First Love - It's a Mystery to Me

Great boogie / soul track from 1982, a vintage year for many.

Ronnie Dyson - All Over Your Face

Only one of my favourite 80s disco (or is that boogie?) tracks of all time.

Keep Love Alive Mix - Summer of Love 2010

A bit late but its been a busy summer. Inspired amongst other things by the impending wedding of my little bro, here is a mix of lurve songs that takes you from the surprisingly good soft rock of ONJ and Fleetwood Mac into funky balearic beats through disco and ending on a jazzy tip, phew! Everyone a winner IMHO. Congratulations Chas and Emma! Here is the tracklisting:

1. Olivia Newton John - Love Song
2. Fleetwood Mac - Brown Eyes
3. Max Berlin's - Elle et Moi
4. Rob - Make it Fast, Make it Slow (Gerd edit)
5. Patti Austin - Body Language
6. Barbra Streisand - Promises
7. Tony Orlando - Don't Let Go
8. Demis Roussos - I Dig You
9. Main Ingredient - Everything Man
10. Henry Mancini - Love's Theme/TSOP
11. FBI - Talking About Love
12. Benitez - We Are The One

Visual - The Music Got Me

Electronic dance music perfection from 1983. A monstrous, murky bassline and fizzing hats support a typically "Garage" sounding vocal. Produced by Boyd Jarvis and Timmy Regisford, both still making great music today, and mixed by Tony Humphries with a mighty dub on the flip. Here is the vocal, a Keep Love Alive spin for, oh dear, more than 20 years now.

Sandy Mercer - Give Me Your Love

Funky boogie track with great drum breaks. Seem to remember the instrumental getting played by people like Trevor 'Madhatters' Nelson and Soul II Soul but the vocal is pretty cool.

Queen Samantha - Give Me Action

Another tip-off from Sean P, cheers mate!

Hydro Featuring Lorna - I'll Make Your Day Tonight

Bad boogie from 1979.

Eugene Record - Overdose of Joy

So they find this man, he's collapsed in the middle of the room. Robbery is quickly ruled out as the motive because "... on his arm he wears a watch, on his hand he wears a ring and ..." (the clincher) "... around his neck he wears a costly piece of jewellery". A doctor on the scene, sensing the presence of a lady, quickly announces a diagnosis ... yes, "This man is suffering from an overdose of joy". Pure, soulful genius.

David Keaton - Space Control

Keeping it electronic, cosmic and camp this one from David Keaton was released in France in 1983 and in the US on Roulette Records.

John Forde - Stardance

This release on Sidewalk records from 1977 seems to be prized for the tracks 'Woman' and 'Don't You You Know Who Did It?' (which is excellent). Both were apparently played by the 'father of comsic disco' Daniele Baldelli and his fans have payed big bucks for the record since. This is the third track on the EP and a lovely spacey disco groove it is too. Much easier to track down on a 7" and you get the bonus of some quite sexy options on sleeve art depending on which release you go for:

Italian ...


... or French?

Enjoy the music.

Travis Biggs - Fly Like An Eagle

The Steve Miller Band original of 'Fly Like An Eagle' is a top tune and needs no improvement, although jazz violinist Travis Biggs here takes it in a more funky, cosmic direction and it is a worthy excursion. If you dig this then check the rest of the album, which has been reissued by Soul Jazz, here . It contains a great version of Stevie Wonder's 'I Wish' and a killer groove called 'Tibetan Sirenity'. With thanks to Chas.

Kellee Patterson - I'm Gonna Love You (Just a Little More)

Sexy, funky soul version of the Barry White classic by the delectable Kellee Patterson from the album 'Kellee'



And for good measure another picture, a promo shot from the film 'Demolition Man' courtesy of The Bodega. "Oh baby, you're outta sight!"

Sound Dimension - Granny Scratch Scratch

Obscure funky reggae tunes were popular on the London boogie and rare groove scene in the mid 1980's and the big find was the monster 'Greedy G' on Studio One instrumentals album 'Better Dub'. Shortly afterwards came the discovery of this from the 'Roots Dub' album, recorded by Studio One house band Sound Dimension. Caned by Westwood, amongst others, on his radio show at the time.

Milton Wright - Keep It Up

Ooh ooh baby now, keep it up, keep it up ...

The Isley Brothers - Work To Do

A tune also recorded by Main Ingredient and The Average White Band. Brilliant, soulful lyrics for all working men of the world:

I'm taking care of business, woman can't you see
I gotta make it for you, and I gotta make it for me
Sometimes it may seem girl I'm neglecting you
I'd love to spend more time
But I got so many things to do

Oh I'm out here trying to make it, woman can't you see
It takes a lot of money to make it, let's talk truthfully
So keep your love light burning
And a little food hot in my plate
You might as well get used to me coming home a little late, oh

Ooh, I got work to do, I got work baby
I got a job, yeah I got work to do
I got work to do, everybody's got work to do

Deniece Williams - Cause You Love Me Baby

Two-step boogie favourite

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.

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

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