Coke Escovedo - I wouldn't change a thing

This is a serious piece of soul, I like to go back to now and then. Coke Escovedos' "I wouldn't change a thing", which got those musical elements that usually for me fits into most disco sets. Written by Johnny Bristol and from the 1976 LP "Comin at ya!".
Nuff said really, hope you dig!

Coke Escovedo - I wouldn't change a thing (320)

Steve Davis - It's all because she's gone

Here's a quick one that I needed to rip for a friend. Off the Music LP by Steve Davis, the track is "It's all because she's gone". Great piece of music, though my favourite off the LP is the "Lalune blanche". But, I'll save that for another time.

Steve Davis - It's all because she's gone (192)

Damaris - What about my love?

Here's a fine piece of mature and soulful boogie. Damaris 'What about my love?', a nice take on Johnnie Taylors version. Personally I prefer the Damaris one, and that's the one ripped here. I've chucked in the Johnnie Taylor as well - hope you dig either one of them!

Damaris - What about my love? (196)

Thanks!

Another year and back again from some deserved festivities and rest. I just want to say thank you to everyone who's been interacting with me and checking this blog in the past year. It will keep going!

Here's a bit of a special treat for you and a perfect piece of 3am gospel. The Dynamic Clark Sister with the life affirmative 'Ha-ya' recorded live in Detroit, off the 'Is my living in vain' LP. A friend of mine said; this is house before house existed and I totally agree. It's a spiritual things as the house community would call it. I know Mark 7 did an edit of this, possibly less ellusive, still close to the original version.

Enjoy and thanks again!

Clark Sister - Ha-ya (196)

R.I.P Teena Marie

About a week ago, we were reached by the sad news of Teena Marie's passing. At the age of 54 it was way too early. I'm sure many of you know about her, for me she was one of those artists I got to know of at an early stage of my musical journey. I remember getting the 'It must be magic' and 'Lady T' albums long time ago. Still, both are LP's I like to get back to, and play out now and then. Specifically the bombs in 'Square biz' and 'Behind the groove' that never fails on a dance floor.

My personal all-time favourite is 'Portuguese love' off the 'It must be magic' LP. So here you go, some classic soul from the great artist in Teena Marie.

Teena Marie - Portuguese love (196)

Festive sounds

I made this one the other day. Very chilled and mostly vocals. Could hopefully help you to wind down during these weekends.

Bags Of Grooves by Trustmybeats on Mixcloud 
Download mix

Angela Bofill - People make the world go round

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. 

Hope you dig!

Angela Bofill -  People make the world go round (192)

Tom Browne - Come for the ride

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!

 
Tom Browne - Come for the ride (320)

Mtume - So you wanna be star

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!

Mtume - So you wanna be a star (320)

Dexter wansel - The sweetest pain

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.

Enjoy very much!

Dexter wansel - The sweetest pain (320)

Shuggie Otis - XL-30

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.

Shuggie Otis - XL-30 (320)

The Dutch Rhythm Steel & Showband - Down by the river

Wow! 

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.

The Dutch Rhythm Steel & Showband - Down by the river (320)

RIP Harry Whitaker

Claudia - Salve Rainha

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. 

Claudia - Salve Rainha (320)

Jimmy McGriff - Space Cadet

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.

Jimmy McGriff - Space Cadet (320)

Mad Mats in the mix

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.

   Nov 2010 Mega Mix by madmats

Candy Bowman - Since I found you

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!

Candy Bowman - Since I found you (320)

Prince - 17 Days

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.

Prince - 17 Days (320)

Pam Todd - Makin' love

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.

Pam Todd - Makin' love (320)

Gwen Mcrae - Doin' it

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!

Gwen Mcrae - Doin' it (320)

Patti Jo - Ain't no love lost

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!

Patti Jo - Ain't no love lost (Tom Moulton edit)

Vera Hamilton - But I ain't no more

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.

Vera Hamilton - But I ain't no more (320)

Odyssey - Our lives are shaped by what we love

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!

 

Odyssey - Our Lives Are Shaped By What We Love

Judy Roberts - Never was love

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.

Judy Roberts - Never was love (320)

Ned Doheny - Get it up for love

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!

Ned Doheny - Get it up for love (320)