A Little Bit of Jazz

Well I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. My mini-vacation was very much needed, even though much of my time spent was with family which can be just as exhausting as a typical work week. The hardest thing I find, when a short vacation break comes to and end, is getting back in the swing of things. I woke up this morning, like many of you, wishing I had at least one more day off. Oh well, I guess you have to just be greatful for the time you do get off in this work-first world that we seem to live in.

Anyways, let's get in the swing of things with The Nick Straker Band disco-boogie classic "A Little Bit of Jazz". This funky gem was released as a twelve-inch single in 1981 and also included on multiple albums released from the group through different labels. From what I have heard through the years, "A Little Bit of Jazz" continues to be my personal favorite from the group. Enjoy!

The Nick Straker Band - A Little Bit of Jazz

Sing Sing 'til Your Satisfied

So, this will be final posting for the week as I enjoy a much needed short vacation. I will be back as usual on Monday with more disco goodies. Until then, everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving and those in San Francisco, make sure you check out Go Bang!'s 1-Year Anniversary Party on Saturday at the Deco Lounge.

Let's end the week with another Salsoul released disco classic in Gaz's 1978 funky gem "Sing Sing". This track was featured on the group's self-titled album which features many other solid cuts including "Indian Gaz", "Boogie Woman", and "Synth He Sized Her". In my opinion, it's one of the finest releases from Salsoul, therefore I highly recommend hunting down a copy if you can. Anyways, enjoy your Thanksgiving and be safe!

Gaz - Sing Sing

I'm Gonna Dance

One thing is for certain, the more music I hear from Asha Puthli, the more I like. About a year ago, I picked up her solid 1978 album L'Indiana and I've pretty much been of fan of her music ever since. The record consists of some solid funky cuts like "I'm Gonna Dance", "Mr. Moonlight", "Music Machine", and "I'll See You Around". From what I've been able to hear from her, L'Indiana is one of her more funkier albums. That being said, I recommend checking out any and all records that you might come across from this artist. Until then, enjoy "I'm Gonna Dance".

Asha Puthli - I'm Gonna Dance

Runaway Before It's Too Late

I just have to start off and say that I'm very much looking forward to this short week. That being said, it's been a long day, as all Mondays tend to be, therefore I'm going to keep this short and sweet with a song that always puts me in a good mood with Loleatta Holloway's 1977 disco classic "Runaway". I really enjoyed that Nicky Siano dropped this cut during his San Francisco deejay set last month. It's not a track you hear played out too often, mostly due to the fact that it's really laid. Regardless, it's one of Loleatta's many classic cuts and a personal favorite of mine. Enjoy!

Loleatta Holloway - Runaway

The Boogie is Back

This past week, the always wonderful label of BBE released a new compilation put together by DJ Spinna of boogie gems from the "post-disco" era. The solid record includes classic boogie cuts like Ronnie Dyson's "All Over Your Face", South Bronx's "The Bottom Line", Chemise's "She Can't Love You", and Jan Leslie Holmes' "I'm Your Superman" just to name a few. From all the compilations that I have come across, this might just be the best boogie-genre based comp I've ever heard. Now I'm sure I can be wrong, and people will definately inform me if I am, however the point is that this is an amazing new collection of post-disco boogie music that I highly recommend go snatching up. Enjoy your weekend!

Ronnie Dyson - All Over Your Face
(Download will only be available for a couple of days, go buy the record!)

Buy The Record

Doing It Underneath the Lights

Here is a 1979 disco classic in L.A.X.'s funky "Dancin' at the Disco". This track was featured on the group's Under Cover Lover album which features other solid tracks like "Woman Ad Lib" and "Don't Stop". I've been working on-and-off for the last few months on an edit of "Dancin' at the Disco". Hopefully, I'll be able to finish up the edit and share with everyone in a few weeks. Until then, enjoy this original classic!

L.A.X. - Dancin' at the Disco

Super Jisco Dazz

Here is a rare Peter Brown produced cut from the late 1970's titled "I Feel Like Love" from a group called Jazz. This twelve-plus minute funky track was featured on the Queen Constance Super Disco Vol. 4 twelve-inch, which was released off of Brown's Queen Constance record label. There isn't much known, as far as gritty details are concerned about this track, except that this is just another fine production from a legendary disco producer in Peter Brown.

