Exodus - Together Forever (Dub)

Vocals, drums, bass and piano riffs that comprise the roots of house, sampled by many.

Brooklyn Express - You Need A Change Of Mind

Underground disco from New York production legends Began Cekic and Fredd Zarr. A version of the Eddie Kendricks classic that works the breakdown of the original into a sexy, soulful boogie monster.

Jimmy Castor Bunch - It's Just Begun

Original 7" version of the legendary breakdancers' favourite from Jimmy Castor.

Simonsound - It's Just Begun

Anyone willing and able to record such a bonkers but brilliant cover of this b-boy classic deserves your support. Buy this record now!

Rome Jefferies - Good Love

It seems like this one was rare from the moment it came out. A funky, electronic slice of soul that was popular with London boogie boys of the mid-eighties and played by Tim Westwood on his LWR show. The original vinyl still fetches bucks and rightly so, it's a classic and you can grab it here

Mad Props For Tim Westwood

Tim Westwood is a comic figure to many, occasionally a controversial one, but as a DJ on the London pirate station LWR he was the man that introduced me to loads of great music. Known for it's hip hop exclusives, Westwood's radio show was also the source of many great funk and boogie discoveries for me. Here is a surprisingly soulful list of my top 10 Westwood tunes from those days. I remembered where I heard it first Tim ... respect!

Rome Jefferies - Good Love
Dee Dee Bridgewater - Lonely Disco Dancer
Cloud One - Patti Duke
Deniece Wiliams - Cause You Love Me Baby
Brooklyn Express - You Need A Change Of Mind
Barbara Mitchell - Never Had A Love
Sound Dimension - Granny Scratch Scratch
Jermaine Jackson - You Like Me Don't You
Ciara - Goodies
Billie - Ain't Nobody's Business

Jackson Five - I Am Love

Great tune by the funkiest family on wax

Keep Love Alive Mix - Freaky Strangeness

A mostly electronic mix from 2005 containing the obligatory Henrik Schwarz selection and Guido Schneider but then there's also some UB40, Lalomie Washburn and a pretty mad dubstep track thrown in. Grab it here

Henrik Schwarz - Producer of the Decade?

Henrik started 2009 in style with his Sunburst Band remix and in my mind he has been the most consistently interesting music producer around for the last few years. The sound is classic, warm and organic with great house riffs, live sounding bass and plenty of jazzy touches, but weird and wonky electronic sounds always keep the music feeling fresh and futuristic. I'll post some of my past mixes which are chock full of Henrik tracks and remixes but for now, here's my Henrik Top 5 from 2005-8

Alton Miller - Clouds Are Gone (HS remix) - wow, epic!
Henrik Schwarz - Welcome to Sunday Music - classic house piano
Henrik Schwarz - Leave My Head Alone Brain - funky, also nicely remixed by Osunlade
Henrik Schwarz - I Exist Because of You
Mark Murphy - Love is What Stays (HS remix)

Message to Henrik - keep up the good work sir!

Check out his MySpace

Sunburst Band - Man of War (Henrik Schwarz Remix)

Brand new, sounding so good, so CLASSIC get it here

Moton Records - Give It Up

Essential new release from Diesel and Dave Jarvis, I think 'Give it Up' is an edit of this Hugh Masekela 12"



Buy it at Phonica now

Spirit Band - Keep Your Love Alive

A tip off from Sean P many years ago that partly inspired the name for this blog. It was also released with a remix by John Morales and Sergio Munzibal though here is the original.

Sean P - London Disco Don

While many of the tunes in the Keep Love Alive 12" Box of Love were personal discoveries, a big thanks must go to several inspirational music lovers who have turned me on to lots of great music over the years. First in line for massive thanks and respect from me is Sean P, who I first met in London in the mid-80's. He was working in a record shop in Walthamstow and I was looking for Leroy Burgess. His scholarly knowledge and enthusiasm has steered me in many interesting musical directions, for which I am very grateful.

Look out for some great tracks on this blog that came courtesy of Sean P, the London Disco Don, not pictured above.

Family Tree - Family Tree

What a tune! An 'unofficial', extended edit of an obscure disco 7" with Sharon Brown vocals (I think). I purchased this in NYC in the 80's and it has remained in my 12" Box of Love ever since.

"My mother, my father, my sister, my brother, everybody grow together"

Love to you all.