Sunday 31 August 2008

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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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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Saturday 30 August 2008

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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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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Thursday 28 August 2008

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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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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Wednesday 27 August 2008

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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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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Monday 25 August 2008

Sure Is Pure - Disco's Dare (1994)


In the 90's one of the most productive team for Remixes were the duo formed by Kelvin Andrews & Danny Spencer, they worked under a lot of different names, and but probably the most popular was Sure Is Pure. This is a very clever number taken from the "Out To Lunch" EP,
a Grace Jones sample obsessively repeated and a good solid Disco arrangement.
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Ubangi - Heartbeat (1984)


Ubangi were a Scandinavian band, in 1984 some producer from the very Italian Rimini called Novaga e Sbaragli (names already seen in the popular Italo Classic "Donna Rouge" by Fake)decided to remix one of the tracks from the " Oh No, I'm Pregnant" Album (Don't you love the title???) The result is quite pleasant, kicking bassline and nice disco-horns!!!!
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Saturday 23 August 2008

Eve Gallagher - Change Your Mind (1994)


The voice of Eve Gallagher is a special thing, the Boy George protege' has astonishing vocal abilities, in this case was reworked by Malcom Duffy and Jonathan Blanks under their remixing pseudonym of Diss-Cuss, a team that really made an impact in the London dance music scene in the nineties with their distinctive sound.
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Matt Bianco - More Than I Can Bear (1984)


The first phase of the long Matt Bianco career is in my vision their best one, the vocals of Basia were formidable as soloist and as background. This is one of the best things they ever did, a slow jazzy groove with very touching vocals and a wonderful trumpet solo in the break, this was mixed by the popular Phil Harding, here is a rare extended remix for the smooth-souled in da house!!!
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Friday 22 August 2008

Amy Bolton - Do Me A Favour (1980)


This was released on a label that I always liked: the Importe12 Records, a nice funky guitar riff, some low toned vocals (with some very tacky, but funny, rhymes "Don't be So Cool, act like A Fool, Don't be So Great, Just play it Straight" with a VERY dodgy french accent, but then a very powerful chorus arrives and with it some seriously screamed vocals, remixed by the already mentioned Mark Berry that transform it in a real disco odyssey.
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Katherine E - I'm Alright (1991)

This Is Italo House at its best, one helluva track that became a genuine anthem, that piano riff is a masterpiece and the voice of Katherine E works perfectly well on it. Marvellous!!!

Katherine E - I'm Alright (12'' Original Mix).mp3

Cerrone - Where Are You Now (1983)


We all know Cerrone for his seventies Electronic work, this is a new musical approach for the eighties, when he was looking for a different sound, High Energy made with a sophisticated touch,wonderful piano and pleasurable vocal with a great melody, the remix is by Steve Barnacle popular for his work with Visage, Corie Josias and Erasure.
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Anthony Moriah - The Reality (1998)


I've always been a great supporter of Mike Gray and Jon Pearn, under the different names that they are worked as, like Full Intention and my personal favourite Hustlers Convention, they produced some amazing dance tracks, and this is no exception, the voice is average, but the arrangement is totally driving!
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Thursday 21 August 2008

Heavyhands Band And T.M. Orchestra And Chorus - Heavyhands (Pump It Up) (1982)


Between the end of the '70 and '80, Casablanca Records has always been a great provider of quality dance music, this is no exception, produced and written by Chip Taylor and Trade Martin, "Heavyhands" is a pretty clever tune, a drum loop with a live bass played on top of it, and a very catchy chorus, here is the instrumental, that in reality is more of a Dub, cause they eliminate the vocals during the verses but left them untouched in the Chorus.
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Heavyhands Band And T.M. Orchestra And Chorus - Heavyhands (Pump It Up) (Instrumental)

Geoffrey Williams - There's a Need In Me (1988)


That's a great passionate electronic garage track, Geoffrey Williams voice is fab, not sure why he didnt have the success he deserved it and the arrangement is up to a great standard, a classic eighities song. The remix is by Merlin Bobb, name already seen in tracks by Total Contrast and Levert.
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Geoffrey Williams - There's A Need In Me http://www8.zippyshare.com/v/19427127/file.html

Wednesday 20 August 2008

11th Hour - The Awakening (1992)


