I just want to skate.

Vaughan Mason & Crew - Roller Skate
Vaughan Mason & Butch Dayo - Rollalong Songs

A really sick 7 inch featured here from Pittsburgh, PA unit The Assignment. Released in '87, Jammin' to the Beat was the groups first release and quite notable as it so nicely bridged the gap between lo fi boogie and late 80's electric funk. The band released a few more singles and experienced regional notoriety but never quite broke through on the national stage. If you want to dig a little deeper on The Assignment, I found a pretty sweet bio page with some lo-res scans of the band (featuring members Chill Bill, Fly Ty and Cookie) in full Prince-esque splendor.

The Assignment - Jammin' To The Beat
The Assignment - Keep Jammin' To The Beat

I am leaving for vacation France on Thursday and thought it would be a good time to post this edit of a 1968 Serge Gainsbourg song. This cut was written for the soundtrack of the classic film La Pacha. I have no idea what he is saying, but apparently it is a funeral speech at the burial of an asshole and there are no holds barred. Let me know if there if something fun going on in Nice this weekend!

Serge Gainsbourg - Requiem Pour Un C... (LeBaron Edit)

My original intent for this post was to be the third part of my Mastermix series, this time featuring the Prelude Vol. II Tony Humphries mixes. Well my thrift store copy is fucked and beaten to death, I was only able to salvage the two least essential tracks off the comp. Not to worry, I will track down a new copy and post them up sometime down the road. In an attempt to make up for the lack of killer content here I am throwing in a pretty smooth track from the second Wynd Chymes LP entitled Festival. For more on Wynd Chymes, read the comments by the bands former lead singer on our post from a couple of years back.

Wynd Chymes - Festival
Sharon Redd - Beat The Street (Tony Humphries Mastermix)
D Train - Music (Tony Humphries Mastermix)

Nicky Siano was one of the first DJs to mix records and owned the legendary club The Gallery in Manhattan which he opened in 1972. He was the most proficient DJ of the era and mentored both Frankie Knuckles and Larry Levan. His sound system, which was a scaled up version of the one at the loft is thought by many to be the best sounding club system ever. Nicky had isolators and crossovers set to tweak the sound in his live sets which he mixed on three turntables. The club set the standard and predated the legendary clubs Zanzibar, Studio 54, and The Paradise Garage.

Nicky set another benchmark when he became the first DJ to produce a record. Arthur Russel and Nicky released Kiss Me Again by Dinosaur in 1978 on Sire Records. Guitar work is done by David Byrne. Nicky put a couple of records out under his own and this one from 1986 has a strange Ultravox meets pop disco sound.

Dinosaur - Kiss Me Again
Nick Siano - I'm Looking For You (Serious Mix)

I think this tune was written to be the perfect car chase or karate fight scene song for a late 70's cop show. It came out on Shady Brook Records in 1977 by a group known as S.S.O. or The S.S.O. Orchestra. Their name is an abbreviation The Soul Sensation Orchestra, so the later name is redundant. I like the blaxploitation feel and the jazz funk sound that is going on. Vocals are executed by The Sugar Sisters. The track was produced by Roland Kruger, who also produced Que Tal America and other tunes by by Two Man Sound.

S.S.O. - Right Here Right Now

I recently came to the realization that we haven't explicitly covered the band Slave here in the several years since BE's inception. Now our omission can be justifiable to a point. Slave is a rather obvious group from the era, but a damn important one at that. Hailing from Dayton Ohio circa 1975, Slave were one of a handful of 70's artists that set the foundation for the Boogie-Funk sound as we know it. A common record no doubt but thanks in large part to Steve Arrington's vocals and the bands top notch arrangement, Feel My Love delivers in a big way. As Slave continued to hit new peaks in the early 80's their "Fearless Leader" Steve Washington left the band to form the equally killer group, Aurra. By request I also am posting Baby Love a prime Aurra track from 1983 with a b-side Mastermix by Shep Pettibone to boot.

Slave - Feel My Love
Aurra - Baby Love
Aurra - Baby Love (Shep Pettibone Instrumental Mastermix)

This jam by The Bang Gang came out on Sugarscoop in 1981. It is an early track produced by the most prolific dance music producer of the 80s and 90s; Bobby Orlando. This track has a much more black and boogie oriented feel than the Hi NRG sound for which he is known. His most notable release was Passion by the Flirts. Bobby O has an interesting story. It turns out he was a religious, raging homophobe, but made the gayest music known to man. Being a short, sober man of epic self confidence, he set up lots of labels and produced lots of music just for the payday. I stumbled upon this amazing quote by the narcissist that was originally printed in music magazine The Face in 1987: "I regard each record I make as worthless and useless just like anybody else’s"..."Anybody who thinks that their music is something special is worshiping a false doctrine. There is nothing that any artist can say that is really of any importance because anything other than God’s word is laced with the evil and has to regarded as sin tainted." Click HERE for the article.

