Just a Little Tenderness

NOTE: I plan to be away from the computer enjoying my Thanksgiving vacation this week, therefore there won't be as many blog entries as usual. And while I'm on the subject, I want to wish everyone an early Happy Thanksgiving.

On to the music...

Here is the funky dancefloor gem "Blackjack" from the German disco project Tender Aggression. This track was originally released on the group's only full-length album "Fly Disco Fly" back in 1976. Tender Aggression was a short-lived disco project made up of German studio musicians, many of who helped contribute to the backing music for disco artists like Donna Summer and Silver Convention. Overall, the group put together a solid record full of sample-worthy disco breaks. Enjoy!

Tender Aggression - Blackjack

Plug Me To Death

Quick reminder that this Saturday night is a very special Grow Up party at Madrone. The night will feature special guest deejay and balearic disco mastermind Sorcecer. It should be a really fun night, so I hope to see everyone! To find out more about the party, check out the Facebook event page.

Now on to the music...

Here is one of my favorite tracks by the Erotic Drum Band in "Plug Me To Death". This funky percussion disco gem is the title track from the group's 1978 album, which was released off of Prism Records. Throughout the entire record, each track features a heavy dose of solid percussion breaks and grooves. The record can also arguably serve as a good source for sampling material. Regardless if you use this record for production or for pleasure, Plug Me To Death is a solid record and one that every disco collector should own. Enjoy!

Erotic Drum Band - Plug Me To Death

Panther De Lo Disco

Here is a funky version of Henry Mancini's "Give Me Some Mo!" by Guy De Lo and His Orchestra from the hard-to-find disco-themed album The Pink Panther Disco Star. As you might imagine, this record, which was released in 1978, features disco renditions of Pink Panther themed compositions that were originally written by Mancini. Often times these cleverly themed concept albums are nothing more than good ideas that lack execution and quality, however Guy Del Lo was able to put together a solid group of funky renditions that have the ability to stand on their own as well-crafted disco productions. I'm not here to say that every track on the record is stellar, however great instrumental cuts like "Give Me Some Mo !" and "The Pink Panther (Discostar)" make the very unique album worth adding to any music collector's wish list. It's nice to see that a concept record like this, when done well, can produce some good music. Enjoy!

Guy Del Lo & His Orchestra - Give Me Some Mo!

The Disco Sound of André Gagnon

During the mid-seventies as disco was becoming the upcoming hot new sound, song writer and composer André Gagnon "jumped on the wagon", as many artists did at the time, and experimented with the genre. During this experimental time, Gagnon wrote a few solid instrumental disco tracks including "Ta Samba", "Surprise", an my personal favorite "Wow". A couple of the songs were included on his 1975 album Neiges, however all of the tracks appeared as twelve and seven inch singles. I recently found a used copy of the London Disco released "Surprise" twelve, which also features "Wow" on the B-Side. This was one of the few releases that Gagnon went under the slightly more descriptive alias The Disco Sound Of Andre Gagnon which I can imagine was mostly meant for marketing purposes. Regardless, this was a record I had been looking to find for quite sometime and was very excited to have found it for a very cheap price of two dollars. Overall, I can't say that I can vouch for most of André Gagnon's music, however for a coupe of releases during the mid-seventies, he definitely released a few solid disco singles worth owning.

André Gagnon - Wow

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

Magic City Disco

Sometimes I find that the instrumental B-side of a disco twelve outshines the A-side. In my opinion, Magic City's 1979 twelve-inch single of "Let's Rock" is one of those times. I don't dislike the A-side, I just find myself drawn to the extend groove of the B-side which clock in just over nine minutes. This track was produced by Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch who also produced a number of other great disco records by artists like George McCrae, Gwen McCrae, Jimmy Bo Horne, KC & The Sunshine Band, and others. The instrumental version of "Let's Rock" has funky dancefloor friendly feel with a background sound of a live party throughout (which I generally always enjoy). Regardless, I hope you enjoy it!

Magic City feat. Fire - Let's Rock (Instrumental)

Café A Go-Go

Here's a great instrumental disco cut, that I've been getting into as of late, from Sunfighter called "Café A Go-Go". I don't know much about this group and record outside of the fact that it was released in 1977 and produced by Chris Rainbow. The song has a nice overall funky mid-tempo groove that features some nice percussion chops, as well as a few well-placed vocal parts that blend nicely with the entire track. I can always appreciate a well-crafted instrumental disco track. Enjoy!

Sunfighter - Café A Go-Go (Discomix Instrumental)