Pullin From The Stacks ( Ian Head's Groove )

Thematic PFTS Episodes

Pullin From The Stacks - a personal selection

DJ IAN HEAD 👳

Eat a Dick Donald Trump

Travels happened this summer - couple days in Pittsburgh, two weeks in Portland, few days in Chicago, then back to the Apple. Along the way, multiple visits were made to key vinyl vendors. Additionally, I went back through some old boxes I'd left at my mom's house the past few years and pulled out a couple gems. In-between roaming the aisles and avoiding papercuts while thumbing through record sleeves, it was interesting to think about how my priorities in digging have changed. I've really been getting into some of the slower, bluesier soul joints - don't know if it's the thick summer weather or I'm just getting older. That being said, I'm still out here looking for the funk.

This is an all-vinyl mixtape, about half an hour of a few of the 45s that I found over the past couple months. Big shout out to all the fam and digging peoples and especially my non-digging friends who let me sneak off for a couple hours to stare at record labels.

I'm starting to put together a more lengthy "Fall" mix, but had to throw something out there in the meantime. THE DIGGING NEVER STOPS!! Hope you enjoy.

- DJ Ian Head

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The Digging Never Stops (All-45s Mixtape)

This past weekend I hit up Egon's store Rappcats where DJ Shadow was selling some of his vast collection. I missed the opening day but snuck in and out on Sunday with a random high school band record, featuring a nice cover of Freddie Hubbard's "Little Sunflower" as well as some original tunes. That record reminded me I'd been wanting to do a school band episode of Pullin for awhile now, so it was a good inspiration to dig through my crate of very random college and high school music for a couple of my favorites. You never know what you're getting with these records - so many are poor quality recordings or cheesy renditions, but among the many there are some real gems. Hope you dig.

October 26 2021

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Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 180 (School Band Records)

Here's the second tape in my "seasonal" series - a compilation of eclectic tunes from recent and past digging adventures. Something to bump on the headphones after you zip your hoodie up and stroll up the block, crunchy and soulful. No tracklist for this one - thumb through a crate or two and I'm sure you'll come up with some of these cuts.

I'm continuing to feature artistic friends of mine with this series of tapes. Big shout out to Brian Burk, whose beautiful photo of a cool fall sky graces the cover. You can check out more of his incredible photos at http://brianburk.smugmug.com. Also special shout to the homie Turiya, who's getting back into vinyl and let me feature part of an interview I did with her on this tape.

Hope you all enjoy. Stay warm.

- DJ Ian Head 

Fall (mixtape)

Ending 2021 with a long set of some of my favorite purchases this past year! (I can't really call most of these "digs"). This episode is a combination of some long-time wants I knocked off the list with some of my favorite new records by both young, incredible artists as well as brilliant veterans like Brian Jackson.

A huge, massive thank you to all the listeners who have tuned in this year, whether new or old. I greatly appreciate you. Special shout to Pipomixes for posting my mixes and for keeping DJ mixes alive for us all still doing this stuff! 

Tracklist: Michel Sardaby, Brian Jackson, Nucleus, JAB, Alex Santos Orchestra, Johnny Frigo Sextet, Garay Trio, Brandee Younger and Dezron Douglas, Jimmy Heath, Amanda Whiting, Mankunku Quartet

December 22 2021

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Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 185 (Favorite Records I Got in 2021)

Took me a second to get to this one. This winter has been a little hectic, but in a good way: the collision of work with school with travel to see family and friends. In-between, digging and stumbling between crates continues to be a constant. Besides my usual NYC adventures I was back in Portland for a couple weeks, and a quick day of almost getting caught by the polar vortex in Chicago - but still somehow managed to make it to the record store for an hour despite 2 feet of snow and freezing temperatures. This chaos the past couple months, combined with the ice-cold temperatures, has worked to create a bit of a bizarre tape, with more of a "rock" style edge. I tried to keep it eclectic as usual, and give a broad sampling of a few things I've dug up these last few weeks. All vinyl. No tracklisting, just holler if you need that science.

I'd also like to say RIP to Amiri Baraka and Pete Seeger. Both had a profound effect on the ways I view and listen to music and politics.

I hope everyone is staying warm.

- DJ Ian Head 

Winter (Mixtape)

Sorry for the long delay, been a busy month. Starting to pack the records up now, so this will be my last mix at my current residence, and probably for another few weeks until I get things unpacked on the other side of LA. Kept things thematic for this one though - all jazz-related releases on the Melodiya label, which was the Soviet-era label that released records from not only Russia but other countries in region. Been slowly building a small stack of vinyl from this label and figured I'd play a few here. Enjoy!

