I've been going back to some old disco stuff lately and here's 4 ½ minutes of social realism in a disco package from Angela Bofill. There's obviously plenty of versions of this song, but as far as I know this is the most dance friendly.
Here's some sophisticated boogie in Tom Browne's 'Come for the ride'. The LP 'Yours truly' is easily available for anyone into wax. If you're good with a digital copy - voila!
I've been busy ripping hours of vinyl, so here's a result of that. Mtume's fantastic 'So you wanna be a star'. Disco of finest order which never fails on the more mature dance floors. Enjoy this special treat!
There are so much great music coming from the legendary PIR record label. This is one of their best moments for me. Absolutely amazing soul from Dexter Wansel from the 'Time is slipping away' LP.
Any discerning (soul) music lover knows about Shuggie Otis. If you don't - don't worry that's what i'm here for. Ok, sorry about this this slightly pretentious intro.
Shuggie Otis' stuff is quite easily found, primary due to the fact that he hasn't done much. But it's all worth looking for. This track, XL-30 is from the Inspiration Information LP and that's always a good start.
This is original space funk (pre-techno?), just so wonderfully weird, and the whole LP is just such a complete recording. One that it's always nice to back to. Soul, folk and some futuristic drum programming all in one. I know Kon and Amir recently dug out some unreleased stuff from him, so hopefully there's more good stuff to find out about. Till then - just get locking & popping with this bomb.
This is such a heavy take on Neil Young's 'Down by the river' by The Dutch Rhythm Steel & Showband. Nuff said, really. Well, the LP is 'Soul, Steel & Show' on Negram and available if you try hard enough.
I've been inactive on my brasilian records for quite some time. But whenever I go back to check some stuff there's always refreshing and fantastic music to discover. Following on the previous Tim Maia post, I'll keep it in the same direction, here with Claudia.
The LP is 'Passaro Emigrante' and the track here is ' Salve Rainha'. This is killer fusion stuff, taking a few different directions in these 3½ minutes and it's all good and funky.
This is heavy stuff! I wasn't really familiar with Jimmy McGriff till I found out about this track off the 'Red Beans' LP. There's another jazzy disco 12" which I'm certainly going to cop in the near future. Till then - check out these classy breaks.
Mad Mats was one of the first dj's that we booked back in the day when I first got involved in arranging clubs. This was back in 94', I believe, and we were really anxious to find out about the new stuff that was going during these pre-internet days. I clearly remember that he delivered, the place was on fire and our small-ish town experienced something never heard before. What struck me a few years later, was why the guy didn't get the recognition he deserved. Technical skills and a vast knowledge of all new and retro sounds, brasilian & latin music and such. Obviously it later took off with the Raw Fusion parties, the label and dj'ing.
So here you go - 2 hours of connecting the musical dots. Soulful, funky and futuristic.
This is pure soul heaven from Candy Bowman. Timeless music that has standed the test of time, and will do forever. It doesn't get much better than this. Enjoy!
There isn't much that hasn't been said about this true genious. And if you claim to be into dance music in any form and don't dig this, then I just feel sorry for you. This is off the 'When doves cry' 12", and one I like to get back to and drop now and then.
It's a bit of special feeling finding a 30-something year old record still sealed. I've been lurking on this one for a while and when this minty copy turned up I decided to have a go at it. The LP is "Together" by Pam Todd and the obvious(?) track from this LP might be the slightly more uptempo "Let's get together", which is great.
Anyway, here you get "Makin' love", originally appearing on Pam Todd's first LP on Shyrlden from 77' and produced by the legendary Greg Carmichael. It's not your typical banger, but at the right time at the right place i'm sure it does the trick. I mean, you can't really oppose to the message.
I think I first heard this played by Ashley Beedle some 12 years ago. It's another of those lost LP tracks that rarely get the attention. This is from the 'On my way' LP, easily available for anyone wanting the wax. Well, even more accessible here if you're happy with my slightly rusty vinyl rip - Enjoy!
Keeping it on the female and funky retro tip. Here with Patti Jo's - "Ain't no love lost" edited by Tom Moulton. Produced by Curtis Mayfield and originally released in 72' and later exclusevily released in this edited version on a Scepter disco comp. Sweetness guaranteed!
I am a musical omnivore, I know. It's jazz, soul, funk, house, techno etc. But I taste it as long as its got the funk, the soul and sounds good. You know, joining the dots and all that. And here's a bit of special nugget for you. Vera Hamilton's - 'But I ain't no more' is certainly the sound of funk.
This group from the early 70's is not to be mixed up with the later and more famous disco group. There are actually quite a few Odysseys'. Anyway these are the ones to look for and there are only one release on the Motown subsidary Mowest. The same titled LP is from 72' and there's another great soul track in 'Battened ships' which I think get some plays on the (northern) soul circuit. Though this one is my favourite, great soul with hints of folk and such. Hope you dig!
It's time for some jazzy and funky fusion. This track is off the 'Judy Roberts Band' LP and I believe it's the Inner City pressing which is the first. However, not of highest importance. Check the track as it's a fine piece of jazz funk.
How about some AOR!? A fantastic track from Ned Doheny, possibly more known in Tata Vega's version. "Get it up for love" is from the Hard Candy LP, there are a few various pressings. If you're happy enough to get it on a comp there's a recent one out by DJ Spinna. Here's a digital for you - enjoy!
This is something I put together the other night. A spontaneus process ending up in a fairly varied mix ranging from funky & folky; soul, rock, psych and even som Dilla. Enjoy!
Steve Davis - It's all because she's gone
Chris Harwood - Wooden ships
Air - Mr. Man
Tunng - Tale from black
Stereolab - Metronomic underground
J Dilla - Workinonit
Wilson Deirdre Tabac - Get back
Colosseum - Elegy
People - Glastonbury
Placebo - Humpty Dumpty
Dorothy Ashby - Soul vibrations
Darrow Fletcher - Now is the time for love (Pt. 2)
I think this might be the official week for Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew" 40th anniversary. I'm not a massive fan, I've got the odd record. Though the "Someday my prince will come" was one of the first LP's I bought when I seriously started to get into jazz. Previously I had some Hancock records and the sort of jazz stuff you just 'wanted' in your collection. But this was the time when I really started to feel the music and I remember Recordmania was the place for the actual purchase.
This particular track, a fantastic modal piece, has always been a favourite since. Without knowing the history in detail I'm guessing this is a tribute to his longtime producer Teo Macero. For those of you who hasn't checked Miles' autobiography- it's great read. I haven't tried the Bitches Brew beer yet, but I'm sure it has been produced with a lot of care. Cin cin!
This is pure gold on 7". Heartmelting, spaced out, mellow soul from the man General Lee and his Space Army Band. This reminds a bit of Roy Ayers, which always is a good thing. I also put it on a mix over here (check if you haven't).
I remember hearing this at David Holmes excellent Essential Mix back in 98' (I believe). 'First Light' originally written and arranged by my favourite Freddy Hubbard, here performed by Percy Faith. At the time when looking for this, when there where no Discogs and such, all I found was various cheezy easy listening records.This one - the LP Corazon from 73' might still be one of those, but it gots this killer version.
