Here is another indie '80s soul record to file in the M.J. impersonator section along with Alfonzo and Michael Sterling. Timothy Marrow's self released Killer Moon sounds like it was recorded in an afternoon with a borrowed synth and drum machine. Every little mistake and looseness in the meandering bass line is captured in its full glory over a basic drum loop. Timothy's vocals tread dangerously close to copying the flow of Billie Jean. A recipe for a killer track if I've ever heard one.

Timothy Marrow - Killer Moon

  I believe our hosting was successfully moved at this point so I'll go ahead and put up a new post. This is a record that has evaded me for a while and I finally tracked down a copy. Released towards the end of peak boogie era in 1985 Shebba's We Should Get Together is still a fine example of the sound and has remained one of my favorite tunes for years. This one off track features production from Young & Company who brought us classics like Joy "I Need Your Love". The classic Young & Co. sound is in full effect here with excellent bass guitar work. I really like the '85 flavor of this one with drum programming that reminds me of Miami freestyle/electro, albeit a more laid back version. The skittering delayed percussion and cowbell sounds really tie together the atmosphere of this masterpiece.


Shebba - We Should Get Together

 Here is another slamming Miami style funk 12" I picked up during the winter holidays while out of town. I wasn't able to find much info on the producer or label, this is likely their only release. There are two copyright years listed, 1983 and 1985. I'm guessing this 12" represents their latest and greatest updated for '85 version. If anyone knows of an earlier mix, perhaps under a different name, please drop a comment.


Gang Gang - To Get Kinky With Me (Mad Mix Instrumental)

  I just got back from a couple weeks out of town and managed to scrape a few cool eighties funk records from some bible belt shops. First up is a Macola-distributed 12" by Kristie, a glossy '85 indie production. Macola-related funk records have a similar disjointed later 80s sound that I can't get enough of.

  Our own Cosmic Champaign is known for spinning Fine Quality's "Aah Dance" in his sets lately. I was stoked to find the generic looking LP including that track along with some other solid cuts from the studio crew behind Sugarhill. "Saturday Night" is one of the better cuts from the LP, written and produced by Bunny Sigler.

  Finally, Osborne & Giles were a short lived duo featuring Billy Osborne from L.T.D. and Attala Giles from Deco. I'm really only feeling this one cut from the LP but it is definitely worth sharing.

Kristie - Head Games

New Guys On The Block - Saturday Night

Osborne & Giles - I Can't Stop This Feeling

Curtis Hairston was a prolific singer/song writer and one of my favorite male vocalist from the 80's . I was first hooked when I heard his vocals on The BB&Q Band's LP "Genie" where he lent his voice on the smooth jam "Dreamer" as well as some other background vocals on that album. He caught his break with the 1983 jam "I Want You (All Tonight)" released on Pretty Pearl Records and he followed up that success with "I Want Your Lovin" in 1985. Both of his tracks are pretty slamming but I prefer the '85 single more so I thought it would be a great tune to share. In typical 80's fashion it is what I guess you would call a "cheesy" love song but it never fails to get people on the floor. I also highly recommend checking out the next level music video he did for this song, it is such a beast!

Curtis Hairston-I Want Your Lovin'
Curtis Hairston-I Want Your Lovin' (Dub)

And since I have been lagging on the posts, here is an excellent mix from the LA Funk Lord and Funkmosphere resident Eddy Funkster. This mix is all 45's and full of records you wish you had! I had the track list written down somewhere but I have since lost it but I will put in the comments once I get it together.

Eddy Funkster Rare 45 mix

These are two funk tracks I have been spinning a lot lately. The synth bass on both of these tracks is pure squelchy quality. The synth and bass guitar combo on Chaz's New York dance floor workout is especially great. Chaz delivers a real winner here with dubbed out extended mixing production and a nice fake out ending. He must have been really feeling this track to rinse it so hard. I'm glad he did. Bromar's Call Me Up is more digital Minneapolis funk with some tasteful sampler use and a classic phone call breakdown.