Rudeness...

Sun Palace - " Rude Movements " ( Passion Recs UK 1983 )

What can I say about this song? While it's not your typical "club" track because of it's tempo and laid-back vibe, it is a much loved early eighties classic for those familiar with it. The term "beautiful" comes to mind when describing it. I first heard this song as a kid on WBLS's late night show "The Quiet Storm." Known for playing slow jams and very mellow club tracks, "Rude Movements" was regularly played for years.

At that time I thought it was a Jazz record because of the instrumental solos that are featured. Little did I know it was actually a British 12" produced by a couple of guys who were experimenting with synths and drum machines. Later, I started to hear it in clubs during closing sets. I watched as the older club heads went crazy to it, doing their steps like they would to the early House records of the time. I never found out the name of the 12" and it was eventually forgotten.

Then some years later I was enthusiastically reintroduced to the song by Bobbito Garcia who considered it one of his favorites. After that I went on the hunt and was fortunate enough to find a copy for cheap. This is not a cheap record, to say the least. Look it up on Discogs or Ebay, it costs $$$$. If you do decide to track it down be aware that this is the B-side. The A-side is titled "Winning" so it might be easier to search for it under that name.

CHECK IT OUT HERE

Body...

Stephanie Mills- " Put Your Body In It " 12" Mix ( 20th Century Fox Recs 1979 )


While Disco heads have always loved both sides of this 12", it's unfortunate that the A-side, "What Cha Gonna Do With My Lovin' ", the title cut of the related album, is the much more popular and well-known of the two songs. As is so often the case, the B-side wins again.

Here we have the extended 12" mix of one of my favorite late-70's Disco records. Produced by the great team of James Mtume (of "Juicy Fruit" fame) and Reggie Lucas (first Madonna Album, etc), this song features easily one of the best synthesized bass/keyboard lines in Disco as the main groove. Luckily, that part is featured even more on the 12" version. Released in 1979, it would be easy to mistake this for an early 80's track if it weren't for the strings and the change-up which are classic orchestrated Disco.

CHECK IT OUT HERE

Raphie boy...

A portrait of Ralph Nader by the Lorimer stop of the L train, Brooklyn, NYC. This is sadly somewhat fitting...

Somebody....

Glenn Jones - " I Am Somebody Instrumental " ( RCA Recs 1983 )

Even though this 12" is 26 years old, it's one of my current favorites of any genre. While this is a slept on record, it's a prime example of very well-produced major label Boogie. I was hesitant to share this track because it's an ignored hidden gem, but it's too good not to. I really love the hook, which was fortunately included in the instrumental, as well as the synth bass line, the main keyboard groove, and pretty much everything else. It's close to a perfect track, I don't even mind the slightly cheesy change up which appeared on many of the productions from this era. Check the ridiculous extended keyboard riff that shows up only once towards the end of the record, if only it was used more...

This is more proof that RCA Records was hands down one of the strongest, most consistent major labels when it came to club-oriented music in the early to mid-Eighties. Enjoy...

CHECK IT OUT HERE

Restless natives...

This stencil was in front of Classickicks right above Houston St. Was the artist targeting sneakerheads? Hhmm.

To be honest, what's written here represents the sentiment which I hear from many native New Yorkers nowadays (actually for the last 10 years.) It's not easy to feel like a stranger in your own neighborhood, especially if it's the one you grew up in. Some may see this stencil as a bit extreme. I can understand that.

Some might also say the city has only benefited by the vast gentrification that has taken place. I wouldn't agree. Certain racial and economic groups certainly have reaped the rewards, while others have suffered greatly. I will say that gentrification has been way out of hand for a long time now and the city has been culturally decimated in a number of ways because of it.

I like that someone else completely flipped the piece with just a subtle black marker by adding an arrow inferring that "Damon Damon" isn't from here either. I wouldn't be shocked if he/she wasn't. That's a whole other story though....

Games...

Sweet G - " Games People Play Instrumental " ( Fever Recs 1983 )

I'm posting this track because I found a $4 mint copy of the 12" a couple of days ago which will be replacing the worn out one I've had since I was a kid. It's not rare, but I figured it deserved a posting. The A-side is of course an Old School Hip Hop classic that has been sampled endlessly. It was also a big club and radio record produced and arranged by Kurtis Blow and mixed by John "Jellybean" Benitez.

The song had a strong early 80's R&B/Boogie feel to it as well. Using live musicians along with some studio effects, it is superbly mixed and mastered. The drums are ridiculous, the bass line is heavy, the arrangement is layered and very musical, and the breaks are constant. While the vocal version was huge in the early Hip Hop scene and everywhere else, at least here in New York, the instrumental version also got play in the dance clubs and on R & B mix shows on stations like WBLS. It really became it's own record and much more than just a b-side.

CHECK IT OUT HERE

I'm not a member...

Here is a link to an excellent short piece from the LA Progressive. The article deals with the sad fact that the Obama Administration is getting constant passes from progressives, and the "liberal" media, for many of the really bad decisions it's made since taking power. Calling them out on the decision to not release the Iraqi torture photos after promising to do so is not enough. Other issues need to be fully addressed. Obama's recent decisions on policy include many broken promises and reversed stances. Particularly in regard to issues which the Obama campaign used to rally support among a very disparate group made up of Democrats, liberals, progressives, and sadly, members of the left who should have known better.

I've never been a member of Obama's apologist fan club, or his cult of personality for that matter. I didn't even vote for the guy (the horror!!) and I'm happier about that choice with every backtrack, every continuation of Bush's policies, and every act which disregards the people who really mobilized to get him elected. Dude is a mainstream American politician, plain and simple. A charismatic, likable politician who has advanced some good causes. But still, at best, a centrist Democrat hiding in liberal clothing. The fact that the far right keeps attacking him doesn't make him a "socialist," a member of the left, a progressive, or even a liberal for that matter. Actions speak louder than words.

As more progressive and left wing groups take issue with his, and his cabinet members', decisions every day, it will only be a matter of time before the average liberal realizes they've been taken advantage of. Hopefully, at that point we will see greater scrutiny and criticism of the Obama administration's actions from the left of center.