Amanda Lear - Blood And Honey (1977)

It's saturday night, so let's boogie with the voice of what we consider one of the Queens of the Disco age, nobody ever did it like Amanda did, this track is such a classic soundtrack of the seventies, strings, horns and electric keyboards just play frame to the unadulterated LOW voice of Madame Lear. Here in a rare extended version, She was, she is and she will ever be!!!!

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Amanda Lear - Blood And Honey (Extended Version).mp3

Unit 2 - Sunshine (1992)

The name Underground Resistance make immediately think of that Detroit sound between Garage and Techno, "Sunshine" is one of their classic product, very Garage-y, piano driven and uplifting happy vocals, remind of Reese Project/Inner City stuff.

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Unit 2 - Sunshine (Shine On Mix).mp3

1 World - Down On Love (Assertive Mix) (1990)

When at the begin of the nineties, downbeat was quite a mainstream style, most of all thanks to people like Soul II Soul, this was one of the many pleasant tracks around, it never become majorly successful, but it was a quality class act!

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1 World - Down On Love (Assertive Mix).mp3

Hall & Oates - Running From Paradise (1979)

This is a semi obscure single from the popular duo, taken from the "X-Static" album, apparently is highly collectible, recorded before that they reached major stardom all over the world with things like "I can't go for that" and so on,is not even included in their two 12 inches collections, is in our opinion the best thing they ever did, nice percussions and a real synthesized keyboards. heaven.

Hall & Oates - Running From Paradise.mp3

Astaire - I've Been Down That Road Before (1985)

And here we are in full Hi-Nrg paradise, Astaire was one of the main bands for Passion , probably together with Record Shack, one of the major hi-nrg labels in UK. They were known mostly for tracks like "Love Trap" and "Fire Me Up", this is less known and was never released as a single in its own, was a special free bonus record for one of their collections, and like most songs of this style has got that "Show Tune Feeling", but is a feel-good uplifting dance number and in our opinion deserves to be remember...Now, where did I put my little yellow bottle???

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Astaire - I've Been Down That Road Before.mp3

I.Q. - Get Out Of My Life (Psycho) (1993)

This is a very unusual and atmospheric German track, based on a sample of the renowned Hitchcock Movie (Yes, the bloody shower scene) and it sound very much like a soundtrack (but the string driven melody is NOT part of the original soundtrack) some oriental elements and an electronic arrangement make this trancey tune very tasty, the original was supported by horrendous Euro-style vocals, that's why we present it in its full instrumental splendour!!!!

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I.Q. - Get Out Of My Life (Psycho) (Instrumental).mp3

Patti Austin - Reach (1994)

"Reach" was originally a dance hit for Judy Cheeks, in the same year was covered by the extraordinary talent of Patti Austin, great production and arrangement helped by the eclectic remixing work by Hex Hector and Darren Friedman (Known also as "Spike") make this dub version a serious tribal odyssey!

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Patti Austin - Reach (Dub Mix).mp3

Amazulu - Too Good To Be Forgotten (1986)

Back from our holiday in one piece or almost, and with winter at the door I decided to satisfy a request and play a "solar" track, in my opinion one of the happiest tune of that period, Amazulu were a band leaded by the singer Annie Ruddock with reggae and Caribbean influences, this was probably the most popular of their singles, this version of the 12" was a nice remix that add a simple drumbeat to the original and was part of a collectibles double pack that included a mediocre megamix made by Dakeyne of DMC fame, hope that this bring some heat in our cold days ahead!!!!

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Amazulu - Too Good To Be Forgotten (12 '' Version).mp3

Johnny Dangerous - Problem No.13

And Halloween is here again, this is one of our favourite "creepy" dance track ever, Johnny Dangerous ( from the Foremost Poets) deliver a dark sinister tune with all the elements to scare us off, and he talks about "...I'll Beat That Bitch with a Bat" (What a jolly nice fella!!!), but we'll give it to ya in a much more peaceful and moody instrumental "Mystery Night".

Have a happy Halloween all of ya!!!

