BT (Brenda Taylor) - "You Can't Have Your Cake & Eat It Too" (Greg Wilson edit) (9:08)
Forrrce - "Keep On Dubbin'" (Greg Wilson edit) (5:17)
Raw Silk - "Do It To The Music" (Greg Wilson edit) (6:37)
Shirley Lites - "Heat You Up" (Melt Down mix - Greg Wilson edit) (7:19)
Review: West End's double-pack re-edit series continues, with long-standing UK electrofunk hero and scalpel rework specialist Greg Wilson sharing a quartet of revisions. There are airings for two of Wilson's most sought-after scalpel works from the "Credit To The Edit" series - superb versions of Brenda Taylor's "You Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It Too" and Raw Silk's "Do It To The Music" - as well as a couple of previously heard rearrangements that are on-point as per usual. Wilson first adds even more mind-altering delays and low-slung dub disco flavour to Forrrce's "Keep On Dubbin'", before superbly stretching out the mostly instrumental "Melt Down Mix" of Shirley Lites' synth-laden peak-time classic "Heat You Up".
Review: 'One of a Kind' expands Cool Million's sound and marks a new direction towards a more diverse boogie funk style ahead of a much anticipated new full length which is due to arrive next year. This latest dancefloor hit features Seest, a Danish soul singer and longtime collaborator, while the tune blends funky, jazz-infused boogie that draws inspiration from artists like Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang, and The Crusaders. It boasts powerful horn arrangements, rich chord changes and driving basslines with an up-tempo power-funk groove at its finest. This single serves as a great taste of the album to come.
Review: The spectroscope of Cool Million's soundworld doubles in width, as 'One Of A Kind' marks a new phase of innovation in their patented boogie funk sound. This latest single hears Danish soul singer Seest - a longtime collaborator with the Danish production duo - add her doubled, tripled, nigh quadrupled vocal overdubs to the already well collieried disco track. With the ensuing EP packed with allusive, fiery effrontery, bringing inspirations from Earth, Wind & Fire, Kool & The Gang and The Crusaders, we must warn you: this is a volatile disco 7", one that should really come with a fire hazard warning.
Review: More quality grooves from Washington DC label specializing in reissuing obscure and unknown 70s and 80s dance music. This time around is Dreamcast who are Davon Bryant in conjunction with Swedish guy Sasac aka King Al. "Liquid Deep" is sexy late night deep funk the way it was always intended and Bryant's smooth as silk vocals are just like... Wow! So with Dreamcast on the vocals and Sasac on the beat, we are hoping there's more things on the way from this trans coastal duo in 2017.
Review: British label Demon Singles Club reissue two proper classic disco bits by the American soul group Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes: the original 1979 version of 'Prayin'', a gospel-inspired dancefloor anthem that was produced by Harold Melvin and written by John Whitehead and Gene McFadden, and the contemporaneous Blue Album highlight 'Baby I'm Back'. Both are awe-inspiring, rapturous dance fusions in the genre, cementing Melvin and co.'s legacy with a mood of teary-eyed joy.
Review: For her latest trick, long-serving Canadian singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ivana Santilli has decided to cover one of her favourite Level 42 tracks, 1983's 'Out of Sight, Out of Mind'. Her take, which includes additional lyrics she wrote especially, sits somewhere between glossy mid-80s soul and colourful boogie. It has a much more electrofunk and soul flavour than the British band's Brit-funk/jazz-funk original, which is no bad thing. B-side 'Air of Love' sees Santilli dip the tempo and charge towards the close-dance zone - all sparse, slow-motion Loose Ends beats, chiming synthesiser melodies, dreamy chords and her own impeccable, slow-burn lead vocals.
Review: Soul, disco, funk and boogie all combine to superb effect here on this new one from Savoir Faire on Miles Away. The A-side is a glorious two-stepper with Cassandra Wright's next-level vocals shining bright up top next to a deeper male vocal as the drums and funky bass unravel on 'Holding On.' Flip it over and the pace picks up but the soul remains high on 'You're The Best' which has a more yearning vibe and hip swinging claps next to lush strings and call and repose vocals over a squelchy boogie bassline. Super stuff.
