tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-99990392024-03-07T18:02:35.256-05:00Pound for PoundJackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.comBlogger1170125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-12672792932745975762010-01-07T18:43:00.000-05:002010-01-07T18:47:59.664-05:00RIP Jack Rose<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/4255376676/" title="Jack Rose by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img style="width: 441px; height: 446px;" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2732/4255376676_4715005d32_o.jpg" alt="Jack Rose" /></a><br /><br />I hate to start <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pound for Pound</span> back up on a sad note, but it is what it is. The music world and the city of Philadelphia <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/arts/music/09rose.html?hpw">lost one of its great ones</a> on December 5, 2009 - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jack Rose</span>. For those that don't know, Rose was one of the great guitar players and experimental musicians around. He was a founding member of <span style="font-weight: bold;">the seminal noise band Pelt</span>, then spent most of this decade making solo music on his acoustic guitar. He mixed country, blues, ragtime, ragas, avant garde sounds, all on his 6- & 12- string and lap steel guitars, taking the mantle from legends like <span style="font-weight: bold;">John Fahey</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Robbie Basho</span>.<br /><br />I want to take the first few posts of this return celebrating the man and his music. We'll touch on some of the earlier Pelt stuff, but mostly I'll be uploading material from his solo releases of the past 5 years or so. It is some of the most haunting, beautiful and interesting music of the last decade; I'm heartbroken that this new one will not get Mr. Rose's imprint on it.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-79745594026496374762009-12-26T00:45:00.002-05:002009-12-26T01:15:29.651-05:00Back From the Dead?<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/4215335474/" title="Back from the Dead by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2583/4215335474_f53680a829.jpg" width="466" height="500" alt="Back from the Dead" /></a><br /><br />Is it possible? Stay tuned.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-37705507392268090312009-05-21T02:02:00.006-04:002009-06-02T17:05:46.168-04:00Grateful Dead - Live/Dead<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3576967884/" title="Grateful Dead - Live/Dead by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3042/3576967884_ce337e886c_o.jpg" alt="Grateful Dead - Live/Dead" height="420" width="420" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/6085839437d46937/">Grateful Dead, "St. Stephen"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/MnFnTkZ0OW53TGlGa1E9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/6085858822e583e5/"><br />Grateful Dead, "Eleven"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/MnFnTkZucHZ0TWtLSkE9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br />Wow, amazingly, we're back. I imagine that everyone has given up on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pound for Pound</span>, as I kinda did too. But, things have calmed down and we are about to enter the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Summer of Love '09</span> and you need Pound for Pound to guide your way through this epic season. That's right, 40 years later, it's time for a rebirth of the psychedelic vibes, epic jams and communal spirit. There's no better intro to that time than the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Grateful Dead</span>, those SF acid explorers who held it down on Haight-Ashbury and spilled LSD all over rock music.<br /><br />These tracks are from <span style="font-weight: bold;">the </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Live/Dead</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> LP</span>, possibly the greatest live record ever released (what are the other rock contenders?) It chronicles the peak of the band's psychedelic blues sound, early 1969 when the band was destroying various venues around San Francisco. The group was a septet at this point: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Ron 'Pigpen' McKernan, Billy Kreutzmann, Mickey Hart and Tom 'TC' Constanten</span>. At this time, the band played a similar setlist every night and above are two of the staples from that time, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"St. Stephen"</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">"The Eleven."</span> I think that they are good openers for anyone knew to the Dead or this era of their music. Both songs stay away from the ether, staying on the rails for the most part. Coming in the wake of a massive "Dark Star," it's especially impressive to hear the band rein it all back and bring everyone back to earth with two of their most rollicking, fun songs.<br /><br />The opening <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Dark Star"</span> is not to be missed; since I want you to buy the album, I'm not uploading here. You'll just have to trust me that this is one of the great versions the band ever did, a 23+ minute opus that starts with the band stating the theme and quickly ventures into outer space. Jerry leads the way, forcing the band to leave the safe confines of the opening verse. It's really amazing to hear the band interact, especially Jerry and Phil, sounds much more like a well-oiled jazz band than any rock band out there. Later, you get the more blues-y side of things, with a steller-as-always <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Turn On Your Lovelight" with Pigpen</span> as horny frontman and <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Death Don't Have No Mercy"</span>.<br /><br />Go immediately and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Live-Dead-Grateful/dp/B000002KB0">buy a copy of <span style="font-style: italic;">Live/Dead</span></a> now. We are gonna be giving you a soundtrack for the Summer of Love, this is the essential starting place.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-3225158870784862122009-03-27T16:25:00.001-04:002009-03-27T16:57:34.976-04:00Ash Ra Tempel - Ash Ra Tempel<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3388084007/" title="Ash Ra Tempel - Ash Ra Tempel by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3432/3388084007_ec4df7da97_o.jpg" alt="Ash Ra Tempel - Ash Ra Tempel" height="345" width="345" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/577283455bde01c0/">Ash Ra Tempel, "Amboss"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/UmNLRm82UENubVd4dnc9PQ">YSI link</a>) 320<br /><br />Time to fly our German freak flag, as we begin to dip into the krautrock pool. I want to first have us worship at the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ash Ra Tempel</span>, one of the most influential of the genre. Formed in the 1970s from the ashes of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Conrad Schnitzler's short lived group Eruption</span>, the band featured <span style="font-weight: bold;">Manuel Gottsching</span> on guitar, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Hartmut Enke</span> on bass and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Klaus Schulze</span> on drums and keys. Those are some serious names, so it's not surprise that they would create some of the spaciest, most cosmic music ever made.