Well.....

There goes that.

As I mentioned in my last post, my podcast plan for 2011 was 12 podcasts in 12 months. Well, it doesn't look like it's going to happen. I've been struck by the nightmare of all nightmares, the cruelest break of all cruel breaks (for computer users), I've been struck with a hard drive crash.

The irony here is that just this past weekend, not 4 days ago, I had mentioned to my wife that this weekend, a mere 3 days away from our conversation, I planned to buy a new laptop and a second external for the express purpose of backing up my files. A dedicated backup system to preserve my precious collection.

I'm doing what I can to recover my drive but as it stands now, there's a good chance that I've lost approximately 6,000 albums featuring 85,000 individual mp3s. I've spent a decent chunk of the last 5 years arranging and digitizing my collection. Curating it has been such an enormous time, and financial, investment for me. Words cannot express how emotionally devastated am I by this. I've taken the drive to a highly recommended, and quite costly, data recovery service so hope is not completely lost but in a possibly feeble attempt to soften the emotional blow, I'm preparing myself for the worst. The mere idea of rebuilding my collection seems so daunting that I'm not even sure that I'll even attempt to do it. I may just resign myself to handful of tracks on my phone and leave at that. We'll see.

So the many moods of larrydigital series is done. For now. Thanks to all of you who've listened or bothered to read this blog. I hope to be back soon.

Goodbye for now.

the many moods of larrydigital, pt. 29

To download podcast from the iTunes Store: Click here.

Howdy boyts and girls.

Here's my latest podcast, for February 2011. My plan is to have no skipped months this year, 12 podcasts in 12 months and I made this one just under the wire.

Enjoy.

Episode 29: Here and Now

1. larry's intro
2. ""Contort Yourself" by James Chance & The Contortions (1978)
3. "Jocko Homo" by Devo (1978)
4. "Sank Into the Chair" by Liquid Liquid (2008)
5. larry's interlude #1
6. "Me and Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard (A True Story)" by !!! (2004)
7. "House of Jealous Lovers (Morgan Geist Version)" by The Rapture (2002)
8. "Free for All (Soundstream Remix)" by Rhythm & Sound (2006)
9. larry's interlude #2
10. "Whisper" by Chaz Jankel (1983)
11. "Lola R. For Ever (Lola Rastaquouère)" by Marianne Faithfull (2006)
12. "Miss You" by The Dynamics (2007)
13. larry's interlude #3
14. "Your Teeth In My Neck" by Scientist (1981)
16. "Flashing Echo" by Leo Graham & The Upsetters (1973)
17. "You're No Good" by Ken Boothe & The Aggrovators (2007)
18. larry's interlude #4/outro
19. "Sensimilla" by Yellowman (2008)

This month's theme song is "MRG" by The New Mastersounds.

the many moods of larrydigital, pt. 28

To download podcast from the iTunes Store: Click here.

Hot off the presses, it's my latest podcast, new for 2011.

The original plan for this podcast was to make it a little more soul oriented. Early versions had Solomon Burke, Vicki Anderson and some early Funkadelic later veering into a little mainstream hip-hop with Diddy and Lloyd Banks, with some Aloe Blacc and Van Hunt thrown in the middle there.

I actually completed this podcast the last week of December. It was done, ready to be uploaded for your listening pleasure. But then I got my hands on Chico Mann's Analog Drift. And that's when the wheels fell off.

I've always said that I try to structure these things so they can function as playlists, just take my interludes out and you can play it out at a party. Which I'm aware makes no sense because if that's the goal, why record interludes at all.... but whatev. I had to include the commentary, without it, how would you know that I think Daft Punk sucks (controversial!). Anyway, I heard Chico's album, I was so blown away that I had to include something from it in the latest episode. And so, keep with the party playlist structure idea, the addition of "Once in a Lifetime" changed the song after it, and the one after that, and the one after that, and eventually the one before it and the one before that and so on until the entire episode changed. It morphed from this throwback-ish soul-y kind of thing into this turn of the century dance party. Which is just as awesome in my book. The only song that survived the massacre was Diddy's track "Strobe Lights." That's right. Diddy. Stop hating.