Review: Yam Who? steps up to the Riot label with a series of remixes of recent tunes from Sean Scanlan & Co. 'Down To Love Town' (feat Brian Lucas) is first up for a Starlight Disco mix that taps into old school disco bliss with glorious vocals and lavish synths and instrumentals. 'Wha' Cha Gonna Do' (feat Alexis Victoria Hall) is next up with some heart-swelling vocal delights over funky basslines and exuberant horns, then 'Get Out Of My Own' (feat Octavia Lambertis) becomes a deeper disco gem and 'Daydreaming' (feat Elysha West) is a soulful flourish to finish.
Yam Who? & Jaegerossa - "Back Together" (feat Brian Lucas & Suki Soul)
Jaegerossa - "Richards Gear"
Danny Kane - "I Love The Way You Do" (feat Princess Freesia - OPOLOPO remix)
Review: The seventh installment of the Disco Made Me Do It series is here: showcaing some of the best disco and nu-disco edits out and about today, this one charts the contributions of Secret Soul, Yam Who?, Jaegerossa and Danny Kane, all of whom lay down slick, slithery soul beatifics in an ideal haze of purply production and belting beats.
Review: By the time "Touch Me In The Morning" was mailed out to American DJs in 1979, Marlena Shaw has long since established herself as one of soul music's greatest voices. "Touch Me In The Morning" was merely a promo-only affair, remixed from the shorter "Take A Bite" album version - but it did become something of a dancefloor anthem in certain underground clubs. Here, the sought-after 12" is given a replica reissue, with the stomping, string-drenched title track being accompanied by exactly the same B-side cuts as the '79 pressing.
Review: You'll struggle to find a more loved-up and life-affirming chunk of proto-disco brilliance than The Sisters Love's 1973 "Give Me Your Love". The record's lasting impact can be seen in the number of times that it's been reworked, re-edited or bootlegged over the years. Here it gets an official 7" reissue via Soul Brother Records. It sounds as good as ever, with the all-female group's now familiar vocals rising above Blaxploitation style guitars, fluttering flutes and powerful horns. It's a celebratory release, and then some. This time round it's accompanied by a lesser-known gem, "Try It, You'll Like It", which first featured on the B-side of a 1973 single. This is a powerful chunk of conscious funk/soul fusion of the sort that was incredibly popular during the period it was recorded.
Review: PPU may have expanded its remit to issue contemporary acts like Pender Street Steppers and, soon, Beautiful Swimmers but the label is still digging through the soul and boogie archives of forgotten US acts. The work of George Franklin Smallwood has provided a source of much inspiration for Peoples Potential Unlimited over the years with the archivally minded label issuing several singles, a DVD and a Christmas album from the local Washington DC artist. Here PPU grant Smallwood's soul gem "You Know I Love" it's first 12" release having first surfaced at some unspecified time in the early '80s and is worth investigating for the drum machine heavy dub version on the flip!
Review: St Paul's Catholic Church in Louisiana was hosting a summer youth program in 1970 and 1971 and it was there that Tunnie Smith was spotted by Father George Artist, who saw potential in his great singing abilities. Smith was introduced to local musicians and bands as a result and was soon playing the local circuit. He landed a record label 18 months later and his first single came in 1973. Success followed as did an album that never actually got roasted. It was then in 1983 that he laid down the slow-burning mid-tempo soul numbers which feature in this 7" for the first time.
Enjoy The Silence (Smoove Multitrack rework) (5:31)
Let's Stay Together (Smoove Multitrack rework) (6:20)
Blind Alley (Smoove Multitrack rework) (4:46)
Review: While the Reflex was the first to forge a career out of multi-track re-editing (which would have been called remixing back in the disco era, since you are rearranging using the original parts), plenty of producers have followed in his footsteps in recent times - not least popular disco and funk party-starter Smoove. Here he serves up a ninth instalment in his excellent 'Multitrack Reworks' series. On side A he does a stellar job in reinventing Depeche Mode's 'Enjoy The Silence' as a squelchy, synths-and-slap-bass sporting mid-tempo disco anthem, complete with spine-tingling vocal breakdowns. He opens side B with a stripped-back, dubbed-out take on Al Green classic 'Let's Stay Together', smartly emphasising the bittersweet beauty of the original version's orchestral accompaniment, before delivering a sweet, head-nodding take on the Emotions' 'Blind Alley'.
