Summertime is in full swing here in California, and these days the weather is very much agreeable with the Mediterranean climate of San Luis Obispo. Wherever you are in the world, I hope that life is treating you well and good.

Just as I was about to present to you this week’s show last week, Michael Jackson passed away. I would have been remiss to not give the talented entertainment a proper tribute, and so it was. To catch the show, be sure to look for last week’s three-hour MJ tribute now online.

And now here it is, Part Two of the Halfway Rewind Special. The focus this week is on the singles & EP’s that were released so far this year, and there’s been plenty of them played on the show in 2009. The tough part always come down to narrowing the list to the ones that I feel are standouts. They don’t necessarily have to be innovative or groundbreaking, though some of the picks came close. And given that it was a three-hour broadcast, even then the full list would have had to embody at least three more hours to fit them all in. So just like last week, at the end of the playlist you will find the other EP’s and singles that didn’t fit in due to time limitations. Whether you put them on your favorite mp3 player, or add them to your essential tunes to spin out at a gig, hopefully you will give your props by supporting these talented acts.

Next week, the show is back on track with lots and lots of fresh new music. Also this month: a guestmix, maybe two, and some surprises as well. So hold on; it’s going to be a great month for music on the show.

As ever, look for the show on Facebook, Myspace and Twitter.

Catch you later this week; peace.

Song – Artist – Title – Label
Little Wonder – Daytoner – Wack
Hustlin’ – Soopasoul – Hot & Cold/Hustlin’ – Jalapeno
V.L.A.M. – Kind and Kinky Zoo – Straighup
Spanish Fly (Noiz in Zion Remix) – Sabbo – It Is The Time EP – Botanika
Arcade (Stefan Goldmann Remix) – Santiago Salazar – EP – Macro
Read My Mind (Chris Barker Remix) – Clyde featuring Jane Hamilton – EP – M8MC
Background Noise (Pablo Sanchez and Odnam Remix) – Soul Vigilantes featuring Xan Blacq – EP – Lovemonk
April Weather (ElectroVocalPhenomina Remix) – Ekiti Son featuring Valeska Jakobowicz – EP – Office Ekiti
Love Is (Danny Krivit Re-edit) – Demis Roussos – EP – Discograph
Jump (Eddy Meets Yannah Remix) – Sepalot – Red Handed Remixes – Compost
Beatdown – Valuka – Sundown EP – Doppleschall
Roks Dogg – Wbeeza – New Skank EP – Third Ear
Tronic Matic – Lorenz Rhode – Motor Cortex EP – Exploited
Lost Piano (Tin Man Remix) – Larissa Kapp – EP – Tjumy
Wait A Minute (Extended Mix) – Osborne – Hovercrafting EP – Spectral Sound
Carnival Time – Rondenion – Love Bound EP – Rush Hour
Never Be The Same (TJ Kong and Nuno Dos Santos Remix) – Alif Tree – Clockwork Remixes EP – Compost
Take The Weight (Peter Kruder Vocal Mix) – Stereotyp – EP – G-Stone
Parallels (Charles Webster Remix) – Atjazz featuring Dawne B. – EP – M8MC
Beats Like Birds (Trus’me Remix) – Marbert Rocel – The Pack Remix EP – Compost
Sunday Weekend – Ken Hayakawa – Sophisticated Sass Sounds EP – Tjumy/Sass
Leaving You – Candy Apple featuring Anjou – Deep London Miami Sampler EP – Deep London
I Know – N’Dinga Gaba featuring Denise – EP – Real Tone
All Systems Down (Izmabad Vocal Mix) – Opolopo featuring Amalia – EP – Deeper Soul
M4 Movements – Circle of Funk – Baldeelox
Hold On Tight – Lorenzo Bartoletti and Matteo Matteini – Suara Showroom 3 EP – Suara
Zippo – Will Saul and Mike Monday – EP – Buzzin’ Fly
END BROADCAST

Other Recommended Singles & EP’s
The Young Lovers – Shake Up The Ghost EP – Loungin’
Gelka – Super Skeleton EP – Wax On
Lovey & Yusef – Get Busy EP – Tragic Magic
Cecilia Stalin – Afro Blue EP – Ajabu
Yellowtail featuring Monday Michiru – Everything Is Alright EP – Bagpak
Nebraska – Variations #2 EP – Rush Hour
The Deadbeats – Loafin’ EP – Wax On
Colonel Red – Roaming Lion EP – Ruff Language
Joakim – Watermelon Bubblicious EP – Versatile
Partners in Crime – Goin’ Underground/Get In To It EP – Swedish Brandy
Manmade – Feature Funk Vol. 1 EP – Manmade
Manno and Francois A – Today is Tomorrow EP – Buzzin’ Fly
Norman Talley – The Journey/In Your Soul EP – Third Ear
Peter Kruder – Chordal/The Law of Return EP – Macro
Rob Slac – Goddess of Groove EP – FastFWD
Soultourist – Fo Eva EP – Drumpoet Community
Shahrokh Sound of K – Black Label #48 EP – Compost
Deborah Jordan – Remix EP – Futuristica Music
K-Scope – Precious Heart EP – 4Lux White
Inaya Day & Ralf Gum – Reap EP – Deep Sugar
Etienne Jaumet – Entropy EP – Versatile
Beverley Road All Stars – I’m Still in Love/Danger In Your Eyes – Bastard Jazz
Li’ll Bo Tweak and Art Bleek – Tweak, Bleek, & a Disco Freak EP – Loungin’
Opolopo featuring Amalia – I Do EP – Swedish Brandy
Polar Pair – This is What Happens EP – Botanika