Ok, check it out. Let me know what you think. Emails to larrydigital@gmail.com or if you're really, really, really kind, how about an actual review (good or bad!) at my iTunes page.

Thanks for stopping by.

Episode 28: Same As It Ever Was

1. "Fresh" by Daft Punk (1997)
2. larry's intro/interlude #1
3. "Lady (Hear Me Tonight)" by Modjo (2001)
4. "Music Sounds Better with You" by Stardust (1998)
5. larry's interlude #2
6. "Once in a Lifetime" by Chico Mann (2010)
7. "Steam and Sequins for Larry Levan" by Matmos (2006)
8. "Stillness In Time" by Calvin Harris (2007)
9. larry's interlude #3
10. "Starlight" by Escort (2006)
11. "Whispers" by Aeroplane (2008)
12. "The Real Thing (Cinnamon Chasers Remix)" by Roxy Music (2010)
13. larry's interlude #4
14. "Tall Boy (Professor LaCroix Remix)" by Har Mar Superstar (2009)
16. "Strobe Lights" by Diddy-Dirty Money (2010)
17. "Hip Hop Changed" by Crookers (2010)
18. larry's interlude #5/outro
19. "I'm Not Contagious" by Chromeo (2010)

This month's theme song is "Groove Holmes" by the Beastie Boys.

the many moods of larrydigital, pt. 27

To download podcast from the iTunes Store: Click here.

Ok boys and girls, I'm back with my third (sorta) annual Christmas podcast.

This podcast was actually completed last year but due to technical difficulties beyond my control (a faulty video card that made my laptop inoperable), it was unable to published in time for Christmas. I considered publishing two months later in February (you know, for you Chinese Christmas) but I decided that the best thing to do would probably be to just sit on it. Funny how it worked out though, I considered it ready to go last December but after ruminating on it for so long, I picked and pulled at it and eventually came up with an almost entirely new podcast. Of the 20 tracks from last December, only 6 have remained. That's right, 14 new tracks.

Anyway, so instead of this episode being my third Christmas one in 3 years, it ends up being my third in 4 years. Make sense? Good. This one's a little more country than I expected it to be but I think it turned out fine.

You know, growing up, I never really liked Christmas. I just figured that the whole thing was just one big merchandising scam pushed on us by major corporations. It is of course, but I've maybe softened over the years. Because now I really look forward to Christmas. I really enjoy it, and not just because I have a kid now. The turn started about maybe 5 years ago. I think listening to so many Christmas songs for this podcast may have had something to do with it. I most dig holiday songs from the 50s and 60s. They're just so..... cheery. Campy. Soul ones from the 70s are cool, plus the odd hip-hop song but the country-fied ones from the 50s and 60s really entertain me the most. There might be a whole lot more of those in next year's podcast.

Ok, enough from me. Here's my latest Christmas episode. Enjoy. Let me know what you think.

