Looking From A Hilltop

Here is a song that I haven't heard since 1985.  "Looking From A Hilltop" is undeniable one of my top 5 dance classic songs from the '80s.  Whenever I would hear this song which was usually mixed at the discos right after  Kraftwerk's "Music Nonstop", I would melt and become one with the song.  According to my friend Wikipedia, Section 25 was considered a post punk band when it formed in Blackpool, Lancashire in 1977 by  brothers Larry Cassidy (bass, vocals) and Vicent Cassidy (drums).  They were signed by Factory Records and initially produced by Ian Curtis and  Rob Gretton of Joy Division with their debut LP Always Now.   In 1983, joined by percussionist Lee Shallcorss, they gradually evolved a more electronic-dance direction, a process that culminated in the album From The Hip and the single featured here, released in 1984 and produced by Bernard Sumner of New Order featuring Angela Flowers  aka Angela Cassidy (vocals, keyboards) and Jenny Ross (vocals, keyboards).  Making this single their most popular song. They continued to record in 1988 with Love & Hate, then made a come back in 2007 with Part-Primitiv,  in 2009 with Nature + Degree and  in 2010 with Retrofit which featured some great remixes of their early work.   Sadly, Jenny Ross passed away in 2004 and recently founder member Larry Cassidy also passed away in  February of this year.  I truly enjoy listening and dancing to their music. There are several great mixes for this song around, however the Megamix version serves it right. Enjoy!

Looking From A Hilltop (Megamix) - Section 25 - Factory

Check out the video of Version 2 here. It features one the first cell phones. It was gigantic! Love It!

Soul Dracula

Here is a song that I have been wanting to post since starting this blog but rather waited and deemed more appropriate to post around this time of the year even though I feel this song could probably do well anytime of the year.  "Soul Dracula" by Hot Blood was officially released in the US in December of 1975 and was extremely popular at the Discos as a French import first.  Hot Blood was actually a German disco production that featured many notable Munich session players such as Keith Forsey, Gary Unwin and Pepe Solera.  This was a very mysterious release that made a huge impact around dancers and DJs during that time.  The production was superb and rather unique full of lush electronic effects.  Specially the chorus part with the bongo section added making this song a disco and kitsch classic.  This was released as a single but was featured in their full length LP appropriately titled Disco Dracula in 1977 which also included the singles, "Sex Me" and "Terror On The Dancefloor".   This a great song and the entire LP is a must have if wanting  to kick start the spirit of Halloween on the disco dance floor.  Enjoy

Soul Dracula - Hot Blood - Era

Magia Negra (Black Magic)

October month brings such a myriad of feelings and in the same case could be said in musical tastes.  In the spirit of all things dark here is a song called "Black Magic feat. Rebolledo" by an amazing outfit that I recently discovered called Superpitcher.  This a fairly recent release from their full length LP Kilimanjaro.  Superpitcher is the stage name of German producer Aksel Schaufler who is affiliated with Cologne's Kompakt music label.  Superpitcher made his firs appearance in 2000 with the song "Shadows".  In 2001, he contributed a track called "Tomorrow", "Heroin" and a cover of Brian Eno's "Baby's On Fire".   Also, Superpitcher and Michael Mayer have collaborated  under the pseudonym Supermayer and did a brilliant remix of Rufus Wainwright's "Tiergarden" that I highly recommend to give it a listen .  Black Magic comes from Kilimanjaro, the latest offering by this amazing young producer who is very well in touch with the origins of cosmic disco, 80's electronic and early tech house.  The entire album is engaging from start to finish.  This song is one of my favorites.  Enjoy!

