Showing posts with label Electro. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Electro. Show all posts

Monday, 15 December 2008

Street Sounds Edition 7 1983

Street Sounds STSND 007
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Another great release on the Street Sounds label. Michael Jackson's Billie Jean was phenomenal at the time and Lydia Murdock grabbed a whole heap of limelight with Superstar with a few surprises, first it ripped off Billie Jean's groove, secondly it was an 'answer back' song and finally it consists of a female rap. Extraordinary at the time but oh so dated now. Instant Funk & Billy Griffin were popular here but for me it was all about side one. Dayton's Sound Of Music, Tom Browne and The Jones Girls in particular but Curtis and Lillo also high on the list.

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  • Dayton - Sound Of Music
  • Curtis Hairston - I Want You
  • Tom Browne - Brighter Tomorrow
  • The Jones Girls - Knockin'
  • Lillo Thomas - I Love It
  • Lydia Murdock - Superstar
  • Second Image - Don't You
  • Instant Funk - You'll Be Mine
  • Billy Griffin - Respect
  • Lew Kirton - Talk To Me
The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Street Sounds.rar Filesize: 78.31 MB

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Saturday, 20 September 2008

Street Sounds Edition 15 1985

Street Sounds STSND 15
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The most memorable Street Sounds Edition for me. Not because of the choice of tracks but because of the climate at the time it was released. Aleem's awesome Get Loose was so overplayed by this time that I always skipped the track when playing this album. Packed full of goodies, as usual and the longevity on this selection is as good as the day it was released. Caprice, 100% still sounds fresh to my ears, as does Evelyn 'Champagne' King's, Your Personal Touch in it's short but efficient Dance Mix format. The beautiful ballad, Mated by David Grant & Jaki Graham is here in it's Extended Version but my favourite tracks are Mr DJ by The Concept, simple but effective, and the track I bought the album for, Princess, After The Love Has Gone the Chief Inspector Remix, which is based on the Wally Badarou classic, Chief Inspector, which was huge at the time.

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  • The Concept - Mr DJ
  • Aleem - Get Loose
  • Colonel Abrams - Music Is The Answer
  • Brass Construction - Give & Take
  • David Grant & Jaki Graham - Mated
  • Princess - After The Love Has Gone
  • Evelyn King - Personal Touch
  • B.T. Express - Uptown Express
  • Caprice - 100%
  • Masquerade - One Nation
The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Street Sounds Edition 15.rar Filesize: 110.98 MB

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Thursday, 14 August 2008

Street Sounds Edition 14 1985

Street Sounds STSND 14
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Another iconic release from the Street Sounds stable. Packed full of goodies, as usual, although some of the big tracks are not so cool now, Five Star - Love Take Over, Ready For The World - Oh Sheila and pretend the Three Degrees - The Heaven I Need (it's not a bad track!) is not a Stock, Aitken & Waterman production. Starpoint - What You Been Missin' and Tramaine - Fall Down (Spirit Of Love) are good songs but for me Frankie Kelly - Ain't That The Truth, Collage - Romeo Where's Juliet, Gardenia - Chiquita Linda and Jeff Tyzik - Sweet Surrender still sound more than just good and Bernard Wright - Who Do You Love simply rules. What a tune, now that's the cherry, that's what it's all about!

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  • Ready For The World
  • The Three Degrees
  • Frankie Kelly
  • Bernard Wright
  • Jeff Tyzik
  • Starpoint
  • Five Star
  • Collage
  • Tramaine
  • Gardenia
The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Street Sounds Edition 14.rar Filesize: 103.38 MB



Tuesday, 12 August 2008

Street Sounds Edition 13 1985

Street Sounds STSND 13
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Another iconic release from the Street Sounds stable. Packed full of goodies, as usual, although the big tracks Steve Arrington - Dancing In The Key Of Life, Atlantic Starr - Silver Shadow, Colnel Abrams - Trapped, Cool Notes - In Your Car and BB & Q - Genie are all fairly common place nowadays, I think Cheryl Lynn - It's Gonna Be Alright (yeah, I know?), Skool Boyz - Superfine (From Behind), One Way - Let's Talk and Rodney Franklin - Fiesta are not heard enough and Billy Griffin's Electrified still sounds so fresh!

