House Nation

I spent the day wandering around the Soho district of London and found my way into a couple of record stores including the Soul Jazz Records hub, Sounds of The Universe. They had a deep collection of classic and new vinyl, but alas for obvious reasons I am going wax free on this particular journey overseas. I later walked into another shop and heard a solid classic house compilation from the early 90's playing on the PA and snatched it up. The House Nation comp is probably my first cd purchase in over ten years and in the spirit of my moment of devolution I am posting a few highlights from the disc.

Also check the sidebar for my Paris DJ sets next week. Je veux voir tous vos beaux visages.

Phase II - Reachin'
Rhythim is Rhythim - Strings of Life
The Todd Terry Project - Weekend

Be Mine Tonight

I don't know why we never posted this before (maybe we did), but here is the classic cut off of The Jammer's first self titled 1982 Salsoul released album. One of the few standout albums of the genre that hits hard from start to finish, you pick just about any track off of that and throw it up on the internet, but Be Mine Tonight has the most recognizable hook of the bunch. Richie Weeks and a prime Shep Pettibone both had a hand in this, with pretty much an all star instrumental lineup provided by Salsoul.

The Jammers - Be Mine Tonight

serge

Serge Ponsar was a French-born musician who released one LP in 1983 called Back to the Light. His lone full-length belongs on a short list of '80s funk LPs that are solid start to finish. No need to get off the couch after one song to yank the needle off a sleepy slow jam. "Out in the Night" is one of the best tracks on his album and fortunately saw a 12" release cut nice and loud at 45rpm. This tune has a tough bass line and a certain French smoothness that work really well together.

Serge Ponsar - Out in the Night (12")

Punch Your Ticket

This is what happens when you mix a funk band, a freestyle producer, and Miami together. Pretty Tony produced this record in 1983. It has a an proto Miami bass beat mixed with a smorgasbord of sounds and effects; and somehow it works.

Freestyle Express - Freestyle

Split Personality

Maybe Florida's most prolific R'n'B writer and producer, Eugene Wilde came from a musical family, including still performing favorite Dee Dee Wilde, and had some solo success including an r'n'b chart #1 on Philly World Records in the early 80's. After moving from the limelight for a while and behind the mixing boards, he found himself writing smashes for the Backstreet Boys, Brittany Spears and Victoria Beckham in the early 2000's. Now he is back releasing independent modern soul singles out of Scandanavia.

'Personality' was Eugene's second or third single, coming out in 1984. This is the cleverly titled 'Split' mix, a proto house garagey dub version that came out on the 4th & Broadway issued UK release. A pleasant backdrop for this hot weather.

Eugene Wilde - Personality (Split)