Disco Photography

Diana Ross boogies her way into 1978 at Studio 54

Fly Life and a Happy New Year

Last day of 2014! It has been a great year with some ups and downs but for the most part a great one.  I decided not to do the best of 2014 this year so instead I pretty much will leave you with an amazing 1997 British House anthem "Fly Life" by Brixton's own Basement Jaxx which brings back memories of celebrating New Years at Twilo.   Basement Jaxx was named after a club night they created there  in during the late '80s  and it consist of  Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe, these guys have now become pioneers of the whole British House movement which is making formidable resurgence recently by some recent releases and re-works. Here is the original and the sublime  "Fly Life Extra" which is always perfect for a big room event. Wishing you all Disco Monks a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. Here is to 2015! Enjoy

Fly Life (Original) - Basement Jaxx

Winter Melody: Missing Donna

Here is some sweet Donna Summer to warm you up during the cold winter nights! I'm missing this lady around this time of year.  Wishing everyone a very joyous and happy of holidays filled with kindness and peace. Much love!

Disco Monk/Dj Glamjack

Winter Melody - Donna Summer

Disco TV: 1990 South Bank Show with Vivienne Westwood Part 1 & 2 and Bow Wow Wow

Here is a very intriguing world where music, art and fashion meet.  Vivienne Westwood,  a true genius and my favorite designers of all times! Learn it/Live it because no ones like that anymore!

 I could listen to her forever! Brilliant!

 

and here is the amazing video by Bow Wow Wow! Enjoy

C30, C60, C90 Go - Bow Wow Wow

The enduring brilliance of Chicago House: Shake Your Body

Here are two versions of a huge house classic "Shake Your Body" by Jeanette "JT" Thomas to get your Saturday groove going. It was produced and mixed by legendary Mitchbal at Time Zone Studio in Chicago.  This song pretty much epitomizes the brilliance of Chicago house music.   I'm including Timmy Regisford's daring edit as well. It is a slightly different take than the originally, longer with heavier bass breaks and some nice conga riffs sprinkled to heighten the vibe.  Nothing beats the original but it still holds up pretty well and still sounds daringly amazing to this day! Enjoy

Shake Your Body (House Shake Version) - Jeanette "JT" Thomas

Shake Your Body (Timmy Regisford Edit) - Jeanette "JT" Thomas

Disco Photography: Chic Men

Nile Rogers, Tony Thompson, Bernard Edwards

Here is a beautiful photo of the men of Chic and a great song to go along with it! Hope everyone had a happy holiday this weekend. Enjoy

My Forbidden Lover (12" Mix) - Chic

Disco Photography: Divas to the dance floor please!

Happy Sunday. Here is the break from house and voguing classic "In The Mix" by Mix Masters from DJ International channeling back the days of nyc's Sound Factory circa 1990 with DJ Junior Vazquez! Enjoy!

Derrick Magnifique, 1989

In The Mix - Mixmasters

A Glamjack Presure Cooker Mashup

New remix hot off the press! Here is crazy mashup using one Brazil's most beloved songs "Manhã de Carnaval" featured on one of my favorite Brazilian films Black Orpheus with DIII's insane house anthem "Pressure Cooker".
Enjoy!

Paying homage to the great Arthur Russell

Recently released, this amazing compilation celebrating the legacy and work of one of the greats of dance, experimental, classical and folk, Arthur Russell delivered by the Red Hot Organization, a not for profit international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture. This offering titled Master Mix: Red Hot + Arthur Russell is a very nice hefty catalogue consisting of 26 well crafted re-interpretations, interludes and covers ranging from Hot Chip, Robyn, Sufjan Stevens, Scissor Sisters and Davendra Banhart to name a few showcasing the genius, depth and prolific nature of his music which is still clearly showing some rippling effects in today's music. Standouts are Jose Gonzale's interpretation of "This is How We Walk The Moon" and Blood Orange's seamless mash-up of "It's All Over Your Face and Tower Of Meaning".  Honorable mention goes to Hot Chip's cover of  dance classic"Go Bang" which manages to capture the fun and weirdness of the original. There are a few near misses but for the most part is well edited with some interesting takes making this a must have for fans of Arthur Russell.  Enjoy!

It's All Over Your Face and Tower of Meaning - Blood Orange

This is How We Walk The Moon - Jose Gonzalez

Disco TV: Check out this amazing new instrument!

This acoustic instrument creates sounds like a digital synthesizer!



The Yabahar is a new acoustic instrument designed by Istanbul based musician Gorkem Sen. The Yabahar can be played many different ways using mallets or with a bow with a combination of two drum like membranes, long springs and a tall fretted neck to create beautiful music. You  can find out more via The Creators Project. Enjoy

Disco Photography: Madonna and Jellybean

Happy Birthday HMD!