August 22 2022

Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 206 (Melodiya Jazz)

Decided to do a more thematic set this week, dedicated to the incredible Japanese jazz label Three Blind Mice. I don't have a ton of their records but wanted to highlight several I do have, and that might not be as "famous" as some of the other TBM records that have been repressed recently. Hope you dig it! Please subscribe on Apple Pods and leave a rating if you have a moment!

Tracklist: Masaru Imada, T. Takahashi and Tokyo Union, Hideo Ichikawa Trio, Bingo Miki, Isao Suzuki Trio, Isoo Fukui Quartet, Sleepy Matsumoto Quartet, Shoji Yokouchi Quartet

December 7 2022

Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 215 (Three Blind Mice Records)

Last PFTS for the year! A mix of some of my favorite purchases this past year, especially in regards to older music. Recorded live last night on Twitch. Thanks so much to everyone who tuned in, downloaded, re-posted and listened to even part of an episode this past year - you are much appreciated! 

Tracklist: Terumasa Hino, Ken Rhodes, Tania Maria, King James Version, Collage, Brian Bennett, Greg Foat, Gianni Brezzo, Johnny Cretu Raducanu

December 21 2022

Pullin from the Stacks Episode 217 (2022 Favorites)

A warm sun finally came out this weekend in NYC and the time felt right to drop the Spring mixtape. After the non-stop barrage of cold weather these past few months, I tried to keep things upbeat and bright, a gathering of mostly-instrumental vinyl selections I've picked up recently and not-so-recently. I hope you play it with the breeze blowing in through the apartment windows you've finally cracked open.

This is the last piece of my four-part "seasonal" mixtape series, and once again I am blessed to have an incredible photographer donate some of her work for the cover. Everyone should check out the beautiful photography of Hong-An Tran at http://www.hongantran.com/ and http://ruinista.com/. Seriously good.

Again no tracklisting on this one. For those curious about the records used, there's a few clues on my Instagram. 

Spring (Mixtape)

New weekly podcast from DJ Ian Head. Just playin some eclectic records for you all every Sunday. Since this is the first episode, I'm gonna keep it simple and cross my fingers that I can do this every week for at least the near future. 

Tracklisting: The Jazz Piano Quartet, Patti Brown, Nina Simone, The Soulful Strings, Young-Holt Trio, Tyrone Davis, Chocolate Milk, Mike Longo, Harry Belafonte, Nirvana, The Lloyd Miller Trio

Pullin From the Stacks Podcast (Episode 1)

We're back for week two! Many thanks to everyone who checked the first episode, and to Pipomixes and Grandgood for promoing it last week. 

Tracklisting: Osmosis, Eddie Palmieri, the John Young Trio, Curtis Mayfield, the Supremes, Isaac Hayes, Bill Withers, Pete Seeger, Ramsey Lewis, the Temprees

Pullin from the Stacks Podcast (Episode 2)

The latest episode! All 45s on this one. Tracklisting: Richard Roundtree, Jimmy McGriff, Cannonball Adderley Quintet, The Three Sounds, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, William DeVaughn, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Eddie Harris, Ray Bryant, The Loading Zone, The Fantastic Johnny C, The Mirettes, T-Bone Walker

Pullin from the Stacks Podcast (Episode 3 - all 45s)

feelin under the weather this weekend, so just played a couple art blakey cuts. a few get a little crunchy, but hopefully it adds to the flavor.

Pullin from the Stacks Podast (Episode 4 - crunchy art blakey records)

Back with some funky covers and heavy soul. Tracklisting: Black Pearl, Freda Payne, Curtis Mayfield, Cal Tjader, Willie Bobo, Ella Fitzgerald, Sly and the Family, Incredible Bongo Band, Rare Earth, Freddy Robinson, Pete Seeger.

Pullin from the Stacks Podcast(Episode 5)

Pullin some more eclectic protest records from the past that hopefully connects with the present. Big shout out to everyone staying in the streets and supporting the families of Michael Brown, Eric Garner and all the people murdered at the hands of law enforcement.

Pullin from the Stacks  Podcast (Episode 7 - Protest Music)

I've done 7 x 1 hour mixes, solely made up of old tunes sampled in classic Hip Hop tracks - but cut up on two copies / decks to re-create the loops / chops people used.
I didn't use any compilations, reissues, bootlegs, or downloads. All originals. I've always been a digging fiend on the side!
But - to save the original pressings (and also cos it's hard enough to get one copy of some of these, let alone two!) - I loaded them into Serato vinyl, so I could scratch away to my heart's content, with ruining anything!
So here's VOL.1.
Further volumes to follow...
Enjoy...