Episode 27: A Yule That's Cool Tracklist

1. larry's intro
2. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" by Ray Charles (1985)
3. "Back Door Santa" by Clarence Carter (1969)
4. "Merry Christmas, Baby" by Otis Redding (1968)
5. larry's interlude #1
6. "Christmas Time All Over the World" by Sammy Davis, Jr. (1963)
7. "Buon Natale (Means Merry Christmas to You)" by Nat King Cole (1959)
8. "Jingle Bells" by Celia Cruz (1995)
9. larry's interlude #2
10. "A Rootin' Tootin' Santa Claus" by Tennessee Ernie Ford (1951)
11. "The Winter Song" by Tex Williams & the Western Caravan (1949)
12. "To Heck with Ole Santa Claus" by Loretta Lynn (1966)
13. larry's interlude #3
14. "I'm Gonna Lasso Santa Claus" by Brenda Lee (1956)
15. "The Tree" by Peggy Lee (1960)
16. "77 Santas" by Gayla Peevey (1955)
17. "Jing-A-Ling, Jing-A-Ling" by The Andrew Sisters (1950)
18. larry's interlude #4
19. "Cool Yule" by Louis Armstrong & the Commanders (1953)
20. "Dig That Crazy Santa Claus" by Ralph Marterie & His Orchestra (1954)
21. "Hey Santa Claus" by The Moonglows (1953)
22. larry's interlude #5
23. "Dear Santa (Bring Me a Man for This Christmas)" by The Weather Girls (1983)
24. "Christmas Rappin'" by Kurtis Blow (1979)
25. "Dana Dane is Coming to Town" by Dana Dane (1987)
26. larry's interlude #6/outro
27. "Santa Claus Got Stuck in My Chimney" by Ella Fitzgerald (1950

This month's theme song is "Sleigh Ride" by Al Caiola & Riz Ortolani.

the many moods of larrydigital, pt. 26

To download podcast from the iTunes Store: Click here.

Episode 26: Walk On By Tracklist

1. "The Same Thing Again" by Billy Preston (1970)
2. larry's intro
3. "Window Shopping" by Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (2010)
4. "Woman's Gotta Have It" by Bobby Womack (1972)
5. "Ladies" by Lee Fields & The Expressions (2009)
6. larry's interlude #1
7. "The Panties" by Mos Def (2004)
8. "Hey Brother" by Aloe Blacc (2010)
9. "Do Do Wap Is Strong In Here (Ashley Beedle Re-edit)" by Curtis Mayfield (2005)
10. larry's interlude #2
11. "He Can Only Hold Her" by Amy Winehouse (2006)
12. "Fuck You!" by Cee-Lo Green (2010)
13. larry's interlude #3
14. "Look After Me" by Hot Chip (2006)
15. "Runabout" by Little Dragon (2009)
16. "Naïve" by Aldo Vanucci (2009)
17. larry's interlude #4/outro
18. "I.O.U. (12" Version)" by Freeez (1983)

This month's theme song is "Vedo Nudo" by Armando Trovaioli.

the many moods of larrydigital, pt. 25

To download podcast from the iTunes Store: Click here.

Episode 25: Turn It Up Tracklist

1. larry's intro
2. "Fun in the Church" by The Nat Adderley Sextet (1972)
3. "Electric Worm" by Beastie Boys (2007)
4. "Bedstuy Parade & Funeral March" by Mos Def (2004)
5. larry's interlude #1
6. "Next Girl" by The Black Keys (2010)
7. "Colleen" by The Heavy (2007)
8. larry's interlude #2
9. "Turn It Up" by The Bamboos (2010)
10. "Não Posso Te Levar à Sério" by Saravah Soul (2008)
11. larry's interlude #3
12. "Che Che Colé Makossa" by Antibalas (2003)
13. "Mi Gente (Louie Vega Elements of Life Remix)" by Héctor Lavoe (2008)
14. larry's interlude #4
15. "In My Bones" by Groove Armada (1999)
16. "Limon en la Cabeza (Quantic Dub Mix)" by Gecko Turner (2006)
17. "Gravity's Rainbow (Soulwax Remix)" by The Klaxons (2007)
18. larry's interlude #5/outro
19. "Excuse Me (Diplo Remix)" by Gucci Mane (2010)

This month's theme song is "Ronnie's Bonnie" by Reuben Wilson.

the many moods of larrydigital, pt. 24

To download podcast from the iTunes Store: Click here.

