It has been crazy hot in the city and I am inspired to post some tropical fare here. This is a song I recently discovered called "Samba Samba" by Elkin & Nelson. They are a pair of Colombian brothers who moved to Madrid during the mid '70s and started playing a couple of beat up acoustics in clubs around town. Their style was rougher and earthy than the typical acts of the time and they weren't afraid to cover Western radio tunes either. It quickly let to this self titled album produced by Juan Pardo (Los Brincos, Juan & Junior). Juan got them an electric keyboard player, a great' guitarist, dressed them into tight and androgynous glam outfits and allowed them to soar. With Infectious maracas and slick touches from the other studio musicians, they became popular among discos and DJ's during the mid '70s during the end of those sweaty summer nights of dancing. They also did a great version of "Light My Fire" on this LP.
A music blog filled with new discoveries, edits, mash-ups and general musical inspirations by DJ Glamjack, an artist and enthusiast of dance, disco, house and left field music based in Brooklyn, NY.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Disco Promenade Sentimentale by Glamjack
It has been a while since I have posted one my own re-works or mash-ups, so here is one my latest. The song is by one of my favorite current piano composers Vladimir Cosma's "Promenade Sentimentale". Vladimir, born in Bucharest, Romania is a French composer and conductor from a very prestigious lineage of musicians. He has composed several French film scores and to me this is one of his best from the great film Diva. It was while watching this film that I fell in love with his music and I never get tired of hearing this song! Why make a disco version out a brilliant song? Well, I was inspired by the fact that during the late '70s, disco music had reached such a peak and became so saturated that producers and performers wanted to cash in and began to make disco versions out of anything they get their hands on, from musicals, classical songs and/or anything else that had any historical or stylistic musical references. So here it is, "Promenade Sentimentale" done disco style. I used a break from Free Life's "Express Yourself". A song featured during my previous posing on Gospel Disco. Whether this is cheese or not, I hope you enjoy it!
Promenade Sentimentale (Glamjack Disco Version) - Vladimir Cosma
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Disco Spirituals
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12" Release "There Is Something Better" |
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New York Community Choir |
It is Sunday and I'm feeling disco gospel today so this is a tribute posting dedicated to the "Disco Spirituals". Can I get an Amen? First let me start with Free Life's amazing "There Is Something Better". Free Life were proteges of Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey. Bailey co-produced and co-wrote several of the songs from their self titled full length album in 1978. The follow up releases were 12" singles that bridged the gap between church and disco. "Dance Fantasy" released in 1979 was also seminal, although not necesarily a disco gospel, it shows the transition from disco to "dance" music by using more electronic sounds. "There is Something Better" was the b-side and it is a timeless "disco spiritual" that I personally never get tired of hearing. The next song is from the New York Community Choir's "I'll Keep a Light in My Window" which was actually a song also performed and released by Free Life on their self titled LP. Free Life's version of "I'll Keep a Light in My Window" was more R&B influenced. The Choir's version is full on disco gospel and for what I've heard, it brought the holy ghost to the clubs and it enraptured the dancers whenever they would hear it. Pioneered by Edwon Hawkins and Rance Allen, New York Community Choir made the brilliant move to fuse disco and soul/gospel at the height of the disco craze also with "Express Yourself". Last but not least, the timeless Paradise Garage classic "Stand On The Word" by the Celestial Choir. Originally recorded live at the First Baptist Church in Crown Heights, NYC, in 1982 and pressed only for the congregation, Walter Gibbosn (owner of Jus Born studios and a new born Christian a the time of the recording) acquired a copy and played it out at the 7th Ave. Rock and Soul shop where he worked. This was the place where most discerning DJs and soulful dance music aficionados picked up on this new sound, and it quickly became a Garage, Loft and Zanzibar club classic, championed by Larry Levan, David Mancuso and others. Later, Larry tweaked the original and made it his own and for what I've heard, Levan's version took the dancers on a spiritual journey of pure disco gospel bliss. Enjoy and praise the Lord disco style! Amen
There Is Something Better - Free Life
I'll Keep a Light on My Window - New York Community Choir
Stand On The Word (Larry Levan Mix) - Celestial Choir
Friday, July 23, 2010
Take Some Time Out
Happy Friday! Yesterday, I was going through my record collection and came across this great record and realized I did not mention Arnold Jarvis on a recent post I did about the male and soulful side of early house music which focused on Paris Brithledge's "Learn To Love" and his connection to DJ International. On that posting, I also mentioned other greats such as Robert Owens and Rocky Jones and completely forgot the most compelling one. Arnold Jarvis, who is now considered one of the premier voices in house music today. Like many singers, Jarvis received his initial exposure to music via gospel, which he performed as a teenager and that probably explains why his voice has the healing touch . His secular career began in 1987, when he recorded "Take Some Time Out" for the legendary Fourth Floor Label. This song made him an instant star on the dance music circuit and jump stared his career. He then joined forces with the legendary Frankie Knuckles and David Morales with house classics such as "And I Loved You" and "Tears". Arnold is still very much relevant in the dance music scene and releasing poignant, beautiful and lush dance songs such as "Inspiration" and "Special Kind Of Love". Dance songs that make you move but also transcend and speak volumes on the dance floor! Enjoy this amazing end of the week song!
