Syreeta & Stevie get housed...

Rainer Trueby - "To Know You " (Compost Recs White Label 2009)

Great House reworking of the 1972 classic "To Know You Is To Love You" by Stevie Wonder's protege, Syreeta. The original was written by and featured Stevie. This new mix is great, using snippets of the original smartly to build a great Deep House track. This is on a limited edition white label released by Compost Records out of Germany, a label usually known for Deep Techno. I was fortunate enough to be able to track down a copy here in NYC. It's a very recent release so 12"s should still be floating around. Easily one of my favorite club records of 2009.

CHECK OUT THE REWORK HERE

CHECK OUT THE ORIGINAL VERSION HERE

My mixtape's better than your album....

WALE & 9th WONDER - " BACK TO THE FEATURE " MIXTAPE

I don't plan on posting much new Hip Hop on here, there are a million blogs out there for that, but I will on occasion when it's a project as good as this one by one of DC's finest, Wale.

I've been a fan of Wale's since I first heard the "100 Miles & Running" mixtape a couple of years ago. Since then he's kept working hard, growing as a lyricist and songwriter. Add to that 9th Wonder's consistent boom bap production and a bunch of established and up & coming MC's and you've got one of the better releases of 2009. And yes, like has been the case for years now, this free mixtape, or "street album" really, is better than of the most official releases that are out right now. Enjoy...

DOWNLOAD IT HERE

One Step Forward, Two Steps Backwards..

Yes, a Whites only kid's pool in the Philly area, 2009.

Despicable but not surprising unfortunately. Many in the mainstream media, particularly on Cable News, have feigned shock in this case. Reporting this incident as something that doesn't fit into the current racial climate, even in the "liberal" Northeast, is to ignore the realities of racism, particularly towards Blacks, in Modern America. In my opinion, only when situations like this, and the causes of them, are openly and honestly discussed and dealt with can things really move forward in this country. That may sound like a cliched statement, but it's also a true one.

If you'd like to be involved in bringing justice to this case, here is a good place to start: http://www.colorofchange.org/swim/email/?id=2082-70047

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