The Bang Gang - Street Music
The Bang Gang - Street Music (Instrumental)

Jocelyn Brown is a bad ass. The beginning of this song is just stunning and rarely has a song about two timing love been so upbeat. "Somebody Elses Guy" was released in 1984 and peaked at #2 on the US R&B charts. It's not exactly a difficult record to find, I found it in a dollar bin, but it's a song that has that sound, that hook and instrumentation that sticks with you and I can't help but clap and sing along "OoohhhhI can't get off my high horse aaand I can't let go. You aaare the one who makes me feeel soo reeal." The break down really takes the song into a cool groove that just makes it even more danceable, the kind where one closes their eyes and enjoys a few minutes in a zone on the floor.

Just when I thought I was out of high caliber boogie records to post I went digging through my crates tonite and found this jam on Prism subsidiary Snowflake Records. Another one off track by the husband and wife team of Curtis and Laurice Hudson, Feel My Love apparently got a good amount of airplay on Kiss FM in NYC during the hottest summer for music on record, 1982.

Laurice Hudson - Feel My Love
Laurice Hudson - Feel My Love (Instrumental)

I moved into a new apartment this week, so all my crappy records are still in boxes, unmarked boxes with mixed and bizarre content, 7"s getting destroyed by free moving kitchen equipment and cookware. I messed up and didn't pack until the morning the movers were set to arrive. This made it hard finding something to post today, and to compound the problem I also have a gig tonight at the Mezz and so far have only managed to unpack a few boxes of classical music and weirdy jazz.

Fortunately though I did come across Passion's 'Don't Stop My Love' retrospective LP whilst looking for my toothbrush (true), as well as the 12" instrumental version of the title track.

Recorded in Miami by Ray Martinez, Passion had the pleasure of including amongst it's members fruit loop cult leader, and Beat Electric favorite, Dr. York! as always, go check out his wikipedia entry.

Passion - Don't Stop The Love (Instrumental)
Passion - You Can't Hide It

After hearing the disturbing news that several mp3 blogs were decimated last night by our friends at Skynet, I am stepping out of my cave this evening to mourn and wallow with some oblivious party toddlers. Therefore I ask forgiveness for the brevity.

So Different is a modern soul stepper on Sound of New York Records from Kevin Bassett aka Kinky Foxx. Complete with a "Sure Shot Mix" by Tony Humphries, this was Foxx's only known release. I suppose if you are going to cut only one single in your career, might as well make it a winner.

Addendum:

Our friend Matt from Montreal shared an email he received about the band from a gentleman that worked at the club where Kinky Foxx kept a residency in the early 80's. Here goes:

I worked at Checkers from '81-'87, and the Kinky Foxx effect took hold maybe in '82. Their big heyday was maybe for the 2/3 years following, though they kept showing up as long as I worked there.

When they first came up, Johnny Kemp was the lead vox but he left 'em when they more or less moved up here, and was replaced by Vincent Lilly (who sings on So Different.) Personally, I liked 'em more with Johnny, as Vincent was a bit of an MJ clone, but they were still a fierce live band (and I mean live: trap drums, percussions, slap bass, Jimmy Nolen-style rhythm guit & Ernie Isley/Eddie Hazel wailing lead, keys...) Rhythm guit Kevin Clarence Basset (who wrote So Diff) sang great lead on a few, which were the highlights for me: Champagne's Try Again, Rick James' Ghetto Life etc.

As a live band they were every bit as good as Cameo, or whoever you might name from that era, but they never got the break to get out of the bars. They worked a fuck of a lot in bars, though.
One night I turned 'em all onto 'shrooms, which (to my surprise) they'd never encountered in NYC: half of them loved it, and the other half wanted to kill me!

It was intense times to be around for sure, but just think: if you'd been there then, you'd be old (or dead) now! I still have some pretty much equally intense times, but obviously everything's that much larger than life when you're 20 than when you're more'n twice that.
I wish I'd taped a few KF shows: I still remember them really vividly, but I can't make you a dub of that!

Kinky Foxx - So Different (Tony Humphries Sure Shot Mix)

This is a heavy cosmic disco track that is almost guaranteed to get you laid this Valentine's Day. Demis has had a long and storied career of swooning schmaltzy tunes but he put out a couple of great disco records. You can find another one of his tracks in the tags section. Also here is a slow jam to help you seal the deal.

