The first of two disco burners I'm planning to throw on today, this out-of-print track from master percussionist Paulinho da Costa's 1979 album Happy People has a Brazilian flair to it (I mean, probably because Paulinho is from Brazil, right?). He is one of the most revered, sought-after and recorded percussionists anywhere. Take a look at this list -- what else is there to say except RESPECT.
Paulinho da Costa - Deja Vu
In 1979, "No One Gets The Prize" was the lead-off track on Diana Ross' 9th solo album The Boss. The track also appeared on a Motown 12" mix that same year with the song being hard-edited into "The Boss". Produced by Ashford & Simpson, it has remained an underground dancefloor anthem and a precursor to house music. This terrific re-edit by Jamie Bull speaks for itself.
Diana Ross - No One Gets The Prize (Jamie Bull Re-edit) by jamiebull
A breakdance classic, this got played on K-97 in Memphis *ALL* the time when I was growing up. If you don't have it already, well -- now you do.
Twilight 22 - "Electric Kingdom (Extended Version)"
Well how are you doing, my brethren? Some of you already know I've been battling a series of health problems the last few months which have kept me from updating regularly. What can I say, I got a bit unlucky on the health front.
But enough about me, let's talk about a major day in the world of funk freakitude: today marks the reissue of Betty Davis's oft-bootlegged 1975 funk gem Nasty Gal alongside her previously-unreleased phantasm of funk, Is It Love or Desire?. Nasty Gal is an essential funk recording, once only traded as an 8th ...
I'm short on words this week since I've been spending much of it updating & changing back-end things on the site. Thankfully, I had Steve Winwood's seminal 1981 album Arc of a Diver on hand to keep me focused, and in particular this song -- "Night Train" -- which, if memory serves me, actually appeared on a 1978 release of his and resurfaced here a couple of years later. Of course, the album was a huge hit, as was the single "While You See A Chance", another song of his that I can never get enough of. ...
Both this video and the song itself offer a really powerful look at commonly adopted stereotypes associated with young black men. It's a bit dated in some respects, but there is an eerie omnipresence about the messages it contains. Sometimes it's good to wonder just how far we've really come.
With regards to the music, Living Colour's Vernon Reid remains one of the most impressive and skillful guitarists ever to adopt the instrument. Behind the breakbeats, you can find evidence of his mastery all through this song.
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