 The fabulous Horse Meat Disco DJ collective comprised of James Hillard, Jam Stanton, Luke Howard and Severino Panzetta turned 11 yesterday with a bang. I got to witness their magic at Output with Luke Howard manning the turntables while the other celebration took hold at the Eagle in London. It was a nice affair full of disco magic with thumping cosmic madness and some rare rhythm & blues gospel infused disco.  I had an amazing time dancing until the early hours with my dear friend Matthew Reynolds who was visiting from Houston, Texas.  Here is Whirpool Productions "From Disco to Disco" which sums up the experience. Enjoy and congratulations HMD for eleven years of disco bliss!

 From Disco to Disco (Original Version)  - Whirpool Productions 

a player, a sunshine and Greta

Here is a new mix of some of my recent favorites of now, '80s synth and post punk, '80's Chicago House, Disco, '60's and some latin rarities. It includes wide eclectic mix of some recent vinyl acquisitions as previously promised on a previous posting. Oh and there are a lot of acapellas and spoken word for added effects by the likes of Greta Garbo, Rockers Revenge and Instant Funk. Enjoy!

Track List:

Clarian - Ma Shiva with Greta (Invisible Conga People Remix)

Willie Colon/Ruben Blades - Maria Lionza

Terre Thaemlitz - Raw Through A Straw

Bow Bow Bow - I Want Candy

E.O. Crew - Love Turntable

Caribou - Our Love

Chicago House Lab - House Nation

Lil Louis & The World - It's The Only Thing

Keisza - Hideaway

Rene And His Pachanga Orchestra - Lola Catula

Visage - We Move (Dance Mix)

Zero 7 - Own My Own

The Orb - Little Fluffy Clouds (Cumulonimbus Mix)

Big Audio Dynamite- Badrock City

First Choice - The Player (Acapella Dub Beat Mix)

Culue De Song - No Contest (Culoe Guitar Edit)

Richard Harris - MacArthu Park

A player, a sunshine and Greta by Dj Glamjack on Mixcloud

RIP Bob Crewe

RIP Bob Crewe.  A few years ago I did a posting on Bob Crewe's epic disco classic "Street Talk" and another posting on the Four Seasons "Who Loves You". All produced by him.  Recently, most people think of him as a character in and the lyricist of the Tony winning Broadway hit, Jersey Boys. Crewe along with Bob Gaudio build the career of the Four Seasons, wrote such timeless songs such as "Sherry", "Big Girls Don't Cry", "Rag Doll" and "Walk Like a Man" which were all fronted by the Fours Season's Frankie Valli.  27 of his songs climbed to over #30 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.  Thank you for all the amazing music you created. Your legacy will live on forever! Here is  "Hollywood Hot" by The Eleventh Hour, another amazing production from this amazing man!

Hollywood Hot - The Eleventh Hour

Related postings: Who Loves You, Street Talk

New additions to the collection

Mix Coming soon!

Rene and his Pachanga Orchestra

Erotic Drum Machine

Big Audio Dynamite

Visage

Garbo

Psychedelic Furs

Willie Color & Ruben Blades

Boby O

Various

    Bow Wow Wow

Get Here (Glamjack Fighting The Feeling Remix)

Here is a twisted remix of Oleta Adams classic soul hit "Get Here". Enjoy!

Sidewalk Talk: The Terra Perma Experience

I was in Canada this past week to be one with nature and re-connect with some dear friends of mine that are close to my heart. I went to visit Terra Perma which is located two hours north of Montreal. It's a beautiful growing residential and eco entrepreneur permaculture community in the heart of the Laourentians, located in the Mont-Tremblant region. There are 800 beautiful acres of land set to be preserved and promote sustainable developments. It was an amazing, unique and invigorating experience where I got to relax and learn a lot about myself and the land.  I did some canoeing at the lake, slept in a yurt, did some meditation, yoga, swimming, some fun tie dying and painting projects and ate some delicious vegetables from the land.  Also, I got to meet some quite amazing people who are working hard and putting their hearts and souls in making this project a reality.

Terra Perma, Lake Green

To get there,  there was some time spending traveling by car and got to listen to Quebec radio which is quite amazing. While driving around this beautiful land full of luscious scenery "Sidewalk Talk" by Jellybean feat. Madonna came on the radio which had nothing to do with nature and more to do with city living.  While listening to it, it dawned on me that I probably haven't heard it since it's release in 1984! This was a collaborative project between Madonna and Jellybean Benitez when they were a couple trying to make their mark in NYC.  I simply love the rawness of it and to top it all, once the song ended, the disc jockey did something quite clever, he left the needle of the record continue bumping with it's scratchy noise making a point that we were listening to vinyl. Yes, vinyl on the radio! A true Canadian experience that I will never forget with some amazing company. Thank you Alfonso Tarazona and Philippe Leclerc for making this past week beautiful and memorable.

