Category Archives: Mixes

JED DOES UK GARAGE XMAS MIX

Jed has done a UK Garage Xmas Mix to help us end 2020 on a bit of a positive note.

We’ll be going back to the 90s/00s for this half-hour Xmas UK garage sesh, remembering good times we had and better times to come.

Pop this in your earphones on a run/walk and you’ll probably do it faster 😉

Tracklist:

  1. Tina Moore – “Never Gonna Let You Go” (Kelly G. Bump-N-Go Vocal Edit) [Delirious Records, 1997]
  2. Indo – “R U Sleeping” (Bump ‘N’ Flex Remix) [Azuli Records, 1997]
  3. B-15 Project feat. Crissy D & Lady G – “Girls Like Us” [Relentless Records, 2000]
  4. Shanks & Bigfoot – “Sing-A-Long” (Wideboys Vocal Remix) [Jive Records, 2000]
  5. Ramsey & Fen feat. Lindsey Moore – “Love Bug” (Original Bump Mix) [Bug Records, 1998]
  6. DJ Phantasy feat. Sonia Redd – “Music Is My Life” (Steve Gurley Sas Remix) [4 Liberty Records, 1998]
  7. Club Asylum feat. Hinda Hicks – “I Just Wanna Dance” [Urban Dubz, 2006]
  8. Grant Nelson feat. Jean McClain – “Step 2 Me” (Bump & Flex Vocal) [Swing City Records, 1998]

20 Life-affirming Club Records For Your Isolation Party

So here we are. Welcome to the new decade!

The world has suddenly become an even weirder place. You’re at home and in isolation. You miss the club, you miss the community, you miss the social and physical contact of other human beings. You miss THE PARTY. What are you going to do?

In these surreal times there are two things we can all rely on to provide life-affirming energy. Music and dancing.

We would like to present to you a selection of club classics, dancefloor heaters, and straight-up bangers to help you through the long hours.

1. Loose Joints – Is It All Over My Face (Female Vocal) (Larry Levan Remix) (West End 1980)

Loose is right. One of the great things about Arthur Russell’s disco songs is that they feel more like jams. Everything sounds so organic, so loose and effortless that you feel like you’re eavesdropping on the best studio session ever. You’re right there, hearing the ideas form and feeling the feeling between the players. Arthur was a nightmare for record labels as he couldn’t work to deadlines or really finish a piece of music, but therein lies the beauty. It’s the sketches that show the thought processes and the initial forming of shapes and colours. Add Arthur’s cello and what you have is a genuinely unique sound.

2. Liquid Liquid – Optimo (Optimo Remix) (Domino 2008)

Pleasing in so many ways. Firstly, Optimo’s remix makes up for the original version’s scant running time. Secondly, what I really like about this version is that while it’s pretty faithful to the original it feels nicely positioned in clubbier territory. The treatment is subtle and considered. It also hits harder in some ways, not least because the drums sound like they’ve been tweaked to give a more pumping vibe. The additional reverb-drenched trumpet melody gives it an early PigBag / Maximum Joy vibe, which seems entirely appropriate.

3. Diana Ross – Love Hangover (Tamla Motown 1976)

“I don’t want a cure for this”. Me neither, Diana. If only actual hangovers sounded like this though. I’d like first to give massive props to my fellow bandmate Emma for introducing me to this song, for which I will be eternally grateful. It’s an undeniably beautiful composition and arrangement. The break (just listen to those hi-hats), tempo change and flawless groove really tug the soul in the way only classic-era disco songs can.

4. Terr – Energy Sync (Club Mix) (Phantasy Sound 2019)

A peak-hour banger from Brazilian-born, Berlin-based DJ Daniela Caldellas on Erol Alkan’s London imprint Phantasy Sound. A blend of electro and disco with a classic sound, it’s an ecstatic dancefloor monster full of sensual energy and built around a heartfelt and vulnerable refrain. The perfect tune for a dark, sweaty club somewhere in the heart of Kreuzberg.

5. North End – Kind Of Life (Kind Of Love) (West End 1979)

Proof that, contrary to what mainstream documentaries about disco would have us believe, disco was definitely NOT dead by 1979. It simply went back underground. I first heard snippets of this mega-soulful Arthur Baker tune in the documentary The Godfather of Disco: Mel Cheren, and pretty much had to go out and buy it straight away (well, a reissue of it). It’s the kind of tune that never fails when and wherever I play it in a set.  It’s the epitomy of the life-affirming disco anthem.

6. Luke Vibert – Yeah (Afro Acid 2018)

I picked up a vinyl copy of this RSD 2018 release at Musicland in Budapest on a cold January afternoon in 2019. This one is definitely a standout, my other favourite being Gary Gamble’s Acid Icon. It’s just a vibin’, nasty, wobbly acid banger.