Episode 24: Jump On It Tracklist

1. larry's intro
2. "Apache" by Sugarhill Gang (1982)
3. "Request Line" by Rockmaster Scott & The Dynamic Three (1984)
4. "Beat Bop" by Rammellzee vs. K-Rob (1983)
5. larry's interlude #1
6. "Mo' Filth" by Lack of Afro (2009)
7. "Step It Up" by The Bamboos (2006)
8. "The Witch" by The Broken Keys (2006)
9. larry's interlude #2
10. "Picture This" by Beastie Boys (1999)
11. "Foux Du Fafa" by Flight of the Conchords (2008)
12. larry's intro #3
13. "Here Comes the Sun (François K. Remix)" by Nina Simone (2006)
14. "Bababatteur (Quantic Mix)" by Awa Band (2005)
15. larry's intro #4
16. "What's a Girl Gotta Do" by Basement Jaxx (2009)
17. "Flying Saucer" by United Future Organization (1999)
18. larry's interlude #5/outro
19. "She Said What?" by The Quantic Soul Orchestra (2007)

This month's theme song is "Hi Hater (Instrumental)" by Maino.

the many moods of larrydigital, pt. 23

To download podcast from the iTunes Store: Click here.

Episode 23: Lord Have Mercy Tracklist

1. larry's intro
2. "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man" by Muddy Waters (1954)
3. "Lonely Avenue" by Ray Charles (1956)
4. "Saved" by LaVern Baker (1961)
5. larry's interlude #1
6. "The Lip" by Louis Prima & Keely Smith (1957)
7. "Destination Moon" by Dinah Washington (1962)
8. larry's interlude #2
9. "Cajun Moon" by Herbie Mann (1976)
10. "Obsession (Nassau Mix)" by Guy Cuevas (1982)
11. larry's interlude #3
12. "Sorrow, Tears and Blood" by Fela Kuti (1977)
13. "Compressor" by Biting Tongues (1987)
14. larry's intro #4
15. "Wires and Watchtowers" by Thievery Corporation (2005)
16. "Stop Your Gun Shooting" by Errol Dunkley (1976)
17. "Rockers Galore... UK Tour" by The Clash (1980)
18. larry's interlude #5/outro
19. "Limb By Limb" by Cutty Ranks (1993)

This month's theme song is "Stalag 17 Version" by The Techniques All-Stars.

the many moods of larrydigital, pt. 22

To download podcast from the iTunes Store: Click here.

Episode 22: Taxes, Death & Trouble Tracklist

1. "Pablo Picasso" by The Modern Lovers (1976)
2. larry's intro
3. "Dance Yrself Clean" by LCD Soundsystem (2010)
4. "She's Always In My Hair" by D'Angelo (1997)
5. larry's interlude #1
6. "Blow Your Head" by Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s (1974)
7. "Easin' In" by Edwin Starr (1973)
8. "Snidely Whiplash" by The Alexander Review (1975)
9. larry's interlude #2
10. "Holdin' On" by Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators (2005)
11. "Recommendation" by Little Dragon (2007)
12. larry's interlude #3
13. "Me Gustas Cuando Callas" by Brazilian Girls (2005)
14. "Lali Est Paresseux" by Nellie McKay (2006)
15. larry's intro #4
16. "Trouble Man" by Marvin Gaye (1972)
17. "Cosmic Slop" by Funkadelic (1973)
18. larry's interlude #5/outro
19. "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke (1964)

This month's theme song is "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" by Reuben Wilson.

the many moods of larrydigital, pt. 21

To download podcast from the iTunes Store: Click here.

Here's my latest offering for you folks. I dig the way it came out, hope you feel the same.

As I mentioned in the podcast, here are the two covers for the Coup's 2001 album Party Music. I'm sure you can see why they changed the original.

