Happy Birthday Frankie Knuckles and Martin Luther King

Frankie Knuckles, Jan 18th, 1955.

 It's a tradition today that I would be recovering from an 8 hr. dance marathon from attending the yearly Body & Soul's Martin Luther King celebration dance event. Obviously didn't happen, so instead of sharing the previous night's events. I'm sharing this amazing Frankie Knuckles Tribute mix created by Tedd Patterson. When I was a grad student at Parson's, I will make my pilgrimage every Friday to the Sound Factory Bar and hear his live sets. It was church and it was home. Last time I was lucky to hear him play live was at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center in 2012. I recalled it was a very intimate party for Bears. Unforgettable! Happy Birthday! Life is Something Special!

Tedd Patterson · Tedd Patterson's Frankie Knuckles Tribute Mix 1 of 2

Autumn Mix 19

Celebrating 52 years in this world today and it's about time to make a new mix from the DJ Glamjack  series featuring Laidback, D-Train, Years and Years, Disco Monk, Daft Punk, David Bowie, Madleen Kane, Caribou and Frankie Knuckles feat. Sybil. Enjoy!

Where Love Lives

Happy Weekend! with Alison Limerick and Frankie Knuckles

Disco TV: Unsung: Frankie Knuckles and The Roots of House Music

This is such an amazing short and sweet documentary of a much bigger story! Enjoy

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

House Music Forever!

Here is a great video featuring Frankie Knuckles during the opening of the Power House in Chicago in 1986.

 

and here is the "Fierce Mix" of J.M Silk's Standing In The Shadow Of Your Love which is also featured in this video. Enjoy!

Standing In The Shadow of Your Love (Fierce Mix) - J.M. Silk - DJ International

Lansana's Priestess

I'm still reeling from the loss of Frankie Knuckles.  I have been reading countless of great homages  honoring Mr. Knuckles. One of then stand out and it was written by the great DJ/Producer Nicky Siano,  and it inspired me post this amazing song by '70s Jazz/Funk/Disco legend Donald Byrd.  There is nice section in it where he describes how Siano played this song as a warm up for one of his nights at the Gallery and Frankie was already passionately dancing. Very sweet! Here is the link to this beautiful time of capturing their friendship. "Frankie was One of the Kindest, Gentlest People I've Ever Known".  There is also a petition to put Frankie on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine. Here is the link:  Put Frankie Knuckles on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine.  

Lansana's Priestess - Donald Byrd

R.I.P. Godfather of House: Frankie Knuckles

R.I.P. Frankie Knuckles 1955-2014

I'm devastated with the sad news of Frankie Knuckle's passing. The first time I heard this genius live was at the Sound Factory Bar on a Friday in 1995. I couldn't believe the power of every song that would come out of those speakers. The sound was uplifting, generous, humble, spiritual and emotional and it reflected the personality of this music visionary and pioneer. The last time I was fortunate to hear him play live was four years ago at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center in the West Village where he played music for the Bear gay community. It was a very intimate, real and beautiful evening where this classy man played as if he was at one of the most grandest of venues ending the evening with his own version of First Choice's "Let No Man Put Asunder". I was happy to see that nothing has changed since that first Friday at the Sound Factory Bar in 1995 and I was nearly in tears on that dance floor. Here is one that pretty much sums up house music, a seminal sound that still sounds as fresh. The original 1987 "Your Love" with Jamie Principle on vocals. Then there is the brilliant remix of Jago's "I'm Going To Go" from 1985. The beautiful "What Do You Want From Me" featuring Adeva. The weirdly and hideously yet beautiful heart pounding "I Want A Dog" by the Pet Shop Boys. His collaborations with Robert Owen were brilliant and here is "Far Away" to prove it. What he did to Michael Jackson's already brilliant music was pure magic and here is "Rock With You" as he transformed it yet keeping the purity of the original. There are so many more dear to my heart and I hope these capture the joy and drama this legendary DJ and producer served on the dance floors. You will be missed and your contribution to music and the dance floors will live on forever!

