Sunset People

 

Here is a new remix of Donna Summer's iconic "Sunset People". I've always loved this one and the instrumental parts are fantastic so I had to do something with and transform it. Enjoy

Disco Monk · Sunset P (Monk's Edit)

and here is the long version for the hardcores:

Disco Monk · Sunset P (Monk's Suite Remix)

Holidays are a coming

The holidays are almost here and this weekend I treated myself to the cinema. It's been quite some time I have ventured into the large screen. I went to see Call Me By Your Name. A beautiful coming of age love story set in north Italy during 1983. The movie unfolds beautiful and then grabs you by the balls towards the end and the soundtrack is just as gorgeous as the movie with songs from Sufjan Stevens, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Psychedelic Furs,  Giorgio Moroder and many more. But the one that was most appropriate was Bandolero's "Paris Latino".  A sweet Italo Disco dance classic. Here is an extended remix fresh out of the disco oven.  Please go see this amazing cinematic masterpiece by Italian director Luca Guadagnino and listen to the soundtrack. Enjoy!

Disco Cover Art: Bad Girls

Bad Girls LP - Japanese version

I'm starting a new series called Disco Cover Art. It will be devoted to interesting cover art and of course with a song to go along with it. Here is the first one from a Japanese version of the Bad Girls LP by Donna Summer.. The cover artwork has Ms. Summer in the role of a prostitute. Giorgio Moroder produced it and made an appearance on the inside of the gatefold sleeve as a prospective sex buyer approaching Ms. Summer. It was also produced by Pete Bellotte.  Here is the amazing throbbing "Lucky".  Enjoy!

Lucky - Donna Summer

Oscars: The Chase

Today it's Oscar night and here is an incredible disco song that earned Giorgio Moroder an Oscar. "The Chase" which was featured in 1978 movie Midnight Express. This  electronic instrumental was clearly labeled disco however it is a known fact that this song became the footprint for the hi-NRG genre of dance music. The song was arranged by Harold Faltemeyer under the leadership of Mr. Moroder. The song was aslo used for the NBA basketball season for that year and countless sports events. It was covered by Daft Punk during their live concerts and it has been sampled and covered to death as well. The group DuOuD did a great cover of it with Arab luths. 

Giorgio Moroder and Rachel Welch at the 1979 Oscars. 

The Chase - Giorgio Moroder

The Chase - DuOuD

I Feel Love

During 1978, the idea of a live disco album seemed almost laughable; that the album was by the crowned Queen of Disco, Donna Summer, whose studio creations were polished to a futuristic gloss never seen before by producer/writers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, seemed unheard of. The naysayers forgot, however, that Donna Summer possessed one of the finest voices not only in disco, but in all of pop music. The live portion of this tri-folded LP combines Summer classics with unexpected but excellent covers of standards like "The Way We Were," and a medley of "The Man I Love" and "I Got it Bad and That Ain't Good." The studio material includes Summer's theme to The Deep, "Deep Down Inside" and the sublime 17-minute version of "MacArthur Park Suite"  The entire LP was mostly recorded live at the Universal Amphitheater, Los Angeles, California. The band during this recording included: Donna Summer (vocals); Mike Warren, Peter Woodford (guitar); John Santulis (violin); Dick Spencer (alto saxophone); Don Menza (tenor saxophone); Joe Romano (baritone saxophone); Bobby Shew (trumpet); Bruce Paulson (trombone); Doug Livingston (keyboards); Sal Guglielmi (bass); Keith Forsey, Richard Edelman (drums, percussion). I truly enjoy listening occasionally to this live recording on vinyl from start to finish.  On that same year, disco and Hi-NRG pioneer Patrick Cowley created a 15:45 remix of "I Feel Love" which, despite not impressing Moroder, became a popular "underground classic" available only on acetate discs. The remix used loops, keeping the song's bass-line going for extended passages of overdubbed effects and synthesiser parts.In mid-1980, Cowley's mix was released with the title "I Feel Love / I Feel Megalove" and subtitle "The Patrick Cowley MegaMix", but only on a limited vinyl pressing by the DJ-only subscription service Disconet. Since this pressing was not available to the general public for commercial sale, it became highly sought after by collectors.In 1982 the mix was released on a commercially available 12" single in the UK market by Casablanca, backed with an 8-minute edited version. With this wider release, "I Feel Love" became a dance floor hit again, five years after its debut. A further-edited 7" single reached #21 on the UK singles chart.  Enjoy!

I Feel Love (Live Version) - Donna Summer

Giorgio Moroder's played his first live DJ set last night!