<br /><br />This track is the A side to their first self-titled LP, released in 1971. The only word that comes to mind is epic. Or is it massive? Or is it psychedelic? Ah, who cares? This is an amazing 20 minute journey that takes you through various stops, from quiet contemplative to loud shredding. It starts off with a drone-y soundscape that slowly but surely builds, as the drums get more active. You're nearly 6 minutes in until Gottsching's guitar starts to take the lead with some jams. I'm not gonna say too much more about this, other than to say that some of the most amazing moments come after the 15 minute mark, when the heaviest, sludgiest rock band ever shows up. Put it on, head to the park, lie down and drop out.<br /><br />Go immediately and <a href="http://www.forcedexposure.com/artists/ash.ra.tempel.html">cop this album at Forced Exposure</a>, as I promise it will be out of print soon. It's already gone at Aquarius and these krautrock gems come quickly and disappear for long stretches. Much more to come on this front, please send along any recommendations you have for me, as I am far from an expert.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-57784441972583586722009-03-13T16:03:00.000-04:002009-03-13T16:22:53.599-04:00Grateful Dead - Fillmore East 2.27.69 Set 2<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3326064197/" title="Grateful Dead Fillmore West 1969 by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3302/3326064197_354f681a4e_o.jpg" alt="Grateful Dead Fillmore West 1969" height="267" width="286" /></a><br /><br />Grateful Dead, Live at the Fillmore West February 27, 1969<br />Set 2<br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/56933932b13843e1/">Dupree's Diamond Blues</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/U0d6a3NjNnlFc0kwTVE9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/569341455e80d76d/">Mountains of the Moon</a><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/56934802864abe6e/"><br />Dark Star</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/U0d4anZsSWhUME0wTVE9PQ">YSI link</a>) ---><br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/56935115b01c6db0/">St. Stephen</a> ---><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/569355634c245b87/"><br />The Eleven</a> ---><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/5693741269e4b7c4/"><br />Turn On Your Lovelight</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/U0d4anZzckliR0x2Wmc9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/56937560e94ad33a/"><br />Cosmic Charlie</a><br /><br />Here's the conclusion to the first night of the epic four-night run, the late show from February 27, 1969. This is classic <span style="font-weight: bold;">1969 Dead</span>, the classic tunes from that year, when the band was playing right on the line of psychedelia and the blues, when <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jerry Garcia</span> began to take the reins of the band and made them into one of the most amazing improvisational acts around.<br /><br />One of the things that has always interested me in the Dead's live music has been that tension between form and chaos. "Dark Star" is the perfect example, with its distinct opening bass melody and two verses which descends into an improvised jam that could go anywhere, oftentimes into a deep, space-y, tune-less music, which is eventually reined back in with the return of the final verse. It should appeal immediately to anyone who likes jazz, that world where standards become vehicles for free jazz debauchery. Like jazz, there's always a chance for these jams to become awful, noodling garbage, but that's the fun part. You never know what could happen, which is incredibly rare in music, especially today in the world of over-production and lip-synching.<br /><br />I want to dedicate this post to MC, a.k.a. RV. That's right, the return of the prodigal daughter (or ex-girlfriend, whatever). She was the main reason this blog took in the way it did, as I pretty much wrote it so that she would think I was cool. She was the first muse, before Scarlett Johansson, Merilyn, Christy Marks, JH-B or anyone else. She bought the boxed set that features this music for me and so these posts would not happen without her. It's nice to come full circle and get back to a good place. Yeah!Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-44152682703083624312009-03-06T15:24:00.000-05:002009-03-06T15:40:09.835-05:00Grateful Dead - Fillmore East 2.27.69<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3326064197/" title="Grateful Dead Fillmore West 1969 by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3302/3326064197_354f681a4e_o.jpg" alt="Grateful Dead Fillmore West 1969" height="267" width="286" /></a><br /><br />Grateful Dead, Live at the Fillmore East February 27, 1969<br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/56629933f812ae89/">Good Morning, Little School Girl</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/U0d3c2ZLV3J6RTljR0E9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/56630213b0bb2048/">Doin' That Rag</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/U0d3c2ZDTk1lM1EwTVE9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/56630643b8ddb078/">The Other One</a> (Cryptical>Drums>The Other One>Cryptical) (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/U0d3c2ZKY3k3N0EwTVE9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br />Over the coming months, I want to start adding a more psychedelic edge to the blog, take things back to the late 60s and early 70s to those weirdo sounds that sound so good today. I can't think of a better way to get started than commemorating one of the greatest weeks in the history of live music by the greatest of psychedelic warriors, <span style="font-weight: bold;">the Grateful Dead's run at the Fillmore West from February 27 to March 2 1969</span>. I know that the Dead's music is not what we call psychedelic today, but let's not get lost in semantics. This was music written and performed in the midst of the acid wave in San Francisco in the 1960s; these guys took rock, blues and folk, splashed LSD on it and made some of the best music ever.<br /><br />I'm going to put up more discs from this limited edition 10CD boxed set over the next few days and will discuss the music more then. But, I want to first deal with the whole Deadhead thing and the hate these guys generate from people. Simply, get over yourself. Yes, some people only liked the band because of the drug association; some were annoying people who listened to nothing but the Dead; blah blah blah. These dudes created an entire alternate world, which had its own values, values like sharing, love and fun. Sound familiar? Does it sound similar to a lot of the same inspirations for the dance music that we love? There's a very straight line imo between the spinners at a Dead show to the ones who took over lofts of NYC in the 70s and the beaches of Ibiza in the 80s. Give it a chance and I promise you that this music will melt your face.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-55172454174682528142009-02-27T18:15:00.000-05:002009-02-27T18:08:48.274-05:00Heaven 17 - (We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3291239545/" title="Heaven 17 by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img style="width: 423px; height: 420px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3446/3291239545_feb4f03fe0_o.jpg" alt="Heaven 17" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/562328607e86ff54/">Heaven 17, "(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang (LP Version)"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/U0d5TG0ySytEa1YzZUE9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/56232714fc2dd11e/">Heaven 17,. "(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang (Full Length 12" Mix)"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/U0d5TG13UzhsMHpIRGc9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br />Back with a bang, a classic 80s synth pop dance classic. