Disco Warrior

Songwriter, composer, and producer Barry De Vorzon contributed some of the best soundtrack-themed disco tracks during the 1970's. The most notable rock-infused disco cut had to be the theme song produced for the 1979 cult-classic movie The Warriors, simply titled "Theme From "The Warriors"". This gritty instrumental classic was recently re-edited by Skinny Joey and released a while back on one of my personally favorite Mindless Boogie twelve-inches. De Vorzon also experimented with disco a few years earlier with the Nadia's Theme (The Young And The Restless) soundtrack in 1976. That record consists of some notable disco cuts including "The Dancer" and "Theme From S.W.A.T.". His work started to fade out as 'quality' and interesting soundtracks, in general, started to fade out during the late 1980's, however not before leaving us disco lover's with a few gems.

Barry De Vorzon - Theme From "The Warriors"
Barry De Vorzon - The Dancer

And Skinny Joey's recent Re-edit:
Barry De Vorzon - Theme From "The Warriors" (Skinny Joey Re-edit)

Fly Like a Phoenix

A few weeks back, I was excited to pick-up an orginal sealed copy of Aquarian Dream's funky self-titled LP, released back in 1976. This Norman Connors' produced record includes the jazz-funk flavoured disco gem "Phoenix", a track I fell in love with on first listen. Overall the record has good feel, blending elements of jazz, soul, and disco together nicely in a way that makes sense. However, none of the other album cuts quite recapture the brilliance of "Phoenix", which makes the album worth owning all by itself. That being said, it's still an overall solid album that I'm excited to have found in such good shape. Plus, you got to just love the album's over-the-top artwork.

Aquarian Dream - Phoenix

Riding A Horse Through Casablanca

A great reissue that should be hitting the record shops shortly is the hard-to-find 1979 Guy Delo conducted self-titled LP by the italian disco group Roots. This should be exciting news to most disco collectors, especially since the original can cost quite a pretty penny. I don't know about you, but I'll take a reissue over a ridiculously priced original any day. The Roots' self-titled record has an overall funky, yet 'sassy' feel to it, with the song's most standout cut "Sheriff's Horse" capturing the record's overall theme to perfection. While I don't believe any of the other tracks match the appeal of "Sheriff's Horse", there are some other interesting and worth owning cuts like "(What are you doing) in Casablanca" and "Sophisticated". Overall, this is one of the records I've been looking to find for quite some time, therefore, I'm very excited to see the reissue of this very hard-to-find disco gem.

Roots - Sheriff's Horse
Roots - (What are you doing) in Casablanca

If You Feel It...Do It

One of the most best and unique edits of 2008 had to be The Idjut Boys', under the alias Vitesse Nayway, re-edit of Phil Collins' 1981 released pop cut "I'm Not Moving". The Idjut Boys, who always seem to be one step ahead of the pack, do a nice job slowing down the original groove, while adding big reverb and delay to give the edit a nice cosmic feel. I find that it can be quite challenging re-editing pop songs, however The Idjut Boys couldn't of done a better job at re-creating this Phil Collins classic.

Phil Collins - I'm Not Moving (The Idjut Boys' Re-Edit)

Disco Wunderbutt

A new dico re-edit album that I highly recommended purchasing is Stevie Kotey's new Afrobutt release Wunderbutt. This collection of disco edits is right up there with Loud E's Loudefied and Jaz's I Played Sports, among many others, as one of the best releases of 2009. Wunderbutt makes all the stops by providing solid made-for-the-dancefloor gems like "Gee Keeps On", "The Taste (Round & Brown)" (Re-edit of Belle Epoque's "Bamalama"), and the title track "Wunderbutt", as well as dishing out afro-cosmic flavoured funky grooves like "Kali Dreams", "Banger Disco", "Disco Mudma", and "Torro de Butt". Most of the edits, which have been fine tuned by Kotey, have been taken from some very rare originals that are extremely hard to hunt down. For us vinyl lovers, don't be completely frustrated with this CD-only release, as their will be a vinly twelve-inch sampler appearing in stores very soon. However for now, I highly recommend picking up a copy of this album while supplies still last.