Last night the legendary Giorgio Moroder played his first DJ at Brooklyn's Output and here it is for your listening pleasure! Enjoy

Automatic Lover

It has been quite a long time and I actually wanted to post this song for Valentines Day however life duties keep me from doing Disco Monk.  Here is a song that I haven't shaken off since I first heard it a couple of months ago.  There is something quite kitschy yet sweet about this saccharine cosmic disco song by gutsy British singer Dee D. Jackson.  My friend Wiki tells me she started as a film producer in Munich, Germany and then moved into music working with legends such as Giorgio Moroder and Keith Forsey. Her first single was "Man of a Man"and it didn't do well.  Her next single however was "Automatic Lover" and it became a smash in countries like Argentina, Italy, France, Spain, Turkey and Japan.  Other songs from her debut album Cosmic Curves  such as"Red Flight", "Galaxy of Love", "Meteor Man" and "Cosmic Curves" did pretty well internationally.  She currently lives in Turin, Italy where she has a record company DDE Records, Ltd.  I'm loving this hot mess of a cosmic lady. Enjoy!

Automatic Lover (Original 12" Long Version) - Dee D Jackson

Disco Photography

"Dream team" : Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder

Sooner Or Later

Happy May! Here is a great song that speaks volumes about timing.  "Sooner Or Later" by by Kotey Extra Band featuring Chaz Jankel.  Released in 2007 this song is great of example of the Nu Disco rehash that has become all too popular nowadays.  This is a great collaboration between DJ and producer Stevie Kotey, legendary Chaz Jankel and David Barbarossa who was the drummer of the early '80s band Bow Bow Bow.  This trio concocted a great version of Giorgio Moroder's classic. Chaz Jankel  is best known as the guitarist and keyboard player with Ian Dury and the Blockheads.  Jankel and Dury has collaborated on dance classic such as "Glad To Know You" and "Spasticus Autisticus".  Later Quincy Jones had a hit with Jankel's version of "Ai No Corrida".  Also "Number One" was well received on the dance floors in 1983.  I'm loving the uplifting and speed up treatment of the original by Moroder so I'm including both for your enjoyment.

Sooner Or Later - Kotey Extra Band feat. Chaz Jankel

Sooner Or Later - Giorgio Moroder

Be Yourself

Easter break is ovah! Back to school and to end it on high note here is the 1999 club classic "Be Yourself" by Celeda.  The song was written, produced, keyboarded and drum programmed by the legendary Danny Tenaglia.  Ms. Celeda is a Chicago native whose contribution to the dance music world has been unparalleled.  She has empowered the dance floors for almost two decades with her voice and flawless productions.  Need I say that collaborating with Mr. Tenaglia was a match made in club heaven.  They were the Giorgio Moroder and Donna Summer of the '90s! They made brilliant, flawless and heart stopping dance music that literally took you on a journey of 'sounds and beats' with all their tracks now considered classics.  I remember being in dance rapture when Tenaglia dropped this song for the first time during his residency at club Vinyl during the late '90s.   Today I was bike ridding over the West Side Piers right by the old site of The Tunnel  and was spooked (in a good way) when listening to this song bookending a great podcast by Neal Schtumm (listen here) .  I was surprised how timeless and brilliantly redeeming this song still remains.  So here it is children in its full glory and don't forget to always "be yourself and no one else"....Enjoy!

Site of The Tunnel club, NY
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Be Yourself (and No One Else) - Celeda

Autumn Changes

This love of ours is gradually fading
something is wrong, or somebody's faking

Autumn changes
shifting phases
autumn changes
turning stages
surely something can help to patch it up

Too many nights sitting here waiting
too many days hoping and praying

Something inside seems to be dying
most of the time I just feel like crying

Autumn changes
shifting phases
autumn changes
turning stages
surely something can help to patch it up

Oh yes we can, sure we can
sure we can, sure we can

Autumn changes
shifting phases
autumn changes
turning stages
surely something can help to patch it up

Oh, yes we can, sure we can
sure we can, sure we can 

I had to post the lyrics on this one since I have been thinking of posting this wonderful song by disco legend Donna Summer for quite a while and couldn't find the appropriate time.  Until now! This is side two of the classic 1977 Giorgio Moroder production of Seasons of Love.  A concept album that explores a love affair through out four seasons.  "Spring Affair" was the one that became most popular but I'm loving the Caribbean feel of "Autumn Changes" here and not to mention the slow dance part of "Winter Melody" and then coming full circle with a reprise of "Spring Affair". Simply a disco classic that couldn't be more timely and timeless.  Here is "Autumn Changes"Enjoy!

Autumn Changes - Donna Summer

You Can

Happy Saturday! It has been quite a while since the last post.  Here is some good early '80s cheese by fabulous Swedish chanteuse Madleen Kane.  Ms. Kane was a former Elite fashion model from the ages 17 to 19 and was published on several Playboy magazine issues. She was discovered by J.C. Friederich who was owner of Boona Music productions and became a hot singing commodity with her debut released titled Rough Diamond in 1978 which took off like fire in the US and abroad.  She then released Cheri in 1979 solidifying her career as a Disco performer.  Cheri featured the dramatic disco number "Forbidden Love" with it's breakdown "Fire in My Heart" and Secret Love Affair" giving her another hit, which ran for over 15 minutes. The ballad "You and I", has become a wedding day favorite in Canada.     "You Can"  was the lead single from her 1981 LP titled  Don't Wanna Loose You which was produced by legendary Giorgio Moroder and has a "Flashdance-esque" flair.   Ms. Kane retired from the music business in the mid '80s.  In 1994, 12 Inches and More was her final release.   I'm loving the uplifting nature and cheese factor of "You Can".  Enjoy!