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Heaven 17</span> were a new wave-y band that was intimately connected to the amazing electronic rock music coming out of the UK in the early 80s. The band was formed by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware</span> when they split from their group called <span style="font-weight: bold;">Human League</span>. Perhaps you've heard of them? The duo formed a production company called <span style="font-weight: bold;">British Electric Foundation (BEF)</span>, eventually adding Glenn Gregory on vocals and becoming Heaven 17. They <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>never quite broke into the big-time, although they did enjoy a few songs that charted, including this one above.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"(We Don't Need This) Fascist Groove Thang,"</span> the band's first single, hit #45 on the UK Charts, despite the fact that it was banned by Radio 1 DJ Mike Read. I love this song so much, it makes me want to start a dance party with Emma Goldman in a huge warehouse with lots of love and organizing and fun. You get all here: rad political lyrics about the horrible political landscape of the 80s with Reagan and Thatcher, that great UK drum machine and synth sound, clattering percussion, some nice keys and horns filling out the sound. I cannot begin to explain how great it is to hear dance music with such an explicit political edge; as much as I love the booty shit and the disco and house calls for love and sex and happiness, there's something inspiring about hearing dudes who understand just how radical it is to make people dance. That abandon, that mixing of bodies, that's a revolution every night people! Download this! Organize! Yeah!Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-45854884972847754842009-02-06T16:47:00.002-05:002009-02-06T16:50:40.225-05:00Theo Parrish - Ugly Edits #4<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3250807823/" title="The Dells by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img style="width: 347px; height: 224px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3532/3250807823_c59e1950a1.jpg" alt="The Dells" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/55207023a6d6821f/">The Dells, "Get On Down (Theo Parrish Re-edit)"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/WnBRNHArd0E1UjQwTVE9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/552072917dfc7b8d/"><br />Minnie Ripperton, "Stick Together (Theo Parrish Re-edit)"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/WnBRNHB5Tk1qV0EwTVE9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br />Let's get back ready for the weekend with some disco . That's right, more <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ugly Edits from Theo Parrish</span>! We've posted up one or two other volumes of this series, essential music, some of the greatest edits that I've ever heard, as the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Detroit techno</span> third waver and Chicago house-man shows his disco side.<br /><br />The <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Get On Down" edit</span> has sweaty dancefloor written all over it. It's an 11 minute soul workout that really never lets up, getting <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Dells</span> ready to take over at peak hour. Parrish has added a rubbery bass that keeps the whole thing moving; amazingly it never gets boring despite the length. I really love the strings on this one, they are out front and melodic. There's a really nice repetitive sound to this one, as Parrish brings a new disco style to the old disco sound. Great stuff.<br /><br />I'm an even bigger fan of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Minnie Ripperton edit</span>, as this one rewards close listening. There's so many little pieces that turn this one into a winner - piano vamping, Ripperton's whispers, finger snaps. Things stay on a slow burn for the first 5 minutes, then Parrish raises the flame by letting loose with some real vocal fireworks and brings it home strong.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-82159354239995651722009-02-03T17:31:00.005-05:002009-02-05T15:39:15.534-05:00Armando presents Robert Armani - Armani Trax<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3256491662/" title="circus tent by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3325/3256491662_b82d3d4eea_o.gif" alt="circus tent" height="400" width="435" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/55157649ea34ffb2/"><br />Armando presents Robert Armani, "Circus Bells (Armando's mix)"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/WnBUUWV0UnE4Q1IzZUE9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/55157833aeeb95d0/"><br />Armando presents Robert Armani, "Circus Bells (full length original mix)"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/WnBUUWVqTStkMnVGa1E9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br />Okay, I lied about getting back into the swing of things. Seriously though, I'm getting back into the swing of things, starting....NOW! It's been a minute since we dropped any house music here, time to remedy that grave error. What better way to remedy it than with a stone cold Chicago acid house classic, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Robert Armani's "Circus Bells"</span>?<br /><br />This one's the B side of the <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Armani Trax</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> EP</span>, a classic <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dance Mania</span> record, released in 1990. Longtime readers know that that label has guided so much of my listening, taking me from acid to ghetto in the span of an insanely productive decade. "Circus Bells" is one of the label's most famous and from the first peals of the bell on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Armando's mix</span>, you know you are in for something serious. It's like a call to arms or something for the dancefloor. After the last bell sound fades away, you get a devastating, 10 minute long acid tinged monster. Deep bass drums, hi-hats and clapping snares lay the foundation for a siren-like synth melody that worms its way into your head and will make you freak out. The original full-length mix is a few minutes shorter and lacks the bells-opening. You win with either one.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-61722052565840090272009-01-29T12:46:00.000-05:002009-01-29T12:52:59.512-05:00Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Wake Up Everybody<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3231722495/" title="Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Wake Up Everybody by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3330/3231722495_270fe1e80c_o.jpg" alt="Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes - Wake Up Everybody" height="400" width="394" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/54749196110b4971/"><br />Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, "Wake Up Everyday"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/WnBRN3RSbEE1R1BIRGc9PQ">YSI link</a>) 320<br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/54749517d80da3ac/"><br />Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, "Keep On Lovin' You"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/WnBRN3RURnc4Q1JMWEE9PQ">YSI link</a>) 320<br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/54750103e9a8024e/"><br />Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, "I'm Searching For A Love"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/WnBRN3RhV3JiR0tGa1E9PQ">YSI link</a>) 320<br /><br />Here's the logical follow-up to our <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dimitri From Paris edits</span>, a return to the original source material, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes</span>! Yeah! Here's a few tracks from their 1975 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Philadelphia International LP</span>, <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Wake Up Everybody</span>, classic <span style="font-weight: bold;">Philly Soul</span> sound, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gamble & Huff</span> produced songs. This is what it's all about: songs about love, happiness, freedom, the good things in life. There's very few things I would rather hear in the whole world, this is LIFE on vinyl.