Review: Since launching the series in 2021, Smoove has served up a quintet of 'Multitrack Edits' EPs. As the title suggests, each sees the North-East-based DJ/producer deliver his takes on classic funk, soul, disco and boogie cuts using the multi-track tapes. This sixth volume in the series features two more tidy revisions. On side A he does a brilliant job in stretching out and building up a version of funk favourite 'Brothers on the Slide', layering up various instruments in turn before unleashing the backing vocals and, eventually, lead vocals. On the reverse, Smoove does a terrific job lightly tightening up and extending Sly Stone fave 'It's a Family Affair', adding a touch of hip-hop swing to the legendary musician's groove while showcasing some of the instrumental flourishes buried in the original 1970s mix.
Review: Smoove is one half of the legendary edit duo Smoove and Turell from Northern England. He goes it alone here on the fourth volume of his Multitack Reworks series with two slices of the kind of grooves that we know and love and him for. A-side 'Live' and flip track 'Egypt' are both prime cuts of timeless funk with driving drum breaks and plenty of catchy and hooky melodic motifs. These limited edition, hand-stamped white label 12"s always do damage on the dancefloor so are well worth picking up.
Review: Smoove & Turrell return with a killer single, which opens with the gospel backing of label mate Izo FitzRoy before John's incredible voice and social lyricism and Smoove's unmistakeable production lift us up into 'The Light'. Legendary US Blue Note keyboard genius Ronnie Foster joins the party as only he can; one of the very few instrumental guests Smoove has ever wanted (or needed) beyond his own band. With frontman John Turrell repurposing the cynicism towards the powers-that-be - be it the media or parliament - to positive ends, this is a veritable paean and urgent call to "rise above it and let the light shine in", in his own words.
Review: DC based imprint Peoples Potential Unlimited have really cornered the market in highly collectable reissued boogie funk rarities in 2010 and end the year on a high note with the three vocal cuts lifted from Real Love, a mid 80s mini album from Michael Soward that mixes new gospel dynamics and heavy synthesiser funk. Dam Funk fans will delight in the vintage sounds spread across this dinky 45 with the dusted groove of "He's Alive" particularly impressive.
Review: Sultry street soul/R&B from two otherworldly underground names, intro'ing Vol. 1 of their 'Grown and Sexy Music' series. Sudi 'Space Ghost' Wachspress handles the production on these three swaying, sex-soul tidbits, while Teddy Bryant aka. Urbyne tops things off, adding melismatic croons to the affair. A-sider 'Heaven Sent' is a glistening, ecstatic exercise in digi-R&B moods, as Bryant sings of excited imaginations and loving fantasies. 'Little Bit Of Love' spices things up to a boom-bap flavour, with thoughts of neediness prevailing - of course, they just "need a little bit of your drug". 'Relax Your Mind', finally, ushers in a safe space / comedown after the high.
Review: Spice does everything from buttery sweet soul to disco that makes you want to move. They are a firm favourite with those cultured crate diggers and their Let There Be Spice album is about as good as it gets. This fresh 7" from P-Vine features two of the standout tracks. First up is 'The Last Time' with some expertly penned choruses and a vocal turn that will have your mouth open in awe. Flip it over and the quality does not drop - "I'm So Glad To Say' is a high watermark for modern soul with staccato guitars over a persuasive bassline and gentle drums to make for a perfect captivating and mellow groove. A real must-own 45rpm.
You Can't Turn Me Away (Produced By Roy Ayers) (5:28)
Review: Expansion's latest must-have release brings together two killer cuts from Sylvia Striplin's brilliant 1981 album "Give Me You Love", which originally appeared on Roy Ayers' Uno Melodic label. Ayers produced and arranged both cuts alongside regular collaborator James Bedford. "Give Me Your Love" is, of course, something of an anthem in underground disco circles, with Striplin's breathy and emotionally rich vocal rounding off a superb cut that's rich in crunchy Clavinet lines, walking bass, snappy drums, sensual synth doodles and rising horns. Flipside "You Can't Turn Me Away", meanwhile, is closer in sound and vibe to Roy Ayers' jazz-funk cuts from the period, which is no bad thing.