Take Some Time Out (Original Version) - Arnold Jarvis - Creme Organization Label
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Ce Soir (Je Sens que tout peut m'arriver)
"Ce Soir (Je Sens que tout peut m'arriver)" according to google translator means "Tonight I am meaning that anything can happen". Ummm... I wonder....Anyhow, this is a song that I love very much by Adrienne Ste-Claire. She was part of the trio called Beauregard, Violetti & Ste-Claire also simply known as BVS. During the mid '70s this group titillated everyone with provocative titles such as "Orgasm", "Undo Your Blouse" and "Frenzy". Although it was obvious they were influenced by David Bowie and The Bee Gees, this trio made quite a stir in Europe and Canada with their musical style that was unique and unlike anything else at the time. Their first album, En Plein Orgasme (In Full Orgasm) is full of beautiful rock ballads, early disco and Glam in a style that is sensual and bitter at the same time. It was only launched in Quebec and France, featuring one of the most beautiful cover art ever seen for an album in Quebec. The photo is a result of the work of Daniel Poulin, and the mouth belongs to the comedian and actress Dolores McDonough. This cover art caused controversy at the time but ironically not about it's sensual nature but rather because of the fact that the record company CBS in Montreal released the rights and the same concept was used for a Wild Cherry LP cover that has become quite famous. This infuriated the members of the group, a lawsuit ensued and the group is no longer registered for CBS. I found this album at a Montreal record shop about four years ago. The clerk informed me that this is considered a total classic and it is a hard to find LP. This is an amazing record that informs the beginnings of Disco, funk and 70's rock with a French twist. This album also contains a fierce French version of LaBelle's "What Can You Do For Me"which I am planning on posting it in the near future. In the meantime enjoy "Ce Soir"!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Ma-Mo-Ah
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Sunday, July 18, 2010
Learn To Love
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Wednesday, July 14, 2010
A Straight Ahead
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Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Don Quichotte
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Sunday, July 11, 2010
Blend - A Glamjack Mix
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Here is the third mix from Dj Glamjack. It is simply called Blend. I was inspired on the idea of the blend between songs by using accapella intros which are always useful when introducing a new song during the mix. The mix begins with a very hilarious take on Chuck Rogers preachy house anthem "My House" which I found as the intro from a superb mix by Michael Mayer. Also it is important to note the fact that this mix contains a couple of excerpts from two other brilliant mixes I found on the music blog world. The first is one from a Tim Sweeney from his amazing Beats In Space blog and it includes an unknown song I believe is from Bunblebee Unlimited and the other is a mystery to me. Also, the other excerpt is from legendary British deejay Greg Wilson who does a very interesting take of Mann Friday's "Love Money, Love Heartache" and Chic's "I Want Your Love". Other stand outs are a Glamjack treatment of "Nervous Acid" by Bobby Konders. Enjoy!
Blend - A Glamjack Mix Track Listing
1. Intro- My House- Intro from a Michael Mayer Mix
2. Segue- Two songs from a Tim Sweeney Mix
3. Macho City - Steve Miller Band
4. New York City (Rub n Tug Remix) Beasty Boys
5. One Of These Nights (A Jimmy Michaels Mix)- The Eagles
6. As Long As You Love Me (Walter Gibbons Mix)-
True Example
7. Nervous Acid (House Rhythms) A Love & Happiness
Glamjack Treatment - Bobby Konders
8. Closer, Closer - Celi Bee
9. Love Money, Love Heartache (Greg Wilson Mix) -
Mann Friday
10. I Want You Love (Greg Wilson Mix) - Chic
11. I Don't Know If It's Right (Extended Disco Version) -
Evelyn "Champange" King
12. Pagliacci - Maynard Ferguson
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Slackness and Sax
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Saturday, July 3, 2010
One Of These Nights
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