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Showing posts from September, 2009

Tender Grooves

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A soul mix for the lovers among us and the serious heartbroken… :-) At some points in the mix I tried to loosen things up with some nice party jams like ‘Peekin’ by Brass Construction (the lyrics about peeking on a girl are really funny!) and Harari (an edit done by a guy who almost worked for Britney Spears…). I also slipped in a track by Mayer Hawthorne whose album is the best of 2009 (so far). The first song sounds a little like a Rick James ('Super freak') parody and is taken from a great compilation album by Joey Negro , called ‘ Locked in the vinyl cellar ’. 'The only way is up' is a very nice rare soul gem by Otis Clay and was later covered by Yazz & the Plastic Population (which is one of the worst tracks ever...). Enjoy the 'Tender grooves'! Tracklist: Captain Sky – Moonchild [Joey Negro Edit] (1979) MFSB – Love Has No Time Or Place (1975) Monday Michiru – I Wanna Be Where You Are (2000) George Benson – Love X Love (1980) Lowrell Simon –...

Disko Ed Ease

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Since listening to the compilation ‘ Disco Jazz ’ I have been completely transformed. I used to not like big orchestras that tried to be hip at all. Often there was a disinterested older conductor in front who seemed to wonder what the orchestra was doing. A show orchestra symbolized older gentlemen who played on autopilot. But upon closer inspection, some songs turn out to be extremely well put together. The arrangements are particularly inventive in a number of orchestras and the melodies are not easy to hum. Moreover, many of those pieces swing through the roof! Music on the border between disco and easy listening and made with the right wink. Unfortunately, the names of the orchestras do not appear to be that original, because they do not go much further than the name of the leader (Kai Warner, Peter Thomas and of course the inevitable James Last), but a good exception to this is the Erotic Drum Band. I imagine that to be very different from the drum band that used to march down ou...

Return Journey Of The Funk Train

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All aboard for a safe return journey. The outward passage became number 1 on the Mixcloud week Top 5! ‘Midnight train to Georgia’ was originally called ‘Midnight plane to Houston’ and written by country singer Jim Weatherly. Cissy Houston (Whitney’s mom) changed it into ‘Midnight train to Georgia’. Later on this version became a soul classic for Gladys Knight (with her Pips imitating a train!). ‘Nytro express’ is an early version of ‘R.R. express’ by Rose Royce (on ‘ Get on the funk train part 1 )', both written and produced by Norman Whitfield. And ‘We’re on the right track’ by Blue Magic was a cover version of the Ultra High Frequency song (on ‘ Get on the funk train part 1 ' too). ‘Metal on metal’ by Kraftwerk is the outro for ‘Transeurope express’ (on ‘ Get on the funk train part 1 ' also) and ‘The groove machine/the boogie train’ by Bohannon is an early take of ‘Party train’ (on ‘ Get on the funk train part 1 ' as well). Enjoy the ride home! Picture by Vii...

Funky Vibes On Your Radio

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' Get On The Funk Train ' blijkt enorm aan te slaan. Ik sta er zelfs mee in de top 5 van Mixcloud ! Vandaar dat ik nog maar een paar funkplaten uit de kast heb getrokken en er een vrolijk funkfeestje van heb gemaakt, met een kleine serieuze noot hier en daar. Let vooral op de Duitse funk van Jan Delay . Op de 1 of andere manier klinkt dat erg komisch. Je verwacht geen Duitse zang op een straffe funkbeat. Zijn cd 'Wir Kinder vom Bahnhof Soul' is net uit. Beluister 'm eens, je zult versteld staan! Dit is de tracklist voor de 'Funky Vibes On Your Radio': Joe Quarterman & Free Soul – (I Got) So Much Trouble In My Mind (1972) Backyard Heavies – Soul Junction (1971) The Nazty – It’s Summertime (1976) Madhouse – Get Some Of This (1972) Breakestra Feat. Choklate – Take My Time (2006) The Isley Brothers – It’s Out Of The Question (1969) Edwin Starr – If My Heart Could Tell The Story (1969) Tower of Power – So Very Hard To Go (1973) Ohio Players ...

Get On The Funk Train

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Worrying about my future, I step into a waiting train with a tired step. Unlike my own destination, I don't have to worry about where this train ends. I find a spot by the window and grab my book and MP3 player. A little later a dark man with enormous suitcases enters the carriage. His face looks vaguely familiar to me. He nods kindly and sits down opposite me. When the train starts moving, to my surprise he pulls out a complete drum kit from his luggage! When I ask what he's planning to do, he starts laughing. Just wait and see. He places the drums in front of him in the narrow aisle and begins to play. My goodness, this man can do something! His smile no longer leaves his face as he drums a particularly tight rhythm. I watch with amusement. OK, enough! He puts away his drumsticks and begins to blind the windows with large, black-dyed sheets. Meanwhile, more people enter the train. I think I recognize the late funk singer from Parliament, Ray Davis, in one of the conductors. I...

Players, Pimps and Pushers

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A tribute to the "cinematic soul", the music from the so-called "Blaxploitation" movies of the seventies. A unique combination of jazz, funk, (early) disco and (of course) soul that reflects the dark times of that era. Enjoy! Tracklist: Willie Hutch - Theme of Foxy Brown Bobby Womack - Across 110th Street Isaac Hayes - Theme from Shaft Billy Paul - Am I Black Enough for You? Joe Simon feat. Mainstreeters - Theme from Cleopatra Jones Herbie Hancock - Death Wish Millie Jackson - It Hurts So Good Marvin Gaye - Trouble Man Gary Bartz NTU Troop - Celestial Blues Aaron Neville - Hercules Don Julian - Shorty the Pimp The Impressions - That's What Love Will Do The Blackbyrds - Cornbread The Four Tops - Are You Man Enough? Curtis Mayfield - Superfly James Brown - Down and Out in New York City Edwin Starr - Easin' In Esther Phillips - Home Is Where the Hatred Is William DeVaughn - Be Thankful for What You Got Donny Hathaway ...