P.S. We're Off on holiday (......YES!!!!!) for ten days. See ya Later!!!!!!!

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Johnny Dangerous - Problem No. 13 (Mistery Night).mp3

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Colourblind - Nothing Better (1992)

"Nothing better" is a Victor Simonelli produced chilled deep house track that was printed in UK by Ore Music featuring the interesting voice of Dina Roache, for the official release the song was

unbelievably transformed in a driving house tune by the hands of the fantastic Pete Bones under his Hand And Spear pseudonym.

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Colourblind - Nothing Better (Hand And Spear Club).mp3

7th Heaven - Hot Fun (1985)

7th Heaven was a eighties British band (not to be confused with the modern Euro group) that released few joyous and happy singles, this is the first one, classic summer song with a nice horns arrangements and vocals to match.

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7th Heaven - Hot Fun.mp3

The Reddings - Remote Control (1980)

This was the first and most successful single for The Reddings, a band formed by two of Otis Redding sons and their cousins, nice live bassline, great horns and a powerful soul voice make this a delightful slice of eighties funk.

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The Reddings - Remote Control (Extended Version).mp3

B-Tribe - Fiesta Fatal (1993)

When the GoodMen with "Give It Up" exposed to the world the power of brazilian "batucada" percussions they created a bit of mainstream style that originated a lot of tracks on the same root. One of them was this from B-Tribe, originally from Barcelona, were a kind of spanish answer to Enigma, more ambient than dance really, but thanks to DJ Pippi from Pacha this remix become quite popular all over the clubs!

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B-Tribe - Fiesta Fatal (Pacha 93 Dj Pippi Remix).mp3

The Quick - Zulu (1981)

Colin Campsie & George McFarlane, the two members of The Quick reached a good level of popularity in the 80' as artists and as producers for acts like Haywoode and Girls Can't Help It,
very imaginative in its use of keyboards, "Zulu" is a pure electronic delight, hunting echoed bassline and some tribal elements, they were ahead of their time, the American remix is by another popular name :John Luongo. This is a rare extended instrumental version.
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The Quick - Zulu (Special Extended Instrumental Mix).mp3

Thompson Twins -You Take Me Up (1984)

Time for a slice of eighties British Invasion, Thompson Twins have always cared for their remixes since the time of "In The Name Of Love", in my opinion this is their best song and incidentally is reworked by my favourite eighties American remixer, Francois Kevorkian that under the form of a limited edition for the American market, transform a tune that is not exactly designed to be a dance number in a original club track.

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Thompson Twins - You Take Me Up (High Plains Mixer) [us 12' Remix].mp3

Shanna - Do Me Boy (1994)

Fathers Of Sound were a production/remixing team from Italy, whose members Fulvio Pernola & Gianni Bini (that later become part of the even more famous production duo Bini & Martini) had a discreet success in mid-nineties, thanks to very distinguished and elegant sound, beautiful keyboards, dreamy pads are the key elements of their productions, "Do Me Boy" has a fab arrangement and Shanna (Wilkerson) voice is interesting enough to complement this good track
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Shanna - Do Me Boy (F.O.S. Pressure Vocal).mp3

Dj's Rule - Get Into The Music (1990)

Canada in a way or another has always been a country that provided us with quality club music,

and Anthony Fiorucci & Michael Ova struck a big hit with "Get Into The Music", taken from the "Serious EP vol-1" it was the first release for the Hi-Bias Records, halfway between deep and classic house is elegant and the vocals by Karen Brown make it a great listening pleasure, during the years has been remixed DOZENS of times, this is the original version, unadulterated!!!!!

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Dj's Rule - Get Into The Music (Original Mix).mp3

Sharon Redd - Second To None (1988)

Sharon Redd is one of those artists that doesn't really need major introductions, since her early steps of her career as backing singer for Bette Midler she always delivered astonishing vocals and some of her tracks from "Can You Handle It?" to "Beat The Street" will take a high position in the history of dance music. This is the last single she recorded, after the "Love How You Feel" album, produced by Eric Matthew she went back to Darryl Payne (The author of "Never Give You Up" from the previous album "Redd Hott") and released "Second To None" on Payne's own label, with its arrangements between electro and freestyle lacks a bit the beautiful production of Prelude Records but the voice is still magnificent, and after her death in 1992, is probably the best musical inheritance she could have left.

