Love On Love

We are having stunning weather this weekend so here is a great happy house song from the late '80s called "Love On Love" by E-Zee Posse featuring Dr. Mouthquake.  It was featured on Boy George's label More Protein and their first LP was called Closet Classics Volume 1 which includes some great tracks that by now sound more like a time capsule for that era of music.  E-Zee Posse had another club hit called "Everything Starts With an E" which was an ode to the drug Ecstasy,  the foundation of rave culture.  "Love On Love" was sort of a club anthem from 1989-1990 epitomizing this new "rave" generation in England.  It is a happy saccharine  tune with some cute piano/house samples that were popular at the time. Dr. Mouthquake is a guy called Derek Green who has worked on some of Pet Shop Boys records.  The original is more melodic and straight forward house and the Classic Piano mix features some rapping over house songs which was also very common to dance to at the clubs. Enjoy!

Love On Love - E-Zee Posse feat. Dr. Mouthquake



Love On Love (Classic Piano) - E-Zee Posse feat. Dr. Mouthquake

You're Gonna Miss Me

"Hola Papi, soy yo....estaba pensando en esa noche de pasion y amor...."  This is what you'll hear during the fantastic mood change break as a phone conversation in Spanglish between Torrales and his girlfriend from this classic New Jersey House tune by Turntable Orchestra.   Hippie Torrales  also knows as "Wax Thief" was one of the pioneer DJs from New Jersey.  Inspired by early forays into New York to see DJs  like Richie Kaczor, Torrales began his career in Newark and was the founding resident at the now legencary Zanzibar club.   The crisp, stomping piano chords and riffs and rubber-band basslines making this a total classic dance floor slam.  There are several remixes around but my favorite is the original along with the newly revamped Bush II Bush's remix also featured here and a sweet edit by Deep Sound Design that I just discovered on Soundcloud.  Enjoy!

You're Gonna Miss Me (Original 12") - Turntable Orchestra

You're Gonna Miss Me (Bush II Bush Remix) - Turntable Orchestra

Your gonna miss me when i'm gone-turntable orchestra(DEEP SOUND DESIGN EDIT) by sparky DEEP SOUND DESIGN

Melba 2.0

Happy Easter my dear readers and listeners.  Wishing you a joyful holiday weekend and in order to get you ready here are two amazing tracks by the talented and legendary Melba Moore.  Ms. Moore has already been featured on this blog before so I'm calling it Melba 2.0.   "Standing Right Here" is a rare track released in 1977 on Buddah Records as a 12" promo.  The song is pure bliss and the instrumental break has a perfect string arrangement perfect for dancing.  I'm also featuring the 12" dance classic "You Stepped Into My Life" released in 1978.  It was produced by legendary producers, McFadden & Whitehead and written by the Bee Gees. This song gives me chills.  Hear for your self and enjoy.

Standing Right Here (12" Version) - Melba Moore - Buddah



You Stepped Into My Life (12" Disco Version) - Melba Moore -  Epic

Plastic Bamboo

Here is a song called "Plastic Bamboo" from legendary Japanese musician, composer, record producer and actor Ryuichi Sakamoto.  Born in 1952 in Tokyo and studied at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, where he graduated with a BA in composition, and a Master's degree with special emphasis in electronic and ethnic music.  Sakamoto began his career in the late 1970's, working as a composer, arranger and producer with some of Japan's most popular rock, jazz and classical artists.  He released his first solo album in 1978 titled Thousands Knives Of  and made a name for himself pioneering a well crafted blend of classical, world and electronic instruments.  Previously, he came to fame as a member of Japanese synth-rock outfit Yellow Magic Orcherstra.  He collaborated with David Sylvian on a number of singles and most of Sylvian's albums.  He appeared in the 1983 Nagisa Oshima film Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence alongside David Bowie; he also wrote the film's musical score. He won the Academy Award for his score to the 1987 Bernardo Bertolucci film The Last Emperor.  He has also written soundtracks for Pedro Almodovar's film High Heels and Oliver Stone's Wild Palms.   "Plastic Bamboo" is one of his most left field dance song.  Enjoy!

Plastic Bamboo - Ryichi Sakamoto

Our Love Is So True

Our Love Is So True - Round Robin and Brimstone - Platinum City

Here is a delicious track that I have recently discovered by a band called Round Robin and Brimstone.  At almost ten minutes of pure bliss,  this soulful disco gem is from the 1980 private press album titled Round Robin and Brimstone.  Round Robin previously recorded as Round Robin Monopoly for Stax subsidiary label Truth.  On this recording, Round Robin is on vocals and percurssion with Raymond Cedars on drums, Tim Williams on guitar and background vocals.  This is a rare treasure of a record for crate diggers and 70's enthusiasts and I just learned that prices go extremely high for this LP.  Tracks include "You Can't Do It", "Our Love is So True", "Plenty God Lovin", "Love", "I wanna Live With You" and "One Night Affair".  I have only been able to get my hands on "Our Love Is So True" featured here and can't wait to hear the hole enchilada.  The soulful and modern soul feel of this song just keeps going and going and makes you move leaving you wanting for more.  Enjoy this rare treat!

