Help Is On The Way VS Act Like You Know

The Whatnauts: Help Is On The Way (1981)


Fat Larry's Band: Act Like You Know (1982)

This is obviously not the sole case of an established artist stealing a lesser known artist's composition, but it has always been one of the more fascinating ones to me. I guess it's because I really love both songs. The case has been frequently discussed over the years, but I've yet to hear anyone tell how things really went down back when the Fat Larry record dropped in 1982. Help Is On The Way had been a reasonably big club hit in it's own right, so some controversy must have arisen. If we have any old heads in here who might remember please enlighten us.

For an interesting case of a semi-unknown disco artist getting bitten by a totally obscure one see here.

2 x Ease Out

Mid Air is this much talked about, super dope and very hard to get 80's jam from Chicago that comes in two different versions. Most enthusiasts seem to prefer the original version, but I've had the remix since forever (thanks to this guy), and therefore kinda like it more, even if the sound quality isn't really all that. You decide for yourself.

Mid Air: Ease Out (Original Version)(1983)


Mid Air: Ease Out (Special Re-Mix)(1983)


And to my disco nerds out there: no, I don't have both pressings. The original appears courtesy of this fine compilation from a few years back. Highly recommended.

Classic Time #37

Delegation: Heartache No 9 (1980)

I love the production on this, especially the guitar still kills me every time. The lyrics are super cheesy, but just the right way. There's a slightly rougher mix out there as well, but I've yet to rip it.

She's So Divine

The Limit: She's So Divine (Long Version)(1982)

This might be one of the coolest records to ever come from Holland. The smooth pop vocals go well with the synth funk bassline and the whole thing's just right for a fine spring day like this... A few years later the dudes striked it big with this.

Btw, if anyone has Forrest's later version of the same song please hook us up.

Classic Time #30: Skip To My Lou

Sorry for my absence, I've been busy getting my act together after a severe HD crash. Anyway... here's a real 80's classic you might or might not remember, but will very likely recognize when you hear it. The top notch production is by former EW&F guitarist Al McKay.
Finis Henderson: Skip To My Lou (12" Mix)(1983)

Modern Soul & Boogie Bangers vol 2

I'm back home for a few days before flying out to Japan on Tuesday. Soul-Sami- one of my favorite Helsinki DJ's- just uploaded the second volume in his excellent mixtape series and even after blasting the CD for weeks back in May I just know this will keep me entertained for the plane ride...


Soul-Sami: Modern Soul & Boogie Bangers volume 2

Btw, readers out in Tokyo and Osaka feel free to holler via email (AnonymousHKI at gmail dot com), I was out there last year but any and all tips regarding clubs, record stores and whatnot are still more than welcome.

Boogie requests

A few songs from the Disco To Get Drunk To mixtape series I've been repeatedly requested, all three are huge personal faves as well.
R.B. Hudmon: Searching For Your Love (Instrumental)(198?)
Sass: Much Too Much (1982)
Vance & Suzzanne: I Can't Get Along Without You (Moxie Edit) (1980)
(DTGDT #4 had the instrumental version credited to the Apple Sauce band, this re-edit from 2004 combines the best of both versions.)

Now how cool is this cover?

Honestly, this is gotta be one of the freshest cover designs I've ever seen. The record ain't half bad either, actually it's a prime example of the Italian boogie sound of the era. For some reason the album remained pretty obscure even when Turn The Music On became an international hit in 1983.
This is my favorite track, though...

Orlando Johnson & Trance: Can't Break Loose (1983)

Classic Time #22

Kinky Foxx: So Different (1983)

I've had this 12" for at least five years, the artist name still makes me laugh everytime it's mentioned.

Plush & Harold Gill

Recycling melodies and rhythms has been going on forever, but blatantly taking someone's record and singing on top of that is something you might think just happens in hiphop and reggae. And that's exactly what my man Harold Gill did to Rene & Angela offshoot Plush back in 1983: he took their "Free And Easy" instrumental, rewrote the song and released "I Can Make You Party" on his own Sure Hit label.
I ain't mad, as both songs are incredible.

Plush: Free And Easy
Harold Gill: I Can Make You Party
EDIT: a new Plush file linked, the first one had some glitches towards the end.

American Nights Volume 4

Check out brand new volume 4 here. I just did and it's up there with the previous 3.

Roller Boogie 80's

Kenny Dope: Roller Boogie 80's
Very smooth mix of timeless classics. This was out on "limited edition" cd a few years back, maybe it actually was limited cause I haven't seen any for a minute now.

All Night Long-Mary Jane Girls
Don't Look Any Further-Dennis Edwards
Heartbeat-Taana Gardner
Funky Sensation-Gwen McRae
I Want To Thank You-Alicia Myers
Just A Touch of Love-Slave
Watching You-Slave
Inside Out-Odyssey
Walking into Sunshine-Central Line
Mama Used To Say-Junior
Over Like A Fat Rat-Fonda Rae
Come Let Me Love You-Janet Lady Day
I Like What You Doin' To Me-Young & Co.
Rock Your World-Weeks & Co.
Search To Find The One-Unlimited Touch
I'll Do Anything-Denroy Morgan
I Hear Music In the Streets-Unlimited Touch
A Little Bit Of Jazz-Nick Striker

This post is dedicated to AKB out in BA.

American Nights

My man Joshua Dunn (aka Fox 50) from Detroit, whom I haden't heard from in a year or so, just emailed me about three new mixes up on his Podomatic page. His old mixes used to be road trip staples for me and turned out the American Nights are just as good or even better. The selection is a classy blend of early 80's electro-funk, electro-pop and boogie, with only a handful of songs I was familiar with. Highly recommended to everybody who enjoyed The Disco Opera below or the more electronic passages of my Disco To Get Drunk To series. Listen and download here!

100 posts and counting...

I just noticed I have full 100 posts on this here thing, actually 105 already. Inititally I thought of posting 100 songs to celebrate it, but soon realized the ridiculous amount of time it would take. Therefore, in my attempt to say thank you to all of ya'll, here's 10 disco & boogie classics you need in your life.

Cloud One: Patty Duke (Extended Intro)
Slave: Watching You
Denise LaSalle: I'm So Hot
Universal Robot Band: Barely Breaking Even
Stevie Wonder: All I Do (12" Version)
Johnson Productions: Johnson Jumping
Junior Giscombe: Hot Up And Heated
Take Three: Tonight's The Night
Exodus: Together Forever
Brainstorm: We're On Our Way Home (Parts 1 & 2)

Edit:
I'll have to add this
Al Hudson & The Soul Partners: Spread Love

Marcia Maria

Amigo Branco by Marcia Maria is possibly my favorite Brazilian song ever. I first heard it in Stockholm circa 2002 when local DJ legend Mad Mats played it at Raw Fusion. I had to find out what it was right away, but locating the 12" took me a while. The song was compiled on the first volume of the Via Brasil series, but those are long gone and I don't think it's currently available in any form. Pictured above is the Brazilian 45 from 1978.

Classic Time #12

One of the ultimate 80's soul jams, produced by prolific Philly producer/songwriter Allen Felder but only ever released in Canada.

Hipnotic: Are You Lonely?

2 Edits

Here's two edits I did this morning. Both songs are from the mid 80's and although somewhat obscure they still have that classy club R&B sound of the era. You just gotta love it.
Shout outs to my man Soul-Sami who hooked me up with both of these.

Kee: You Turn Me Out (Anonymous Edit)
Timeless Legend: You're The One (Anonymous Edit)