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Sharon Redd - Second to None.mp3

Patty Johnson & Co - Shame Shame Shame (1983) (?)

Covering a classic like "Shame Shame Shame" by Shirley & Co. has always been a sort of risky business, but Full Time, legendary Italian label, obtained quite a nice result with this promo, the electronic arrangement flows perfectly with the funky guitar and Patty Johnson (devoted wife of the popular among Italo fans, Orlando Johnson) does a great job with her high pitched voice.
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Patty Johnson - Shame Shame Shame (Vocal Version).mp3

Ultra Nate - Rejoicing (1991)

When in 1989 I heard the Tony Humphries Mix of "It's Over Now" for the first time, I knew that this girl was designed for a great future, and how right I was, Ultra Nate is one of the voices

of the House music panorama that was able to adapt herself with the constant changes of the dance styles keeping a certain class and never becoming too mainstream (with the exception of "Free", please NO MORE REMIXES of it, thanks!), this is by far my favourite track,

very gospel "What a perfect love, What a perfect peace" inspired, produced by Basement Boys,

and remixed by Dmitry and Towa Tei from Dee-Lite, this is a special edit that includes the original Backslide Mix, the Acapella and the Dee-lite dub in a wonderful continuous play.

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Ultra Nate' - Rejoicing (Backslide Mix - Ultra - Pella - Dee - Dub Mix).mp3

Nathalie - My Love Won't Let You Down (1983)

We've already talked on these pages about the eclectic sound of Peter Godwin, during his moment of success at the begin of the '80 apart from his own work he produced this Belgian pretty girl called Nathalie, the song was released in French language ("Mon Coeur Qui Craque") and in English, in both cases the vocals were a bit too much Euro-pop for our tastes, but the music and arrangement is pure electronic-Godwin-cosmic style, that's why we present it in a rare instrumental remix.

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Nathalie - My Love Won't Let You Down (Remix Instrumental).mp3

Will Powers - Smile (1983)

When in 1983, Lynn Goldsmith (extremely popular female music photographer) decided to release a dance album inspired to the "dub" atmospheres popular in the stylish musical circles in N.Y. thanks to artist like Sly & Robbie, based on "optimistic messages", it raised more than one eyebrow. But Goldsmith was a very clever girl and surrounded her with a lot of great musicians: Robert Palmer and Sting for the first single "Adventures in Success", Carly Simon for "Kissing With Confidence" and finally with Nile Rodgers for "Smile". Slightly more electronic than his usual Chic stuff, is a wonderful uplifting Disco track, with great vocals, here is presented in a rare promo remixed version.

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Will Powers - Smile (Remix).mp3

Something Nice - Orange Juice (1995)

And for the weekend we have something more banging than usual, fast and furious but inventive and with a looped sax that smooth things up, and this shouldn't come a s surprise considering that the engineering musical mind behind it is Goetz, the sound magician that took care of most Rollo, Faithless, Hooj Choones etc. etc. creations.

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Something Nice - Orange Juice.mp3

If? - Open Up Your Head (1991)

When at the begin of the 90's Leftfield released the immortal "Not Forgotten", the electronic club music took a different direction, they really create a new style and consequently were asked to remix hundreds of artists. This Dub is very much in their style, hypnotic grooves that follow different development during the track, whispered samples and robotic vocoders melt with the oriental sound of a sitar, a tune charged with originality!

