I haven't really gone much into newer programmed music in this blog. Although it's always been a great part of my musical interest. I guess, as with lots of other afficiandos, it's where it all started and then you go backwards for the roots of all music. This summer as I've played out lots more than usually, and also doing longer sets, I've been able to integrate more house and related music.
This is one of those tracks that always do it for me. Electronic dance music that has aged well, deep Chicago rawness from Li'l Louis in 'How I feel'. Let there be some house!
Although this is Teddy Pendergrass' release, Stephanie Mills should definately be credited for her vocal duties. That's it really. Well, add Dexter Wansell on production and PIR - Amazing vintage dance music!
Sometimes you tend to forget about the obvious records. The sort of non-rare LP's by classic artists. This is the title track from one of those - Chaka Khan's "What cha' gonna do for me". Definately one of my favourite vocalists all time.This is such a solid LP, filled with great tracks that has standed the test of time. All I can say; if you haven't got this one - you need it.
Making mixes is a bit of a mental hassle, this is usually where my confidence gets a bit of a tackle. The thrive for perfection is against accomplishment. Anyhow, last weekend, on the warmest day so far, I grabbed a stack of records and took it from there. To keep it simple and just to get it done. No sync tools or other gimmicks, a bit ruff round the edges - one take on the decks. Soulful and sleazy, occassionally slightly left of centre, bits of house and all that. I hope you dig!
Tracklist:
Joe Cocker – Woman to woman
Blair – Nightlife
Michael Zager Band – Don’t sneak on me
Sunburst band – Everydub
Dennis Parker – Like an eagle
Parlour – Sark powers
Norman Giscombe Jr – Get up and dance
Secrets – Unknown
Vakula – Different tone
Theo Parrish – Twin cities
Toby Tobias – Macasu (MCDE rmx)
Mascara - Baja (Instrumental Dub Version)
Was not was – Wheel me out
Chicago Shags – Flamingo world
East 17 divisions – Textures
Charles B - Lack of love (Garage mix)
Maurice Fulton - This Is What You Want (Dr Scratch Vibe Mix)
From tomorrow i'm starting a new summer residency throughout July and August. I'm very exctied to say the least as I haven't done this for quite a few years. I guess it's going to be a quite ruff mix from jazz to techno. You know; joining the dots and all that. That's obviously the beauty of having a 'residency' - to form and shape the musical direction.
So here's some tunes to share my enthusiasm and which most certainly will get some spins throughout the summer.
This is for the old school ravers - Halloween's 'Come see what it's all about'. A very solid mid-tempo disco/boogie number from this short-lived group. They released just one LP in 79', produced by former Motown and Jackson Five producer Jerry Marcellino.
This is my personal pick, though the spacey disco-tune 'Lady midnight' might address to some of you. It's all well worth looking for, both available on 12" or LP.
This tune is boss! An absolutely amazing song crossing between modern soul and disco. We're talking about a fairly ellusive 12" from Mary Mundy on Laurie Records. Apparently there's a different 7" version, don't quote me on that though, I haven't seen or heard one. I know the Moton dudes released this on one of their bootes some time ago.
Voila - some proper vintage dance music for your pleasure.
This is proper summer grooves by Mighty Fire. From their self titled 1982 LP, the track - 'Just a little bit' takes us on a full and mature swing. The group released two LP's, the first in 81', and are very much in the vein of the typical L.A boogie funk genre from the time. Which is not a bad thing at all.
Not to confuse with the French contemporaries (this is lot more interesting). This track is from a 1971 self titled LP by... Yes - Air. Released on Herbie Mann's label Embryo, and prog-ish jazz of highest order and actually produced by Herbie himself. This is a fantastic LP from beginning to end. To be frank, there aren't really many records where every track works in this way.
A funny coincidence is that I just recently found, and posted, a later Googie and Tom Coppola track. These are all fairly new founds for me, and I haven't really done my research here. Please feel free to give us brief story on the Coppola couple.
Anyway, seek out the LP, check the Mr. Man track here to get a feel for the quality.
Ok, here's the deal. I've been away on holiday, hence the non-existing posting. A great holiday in Italy, after my arrival I did three nights (dj'ing) in a row, and now I'm absolutely knackered. I'm not used to that anymore. But I'm not complaining - it's great.
Anyway, during my visit to Italy I attended a wedding. A good friend, and a music aficiando got married - All the best J-san! One thing that I will carry along from the wedding is the fact that David Axelrod's 'Holy Thursday' got played in the church.
How cool is that!?
Some of you have probably heard this from Seu Jorge and Almaz. A great (growing) cover of Roy Ayers' 'Everybody loves the sunshine'. A long player and 12" is set for release on Now Again Records later in the summer. Go there to get a free download of the track.
For better or worse, I need different flavours to spice up an ideal music experience. No matter how much can admire those who can do the tricks with strictly house music and such like, I get very easily bored if there's no dynamics in the mix.
Actually this introduction isn't going nowhere...
I guess my point is that this particular mix became a quite stringent towards the end with mainly soul/boogie stuff. As it's done with none preparation, afterwards, I can think that it should have been programmed differently to make it even more "homogeneous". But, nah, that's not what i do. I enjoy it the most when having my stacks of records and the just let it flow. Obviously doing it in the bedroom, there's no audinece to communicate with, which it's essentially about. Therefore I always get a bit anxious about my selections, but on the other hand it's all about the tunes. And them, I'm quite confident with.
