love and music are the same

I'm going to break a promise here and post something that DJ Bus Station John has been rocking recently, not only because I haven't posted any disco recently, but also because this track is so special.

A favorite of early house DJs in Chicago, Ris's "Love-N-Music" is one of the more epic italo-disco tracks ever recorded, perhaps being matched only by Doctor's Cat "Feel the Drive." With an excellent driving italo beat, warm synths, and truly disgusting pans, it is Celeste's vocals that put the icing on this already delicious cake. Her voice speaks, soars, moans, intones and just gets it so right that one wants her voice near at all times. This one, like most, is best played incredibly loud— you'll know what I mean when you listen to it.

Ris feat. Celeste- Love-N-Music

just like any other child

So, I promised DJ Bus Station John that I wouldn't post a certain track that he dropped last night at Aunt Charlie's, though I am way too tempted to do so-- it is a track that I've been searching for since 2006, when I heard it on an old disco/proto-house mix. But alas, you'll just have to ask me what it might be!

Instead, I give you Bobby O's biggest hit, 1982's "She Has A Way." The track uses a Moroder-style rollicking bass-line, dense synth harmonies, insane laser syncopations, and some seriously wet hand-claps. There's also the cowbell-- more than almost any other disco track, "She Has A Way" has an iconic cowbell break that is inescapable. Bobby Orlando's vocals are weirdly plaintive and somewhat threatening, and the backing singers provide a smoothness that is more Motown than Italo. What it comes down to, really, is that Bobby O's sound was re-done by countless Italians, mostly to lesser effect-- Orlando is truly one of the kings of this sound.

Bobby O- She Has A Way

Tomorrow, who the hell know? Carl Craig was here last night, so perhaps I'll give you a taste of some 2nd-Wave Detroit.

baby baby don't drop it

Last night, DJ Bus Station John dropped this Anita Ward track, and it has been ringing in my ears ever since.



More later today!

you can dance, you can do it

I know, I know, I've been a bad boy and neglected the blog this week. Too many things going down, and I also have been waiting for some inspiration to strike. The first bit came from some random surfing on YouTube-- trust me when I tell you that this song might be one of the best disco-funk tracks you'll ever hear. Very tempting sampling material, so much so that I've ordered the 12". Without further ado, then: "Thighs High (Grip Your Hips and Move)" by Tom Browne.



The chorus is especially noteworthy, and coupled with the insane bass work, "Thighs High" is just plain sick.



Last night was another great time dancing to DJ Bus Station John at his weekly Thursday-night party at Aunt Charlie's. Along with some tracks that I was spotting pretty hard, he played one of my favorite disco bits ever, Slim Line's "If You Can Dance, You Can Do It." The 120-bpm track begins with a writhing low-frequency arpeggiation loop and hand claps, then the bass and the wildly sexy bass voice comes in. With great spacy synths and the requisite disembodied disco diva chorus, which peaks hi enough in the mix to get a crowd waving the arms and yelping with joy. Excellent!

Slim Line- If You Can Dance, You Can Do It (Part 1)

Next time, a division of housing...

you like it

No apologies for my absence, just this: disco, drag queens, and a crazy apartment in Hunter's Point.

Today, I'm offering up a 1977 disco jam that seems to be rather rare, which I happened upon on vinyl many years ago in a Cleveland record shop. Southroad Connection only did a few singles, but "You Like It, We Love It" seems to be their ultimate accomplishment. With a destructively funky bass-line, string stabs that recall a more raw Philly sound, and the requisite bright horn section, "You Like It..." is a lost gem that deserves some more love. The group vocals have just enough reverb, and leave enough breathing room for the instrumentation to really burn the floor. Excellent stuff-- too bad the group was so short-lived.

Southroad Connection- You Like It, We Love It

And as a special treat, I'm going to point you towards a sick 1980 jam that DJ Bus Station John spun at the Tubesteak Connection this past Thursday-- Coffee's "I Wanna Be With You." As my friend Janine says, "I can't get over how good this song is." You won't be able to get over it, either.



Tomorrow, thinking some downtempo, perhaps. Or maybe a surprise?

i'll tell you

So, Saturday's Manquake party, with the stylings of DJ Bus Station John, was an excellent time. And for the first time, he played a string of songs that I knew, and some of which i actually have on vinyl!

Perhaps the best of those that he played, though, was "I'll Tell You" by Sergio Mendes & Brasil '88. Yes, the king of Bossa and Latin Jazz made a truly fantastic disco album during the height of disco fever in 1978, called it Magic Lady, and never really followed up on the sound in a substantial way again. But "I'll Tell You" is one of the best disco tracks I can think of, with great synths, big fat hand-claps, funky guitar licks, a rollicking bass-line, and a chorus of females whose come-hither voices ooze sex. The main melodic line is formed by well-syncopated cowbell hits, and it will worm its way into your head after a single listen. Great stuff, highly recommended!

Sergio Mendes & Brasil '88- I'll Tell You

Tomorrow, something new!

passion close at hand

Today, a classic Euro-Disco track from Space, who are apparently still doing live performances in former Soviet bloc countries, much like other Italo and Euro acts of the late 70s and early 80s. "Save Your Love For Me" clocks in at about 133 bpm, and has much in common with Moroder's sound of the time-- arpeggiations galore, thick kicks, and sweetly sentimental harmonies. What differentiates it, though, is that Madeline Bell has a set of pipes that could blow Donna Summer out of the water on most days-- soul, range and great glissandos. Thanks to Leo for giving me this record a while back-- thoroughly enjoyable disco sounds.

Space- Save Your Love For Me

Also, if you're in the Bay Area, it would behoove you to go to Manquake tonight at the Gang Way. DJ Bus Station John has the best disco record collection in the city, and it is guaranteed to be a hugely fun and hugely gay time.