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If - Open Up Your Head (Trancefield Dub Mix).mp3

Ex-Girlfriend - You (You're The One For Me) (1991)

And here we are in pleasant garage territory, nice piano solos and very good vocal arrangements are the main elements from the fierce Ex-girlfriend, 4 ladies that are backed from the popular production of Full Force (from Lisa Lisa fame) and from the magic remixing touch of Mister Disco Joey Negro himself , slightly commercial in an American way but very well realized!
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Ex-Girlfriend - You (You're The One For Me) (Joey Negro Disco Blend Mix).mp3

G.O.D. - Limited (B 1) (1995)

This was a very popular British "three tracker" at the time, has been credited to Grant Nelson & Simon Firmin, all the tracks are untitled and uncredited on the label, here we have the "B 1", an extremely inventive structure with a furious tribal intro that explode in a house track driven by a repetitive organ loop.
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G.O.D. - Limited B1.mp3

AKB - Stand Up Sit Down (1979)

Let's have another one of those "boogie moments", AKB were Andy Kahn and Kurt Borusiewicz , the first one was also writer and producer of the major anthem "Hot Shot" by Karen Young, this is pure disco: strings, piano, percussions and a very catchy riff.

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AKB - Stand Up Sit Down.mp3

Crown Heights Affair - You Gave me Love (1980)

I know, I know, this is slightly over-rated but first of all is in my opinion one of the most amazing tracks of the disco period, taken from their album "Sure Shot", the chorus is able to make sing-along even the most jaded dancefloors, and second we present it in a extremely rare "instrumental dub".
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Crown Heights Affair - You Gave Me Love (Instrumental Dub).mp3

Sons Of Bo'dan - Tear The Roof Off (1993)

Released in '93 on a semi-mysterious label in UK, this was one of the "Disco-Pastiche" that were getting ever so popular at the time (The little we knew that in the future this would have become a mainstream genre), Part of "The Herbal Remedy E.P." this is the track that stand out the most, thanks to the use of a sample from "De Kleeer Ting" by Kleeer in a clever and effective way, Welcome To The Disco!!!
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Sons Of Bo'dan - Tear The Roof Off.mp3

Jody Watley - Girls Night Out (1985)

I've always loved Jody Watley voice since her Shalamar days, when she left the band (sad day!!!)

she was wandering around in search of new musical directions, this is the second solo single, (where she dropped her last name and started to be called just Jody) ,produced in the UK and never released in U.S.,engineered by the electronic semi-god Glen Langan, a name seen a lot between the eighties and the nineties, associated with Trevor Horn, the result was a high quality dance track but not a commercial success, so after this one she went back to be American produced and "Looking For a New Love baby-a new love-Yeah-yeah-yeah" and got the well deserved success!!

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Jody - Girls Night Out (Dance Mix).mp3

Mr Peach - I Need Somebody (1994)

This is the perfect example of a mediocre track that given to the right remixing hands get transformed in a monster-tune, the hands in this time belong to Frederick Jorio, the man behind Sextravaganza and Lectroluv and popular for being the programming musical mind behind most of Junior Vasquez work, this dub version, halfway between House and Tribal, is a neverending sources of crescendos and build-ups and still sound fresh and spontaneous after 14 years!

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Mr Peach - I Need Somebody (Manic Dub).mp3

Rafael Cameron - Boogie's Gonna Get Ya (1981)

Is about time we put something on the Blog that is from the legendary Salsoul , this is one of our most loved tunes on this label, produced and written by Randy Muller (of Brass Construction and Skyy fame) mixed by the genius himself Francois Kevorkian is a great track where electronic and real instruments melt together in perfect harmony, outstanding horns break complete this seriously Boogie triumph.

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Rafael Cameron - Boogie's Gonna Get Ya (Instrumental Version).mp3

The Wildchild Experience - The Poser (1993)

This was a popular (and highly collectible) series of tracks that originates from Southampton (UK) from the fertile mind or Roger McKenzie under the name Wildchild, known to the major dance public for the famous "Renegade Master", sample based hypnotic grooves that were very effective tools in the hands of creative Deejays. "The Poser" is no exception with the sequence of a popular sample from "Vogue". Mr McKenzie died at the top of his career in 1995, and has been confirmed as one of the youngest and more creative members of this genre.