You Can (12" Version) - Madleen Kane

March Mix

"Beware of the idles of March"...It's hard not to escape that thought as I write this post with all the insanity that has happened this month.  Starting on a positive side with the peaceful culmination of the Egyptian uprising then the earthquake, tsunami  and nuclear tragedy in Japan and now another war in the Middle East in  Libya.   All having major global implications impacting humanity on so many deeper levels.  With all of that said as the world mourns,  I  was inclined to make a mix that reflects hope, love, freedom and redemption amidst tragedy and death.    The March Mix features a healthy dose of Jazz, soul, gospel,  disco, house and a nice emphasis on some great Japanese acts that I felt right for this mix.
The emphasis here is of hope, freedom, rebirth and a bit of escape during this hard times.  Enjoy!

March Mix - Dj Glamjack



Playlist

 1.  Yann Tomita - Love In Gas Music

  2.  Gerardo Frisina - Mile E Una Notte

  3.  The Emotions  -  Flowers

  4.  Giorgio Moroder - Oh L'Amour

  5.  PYG - Flower Sun Rain

  6.  Babatunde Olatunji - Mesai (Intro)

  7.  Webster Lewis - Do You Belive (Alt. Version)

  8.  Steffi - Moving Lips (The House of Glamjack Treatment)

  9.  Crue-L Grand Orchestra - Psycho Piano (Prins Thomas Diskomiks)

 10. Richie Rich - Salsa House

 11. Cornelious - Brazil

 12. Destroyer - Chinatown

I Want To Rock With You

I have been away this whole weekend upstate communing with nature and there is nothing better than to re-energize at the site of trees and breathe the mountain air.  Recently I posted a picture titled "Artist in his studio" from this legendary and one of my favorite '70s producer, songwriter and performer Italian native Giorgio Moroder, who is credited to bring synthesizers to the front with his significant influence on New Wave, house, techno and electronic music.   Giorgio founded the former Musicland Studios in Munich. Well known for his work with the legendary Donna Summer with  the groundbreaking disco songs  "Love to Love You Baby" and the pulsating "I Feel Love" revolutionizing dance music.   He has worked with The Three Degrees, Sparks, David Bowie, Irene Cara, Madleen Kane, Melissa Manchester, Blondie, Japan and France Joli.   Mr. Moroder did some ground breaking film scores as well.  The theme from the film Midnight Express "Chase" won him an Academy Award for best film score in 1978.   Here is a wonderful song called "I Want To Rock With You" featured from his 1979 classic LP E=MC2.  The text on the album's cover stated that is was the "first electronic live-to-digital album".   He has also released  three albums between 1977-1979 under the name Munich Machine.  During the '80s Moroder worked with Philip Oakey of The Human League releasing "Together in Electric Dreams" and created the score for the film Top Gun.  Also, in 1984  he compiled a new restoration and edit of the famous silent film Metropolis and provided a contemporary soundtrack to the film known as the "Moroder version".  In 1997, Moroder reunited with Donna Summer and won the Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording for the song "Carry On".

I Want To Rock With You - Giorgio Moroder

Trouble Maker

I am ashamed to admit I had just discovered this amazing disco diva recently but it's never too late and what makes this more exiting than to keep discovering more disco brilliance.  Trouble Maker is an incredible LP.   It was produced by the team who transformed Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte.  Like Summer (who contributes backgrounds here) Kelly is an American (from Los Angeles) who was living in Germany and  had some level of success there before the States.  "Trouble Maker" at 8:48 wasn't quite the tour de force "Love To Love You Baby" was back then, it more than made up for what it lacks in minutes an seconds with an incredible, smoothly soaring drive and grace.  The song combines the spirit of '60s girl group nastiness ("Trouble maker, stop spreadin' all those bad lies/Trouble maker, 'cause you ain't gettin' my guy") with the delicious violin-laced production that became the trademark of German-made disco music.  The singing is vibrant, the break is superb and full of pounding drums and the overall affect is overwhelming in the best sense.  When Vince Aletti first heard of Roberta Kelly he wrote: "Flawless" is an overused word on the New York disco scene, but it's the right word here.  There are four other cuts on the Kelly album, three of them over six minutes,  two of them excellent disco material: 'Love Power' and 'The Family'.  Enjoy!

Trouble Maker - Roberta Kelly - Oasis