7. James White And The Blacks – Contort Yourself (August Darnell Remix) (ZE Records 2003)

A match made in heaven. James White’s (now James Chance) New York no wave scratchy funk classic given the four-to-the-floor disco treatment by August Darnell (more famously known for fronting Kid Creole And The Coconuts), with Bob Blank on production credits. I remember myself and a pal both losing our minds the first time we heard this in a club. An old band of mine was lucky enough to support James Chance And Les Contortions above a sushi bar in Manchester around 15 years ago. Be sure to check out the original version too.

8. Kerri Chandler – Bar A Thym (Nite Grooves 2005)

A recent revelation for me, thanks to my DJ partner The Boogie Monster, and I must give great thanks because it’s now one of my favourites. It’s one of those absolutely unrelenting deep, dark, hypnotic Chandler bangers you can’t stop yourself dancing to. It’s just such a tight groove and doesn’t give in until you are losing yourself on the dancefloor. It’s a bit like the Terminator only more fun. The cowbell pattern and that little syncopated rhythmic turnaround every four bars – GOD DAMN.

9. Radiance Featuring Andrea Stone – You’re My Number 1 (Are ‘n Be Records 1983)

This M&M (Morales & Munzibai) mix of Radiance’s New York boogie classic is, for me, a benchmark of the genre, and is one of my favourite post-disco club records of all time. For the uninitiated, boogie is a sub-genre characterized by its more r&b-tinged, slower grooves and it’s use of both acoustic and traditional rock instruments (live drums, bass guitar), and drum machines and synthesizers. As much as I love Andrea Stone’s vocal it’s all about the bass line and drum loop, which are so satisfying I’d be happy just listening to those two parts on repeat.

10. Lazywax – Santa Catarina (Lazywax 2020)

One of the comments on You Tube says “this song makes me want to quit my job and buy a yacht”. Well, quite. Lazywax is the project of DJs Hans MĂŒller & Wolfgang Schneider and this is my favourite release so far on their self-titled imprint. Just waiting for a vinyl release which, under current circumstances, could be a long way off. Anyway, it’s a breezy, chunky, disco bomb with a playful Latin feel and some really solid production. The ascending synth part that begins in the breakdown sounds very reminiscent of Daft Punk’s Crescendolls.

11. Marquis Hawkes – Sunset (Houndstooth 2018)

Equally as potent played at sunset or sunrise, this release on Fabric Records’ Houndstooth imprint was definitely one of my favourite dance albums of 2018, with this being one of two standout tracks (the other being We Should Be Free). In my humble opinion deep house can sometimes be a sub-genre full of generic and forgetable music, but this has just the right vibe and balance for me. It’s soulful, swinging, and summery.

12. The Units – High Pressure Days (Rory Phillips Remix) (Relish 2009)

San Francisco trio The Units were part of the city’s synthpunk movement that emerged during the early 1980s and which borrowed heavily from genres such as Krautrock, no wave and punk, replacing guitars with synthesizers. Other notable acts from this movement include The Screamers and Suicide. I actually like this Rory Phillips rework more than the original and it’s one of those records people always ask about when you play it in a set.

13. Omni Featuring Connee Draper – Out Of My Hands (Long Version) (Fountain 1981)

The original version of a song later re-released in 1987 as a Frankie Knuckles-produced rework by Unfinished Business. Not sure which version I prefer but the original has a less-produced disco/boogie feel and sound, with the rework having a more kick-heavy polished kind of vibe going on. Either way, it’s a pure Chicago banger with a great bass line and a pounding drum track.

14. Mosca – Bax (Numbers 2011)

Ah, UK garage. A much-maligned genre these days. I admit that this is one of only three UK garage records I own, but I’m completely unashamed in my love for it. I wouldn’t say it’s a typical Mosca record as he seems to hop across different styles quite a lot, but it’s still my favourite song of his. The swung hi-hat pattern, the classic wub-wub bass line, the occasional syncopation which breaks from the 2 and 4 backbeat are, for me, the defining parts of this tune. And all talk aside, it just totally slays in the club.

15. The Jackson Sisters – I Believe In Miracles (Prophecy 1973)

Quite simply unfuckablewith (or unfuckwithable if you prefer) soulful funky magic from 1973. A record I can listen to any time of the day or night. Originally hailing from Compton LA, the Jackson Sisters recorded just one self-titled album for Tiger Lily in 1976. This was their most successful song and it’s easy to see why. It’s just one of those records one never tires of, from the funky in-the-pocket groove to the beautiful vocals. If this song doesn’t move your heart and soul, well, you’re probably dead.