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The Wildchild Experience - The Poser.mp3

Charanga 76 - Mi Amor Prohibido (1979)

Yes, I know, the idea to have a disco producer like Ferrara ("Love Attack" and "Shangaied") directing a Cuban band in covering in Spanish language an untouchable masterpiece like Chic's "My Forbidden Lover" sound very brave, but the result is surprisingly pleasant, the arrangement is still elegant and the Spanish vocals are well re-written, it worked few years before with "Good Times" as "Vamos a Gozar" and the formula is still a winning one!

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Charanga 76 - My Forbidden Lover (Mi Amor Prohibido) (12' Version').mp3

The Menz Club - Burn Down The House (1988)

This one apperead for the first time in a compilation called "The James Bratton Project" that took its name from the English producer, and it was one of the first examples of piano-house made in Europe, dangerously upliftng, supported by very inspired vocals, it still sound as refreshing as the when it was released, in my eyes one of those track that made history!!

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The Menz Club - Burn The House Down (Original Mix).mp3

Jeanie Tracy - Do You Believe In The Wonder (1994)

Aaaaah, THAT voice! I remember hearing this on the last New Year's Eve of The Sound Factory in N.Y. just before the final closure, Junior Vasquez dropped it as one of the "morning tracks" and me and my dancefloor mates were saying "Is this New or Old? (Junior always had the ability to play dance stuff from 20 years before and reworking them to make them sound like freshly squeezed tunes)", "Is this the most beautiful song? (and even before you think it, NO! Chemicals had nothing to do with that! You Bitches!)" The little we knew that this amazing voice was an American one AND British produced!! Jeanie Tracy started to write her name in the history of Dance Music since her Two Tons o'Fun days with Sylvester, this was the European phase of her career, produced by Band Of Gypsies and remixed by Fire Island (Farley and Heller) at the top of their success. This is really an astonishing track.

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Jeanie Tracy - Do You Believe In The Wonder (Fire Island Mix).mp3

Gail Ann Dorsey - Where Is Your Love (1988)

Gail Ann Dorsey has been defined more than once as the best female bass player in the world,
a long career next to big names from David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, Tears for Fears and too many others to mention, This is the first single for her first solo album "The Corporate World",
where she proves that she can also deliver outstanding vocals, the track is powerful, Bruce Forest remix is not a major rework from the original, I always thought that a tune like that had much more remixing potential, but at the same time is still a great dance article.
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Gail Ann Dorsey - Where Is Your Love (Bruce Forest Extended Mix).mp3

Valerie Oliver - (GTM) Get The Money (1983)

This is the only released track by Miss Oliver, funny and nicely produced with the help of Mark Berry and Raul Rodriguez (names seen a lot in the 8o's electro scene), is a tongue n'cheek electro tune that is trying to teach us the power of money on everyday life (Wise girl!!!), original and with a fab rapped break over great percussion.
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Valerie Oliver - (Gtm) Get The Money (Club Mix).mp3

Sybil - All Through The Night (1989)

Sybil was a singer that in her ten and more years long career had a lot (and I mean A LOT) of hits, I've always been convinced that she deserved to be produced better with such a distinguished voice, this is part of the her first period (before she went all Pete Waterman style)and is good solid original house, here in an unreleased mix.

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Sybil - All Through The Night (Unreleased Mix).mp3

Blancmange - Game Above My Head (1984)

Among all the artists that populated the great British Invasion period in the 8o's, Blancmange had always a special place in my heart, they were original and didn't fell in the "production Machine" that was routine at the time. "Game Above My Head" (here in a wonderful extended version) is a perfect example of an electronic moody track with wonderful vocals and a magnificent arrangement.

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Blancmange - Game Above My Head (Extended Mix).mp3

Outrage - Tall 'n' Handsome (1992)

And here we have another Classic with a capital C, beautiful strings, piano riff, hands in the air and all that jazz, it came from the creative mind of the Ibiza/London DJ Fabio Paras that released it quite subtly and it took few years for the label Positiva to understand the real potential of the track and have a proper release.
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Outrage - Tall 'n' Handsome (Original Mix).mp3

Peter Godwin - Emotional Disguise (1982)

Peter Godwin had a short moment of glory in the eighties, after he left his band Metro, this one it was one of his most exciting releases, great synth stabs, some Latin influences and moody atmospheres, here is the almost-rare instrumental version.