Jazz - I Feel Like Love

Coffy Is The Color

Here is one of my favorite soundtrack cuts in Roy Ayers' "Coffy Is The Color" from one of my favorite blaxploitation movies Coffy. This soundtrack and movie was released in 1973 and feature the blaxploitation queen herself, Pam Grier. Showcased on tracks like "Coffy Is The Color", this soundtrack shows off Ayers more funk and souful side with compositions like "Coffy Sauna" and "Coffy Baby". Personally I think this soundtrack is right up there with other known blaxploitation releases like Shaft, Superfly, and Foxy Brown. If you can't hunt down an original copy there is no need to worry, as you generally find a reissue out there to tie you over. Overall, it's a great soundtrack written by an amazing artist from an all-time classic movie of it's time. What more do you need? Enjoy!

Roy Ayers - Coffy Is The Color

Put Some Muscle Into It

Here's a heavy-funk disco gem entitled "Break Down" by Muscle Shoals Horns. This track was featured on the group's solid 1976 album Born To Get Down. I was excited to pick this record up last spring at a Seattle record show and have been enjoying it ever since. This group, which featured four horn players in Harrison Calloway, Harvey Thompson, Charles Rose, and Ronnie Eades, mostly acted as a studio horn section playing on many funk, soul, and disco records. This record, in my opinion, respresents their finest original work. Enjoy!

Muscle Shoals Horns - Break Down

Happy Is The Only Way

It's Friday and "Happy is the only way to be". Nothing conveys this more than Sine's 1977 funky gem "Happy Is The Only Way". This song was written and produced by Patrick Adams and features the lovely vocals of Venus Dodson. This was the self-titled track on the group's record which also features other solid tracks like "Just Le Me Do My Thing", "Chimi", and "Mosquito Walk". Overall, it's another fine production from one of disco, soul, and boogie's most legendary producers in Patrick Adams.

Sine - Happy Is The Only Way



On another "happy" note, tonight is San Francisco's Beats In Space 10 Year Anniversary Party featuring Beats In Space founder and brilliant deejay Tim Sweeney. He will be alongside two other solid deejays/producers in Brennan Green and Ryan Poulsen. This should be a great party and I highly recommend everyone in the bay to attend.

Have a great weekend!

Get Lifted to the Sound of Sweet Music

There are many different versions of the funky song "I Get Lifted" by many different artists including George McCrae, KC & The Sunshine Band, and most recently Orgone. That being said, here is another version by the group Sweet Music. This disco-boogie gem was released as a twelve and seven single back in 1976. This version of the track might arguably get the least amount of attention due to the other more mainstream groups whom performed the song, however for disco lovers, this version just might be the best and most satisfying rendition of the song to date. Regardless of where it ranks, Sweet Music's version is a funky classic that deserves to stand alongside the others and receive it's own praise. Enjoy!

Sweet Music - I Get Lifted

Boogie with the Brooklyn People

Transitioning from yesterday's Tom Moulton co-produced track "Energizer" by Touch, here is another rare funky Moulton-mixed gem titled "Boogie Man" by the Brooklyn People. This seven-inch track was never released in a twelve-inch format, however the group under the name The Opec Family, did re-issue a new version of the song as the b-side track, re-titled "Get Up and Do the Boogie", on their twelve-inch single "Love Account" in 1978. That being said, you can't ignore the original version. Enjoy!

Brooklyn People - Boogie Man

Disco Energizer

I was excited to find a used copy of Touch's rare 1975 disco album Energizer at a record show during my final weekend living in Seattle. This funky record was produced by disco legends Tony Valor and Tom Moulton, and features some amazing tracks like "Me and You", "Energizer", and a instrumental "break-down" version of Diana Ross's "Love Hangover". Regardless, it was a nice way to conclude my final weekend in a great city.

Touch - Energizer

Glimpse of the Stache

Here is a minute and a half clip of me(Pat Les Stache), deejaying at last month's Go Bang!. Sergio, who hosts the night, took this clip. It's pretty difficult to see much of anything, however if you look really closely at the beginning, you can see me dancin' up in the deejay both.

Also, here is my live mix from that night. There where a couple bumps in the road, however the crowd and energy from that night was amazing and I think people who download the set will very much enjoy it.