<br /><br />The LP opens with a bang, the title track and my personal favorite <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Wake Up Everybody."</span> This is just seven minutes of slow burning soul, featuring beautiful lyrics calling us all to action to change the world. Perfect soundtrack for these post Bush, Obama days. The band provides a subtle groove underneath, letting <span style="font-weight: bold;">Teddy Pendergrass</span> preach on as only he can do for the full seven and a half minutes. <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Keep On Lovin' You"</span> keeps the good vibes and beautiful strings and horns music comin'. As I listen to it now, feel like this might be my favorite, such a classic love song, perfect for listening to with your loved one, lying in bed on a lazy Sunday afternoon without a care in the world. Finally, check out <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sharon Paige</span>'s vocals on <span style="font-weight: bold;">"I'm Searching For A Love,"</span> giving us the opposite side of the love coin. This one has a sort of Bacharach/David feel to it, probably because of the melancholy lyrics, backed up by some heartbreaking strings.<br /><br />I'll just leave you with the refrain from "Wake Up Everybody," take them with you and think them over today: "The world won't get no better if we just let it be/The world won't get no better we gotta change it yeah, just you and me."Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-52309669396623106362009-01-23T14:34:00.004-05:002009-01-23T16:11:48.981-05:00Dmitri From Paris - Southside Edits Vol. 1<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3220008641/" title="Dimitri From Paris by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img style="width: 400px; height: 403px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3420/3220008641_bfd5bfc56a.jpg" alt="Dimitri From Paris" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/545638750b5546a8/">Dimitri From Paris, "Madd Luck"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/WnBTTG16QzdkMnRMWEE9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/5456424171723fad/">Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, "Bad Luck"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/WnBTTG15SWVxRTJGa1E9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/5456407828eddd64/">Dimitri From Paris, "Feeling About 'Cha"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/WnBTTG0ycWZCTW1Ga1E9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/54563273231a6e2c/"><br />Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, "Tell The World How I Feel About 'Cha Baby"</a><br /><br />We're jumping right back in the mix here, with two edits from the master, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dimitri From Paris</span>. Dude is probably best known now for his <span style="font-weight: bold;">Playboy Mansion mixes</span>, which feature a much more mellow, cocktail jazz, smooth disco vibe. But, the man is also responsible for some perfect, seriously funky, raucous disco edits and tracks and his Southside Edits Volume 1 gives you the perfect window onto that side.<br /><br />Both of these cuts are edits of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes</span> songs, classic <span style="font-weight: bold;">Philly Soul</span> numbers that will remind you of why music is the greatest thing on Earth and Philly's its greatest city. Both are also furiously paced ragers, they get going quickly and never let up.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Madd Luck"</span> is my choice of the two, Dimitri's edit of <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Bad Luck."</span> There's just nothing like hearing Mr. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Teddy Pendergrass</span> belting out those "Satisfied"'s and "Down down down"'s over those beautiful strings, cymbal splashes, horn blasts, doubletime beat and vamping keys. Man, this needs to be the soundtrack to your life, this is LIFE MUSIC! Perfect for those days when nothing is going right, as it's sure to lift your spirits or provide company to your misery. For those wondering, Dimitri has mostly fucked with the drums, adding a kick drum to the mix that ups the pace and does away with the more relaxed original. The bass is also less prominent, making it less funky and deliberate.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Feeling About 'Cha"</span> adds an extended drums intro and outro, but for the most keeps things the same as the original, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Tell The World How I Feel About 'Cha Baby."</span> Again, most of the edit revolves around the drums, as Dimitry has added a much more forceful beat, upping the tempo for the dancefloor. This one's on some feel good, I love my girl, the world is a beautiful place shit. If you don't love that, you don't love America, kittens or apple pie. Download all of this stuff, it doesn't get better.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-56772344629693678522009-01-20T13:32:00.002-05:002009-01-20T22:37:47.393-05:00Chimes Of Freedom<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/G1PDaw7s3pY&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/G1PDaw7s3pY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Bob Dylan, "Chimes of Freedom" (live at Newport Festival 1964)<br /><br />It's a beautiful day for America, as we inaugurated Barack Obama and we realized that George W. Bush can no longer destroy this country. Not much I can really add to this moment, just to say how wonderful a feeling it is to wake up into what feels like a genuinely new world. These past 8 years have been a nightmare, at times one that felt like it would never end. Well, it's over and you can hear the chimes of freedom. I love you all, let's get to work.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-62932121410254541752009-01-17T22:28:00.004-05:002009-01-17T22:36:28.210-05:00Korrupt VII<span style="font-size:85%;"><span id="ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_BulletinRead_ltl_body"><img src="http://www.residentadvisor.net/images/events/flyer/2009/us-0118-80405-front.jpg" /></span></span><br /><br />Get ready NYC. Korrupt VII. Throne Of Blood. Dances With White Girls, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mattie Safer of The Rapture</span> and WiZ. Meanred Productions. Good People.The divine Lorraine Sangre hosting. 88 Palace, 88 E. Broadway. This one's so rad, all I need is declarative sentences. Be there.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-49886286153008398452008-12-18T16:46:00.007-05:002008-12-18T22:54:15.285-05:00Suicide - Live At Club Europa December 11, 2008<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3119234688/" title="Suicide 4 by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img style="width: 409px; height: 308px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3239/3119234688_c5ef48f7aa.jpg" alt="Suicide 4" /></a><br /><br />I was fortunate enough to attend that rarest of rare occurences, a <span style="font-weight: bold;">live Suicide show</span>, last Thursday night. It was my second time seeing them, as I also caught their free show at the South Street Seaport last summer; nothing quite as weird as seeing the darkest of bands playing outdoor in the sunshine to a crowd full of drunk yuppies.