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  • Steve Arrington
  • Atlantic Starr
  • Cheryl Lynn
  • Billy Griffin
  • Change
  • Colnel Abrams
  • The Cool Notes
  • Skool Boyz
  • Brooklyn Bronx & Queens
  • One Way
  • Rodney Franklin

...and Oh My Gosh!
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The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Street Sounds Edition 13.rar Filesize: 105.54 MB

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Saturday, 12 July 2008

Street Sounds Edition 5 1983

Street Sounds Records STSND 005
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Another iconic release from the Street Sounds stable. Packed full of goodies, as usual, and a quarter of a century later there are still healthy tracks here. Oliver Cheatham's Linx ad is here. The first three tracks on each side do it for me but the jewel in this crown is The Funk Masters - It's Over.

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  • Freeez - I.O.U. (Megamix)
  • Aretha Franklin - Get It Right
  • Terri Wells - You Make It Heaven
  • Kenny Lynch - Half The Day's Gone...
  • La Famille - All Night Long
  • The Funk Masters - It's Over
  • Oliver Cheatham - Get Down Saturday Night
  • MCB - I'm The One, You're The One
  • Brass Construction - Walkin' The Line
  • Wickett - Can't Get Enough Of You
The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Edition 5.rar Filesize: 85.52 MB

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Friday, 27 June 2008

Street Sounds Edition 1 1982

Street Sounds Records STSND 001
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This was the moment that redefined the compilation album. Morgan Khan had worked in the UK record industry since the mid 70's. An Indian, born in Hong Kong, who grew up in London, Khan started the Streetwave record label in 1981 and within a year, Street Sounds was born Compiled from the hottest 12" imports of the day, these releases made the dance floor hits of the time available to the normal guy on the street. In the early 80's a 12" single was priced around £2 and you would pay over £4 for an import 12". The Street Sounds series offered usually 8 to 12 full-length 12" mixes for under a fiver. Understandably, the Street Sounds series was met with considerable enthusiasm and ran for over 6 years. They released 50 albums across the various series, Street Sounds and Electro being the most successful, reaching Edition 20 before restyling and losing the plot.

Strangely enough, the dodgey compilations that resulted from the advent of the House and Rave scene was not the cause of Street Sounds downfall. It was the labels magazine venture that caused them to go bust. It did mean that the label never got to suffer a slow lingering demise though. Respect to Morgan Khan!

On this debut release, Raw Silk & Peech Boys are both special mixes, Don't Make Me Wait is an exclusive 10 minute epic beginning with a long acappella that has been sampled to death. Northend's Tee's Happy is a remix and Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five are the hottest news of 1982.

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  • Raw Silk - Do It To The Music
  • Grandmaster Flash - The Message
  • Inner Life - Moment Of My Life
  • Northend - Tee's Happy
  • Greg Henderson - Dreamin'
  • Dunn & Bruce Street - Shout For Joy
  • Kadenza - Let's Stay Together
  • Peech Boys - Don't Make Me Wait
The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Streetsounds Edition 1.rar Size: 72.17 MB
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Thursday, 19 June 2008

Roshelle Fleming - Love Itch 1986

Crossover SLN 1
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  • Love Itch
  • Love Itch (Instrumental)
  • Love Itch (Radio Version)
Listen to that opening vocal, how many times have you heard that voice sampled? Roshelle Fleming, was once part of First Choice, of 'Let No Man Put Asunder' fame. The '70s Philly disco vocal group consisted of Roshelle Fleming, Annette Guest and Ursula Herring. Philadelphia native Fleming is one of the most distinctive lead vocalists in Soul & Dance music. Fleming's vocals are also one of the most sampled, heard on countless dance records from around the world.