16. Jodeci – Freek’N You (MK Dub) (ZAC 1995)

A peak-hour house monster that just bangs hard. I have very happy memories of playing this one at the last Anthology Brewery rave back in February this year, when the world felt almost normal (whatever that means!). It always brings whistles, whoops and smiles from everyone in the room. Fair to say it’s the sassiest tune on this list?

17. Prince – 17 Days (Zach Witness Version) (Purple Witness 2019)

Anyone who knows me knows how much I adore Prince. I remember how excited I was at age 14 somehow getting into the Regent cinema in Redcar to see Purple Rain. That film and album made such a huge impression on me and his death affected me greatly. Anyway, here’s a stomping rework of a pre-Purple Rain song, which I wouldn’t have necessarily thought I would love as much as I do, but then what’s not to love? It’s a beautiful gospel-influenced vocal put to a disco beat and a reverb-drenched conga pattern. Bingo.

18. Alisha – All Night Passion (Jordan Nocturne Edit) (Nocturne 2019)

Tune alert! Alisha was a Brooklyn-born singer who had three albums on Vanguard, RCA and MCA between 1985 and 1990. I don’t often say this but this recent JN edit improves on the original through some considered tweaks to both the production and arrangement. The beefed-up drums and synth bass really drive the tune and give the composition a tighter, tougher feel than the original.  Either way, it’s just a great tune with that unmistakable early 1980s New York electro/boogie sound I love so much. It could easily be an early Madonna song.

19. Happy Mondays – WFL (Wrote For Luck) (Vince Clarke Remix) (Elektra 1988)

Whilst I’m not really a massive HM fan by any means, I do love this tune and remix. It will forever have a place in my heart because it triggers happy memories of sixth form college and summers spent messing around and getting drunk with good pals in the North Yorkshire countryside.

20. M’Bamina – Kilowi Kilowi (JD Twitch Edit) (A7 Edits 2019)

M’Bamina’s 1982 cut ‘Kilowi-Kilowi’ gets the JD Twitch treatment on London / Paris label Africa Seven. What you get from this considered rework by one half of the much-loved Glasgow label and DJ duo Optimo is an understated, laid-back disco groove . M’Bamina (meaning Lightning) was a band from Italy made up of musicians from Congo, Benin and Cameroon.

10 Of Our Favourite Proto-House Jams From The Late 70s To The Mid-80s

To coincide with the terrestrial broadcast of Jeremy Deller’s documentary film Everybody In The Place: An Incomplete History of Britain 1984-1992 we thought we’d take a look at some of our favourite proto-house songs from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s.

What is proto-house? We tend to use the term to describe songs and sounds from the post-disco / pre-house period that signalled what was to come in dance music in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Though we often think of house music (and more specifically rave culture) as a 90s movement it has been argued that the seeds of house were actually sown more than a decade earlier. We’d like to present a selection of songs which give us an insight into where some of the musical ideas and sounds of house music originate from.

1. You Don’t Know – SERIOUS INTENTION (Easy Street 1984)

I have to admit that the first time I heard this song I didn’t really get what was so great about it, but it’s often said that the mark of a great song is that it improves with every listen. Here we have a classic case of less is more. The simplicity of the composition is exactly what I didn’t get at first but when I really got it I understood that the use of space and the minimal approach to instrumentation are what make it so good. And therein lies the key to many a great house tune.

2. Walkin’ on Sunshine – ROCKERS REVENGE Featuring DONNIE CALVIN (Streetwise / London 1982)

A benchmark for me in so many ways. I have so much love for this song (or rather version, as the original was written by Eddy Grant) because it captures a really exciting period in dance music and pretty much contains something from every sub-genre from that time. The early to mid-80s was arguably one of the most experimental periods in the history of dance music, not least because of the use of both live instrumentation (bass guitars, acoustic percussion etc) and drum machines and synthesizers.

You might think me insane for suggesting that house music was present in dance music as early as 1982 but just listen to that breakdown at the six-minute mark. Pure house vibin’.

3. Electric Baile (Commercial Mix) – MASTER PLAN (Sunset 1986)

A record that always makes it into my DJ sets to the point where I probably play it too often, but it’s just a peak-hour banger. On first listen I thought that it sounded way too European to be from Chicago but it’s good to have your ideas and expectations challenged by music sometimes isn’t it? This song opened my ears to a different Chicago sound and really made me realise how varied a community it really was back then.

This one has a great pounding kick and snare and gnarly synth bass line. Together with the conga pattern and sweet vocal it’s a pretty irresistible mix.

4. Let Me Down Easy – RARE PLEASURE (Cheri 1976)

1976?! Yes, really. I mean, listen to that piano motif. Okay, so it’s a stretch to call this song proto-house but along with Dancin’ And Prancin’ by Candido (Salsoul 1979) it does shine a light on the roots of the classic house piano hook and helps us understand the lineage from disco to house.