<br /><br />This time, they chose the odd venue of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Club Europa in Greenpoint</span>, a two-floor club that mostly hosts local acts, not seminal ones that have influenced everything that has come since. It's actually a nice venue, as the upstairs as a nice bar in the back, a stage in the front with plenty of room to either stand or you can grab a seat on the couches that surround the dancefloor. I arrived in time to catch the <span style="font-weight: bold;">A.R.E. Weapons</span> setting up, after a typically long wait for the cursed G train. I've seen the A.R.E. Weapons before, but have never really found them to be very compelling. I hear descriptions of noise rock, electro rock, confrontational, etc., but that wasn't what I heard that night. It just sounds like blah glam-y punk or something; the tunes didn't grip me, they definitely didn't venture into noise territory and generally made me wish I had come an hour later.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3118460903/" title="Suicide 13 by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img style="width: 412px; height: 310px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3239/3118460903_6e191e6f5e.jpg" alt="Suicide 13" /></a><br /><br />The main event began around 11:2o, I believe, as Mr. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Alan Vega</span> and Mr. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Martin Rev</span> walked through the crowd and up onto the stage. By the time they did, the room was packed, a nice surprise considering it was a Thursday night in Greenpoint and it was still pouring rain at showtime. Vega (real name: Alan Bernowitz) wore a black hooded sweatshirt and lit a cigarette about a song in. I know it'll make me sound like a fan boy, but who gives a shit? Dude is just cool personfied, all attitude, sneering, punk despite the fact that he's twice as old as anyone in the room. They opened with two classics, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Ghost Rider"</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Rocket USA,"</span> killing it with both, you would have no idea that these two dudes never really play live (I believe that I've caught their last two shows in NYC) Vega's still got that voice, that jittery, paranoid one that sucks you in and demands you listen.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3118460903/" title="Suicide 13 by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img style="width: 390px; height: 293px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3239/3118460903_6e191e6f5e.jpg" alt="Suicide 13" /></a><br /><br />To be honest, this night was all about Martin Rev, as he killed it the entire night. On the new track they introduced, Rev went off on a 4 or 5 minute Korg solo that had Vega sitting down to let the man shine. At times, the sinister shit Rev played completely overwhelmed Vega's vocals, which was a little frustrating as Suicide isn't the same without Vega's crazed Elvis-y vocals. But, honestly, I wouldn't want Rev to be lower in the mix, as that minimal ruckus he raises is perfect,<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3118471215/" title="Suicide 6 by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img style="width: 398px; height: 299px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/3118471215_4716f8d8f1.jpg" alt="Suicide 6" /></a><br /><br />The band played for a little more than an hour, then walked off the stage and headed back to the dressing room area. They ignored the encore calls, as the lights went up after about 5 minutes. They came, kicked ass and left. I headed out and shockingly the G came for the first time ever just as I was getting to the platform. I like to think that Suicide's music scared the shit out of the MTA and forced them to hook up the exiting fans.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3119237934/" title="Suicide 1 by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img style="width: 383px; height: 288px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/3119237934_57fa3fa867.jpg" alt="Suicide 1" /></a><br /><br />All of these terrible photos were taken by me with the aid of the lovely Miss LS's camera. Let me leave you with a parting shot of the machines that made it all happen. We'll have more Suicide live music coming up, some real goodies people. Yeah yeah yeah!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3119291272/" title="Suicide 12 by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img style="width: 394px; height: 296px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3079/3119291272_86f051de4d.jpg" alt="Suicide 12" /></a>Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-6358146728302319082008-12-15T23:22:00.000-05:002008-12-15T23:22:00.357-05:00Suicide - 23 Minutes Over Brussels<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3110952355/" title="Suicide-First_Album_b by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3183/3110952355_93487f5ba8_o.jpg" alt="Suicide-First_Album_b" height="355" width="355" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/527921577fd4e0d4/">Suicide, "23 Minutes Over Brussels"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTZreFllcTJvQUtGa1E9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br />Every so often I like to focus on one particular artist or genre for a bit and that time has come again. I caught one of my favorite bands of all-time, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Suicide</span>, last Thursday night at <span style="font-weight: bold;">Club Europa in Greenpoint, Brooklyn</span>. I'll have more to say on that later, but for now I wanted to start posting up some live Suicide music.<br /><br />There's no other place to start than the duo's most infamous show, <span style="font-weight: bold;">June 16, 1978, live at the Anciennes Belgique, Brussels, Belgium</span>. The band was in Europe opening for a few bands you've probably heard of - <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Clash</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Elvis Costello</span>. This particular night, they were opening for Elvis Costello & the Attractions and this particular crowd was not happy at having to wait to hear their hero. Suicide opens with <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Ghost Rider"</span> and it's all downhill from there. The guys are booed pretty lustily after that one, but little does anyone know that booing is this audience being polite. You get an "Elvis! Elvis!" chant after <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Rocket USA,"</span> booing and whistling throughout the fourth song, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Dance."</span> By the time they get to <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Frankie Teardrop,"</span> things are getting ugly. Someone in the audience steals the microphone, forcing the promoter to come out and demand it back or the show will be cancelled. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Alan Vega</span> subsequently begins to tell the crowd (or one person in particular) to "fuck off" and as the tape cuts, a full-fledged riot has broken out. Vega gets his nose broken, the club is torn up and the Suicide legend begins. 23 minutes.<br /><br />This was a bonus track released as a second on the reissue of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Suicide's self-titled first album</span>. If you do not own that album, stop whatever you are doing and <a href="http://www.insound.com/Suicide_Suicide_%28First_Album%29_CD/productmain/p/INS33414/">buy a copy</a>. Then, <a href="http://www.forcedexposure.com/artists/suicide.html">buy a second copy</a> to give out to a stranger. This is essential music from the studio and the stage, the darkest, most immediate music I've ever heard.