Demis Roussos - L.O.V.E Got A Hold Of Me
Zapp - Computer Love

With its anthemic backing track and trippy sped up vocals, Lady Bug is considered by many to be a definitive disco banger. I have always been somewhat dubious of the chipmunk style vocals but Patrick Adams and Greg Carmichael's incredible production work definitely breaks through. There were many 12" versions pressed upon its release in 1978, including the original on Greg Carmichael's Red Greg and a later RCA pressing featuring remix work from two of New York City's hottest DJ's at the time: John Morales and Larry Levan. These were both very early remix gigs for Morales and Levan and in my humble opinion Morales's hypnotic dancefloor mix shines brighter than Levan's more sparse version. UK label BBE recently issued a stellar comp featuring classic Morales remixes and a bunch of unreleased M&M session mixes from the era.

Bumblebee Unlimited - Lady Bug (John Morales Mix)
Bumblebee Unlimited - Lady Bug (Larry Levan Mix)

These tracks may be a bit too smooth for some of you, but Valentines Day is coming up so all you foos better get with the program. Cecil and Linda Womack make up the husband and wife duo Womack & Womack. Linda Womack is the late Sam Cooke's daughter and Cecil's brother Bobby Womack is a well known R&B artist. There are quite a few scandals that surround the family and as it turns out, Linda is Cecil's niece through marriage.

Womack & Womack have a very unique sound that seems to blend modern soul, country, and pop seamlessly. There is a lot of Sam Cook influence in there as well. I first heard Conscience of My Conscience in the Henrik Schwarz DJ Kicks and it remains one of my favorite jamz. I picked up the Strange and Funny 12" a while back and I love its country soul vibe. Teardrops is a dancefloor ready tune that was recently covered (and surprisingly, not in an "ironic" indie way) by the xx.

Womack & Womack - Conscience Of My Conscience
Womack & Womack - Teardrops (Extended Remix)
Womack & Womack - Strange And Funny

This track needs little introduction. If you are a boogie nerd and dig that 1984 sound, then you probably know and love the lone Exquisite Taste 12" on NYC imprint Starlite Records.

Exquisite Taste - It's You That's Happening
Exquisite Taste - It's You That's Happening (Instrumental)
Exquisite Taste - It's You That's Happening (Acappella)

This release compiled and edited by Ron Hardy in 1989 showcased some of Frankie Knuckle's finest work on the groundbreaking Chicago label, Trax Records. From his time as the house DJ at Chicago's legendary Warehouse club circa '77-'82, Knuckles was at the forefront of the original and only legit American House music movement. Nowadays Knuckles has a fetish for chillin' out in his ample collection of Louis Vuitton gear. I scored his cell phone number from my friend who works in the LV call center but I haven't had the nerve yet to cold call him and fire up a conversation. Anyways, my apologies for the somewhat dicey quality of these recordings. I picked this sealed copy up at a flea market but most Trax records were cheap shit and I think they forgot to master the recordings for the wax pressings. I believe that was actually a big part of the label's charm.

This Plastic Bertrand edit by the late great Ron Hardy has a loop that you can listen to forever. It evokes a patient dance floor full of enchanted people. Here also is a mix is from Ron Hardy's own club in Chicago, the Music Box which was in the old home of the Powerplant. This mix really well represents his playful and eclectic mixing style.

Plastic Bertrand - Stop Ou Encore (Ron Hardy Re-Edit)

Playlist:
1. Nightlife Unlimited: Peaches & Prunes (edit)
2. Two of China: Los Niños Del Parque (Tormenta-Mix)
3. Virgo: Free Yourself
4. Frankie Knuckles: It’s A Cold World
5. Frankie Knuckles: Baby Wants to Ride
6. Tempest Trio: Do You Like The Way It Feels
7. Hercules: 7 Ways
8. The Originals: Down To Love Town (edit)
9. Parlet: Pleasure Principle
10. Sleeque: One for the Money
11. Carl Bean: I Was Born This Way (Better Days Version)
12. Billy Paul: Only the Strong Survive (edit)
13. Loleatta Holloway: Catch Me on the Rebound (Disco Madness Remix edit)
14. Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes: Don’t Leave Me This Way
15. Loose Joints: Is It All Over My Face (Male Version/Female Version)/reversed
16. Blue Magic: Welcome to the Club (edit)
17. Teddy Pendergrass: The More I Get, The More I Want (edit)

Ron Hardy - Live at the Music Box 1986

Beyond the fact that singer/guitarist Steve Shelto (or Mr. Class as he is now known) recorded an exceptional 12" for Sam records in 1983, he also managed to perform at Ronald Reagan's 2nd inauguration and the Queen of England's 60th birthday party. Not bad for a guy with one solo 12" and a only a couple of releases with his previous band Area Code (212). These days you can find Steve as an extra in the upcoming Will Ferrel film The Other Guys and performing with his band during tourist season in Naples, Florida. Nice one.