It’s one of my favourite ever songs and was also a eureka moment for me in terms of my love for disco. It’s a beautiful composition and is one of the first disco songs that really connected with me in a big way. I still think it’s really ahead of its time too.

5. Release The Tension – J-A GROOVE (Studio 1986)

Another favourite that rarely leaves my record bag between DJ sets. The artist name is apt. It has such a tight groove and I love the overall production on this one. The original is a Boyd Jarvis composition and as far as I know there are several versions of it including one featuring Colonel Abrams, however this one is my favourite. It’s just really pumpin’ and soulful.

6. The Music Got Me – VISUAL (Prelude 1983)

“When the weekend comes around, I can’t wait to hit the dance floor”. Pretty good lyric to open a song with. Here’s another Boyd Jarvis creation which is one of the more well-documented proto-house jams. Boyd was definitely ahead of his time and sadly passed away last year, arguably still without the credit he deserved.

Jarvis created a musical sound through the use of home made, reel to reel and hand-played sparse synthesizer & drum machine tracks that were featured extensively as overdubs on early-mid ’80s NYC WBLS FM “extended music sweeps” with DJs Timmy Regisford and later, Merlin Bobb.

7. Through The Night (Dub Mix I) – BLUE MODERNE (Sunnyview 1986)

I hadn’t heard this jam prior to buying the Running Back Presents Front compilations, which are a celebration of Hamburg’s Front club (which hosted parties from 1983 to 1997) and its residents Klaus Stockhausen and Boris Dlugosch.

I particularly love the moment where the instrumentation kicks in at around 1:15 and the way the mix moves along from there.  The super-soulful vocal by Audrey Wheeler really lifts the whole arrangement and it’s a very classy mix overall.

8. Call Me Mr Telephone (Street Dub Mix) – ANSWERING SERVICE (Third Label 1984)

Another song featured on the Running Back comp series, this Italo monster features a sweet gnarly bass line and heaps of reverb and delay applied to the drums and percussion. I love the double-time kick in the early breakdown followed by the rap and the atmospheric synths that come in and out through the track. It doesn’t really move anywhere in terms of melodic development but it doesn’t need to, it’s just a great groove and sometimes that’s all you need.

9. Out’A The Box (Club Vocal Dub) – JIRAFFE (GoldQwest 1988)

There are lots of great things about this jam from 1988. The drum programming, pumpin’ production, and the sparse funky arrangement make it impossible not to move to. You could argue that it isn’t specifically proto-house as it was made at the time house music had already developed some of its signature sounds and an identity, but I’m including it because it sits so well next to any post-disco or house track and everytime I play it in a set at least one person asks me what it is.

That semiquaver snare roll gets me every time. Love it.

10. Dancing Therapy – INTERNATIONAL MUSIC SYSTEM (Emergency 1984)

I first heard this Italo banger in a record shop in London and it was one of those moments where you just like the look of a record and then you listen to it and wonder how or why you haven’t ever heard it before. Having thought I was alone in my love for it and having never heard it anywhere in a DJ set or playlist I heard it at a Love Muscle party in Leeds sometime last year and it was wonderful to know that I wasn’t alone in my admiration for it.

10 Of Our Favourite John Morales Remixes And Productions

Born in the Bronx, New York, John Morales made his name as an editor, remixer and producer, and as a DJ at clubs such as Studio 54, Limelight and Stardust Ballroom.

For a large part of his early career Morales worked alongside Sergio Munzibai, and utilising their heritage (Morales is of Puerto Rican descent) they distinguished themselves with their Latin percussion-heavy arrangements and remixes, known collectively as the M&M Mixes.

Here we present 10 of our favourite Morales remixes and productions. Enjoy.

1. Barely Breaking Even  – UNIVERSAL ROBOT BAND (Moonglow Records 1982)

Where else to begin than with a song many regard as Morales’ masterpiece. It’s hard to disagree with that opinion because it’s just so damn good, from the outrageous bass guitar (pushed right up front in the mix) to the way the instrumentation and orchestration weave in and out, building and dropping. Add to that an incredible vocal from Leroy Burgess and jaw-dropping musicianship from his fellow LOGG band members, it’s a collaboration made in heaven.

Before I heard this song I wouldn’t have thought it possible that an 11-minute jam with a drummer playing barely anything more than a kick drum could be so funky and satisfying.

2. Nice and Soft (Uptown Version) – WISH ft. LA-RITA GASKIN (Perspective 1981)

Another post-disco Morales gem that is just New York through and through, from the sultry keys at the beginning to that squelching synth bass line. There are a few versions of this and being a drummer I do generally prefer the ‘drummier’ version with it’s crazy fills and syncopated snare hits, but this Morales mix is certainly no slouch and does include some of those busier drum parts in the breakdown.