Pre-9/11 cover:



Post-9/11 cover:



Episode 21: Heartaches By The Pound Tracklist

1. larry's intro
2. "Get Out of My Life Woman" by Joe Williams w/ Thad Jones & Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra (1966)
3. "Like Young" by Linda Lawson (1960)
4. "Who Knows" by The Quantic Soul Orchestra (2007)
5. larry's interlude #1
6. "Squire for Hire (12" Mix)" by Nathan Haines (2003)
7. "If It Was Good Enough for Daddy" by Clarence Reid (1973)
8. "Walking on the Moon" by Reverend Jamel & Bob Johnson (2007)
9. larry's interlude #2
10. "Damn Right I Am Somebody" by Fred Wesley & The J.B.'s (1974)
11. "Expansions" by Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes (1974)
12. "Broasted or Fried" by Willie Bobo & the Bo-Gents (1968)
13. larry's interlude #3
14. "Take It Off" by Plantlife (2004)
15. "Lala Song (Tocadisco Re-Edit)" by Bob Sinclar (2009)
16. "On the Dancefloor" by David Guetta (2009)
17. larry's interlude #4/outro
18. "5 Million Ways to Kill a CEO" by The Coup (2001)

This month's theme song is "Spider Baby" by The Link Quartet.

the many moods of larrydigital, pt. 20

To download podcast from the iTunes Store: Click here.

Originally this episode was going to be released in November. But then I pushed it back because I wanted my Motown 50th anniversary podcast to be timely and at the time, I had my Christmas podcast scheduled for December. Of course, that didn't happen due to unforeseen technical difficulties.

Anyway, here it is. Two months later than intended.

Episode 20: There's No Turning Back Tracklist

1. larry's intro
2. "Courage" by The Whitest Boy Alive (2009)
3. "Mr. Moon" by Jamiroquai (1995)
4. larry's interlude #1
5. "I Wanna Be Adored (Rabbit in the Moon's Bloody Valentine Edit)" by The Stone Roses (2000)
6. "Bad Blood" by Simian Mobile Disco (2009)
7. "DJ" by Amanda Blank (2009)
8. larry's interlude #2
9. "Wild Thing (Peaches Remix)" by Tone-Lōc (2007)
10. "Know How Theme (Aaron Lacrate & Debonair Samir RMX)" by Young MC (2008)
11. larry's interlude #3
12. "Mary Jane" by Major Lazer (2009)
13. "Yo Digo Baila" by Mexican Institute of Sound (2009)
14. "Combination Pizza Hut & Taco Bell (Wallpaper. Remix)" by Das Racist (2009)
15. larry's interlude #4
16. "Let It Ride (Jimpster Main Vocal Remix)" by Lisa Shaw (2005)
17. "Blind" by Hercules & Love Affair (2008)
18. larry's interlude/outro
19. "Again" by The Night People (1980)

This month's theme song is "Promenade Des British" by Stereoscope Jerk Explosion.

Long Live the King!

Happy 75th birthday to the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Elvis often gets a bad rap because he allowed Col. Tom Parker to turn him into a caricature in the years before his death but calling him an incredible artist is a tremendous understatement. If you can listen to his From Elvis in Memphis album without being amazed then there's nothing can I say to you because you obviously have no soul.

If you're somehow unfamiliar with Elvis, this NPR link has a nice little roundup of Elvis songs from around the web. If you're feeling indulgent then I recommend the new 4-disc Elvis 75 comp that was released last month. If I had to choose one song for you to sample, it'd have to be his 1975 cover of Chuck Berry's "Promised Land." Check it out on iTunes and if you don't like it, I'll personally reimburse you for it. It's fitting that I recommend that song because as innovative as Elvis was as a performer, he wasn't nearly as original with his actual songs. Many of Elvis' best songs were covers of previously released songs, "Hound Dog," "Blue Suede Shoes," "Are You Lonesome Tonight," "Mystery Train," "That's All Right, Mama," among others. The main reason for that is because his manager Col. Tom Parker flat out refused to pay quality songwriters for their music, figuring that Elvis was the "biggest star in the world" so any song Elvis sang would be a hit so why pay top dollar to the top lyricists. Which sort of makes sense until you learn that Elvis once released a song called "The Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce."