Pat Les Stache Go Bang! Live DJ-Set

Playlist
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01.The Paper Dolls - Get Down Boy (Instrumental Version)
02.The Bombers - Everybody Get Dancin'
03.Mouzon's Electric Band - Everybody Get Down
04.Tamiko Jones - Can't Live Without Your Love
05.Debbie Jacobs - Don't You Want My Love
06.Sparkle - Handsome Man (Larry Levan Mix)
07.Salsoul Orchestra ft. Cognac - How High (Larry Levan Mix)
08.Sam-Jam - Dance and Chant (Todd Terje Re-edit)
09.Hot Chocolate - Heaven's In The Backseat of My Cadillac (The Revenge Re-edit)
10.Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '88 - I'll Tell You
11.Gaye Adams - Your Love is Life Saver
12.Lorraine Johnson - Feed The Flame
13.Suzi Lane - Ooh La La

Afro-Disco-Beat

It's Friday and overcast/ rainy here in San Francisco which has put me in a low-key mood. The weather has put me in kind of a Afro-beat mood (Sorry to those that don't enjoy my Afro-beat posts), therefore I'm going to share one of my favorite cuts from Afro-beat legend Tony Allen. For those that aren't familiar with the legendary drummer, Allen was the drummer and musical director of Fela Kuti’s band Africa 70 from the late sixties up until the late seventies. For those wanting to get a good introduction, Vampi Soul records released an excellent compilation a couple years back entitled Afro Disco Beat that compiles many of Allen's best tracks including "Progress", "Afro-Disco Beat", "No Accomodation for Lagos", "Road Safety", and today's featured track "No Discrimination". "No Discrimination" was originally released back in the late 1970's under the group name Tony Allen and the Afro Messengers. When it comes to Afro-beat, most people think Fela Kuti, however it's hard not to include Tony Allen's name in that same sentence. Enjoy your weekend.

Tony Allen - No Discrimination

Cabana Disco vol.03 Back in Stores!

After selling out of stores within the first two weeks of it's release, I'm excited to announce that Cabana Disco Vol.03 has been re-pressed and is now back in stores! This record consists of three edits in which I've previously posted on this site including D-R-U-M's "Lalabye", John Ozila's "Funky Boogie", Kabbala's "Ashewo Ara". I did a super-limited repressing of only 200 copies, and this should be the final pressing of this twelve, therefore I recommend scoring yourself a copy before they are all gone.

Buy the record at these and many other fine locations:
Juno Records
Piccadilly Records
Phonica Records

For those in San Francisco, I've seen a couple of copies of this twelve-inch at both Amoeba (in the Disco Edits section), Rasputin (in the World/ Africa Section), and I would also check Tweekin' Records, whom has carried some of my records in the past.

Funky Afrodesia

Michael Lewis and Laurin Rinder have been the minds behind many great disco records and projects under many different aliases including Discognsis, Le Pamplemousse, In Search of Orchestra, El Coco, and many others. Here is another solid cut from Rinder and Lewis's El Coco project entitled "Afrodesia" from the 1978 record Dancing in Paradise. This is just one of the many great tracks off this album, which also includes funky disco cuts like "Love In Your Life", "Coco Kane", and the title track "Dancing in Paradise". Overall, El Coco's "Afrodesia" is just another of many fine productions produced by two of the most active and exceptional disco producers of the mid to late 1970's.

El Coco - Afrodesia

Pulsating Disco & Romantic Needs

Here is another re-posting (which I originally posted on this site back in July of 2007) of a true disco gem in The Love Symphony Orchestra's "Let Me Be Your Fantasy". This ten-plus minute disco cut was released off the group's 1978 Penthouse Presents The Love Symphony Orchestra LP. This song was recently re-edited by Fat Camp and released on the second Anorak Edit (re-titled "Penthouse Disco") twelve earlier this year. Edit or no edit, "Let Me Be Your Fantasy" is great disco track anyway you can get it. Sometime's it's a lot of fun to go back and re-live these early postings. Enjoy.

The Love Symphony Orchestra - Let Me Be Your Fantasy

Gotta Get It If It's Hot

Here is a reposting of one my personal favorite disco gems in Tony Valor Sounds Orchestra's 1975 track "Gotta Get It". I picked up a copy of the twelve-inch while visiting New York this summer. This was the title track off the group's mid-seventies album release, which was mixed by who else but Tom Moulton. Tony Valor has been the brilliant mind behind many great disco records, including Touch's Energizer and Soccer's 1979 self-titled LP. That being said, TVS Orchestra's "Gotta Get It" has to also remain high on that list. Enjoy!

Tony Valor Sounds Orchestra - Gotta Get It

Gypsy Lady

Wild Fantasy's 1978 album Jungle Drums has been one of my favorite disco records ever since I came across the LP for the first time over a year ago. The album includes many amazing tracks including "Africa", "Get It On", "Jungle Drums", and the track I'm featuring today titled "Gypsy Lady". Overall, Jungle Drums is solid disco record that I highly recommend to any disco music lover.

Wild Fantasy - Gypsy Lady