New York producer and songwriter Greg Carmichael (famed for his collaborations with Patrick Adams and Leroy Burgess) also appears here on arranging duties.

3. Saturday Night, Sunday Morning – THELMA HOUSTON (Universal UMC 2014)

It’s a shame this remix was a CD-only release as I hate CDs and would pretty much kill to have this on a 12. Hey ho. One of Morales’ recent treatments in which he really ramps up the kick sound and polishes the production so it shimmers with a really clarity and crispness. Aside from the technical elements it’s just such a soulful song and a super-tasteful treatment, and quite frankly once it’s kicked in I never want it to end.

One of Morales’ great talents is the way he considers the space and uses everything in the composition to get the maximum impact out of the orchestration and the individual parts.  Listen to the way he allows the string section to sing on its own for parts of the song, maximising the emotional effect. Stunning.

4. I’m Caught Up (In A One Night Love Affair) – INNER LIFE (Prelude 1979)

Where to start. Difficult to accurately describe my feelings for this song in a couple of paragraphs but I’ll give it a shot.

People often talk about disco being dead by 1979. Not so. Disco simply went back underground where it nurtured its roots once more, to give us incredible songs such as this.  From the heart-wrenching vocal by Jocelyn Brown (and those “ah-ah-ah-ah, caught up!” backing voices) to the lush strings and sweet chord changes, it really is a thing of beauty and there’s always plenty of whistling and hollering from the dance floor whenever I play it out. Morales also produced the full album of the same name.

5. Do You Wanna Lover (Club Mix) – HOT BOX (Polydor 1983)

Dodgy name aside, this banger from 1983 displays all the percussive hallmarks of a Morales production: layers of agogo bells and cowbells over drum machine beats and a seriously wicked breakdown where you hear nothing except drums and percussion. I’m a sucker for live acoustic percussion over sequenced classic drum machine sounds, particularly the Linn Drum kick and snare.

This one has a vibe reminiscent of The System’s ‘You Are In My System’ and is a great example of the early electro / proto-house sound that got kids breakdancing all over the damn place.

6. Breakin Down (Sugar Samba) (JM After-Session M&M Mix) – JULIA & COMPANY (Columbia 1983)

Staying with 1983 here’s a somewhat lighter but no less potent jam with a really swinging Latin vibe and some great drum programming (those triplet tom rolls!). One of the things I love about this is that even though it’s a really busy arrangement at times it’s never not funky. It has a fun and joyful air but it still feels raw somehow. Sits nicely in a DJ set next to Teena Marie, too.

7. Lay It On The Line (After-Session M&M Mix) – LOGG (Salsoul 1981)

I could probably make a favourite list of Morales mixes that feature Leroy Burgess and his LOGG compadres as there’s so many great ones.

This one is a strong contender for numero uno, because it actually improves on the original (sorry, Leroy!) in two ways. Firstly, it absolutely rejoices in all the individual voices and elements of the composition, and I don’t know about you but I want to hear those elements, one by one, until everything is pumping away. It’s just so satisfying. Secondly, it takes a more polite original version and bumps the rhythm and bass guitars right up to maximum effect, making it twice as funky. It’s a bonafide boogie bomb.

8. Down For Double (After-Session M&M Mix) – CUBIE BURKE (Rissa Chrissa 1983)

This was Cubie’s only solo effort (he spent most of his career as a professional dancer) but it’s made the cut here simply because it’s a fine example of boogie and of Morales clean, tight remixing approach. It’s a low-key affair for sure, and not quite as developed as some of his reworks but it has a classy vibe and great groove, especially in the brilliantly-phrased bass guitar part. Recorded at Blank Studios by the legendary Bob Blank.

9. Once Is Not Enough (Dub Mix) – LEON LOVE (Still Rising 1984)

1984 was a good year in the post-disco, pre-house club landscape. Take Rocker’s Revenge’ dub/electro/proto-house masterpiece ‘Walking On Sunshine’ which for me embodies the experimental nature and musical joy of that period. When you listen to it you hear disco, garage, electro, house, all in one song. This Morales dub mix from the same year shares some of the same characteristics and I think I prefer it to the a-side.

10. You And I Together – BRENDA GOOCH (Salsoul 1981)

A new discovery for me and while it isn’t in the league of Morales’ well-known classic mixes I wanted to include something slightly more obscure because we’ve all heard ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ and ‘Hooked On Your Love’ a hundred times, right? Of course there’s a reason why those remixes are so highly regarded, but just for the sake of curiosity and interest I thought I’d end on this one.

Really feeling the intro here, in particular the repeating ‘flats in Dagenham’ snare drum and tom fill, the descending piano motif, and the unexpected but altogether soulful chord changes.