You Can't Turn Me Away (Produced By Roy Ayers) (4:32)
Review: Sylvia Striplin has been heavily sampled by all manner of artists over the years. Here one of her biggest hits 'Give Me Your Love' is presented on a 7" for the first time with 'You Said' on the flip. The A-side is the one with its big funky licks, low-slung bass line and celebratory riffs all finished off with the glorious vocal itself. 'You Said' is a more jazzy and low-key number, with swirling drums and hip-swinging claps taking you later into the night on a more cosy and personal vibe.
Review: Classic Casablanca disco re-issue. Far and away Summer's sweetest season, 'Bad Girls' stands as a pop
and disco classic 24 years after its release. And this expanded, remastered deluxe edition brings a new
dimension to the reach and range of this stunning musical document. Also contains the big hit 'Hot Stuff'.
Review: Three contenders for disco queen Donna Summer's best tracks ever now get pressed to iridescent rainbow picture-disc wax in quick succession, allowing you, the listener, to finally make your mind up as to which you prefer the most. 'Love To Love You Baby', 'I Feel Love' and 'Hot Stuff' are compiled onto this exquisite slab, with the latter two tracks appearing as their exclusive 12" extended versions, which are much more sought-after compared to the radio edits!
The Sunburst Band - "Secret Life Of Us" (Special 45 version) (3:27)
Dave & Maurissa - "Look At The Stars" (2-Step Soul mix) (5:02)
Review: This 2023 RSD release on Z Records is a treat for fans of soulful disco and 2-step garage. The A-side features a special 45 version of 'Secret Life Of Us', a catchy and uplifting anthem from The Sunburst Band's fourth album. The B-side showcases a 2-step soul mix of 'Look At The Stars', a smooth and romantic tune from Dave Lee's Produced With Love II album. Both tracks showcase the vocal talents of Maurissa Rose, who adds warmth and emotion to the songs.
Review: The Supremes and Magic Disco Machine deliver double the dancefloor delight with 'Bend A Little' on 7" vinyl for the avid soul DJs. The vocal version by The Supremes, previously exclusive to CD, finally graces vinyl, showcasing their undeniable talent and energy. On the flip side, Magic Disco Machine's instrumental rendition takes flight with infectious grooves and funky beats. It's a great little 45 for DJs and collectors alike, marking the first vinyl release for both tracks. Don't miss out on this electrifying addition to your music collection!
You're What I Need (unreleased 12" version) (7:43)
Review: Now this is the kind of disco-soul we should be propping up. An outsider disco favourite, Sweet Clover's 1979 'You're What I Need' is a creaky, wonky honker of a tune, blending traditionally 'theque-worthy vocals with lo-fi, laboured beat, unusual for productions at the time. Production was handled by writer and producer Willie McClain, a criminally little-known talent behind a slew of acetates backing names like Ernest Rodgers and Arena Allen. The talkbox on the B2, the unreleased 12" version, is sublime. Don't miss out on this mega-weird new reissue from Kalita.
Review: If you read these pages at all often, and specifically those dedicated to Peoples Potential Unlimited, you will know we're fully signed-up fans of this superb DC-based label. Lo-fi funk, soul and disco both new and old is its main trade and here we get another such gem from Dwight Sykes. 'Rock Steady' is a passionate sound with listing hi-hats cutting through the murky analogue airwaves as jumbled drums, bass guitar twangs and epic falsettos all tug at the heart. 'One Night Stand' (feat Jahari) is a slow and seminal soul sound full of yearning and romantic pain.
You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) (Michael Gray remix) (7:33)
You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) (Michael Gray dub mix) (7:38)
Review: What more needs to be said about this timeless disco hit? A staple of DJ sets by everyone from Derrick May and Laurent Garnier to James Murphy, this Harvey Fuqua and Patrick Cowley production from 1979 is a truly timeless classic whose spirit still lives to this day on modern dancefloors. Here we are treated to a rework by Britain's undisputed king of funky house Michael Gray (Full Intention) on his Sultra label. With full respect to the original, Gray's rework injects some dancefloor dynamics for the modern sound system. You even get a bonus instrumental "Dub Mix" on the flip!
