SALUTE TO KAREEM

Recorded during: Mother’s Milk sessions
Length: 5:12
Performers: Flea (bass), John Frusciante (guitar), Chad Smith (drums)
Never played live.

NOTES:

Named for Lakers star Kareem Abdul-Jabar, this was intended as a companion piece to “Magic Johnson”, but was ultimately left off the album (perhaps because it was an instrumental). Its name probably comes the various Salutes to Kareem that accompanied his 1989 retirement.

Much like “Song That Made Us What We Are Today,” it’s listed as a demo on the 2003 reissue, but was actually recorded during the album sessions proper.

An early version of the track leaked to the internet, lacking John’s guitar overdub.

Flea teases “Giant Steps” by John Coltrane in his solo.