VOLUME 4 · PROGRAM 5
O.K., vinyl junkies… name these tunes. The special mystery side.
Direct from our Mystery DJ's College of Musical Knowledge, it's time for you to play "Name These Tunes." We can't identify the Mystery DJ, but do give you some hints below as he appeared a little after graduating from pharmacy school (which sure helps when you're playing records all night.)
Song #1: It's a flashback from 1975. One of the hottest summer disco songs from six years ago, taken from the "_____ _____ Live" LP. Who is she? Obviously quite talented, she still does it to dance audiences.
Song #2: This Candian song from three summers ago instantly reminded people of "I Feel Love", yet it made it on its own special merits in Toronto and Montreal. It was never released in the United States.
Song #3: Mystery DJ became her friend after a memorable ride on The Great American Revolution roller coaster near Los Angeles. She gonged many an act on a syndicated television show, and they even named one of the world's largest banks after her.
Song #4: The producer/arranger made it big with The Association, and saw even three years ago that sound-alike standards would be popular. It was released promotionally in the U.S., but the album never followed. Perhaps if it had, the planned longer Beach Boys Medley would have become a Stars on 45.
Please put your answers to who the artists and what the songs are on your feedback card, and will give you the correct answers in a future DJ NEWS.
SPECIAL NOTE TO DJs: Side A runs 19:37, from 126 to 128 BPM.
The true and somewhat bizarre story of "Disco Kicks." And Gary Criss with a smooth "Mon Amour (Finally Love Has Come.)"
"Disco Kicks" was originally produced in 1979 as the B-Side to the "Theme From Mork and Mindy." Randy Sills took the tracks into the studio, discovered they were very hot, and Ariola decided to release "Disco Kicks" as a followup single (which never happened as Ariola's west coast-based operation folded.) A few lucky DJs had a tenth generation acetate, and "Disco Kicks" became a subterranean cult record.
Perry Botkin and Mark Lindsay wrote and produced. Peter H. Hirsch engineered at Doctor Musix in Los Angeles, where Randy did the mix. Jim Callon has now picked up the song for JDC Records.
The song will hardly be out before a cover version joins it, done by Bill Motley's Boystown Gang. So now we'll have the battle of the versions. Sometimes great songs come to the surface in pairs!
Speaking of coming to the surface again, Gary Criss and Billy Terrell are also back. It seems that many talented artists, producers and writers who kept your floors packed in the 1978-1979 golden era of disco are getting deals and keeping the recording studios booked.
Billy Terrell got together with Ray Dahrouge and wrote "Mon Amour (Finally Love Has Come)" which they produced with Bobby Ballack. Gary's "Rio" a few years ago was a big hit on the east coast, produced by Billy, as well as "Steppin' Out" by Ray Dahrouge which Billy also produced.
"Mon Amour" has all of the elements of a pop/radio song, but because Billy and Ray know the dance floor so well, you'll appreciate the excitement of their rhythm and orchestral arrangements. Unidisc in Canada should be first to release Gary's new song.
SPECIAL NOTE TO DJs: Side B runs 13:03, from 133 to 126 BPM.
Denroy Morgan's "I'll Do Anything For You"… the Raul/Frank Corr extended dance remix.
Denroy Morgan was born in Jamaica, and came to New York at the age of 19 hoping to form a reggae band with r&b flair. He started The Black Eagles in 1973, who four years later won first prize in the reggae festival competition held at Columbia University.
Denroy met writer/producer Bert Reid a couple of years ago, and produced a reggae record for him. After two years of unsuccessful shopping, Denroy thought it was time to do something more commercial. In the meantime, Bert Reid and the Bert Reid-Ray Reid-William Anderson production team (all from the original Crown Heights Affair) had become very successful street producers. Their credits include Unlimited Touch ("I Hear Music In The Street", "Searching To Find The One"), Empress ("Dyin' To Be Dancin'"), The Strikers ("Uh, Uh, Body Music"), and France Joli ("Gonna Get Over You.")
Denroy's first "more commercial" effort has become an instant success in the northeast and Miami area, with more regions discovering the charm of Denroy's Jamaican accent and the simple force of the Reid-Miller production.
The Becket 12" single has a 5 minute vocal backed with an instrumental version. Frank Corr worked with Raul to combine the two versions to give you a special extended dance version. A smooth sax now alternates with Denroy's rap, and quite a bit of restructuring gives the whole song more punch for the dance floor.
There is a particularly pleasing way in which Raul and Frank use a nice build to go into Denroy rather than the vocals, which seems to set him up in a more interesting environment for his rap. If you havn't been playing Denroy yet, this Disconet remix should break the ice for you. And if you're already playing Denroy, you now have more "I'll Do Anything" ammunition to fire at them!
SPECIAL NOTE TO DJs: Bonus Side 1 runs 8:09 at 119 BPM.
Frank Corr remixes some hot sounds from overseas.
Frank Corr plays at Magique and Crisco Disco in New York. He is a leader among a growing legion of DJs who can combine most all forms of dance music within their program, much to the satisfaction of the thousands of people who dance to Frank's music every week. Frank previously put together Program 10 of Volume 3, and he's back with more great sounds on this Disconet.
Dance / Nightforce. Tom Karapolos turned us on to this song which he was playing in Europe last summer, and it is headed for the U.S. within the next several weeks. Francis Goya and Bart Van de Lear produced for Duo Productions. Jean-Luc Drion did the arrangements, which keep a nice flow and build going.
Delicate Jan / Azoto. This is from Azoto's original album in which they were known as "Lucrethia & The Azoto 14,008." Celso Valli arranged, and you should find some of the vocal riffs similar to "Hills of Katmandu."
Love Trial / Kelly Marie. Frank presented Kelly's "It Feels Like I'm In Love" on his last Disconet, and the rest is history… Kelly is now a welcome star on dance floors around the world. "Love Trial" needed an extended introduction, which Frank has provided to setup the groove and provide for practical overlays. This is, by far, her strongest song since "It Feels", and now with the repaired intro, it should work well for you.
SPECIAL NOTE TO DJs: Bonus Side 2 runs 16:27 from 134 BPM (beats per minute) to 116.
Eric Brandt wins the LCD chronograph. Eric plays at The Mail Box Disco in Worcester, Massachusetts. His pressing serial number on Program 3 (#695) matched the lucky winning number for that program. Eric's favorite cuts were "Pull Up To The Bumper"(remix), "Top Shot" (remix), "Spin It" and the remarkable John Matarazzo/Mike Arato 1980 Disconet Top Tune Medley. Be sure to return the feedback card from this program… maybe you'll win the watch that does almost everything.