VOLUME 4 · PROGRAM 4
"Strut Your Tennis Style" from Bounce. Smooth tracks that will work in any court.
"Hit-t-t-t the ball, boun-n-n-n-n-n-c-e the ball…" Can a street song that's great to dance to also be entertaining? You bet! There's actually some intellectual stimulation in the lyrics and one-liners: "I say 'love', that's-nothing!" And the musicalized sound effects of the tennis ball being whacked from left channel to right and back and forth is also quite pleasing. The sounds of the tennis court and the crowd provide the icing on a very interesting concept.
Luigi Ojival produced, and Bounce's "Strut Your Tennis Style" should be a winner for whoever picks it up from East 83rd Productions. Luigi previously produced Diva Gray & Oyster ("St.Tropez", "Magic Carpet Ride"), and his new, hot tracks were produced at Bob Clearmountain's Power Station. Neal Dortman engineered, and did the mix with Luigi. We've combined Parts I and II for this special Disconet extended version.
SPECIAL NOTE TO DJs: Side A runs 9:09 at 115 BPM.
The Robbie Leslie Remix: "Hold On To My Love" by Jimmy Ruffin.
Here's the song that RSO forgot the 12" on… Jimmy Ruffin's "Hold On To My Love." The 3 minute 7" single had a great instrumental as its backside, and Robbie Leslie made his own acetate which he wore out in a few weeks. Robbie has recreated his remix, which has become legend at Underground and The Pavillion on Fire Island where Robbie plays. Raul engineered the remix, and it was supercut by Jack Supercutter Skinner to bring out all those great sounds and the energy inherent in the tracks.
Jimmy probably got lost in the r&b/pop shuffle, and it was just not fashionable a year ago to make 12" remixes for clubs. Maybe things are now changing, as Atlantic and CBS are sure selling a lot of commercial 12s in the northeast.
Robbie's remix shows, once again, that you can't keep an exceptionally fine song away from the dance floor. It was written by Robin Gibb and Blue Weaver, who also produced the song together. Jimmy is at his finest on "Hold On", and Robbie's energy intro and smooth outro should make this special version very useful. While the tempo is high (129 BPM), the texture is smooth. Enjoy!
SPECIAL NOTE TO DJs: Side B runs 8:25 at 129 BPM. Cueing bands identify the basic structure of Robbie's remix.
Steve's Thompson's "Dance Classics" Medley. Yes, Virginia, they were dancing even before "Saturday Night Fever."
If you believed the newspapers and TV, disco was born right after "Saturday Night Fever" was released and died a fast death shortly thereafter. We've just uncovered some new evidence from Steve Thompson which indicates that people were actually dancing to recorded music in the mid-1970s. Steve plays all forms of danceable music at two clubs on Long Island, and his studio mixing credits include "The Break" done with Mike Arato. Steve has put together a set of his "Dance Classics" which will really take your crowd back for 21 minutes of grooving nostaglia.
Archie Bell leads it off with "Let's Groove" from TSOP/CBS, right into The Crown Heights Affair's "Dreaming A Dream" classic from DeLite. Then it's Tavares' "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel" from Capitol leading into "Ten Percent" from Double Exposure, from Salsoul. The Mighty Clouds of Joy are next with "Mighty High" from ABC, followed by The Originals' "Down To Love Town" from Motown. "Free Man" is next, from South Shore Commission on Sceptor. Brainstorm's "Lovin' Is Really My Game" completes the set, from Tabu (and hopefully to be released again as it cooks today just as well as it did in 1977 when it came out.)
Steve shows that texture and mood can string songs together even more effectively than overlaying beats. There's a way to snap your audience from one song to another, knowing, ofcourse, that the two songs will work together. The best way to find out is to try it out. You may surprise yourself that something that you initially thought would cause broken ankles can actually work your crowd into a frenzie.
SPECIAL NOTE TO DJs: Bonus Side 1 runs 21:07, from 120 BPM (beats per minute) to 140 BPM.
Valapucci plays with "Dynamite", and Euro Funk explodes!
Euro Funk is from Orlando, Florida, and it's interesting to hear what the sunny south has to say about the invasion of the Italian vocoders.
Eargasm Records will be releasing a 7 minute vocal and instrumental version of "It's Dynamite", so we sent the tape Valapucci's way to see what the wop that bops and just won't stop would come up with if he played with dynamite. Val has created an extended 8:45 version, with a nice, long instrumental groove hook which previews some of the exciting bridges which will occur later. And instead of the vocoder, there are some nice, pleasing apple pie vocals. The ending is very spacey, what with all of Val's echoing. This should sound great when you overlay your next song, as only "Dynamite" will be reverbing into outter space while your new song comes on without the reverb.
SPECIAL NOTE TO DJs: Bonus Side 2 runs 8:45 at 113 BPM.
Raul joins the Disconet staff. We're very pleased to announce that Raul has joined the staff of Disconet. That's why this program is on schedule, as he's been bugging the shit out of everyone here to get you the best stuff on time. Raul has played at New York, New York and Bonds, and has distinguished himself with his remixes of Poussez's "Come On And Do It" and "Never Gonna Say Goodbye", Ice T's "From New York To L.A.", Abba's "Lay All Your Love On Me", Amy Bolton's "Do Me A Favor", Grace Jones' "Pull Up To The Bumper", and Suzy Who's just slightly before its time "My Boy Lollipop." Welcome aboard!
Mario Rios wins the LCD chronograph. Mario plays at Peoples and Jason's in The Bronx, New York, and his pressing serial number on Program 2 of Volume 4 (#106) matched the lucky winning number for that program. Mario's favorite cuts were Bill Motley's fabulous Boystown Gang/Cynthia Manley version of "Remember Me/Ain't No Mountain High Enough", Ray Lenahan's masterfully crafted Original Beatles Medley, Debra DeJean's "Goosebumps", and the Trip Ringwald/Will Crocker remixes of "Body Check" and "He's Just A Runaway." We've sent Mario the watch that does almost everything. To win the watch, be sure and list your pressing serial number (shown on the upper right hand corner of your Side A/Side B jacket) on your feedback card.
You now have an account at The Thanks Bank.
As a special "thank you" for playing Disconet, we've opened an account for you at The Thanks Bank and your checking book is enclosed to spread the thanks. The checkbook includes a supply of Thank You Checks. Just imagine, you can now actually thank someone for something and it won't cost you anything. Give a thank you check to that favorite disco groupie who always has a dumb question in the middle of your best 5 minute overlay when he or she doesn't bug you one night. Give a thank you check to your club owner when he renews your Disconet subscription. Keep a few handy in your bedroom just in case it's particularly enjoyable.