Love The Way You Move

I'm counting down the final days until my trip to Paris. I've very much excited, as this visit has been in the works now for almost an entire year. Note the dates I will be playing, which have been posted at the top of the right-handed side of this site.

To lead off this final week before my trip, I thought I would post Michele's brilliant 1977 disco classic "Disco Dance". This track was originally released by West End Records as a twelve-inch single that featured two incredible mixes, the original eight-plus minute mix by Tom Moulton and the extended thirteen-minute version by Patrick Cowley. The original version of the song was also included on Michele's full-length album release Magic Love, which also featured the ground-breaking disco gem "Can't You Feel It". More recently the track has found it's way onto the screen in West End Record's 2006 documentary, Gay Sex In The 70's. Overall, Disco Dance is a classic among classics and one that has helped make both the twelve-inch single and her full-length album prime finds for any disco collector. Enjoy!

Michele - Disco Dance (Patrick Cowley Mix)

Road Rockets

I'm not spending much time in front of the computer today, therefore I thought I would just go ahead and re-post the classic disco gem "On The Road Again" by Rockets. This funky cut was included as the title track to the group's full-length album back in 1978 and was released off of Tom Moulton's excellent label Tom N' Jerry. Moulton is also noted on the record for it's overall mix. Just as the album's artwork might suggest, the song has a bit of an early italo and cosmic disco groove, blended together with the group's overall sci-fi theme. Overall, "On The Road Again" is a classic cosmic disco masterpiece that resulted in the group's most defining song during their long career. Enjoy!

Rockets - On The Road Again

Don't Take My Shadow

One of the best releases of 2009 that went a bit unnoticed was Kings Go Forth's seven-inch release titled Don't Take My Shadow. Kings Go Forth is a ten-piece combo from Milwaukee that made some headway this past year by releasing a number of solid seven-inch releases and more recently a twelve-inch release of featuring of a new Tom Moulton mix of "Don't Take My Shadow". The group has an overall funky soulful sound that is basically a throwback to the seventies. It's safe to say that new groups like this don't come around that much anymore, so it's nice to see a full band releasing new music of this calibur. It will be interesting to see how this group evolves over the next few years. Until then, sit back and enjoy this funky gem!

Kings Go Forth - Don't Take My Shadow

Disco in Dakar

Here is another standout gem, titled "Africa Africa" from Black Soul's amazing 1977 self-titled album. I've posted other tracks from this record in previous posts. The album, which was mixed by Tom Moulton, is solid from start to finish with funky African disco cuts like "Black Soul Music", "Mangous Ye", and "People", among others. Overall, I can't recommend this album enough as it remains to be one of my all-time favorites. In my opinion, this record should be considered as one of the greatest African disco records of all-time. Nothing more needs to be said. Enjoy!

Black Soul - Africa Africa

Let's Go Another Round

Here is another solid Patrick Adams produced cut in Rainbow Brown's "Let's Go Another Round". This is the Tom Moulton extended mix of the 1981 funky gem. As you can see, there is some true heavyweight's on this track with Adams and Moulton, which almost always leads to greatness. The track was originally released on the group's self-titled album which includes vocals by Fonda Rae, Christine Wiltshire, and Ullande McCullough among others. Overall this is one of those early eighties Patrick Adams produced signature tracks that never seem to get old. Through some solid mixing by Moulton and you got yourself a true classic. Enjoy!

Rainbow Brown - Let's Go Another Round (Tom Moulton Mix)

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

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

Spirit of Sunshine

A West End twelve-inch that doesn't get enough play or credit in my opinion is Chuck Davis Orchestra's 1977 funky disco cut "Spirit of Sunshine". I rarely hear this song being played out or included in any online mixes which is quite surprising to me, especially because it does have a nice and funky groove that would seem to blend nicely into many disco mixes. I could also see this track being prime material for a great re-edit. The track was mixed by disco mastermind Tom Moulton and was written by a producer named C. Carl Wing. Overall, it's a solid track that definitely deserves it's due. ENJOY!

The Chuck Davis Orchestra - Spirit of Sunshine

Lipstique at the Disco

Here is a great disco cover by Lipstique, combining both Shocking Blue's early 70's psychedelic hit "Venus" and The Doors' popular rock classic "Light My Fire". This cover, appropriately titled "Venus/ Light My Fire", was included on the group's 1978 album At The Discotheque which was mixed by Tom Moulton and released on the producer's label Tom N' Jerry Records. As I've noted before, everything that seemed to have come out on Tom N' Jerry was good, and the same lies true for Lipstique's At The Discotheque album. I find that the title track "At The Discotheque" tends to recieve more praise, however I tend to enjoy the "Venus/ Light My Fire" cover a bit more. That being said, both tracks are great. Overall, another solid and well produced disco release from Tom Moulton's legendary label Tom N' Jerry.

Lipstique - Venus/ Light My Fire

French Afro-Funk

Here is a great afro-disco flavoured cut, entitled "Mangous Ye", from the disco-funk group Black Soul. This longer version of the song was included on the groups 1977 self-titled album which was superbly mixed by disco legend Tom Moulton. As I've mentioned a while back on this blog, an interesting component about this 6-piece goup was that even though they became major players within the Afro Funk scene during the 1970's, they actually resided in France. During the mid to late 1970's Black Soul released some amazing music that blended together elements of disco, soul, latin, and afro-funk. Their music remains to be pretty rare and can cost a pretty pennie or two. "Mangous Ye" is just one of the many personal favorites from the group that I've had the luxury to be exposed to. Hopefully you enjoy it as much as I do!

Black Soul - Mangous Ye

Disco Congo Dance

Here is an upbeat 'tropical disco' gem by King Errison titled "Disco Congo". This disco influenced afro-jazz cut was released in 1977 on Mr. Errison's L.A. Bound LP which was produced by the funky tag team of Mike Theodore and Dennis Coffey, as well as mixed by Tom Moulton. As you might imagine, this track features some of the funkiest disco-flavoured conga chops you could ever want. That being said, however, I don't think the track will appeal to all disco lover's, with certain portions of the song getting lost in some traditionally rooted Caribbean instrumentation. However, this funky gem should be received fairly well from those that enjoy that warmer 'tropical-disco' sound, that I personally enjoy so much. Hope you enjoy!

King Errison - Disco Congo

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