The Heat Is On And The Funk Just Won't Leave Us Alone

Time to swap the football for a glitter ball, methinks....

A companion piece of sorts to my 2021 selection, I'll Surely Miss Your Tender Kiss, with seven stone cold killer disco cuts. And if you like The Brothers Johnson, then you'll feel spoiled as they appear on both!

Today's selection opens with a couple of covers, a Neil Sedaka B-side from 1959 and a Bee Gees album cut, then barely two years old. At the controls are legends such as Quincy Jones, John Luongo, Rusty Garner and, inevitably, Tom Moulton.

And fronting the disco explosion, the likes of Evelyn 'Champagne' King and Melba Moore (also today's cover stars), The Trammps and Tavares, Odyssey and Eruption.

Hmmm, maybe I should send a link to Thomas Tuchel...?

1) One Way Ticket (Long Version By Rusty Garner) (Cover of 'One Way Ticket (To The Blues)' by Neil Sedaka): Eruption (1979)

2) You Stepped Into My Life (Special Disco Version By John Luongo) (Cover of Bee Gees): Melba Moore (1978)

3) Shame (12" Disco Mix By Al Garrison & David Todd): Evelyn 'Champagne' King (1977)

4) Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel (Part 1+2) (Album Version By Freddie Perren): Tavares (1976)

5) Starvin' (Album Version By Ron Baker, Norman Harris, Earl Young & Tom Moulton): The Trammps (1976)

6) Native New Yorker (Disco Version By Sandy Linzer & Charlie Calello): Odyssey (1977)

7) Stomp! (12 Inch Version By Quincy Jones): The Brothers Johnson (1980)

The Heat And The Funk (45:45) (GD) (M)

You can find I'll Surely Miss Your Tender Kiss here.

Juice

Hop on board for the ride of a lifetime with The O'Jays.

By 1972, the original five-piece had reduced to a trio, Eddie Levert, Walter Williams and William Powell. A fateful meeting with Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff saw The O'Jays signed to their Philadelphia International label and...magic happened.

This selection features seven extended workouts, mostly album versions produced by Gamble and Huff, with a couple of mixes by Tom Moulton. Call it Philly Sound, call it disco, call it what you want, but it will move your body, mind and soul. 

If you want funky soul grooves, you've got it. 

If you want thought provoking lyrics with a social conscience, you've got it.

If you want the source material for samples by Groove Armada, Grandmaster Flash, Enigma, Gang Starr, Drake and Jungle Brothers, you've got it.

If you want earthy vocals and sweet harmonies, you've got it.

If you want nothing more than just great music, you've got it.

Enjoy!

1) Message In Our Music (Album Version By Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff) (1976)

2) For The Love Of Money (Album Version By Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff) (1973)

3) Love Train ("A Tom Moulton Mix") (1977)

4) When The World's At Peace (Album Version By Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff) (1972)

5) Back Stabbers (A Tom Moulton Mix) (1977)

6) Livin' For The Weekend (Album Version By Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff) (1975)

7) I Love Music (Album Version By Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff) (1975)

1972: Back Stabbers: 4

1973: Ship Ahoy: 2

1975: Family Reunion: 6, 7

1976: Message In The Music: 1

1977: I Love Music / Love Train EP: 3

2012: Philadelphia International Classics: 5

Juice (47:42) (GD) (M)

Like The Sweet Sound Of Hip Music

Well, after that week, the only thing for it is two hours of disco.

15 songs intended to put a smile on your face, a spring in your step and a groove in your hips, creaks permitting...

Happy Friday, everyone!

1) And The Beat Goes On (Album Version): The Whispers (1979)

2) Check Out The Groove (Album Version By Rodney Brown, Willie Lester & François Kevorkian): Bobby Thurston (1980)

3) Hopscotch (Remix By Larry Levan): Gwen Guthrie ft. Sly & Robbie (1983)

4) Get Down (Special Mix By Rick Gianatos): Gene Chandler (1978)

5) Make Me Believe In You (A Tom Moulton Mix) (Cover of Curtis Mayfield): Patti Jo (1976)

6) Rivers Of Babylon (12" Disco Version By Frank Farian) (Cover of The Melodians): Boney M. (1978)

7) Make Love To Me (12" Version): Helen Reddy (1979)

8) Vertigo / Relight My Fire (Full Length Version By John Luongo & Michael Barbiero) (Re-Edited In 2005 By Ben Liebrand): Dan Hartman ft. Loleatta Holloway (1979)

9) You've Got The Power (A Tom Moulton Mix): Camouflage (1976)

10) Don't Stop The Music (Album Version): Yarbrough & Peoples (1980)

11) Got To Be Real (Special Disco Version): Cheryl Lynn (1978)

12) Galaxy (Album Version): War (1977)

13) Party, Party (Long Version By Frank Farian): Eruption (1978)

14) Right On Target (12" Version By Patrick Cowley): Paul Parker (1982)

15) Je T'Aime... Moi Non Plus (Full Length Version By Giorgio Moroder & Pete Bellotte) (Cover of Serge Gainsbourg & Jane Birkin): Donna Summer (1977)

Like The Sweet Sound Of Hip Music (1:59:44)

In A Discotheque At Dawn Is When It Came To Me

Nothing clever or fancy about today's selection: 7 randomly selected 12" mixes, sequenced in alphabetical order by artist. Some unexpected and welcome treats, though: a welcome return to this blog for Act aka Claudia Brücken & Thomas Leer; Bryan Ferry goes clubbing*; an early remix by Justin Robertson; François K taking on The Cure; and disco and dub classics from Grace Jones and Gregory Isaacs. To close, a track from modern dub colossi Youth and Gaudi, remixed by Cambridge DJ/producer Kuba, which has introduced me to a couple of new genres, psychill and broken beat. Every day an education. And a reason to keep moving.

1) Chance (Throbbin' Mix By Stephen Lipson): Act (1988)

2) You Can Dance (John Monkman Remix): Bryan Ferry (2010)

3) Redhills Road (Most Excellent Mix By Justin Robertson): Candy Flip (1991)

4) Hey You!!! (Extended Remix By François Kevorkian & Alan Gregorie): The Cure (1988)

5) La Vie En Rose (A Tom Moulton Mix): Grace Jones (1977)

6) Cool Down The Pace (10" Mix By Godwin Logie & Paul 'Groucho' Smykle): Gregory Isaacs (1982)

7) Empress Of The Tarot (Kuba Remix By Laurence Harvey): Youth & Gaudi (2020) 

 

* This is very good, but the original version by DJ Hell is the best.

In A Discotheque At Dawn Is When It Came To Me (44:12)

I'll Surely Miss Your Tender Kiss

Time to go back 45 years and get discofied for a Saturday night. What are you doing in your bed on your back? You should be dancing!

1) Boogie Nights (Album Version By Barry Blue): Heatwave (1976)

2) You Should Be Dancing (Special Disco Version): Bee Gees (1976)

3) Get The Funk Out Ma Face (Disco Version By Quincy Jones): The Brothers Johnson (1976)

4) Let's Spend The Night Together (Album Version) (Cover of The Rolling Stones): Joe Simon (1976)

5) Love Is You (12" Version By Tom Moulton): Carol Williams (1976)

6) Il Veliero (Full Length Italian Version) (Cover of I Camaleonti): Lucio Battisti (1976)

7) Don't Leave Me This Way (A Tom Moulton Mix): Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes (1976)

I'll Surely Miss Your Tender Kiss (45:11) (GD) (M)