Review: Sylvester has too many hits to count, but 'Over And Over' has to be up there. Originally released in 1977, the timeless slice of uptempo disco funk was a mighty meeting of minds - any track penned by Ashford & Simpson is set for iconic status, and with Sylvester up front it's even more of a sure thing. Quite simply eternal. Of course, Sylvester's most famous collaborator was Patrick Cowley, whose magic touch is all over the wriggling, brooding synth boogie of 'I Need Somebody To Love Tonight', presented here as a compact 7" edit for a short sharp blast of perfection.
Review: While nowhere near his most celebrated work, 'I Need You' is undoubtedly one of sadly departed San Francisco disco star Sylvester's most potent dancefloor workouts - a typically driving mood-enhancing cover that transformed a gospel song into a soaring, surging, tops-off hymn to sexual desire. This reissue pairs the Harvey Fuqua-produced original 12" version (1980) with what appears to be a previously unreleased re-edit by Chicago house originator Ron Hardy. The latter's take is more rhythmically sturdy and lightly percussive, with vocal and full instrumental sections (often drenched in effects) sitting side by side with extended drum workouts. It's a fine alternative take of a disco record that should be in everyone's record collection.
Review: Miles Away Records are proud to introduce their latest single to land on the label: the cosmic soul gem 'Super Star' by Ruth Waters and the State Of Mind Show Band. Ruth 'Silky' Waters was best known for her two disco-infused albums Never Gonna Be The Same and Out In The Open, produced by the late, great John Davis. 'Super Star', however, was released on the tiny independent KMBA Recordings label in the late 1970s, and draws on the twin wells of modern soul and gospel, lending both a touch of cosmic goodness. On the flip, there's 'Super Star Pt.2', which plunges deeper into the cosmic essence of the track by way of both extended guitar and synth solos; both tracks are stupendios in their own rights, making this a hotly versatile release for a far-and-wide DJ demographic.
First Choice - "Let No Man Put Asunder" (12" Sheppettibone mix) (8:00)
Review: The art of the remix is no doubt indebted to NYC legends such as Shep Pettibone and Arthur Baker. It's quite fitting then that the latter should curate some of the greatest moments of the former on part two of The Classic 12 Inch Master Mixes Volume One. Pettibone's innovative approach to remixing throughout the '80s and early '90s has had a lasting impact on dance music. Featured on here are his renditions of B B & Q's '(I'm A) Dreamer' where he gets that perfect late night boogie-down vibe in effect, as well as Lionel Richie's classic 'Love Will Conquer All', perfectly streamlining the groove of The Salsoul Orchestra's 'Ooh, I Love It (Love Break)' and lending his deft hand to First Choice's anthemic 'Let No Man Put Asunder' among many others.
Review: This is a new remix-release by Mothers Favorite Child, a soul-funk collective led by producer and multi-instrumentalist Paris Toon. With the original hearing MFC enlist the vocal lightwork of Portlandian singer Saeeda Wright, now comes a new remix of 'Purple Funk' - the first version was a cleanly produced, ecstatic track, and implictly dedicated to the legacy of one entirely unique musical stalwart and legend - Prince - as well as another friendly face, the late drummer John Blackwell. Now, however, Swedish remix darling Opolopo lends it a daring new spin, leaving much tight, airy headroom between the beats, and plenty of room for suspenseful, floorbound play.
The Salsoul Orchestra - "Ooh I Love It (Love Break)" (Dimitri From Paris DJ Friendly Classic 12" re-edit) (5:24)
Skyy - "First Time Around" (Dimitri From Paris DJ Friendly Classic re-edit) (7:28)
The Jammers - "Be Mine Tonight" (Dimitri From Paris DJ Friendly Classic re-edit) (5:43)
Love Committee - "Just As Long As I Got You" (Dimitri From Paris DJ Friendly Classic re-edit) (6:34)
Review: Dimitri has been very generous with his edits this year, having unleashed some of his finest DJ weapons in the form of the "Brooklyn Edits" EP and this refreshed trilogy of classic Salsoul revisions. They need little introduction as we take off with the iconic harmonies and horns of "Ooh I Love It" land with the incredible soul fusion of Love Committee's oft-covered (never bettered) feels odyssey "Just As Long As I Got You". With trips to New York for silky disco with Skyy and a synth boogie freak-out from The Jammers, it's once again another reminder that no one does edits quite like the man from Paris.
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