VOLUME 3 · PROGRAM 7
Program 7 provides you with four exciting and varied sets of new music. It includes what we consider to be the ultimate remix of the ultimate disco song (but wait until the next Disconet, as they say!), and a "Permanent Wave" medley designed to help you put some of today's musical fusion confusion into perspective.
The ultimate disco song. The ultimate disco remix. Patrick Cowley MegaMixes Donna Summer's "I Feel Love."
When a friend played this for Giorgio, he wondered what all that fuss was about in 1978. This underground classic can now be heard with the full fidelity that the acetates never had. "I Feel Love" was originally the last cut on Donna's Spring, 1977 Casablanca LP. Believe it or not, the song was in its full disco glory three years ago… and still does it today. Patrick Cowley produced his MegaMix version in 1978, shortly after moving to San Francisco from New York. Patrick studied electronic music and sound engineering. While working as technician at The City, he met Marty Blecman and Jon Randazzo who turned him on to how special mixing could drive a crowd wild. Patrick gives songs like Sylvester's "Disco Heat", "Mighty Real" and "Stars" a special electronic energy, and was first heard on Disconet way back when with his MegaMix of Michelle's "Disco Dance."
When radio was turning on to disco, KERV in Kerrville, Texas was playing the single of "I Feel Love" which was pulled from the LP a year after the LP's initial release. If one called it rock-oriented disco today, they'd probably play it!
Patrick's MegaMix version runs over 15 minutes and they'll still want more. The vocals come in and out like the slowly drifting morning fog, and Giorgio's bass guitar line provides the energy thread with which Patrick weaves a classic combination of synthesizers and additional rhythm.
SPECIAL NOTE TO DJs: Side A runs 15:43 at 128 BPM.
Valapucci's Permanent Wave Medley. The crossover of sleeze to new wave shows great tracks make songs.
If you think that you're confused about the fusion contusion, pity poor Valapucci. He can't speak a word of English, yet faithfully reads all of the trades… disco is dead, disco is alive… rock lives, new wave doesn't cut it… the new sound is here… etc. So we asked Valapucci to take some great tracks which would turn on sleeze lovers to rock, and perhaps get some rock lovers to taste sleeze. Valapucci has created a real crossover, from The Anvil to Heat. It's fun, high-energy music which shows that no matter what label you put on a great song, it's really the song which counts in the end.
You Really Got Me / Le Prix. Le Prix is a new group which lives in the subway tunnels of New York City. This Ray Davis classic was first popular when recorded by The Kinks. Luded down 5% or so, the rock guitars and organ become very sensual. On DOR Records.
Lightning Strikes / Phil Festa. Lou Christie wrote it, and made it famous. Eric J. Thorngren produced this new version. They won't know what it is for a while, and then, watch your crowd sing along.
No Matter What (Without You) / Wiz. Badfinger did this one first, and The Wiz was released in early 1979 on Quality/Canada. The full 12" version run's 9:30.
Give Him A Great Big Kiss / True Confessions. The Shangra Las did this first, and True Confessions' version from Bomb Records (Canada) adds new rhythm riffs to the original spirit of the song.
Jet Boy, Jet Girl / Elton Motello. Courtesy of Attic (Canada) and Wally MacDonald's excellent disco surgery on Elton's 1976 RKM tracks. Valapucci has added a jet airplane, and there's even a mini-soap opera at the end. A rhythm overlay (like "At Midnight" 's intro) will keep them in suspense.
SPECIAL NOTE TO DJs: SIDE B runs 20:44,from 130 BPM to a jet plane.
Ray Martinez sings "Lady Of The Night", Hot Posse heats it up with "Ride It" and Gilda Radner talks to the animals.
Lady Of The Night / Ray Martinez. Ray produced early Foxy songs, Amant and Passion. On his latest creation, he also sings. While "hurting knowing that (she's) out working", there's a party spirit in the song. Ray has been internalizing this song for two years, and finally laid the tracks down at Coconuts, Shirley Kaye's fine studio in Miami. Watch for the final version's release soon.
Ride It / Hot Posse. Douglas Goldman produced the original tracks, which were remixed and edited by Marty Blecman and John Hedges in San Francisco. They sent the instrumental tracks our way, and with the aid of Holly and Julie from Poussez I, now it's a vocal. Jesse Rae was kind enough to make a Loletta Holloway/Relight My Fire—like appearance near the end to keep the drama building. So heat up the posse and ride it.
Let's Talk Dirty To The Animals / Gilda Radner. Gilda's Warner Brothers album from her Broadway show and followup movie is full of entertainment which you can use to bring a real change in mood. They don't have to always be dancing to be entertained. Try this 2:27 cut as a real mind stopper, and don't be afraid to completely clear the floor. You can start all over again with another set and now be dealing with minds and bodies which are ready for a whole new trip.
SPECIAL NOTE TO DJs: Bonus Side 1 runs 18:30 from 122 BPM to clapping.
Rod shakes it up, Moncho takes you for a ride on the carousel, Piggy & The Poppettes sing it like it is.
Shake It Up (Do The Boogaloo) / Rod. Charles Ibgui has produced the most musical 'rap' record that we've ever heard. You feel Rod singing and talking, and it doesn't matter whether he's singing or talking. The background vocals are heavy on the attitude. The music is impeccably Ibgui… with lush violins and smooth sax overlying the very basic street elements of this song. On Jonathan (France) coming here soon.
Carousel (Suite) / Moncho. Can't you feel it? Feel the rhythm… brass ring rhythm… on the Carousel. Words and music created and produced by Ramon Lugo. Ramon has been a Richie Rivera fan for five years, and recorded "Carousel" at Bob Blank Studios in New York. Larry Tuminelli did the mix. Victor Stone was executive producer. Smooth and hot.
New Pig Poppers / Piggy & The Poppettes. This is a song about a real product, which brings state-of-the-art technology to an otherwise undifferentiated product. Randy Sills helped perfect the secret formula of seven special ingredients while doing lights (and samples) at Probe. Since a photo of the group was not available, Randy is pictured on the front page trying out the final mix.
SPECIAL NOTE TO DJs: Bonus Side 2 runs 16:28, from 118 to 124 BPM.
Ric Harvey wins the LCD chronograph. Ric plays at The Copa in Houston. His favorites on Program 5 were "I'm OK,You're OK", "Leave That Boy Alone" and the Cameo Medley. Congratulations, Ric.