Rhythm Of Love

It's time for Disco Monk to feature "Rhythm Of Love". This Paradise Classic was first heard in 1985 when Larry Levan dropped it and then released in 1988 on Pow Wow Records. I've always loved this song with such amazing build to a nice break and of course the great vocals featuring legendary DJ, producer, club promoter and remixer Johnny Dynell.  Born John Savas, he started his DJ career at the Mudd Club in 1980 and has been a major player since at many of NewYork nightclubs including Danceteria, The Pyramid Club, Club 57, Area, Boybar, The Tunnel, Twilo, Vinyl, The Roxy, The Limelight, The Palladium, Nells, Copacabana, Crobar and Mr. Black.  Currently he is the resident DJ at the Greenhouse every Sunday where you can hear his magic on the turntables.  I had the pleasure of hearing him play for the first time during the Jackie 60 years at Mother which he co-founded along with his wife downtown legend, writer and club promoter Chi Chi Valenti.  Dynell's first single "Jam Hot" has been remixed and sampled many times over the years with his signature rap ..."tank fly boss walk jam nitty gritty you're listening to the boy from the big bad city, this is Jam Hot, this is Jam Hot".   Dynell also recorded the Voguing anthem "Elements Of Vogue" which still sounds as fresh when it was released twenty years ago! "Jam Hot" was recently given new treatment by Tensnake, Peter Rauhofer, Mark Kamins and Elija Rudman reaching a new audience with this great song so here it is for you to enjoy!    

Rhythm Of Love - Johnny Dynell 

Jam Hot (Tensnake Remix) - Johnny Dynell

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

Disco Photography: Divine Grace

Grace Jones, Divine & Others at Studio 54

Oh Mary, Oh Mary

Oh Mary, our Most Beloved Lady

And it is to you and only you

That I owe my crackpot admiration, my divinity!

BUT I CAN ONLY PRAY SO HARD!

I can but only pray that the Holy Trinity will grant me

The necessary grace to combat the evil forces

That have reared their heads so often in our lives

Please, Mary! I only ask for what is rightfully mine!

I BESEECH THEE SHOW ME A SIGN!

GRANT ME MY WISHES!!

So that once again I will be able to believe...

To be Divine.

Divine's prayer from Mondo Trasho and edited by John Waters from his latest book Role Models

April Mix

April Mix - Dj Glamjack

A new mix has sprung!  Here is a mix inspired solely on the dancer. The dancer as the most important element in dance music.  They couldn't live without the other.  Musically, this eclectic mix has a very complex yet simple approach using a myriad of overlapping segments with some of unexpected twists.  I dug out some of old live vinyl mixes and experiments with acapellas over beats.    There are some nice retro tracks along with fairly recent ones that I am excited about such as the Sebastian Teller's disco orgy of "Cochon Ville", Jimmy Edgar's hard core "This Ones For The Children", Thomas Gandey's "The Organ Track" which is treated nicely by Maxxi Soundsystem and The Chromatics' beautifully haunting "Lady".  The new Chromatics LP is worth checking out by the way.  Happy Spring and Enjoy!

Track List

   1.  T. Rex  - Cosmic Dancer

   2.  Sebastien Teller - Cochon Ville

   3.  Celeda - The Underground (Acapella)

   4. Gino Soccio - Dancer

   5. Jimmy Edgar - This Ones For The Children

   6. Thomas Gandey - The Organ Track (Maxxi Soundsystem Dub)

   7. Classic Man - 5th Street Orchestration (Sweet Ambience Mix)

   8. Deep Space Orchestra - Dollar

   9. Deodato - Skyscraper

 10. Eddie C - Gimme Your Dub

 11. Instant Funk - No Stoppin' That Rockin' (Acapella)

 12. The Chromatics - Lady

 13. First Choice - The Player (Acapella Dub Beat Mix)

 14. Bumblebee Unlimited - Love Bug

 15  Dominatrix - The Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight

 16  Block 16 - Slow Hot Wind

 17. Common - Voices

 18. Delegation - Promise Of Love/Soul Tripping

April Mix by Jack Rivas on Mixcloud

Play The World

Happy Friday! Here is a song that I have been hearing quite a bit recently while venturing out to a dance events.   This is "Play The World" and was released in 1996 by Johnick which means both the names of Johnny De Mairo and Nicholas Pallermo Jr. joined together on the Henry Street Music Label.   De Mairo is a producer often known affectionately as "The Shark" but most notably Senior Director of A&R for Atlantic Records. He is responsible for some of the biggest dance hits pairing Todd Terry with Everything But The Girl kicking off a seminal partnership.   This mid '90's house tune sounds as fresh today with a nice balanced blend of disco and house all in one amazing foot stomping song. Enjoy

Play The World - Johnick

Your Love Is A Life Saver

Happy Easter! To commemorate the season here is a disco classic that is a clear testament of the love power from above.  Every time I hear this song if feels like a warm blanket over my soul.  Even though the song was probably written in reference to a loved one as in a romantic relationship, I always feel the song is transcendental with a strong spiritual message.  The song was released in 1980 produced and written by Rodney Brown and Willie Lester and mixed by Francois K with vocals by the stunning Gayle Adams.

Ms. Adams recorded two albums for one the most important dance-oriented record labels of all time Prelude.  "Love Fever" was Adams most successful single reaching number six on the US dance charts.  However, "Your Love.." is still bringing the dance floor to a frenzy every time is played during the legendary Body & Soul and 718 Session parties.

Your Love Is A Life Saver - Gayle Adams

Disco Photography

I Like What You're Doing To Me

Here is an early '80s disco classic that honestly haven't heard since my rolling skating years living in San Jose, Costa Rica!  So I would like to revisit this gem of a song that keeps 'doing it to me' to cure the mid week blues.  New Jersey's own Young & Company, also known as The Youngs whose siblings were Starleana Young of Slave/Aura/Deja fame.  Members included siblins William, Michael and Kenny Young on vocals, Jackie Thomas on guitar, Buddy Hank on Bass and Dave Reyes on drums.  "I Like What You're Doing To Me" was their biggest hit to date and the title of their only full LP they have released.  During the early to mid '80s their sound was typical of the post disco/funk/r&b that was popular at the time and were a favorite among the roller skating scene by releasing several great dance floor fillers such as "(Strutt Your Stuff) Sexy Lady", "Is It Good To You?", "Waiting On Your Love",  "I'm Too Cool" and "Such A Feeling".  Indisputably the one that makes me want to head back to the roller rink is "I Like What Your're Doing To Me". Oh how I loved those carefree days. Enjoy!

I Like What You're Doing To Me (Long Version) - Young and Company

Give It Up (The Age Of Rejection)

From now on Disco Monk will  be a dessert recipe blog so lets make a delicious Hungarian Chestnut Cake:

3/4 pound whole chestnuts, drained
1/2 cup of unsalted butter
4 tablespoons of dark rum
10 (1 ounce squares of bitter sweet chocolate, chopped
6 eggs
1/2 cup of white sugar
6 (1 ounce) squares bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon dark rum
8 marrons glaces (candied chestnuts)
1 cup heavy cream, chilled
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 tablespoon dark rum
3/4 cup chopped marrons glace (candied chestnuts)

Mix that all up in three sections one for baking, one for icing, eat it and dance the night away!

Give It Up (The Age Of Rejection) - Patti Labelle

April Fools!