Today's Hot 35

I've had the iPod on shuffle for the past two days while I worked...here are the first 35 songs....an embarrassing amount of Santana-related tunes. I have other stuff in my collection, really! But some good songs turned up here...the standouts were Alice Coltrane's "Journey in Satchidananda" (pure, exquisite, spiritual jazz), and Joy Harjo's "Letter from the End of the 20th Century" (dub poetry, indigenous style -- the ghostly redemption story told in this song will stick with me for a long time). "I Put a Spell On You," with Buddy Guy and Carlos isn't half bad either.

1) Funny Valentine – Dylan Crammer [funny, did someone at Apple program the iPod to play this song on this day?]
2) Letter from the End of the 20th Century – Joy Harjo
3) The Final Peace – Jeff Beck
4) Obatala (live) – Mongo Santamaria
5) Cintura de Alambre – Hilaro Duran
6) I Put a Spell on You – Buddy Guy with Carlos Santana
7) The Sermon – Jimmy Smith
8) Samba Pa Ti – Ottmar Liebert with Carlos Santana
9) Paris Finale – Santana [latin rock meets black gospel to close the show in paris]
10) Go Monkey Go – Devo [don't we all need a little devo in our lives now and again?]
11) Black Manhattan – Clyde Criner
12) Chan Chan – Buena Vista Social Club
13) Orange Blossom Special – Johnny Cash
14) Guiro Para Ogun – Ritmo y Candela [rebeca mauleon does a great santeria chant on this one....though she's really "just" the piano player]
15) Southern Man – Neil Young [this man is incredible]
16) Dick Dogs – Santana [live @ Eric Clapton's Crossroads Benefit]
17) Come Back Jesus – Alpha Blondy
18) Fu-Gee-La – The Fugees
19) Peachfuzz – Michelle Shocked [every Michelle Shocked song is great, imho]
20) Kaya – Bob Marley
21) Boogie Woman – Santana with Los Lonely Boys [live jam from Charlotte, 2005 tour]
22) 3rd Acts vs. Scratch – The Roots
23) Swapan Tari – Santana [say what?]
24) Oh What a Situation – The Caribbean All-Stars with Carlos Santana
25) Highway Robbery – Israel Vibration
26) King of Trees – Cat Stevens [an old sentimental favourite]
27) Negro and Andy Run This Very Night Into the Rumba – Deep Rumba
28) Journey in Satchidananda – Alice Coltrane
29) The Look of Love – Willie Bobo [swoony latin soul jazz]
30) Mark of the Dub – Abyssinians
31) Bonita – Antonio Carlos Jobim
32) Yesterdays – Wes Montgomery
33) Tocororo – Los Munequitos de Manzantas
34) Angklung Sekar Jati – Sekaa Genggong Batu [bali gamelan]
35) Whip It / Girl You Want - Devo