This dancefloor cracker is like an extension of Fonda Rae's Electro anthem, Tuch Me (Touch Me). Hardly surprising as it's produced and arranged by Greg Carmichael and Patrick Adams, the guys who wrote and produced Tuch Me and were also behind Universal Robot Band, Inner Life, Phreek, & Bumblebee Unlimited. Love Itch was mixed by Elai Turbo, who has worked on Run DMC & Alyson Williams among others.

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The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Roshelle Fleming.rar Filesize: 25.5 MB

Malcolm McLaren - Double Dutch 1983

Chrysalis Records MALC 312
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To be truly cynical for a moment, it's easy to suggest that McLaren preyed upon the stupid. After taking the dumb, young testosterone filled white teenage rock scene by storm with the Sex Pistols, he then proceeded to do the same with young black teenagers, taking the whole B-Boy/Hip Hop/Electro thing out of 'The Projects' and putting it onto the World stage.
('Of course we know who can really blow')
The true wonder lies in the fact that he was able to do it after being labeled as a 'con man' on the music scene. Of course, the fact of the matter is, he was bloody good at exploiting an opportunity. I was about to say talent but I don't think that description covers Sid Viscious? McLaren was a genius of sorts but love him or hate him, he did bring The World Class Supreme Team Show to our attention and for that alone, I'll allow him the room to exist in my little piece of the web.

The main release here is credited to Malcolm McLaren & The Ebonettes and is basically, Double Dutch is like a theme song for the skipping sport of the American Double Dutch League. That makes it sound like crap but I love it, it's not quite singing and not quite rapping either, set over a traditional African melody with a catchy chorus. Considering that this was the follow-up to the revolutionary Buffalo Gals, it must have taken some balls to put this out, or a good accountant.
"Schemin' on the meaning of a jazz thing."
The flipside is credited to Malcom McLaren & The World Class Supreme Team Show but McLaren don't figure on this except in the writing credits. She's Looking Like A Hobo seems to be either the track that was used in Buffalo Gals or an extension of the idea used in Buffalo Gals. Either way, if you like the music behind that track, you'll enjoy this. I like all of this release, it's fresh and interesting a quarter of a century down the line but the track that makes it essential to me is D'Ya Like Scratchin'? This track always makes me feel good with its hip hop scratch and rap skills set over a soulful melodic backbeat. Returning to my opening cynicism, this is probably an advert for their radio show but as with all McLaren's projects, it's done so well that you don't feel the pain.
Novacaine for the Soul?
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  • Double Dutch (New Dance Mix)
  • She's Looking Like A Hobo
  • D'Ya Like Scratchin'? (Special Remix)
The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Malcolm McLaren.rar Filesize: 33.26 MB
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Wednesday, 18 June 2008

The Masterdon Committee - Funk Box Party 1982

Dee Jay Limited Edition BLUE-002
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  • Part 1
  • Part 2
This is a Old School Hip Hop classic that I, once again, gotta give props to Marcus for. I didn't hear it until 1986/7 when Barry B put it out in one of his mixes layered with DSM's Destiny. The Mastermix Dance Party went out on the Thursday night and on Friday I would generally spend lunch down in the basement with Marcus and a cassette tape, playing name that tune on the car stereo. Good Times!
"Listen, listen, listen for the beatbox, Huh!"
The group came from the 147th street area of 70's Harlem, New York and comprised of MasterDon, Pebbly Poo, Gangster G, Keith KC, Boo Ski & Johnny D. It's a 'call and answer' style track that has been used many times since, a lively crowd in the studio alongside the crisp 808 beats and old school claps. It sounds like they were having a damn good party when they recorded it. Further in, the raps really kick in, Pebbly Poo's spot is one of the earliest examples of the aggressive female style developed by Roxanne Shante a few years later.

I was too late for the original pressing but managed to get a re-issue a few years later. Funk Box Party is an awesome tune and absolutely essential. Part 1 is the vocal and Part 2 is an Instrumental with vocal chorus.