Black Magic feat. Rebolledo (Original Mix) - Superpitcher - Kompakt

Running Away

Here is a song from the late '80s that I always enjoy listening.  Lately, I have been noticing a re-hash of a sort of post New Romantic/London preppy look in terms of fashion.  Naturally, I must imagine that some re-birth of this music that went along with this "look" should have new consideration as well.  Think Spandau Ballet, Haircut 100, The Style Council and Echo & The Bunnyman.  All great bands that deserve their own posting for their great contributions to dance music.  Recently, I posted a song by Fun Boy Three and it awoke renewed enthusiasm for this era of dance music.  The Colourfield was a British band formed in 1984 in Manchester by former Specials and Fun Boy Three front man Terry Hall with ex-Swingin Cats members Toby Lyons and Karl Shale.  "Running Away" was from their 1987 album Deception and it was remake by Sly & The Family Stone and here it gets the Arthur Baker treatment to stunning effects .   I vividly recalled hearing and dancing to this song for the first time at a great New Wave club in Baton Rouge called Xantus.  Enjoy!

Running Away (Arthur Baker Remix) - The Colourfield - Chrystalis

Motherland

It has been a  hectic beginning of a week so I will be brief with this posting.   Here is a song that I've been thinking about for the past few days.  "Motherland" by Tribal House featuring Pierre Salandy and Karen Bernod.  Released in 1990 this was an underground house favorite.  Produced by Wiston Jones, this club classic was co-written by Karen Bernod.  Karen is best known for her unique vocal harmonies and as a background singer for Chaka Khan, Erykah Badu, C&C Music Factory and D'Angelo.  This is no exception, with such catchy rhythms and deep pounding beats that evoke the spirit of Africa.  I just love it  when I hear Pierre's chant..."A-fri-ca...A A A A-fri-ca"...."Mama Africa" and I am there.  Are you there? Enjoy.

Motherland A-fri-ca (Freedom Mix) - Tribal House featuring Pierre Salandy and Karen Bernod - Pow Wow Records

Love Tempo

It has been a hectic week and did not get a chance to do any postings.  Here I am back with dance classic "Love Tempo" by Quando Quango.  This short lived British, Manchester based new wave and dance project, formed by The Hacienda DJ and Factory Records A&R man Mike Pickering, Hillengonda Rietveld and Reiner Rietveld brought a unique sound that influenced the underground music scenes in New York and Chicago in the 1980's.  Their first release was the "Go Exciting" twelve-inch single in 1982, and their last release of new music was the 1985 full length album Pigs & Battleships.  They are best known for "Love Tempo" which reached number four on the US Billboard Dance Chart, and "Atom Rock".  Their sound was the result of an eclectic mix of Latin, jazz, reggae and disco, all in pioneering New Wave context.  Hillegonda Rietveld said, describing the group's music, "...Fela Kuti meets Kraftwerk somewhere between Manchester and Rotterdam, part of a new wave of post-punk electronica, with a whole lot of Mike Pickering's admirably broad knowledge of soul, disco, reggae and pop to stuff the gaps".  Bernard Summer of Joy Division and New Order, who produced early Quando Quango recordings, was a major influence on the group also and you can actually witness this episode on the 2002 film 24 Hour Party People which managed to capture this period in music succesfully.  The group was originally formed in Rotterdam, The Netherlands in 1980 and after they released of Pigs & Battleships, they went on to collaborate with other acts such as Spasmodique,  A Certain Ratio's  Simon Toppin, Lisa Stansfield and M People under Pickering's tutelage.  This song was later included on the Disco Not Disco compilations albums. It is time for "Love Tempo" and hope you enjoy it!

Love Tempo (12" Extended Mix) - Love Tempo - Factory Records

Love So Special

Last night I went to Body & Soul held at Webster Hall and it was incredible.  Legendary trio Joaquin "Joe" Clausell, Francois K and Danny Krivit turned it out by playing a well balanced set filled with amazing classics.  The sound system was top notch this time and it literally blew my mind. The crowd was beautiful and positive. The song that kick started me was Mission Control's "Outta Limit". I haven't heard this song on a big sound system in ages and it was an incredible experience.  Other highlights were Sharon Brown's fierce "I Specialize In Love" and Ceybil's "Love So Special" featured here.   "Love So Special" is one of those passionate, timeless, and fluid house songs that always brings the house down and last night was no exception.  My body was sore from dancing by the end of the night but it was so worth it and "oohhh so special".  Enjoy!

Love So Special (Extended Original Underground Mix) - Ceybil - Atlantic



Love So Special (Tony's Funky Bass Mix) - Ceybil - Atlantic