Eddie Floyd
Invisible man - Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators
One way street - James Taylor Quartet
Pushin' On - Quantic Soul Orchestra (featuring Alice Russell)
Thunder chicken - Mighty Imperials
How long do I have to wait for you - Sharon Jones and the Dap-kings (Tiklah remix)
After laughter (comes tears) - Wendy Rene
The first cut is the deepest - PP Arnold
Night time is the right time - Ray Charles
Got to give it up (part 1) - Marvin Gaye
Gotta clean up the world (part 1) - Funky Music Machine
Make the road by walking - Menahan Street Band
Reach out (I'll be there) - the Mark-Keys
Sweet soul music - Arthur Conley
Love man - Otis Redding
Sock it to 'em, J.B. - Rex Garvin & The Mighty Cravers
First I look at the purse - The Contours
I'm blue (the gong gong song) - The Ikettes
Since I met you baby - Ivory Joe Hunter
Beechwood 4-5789 - The Marvelettes
Dancing in the street - Martha and the Vandellas
Ain't to proud to beg - The Temptations
Money (that's what I want) - Barrett Strong
Do you love me (like you say you do) -Lee Fields and the Expressions
Valerie - Marc Ronson (featuring Amy Winehouse)
Ethanopium - Dengue Fever
If I can't have you - Etta James and Harvey Fuqua
I believe to my soul - Donny Hathaway

Playlist for November 12th

Let's Get it On - Marvin Gaye
I heard it through the grapevine - Gladys Knight and the Pips
You beat me to the punch - Mary Wells
Rehab - Amy Winehouse
I believe to my soul - Donny Hathaway
I've got a woman - Ray Charles
How long do I have to wait for you ? Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings (Ticklah remix)
Reggae merengue - Tommy McCook and the Supersonics
People gonna talk - James Hunter
Higher ground - Ellen McIlwaine
Honey - Erykah Badu
Discotheque dancing - Chris Joss
Respect - Aretha Franklin
Stranded in your love - Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings (Cool Calm Pete - Sweet Nothing remix)
What does it take (to win your love) - Junior Walker and the All Stars
Invisible man - Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators
The tracks of my tears - The Miracles
Ever little bit hurts - Brenda Holloway
Didn't I - Darondo
Ethanopium - Dengue Fever
Deixa pra la - Bronx River Parkway
C.R.E.A.M - El Michels Affair
Budos rising - The Budos Band
That kind of man - The HEavy
Across 110th Street - Bobby Womack
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
Tell mama - Etta James
You're not all that - The Herbaliser featuring Jessica Darling
Respect Yourself - The Staple Singers
I'm movin' on - Ike and Tina Turner
Satisfaction - Otis Redding
I'm a midnight mover - Wilson Pickett
Here I am (come and take me) - Al Green
Souful Strut - Young-Holt Unlimited
Baby I need your loving - The Four Tops

Playlist from November 6

Respect - Aretha Franklin
Funky Stuff - Kool and the Gang
Funky for you - Deadbeats
The "in" crowd - The Ramsey Lewis Trio
Ain't there something money can't buy - Young-Holt Unlimited
First I look at the purse - The Contours
Astawesalehu - Lemma Demissew
He hit me - Grizzly Bear
The loco-motion - Little Eva
Open the door to you heart - Darrell Banks
Tell mama - Etta James
So glad - The Evil D's
Gopher - Yma Sumac
Movin' on - Ray Camacho
Are you man enough - Four Tops
Raise your hand - Eddie Floyd
Love and happiness - Al Green
Mr. Pitiful - Otis Redding
Every little bit hurts - Brenda Holloway
Back to black - Amy Winehouse
Don't give up on me - Solomon Burke
My momma and my poppa - Darondo
Respect yourself - The Staple Singers
Pride and joy - Marvin Gaye
It's a man's, man's, man's world - James Brown
Mercy - Duffy
Do you love me (like you say you do) = Lee Field and the Expressions
Reach out (I'll be there) - The Mar-Keys
This old heart of mine (is weak for you) - The Isley Brothers
I second that emotion - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Sugar - Stevie Wonder
You can't hurry love - The Supremes
Love endeavor - Alice Smith
The love you save - The Jackson 5
I don't know why I love you - David Porter
Out in the Streets - The Shangri-Las
Get Ready - The Temptations

Last night - The Mar-Keys
Money $s king - The Expressions
It only takes a minute - The Tavares
First I look at the purse - The Contours
Ain't there something money can't buy - Young-Holt Unlimited
Does does it take (to win your love) - Junior Walker and the All-stars
Ooh child - The Five Stairsteps
Hound dog - Big Mama Thornton
Grazing in the grass - The Friends of Distinction
Shop around - The Miracles
Higher ground - Ellen McIlwaine
Foxy lady - Willie Hutch
I just want to celebrate - Rare Earth
Soul finger - The Bar-Kays
I say a little prayer - Aretha Franklin
Pride and joy - Marvin Gaye
A lover's question - Clyde McPhatter
Band of gold - Freda Payne
I was made to love her - Stevie Wonder
The loco-motion - Little Eva
This old heart of mine (is weak for you) - The Isley Brothers
Shake, rattle, and roll - Joe Turner
Knock on wood - Eddie Floyd
Get on the good foot - James Brown
I can't get next to you - The Temptations
Gotta clean up the world (part one) - Funky Music Machine
Chained - Mavis Staples
Every little bet hurts - Brenda Holloway
Lonely teardrops - Jackie Wilson
Love man - Otis Redding
Tweedle Dee - LaVern Baker
Dolemite - Rudy Ray Moore and the Soul Rebellion Orchestra
Across 110th street - Bobby Womack
Dancing in the street - Martha and the Vandellas
We'll get over - The Staple Singers
Tell Mama - Etta James
Didn't I - Darando
Baby, baby, baby - Same Cooke
Standing in the shadows of love - The Four Tops
Come see about me - The Supremes
Mr. Big Stuff - Jean Knight
1-2-3 - Len Barry
I wish I never saw the sunshine - The Ronettes