Afrobutt - Gee Keeps On

BUY ALBUM

Make Me Over

I recently heard The Escorts' 1981 disco boogie cut "Make Me Over" for the first time a few weeks back, and the song has quickly become a personal favorite of mine. This funky gem was included as a twelve-inch single, as well as included on the groups 1981 self-titled album. This is one of those funky laid back tracks that can work a dancefloor over in slow motion. The song definitely speaks for itself. Enjoy!

The Escorts - Make Me Over

Kilimandjaro Takes Me Higher

A twelve-inch single that I've really been trying to hunt down as of late, is Letta Mbulu's 1979 disco classic "Kilimanjaro". This hard-to-find gem, which disco producer Ray Martinez is credited with mixing, is looked at, by many disco music lovers, as the South African singer's most standout track. Another version of the song is featured as the opening track to Mbulu's 1980 album Sound Of A Rainbow under the name "Kilimandjaro Take Us Higher". More recently, the song appeared on Joey Negro and Sean P.'s compiled compilation The Soul of Disco. Overall, the track has a nice afro-flavoured disco mid-tempo groove that lends itself nicely to the dancefloor.

Letta Mbulu - Kilimanjaro

Cosmic Star Dance

(UPDATED)

Lately, I can't seem to get enough of John Forde's cosmic minded disco classic "Star Dance" from 1977. This disco gem was released as both a it's own single as well as a B-side cut to Forde's Woman 12". Finding a copy of this classic cosmic track remains high on my wishlist. If you can find the Woman 12", that's probably your best route because not only is "Star Dance" and "Woman" included on the record, a solid third track, "Don't You Know Who Did It " is also included. Until then, sit back and enjoy John Forde's "Star Dance"!

John Forde - Star Dance
(Updated with an extended version of the track)

Whatcha' Gonna Do About It

I was excited to find a copy of Rozalin Woods' classic 1979 album Flashback. This hard-to-find record features some amazing disco cuts including singles "Whatcha' Gonna Do About It" and "Flashback", as well as other fine album tracks "Go Shake Yourself", "Sexy Eyes", "All Over Again" just to name a few. This was a record that I always had on my radar, however I didn't realize how good it was until I was able to hear the entire album. If you get a chance don't pass on the LP for the twelve-inch singles, the whole album is definitely worth owning. Here is my personal favorite cut, "Whatcha' Gonna Do About It", which is a real high-energy disco gem that's primed for the dancefloor.

Rozalin Woods - Whatcha' Gonna Do About It

Funky Boogie

A song that I can't seem to get enough of lately is John Ozila's 1979 cosmic disco classic "Funky Boogie". This hard-to-find gem is featured on Ozila's funky latin-flavoured disco album Boogie Salsa. "Funky Boogie" falls in-line with that 'tropical disco sound' that I often discuss and showcase on this blog. Therefore, if you enjoy that funky tropical disco sound that I love so much, John Ozila's "Funky Boogie", as well as the Boogie Salsa album should be right up your alley. By the way, look for a future 'Stache' edit of this song in the near future.

John Ozila - Funky Boogie

Love From The People

One of the best new records of 2009, which was just released in time for Valentines Day, is The Popular People's Front's new record the Love EP. This new 'love-themed' record continues along the same brilliance as The Popular People's Front's previous records with four solid tracks including my personal favorite, "Church Love", which is great re-edit by Leo Zero of The New York Community Choir's 1977 classic cut "Express Yourself. However, not to be ignored are the other supporting tracks "My Baby Stays Out All Night Long", "Keep Doin' Your Dance", and "Man Love". Like the other the group's other records, this twelve-inch EP will move very fast so I highly recommend picking up a copy. Here's a sample (for a few days only) to get you hooked!

Leo Zero - Church Love
(The New York Community Choir - Express Yourself Re-edit)

BUY RECORD

Want Somebody To Love

Staying with the 'weekend of love' theme, here is The Salsoul Orchestra, this time under the guidance of Thor Baldursson's 1979 version of Jefferson Starship's "Somebody To Love". This song was featured on one of the most under-rated Salsoul Orchestra records' Street Sense, which was produced by the one-and-only Tom Moulton. At first the song might sound a bit cheesy, however I find that over time it tends to really grow on you. Enjoy!