 

 

10 Larry Levan Mixes, Remixes And Productions To Celebrate His 65th Birthday

In honour of Larry Levan’s 65th birthday we’ve put together a selection of some of our favourites from his catalogue of mixes, remixes and productions. Of course there are countless articles, blogs, and playlists celebrating the maestro’s work, so although this is nothing new we think his legacy is worth celebrating and returning to again and again.

Choosing just ten songs is really quite a stretch as there are so many classics, but we hope we’ve added at least one or two songs here that you might be less familiar with.

Enjoy. Matt.

1. Don’t Tell Me – CENTRAL LINE (Mercury 1981)

Fair to say that the b-side ‘Walking Into Sunshine’ is the more well- known Levan remix from this particular 12 but for me the a-side is the one. You could argue that by Levan’s standards this is a fairly conservative, less dubby remix but it still has his signature all over it. Some of his arranging ideas could sometimes appear slightly random – percussion tracks starting in odd places within a phrase, instruments or effects leaping out of the speakers when you least expect etc – but for me that’s all part of the appeal. Listen to the hand percussion part here and you’ll see what I mean.

2. Seventh Heaven – GWEN GUTHRIE (Island 1985)

An obvious choice for sure, but it has to be in this list. Quite simply a benchmark for so many reasons, not least because of the personnel involved – Gwen Guthrie and the Compass Point All Stars team of Sly Dunbar, Robbie Shakespeare, Wally Badarou, and Darryl Thompson – but also because it showcases just how experimental and creative Levan was. Listen to those delayed claps leaping out of the mix and the way he turns a pretty smooth production (check the original mix) into something entirely more raw and druggy.  It’s one of those mixes that when you hear it for the first time it’s like nothing you’ve ever heard before. And that bass guitar, OMG.

3. First True Love Affair – JIMMY ROSS (RFC 1981)

Another well-trodden path I know, but it’s a path that always leads to joy so it’s worth a revisit. There’s no doubt about the super-soulful chorus and general great vibe of the whole song but for me it’s all about that breakdown. The reverb-drenched synth line just amps up the character and takes things to a new place for a while before everything snaps back in.

4. I Got My Mind Made Up – INSTANT FUNK (Salsoul 1978)

I read somewhere that Larry’s remix of this Instant Funk banger is regarded in some circles as the greatest 12″ remix of all time. It’s a bold claim and I’m not sure I even think I agree with the idea that there has to be a ‘greatest mix’, but aside from that there’s little about this remix I can say that hasn’t been said already. It’s just SO funky from start to finish and I probably play it out just a bit too often, but I can’t help myself.

5. Need Somebody New – JAMAICA GIRLS (Sleeping Bag 1983)

A fairly recent discovery for me but I wanted to include it here because I’ve been enjoying it a lot and it’s another example of an unmistakable Levan intro; the way the sounds are introduced into the arrangement and how certain sounds are drenched in delay or saturated to the point where the sound almost starts to break up. I often wonder if some of the techniques he employed were to recreate sounds he was hearing when he was under the influence mixing records in the club.

6. Diamond Ring – BILLY NICHOLS (West End 1980)

Okay, so this could be a bit of a stretch because it’s difficult to say with any degree of certainty exactly what level of involvement Levan had in this, but it’s here all the same. Discogs classifies this under the sub-heading ‘Writing & Arrangement’ and the record lists Levan as ‘Music Consultant’, so it’s anyone’s guess. Tune is a total banger though and it definitely displays more than a mere sprinkle of Levan magic in my view.

7. A.I.E – LA COMPAGNIE CREOLE (Pardonnez-nous 2019)

Another recent discovery (unreleased prior to this year) and arguably a much more understated treatment than we might be used to hearing from Monsieur Levan. You could even say it’s quite smooth and polished, two words you wouldn’t normally use to describe one of Larry’s reworks. It has a lovely groove and is the perfect early evening summer vibe for a rooftop party before things get dark and messy inside the club.

8. Bodyshine – INSTANT FUNK (Salsoul 1979)

Levan always had a knack of making a sexy song seem even sexier. Maybe it’s the way his creative flow and personality combined to bring out even more soul and sass from a tune. People often speak about his magnetic character and wild spontaneity, and his ability to squeeze even more emotional impact out of a song. I think you can add to that his ability to make a song feel more lithe and twice as sensual.

9. Double Cross – FIRST CHOICE (Salsoul 1979)

A song which will forever remind me of the Release Yourself parties hosted by Pat McCusker, Henry Hobson and myself at Wharf Chambers in Leeds from 2012 to 2017. Just a guaranteed floor filler and definitely one of Levan’s most muscular remixes. A banger, pure and simple. One of my favourite characteristics of his remixes is the way he just pushes those kick drum and bass guitar faders right up. G’wan!