Another Instrumental track to file between Tribal and Trance, great arrangement of driving drums that bring us to a dreamy synthesizer breakdown, produced by Dave James and Ty Holden, member of the Leveller team that cure the Remix.
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11th Hour - The Awakening (World Domination Mix)

Rinder & Lewis - Willie And The Hand Jive (1979)

I believe that this is one of the tracks that made me fall in love with electronic disco in first place, I remember listen to it for the first time in a club in an inferno of smoke, strobelights and lasers,
all the wonderful elements, from the neverending sequencer, the epic choirs and the apocalyptic bells give to this unique tune the impression of a real dream soundtrack, realized by two veterans of Disco like Rinder & Lewis, already popular for Disco classics under the names Of El Coco, Le Pamplemousse, Tuxedo Junction and St Tropez, this is a real classic that will stay forever in the history of cosmic electric disco, here is in a rare remastered and re-edit instrumental Mix.
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Rinder & Lewis - Willie And The Hand Jive (New Instrumental Mix)

Tuesday 19 August 2008

The Reese Project - Direct Me (1991)


This is seriously historical, in my opinion one of the most beautiful garage tracks ever written, it comes from the Detroit originated The Reese Project one of the many aliases for Kevin Saunderson of Inner City fame and remixed by the Disco-Man itself Joey Negro, not much else to say really, just listen to it and be astonished by its beauty, one of those tracks to make listen to anyone that classify Dance music as a "Cheap Affair" to make them realize how wrong they are!!
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The Reese Project - Direct Me (Joey Negro Remix)

Two Sisters - Destiny (1983)


I've always been fascinated by this track, maybe from the "God-help-me-to-say-Butch" singers on the cover or more likely cause its clever structure, I remember playing this in clubs from the real begin, where the oriental orientated synth intro start and then that echoed snare and finally explodes in a frantic triumph of electro percussion orchestrated by the two electro magicians Mark Berry and Raul Rodriguez, names present in a huge number of dance productions from Man Parrish to Alisha.
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Two Sisters - Destiny (Club Mix)

Monday 18 August 2008

Dancio - Crazy Love (1994)


This is a strange instrumental track that is a B-side of a Dutch single from Dancio on the Label Basic Beat that always offered originality on vinyl. A sort of hand played breakbeat drum loop gets enriched by jamming keyboards and saxophone samples, it reminds me slightly of "Plastic Dreams" by Jaydee, funky and captivating.
Dancio - Crazy Love (Just For The Funk Of It)

Sylvester - Mutual Attraction (1986)


This belongs to 1986, year where the incredible talent of Sylvester took a different direction in dance music respect to the past phases. Produced and written by the already mentioned Euro couple , popular for their work with Mai Tai, the beat were slightly slower than usual for a Sylvester track and with a Euro/electro approach, the remix was cared by Steve Thompson and Michael Barbiero and gives a new dimension to the incredible tone of his voice.

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Sylvester - Mutual Attraction (Come Together Mix)

http://www1.zippyshare.com/v/63347193/file.html

Friday 15 August 2008

Jay Strongman - East West (1989)


Jay Strongman has always been one of our "All-Time-Heroes", a real legend in the club/radio/music scene in UK, a Dj with a phenomenal taste in good music, when at the end of the eighties most record companies where asking Djs to produce records, he teamed up with Mark Saunders and vocalist Maureen Walsh and released "East West", a happy partytime tune with a very clever use of samples (That opera break is a strike of genius!!!).
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Jay Strongman - East West (Original Mix)

Amii Stewart - Love Ain't No Toy (1986)


We all know Amii's voice in her disco period of "Knock On Wood" or later in her Italo collaborations with Mike Francis in "Friends" and "Together", this is a bit later and slightly more obscure, from the album "Amii" where she was produced among the other by Giorgio Moroder and in the case of this remix by the Dutch duo Bolland and Bolland, the names behind Falco's "Rock Me Amadeus".
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Amii Stewart - Love Ain't No Toy (Remix)

Kleeer - De Kleeer Ting / Get Tough (1981)


Kleeer (yes, with 3 e!!), was an American band that went through different metamorphoses, they started with the name Pipeline, then they become Jam and after Universal Robot Band (with the legendary Patrick Adams ) and finally they settled down for Kleeer, those are taken from their 3rd album "Licence To Dream", "De Kleer Ting" has a wonderful intro/countdown and then explodes in a funky track with minimal vocals but extremely powerful, "Get Tough" is more elegant, astonishing percussion in the intro and then a guitar driven vocal track hard to forget!!
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Kleer - De Kleer Ting / Get Tough (album Versions)