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-39913552688691486072008-12-10T16:31:00.004-05:002008-12-11T15:54:08.592-05:00Friendly Fires - Paris<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3080399628/" title="Friendly Fires by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/3080399628_3ba9e2cdd4.jpg" alt="Friendly Fires" height="500" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/52547855997440c3/">Friendly Fires, "Paris (Aeroplane remix)"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTZtTG0zQzNoeVozZUE9PQ">YSI link</a>) 320<br /><br />"I promise, someday, we're gonna live in Paris." How could I not love this song with a lyric like that and a remix by new disco kings <span style="font-weight: bold;">Aeroplane</span>. We're in the midst of horrible rainy/snowy weather here in NYC right now, so it's nice to have this cosmic and sunny remix to remind us that the summer is coming around again. Just listen to those warm keys and handclaps and tell me you don't see yourself on an beach on some isolated island watching the sun rise. Add in re-done vocals by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Au Revoir Simone</span> that add an air of the wistful and you have a winner. Things do pick up around the 4 and a half minute mark, as the vocals drop out and the drums kick harder and the synths starting shooting fire. It's much more banger than Balearic, which I ain't mad at.<br /><br />This one's dedicated to my cosmic girl JH-B, who had a law school exam today. I sent good thoughts and cosmic tunes her way all day!<br /><br />Everyone is flipping over the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Justin Kohncke remix</span> on the B side, making this a real serious 12". <a href="http://www.turntablelab.com/vinyl/0/0/59173.html">Grab your copy at Turntable Lab</a> and also make sure to <a href="http://www.insound.com/Friendly_Fires_Friendly_Fires_CD/productmain/p/INS48552/">pick up the original stuff</a> in the form of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Friendly Fire's first self-titled LP</span>. This sort of indie dance stuff is pretty saturated right now, but these UK guys are definitely pushing through the clutter.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-19103073697809934052008-12-08T23:54:00.003-05:002008-12-09T00:20:34.182-05:00Chuck Chillout - KISS FM Radio Show 8/29/86<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3094277840/" title="Chuck Chillout & Red Alert by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3199/3094277840_313dd197bc_o.jpg" alt="Chuck Chillout & Red Alert" height="264" width="250" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/524572840b58ab86/">Chuck Chillout, KISS FM radio show August 28, 1986</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTZtcmxUY1M1bmlGa1E9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br />Here's something fun to kick off the week, as we continue to try to dig into the first decade or so of rap music. A real radio show from the mid-80s NYC! It's a great blast from the past, a chance to hear the earliest days of rap music in its most natural setting, the hour and fifteen minute straight mix. Hard to overstate how important these shows were to the development of hip-hop, as they gave the new genre a sense of importance and permanence, a real outlet that could be heard by anyone with a radio.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chuck Chillout</span> was one of the biggest names in NYC radio during this time. He should also be familiar to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pound for Pound</span> readers, as he was a member of <span style="font-weight: bold;">The B-Boys</span>, who we discussed last week. Dude was a master scratcher, releasing a 3 part solo series, worked with Run-DMC, discovered Black Moon and has been an instrumental force in bringing rap to the world. The show's a lot of fun, as you hear the biggies from the day like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Run-DMC</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">LL Cool J</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Boogie Down Productions</span>. Chuck mixes it all impeccably, taking us back to stripped down, sample-heavy days.<br /><br />All of this got me to thinking about how much I miss having the chance to hear great radio shows. I can remember when I was growing up in Philly, trying to catch Friday night rap show on Power 99 or the college radio stations at Princeton and Drexel that played experimental music. There was something wonderful about those early days, these secret little sessions you could have to discover all of this amazing music that seemed endless. Not sure we have that today, since it's so easy to find out about every band or artist ever with blogs and podcasts and whatnot. Obviously, it's much better now, as we want everyone to be able to hear great music as easily possible, but there's something inside of me that thinks the music was a lot more special when it was harder to find.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-44860146328591044162008-12-07T23:47:00.000-05:002008-12-07T23:53:41.964-05:00Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3088320676/" title="Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img style="width: 389px; height: 389px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3271/3088320676_3991d3f926.jpg" alt="Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/52361521a69f4fb9/">Talking Heads, "Heaven"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTZrT2pFNXZHa1BIRGc9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/5236203981dbdf44/">Talking Heads, "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTZrT2pFNXZkMnVGa1E9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br />This seems like the logical follow-up to the Greg Wilson edits, going back to the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Talking Heads </span>album that that edit came from. <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Stop Making Sense</span> was the concert film shot in December 1983, directed by Jonathan Demme, that remains one of, if not the, greatest concert film ever shot. I'm partial to <span style="font-style: italic;">The Grateful Dead Movie</span>, but you should definitely add this to your Netflix queue ASAP.<br /><br />The soundtrack is excellent, a great chance to hear the band playing live and funky. Things start off with just David Byrne singing <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Psycho Killer"</span> solo and then another band member comes out with each new song until the whole band is together for <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Found A Job."</span> There's a few guest musicians, including <span style="font-weight: bold;">Parliament-Funkadelic's Bernie Worrell</span>, but it isn't some Last Waltz-type concert. This is Talking Heads and that is a good thing. These songs come from the 1999 Special Edition release, which gives you the 9 original tracks plus 7 additional tracks that had not been heard before. I've focused on two of the new additions, which blow me away every time I hear them. I always associate the Talking Heads with that skewed funky sound, never really considered Byrne and his singing skills nor that the band can write really beautiful heartfelt songs. Listen to <span style="font-weight: bold;">"This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)"</span> for proof that the man can sing and the band can touch my cold, dead heart. Awesome, love love love that little flute that lets the tune just float above you. "Heaven" is just Byrne and bassist Tina Weymouth; the stripped down look works perfectly for the sincere lyrics.<br /><br />This is an excellent album straight through, as I haven't even mentioned the classics like <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Once In A Lifetime."</span> It's proof that the Talking Heads killed it live as much as they did in the studio. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stop-Making-Sense-Special-1984/dp/B00000K3G8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1228710723&sr=1-1">Go here and buy your copy</a> of the Special New Edition, money well-spent.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-56857964875694333712008-12-05T15:54:00.000-05:002008-12-05T15:54:00.757-05:00Please Help Dylan! Pug! Friends! $!<a href="http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=3095253&albumID=932075&imageID=38445652#a=932075&i=38445691" id="ctl00_ctl00_cpMain_cpMain_ViewImageControl_ucImageView_PhotoNoter1_hypImageNext"> <img style="width: 400px; height: 296px;" id="userImage" onload="FixImage();" src="http://a581.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/20/l_8a943230c25ec97e0a30a360d3987ae4.jpg" /> </a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">How can you not help this little guy out?!?</span><br /><br />No, this is not a request to help out Mr. Bob Dylan. It's much more important, as a little dog needs the help of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pound for Pound</span> masses. Little Dylan, pictured above, developed a possible brain infection Wednesday afternoon and his devoted owners, Alana and Dimitry, took him to the ER at the New York Medical Center, where he underwent tests. He's going to make it, which is great news, as the vet was able to figure out that there was nothing wrong neurologically and he is back home where he belongs. There is a chance he will need surgery on his leg down the road, however, but everything's ok now. <a href="http://pugnyc.blogspot.com/">Check out Alana's blog</a> for the whole story and all of the photos mom has taken of her babies.<br /><br />However, this is an insanely expensive process, so Dimitry and Alana need our help. <a href="http://pugnyc.blogspot.com/2008/12/tonight.html">Head to the bottom of this post</a> and donate a few dollars through their paypal account. It's tough times out there, but this is a good cause and these are two of the best people I know in NYC. Let's do what we can, as I know there are lots of readers and who doesn't love pets and know what it's like to do whatever we can to help them out. Let's do this people! Get well Dylan! Yeah!Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-33782211087438677852008-12-04T17:52:00.000-05:002008-12-04T17:52:00.319-05:00Greg Wilson Edits<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3082425175/" title="greg wilson by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img style="width: 437px; height: 245px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3149/3082425175_6ff067da2a.jpg" alt="greg wilson" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/52259727a763b1da/">D.C. LaRue, "DC Le Groove (GW Edit)"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTZsSXR6TStlaFNGa1E9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/52260121bd4d3b08/"><br />Talking Heads, "Gotta Tape I Wanna Play"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTZsSXR5Z2dUME5MWEE9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br />I've been meaning to up some more recent music, but as a sign of where my head is at, the only thing I really felt a NEED to put up right now was these edits of old songs by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Greg Wilson</span>. Doh! Give these two edits a listen though and you will lose any doubts or complaints that this shit ain't the truth.<br /><br />The first one, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"DC Le Groove,"</span> is completely new to me, a re-edit of <span style="font-weight: bold;">D.C. LaRue's "Ca-The-Drals."</span> Unfortunately, I can't really say what Wilson has done to this one or how far he strays from the original, but I will simply that this song in and of itself is amazing, a funkified disco stomper that makes the world seem better. It starts off with bass and guitar, some percussion comes in and things start chugging along. Then, every 30 seconds or so you get a great blast of strings and horn noise, which evaporates quickly, leaving you back with the guitar, bass and drums.<br /><br />The next one should be instantaneously recognized by Talking Heads fans (who isn't a TH fan?!?) as an edit of <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Psycho Killer" from the </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Stop Making Sense</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> soundtrack</span>. Wilson has created a nice extended drum-heavy opening that makes this one dancefloor-ready. It doesn't sound to my ears like he's done a whole lot to the original, which comes in with David Byrne's "Hi, gotta tape I wanna play you" intro. The original features only Byrne, his guitar and the "tape," i.e. drum machine that provides the beat. Wilson adds more percussion, but mostly let's this amazing song breathe.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-45974768078017338622008-12-03T14:14:00.001-05:002008-12-03T14:14:00.306-05:00Lil' Jazzy Jay & Cool Supreme - B Boy Style<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3080547570/" title="Lil' Jazzy jay & Cool Supreme - B Boys Style by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3275/3080547570_4fb96bd851_o.jpg" alt="Lil' Jazzy jay & Cool Supreme - B Boys Style" height="398" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/52203084d531cfe0/">Lil' Jazzy Jay and Cool Supreme, "B Boy Style (club vocal)"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTZrblR0WkJwaFFLSkE9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/52203467ce2354ba/"><br />Lil' Jazzy Jay and Cool Supreme, "B Boy Style (dub instrumental)"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTZrblR1ZDVoMlhIRGc9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br />Yes, yes, more electro rap from the early days! I can't get enough of this stuff right now, so clean and stripped down, love it. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lil' Jazzy Jay & Cool Supreme</span> are everything I love, those flashes that come into the musical world, make a quick mark and disappear forever, a little moment of divine inspiration that makes a small ripple on the music surface that we pick up years later.<br /><br />The duo was actually producer <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rae Cerrano (Cool Supreme)</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">John Byas (Jazzy Jay)</span> and they dropped this single on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Easy Street Records</span> in 1985. This one's so dope, you will immediately be transported back to the 80s, hanging in a park with a boombox, a group of breakers and a large group of friends all dressed in too-short shorts and Kangols. I mean, there's vocoder vocals and nice freestlye female ones! Two for two! You also get some nice synths, a tinkling piano keys, lots of scratches and a cold, hard beat. Add in Jazzy Jay's raps and you have a personal favorite. For those who want to take out the raps, head to the dub instrumental version, which gives you just the female refrain and lots more scratching. Trust me, you need this one. B boys! B girls! Yeah!Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-46604401637287649842008-12-02T13:42:00.006-05:002008-12-02T16:11:05.625-05:00Larry Levan - Live At The Paradise Garage Part 2<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3077362289/" title="Larry-Levan by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/3077362289_58f7b356df_o.jpg" alt="Larry-Levan" height="300" width="397" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/download/521634629d51bef6/">Larry Levan, <span style="font-style: italic;">Live At The Paradise Garage</span> Disc 2</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTZuMWZCZEs0b0JMWEE9PQ">YSI link</a>) <span style="font-size:85%;">tracklisting in comments</span><br /><br />Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Give thanks! I finally remembered to do a post on the second disc from this recording of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Larry Levan</span> spinning at the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Paradise Garage</span>. Long-time readers will know that I had planned to do this months ago, but it got lost in the hiatus I took. But, it's here now and you need to download this. People, this is life. This is love. This is sex. This is joy. This is pain. This is heaven's soundtrack, as I hear it. I can't say enough about these two discs. Whenever I am feeling a little down or sad or uninspired, I throw these on the iPod and just let the music take me to a better place. There's no greater compliment I can offer a DJ.<br /><br />RIP Mr. Levan, the world is lesser without you.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-89643051300922125382008-11-29T23:31:00.002-05:002008-11-30T01:35:28.305-05:00Ashford and Simpson - Set It<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3070176952/" title="Ashford & Simpson by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/3070176952_1bdc767617_o.jpg" alt="Ashford & Simpson" height="250" width="250" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/52039496105d810e/">Ashford and Simpson, "Don't Cost You Nothin'"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTZrek9ucVhRYStGa1E9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/5205057847e94156/">Ashford and Simpson, "Send It"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTZrek9ucVh6NExIRGc9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/520390032cd6498a/">Ashford and Simpson, "Bourgie Bourgie"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTZrek9ucVhoeWJIRGc9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br />For those who have had a chance to listen to the first disc of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Larry Levan</span> mix, you couldn't help but have been struck by the opening instrumental song, a beautiful, keys-driven tune that starts things out so perfectly and lushly. That tune comes off of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ashford and Simpson's </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Set It</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> LP</span> from 1977. Ashford and Simpson were <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson</span>, who actually originally made their name writing and producing hits for other artists, including Miss <span style="font-weight: bold;">Diana Ross</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Marvin Gaye</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Chaka Khan</span>. They worked at <span style="font-weight: bold;">Motown</span> working with a who's who of that label, but eventually left to make music on their own. Their names<br /><br />This is their first album, one of many to come. This one is for the lovers in the audience, as Ashford and Simpson sing songs about love and sex in male-female duets. The music is mostly slower, soul-inspired stuff, not necessarily dancefloor burners. This is for those moments with your significent other, lying around the apartment, just hanging out together. In other words, this is grown folks music, not for the kids in their neon outfits partying to the latest electro remix. <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Send It"</span> was the only single to make the charts, a nice R&B slow jam featuring a flute, strings and piano that add up to something a little cheesy but still delicious. <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Don't Cost You Nothin'"</span> is a personal fav. It's all about this nasty bassline, gives the song a dirty, slinky feel that works perfectly with the back-and-forth male/female vocals. <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Bourgie Bourgie"</span> is the highlight, a perfect 6 minute instrumental that makes you feel like you are floating on a cloud.<br /><br />No clue what we're going to be getting into this week coming up, so check in again soon and see what I'm feeling.Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-68401526507122164662008-11-27T01:12:00.007-05:002008-11-28T17:21:36.355-05:00Larry Levan - Live At The Paradise Garage<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3064059683/" title="Thanksgiving by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img style="width: 416px; height: 343px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/3064059683_7044386714.jpg" alt="Thanksgiving" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/download/5198549588f340b0/">Larry Levan, <span style="font-style: italic;">Live At The Paradise Garage</span> Disc 1</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTZuNnFFNkdWRDljR0E9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br />Wow, I killed Thanksgiving dinner, may have even eaten the plate in my gorging. Anyway, today is the day we give thanks for all that we have in life. I wanted to give thanks to all of my great readers, as you are the loves of my e-life. There's been an upswing in comments recently, which makes me so happy. I put comments right behind pastrami on rye on my top things in the world list, both of which are right behind sex and boobs.<br /><br />I also want to give thanks for disco for saving my life. I can't think of more perfect musical statement of joy and giving thanks than this <span style="font-weight: bold;">DJ set by Larry Levan at the legendary Paradise Garage</span>. Throw this one on at some point this weekend and think of all the people you love, all of the great things in your life and all that is still to come. This is the soundtrack to those thoughts.<br /><br />I've upped Disc 1 today for those who are newer readers. I promise to upload Disc 2 on Monday, as I had intended to do months ago. Celebrate! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9999039.post-72806824899990944062008-11-26T23:04:00.001-05:002008-11-26T23:16:52.122-05:00B Beat Girls - Hearts A Hurricane<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/12879761@N00/3062069878/" title="Eye of the Hurricane by Pound for Pound, on Flickr"><img style="width: 416px; height: 417px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/3062069878_d1545abd43_o.jpg" alt="Eye of the Hurricane" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/5188969792a7a4db/">B Beat Girls, "Hearts A Hurricane (Vocal)"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTZuc0w2a0Q4aU5FQlE9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><a href="http://www.zshare.net/audio/51889812d32cd710/"><br />B Beat Girls, "Hearts A Hurricane (Dub)"</a> (<a href="https://www.yousendit.com/download/TTZuc0wxaTFEa1h2Wmc9PQ">YSI link</a>)<br /><br />During the break, I've begun to dip my toe back into the hip-hop waters, although I still can't say I'm hearing much new stuff that interests me (get at me and let me know what I'm missing currently). However, my love for the early days has only gotten deeper, as I'm becoming obsessed with those late 70s/early 80s tunes when rap came into being. What's most exciting about is to hear the days when rap was so open to dance and electronic music, where it was trying to find its legs.<br /><br />This <span style="font-weight: bold;">B Beat Girls</span> track, <span style="font-weight: bold;">"Hearts A Hurricane,"</span> is a great example of this period, with the girls rapping over a classic electro instrumental complete with weirdo synths that give it that necessary futuristic sound. I really like the raps on this one, but it's the sung refrain that I love. Gives it a bit of a freestyle feel and makes things much catchier than you would expect. As always, you get the dub for those who favor less vocals. Yeah!Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11968928451572540646noreply@blogger.com1