I briefly toyed with the idea of an all Elvis podcast but I honestly didn't feel there'd be enough interest in it. I mean, I'd enjoy it but that's probably about it. Besides, I'm not so sure how well an Elvis podcast would go over so close to a episode dedicated to his former son-in-law, Michael Jackson. The technical difficulties that forced me to cancel my Christmas podcast eliminated the chance of it happening.

For more Elvis, those of you who live in the Los Angeles area should try to make it down the Grammy Museum for the Elvis exhibit. It looks really cool. The exhibit runs through March 28. The Grammy Museum is an awesome place anyway, you should check it out regardless if you haven't already, Elvis exhibit or no Elvis exhibit.

Anyway. Happy birthday to Elvis, the King of Rock 'n' Roll. Now go listen to From Elvis in Memphis. Just make sure you forward through the song "In the Ghetto," haha.

the many moods of larrydigital, pt. 19

To download podcast from the iTunes Store: Click here.

Finally, a new episode. Sorry for the delay. I normally try to have a new podcast out every month or at the very least every other month but I had some technical difficulties that prevented me from posting a new podcast for a while. Much thanks to Mr. Neville Premdas for his assistance in clearing things up.

One thing that irritates me about making these podcasts is that I put so much time and effort into each one only to realize after I publish it that there are things I forgot to include. For example, for Episode 19: The Sound of Young America, I neglected to mention that "The Sound of Young America" was actually the slogan for Motown Records during much of their existence. The other subsidiaries mentioned in the podcast, Tamla Records and Gordy Records, had their own slogans as well, "The Sound that makes the world go 'round" and "It's What's in the Grooves that Counts," respectively.

Also, while I began the podcast with the intent of celebrating most of Motown's 50 year history, I noticed that I mostly focused on those middle years, from the mid-60s to the late 70s. Which, if you're familiar with my musical preferences, sounds about right. The latest record being the Temptations' 1982 single, "Standing on the Top." In all honesty, this particular song never really did much for me but I thought the history behind it (the return of David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks plus production by Rick James) made it an interesting selection.

I'm a little disappointed that so many classic acts didn't make the cut. I really wanted to include Mary Wells' "The One Who Really Loves You" and the Isley Brothers' take on the Supremes' "I Hear a Symphony" but as I mention in the podcast, there's just so much Motown material out there that it's kind of impossible to pick just 13 songs to epitomize that Motown sound. Particularly if you don't want to sound like one of those dozens of generic "Best of Motown" comps out there. And I was desperately trying to avoid sounding like one of those. I also didn't want to load up too many songs from the same artists. Sure I double up on the Temptations but I felt the songs were different enough, since it's obvious they're from vastly different eras, that it'd be ok. And really, limiting the selections, in an attempt to pick the right song was sort of difficult. Considering that I could easily make entire podcasts devoted to some of these artists, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Temptations, Smokey, etc.

Anyway, sure, some of the bigger names got passed up and some of the little known acts are in but I think it works. Let me know if you think so too.

Episode 19: The Sound of Young America Tracklist

1. larry's intro
2. "We've Got a Good Thing Going" by Michael Jackson (1972)
3. "Nothing in This World Like My Baby" by the Originals (2005)
4. "It's Growing" by Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers (1968)
5. larry's intro #1
6. "Someday We'll Be Together" by Diana Ross & The Supremes (1969)
7. "Virgin Man" by Smokey Robinson (1974)
8. larry's interlude #2
9. "Go On and Cry" by The Mynah Birds (1966)
10. "I Just Want to Celebrate" by Rare Earth (1971)
11. "Smiling Faces Sometimes" by The Undisputed Truth (1971)
12. larry's interlude #3
13. "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" by The Temptations (1972)
14. "Time" by Edwin Starr (1970)
15. larry's interlude #4
16. "Got to Give It Up" by Marvin Gaye (1977)
17. "Standing on the Top" by The Temptations (1982)
18. larry's interlude #5/outro
19. "Living for the City" by Stevie Wonder (1973)

This month's theme song is "Superstition" by Ahmad Jamal.

the many moods of larrydigital, pt. 18

To download podcast from the iTunes Store: Click here.