Your Love - Frankie Knuckles

I'm Going To Go (Frankie Knuckles Remix) - Jago

What Do You Want From Me - Frankie Knuckles feat. Adeva

I Want A Dog - Pet Shop Boys

Far Away (Frankie Knuckle's Version)  - Robert Owens

Michael Jackson - Rock With You

Other previous and related Disco Monk posts about Frankie Knuckles:

You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine
The Whistle Song
A House Classic
Take Some Time Out

You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine

Here is a brilliant remix by Godfather of House Frankie Knuckles of Lou Rawls' "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine".  It has been extracted from a live mix he did at the Boiler Room  last year.  It's nothing short of a brilliant treatment he did to this disco classic.  This remix has been circulating heavily on the internet and whether it will have a proper release I'm not certain. One thing for sure is that this remix it's a testament of Mr. Knuckles longevity and brilliance as a DJ/Producer. Enjoy!

You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine (Frankie Knuckles live at the Boiler Room, 2013) - Lou Rawls



and here is the 60 minutes live mix as well:





....and here is Tom Moulton amazing treatment of it for your listening pleasure:

The Whistle Song

Here is a house anthem that I had recently re-visited and gave it a listen.  An instrumental masterpiece for the dance floor that asked the dancer to just let go.  Every instrument you heard had so much texture and melody. It was conceived by "Godfather of House" Frankie Knuckles  in 1991 as the first single from his debut album Beyond The Mix as producer of original material which now it stands as a house classic that delivered many great dance floor anthems as well. I remember vividly the overall feeling on the dance floor was "life goes on: in the midst of so much death whenever it was played". It was a somber, meditative and beautiful homage of those who passed since it was a hard time to go out and dance when so many loved ones were dying or gone during that period.   It's such a time capsule to hear it now yet it's still beautiful to listen. Enjoy and celebrate life!

The Whistle Song (12" Mix) - Frankie Knuckles  

I"m Not Scared of My Own Devices

Here is a fresh mix hot from the oven to all my Pet Heads out there! Hope you enjoy it

Jealousy And Lies

Here is a stunning 1988 house classic that I recently discovered while listening to a recent mix by German Dj and producer Chrisopher Rau on Beats In Space.  I was mesmerized by "Jealousy and Lies" by Julian Jonah and surprised that I've never heard of this amazing house song.  The song's visceral message combined with the understated orchestration and low key synth makes this a true classic.  There was something familiar about it also and through research I learned it was sampled by Electribe 101's down tempo classic "Talking With Myself" which is quite a gorgeous song and had to include in this posting as well.  There are fourteen versions of Talking With Myself! Here is the Canny Remix.  Also, the Instrumental and the Alternative Dance Mix version of "Jealousy" are also great to listen. Enjoy!

Jealousy And Lies -   Julian Jonah

Talking With Myself (Canny Remix) - Electribe 101

Take Some Time Out

Happy Friday! Yesterday, I was going through my record collection and came across this great record and realized I did not mention Arnold Jarvis on a recent post I did about the male and soulful side of early house music which focused on Paris Brithledge's "Learn To Love" and his connection to DJ International.  On that posting, I also mentioned other greats such as Robert Owens and Rocky Jones and completely forgot the most compelling one.  Arnold Jarvis,  who is now considered one of the premier voices in house music today.  Like many singers, Jarvis received his initial exposure to music via gospel, which he performed as a teenager and that probably explains why his voice has the healing touch .  His secular career began in 1987, when he recorded "Take Some Time Out" for the legendary Fourth Floor Label.   This song made him an instant star on the dance music circuit and jump stared his career.  He then joined forces with the legendary Frankie Knuckles and David Morales with house classics such as "And I Loved You" and "Tears".  Arnold is still very much relevant in the dance music scene and  releasing poignant, beautiful and lush dance songs such as "Inspiration" and "Special Kind Of Love". Dance songs that make you move but also transcend and speak volumes on the dance floor!  Enjoy this amazing end of the week song!

Take Some Time Out (Original Version) - Arnold Jarvis - Creme Organization Label

A House Classic

Back from the woods and it feels so refreshing to have spent time in nature! In order to start the week I share with you a house classic by the Nightwriters called "Only The Strong Survive". This a house cover of Billy Paul's 1977 disco classic. This is Frankie Knunckles doing amazing work here. Listen to the original by Billy Paul, specially towards the end and it is evident here how Frankie evolved the concept of using disco as a blueprint for house. Bravo Frankie Knuckles, the Godfather of House!

Only The Strong Survive - The Nightwriters (Frankie Knuckles)

Only The Strong Survive - Billy Paul