10. Can’t Play Around – LACE (Atlantic, RFC 1982)

I’ve often heard people talk about 1982 as the best year for boogie. I’m not sure about that but I am sure that Levan’s mix of this Lace song should definitely be included in any best of 1982 list. For me, Levan produced some of his finest work during the post-disco period (though you could also argue that most of his work is from that period anyway!) when dance music dug deep into it’s own underground again and became even more experimental. Larry was definitely spearheading that movement with his raw, train-of-thought creativity and unique approach, not just to his remixes but his live sets too.

OUR NEW MIX IS NOW ON MIXCLOUD

I’m on mix duties again this month and it’s been difficult to select just a small amount of music from recent buys as there’s been a lot of good stuff out recently (ensuring empty pockets but a well-stocked record bag). Here’s some of my favourite songs of the moment, bursting with summer vibes.
– Matt

SHAKTI // Rainbows (Subway 1987)
RENE & ANGELA // I Love You More (Frankie Rodriquez Long Vocal Edit) (Capitol 1981)
KLEER // Open Your Mind (Atlantic 1979)
CHAKA KHAN // I Know You, I Live You (Tony Humphries Remix) (Warner Bros 1989)
BRIAN POWER // Falling Back In Love (Instrumental) (Soulhouse 2019)
JOE NEGRO vs. HORSE MEAT DISCO // Candidate For Love (Horse Meat Disco Mix) (Strut 2014)
TERRY HUNTER Featuring BARBARA TUCKER // Holding On (Club Mix) (T’s Box 2019)
PEGGY GOU // Han Pan (Gudu 2019)
JUNGLE BY NIGHT // Spending Week (Ron Trent Remix) (New Dawn 2019)
PRINCE // 17 Days (Zach Witness Version) (Witness 2019)
SOUL REDUCTIONS // Got 2 Be Loved (Take Away 2017)

Our latest mix is now up on Mixcloud >>>

We’ve been a bit quiet with our mixes recently but we’re back with a heady cocktail guaranteed to whet your weekend whistle and designed to get you from A (ace) to B (bangin’) via Patrick Cowley, Stellar Om Source, Tatham, Mensah, Lord & Ranks and more.

1) Intellectual Thinking // NEW WORLD MUSIC (New World Music 1985)
2) One Hot Afternoon // PATRICK COWLEY (Dark Entries 2017)
3) MPB (Missing Persons Bureau) (Paradise Ballroom Mix) // WOMACK & WOMACK (Melodies International 2018)
4) The Believer // TATHAM, MENSAH, LORD & RANKS (2000 Black 2016)
5) You Love My Music // SWITCHBLADE SISTERS (Different Drummer 1997)
6) So Smooth (Kon Hit N Run Mix) // KRYSTAL DAVIS (Glitterbox 2018)
7) Talk Talk Talk // THE GOLDEN FILTER (4gn3s 2018)
8) Mother (Featuring Steffanie Christian) // WAAJEED (Planet E 2018)
9) Games That We Play // OMAR S (FXHE 2018)
10) Par Amour // STELLAR OM SOURCE (Rvng Intl 2013)
11) Shook (Unnayanaa Mix) // IRFAN RAINEY & BONAFIDE ROJAS (Rainy City Music 2017)

GALAXIANS MIX 20 – AN HOUR OF DISCO BANGERS

Our 20th mix is by Jed and features:

1. Feel – “I’d Like To” (Sutra Records, 1982)
2. Tramaine – “The Rock” (Instrumental Dub) (A&M Records, 1987)
3. Shawn Christopher – “Welcome Home” (Hidden Mix) (We-Ze Records, 2006)
4. Geraldine Hunt – “Can’t Fake The Feeling” (Prism Records, 1980)
5. Lenny Williams – “You Got Me Running” (Reconstructed Mix) (original ABC Records, 1978)
6. The Jammers – “Be Mine Tonight” (Instrumental) (Salsoul, 1982)
7. Midnight Star – “I’ve Been Watching You” (Sound of Los Angeles Records, 1981)
8. Benny Rose – “It’s Only You” (Tropical Budda Records, 1984)
9. Ebonee Webb – “Gonna Get Cha” (Capitol Records, 1981)
10. RenĂ© and Angela – “Wall To Wall” (Capitol Records, 1981)

  1. Feel – “I’d Like To” (Sutra Records, 1982)

A steady-skipping boogie beat and interplay between synths, guitars and vocals on this opener from Feel.  Produced by Chris Hills, who also wrote the Players Association’s disco classic “Turn the Music Up”, and with superb vocals from Gail Freeman.

  1. Tramaine – “The Rock” (Instrumental Dub) (A&M Records, 1987)

Mixed by Larry Levan, this instrumental version was played at the legendary Paradise Garage nightclub in NYC just before it closed its doors for good.  This instrumental version brings out the late-80s instrumentation, with the drum machine and DX7 synth prominent in the mix.