Fake Blood - "USED" Vol.1

And here is the third in my "USED" series of mixes...
Me cutting up 2 copies of old tracks sampled in classic Hip Hop tunes.
All originals. No compilations or reissues. Crates power.
Still more volumes still to come!

Enjoy...

Fake Blood - "USED" Vol.3

Back with the first official Summer episode. All piano jazz tunes from mainly recent digs. Michel Sardaby, Les McCann, Michael Longo, Zimbo Trio, Ray Bryant, [redacted], the Three Sounds, Monty Alexander.

Pullin from the Stacks Podcast - Episode 19 (Piano Jazz)

Here is Vol.4 of my "USED" series.

All original pressings of old tracks sampled in classic Hip Hop tunes, cut up on 2 copies.

Enjoy!

Fake Blood - "USED" Vol.4

As promised, here is the 5th in my "USED" series of mixes!

All original pressings of old tracks sampled in classic Hip Hop tunes, cut up on 2 copies.

Enjoy!

(working on Vol.6 right now...)

- FB

Fake Blood - "USED" Vol.5

Here is the 6th and last in my USED series.

As with all the previous volumes, it's 100% original pressings of old tracks sampled in classic Hip Hop tunes, loaded into Serato (to save them getting wrecked and cos many of them are super rare), and then cut up on 2 copies.

Hope you enjoy this one as much as the others.

- FBx







Fake Blood - "USED" Vol.6

This episode I invited my record-digging partner in crime, DO77 aka Verbal Math of Dollabin, to spin some of his favorites. It's a great fusion-filled set filled with all kinds of treats! In DO77's own words: "I love jazz fusion so I know it can go off the rails real quick. Don’t worry, I just threw together some chill fusion grooves by some of the usual suspects, a couple of lesser known gems, and Frank Zappa who is a genre by himself. I also dropped in one of jazz’s most important current voices, Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah. Thanks to Ian Head for the invite! Hope you all enjoy."

Tracklist:
Flora Purim - Some Time Ago
Tony Williams Lifetime - Wildlife
Miroslav Vitous - Aim Your Eye
Weather Report - Indiscretions
Frank Zappa - It Must Be a Camel
Azymuth - The House I Lived In
Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah -Liberation over Gangsterism
Jaco Pastorius - Portrait of Tracy

September 20 2018

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Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 93 featuring Guest Set from DO77

Back from a trip to Philadelphia with a few selections, plus a couple more from the Brooklyn crates. Enjoy!

Tracklist: Walt Barr, Synthesis, Groove Holmes, Connexion, Harold Johnson Sextet, Anthony Ortega Quartet, Paul Horn

July 17 2019

Pullin from the Stacks - Episode 112 (Recent Digs & Classics)

I enjoyed making this tape. It's a bit different from my more crunchy, vinyl-heavy mixes, but hopefully still bump-able at the local evening picnic or house party. You can do silly dances to it, or just cool out and sip a nice iced beverage while it rocks in the background. Either way, don't sleep on the Vijay Iyer's jazz cover of MIA's "Galang."

I'm planning on doing a series of "seasonal" mixes, in combination with covers from a variety of artists and photographers I know. The first cover is from world traveler, documentarian and incredible photographer Daniel Littlewood, a close friend since high school. You can find more of his photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/daniellittlewood.

Tracklisting:

JuJu Orchestra - "Nao Posso Demorar"
Platinum Pied Pipers - "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover"
Erykah Badu - "I Want Moombah" (J Boogie Edit)
Johnny Hammond - "Tell Me What to Do" (Whiskey Barons ReWork)
Jazzanova - "Boom Klicky Boom Klack" (Mr. Scruff's Vocal Mix)
Up, Bustle and Out - "La Morena en El Viento Andaluz"
Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth - "The Creator" (Surfboard Mix)
Cal Tjader - "Borneo" (The Gaff Edit)
Gilles Peterson's Havana Cultura Band - "Orisa" (Atjazz Love Soul Remix)
Five Corners Quintet - "Unsquare Bossa"
Visioneers - "Rocket Man (Afro-Latin Joint)"
Vijay Iyer Trio - "Galang" (Trio Riot Version)
Louie Gee Ensemble - "Scrabble"

Summer (Mixtape)

When I'm not at the dayjob, I'm probably at a record store. Pullin from the Stacks podcast most Wednesdays, available here, Apple Pods (please subscribe!) and elsewhere.