Episode 18: Safety In Numbers Tracklist

1. "Hands of Time" by Groove Armada (2002)
2. larry's intro
3. "The Ballad of Dorothy Parker" by Prince (1987)
4. "Dust" by Van Hunt (2004)
5. "Sex-O-Matic Venus Freak" by Macy Gray (1999)
6. larry's intro #1
7. "Saturn" by The Evil Tambourines (1999)
8. "Talking 'Bout My Baby" by Fatboy Slim (2000)
9. larry's interlude #2
10. "L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K." by Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band (2004)
11. "Gifted" by N.A.S.A. (2009)
12. "Hot In Herre" by Tiga (2003)
13. larry's interlude #3
14. "Oh My Gosh" by Basement Jaxx (2005)
15. "Bulletproof (Dave Aude Cherry Radio Remix)" by La Roux (2009)
16. "Superconfidential" by CLP (2009)
17. larry's interlude #4/outro
18. "100% Pure Love" by Crystal Waters (1994)

This month's theme song is "Executive Dance Party (From the film "Rollerball")" by André Previn.

the many moods of larrydigital, pt. 17

To download podcast from the iTunes Store: Click here.

So here you go, my half-ass tribute to the music of Michael Jackson.

I know what you're asking, "Why half-ass, Larry?"

Well, I'll tell you. I started kicking around the idea of an all Michael Jackson podcast last month after he died but I myself was a little tired of seeing all "Billie Jean" and "Thriller" everywhere so I thought, well, Michael's career didn't exactly start with the Thriller album so what if I focused on his earlier solo work? So I mentioned to my wife that I planned on doing a Michael Jackson tribute without playing anything from Thriller.

Whaaaat?, she asked. You can't have a tribute without playing "Beat It," what kind of tribute is that?

A half-ass one, obviously. Hence, the subtitle.

I had a really good time putting this together. I guess I was getting a little tired of the Michael idolatry myself so for me, listening to his older work was a good reminder that he was an artist. The fact that he became such a spectacle in his later life really overshadowed that. Recently I was reading an interview with Smokey Robinson in Vanity Fair magazine (yeah, I read Vanity Fair, ¿y que?) and he said that Michael was the one of the most complete artists Motown ever produced, he just got lost somewhere along the way. Which is quite a bold statement when you think of some of the luminaries Motown had on their roster, and the influence those artists had in their day.

As you might expect, this episode is a little different. Both in content and tone. Generally, I try to shy away from multiple appearances from the same artist in one podcast but I believed that losing an artist of Michael's magnitude deserved something special.

Check it out, let me know what you think.

Episode 17: Just An Average Man Tracklist

1. larry's intro
2. "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" by Michael Jackson (1979)
3. "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" by The Jacksons (1978)
4. "Somebody's Watching Me" by Rockwell (1984)
5. larry's interlude #1
6. "Dancing Machine (Original LP Version)" by The Jackson 5 (1973)
7. "I Want You Back (Z-Trip Remix)" by The Jackson 5 (2005)
8. "I Wanna Be Where You Are" by Michael Jackson (1972)
9. larry's interlude #2
10. "Get It Together (4Hero Remix)" by The Jackson 5 (2001)
11. "Blame It On the Boogie" by The Jacksons (1978)
12. larry's interlude #3
13. "What Goes Around Comes Around" by Michael Jackson (1972)
14. "We're Almost There" by Michael Jackson (1975)
15. larry's interlude #4
16. "Girlfriend" by Michael Jackson (1979)
17. "Everybody" by The Jacksons (1980)
18. larry's interlude #5/outro
19. "You Rock My World" by Michael Jackson (2001)

This month's theme song is "Hum Along and Dance (United Future Organiztion Mix)" by The Jackson 5.