Thursday 14 August 2008

Marvin Gardens - My Body And Soul (1992)


This is a great house track that became a subtle classic without being played around too much, is a german cover of a Delicious track signed by Teddy Riley, very effective vocals, some techno/trance elements and a classic anthem piano. It definitely works!!!
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Marvin Gardens - My Body And Soul (House Mix)

State Of Play - Natural Colour (1986)


I Always loved this British band, this is taken from the "Balancing The Scales" album, they put together a lot of different elements: from electronic sequencers and beats with real percussion and some Afro reminiscences.
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State Of Play - Natural Colour (Extended Mix)

Sun - On My Radio (1981)


Sun was a very prolific funk band from Ohio that produced a huge number of albums for Capitol records during quite 10 years but they never make it to a major hit, I love "On My Radio" cause of the funny words about being obsessed by a track and hear it everywhere, for the wise use of the vocoder (I LUUUURVE VOCODER!!!) on top of the slapped bass and last but not least for the their wonderful Sci-Fi outfits!!!!!

Sun - On My Radio (Album Version)

http://www2.zippyshare.com/v/49752590/file.html

Cheryl Lynn - New Dress (1986)

And another track of the series "There is life after my man left me", the theme is not original, but the track is, Cheryl Lynn leaves the usual Funky stuff and goes in more electronic territory, and let's face it with a voice like that she can go wherever she wants, remixed by the magic hand of John Jellybean Benitez and produced by Bernadette Cooper, name already part of the band Klimaxx and Madam X.
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Cheryl Lynn - New Dress (Jellybean Extended Mix)

Wednesday 13 August 2008

Tuesday Knight - Out Of Control (1987)

This is a (apparently) rare 12'' from an American label that corresponds to the name of PARC the same one that published originally tracks by ANA, between House and Freestyle, nice vocals and
kicking bassline, is remixed by Justin Strauss and produced by Frank Wildhorn, responsable for all the Ana singles and author of the moving "Where Do Broken Hearts Go" by Whitney and by Karl Richardson, the man behind Bee Gees, Diana Ross and Barbra Streisand.
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Tuesday Knight - Out Of Control (12'' Club Mix)

A.S.H.A. - J.J.Tribute (1990)


When, at the begin of the nineties, the "samplemania" exploded and a lot of dance act were using (who borrowing, who plainly stealing) from old tracks vocals from the likes of James Brown, Loleatta Holloway and First Choice (To name a few), this Italian band stand out for originality
using the "Ball And Chain" vocals from Janis Joplin on this Euro House track, at the time there were a lot of mixes around, my favourite is always been this one by Milan-born Joe T Vannelli,
where the electronic drums and keyboards melt with an anthemic acoustic piano and a more reserved saxophone: Class!!!!
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A.S.H.A. - J.J.Tribute (Jtc Mix)

Monday 11 August 2008

Julia & Co - I'm So Happy (1985)


I think that you can't get more uplifting than this (I know, I know this term is way OVER-used) but this track has got so much joy that is hard to believe can be contained in just 12 inches!!!!
Julia & co were brought to success with a track called "Breakin' Down (Sugar Bamba)" this was the second single, written by a keyboard wizard called Dave Ylvisaker (a musical GENIUS!!!!) , is slightly jazzy and the vocals are beautiful and the use of the harmonica is magnificent (does it show that this is one of my all-time favourite tracks?).
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Julia and Co - I'm So Happy

Nick Straker Band - The Beat Inside (1980)

This is in my opinion a beautiful track, Nick Straker Band were a British band that reach major success in USA thanks to track like "A Little Bit of Jazz" and "Straight Ahead" and "A Walk In The Park", this last one has been remixed several times during the years. This Is taken from the Album they recorded for Prelude in 1980, I never knew why never released as a single (or for that matters not even in their greatest hits collection) cause for me it has all the elements to be a hit, great arrangement with a great sequenced piano, amazing saxophone solos and beautiful lyrics:

"Can you tell me where it's coming from?
Won't take much longer
Is getting stronger
you feel, it's real
Unless your mind is out of time
Take what you need
Your spirit's free
Believe
That if you feel the beat inside
Your life will never be the same
Feel the beat inside
You'll might begin to understand"

Nick Straker Band - The Beat Inside (Album Version)
http://www8.zippyshare.com/v/47241807/file.html

Saturday 9 August 2008

Say When - Save Me (1987)

This belongs to a period where the Europeans were excellent in producing Dance music that was different from the classic Euro/Italo stuff and from the American one. The producers are Fluitsma & Van Tijn, gifted dutch duo responsible for all the hits by Mai Tai (Do you remember "History"???), "Mutual Attraction" by Sylvester and "Dance Around The World" by Richenel (all the producers have some LOW moments!!!!). "Save me" is beautifully arranged and has got a bass that kick ass. I remember making it listen to a friend that told me "God, they stole the chords of the vocal verse from Corona's "Rhythm Of The Night", they sound exactly the same!" He was right, (in part) the basic difference is that this was made in 1987 and the Corona's one in 1993, so, obviously was the latest that was copied by "Save me"!!!!!!
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Say When! - Save Me (The Escape Housemix)
http://www4.zippyshare.com/v/26511432/file.html


Sara Carlson (?) - Walking In The Rain (1989)


Another one of those "mysterious" White labels, this is a extremely well produced cover of "Walking In The Rain" by Flash and The Pan and brought to success by Grace Jones in 1981, the (handwritten) sticker on the record credit this to Sara Carlson,
a dancer/actress from the end of the eighties, so being this record released at the same time, it make me believe that is correct, but like with all the white labels, you can never be totally sure.
Another element that make the track pretty "unique" is the possibility to be played at different speed, at 45rpm is a house track with high pitched voice, at 33, is a moody downbeat tune with
low tone vocals that declaim the wonderful transfixing lyrics, and that's the way we propose it to you!
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Sara Carlson (?) - Walking In The Rain (Downbeat version)

Dee-vious - Dance II The Beat (1995)


This is a strange and hypnotic track taken from the "N.Why?See EP" (clever name, isn't it??) from Dee-vious, an English producer. It remind me of the kind of things that Todd Terry used to produce for his "Unreleased project" series. A clever use of Sylvester's "Dance (Disco Heat) and "You Make Me Feel" samples make it quite original.
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Dee-vious - Dance II The Beat

Friday 8 August 2008

Lydia Murdock - Love On The Line (1984)


Another example of a very tasty downtempo disco thing, she become famous thanks to "Superstar", where she was singing on top of the instrumental of "Billie Jean", never been too keen on that, this second single was a better story, among the additional producers there is Tony Bongiovi (yes, is the uncle of Jon!!!!) and he's responsible for a lot of Gloria Gaynor and Meco hits. Once again the vocals (like in the case of "Superstar") are a bit dubious, but the arrangement of strings and horns is pretty catchy, as much that it was sampled by Dope On Plastic for their "Stand By Me" in 2002. Here is a special instrumental remix.
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Lydia Murdock - Love On The Line (Special Instrumental Remix)

Do Piano - Again (1985)



I remember that in 1985 during a night in the infamous London club Heaven, the great Ian Levine, at the time uncontested resident DJ, near the end of the night in the middle of his High Energy selection dropped this bomb, percussive, a killer sub bassline and with very low mysterious and hunting semi-talked vocals that keep repeating "Again....again...again" during the verses and explode in an instrumental strings played chorus. The crowd (and ME!!!) was absolutely mesmerized. The track is produced by a Frenchman called Jean-Jacques Souplet , popular artistic director, responsible amongst the other things for the Afro orientated track "Sultana" by Titanic.

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Do Piano - Again (Remix)

http://www1.zippyshare.com/v/54343663/file.html

Gladys Knight - You Bring Out The Best In Me (1979)

In the History of Disco there are some real beautiful gems, is in my opinion that this is one of them. Few years ago a Disco-Monster (and I say this with the most utter affection and admiration for his legendary Disco-knowledge!!) called Birdy introduced me to this tune and I immediately fell in love with it and have been thankful to him since! Taken from the second solo album of Gladys Knight, is an absolute Dance triumph. Here you have it in a rare extended and remastered version. I hope it will bring in you the same joy that brought to me!! Enjoy!
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Gladys Knight - You Bring Out The Best In Me (Extended Remastered Version)
http://www5.zippyshare.com/v/12197739/file.html

