Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Larry Levan Way: Paradise Garage Revisited


The famous logo!
"I Hear Music In The Street"

werking it
Yesterday was pure magic on King street as we celebrated Larry Levan's  spirit and legacy outside the building where the Paradise Garage and Levan reigned "king".  There was a petition to rename the street Larry Levan Way, a membership card photo booth where you could take a picture and also you could actually get a real membership card as a memento as well. Yes, I got mine! But it was all about the music, the people and dancing with Francois K and David De Pino doing their best to capture the spirit by playing some of the favorites that made this a place where music, dancing and freedom became one.  There was also a great performance by disco legend Jocelyn Brown belting out classics such as "I'm Caught Up", "Aint' No Mountain High", Someone Else's Guy", "It's Alright, I Feel It" and "Believe".


Jocelyn Brown giving some fierce disco to the masses
 There was also another great performance by Serious Intention's singer Anthony Malloy doing their seminal house classic "You Don't Know" as we all chanted along oh oh oh oh, oh oh oh oh...and a heartfelt  homage to the great Frankie Knuckles as we danced to "The Pressure". It was pure bliss, and as someone who's never got the chance to go to the actual party, it was as close as I could get to and kept wishing those garage doors would open and walk up on that famous ramp with it's blinking floor lights while hearing that thumping base getting closer and closer. I'm sure I wasn't the only one with that wish, maybe one day a part of that dream will come true. Who knows.  One thing for sure, we definitely felt Levan was watching over us.  Here are a couple of songs that captured some of that feeling. "Call Me" by Skyy and Serious Intention's "You Don't Know". Enjoy

Paradise Garage street dancing



Anthony Malloy performing "You Don't Know"


photo booth membership card

Saturday, May 10, 2014

This is Acid At The Strand of Nightmares



This is a twisted take on Maurice's anthemic house classic "This Is Acid" with Tangerine Dream's haunting "Mysterious Semblance At the Strand Of Nightmares". Enjoy!

The Shades Of Love: Keep in Touch (Body To Body)


Warming up for tomorrow's Larry Levan event on King St. with the original 1982 version of Shades of Love's Keep in Touch (Body to Body).  The song was an instant classic at Paradise Garage with Melisa Morgan on vocals.  The remake in 1995 which became hugely popular on the dance floors but nothing compares to the smoothness and beauty of Patrick Adams and Lonnie Johnson's production.  Enjoy!



Sunday, May 4, 2014

Forever More


Recently I have been tirelessly listening to this amazing dance track "Forever More" from Moloko. The song was released in 2003 from their last album Statues.  Moloko was the duo consisting of Mark Brydon and Irish dance music vocalist Roisin Murphy sprouting some incredible eclectic music encompassing a freewheeling mix of dance, pop and rock from 1995 through 2003. Their song "Sing It Back" is indisputably one of the must endearing of club anthems. This album reflected their break up both as a couple and music collaborators.  It has been a little over ten years this was released and I must say that sounds is still amazing.  Here is the stunning acoustic version, the original heart pounding version and a great Balearic take on it. Oh and the Francois K and Eric Kupper take is stunning. Enjoy!