I finally got my recording rig sorted; hopefully these are loud enough for you. Now, if I could just keep my computer from crashing! Here are some early 80's gems. This 1982 D Train cut is a no brainer. No group can put me in a good mood like them. They are so filled with positive energy and they make me want to get up and dance. This dub version is on the flip of the Walk On By 12". This 1983 track by Bobby Nunn is a jam, a warm up or a cool down for sure. Has a lot of garage flavor in a modern soul dish.

D Train - Tryin' To Get Over (Dub)
Bobby Nunn - Do You Look That Good In The Morning?

Here is a funky jam off a 1983 Strut Records 12" by Charles Earland. The drum programming reminds me of proto garage tunes from the same era. The vocal versions on this 12" are pretty weak, but I like this one up until the guitar and sax solos make it whack.

Also, I have a funky modern soul number from 1982 by Fredi Grace and Rhinestone I picked up in Sacramento a couple of weeks ago.

Charles Earland - (It's A) Doggie Boogie Baby (Instrumental)
Fredi Grace and Rhinestone - Help

The most difficult part about getting a good rip is having a clean record. Using a $500 cartridge to clear out the grooves is endlessly frustrating. I have had most of the parts to assemble this record cleaning machine for over a year. I had procrastinated building a vacuum attachment like this; but found the perfect solution at the hardware store when I was looking for something else.

Here is what you need:

Shop Vac (this one is 3HP)
Shop Vac detail brush kit
Turntable
Dry Brush
Nitty Gritty Wet Brush
Record Clamp (optional)
Record washing fluid (make your own like I do or buy it)

There is a record washing fluid recipe in the link. I have access to a lab, so I am able to buy reagent grade water and isoproponol. I bought the surfactant from a photo supply place online.

Here is a cool rare lazer soul record I picked up in Denver. It is from Detroit and was released in 1988. It sounds more like 1984. I love the synth work and the production. Almost ever track is good on this LP and there is even a slow jam that makes me a little frisky.

Dennis Paul & Apossa' - Who's Lovin' You?
Dennis Paul & Apossa' - Can't Get Enough

Sometimes we like to kick it smooth. This is a rare modern soul jam from around 1985 on Money Three Records. It has a bit of a vibe as if Janet Jackson's mom is singing it. Anyway, you are too smart to miss the epic party that Beat Electric is throwing this Friday. It is at Mezzanine and it is free if you RSVP, just follow the instructions and make sure to drink a lot once you are there so we can throw this party again.

Rose Davis - Too Smart For That

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)

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

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)

A seriously deep black wave/synth boogie record here from San Francisco circa 1984. Everything about this LP from the crusty production to the sleeve is just so dusted and killer. If you live in the Bay Area and spend enough time in the thrift stores, you might just dig up this private press gem on Treasure Records. Prophet the artist faded away into obscurity after the release of this LP, never to be heard from again. Here are a few of the LP's Highlights.

Prophet - Right On Time
Prophet - Stick Around
Prophet - You Really Turn Me On

This record by Patti Austin was released in 1981 on Qwest Records. It was produced by the legendary Quincy Jones (who also owns the label) and longtime writing partner Rod Temperton. With her sweet soul vocals and Quincy's polished production work, this uplifting modern soul tune is great. This is one of the few modern soul jams that has a searing guitar solo that works.

Oh, and here is a picture of Yoda getting down at a party.

Patti Austin - Do You Love Me

Electronics were really pretty in the Cold War era. Technology was changing so rapidly and a new modern style was emerging. I think a lot of people that had a Nakamichi 600 also had a DeLorean in the garage and a digital Seiko LCD watch on their wrist. If you were an audiophile with an extra $600 in your pocket, this was the deck for you. I happened to pick it up in the sticks for $40. Nakamichi didn't stop at one beautiful piece of gear though. They created the System One, which is the sexiest stereo ever made; it is sexy enough in black, I have never seen one in silver. I have been looking for a lazer soul cassette that would allow me to share with you digital media whores some fine analog gear. That said, this tape was mastered with a lot of distortion and it doesn't make for the best rip!

These lazer soul jamz from Ivy were released on their sophomore 1985 Ivy II cassette on Heat Recording and Filmworks out of Akron, Ohio. There are more than a few smooth jamz on this tape but these choice cuts have a lot of lazer soul flavor.

PARIS READERS: I will be visiting your fine city this coming weekend. Help me figure out where I can go to dance to some good music!

Tape End Ringtone
Ivy - It Must Be Magic
Ivy - Sweet Box
Ivy - Make Me Feel Your Love

Here are are nice pair of lazer soul tracks by the modern soul group Khemisty that hailed out of Washington DC. Band members Marie Council, Shirl Hayes, Kimus Knight put out a couple of rare 12 inches and a well sought after LP that BT Magnum picked up at a thrift store recently. Each of these tracks have an entirely different feel from one another. I Can't Win For Losing has a really killer synth line and an infectious modern sound that makes you want to do a Kevin Baconesque bicycle dance routine.

Khemistry - I Got A Feeling 12"
Khemistry - I Can't Win For Losing 12"

And from the Khemistry LP:

Khemistry - Can You Feel My Love

Linx was a band from East London, so if you don't like these tracks, just blame Black Shag. The band centered around vocalist and producer David Grant. It was released in 1981. There are a couple of things that I like about this 12". First off, it has one of the best picture sleeves I have ever seen. "Sketch," the bass player is seen here fully loaded with steaze; his de-fretted vintage J bass has such a long neck it stretches into the second frame. Another great feature built into the cover is that if you play Throw Away The Key and look at the cover at exactly 4:15, you instantly feel like you are in on the scene.

These tracks feature ultra slick production and great organic modern soul flavor. The bass sound is tops and mates well with the funky guitar and dramatic drums.

Linx - Throw Away The Key
Linx - The Ice Is Melting