Lena Fiagbe - Gotta Get It Right (1993)

This is another one of our favourite and quite unknown tracks. Once again the original was a downbeat track produced by Martin Ware (from British Electric Foundation and Heaven 17) but thanks to the great remixer Paul Gotel was transformed in a great House tune (Way before than the terms Disco-House and Funky-House were conceived!!!). Note of curiosity: it appeared that at the time Lena Fiagbe was quite unhappy with the Remix cause it was way too different from her musical direction!!! (But this didn't stop him to remix her in the two following singles!!!)
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Lena Fiagbe - Gotta Get It Right (Paul Gotel Mix)
http://www7.zippyshare.com/v/86821106/file.html

Jade - Where Did Our Love Go (1993)


One day in my mail box I found this white labelled promo and I loved it, slightly Euro (It remind me a bit of Sybil) and is NOT a cover of the Supremes track with the same name. Not a lot about this is known, take it for what is it, dreamy, chilled Euro House.
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Jade - Where Did Our Love Go

Splatt - Jazzin' Up (1988)


Around 1988 there was a trend to release house tracks with an exageration of talked samples,
Coldcut style, this one is a perfect example, but at least it's got a nice "scatty" vocal and some groovy piano keys on top.
Splatt - Jazzin' Up (New York Club Cut)

Odyssey - Together (1982)

This is one of the less popular tracks by the Odyssey and is pure class like most (or should I say ALL???) songs written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards (read Chic), taken from the album "Happy Together". Velvety voice and "that" funky guitar are to die for!!!!

Odyssey - Together

Charlotte - Sugar Tree (1991)


We always loved this little known track, is by a singer called Charlotte that in more recent times reached a certain poularity with tracks like "Skin", but this is much earlier, British produced by Andy Morris (Blue Zone and more recently Narcotic Thrust) and Ian Devaney, the man behind most Lisa Stanfield tunes. Originally recorded as a slow downtempo song, it gets completely re-arranged and remixed by the legendary Roger S that thru one of this piano riffs that catches ya and don't let you go, brought it to different garage dimensions.


Charlotte - Sugar Tree (Rogers Uplifting Club Mix)


Metropole - Miss Manhattan (1981)


"Italians Do It Better", sometimes this motto works, (and sometimes IT doesn't), this one is a successful experiment, that Italians are very good also in doing Dance tracks that are not necessarily commercial Italo or Eurodance, written by Al Festa (notorious Italian dj) Enrica Bonaccorti (popular Italian TV presenter) and the great Mike Francis, is a good track with an excellent arrangement of horns, guitar and percussions.
Metropole - Miss Manhattan

Thursday 7 August 2008

Shola - Hold On (1991)

This is a quite obscure deep house track produced amongst the other by Youth, the ex Killing Joke responsable for great tunes like "Little Fluffy Clouds" by The Orb and "Naked In The Rain" by Blue Pearl, with a great sitar playing on the background, slow but highly effective with an optimistic message.
"Time keeps moving on
It just won't wait for anyone
Life seems like a game
We play our roles
Through all our pain
Things are gonna change
Hold On
Nothing stays the Same
be strong"

Shola - Hold On (Full Lenght Goa Mix)
http://www.zippyshare.com/v/64098831/file.html

Sequal - Tell Him I've Called (1988)


And now something completely different (You should know that we are what you call Musically Psychotic) a very pleasurable number from an American duo that was popular for a (sort of) freestyle track called "I'm Over You", A track
slightly Eurostyle but nicely arranged, here in a extended version from their only published album.
Sequal - Tell Him I've Called (Extended Album Mix)

Shay Jones - Are You Gonna Be There (1991)


And here it is another one of my all time favourites, is what I give the definition of Garage Masterpiece, created during the gold period of Steve "Silk" Hurley, splendid sequenced strings,
captivating drums and the passionate voice of Shay Jones.
How can you not fall in love with lyrics like:
"Will you be there when I need someone
and the sun is going down?
Will you be there when I call your name?
Are you gonna be around?...."
Guaranteed goosebumps EVERYTIME!!!
Shay Jones - Are You Gonna Be There (Hurley's House Mix)
Shay Jones - Are You Gonna Be There (Hurley's Dub Mix)