Booth notebook

Session notes from the booth.

The lineup logic, the song notes, and the things I want you to hear, saved one session at a time.

Stored notes
120
Artists
18
Genres
18
Special turns
0
2 saved turns
Lineup logic first. Song notes right behind it.
Dusky slow burn / loose magnetismPlaylist noteJun 14, 20265:50 PMOpen set

Take Us Back is the thesis, and I'm Every Woman is the answer waiting on deck.

Reach for it when the stack needs body, patience, and a groove that persuades instead of shouts. It leaves I'm Every Woman by Chaka Khan off The Essential Chaka Khan (1) (2011) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in. I'm Every Woman is already changing how the current record reads.

Record in focus
Take Us Back
Mavis Staples
Livin' On A High Note · 2016 · Soul, Funk, R&B
Programming
Open set

Mr Rassy is shaping the next turn from the records already on the deck.

I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Live) · full
Lineup note
Take Us Back into I'm Every Woman

Reach for it when the stack needs body, patience, and a groove that persuades instead of shouts. It leaves I'm Every Woman by Chaka Khan off The Essential Chaka Khan (1) (2011) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context
Livin' On A High Note · 2016

Hearing it against Livin' On A High Note matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. Take Us Back by Mavis Staples off Livin' On A High Note (2016) brings body, timing, and human feel first, so the persuasion happens in the rhythm section rather than in big gestures. With Mavis Staples, the draw is usually in the pocket and the human touch inside it, not just a surface-level style label. The argument is in the pocket: bass, snare, guitar or keys locking together and nudging the song forward without overplaying it.

Listen for
What to catch in the arrangement

Listen to what the rhythm section is doing behind the lead, especially the bass turns, ghost notes, and little pushes that make the groove lean forward. Notice how it hands the weight to I'm Every Woman by Chaka Khan off The Essential Chaka Khan (1) (2011) instead of crowding the next move.

Mavis StaplesChaka KhanMarvin GayeSoul, Funk, R&BSoulRockdusky slow burn / loose magnetismmiddayloose magnetismSoul, Funk, R&B
Session map
3 stored song notes
01now
Take Us Back
Mavis Staples
Why it fits

Reach for it when the stack needs body, patience, and a groove that persuades instead of shouts. It leaves I'm Every Woman by Chaka Khan off The Essential Chaka Khan (1) (2011) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context

Hearing it against Livin' On A High Note matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. Take Us Back by Mavis Staples off Livin' On A High Note (2016) brings body, timing, and human feel first, so the persuasion happens in the rhythm section rather than in big gestures. With Mavis Staples, the draw is usually in the pocket and the human touch inside it, not just a surface-level style label. The argument is in the pocket: bass, snare, guitar or keys locking together and nudging the song forward without overplaying it.

Listen for

Listen to what the rhythm section is doing behind the lead, especially the bass turns, ghost notes, and little pushes that make the groove lean forward. Notice how it hands the weight to I'm Every Woman by Chaka Khan off The Essential Chaka Khan (1) (2011) instead of crowding the next move.

02next
I'm Every Woman
Chaka Khan
Why it fits

I'm Every Woman by Chaka Khan off The Essential Chaka Khan (1) (2011) stays related to Take Us Back by Mavis Staples off Livin' On A High Note (2016) through soul, but changes the pocket enough to matter. Reach for it when the stack needs body, patience, and a groove that persuades instead of shouts. It leaves I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Live) by Marvin Gaye off Live in Tokyo 1979 (2025) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context

Hearing it against The Essential Chaka Khan (1) matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. I'm Every Woman by Chaka Khan off The Essential Chaka Khan (1) (2011) brings body, timing, and human feel first, so the persuasion happens in the rhythm section rather than in big gestures. With Chaka Khan, the draw is usually in the pocket and the human touch inside it, not just a surface-level style label. The argument is in the pocket: bass, snare, guitar or keys locking together and nudging the song forward without overplaying it.

Listen for

Listen to what the rhythm section is doing behind the lead, especially the bass turns, ghost notes, and little pushes that make the groove lean forward. Notice how it hands the weight to I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Live) by Marvin Gaye off Live in Tokyo 1979 (2025) instead of crowding the next move.

03later
I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Live)
Marvin Gaye
Full play
Why it fits

I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Live) by Marvin Gaye off Live in Tokyo 1979 (2025) stays related to I'm Every Woman by Chaka Khan off The Essential Chaka Khan (1) (2011) through soul, funk, r&b, but changes the pocket enough to matter. Reach for it when the stack needs body, patience, and a groove that persuades instead of shouts.

Track context

Hearing it against Live in Tokyo 1979 matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Live) by Marvin Gaye off Live in Tokyo 1979 (2025) brings body, timing, and human feel first, so the persuasion happens in the rhythm section rather than in big gestures. With Marvin Gaye, the draw is usually in the pocket and the human touch inside it, not just a surface-level style label. The argument is in the pocket: bass, snare, guitar or keys locking together and nudging the song forward without overplaying it.

Listen for

Listen to what the rhythm section is doing behind the lead, especially the bass turns, ghost notes, and little pushes that make the groove lean forward.