 

 Show 12.23 - The Halfway Rewind Special: The Singles & EP's [179:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

As I listen back to the Michael Jackson tribute special recorded live well over a week ago, I marvel at just how well the tunes hold up in 2009. There are no fillers here; these are all really good tunes. It doesn’t matter if it’s way back when with the Jackson 5 and the background talents of The Corporation, or if it was with The Jacksons with the soul uber-producers Gamble and Huff, or if it’s MJ himself with Q, affectionately nicknamed for the legendary Quincy Jones, the various productions pushed the bounds of what pop and soul music was supposed to be.

Michael Jackson was certainly an entertainer that has pushed through one boundary after another. In his four decades as a talent to be reckoned with, from being the lead vocalist of the Jackson 5 to just about owning the world with the record-breaking success of his album Thriller, he did no wrong in percolating the right ingredients for surefire party jams, or even heartfelt ballads, that stirs many an emotion to this day.

So when the news broke on Thursday July 25th that Michael Jackson had passed away, it was too unbelievable to be true. So unbelievable it was, that the Internet was abuzz in speculation for several hours. Eventually, the truth was known that the once King of Pop was pronounced dead at age 50.

Say what you will about the last 10-15 years of his turbulent life, fueled by plenty of media speculation that has taken his career downward in a big way, few on earth can deny the massive musical legacy that Michael Jackson has left us. And just as he was on the verge of a major comeback that would have had him perform 50 shows at London’s O2 Arena, what we now are left with is the music.

So in lieu of Part Two of the Halfway Rewind Special, a three-hour musical retrospective of MJ, from the breakout songs alongside his brothers collectively known as the Jackson 5, through his extremely fruitful solo collaboration with Quincy Jones, comes some of the best works. Not much here in terms of remixes (except a couple) or rarities, and that’s okay. In the end, it’s about saluting the talents of one of the most formidable entertainers in the history of music.

Here’s hoping that you enjoy the show, the quotes…all of it.

Rest in peace, MJ.

Song – Artist – Title – Label
Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson – Off The Wall – Epic
Rock With You – Michael Jackson – Off The Wall – Epic
Working Day and Night – Michael Jackson – Off The Wall – Epic
Get on the Floor – Michael Jackson – Off The Wall – Epic
Off the Wall – Michael Jackson – Off The Wall – Epic
Girlfriend – Michael Jackson – Off The Wall – Epic
She’s Out of My Life – Michael Jackson – Off The Wall – Epic
I Can’t Help It – Michael Jackson – Off The Wall – Epic
It’s the Falling in Love – Michael Jackson – Off The Wall – Epic
Burn This Disco Out – Michael Jackson – Off The Wall – Epic
The Love You Save – The Jackson 5 – ABC – Motown
ABC – The Jackson 5 – ABC – Motown
Ready or Not Here I Come (Can’t Hide from Love) – The Jackson 5 – Third Album – Motown
Mama’s Pearl – The Jackson 5 – Third Album – Motown
I’ll Be There – The Jackson 5 – Third Album – Motown
Maybe Tomorrow – The Jackson 5 – Maybe Tomorrow – Motown
Never Can Say Goodbye – The Jackson 5 – Maybe Tomorrow – Motown
Enjoy Yourself – The Jacksons – The Jacksons – Epic
Keep on Dancing – The Jacksons – The Jacksons – Epic
Show You The Way to Go – The Jacksons – The Jacksons – Epic
Goin’ Places – The Jacksons – Goin’ Places – Epic
Do What You Wanna – The Jacksons – Goin’ Places – Epic
Dancing Machine – The Jacksons – Motown
Blame It on the Boogie – The Jacksons – Destiny – Epic
Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground) – The Jacksons – Destiny – Epic
Lovely One – The Jacksons – Triumph – Epic
Can You Feel It – The Jacksons – Triumph – Epic
Walk Right Now – The Jackson – Triumph – Epic
Up on the Housetop – The Jackson 5 – The Christmas Album – Motown
P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing) – Michael Jackson – Thriller – Epic
Wanna Be Startin’ Something – Michael Jackson – Thriller – Epic
The Lady in My Life – Michael Jackson – Thriller – Epic
Another Part of Me – Michael Jackson – Bad – Epic
Smooth Criminal (Remix) – Michael Jackson – Epic
Bad – Michael Jackson – Bad – Epic
Ben – Michael Jackson – Ben – Motown
I Can’t Help It (Tangoterje Edit) – Michael Jackson – EP 12″ – G.A.M.M.
END BROADCAST

 

 Show 12.22 - Michael Jackson Tribute Special [181:30m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download