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The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: The Masterdon Committee.rar Filesize: 23.26 MB

Tuesday, 17 June 2008

12:41 - Success Is The Word 1986

Streetwave Records XKHAN 507
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12:41 consisted of Kris 'KRS-1' Parker & 'Scott La Rock' Sterling before they became Boogie Down Productions. Success Is The Word has a great sound and a superb hook, the rap is pretty good for the era although I personally, used to play the Instrumental and Dub a lot.

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I almost posted just the B-Side of this release because Just-Ice simply doesn't do this post justice. I guess if you like the Old School rap with all the demeaning and immature foul mouthed bullshit that kept it back for so long, then you might appreciate it. Still, on a positive note, the reason I left it on is because Put That Record Back On is a Kurtis Mantronik production. Be warned, That Girl Is A Slut is not for mixed company?


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  • Success Version
  • Radio Version
  • Success Instrumental
  • Success Dub
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  • Put That Record Back On
  • Latoya
  • Put That Record Back On (Instrumental)
  • That Girl Is A Slut

The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: 12-41.rar Filesize: 60.57 MB

Wednesday, 21 May 2008

Kinkina - Jungle Fever 1987

Champion Records CHAMP 12-35
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In 1972 Chakachas released Jungle Fever, produced by Roland Kluger with vocals by Bill Ador. It saw some success and became a bit of a classic on the Rare Groove scene. In 1981 Kinkina had another go at it but it never took off until 1987 when PWL's Phil Harding & Pete Waterman got their hands on it. Despite the nausea associated with the name, they done a damn good job but the real surprise was the 'Skratch Fever' Mix.

To give the re-release a little limelight, Shem McCauley, aka DJ Streets-Ahead, was brought in to do some live scratching over the track. It works!

"In 1987, CJ Mackintosh was the DMC UK Champ and he battled DJ Streets Ahead on the Champion Records compilation Ultimate Trax. Streets Ahead made the difference. Streets Ahead liked Go Go and what he did with Trouble Funk still stands the test of time." DJ David RB


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  • Jungle Fever (Megamix)
  • Skratch Fever
  • Jungle Fever (Original Version)
The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Kinkina.rar Filesize: 32.39 MB
*Published without a link and nobody noticed... that tells me a lot!

Wednesday, 14 May 2008

Coldcut - Find A Way/Say Kids 1987

Ahead Of Our Time CCUT 8 TL
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This White Label was highly sought after and is still in demand (I think?) Very little info, the letraset title was added by me. 'ADRENALIN' is etched into the runout on both sides and that's it. The A-side is a rap by Queen Latifah (one of the De La Soul posse) that was probably known only for its inclusion here. It sure as hell wasn't the reason this 12" sold.

For those that haven't heard of this, it's a cut up in the same style as the Double Dee & Steinski Lessons. Kicking off with "Say Kids, What Time Is It?" we have Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Rupert The Bear dialogue & King Of The Swingers from Disney's Jungle Book, amidst a whole host of infectious beats and samples.

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  • Find A Way (featuring Queen Latifah)
  • Say Kids!
  • Bonus Beats 1
  • Bonus Beats 2
The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: Coldcut - Say Kids.rarFilesize: 24.71 MB

Sunday, 11 May 2008

C.F.M. Band - Jazz It Up 1990

Underworld Records AP 150
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The C.F.M. Band, or Crazy French Man Band, was the brainchild of Reynald 'Crazy Frenchman' Deschamps. The main track is marked JAZZ Side, note the shout out to Richie Weeks on vocal. This Jazzy keyboards and scat over 808 beats should be awful but for some obscure reason it works, and it works well too.

The HOUZZ Side is not so exceptional and proves the point IMHO.

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Jazz It Up

  • Jazz Mix
  • Swinging With The 808
  • Jam Mix
Dance To The Music (Body Action)
  • HNRG Houzz Mix
  • Funkeep On Dancin' Groove
  • Dance Mix
The Download Link is here: Download
Filename: CFM Band.rar Filesize: 49.03 MB