  1. Shawn Christopher – “Welcome Home” (Hidden Mix) (We-Ze Records, 2006)

“Welcome Home” was played just once at the Paradise Garage by Larry Levan.  Just once!  Can you believe it?

This track is taken from a 2006 release that makes the claim that this version is a Larry Levan mix.  Maybe it is, but since it’s taken from a tape, and has been on the bootleg circuit for a number of years, no-one knows for sure.  Maybe someone will reissue it and give it a nice 180gsm vinyl repress sometime soon.

  1. Geraldine Hunt – “Can’t Fake The Feeling” (Prism Records, 1980)

A bit of everything here – strings, guitar, Fender Rhodes electric piano with a bit of phaser, and of course, Geraldine Hunt. Known on the Northern Soul circuit for a number of late 60s/early 70s releases that exchange for hundreds of pounds a piece, this 1980 release on Prism is a disco classic that you can get for a couple of quid if you know where to look!  Check out Kathleen Dyson’s guitar solo at the end of the track, too.

  1. Lenny Williams – “You Got Me Running” (Reconstructed Mix) (original ABC Records, 1978)

An unknown producer has done a sterling job of subtly extending this 1978 disco classic from Lenny Williams.  Allegedly, Larry Levan had a version not too dissimilar from this on Œ” reel-to-reel tape that he would play at The Paradise Garage in the late 70s.  Maybe this is as close as we’ll get to that.

  1. The Jammers – “Be Mine Tonight” (Instrumental) (Salsoul, 1982)

Mixed by Shep Pettibone, who’s a big fan of repetition and extending things out, and arranged by Richie Weeks from Weeks & Co, which also featured Jocelyn Brown (check out “Knock, Knock” for a similar groove).   Shep would later go on to work with Madonna, the Pet Shop Boys, Lionel Ritchie and many more, helping to sell the idea of a ‘remix’ to the wider public.

  1. Midnight Star – “I’ve Been Watching You” (Sound of Los Angeles Records, 1981)

Produced by Leon Silvers, who has worked on some of the most classic tracks in R&B since the late 70s, including co-writing “The Beat Goes On” by The Whispers (later sampled by Will Smith for “Miami”), as well as writing for Gladys Knight, Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King and Shalamar, to name but a few.  So you know this will be just GREAT.

  1. Benny Rose – “It’s Only You” (Tropical Budda Records, 1984)

A copy of this will set you back about £200, and it’s not hard to see why.  Everything about it screams “RARE”, from the scarcely-got-it-but-it-still-works electric tom intro, to Benny’s slightly weird vocals, and not forgetting that banging bassline.  Plus of course, the delightfully bonkers label name, ‘Tropical Budda Records’.  Praise the Lord for the internet for letting us experience this disco obscurity.  (It was reissued in 2007 on Boogie Times Records, but that’s long sold out.  It might be cheaper trying to get a copy of one of those, though).

  1. Ebonee Webb – “Gonna Get Cha” (Capitol Records, 1981)

This is the last track of Ebonee Webb’s 1981 self-titled album and it’s great.  The last track!  Wonder what the rest of the album is like?  Well, it’s got THE FONK, that’s what, so go and buy the whole thing and put it on right now.

  1. RenĂ© and Angela – “Wall To Wall” (Capitol Records, 1981)

And from the last track to the first, and also from another self-titled album.  The first track! Wonder what the rest of the album is like?  Well, it’s got THE FONK, that’s what, so go and buy the whole thing and put it on right now


ENJOY THE MIX!

KMAH Radio // Needle To The Groove Featuring Galaxians

Matt joined fellow Wild Visions founder and party co-host The Boogie Monster and radio show host Anthony Dobson for Needle To The Groove on KMAH radio in Leeds on 20 November.

Full tracklist:

Tilt – Arkade Funk
Reggie Griffin & Technofunk – Mirda Rock
The Fantastic Aleems featuring Corky Hodges – Movin’ to the Beat
Vance & Suzzanne – I Can’t Get Along Without You
Crown Heights Affair – Body and Soul
Brass Construction – Now Is Tomorrow
Disco Pocho – Rollerskating (Javi Frias edit)
Bobby Cash Redd – Skate Party People
Central Line – Don’t Tell Me (Larry Levan mix)
Rhyze – I Found Love In You
Eddy Grant – Time Warp
ESG – Moody
Nancy Martin – Can’t Believe
Armenta – I Wanna Be With You (part 2)
JA Groove – Release The Tension
Sparque – Music Turns Me On
Clyde featuring Capitol A – Serve It Up
Omar S – U
Q – The Voice Of Q
Shannon – Give Me Tonight (dub version)
Love Club – Hot Summer Nights
Karen Silver – Nobody Else
Galaxians – How Do U Feel? (full-length album version)