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Peter Godwin - Emotional Disguise (Instrumental).mp3

Free Life - Dance Fantasy (1979)

Another one of my favourite tracks since the moment it was released, I believe that at the time it was quite progressive, a good mix between acoustic instruments and synth, an unforgettable hook sung by Philip Bailey from E.W. & F. a great bridge and a wonderful percussion break, in my vision this is Dance music at its best!!!

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Free Life - Dance Fantasy (12'').mp3

Brownstone - If You Love Me (1994)

Between 1994 and '97, the Michael Jackson produced Brownstone had a moment of celebrity with few good songs, this is one of them, reworked by another popular remixing team of the nineties: Uno Clio. This Dub version has few elements of the original version but wisely chosen, a good organ sound and a very clever filtered vocal hoop! A smart thing!

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Brownstone - If You Love me (Uno Clio Dub).mp3

Joey Negro - Love Fantasy (1992)

This is one of the first work from Dave Lee, alias Joey Negro, after the success of the mesmerizing "Do What You Feel", he released the "Enter Your Fantasy E.P', very disco orientated, when not many were doing it, "Love Fantasy" is a real disco triumph, nice vocals and classy work on it, crowned by the presence of the "Hammond wizard" himself James Taylor (not the American , the British one from the quartet!!)

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Joey Negro - Love Fantasy.mp3

Lonnie Gordon - Do You Want It (1994)

Lonnie Gordon is one of those artists that still staying in the dance music department, in her long career she tried and experiment to use her voice in a lot of different ways and directions, from more commercial to more subtly elaborate styles. This is one of the most elegant things she did, in my eyes, taken from the "Bad Mood" album, is remixed by one of my favourite Mixmasters, Dave Morales, it start with a simple arrangement with beats and piano and just later it evolves in a more reworked track.

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Lonnie Gordon - Do You Want It (Bad Yard Club Mix).mp3

Desoto Ft. Merdaler - Pay A Lil' Attention (1994)

When in 1982 the Hacienda opened its doors in Manchester, it was the begin of a real legend in the history of clubbing, this famous venue was owned by the Factory Records and New Order and during the long history (that ended in 1997 when it was closed and in 2002 was demolished)
helped create more than one trend in English dance music History, this was big at the time, a driving garage track with the unknown Merdaler at the vocals and remixed by Serious Rope an alias for Damon Rochefort name already seen in popular bands like Double Trouble and Nomad.
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Desoto Ft. Merdaler - Pay A Lil' Attention (Serious Rope Mix).mp3

2 For Joy - In A State (1990)

Around the begin of the 90's, British electronic dance music went very "bleepy", there was a general misuse of electronic acute high sounds, from Manchester came this tune that made an original use of this formula, "In A State" is a good vocal track with a hypnotic breakdown accompanied by a great synth dreamscape.

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2 For Joy - In A State (Mixed Emotions).mp3

Power Circle - Garden Of Peace (1993)

This is a very special track, a favourite by Sasha/Digweed, a chilled dreamy start that evolves in a good progressive vocal tune, the arrangement is outstanding and the voice is pretty unique, produced by the British Graham Dear and Richie Sullivan.

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Power Circle - Garden Of Peace (The Shakra Mix).mp3

Nightlife Unlimited - Tell Me (1980)

Canadians are always been good in producing Dance music, just think of Gino Soccio as most obvious example, Nightlife Unlimited were a great disco band produced by A.Bentivegna e G.D'Orazio, names involved in a lot of music project like Motion and Suzi Q, Their second album was more popular for track like "Peaches And Prunes", this is a bit more obscure and is my favourite of their productions.

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Nightlife Unilimited - Tell Me.mp3