Steve Shelto - Don't You Give Your Love Away (Shep Pettibone Mix)
Steve Shelto -Don't You Give Your Love Away (Instrumental)

This lazer soul jam was released in 1985 on Genius Records, a Macola subsidiary. This track was born in the days of ultra slick modern soul production. It could have done without the guitar solo, but nevertheless, it would be a good track for a good old fashioned dance off.


Kristine - No One Can Tell Me (Long Vocal)

The not so aptly titled Wreckin' Crew formed in Chicago, Il. in the late 70's and you can read their bio here. At least regionally Found The Groove was a fairly well known boogie-funk cut that was released in 1981 on several different imprints including this 7" version on private Chicago label Starville. We received an email a while back requesting we post the b-side modern soul cut You Don't Care as it was included on the Funkacise mix LeBaron and I put out early last year. After giving it a listen the other nite I came to the conclusion that edits were in order for both sides of this 7". You Don't Care was a minor one, a bad horn solo desperately needed removal. Found the Groove on the other hand needed pretty major surgery. Some outdated P-Funk bits and a shit chorus made a potentially stellar track fall flat.

Wreckin Crew - Found The Groove (BT Magnum Edit)
Wreckin Crew - You Don't Care (Edit)

Happy New Year from B.E, I hope everyone enjoyed themselves to excess. I guess this is the first post of 2010, so to keep things in a jubilant, optimistic mood I'm going to post a feel good proto boogie number, yet again, from the West End stable.

I Get Lifted was written by H.W Casey and Rick Finch of K.C and the Sunshine Band fame, and comes with a mix by label owner Mel Cheren himself.

The Sweet Life - I Get Lifted

The late Ray Caviano was the A&R man for T.K. Records and its offshoot Marlin during the peak 70's disco era signing Voyage, Kat Mandu and a slew of other artists. Caviano left T.K. in 1978 to become the Executive Director of Disco (dream job) at Warner Brothers Records. Warner gave him his own imprint RFC Records titled after his initials. Caviano executive produced many LP's and 12"s in the late 70's/early 80's for Warner/Atlantic and struck up a partnership with Quality Records in Canada with some notable releases from Jimmy Ross and A Number of Names amongst others. Today I am posting a few jams from the RFC/Atlantic stable circa '81-'83. All told, if you are out hunting for disco or boogie 12's and see the RFC imprint it's quite likely you will have a pretty decent cut on your hands.

Tomorrow's Edition - U Turn Me On
Prestige - Cheating
Suzy Q - Get On Up Do It Again
Attitude - We Got The Juice
Change - This Is Your Time

Fela Kuti was a very accomplished Nigerian multi-instrumentalist and recording artist who was the founder of afrobeat and funk. His 1975 record Expensive Shit was ground breaking with its long and funky tracks. Here is one of my favorite jamz.

Fela Kuti - It's Not Possible

In keeping with the spirit of Black Shag's Africa post and Beat Electric's permanent ban on any Christmas related music, today we celebrate the African-American holiday Kwanzaa with this Hugh Masekela joint on the Jive Afrika imprint. Jive Afrika was created as a catalyst for Masekela's early 80's output which shifted towards electronic and boogie oriented sounds. The sub label never grew much beyond Masekela and a couple of other artists, but I like the idea behind it. I just wish they could have dug up more African boogie gems such as this one.

Hugh Masekela - Don't Go Lose It Baby (Stretch Mix)
Hugh Masekela - Don't Go Lose It Baby (Dub Mix)
Hugh Masekela - Don't Go Lose It Baby (BT Magnum Edit)

This track led to Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis getting kicked out of The Time. The two band mates produced this record while on a brief hiatus when they were in Prince's group The Time. After this recording session, they got stuck in a blizzard and were stranded in Atlanta; unable to meet the band for their next tour date. Prince fired them. The subsequent success of this record launched their long production career.

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis had an amazing ability take an act that had disappeared into mediocrity and mold into a powerful force. The duo rescued the S.O.S. band from workout disco obscurity when they penned this jam that was released on Tabu in 1983. This track is the epitome of their lazer soul sound that went on change the face of R&B into the late 80's.

The S.O.S. Band - Just Be Good To Me (Long Version)