Sunday, March 30, 2014

I'm Stepping Out Tonight  


 Even back when we started BeatElectric it was already sort of difficult to post something new to the internet, that is to say something you couldn't already hear on youtube, another blog or maybe some weird file dump aggregator site in France. Not that that was ever our primary objective, it was more about the quality of the rip and ease of download for laptop DJ's, but you know, its a cool feeling when you know something is completely fresh. These days though, its near impossible, I haven't done it in a while, even if the tune is complete garbage its already out there somewhere to listen to, and thats a great thing, as it means so much more weird music now accessible. Yet still, sometimes its nice to be first.

 Anyway, I was walking down 24th St, which is a strip in San Francisco's Mission district that has been a little more resilient to gentrification, there are still some new restaurants and coffee shops opening up along there of course, full of tech workers (such as myself) but there are also still the traditional residents, working class Latino families making a living.

 This older Mexican guy in wife beater had some random stuff for sale on a blanket on the sidewalk. A toaster oven, a sony walkman, a corkscrew and some records. I flipped through the Polka LP's that usually turn up on the streets of this part of Mission, and suddenly I saw some hombre's in jumpsuits and afros, it was definitely an indie Tejano Polka record, produced by a small label in South Texas, but there was a single track listed that had an English title, Stepping Out Tonight, so perhaps a song about partying, and a credit for someone named Pedro Gonzalez who performed synth duty on it. Maybe there was a stand alone disco track on this among all the accordion music.

 I offered homey a dollar, and he spat "No way! where else you gonna find this record right now!? This old school right here!" , to which I bravely responded "who else is gonna buy this record right now? Eh!? Today's your lucky day, I'm going to give you a dollar for it." .. how about that razor sharp wit, I had only just spent twice that amount on a coffee, and here this guy was trying to eek a living selling used toasters off of a blanket .. anyway, I didn't win, he scratched under his armpit, looked at me unwavering like the piece of shit I was and I gave him two bucks.

And it turns out it was a disco track..

Little Joe & La Familia - I'm Stepping Out Tonight 

Posted by Black Shag | 5 comments

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5 comments: to “ I'm Stepping Out Tonight


  • March 30, 2014 at 8:41 PM  

    Really cool track. It's got that great lo-fi mixing with the vocals showing too high over the bass, but the vocals are actually very well done. Nice find!


  • March 30, 2014 at 10:51 PM  

    Little Joe & La Familia on PBS.. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/latinmusicusa/index.html#/en/wat/03/03


  • April 8, 2014 at 4:39 PM  

    I've been dowloading and running for too long! Such a great story, and told so fluently. Thanks for the blog and all the great tunes you guys bring us - like this one. Long live Beat Electric.


  • April 13, 2014 at 4:30 AM  

    I don't often comment here, although I look at the blog regularly. Just wanted to say thanks for the great music and cool story behind it :-)


  • April 24, 2014 at 8:00 AM  

    Wonderful story and a great find. Thanks.