Sidewalk Talk - Jellybean Benitez feat. Madonna

Family Of Eve

Here is some amazing Disco gems that I recently discovered to get your Saturday "discofied" by a 70's band called Family of Eve. Very little it's known about them and it looks like they only released two songs as 45 LP. The songs were re-released in 2006 and "I Want To Be Loved By You" was remixed by Kenny Dope. On the other side is "Please Be Truthful" and it's also a great song. I can't quite pin point what kind of Disco is this, but definitely they both have a lot of soul/funk influences and have the potential to rip up any dance floor on my book specially during the breaks. I'm featuring both originals and Kenny Dope's treatment of "I Want To Be Loved By You". Enjoy!

I Want To Be Loved By You - Family Of Eve

Please By Truthful - Family Of Eve

I Want To Be Loved By You (Kenny Dope Alternative Bass Mix) - Family Of Eve

Jackie 60

A typical weekly flyer which are now collectable items. 

Here is a homage to the last and  real best NYC Club experience of the last century, Jackie 60. It was begun in 1990 by local night life royalty Chi Chi Valenti and Johnny Dynell, choreographer Richard Move and fashion designer Kitty Boots. The club was heavy on the performance element with weekly original themes with a strict dress code and incredible MC's.  It was located in the Meat Packing District when it was still seedy and fabulous then later it became MOTHER.  I was lucky to experience this incredible club to the fullest from the mid '90s until it's sad closing in 1999.  Every Tuesday night was devoted to Jackie 60 delivering a wide spectrum of memorable, visceral and mesmerizing performances making a scene where the lines between guests and  performers were blurred both on and off stage.  To celebrate this golden age of clubbing here is "The Jackie Hustle" (Johnny D's Duelling MC Mix)  featuring the vocals by one of it's fabulous resident MC Paul Alexander and music by the legendary Johnny Dynell. "Legends Know No Code" Enjoy!

The Jackie Hustle (Johnny D's Duelling MC Mix) - Jackie 60 Presents Jackie MC's

Johnny Dynell from newyorklives.tv on Vimeo.

What is The Paradise Garage?

This put a smile on my face today. I was so happy to be part of this event. Thank you Larry Levan for your beautiful spirit and legacy!

What Is The Paradise Garage? from gogoPatience c+p on Vimeo.

R.I.P. Bobby Womack

Bobby Womack 1944-2014

Today we mourn the passing of one of the most brilliant soul singer and songwriters of the '70s Bobby Womack. You will be missed and your legacy will live on forever. Here are some of my favorite dance floor shakers from this amazing musician. Enjoy!

I Can Understand It - Bobby Womack

Daylight - Bobby Womack

I Feel A Groove Coming On - Bobby Womack

Happy Pride

Happy Pride weekend! Here is an old school mix using two turntables and a mixer. I remember playing with a lot with different acapellas and experimenting throwing things together. I'm surprised how well this mix holds up to this day and I'm loving the analog quality of the sound. Enjoy!

Glamjack Vinyl Mix 002 by Dj Glamjack on Mixcloud

The Lamb

Here is a remix of John Tavener's "The Lamb", a beautiful church choir piece that was heavily featured in the Italian film La Grande Bellezza which got an Oscar for best foreign film for 2013. I gave it a very dark underground club treatment.  Enjoy

The Feast Of A Broken Heart

Here is the new one from Disco/House revivalist Hercules & Love Affair. The constant mastermind behind of this third release is Andy Butler and it's called "The Feast Of The Broken Heart". With a new rotating cast of singers featuring vocals by Kristle Warren, Rouge Mary, Gustaph and John Grant, they nailed it with some amazing well crafted floor shakers that not only evokes the best of early to mid '90s House but also adding some intriguing content that deserves a listen.  The true stand out for me here is "I Tried To Talk To You" featuring John Grant on vocals.  It's a gut wrenching and compelling song that deals with knowing you have a life threatening disease in this case HIV resonating to a beat and melody reflecting the darkest time in dance music when so many amazing people were gone reminding us this is still real. 

I Tried To Talk To You feat. John Grant - Hercules & Love Affair

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

Call Me - Skyy

Anthony Malloy performing "You Don't Know"

Serious Intention - You Don't Know

photo booth membership card

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!

Keep In Touch (Body to Body) - Shades of Love

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!

Forever More - Moloko

Forever More (Acoustic Version) - Moloko

Forever More (Balearic Soul) - Moloko