Thursday, October 9, 2008

Playlist: Crates of vinyl

I’m streaming some choice cuts from my record collection. As far as I know, none of these tracks has been digitally re-released. (Not in the United States anyway.)

I am also taking requests. Wanna hear some hard-to-find funk? Let me know. Maybe I got it.

1. “The Dance Electric” – André Cymone

In 1985, when Prince was at the height of his powers, he hooked up his old high-school bandmate Andre Anderson – a.k.a. André Cymone – with this hot number.

2. “Love the One You’re With” – Mother’s Finest

Stephen Stills’s “Love the One You’re With” has been covered by quite a few black artists – Aretha, the Isleys, Luther Vandross, the Supremes, Sam & Dave, Rockin’ Dopsie... even Billy Eckstine. But nobody rocked it quite like Mother’s Finest.

I’ve blogged about Mother’s Finest before (here and here). The band is best known for its late-’70s records. But its self-titled debut album came out in 1972 on RCA. This is the last cut on it.

3. “Tearin’ It Up” – Chaka Khan

I’ve been waiting forever for Chaka Khan’s 1982 album, “Chaka Khan,” to be released on CD. Exquisitely produced by Arif Mardin, every track is killer. (Remember “Best in the West”?)

This is the 12-inch Larry Levan remix of “Tearin’ It Up.” The horns were arranged by Randy Brecker.

4. “Feel Like Makin’ Love” – Eugene McDaniels

Singer-songwriter Eugene McDaniels has probably lived a life of luxury behind this one tune alone. (He should have, at least.)

Roberta Flack had a huge hit with “Feel Like Makin’ Love” in 1974. The song has since been covered by the likes of Isaac Hayes, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Marlena Shaw and Shirley Bassey.

McDaniels covered it himself... on his 1975 LP “Natural Juices.” He used some of the same musicians from the Roberta Flack session (Bob James, Idris Muhammad, Gary King), but this is a very different arrangement. And McDaniels has a very different vocal style.

I love this version.

23 comments:

wanda loves... said...

David, its that a pic of your albums??

Undercover Black Man said...

^ No, I just grabbed that image. I've got about 14 crates, though.

bklyn6 said...

No you didn't post AC's "The Dance Electric" cover!

I was listening to my MPLS Sound playlist today. Played Vanity's "Under the Influence" and Dez Dickerson's "Modernnaire." I thought about listening to "The Dance Electric" but didn't.

Anyway, that is my absolute favorite Andre Cymone joint! Remember the video?

I wonder what he's up to these days.

DeAngelo Starnes said...

Dance Electric like a muthafucka! My only surviving copy is on cassette. Since you're going that way, how about some Tackhead?

DeAngelo Starnes said...

A few more:
Double Oh-Oh
Transformation
The JB's did this take-off of Skin Tight, just can't recall the album or name of cut

Kellybelle said...

The Dance Electric! I just knew Andre was going to make it big and be around forever. And that Prince was going to put me on the back of his bike and make me part of the Revolution.

Undercover Black Man said...

DeAng: I definitely got some Tackhead. And the 12-inch of "Double Oh-Oh." And "Transformation" on 45.

I'll put a new Playlist up early next week.

Anybody else got a request?

Anonymous said...

UBM,

You made my night! I thought I was the only one who recognized the genius behind Chaka's self titled '82 album. I'm one of the few people I know who have that LP on wax. "Twisted" was my jam.

Eugene McDaniels? The "Headless Heroes" album is an all time favorite of my mine. I love Eugene's haggard, off-key singing. It has such character.

"Dance Electric" is very Prince. Andre used to be married to Jody Watley for years, if I remember right. I actually have the 12" of Adam Ant's "Rough Stuff", a 1990 Cymone production.

Great stuff tho, UBM, ...I'm trying to think of requests ...

Undercover Black Man said...

^ I'm one of the few people I know who have that LP on wax. "Twisted" was my jam.

I wish I had it on wax. I only have it on cassette.

Yeah, "Twisted" is an amazing track.

Thanks, mynameismyname.

Undercover Black Man said...

Played Vanity's "Under the Influence" and Dez Dickerson's "Modernnaire."

Was "Modernnaire" ever officially released? Where'd you get it from, Bklyn6?

Undercover Black Man said...

I just knew Andre was going to make it big and be around forever.

I still dig "Kelly's Eyes."

Kellybelle said...

How about "Screams of Passion" by the Family? Not a deep dig in the crates, but I like it.

Anonymous said...

Double Oh Oh is a jam indeed.

How about the BOOTY SNATCHER album from Parlet? The title cut or whatever the jam was from there...or NEVER BUY TEXAS FROM A COWBOY (which was garbage except for the funk break in the middle of the song).

Or any or all of the missing MASAKELA album, the one with "Mace and Grenades" and "Gold" on it?

Or Cannonball Adderly's ACCENT ON AFRICA album?

bklyn6 said...

My only surviving copy is on cassette.

Same here! :-)

Was "Modernnaire" ever officially released?

Yeah, on 9/8/08!

Anonymous said...

Have that Chaka Khan album on vinyl too, and had never the remix until now. Thanks! If you're taking requests, how about some Black Ivory?

Anonymous said...

Musical Request: Post some late 80's Terence Trent D'Arby. I don't think it is available in digital form. I seem to remember one or two songs I liked.

bklyn6 said...

Re: requests.... Where were you when I needed "Atmosphere Strut" (Cloud One) and "Come to Me (One Way or Another)" (Jermaine Jackson)? :-D

I'm still trying to find:

"Starfire" --The Sylvers
"Sexy Dancer" (12 inch version) --Prince

Invisible Hand said...

Dance the Dance Electric... talk about digging one out from the Way Back Machine.

bklyn6 said...

Silly me. I DO have the long extended version of "Sexy Dancer" after all. :rolleyes:

Speaking of Prince, I just heard he's on the NY Times's best sellers list! And he's playing a show for 200 tonight in NYC. Guess my invite got lost in the mail. :-(

DeAngelo Starnes said...

Yo, got another one. Not a radio play joint. It was a piece you turned me on to when me, you, and Thomas Stanley were chilling doing a round table at your crib.

Praxis: "Dead Man Walking." Bootsy's solo at the end tears the roof off the muthasucka!

Anonymous said...

Ok, I had forgotten about Andre Cymone, great pick!

Jeffrey said...

It's great to see someone give the nod to Mother's Finest.

imho, Mother's Finest Live is still one of the best live albums ever made.

bklyn6 said...

"Good, Good Feelin'" by War. I don't know why this song is so hard to fine. :-(