House Nation Under A Groove

Here is a rare House treat that just recently heard.  It has been probably at least 20 years, since I've heard this great underground tune by DA Rebels.  DA Rebels were Chicago based house masters Curtis Alan Jones and Liddel Townsell. Very little is known about them except  that they provided some amazing tracks on White Label that created quite a stir at the clubs around that precious era of underground house music with racks such as "Change", "D.I.U (Deep In Underground)", "Back To Basics", "It's Time To Jack" and "Manamada".  I am also featuring a fresh and more subdued take on "House Nation..." by Dj Harvey called the Modern Dance Mix that was just released last Summer.   Enjoy!

House Nation Under A Groove - DA Rebels



House Nation Under A Groove (DJ Harvey Modern Dance Mix) - DA Rebels

Sell My Soul

Sell My Soul - Sylvester

It has been a long day today so I will be brief.  Here is a song that I have been wanting to post for it's sheer lyrical intensity and  fabulous hard pounding breaks with gorgeously dramatic piano.   Sell My Soul  was released in 1980 and it was quite a departure for Sylvester.  This one was not as disco and upbeat as Star or Step II.  The melodies are less happy and more intimate. This LP has been a quite overlooked production by Harvey Fuqua and it became known for the dance classic "I Need You". It also has a great cover of "Fever" but the most haunting song here is "Sell My Soul" taking the disco formula to new levels with a dark and moody gospel sound.    I'm also featuring Larry Levan's remix of  "Someone Like You" for good measure which was pretty much Sylvester's swan song before he passed away.  "Someone Like You" was released in 1986 from his last full lenght LP titled Mutual Attraction and it became his second #1 Hit on the U.S.  dance chart featuring amazing cover art by Keith Haring.  Enjoy!

Someone Like You (Larry Levan Mix) - Sylvester

Rebolledo: Pitaya Frenesi

Disco "cavernicolas" (cavemen) is how they like to describe themselves and their sound. Rebolledo is a DJ and producer from Xalapa, Veracruz and is a member of the Còmeme label.   Rebolledo started Djing in 2002 in Playa Del Carmen where he felt the need to create his own links between tracks he used to play in the club, he started developing his own rough and edgy rhythms.  It was there where he met Chilean born Matias Aguayo who actually deserves a future posting of his own on this blog, got interested in his material, helped him to develop it and to share it with people.  He also has done work with Daniel Maloso who had a similar taste or motivation ranging from techno to disco to house to '80s goth/dance, beat boxing, cumbia and other rarities.  Their sound is hard to dismiss and ground breaking with it's simplicity and crudeness.  The underground club hit "Pitaya Frenesi" featured here embodies that spirit.  Pitaya is a delicious fruit found in Mexico and Central America.  Also, his solo release of "Gerrero" is sublime and weird at the same time.  He is also is involved with the Pachanga Boys and Superpitcher on KOMPAKT.  Their videos are also great to watch.  I sense a new Latin American invasion and it will be Disco.  Pachanga!

Pitaya Frenesi  (Vocal Version) - Rebolledo

Guerrero - Rebolledo

Painted Eyes

Happy Saturday! The weather is stunning today in our beloved city and here is a treat from the amazing disco and house revivalists Hercules & Love Affair.  "Painted Eyes" is by far their best single from their recently released LP Blue Songs.   Soon to be released as a single which will featured several amazing remixes by In Flagranti, Wolfram and Maxxi Soundsystem.  I got to hear a teaser of the remix from Maxxi Soundsystem and it will blow you away. Click here to listen.  Overall it's such a beautiful song unlike anything I've heard in a long time with a hard pounding bass, dramatic and potent vocals by performance artist Aerea Negrot evoking the late Sylvester and other  late '80s House "Divos". This song is a must for 2011! Enjoy

Painted Eyes - Hercules & Love Affair



Painted Eyes (Wolfram Remix) - Hercules & Love Affair

You Can

Happy Saturday! It has been quite a while since the last post.  Here is some good early '80s cheese by fabulous Swedish chanteuse Madleen Kane.  Ms. Kane was a former Elite fashion model from the ages 17 to 19 and was published on several Playboy magazine issues. She was discovered by J.C. Friederich who was owner of Boona Music productions and became a hot singing commodity with her debut released titled Rough Diamond in 1978 which took off like fire in the US and abroad.  She then released Cheri in 1979 solidifying her career as a Disco performer.  Cheri featured the dramatic disco number "Forbidden Love" with it's breakdown "Fire in My Heart" and Secret Love Affair" giving her another hit, which ran for over 15 minutes. The ballad "You and I", has become a wedding day favorite in Canada.     "You Can"  was the lead single from her 1981 LP titled  Don't Wanna Loose You which was produced by legendary Giorgio Moroder and has a "Flashdance-esque" flair.   Ms. Kane retired from the music business in the mid '80s.  In 1994, 12 Inches and More was her final release.   I'm loving the uplifting nature and cheese factor of "You Can".  Enjoy!

You Can (12" Version) - Madleen Kane