VARIOUS ARTISTS / “Ain’t No Sunshine Mixtape”
There are some songs that seem to invite reinterpretation even if they are technically of a rudimentary construction. I randomly hit on Bettye LaVette’s version (my external hard drives have over 100,000 selections). I believe that’s also when I was trying to decide did I really want to do Betty Wright this week—her version of “Ain’t No Sunshine” sort of sealed the deal.
When I do these cover Mixtapes I’m trying to go for depth of interpretation and at the same time diversity of approaches. I usually can find four or five good covers but “Ain’t No Sunshine” is down right ridiculous. In the 22 versions we run a humungous course from hard core, straight-ahead jazz to primeval drum & voice chant-downs. These versions include real some surprises in terms of personnel (e.g. Buddy Guy dueting with Tracy Chapman—where in the hell did that combination come from?).
Ultimately, I’ve got to give props to Bill Withers. He has a real knack for saying a lot with a little. Bill’s melodies are catchy and his themes are so common most everyone can emotionally relate to his music. I don’t think I need to say “enjoy.”
—Kalamu ya Salaam
Ain’t No Sunshine Mixtape Playlist
01 Live At Carnegie Hall - Bill Withers 
02 Texas Thunder Soul (1968-1974) - Kashmere Stage Band 
03 Live at the Sahara Tahoe - Isaac Hayes 
04 Presents: the Soulful Years Vol. 1 - (Jaycee and Michael Jackson) 
05 Higher Calling - Dwayne Kerr 
06 Dancing in the Street - Soul Bossa Trio 
07 Speak Like A Child - Billy Childs Trio 
08 Live At The Plush Room - Jacqui Naylor 
09 Inner City Blues - Grover Washington Jr. 
10 I Love The Way You Love - Betty Wright 
11 Blacknuss - Rahsaan Roland Kirk 
12 Bring 'Em In - Buddy Guy & Tracy Chapman 
13 Sunshine! - The Emotions 
14 One Man Band - Adolphus Bell 
15 Change Is Gonna Come Sessions - Bettye LaVette 
16 Inna De Yard - Junior Murvin 
17 Trojan Soulful Reggae Box Set CD1 - Ken Boothe 
18 Afromania - Afro Band
19 Texas Thunder Soul (1968-1974) - J Rocc and Kashmere Stage Band 
20 Songs To Remember - Smoma 
21 Manresa - Fareed Haque 
22 The Soul Classics - Aaron Neville
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