Open saved booth copy

Mr Rassy is lining up I'm Every Woman by Chaka Khan off The Essential Chaka Khan (1) (2011). Hearing it against The Essential Chaka Khan (1) matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. I'm Every Woman by Chaka Khan off The Essential Chaka Khan (1) (2011) stays related to Take Us Back by Mavis Staples off Livin' On A High Note (2016) through soul, but changes the pocket enough to matter. The transition is earning its place instead of skating by on vibe. The request line is whispering "I need a dusky slow-burn lane with warm low end tonight.".

Dusky slow burn / open hearted staticPlaylist noteJun 14, 202612:23 AMOpen set

Say It Loud is the thesis, and Theme From Shaft is the answer waiting on deck.

Reach for it when the stack needs body, patience, and a groove that persuades instead of shouts. It leaves Theme From Shaft by Isaac Hayes off Shaft (2016) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in. Theme From Shaft is already changing how the current record reads.

Record in focus
Say It Loud
James Brown
20 All-Time Greatest Hits! · 2014 · Soul
Programming
Open set

Mr Rassy is shaping the next turn from the records already on the deck.

After the Dance (Live) · full
Lineup note
Say It Loud into Theme From Shaft

Reach for it when the stack needs body, patience, and a groove that persuades instead of shouts. It leaves Theme From Shaft by Isaac Hayes off Shaft (2016) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context
20 All-Time Greatest Hits! · 2014

matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. (2014) brings body, timing, and human feel first, so the persuasion happens in the rhythm section rather than in big gestures. With James Brown, the draw is usually in the pocket and the human touch inside it, not just a surface-level style label. The argument is in the pocket: bass, snare, guitar or keys locking together and nudging the song forward without overplaying it.

Listen for
What to catch in the arrangement

Listen to what the rhythm section is doing behind the lead, especially the bass turns, ghost notes, and little pushes that make the groove lean forward. Notice how it hands the weight to Theme From Shaft by Isaac Hayes off Shaft (2016) instead of crowding the next move.

James BrownIsaac HayesMarvin GayeSoulSoul, Funk, R&BBluesdusky slow burn / open-hearted staticsunsetopen-hearted staticSoul
Session map
3 stored song notes
01now
Say It Loud
James Brown
Why it fits

Reach for it when the stack needs body, patience, and a groove that persuades instead of shouts. It leaves Theme From Shaft by Isaac Hayes off Shaft (2016) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context

matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. (2014) brings body, timing, and human feel first, so the persuasion happens in the rhythm section rather than in big gestures. With James Brown, the draw is usually in the pocket and the human touch inside it, not just a surface-level style label. The argument is in the pocket: bass, snare, guitar or keys locking together and nudging the song forward without overplaying it.

Listen for

Listen to what the rhythm section is doing behind the lead, especially the bass turns, ghost notes, and little pushes that make the groove lean forward. Notice how it hands the weight to Theme From Shaft by Isaac Hayes off Shaft (2016) instead of crowding the next move.

02next
Theme From Shaft
Isaac Hayes
Why it fits

Theme From Shaft by Isaac Hayes off Shaft (2016) stays related to Say It Loud by James Brown off 20 All-Time Greatest Hits! (2014) through soul, funk, r&b, but changes the pocket enough to matter. Reach for it when the stack needs body, patience, and a groove that persuades instead of shouts. It leaves After the Dance (Live) by Marvin Gaye off Live in Tokyo 1979 (2025) a clean lane instead of boxing the handoff in.

Track context

Hearing it against Shaft matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. Theme From Shaft by Isaac Hayes off Shaft (2016) brings body, timing, and human feel first, so the persuasion happens in the rhythm section rather than in big gestures. With Isaac Hayes, the draw is usually in the pocket and the human touch inside it, not just a surface-level style label. The argument is in the pocket: bass, snare, guitar or keys locking together and nudging the song forward without overplaying it.

Listen for

Listen to what the rhythm section is doing behind the lead, especially the bass turns, ghost notes, and little pushes that make the groove lean forward. Notice how it hands the weight to After the Dance (Live) by Marvin Gaye off Live in Tokyo 1979 (2025) instead of crowding the next move.

03later
After the Dance (Live)
Marvin Gaye
Full play
Why it fits

After the Dance (Live) by Marvin Gaye off Live in Tokyo 1979 (2025) lifts the pressure after Theme From Shaft by Isaac Hayes off Shaft (2016) without snapping the thread. After the Dance (Live) by Marvin Gaye off Live in Tokyo 1979 (2025) brings body, timing, and human feel first, so the persuasion happens in the rhythm section rather than in big gestures.

Track context

Hearing it against Live in Tokyo 1979 matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. After the Dance (Live) by Marvin Gaye off Live in Tokyo 1979 (2025) brings body, timing, and human feel first, so the persuasion happens in the rhythm section rather than in big gestures. With Marvin Gaye, the draw is usually in the pocket and the human touch inside it, not just a surface-level style label. The argument is in the pocket: bass, snare, guitar or keys locking together and nudging the song forward without overplaying it.

Listen for

Listen to what the rhythm section is doing behind the lead, especially the bass turns, ghost notes, and little pushes that make the groove lean forward.

Open saved booth copy

Mr Rassy is lining up Theme From Shaft by Isaac Hayes off Shaft (2016). Hearing it against Shaft matters because it reads like part of an album world, not a detached single. Theme From Shaft by Isaac Hayes off Shaft (2016) stays related to Say It Loud by James Brown off 20 All-Time Greatest Hits! The transition is earning its place instead of skating by on vibe. The request line is whispering "I need a dusky slow-burn lane with warm low end tonight.".