The Salsoul Orchestra - Somebody To Love

Escort's Sapphire

Everyone needs to go and check out Escort's remix of Zombi's 2006 cosmic masterpiece "Sapphire", which you can download for free over at the i spy diamonds blog. Escort does a nice job of adding a raw and organic punch using a funky guitar and bass groove to the original. This new remix is featured on a new Zombi release out on the Throne of Blood label, that I was fortunate to pick-up last week. The twelve-inch is moving fast, so I highly recommend picking up a copy while they still last!

Zombi - Sapphire (Escort Remix)

Black Cock Love Music

As Valentines Day approaches, are you wanting some more Black Cock....edits? Who doesn't? I definitely can't seem to get enough of these disco re-edits by this production team of DJ Harvey and Gerry Rooney. With Black Cock Records closing up shop a while back, these edits have become, at times, expensive and hard-to-find. Here is one of my personal Black Cock favorites, entitled "Love Is Everything", from the groups 1998 Love Hotel EP. The track is an edit of The Mighty Clouds Of Joy's 1975 funky cut "Everything Is Love" from their album Kickin'. Regardless, just another fine edit from this 'former', however amazing, disco tag team.

Black Cock - Love Is Everything

Moustache Pasta

Here is another re-edit I (Pat Les Stache) recently did of Celso Valli's 1977 disco gem "Pasta E Fagioli". This track, which I believe was only released as a seven-inch single remains one of the few, if not only, songs under the solo alias of 'Celso Valli'. Valli, whom is one of the greatest disco producers and pioneers in my opinion, was the mind behind legendary disco projects like Macho, Azoto, Passengers, Tantra, V.I.S.A. among many others. With this classic cut being about four minutes, I wanted to extend it a bit in certain areas so that it can work better in mixes as well as give it the usual 'Stache' treatment that I enjoy providing. Hope you enjoy it!

Celso Valli - Pasta E Fagioli (Pat Les Stache Re-edit)

Night Ride To Venus

Another nice find that I happened to pick-up in 2008 was Venus Dodson's 1979 disco boogie gem "Night Rider/Where Are We Headed" twelve-inch, originally from her classic album Night Rider. Even though Venus Dodson's "Where Are We Headed", along with "Night Rider" helped make her solo outing a success, the disco diva made a name for herself well before the release of her debut material. Throughout the mid to late 1970's she contributed to some of disco's finest records including Patrick Adams' Phreek, Sine's Happy Is The Only Way, Herbie Mann's Super Mann, The Kay-Gees' Burn Me Up, as well as a later Salsoul Orchestra album entitled Heat It Up. Like many of those records, her solo material included many of disco's most notable producers and musicians including Patrick Adams, Leroy Burgess, Stan Lucas, and Michael Lewis, to name a few. Even though Venus's solo material pretty much started and stopped with her 1979 Night Rider record, her vast contributions to disco can't be ignored. Venus Dodson will probably go down in the genre's history as being one disco's most notable female vocalist. For those whom, may not be familiar, here is her 1979 solo track "Where Are We Headed"(which I personally enjoy more than "Night Rider") to help you get aquinted. Enjoy!

Venus Dodson - Where Are We Headed

Music You Can Dance On

To get you moving on this Monday, here is Mighty Pope's 1979 loft-style disco classic "Sweet Blindness". This boogie gem was included on Pope's Sway LP, which was arranged and produced by Gino Soccio, whom is one of my all-time favorite artists and producers. An earlier version of "Sweet Blindness" was recorded and released by a soul-funk group called Sweet Blindness back in 1976. Mighty Pope and Gino Soccio were really able the track a "dance-floor edge" that the Sweet Blindness version lacked. Enjoy!

Mighty Pope - Sweet Blindness

SAM Remix - Disco Version - TONIGHT!

On Friday, February 6,(TONIGHT!) join DJs Pat Les Stache(me) and H.M.A. spin on rare 1970s disco, Italo, cosmic and mustache grooves. Meet new friends while you visit the SAM(Seattle Art Museum) galleries. Bonus points if you experience the always-enlightening "My Favorite Things" tour at 6:30 pm. Plus, dance and enjoy cocktails from TASTE Bar. Special door prizes for the first 50 SAM Remix guests. Free with museum admission.

Date: 2/6/2009
Time: 6-9 pm
Location: SAM Downtown, 1st Ave. and University St. entrance

See you there!