So here you go, the odd bit here and there, and then a full on (almost) boogie journey. But first and foremost a musical celebration for the summer months to come.
How about some Jorge Ben!? Yes, it's that time to start to dig out some brasilian niceness. One of my all time favourite Brasilians, and a succesful and well established artist in Brasil since the 60's. This track - 'Comanche' is from the 1971 Negro É Lindo LP, actually arranged by Arthur Verocai, released on Philips (Brasil).
Check out this fine remix of Miguel Atwood-Ferguson’s Suite for my Dukes, by Georgia Ann Muldrow. Go to the VTech site for an extended video and MP3 download.
This beautiful winner - Missing love is by Googie and Tom Coppola. It's available as a 12" or on the Shine the light of love LP. This rip is from the promo 12" which says 'Special version' (I can't really tell the difference from the LP version as I've not heard it). Not that it really matters - Get it to your player, get out for a stroll in the sunshine, have an ice cream and leave your worries for a second.
This is a bad motherph*cker by Michel Legrand, from the soundtrack off Un Homme est Morte.Can't say I know much about him, I know he's composed quite a few soundtracks. There's a few jazzier ones, which are quite nice. But I felt the urge to give some heads up for this one. The original is very (very) scarce, Jazzman Gerald claims he's only seen a copy once. Now reissued by the fine Vadim Music. A bit pricier than your average reissue, but your getting what you pay for. Original artwork, inner sleeve and all that, but the track is worth it all alone.
I've got some outdoor gigs lined up for this summer. This is certainly one track that will get some spins from me this season; Karen Youngs - Deetour. Some would call it balearica - fair enough, but to avoid that particular reference, I'd say it easily crosses over to other genres.
And first and foremost a great track which shouldn't fail.
Arthur Verocai is one of my all-time favourite producers and arrangers from Brasil. His self titled LP is just one of those records you will appriciate for the rest of your life. Dj Nuts is the.., perhaps the brasilian Dj Shadow?! Amazing tunes and skills.
So this particular mix, I believe, has something to do with the Brasil-in-time project by Mochilla. Anyhow, check it out at The Sounds of VTech. It's beautiful!
"DJ Nuts is an astute and rigorous historian of Brasil’s vast and varied musical culture. His record collection is legendary; his skills as a DJ are world class. We commissioned him to make this mix to help people understand the extraordinary legacy of Verocai. Many by now know Verocai’s self-titled album, some even know the more popular compositions and arrangements, but none have dug as hard as Nuts. Years of collecting and a strong friendship with Verocai himself have made this historic mix possible. 78 minutes of all Verocai compositions and arrangements is a dream come true.
For such a mix to be made, only a true Brasilian music aficionado could have created this, and we are honored to be able to share it with you."
It's his 70th today. A true living legend, just check the Nobu tune - waaay ahead of its time. We''re talking techno here, from the Japan only LP 'Dedication'.
Wherever I play this one it gets a great reaction. Last night a guy asks me 'what do you call this music?' It's not the easiest to tell, it just flows through different flavours with great dynamics. So here you go - a fantastic piece of music from Michael Franks self titled LP.
Long time ago, when I was younger I was into sports. Ice hockey in particular, and Wayne Gretzky was the idol. Later on there’s been a few more, though I can’t really recall them at this time. When getting older I got more and more into music and to (briefly) summarize my musical development i'd say Gilles Peterson has been most influential during the last ten years. He's the main reason why i'm doing this, or rather why i'm doing it the way i'm doing it today. I knew about him during the Acid Jazz era, but wasn't really into that music back then. It wasn't until about 10 years ago, when I actually lived in the UK, when I properly got into his style. Again, I'd never heard stuff like that, played on the radio. Not with that attitude. All of a sudden the noodly jazz made sense, played next to an UR track. Back then, around 2000, I probably could have bought anything listed by him blindly. I wouldn't do that today, but as far as breaking great jazz and soul music - he is the main man. Check out the video, the first part of three.
More good stuff from the Jaystar, more uptempo compared to the first part. Some nice boogie and disco sounds turning into a proper carnival. Enjoy!
Tracklist:
1. Jack City // Andres
2. Thug Rock (M&M Mix) // Sandy Kerr
3. Such A Feeling (Part 2 & 3) //
4. Falling // Linkwood
5. Ts One The Mike (Greg Wilson Edit) // Mike T
6. Everyman (DJ Cubeism Edit) // Double Exposure
7. Love Hangover / Touch
8. When Your Jones Come Down (Edit) // Suger "Bear" Johnson
9. Discolypso (Edit) // Mandrill
10. Let's Go To Brasilia (Ray Mang Edit) // Tele Music Remixed
11. Camino Livre (Edit) // La Fete Bresilienne
12. Princesa Negra de Angola (Instrumental) // Bebeto
13. Agibore // MPB 4
14. Cumbia Colombiana // Tropical Treats
15. Happy Soul With A Hook (DJ Format rmx) // Dave Cortez
16. I like it like that (Aaron Jerome edit) // Pete Rodriguez
