Tag: boogie

[Mix for NTS Radio] Getting Warmer Episode 25: Summer Disco Special I

My newest episode of Getting Warmer for NTS Radio is a mix of some of my favorite disco, funk, soul, boogie, and house. It’s meant for a day at the beach, a barbecue, or attempting to persuade your hydrophobic dog to swim in a creek with you. I hope you like it! You can download an mp3 version here.

Tracklist: 1. Soul II Soul – Back To Life (Acapella) 2. Taana Gardner – Heartbeat (Club Version) 3. Mtume – Love Lock 4. Brenda & The Big Dudes – Weekend Special 5. China Burton – You Don’t Care (About Our Love) 6. Greg Henderson – Dreamin’ 7. Double Vision – Clock On The Wall 8. Guardian Angel – Last Funk 9. Band Of Gold – Never Gonna Let You Go 10. Wish & Fonda Rae – Touch Me (All Night Long) 11. Dusty Springfield – Baby Blue 12. Stevie Wonder – Love Light In Flight 13. Pastor T.L. Barrett & The Youth For Christ Choir – Like A Ship (Without A Sail)

[Mix for NTS Radio] Getting Warmer Episode 21: French Disco Special

Here’s my latest episode of Getting Warmer for NTS Radio. This one is a French disco, funk, and synth pop special. I hope you like it! You can download an mp3 of the mix here.

Tracklist: 1. Judy Larsen – Gambling Man 2. Alec Mansion – Dans L’eau De Nice 3. Black Devil – One To Choose 4. Christopher Moore – What A Night 5. Lizzy Mercier Descloux – Funky Stuff 6. Cerrone – Give Me Love 7. Beckie Bell – Music Madness 8. Zoëlie – Lolo 9. Laurie Destal – Frivole De Nuit 10. Maryse Bonnet – Au Soleil 11. Isabelle Antena – Laying On The Sofa 12. Regrets – L’avion 13. The Manicures – Let This Feeling Carry On 14. Joëlle Ursull – Position Feeling 15. Chagrin D’Amour – Ciao Katmandou

Nkono Teles – Fiesta Dancin’, 198?

Guest post by Josh Permenter

Nkono Teles was a Cameroonian-born multi-instrumentalist and producer based in Nigeria. He worked under numerous pseudonyms on projects that spanned multiple genres, from disco and reggae, to work with huge artists like King Sunny Adé and Fela Kuti. Fiesta Dancin‘, his first solo record, stands alone as a superb African synth disco masterpiece, on which Teles was responsible for bass, drum machine, electric piano, organ, guitar, synth, lead vocals, production, and writing. Every song is bubblegum roller boogie perfection, guaranteed to fill any dance floor with irresistible electro joyfulness. A note that this really suffers on laptop speakers, so save it for better speakers or headphones please!

download

David Astri – Do It Right, 1983


Very mysterious record. The only release from Baltimore artist David Astri, and also the only release (I think) from PCM Records. Rereleased (I think) in 2014 on now-defunct Award Records, and not much information available about any of it.

This is essentially a boogie funk record, and for fans of the genre, it doesn’t get much better than “Get Down To It” and “Do It Right” (RIYL George Benson, RAH Band, etc.). The song that I immediately fell in love with, and has since wound up on an embarrassing number of mixes that I’ve made, is “Safe and Sound,” which sort of reads like a slow funk ballad, but between the inadvertently creepy lyrics delivered with saccharine little girl breathiness, the unexpected moments of warped dissonance, the impeccable percussion details, and the oddly muffled production, it’s unlike anything I’ve ever heard. The seven minute closer, “Dancing Digits,” is an ecstatic instrumental disco stomper, but with what sounds an awful lot like an acid house synth line riding on top. Oh, there’s also a five minute tropical steel drum interlude that sounds like it could score a ride at Disneyland. In a good way, sort of.
I really, really wish this record were 15 minutes longer. And speaking of, apparently there are four unreleased tracks floating around from these sessions–if anyone has them, I’d really love to hear, will bake you cookies, etc.


Marcos Valle – Marcos Valle, 1983


Guest post by Wesley P. Allard

Marcos Valle’s Marcos Valle is a quintessential example of Brazilian boogie. Valle began writing and recording this record following his return home to Rio in 1980 after an extended furlough in Los Angeles where he met future collaborator and legendary R&B and Soul composer, Leon Ware (whose talents are demonstrated on this album a number of times, namely on linear party tracks like “Dia D,” which he wrote and recorded). The record’s single, opening track “Estrelar,” was successfully marketed as “workout music” by Brazilian record label Som Livre, which contributes to the kitschy allure imposed by the dazzling album cover.

This album is cooling exotic bliss in a sonic form. It flows seamlessly from tracks like “Naturalmente” to “Viola Enluarada” like some hyper-evolved liquid hell-bent on making you relax in ecstasy. Mentally isolate any one slice of this album (e.g. the production, arranging, melody, etc.) and you’ll be hypnotized by shimmering rays of sonic pulchritude. Overall this album is a consistently funky piece of jazz-infused soul that doesn’t compromise its Latin roots, and it definitely invokes the same dancing proclivity attached to those roots. From gliding and skipping bass, to elegant samba standards like “Samba De Verao,” to the warm embrace of a Fender Rhodes, this album is nearly perfect and requires not a single press of the “skip” button…devour in its entirety!