Best Noid Release Ever!

Here are the results of the 'Best Noid Recordings Release' Poll that concluded this afternoon. Not many participants, however I don't think that's a reflection of how many people whom view this blog enjoy that label. Hopefully the next Poll, which focuses on the best new Disco Re-edit Release (so far) of 2009, will attract more attention. I want to get a conversation going as to how people are enjoying the early stages of 2009 in regards to disco releases. So please participate!

Previous Poll Results
Best Noid Recordings Release:
----------------------------------
Major Swellings - s/t LP - 9 votes (34%)
DJ Harvey - I Am A Man 12" - 5 votes (19%)
Ray Mang - Number One 12" - 4 votes (15%)
Phantom Slasher - Gruble LP - 3 votes (11%)
Rune Lindbæk - Klubb Kebabb LP - 2 votes (7%)
Phantom Slasher - Blow Me Slow 12" - 1 vote (3%)
Dancin - Days Theme 12" - 1 vote (3%)
Phantom Slasher - Puddle & Spout LP - 1 vote (3%)

...And here is a track, entitled "Rompenridder" from Major Swellings' self-titled LP(which I should be recieving in the mail anytime!) for your enjoyment!

Major Swellings - Rompenridder
(Prins Thomas Edit of Macho's "I'm A Man")

More Beast Disco

Speaking of 'Beasts' (previous post), here is a Beast-ly themed disco re-edit of Marsha Hunt 22(aka Marsha Hunt)'s 1973 funky classic "(Oh, No! Not) The Beast Day" by Lee Douglas. I heard that this edit is supposedly going to eventually make it's way onto an upcoming Editions Disco release. At this point we can only hope that is still the plan. If not, please someone reale it! With that being said, enjoy part two of my 'beast disco' infactuation.

Marsha Hunt's 22 - (Oh, No! Not) The Beast Day
(Lee Douglas Re-edit)

Beast Of The Drums

One of things that really turns me on is funky african flavored disco songs. You know, those rare disco gems that sound as if they were recorded by an acient tribe in the middle of the jungle. An example of what I'm talking about is a song I've been really into as of late in Neftali's Beast's 1980 single "Land Of The Drums". This was the only track released under the name Neftali's Beast, which was also know as The Santiago Band. The Santiago Band was another offering from Neftali Santiago of the known funk group Mandrill. An interesting note that I found on Neftali Santiago's website was that the band, Neftali's Beast, actually broke-up before signing with Capital, whom released the "Land Of The Drums" single. In order to get the record released, Santiago actually forged family member's signatures on the contract in order to sell the record...Kinda funny if you ask me. Regardless here is a great example of what mixing funky disco with animals living in the jungle sounds like. Maybe a future edit will be appriopriate. Enjoy!

Neftali's Beast - Land Of The Drums

Love Me Like The First Time

Here is a lost Salsoul classic entitled "Something's Up (Love Me Like The First Time)" by Wayne St. John. I came across this 1977 funky disco gem when it was recently featured on the second volume of Salsoul Presents: Disco Funk Flavas compilation. I believe this was one of the very few records released under Wayne St. John which was produced by Ian Guenther and Willi Morrison. By The way, if you haven't picked up Salsoul Presents: Disco Funk Flavas Vol. 02, I highly recommend checking the compilation out. It consists of some great and hard-to-find cuts by O.R.S., The Destroyers, Ripple, Sharon Bailey, Joe Bataan, etc. That being said, enjoy this disco boogie gem!

Wayne St. John - Something's Up (Love Me Like The First Time)

Keep A Little Love For Yourself

This rare disco classic "Keep A Little Love For Yourself" by Elijah John Group randomly came up on the ipod today and I thought I would share it. This hard-to-find 1979 gem was produced by someone whom went by Iron Fist. There's not much other info that follows this Keylock Records release other than it can really shake a dance floor. This was Elijah John Group's only known twelve-inch release, which includes a short and extended edit of the same track. The song however, was included on the third series of Al Kent's amazing disco compilation Disco Demands. You can also find a bootleg twelve-inch release of the song, released on the Underground Disco Classics label. Enjoy!

Elijah John Group - Keep A Little Love For Yourself