Dance Of An Inner City 80s Child

I was born in 75 but I loved the 80s. I was aware of it and old enough to appreciate it. I loved the clothes, the music, the dancing. I had a crush on Lisa Lisa from Cult Jam and if she wouldn't have me, maybe Shelia E would think I was cute. I couldn't wait to get older so I could go to the clubs and hear the music. All I wanted to do was be a B-Boy and break dance. I thought the 80s were going to last forever. I was so disappointed when I got old enough to do all the things I wanted to do and the 90s happened. The music wasn't as lively. The fashion was different I remember being excited when it became cool to wear fat laces in your shoes again. Some things never die.

My inner child who loves the 80s stops by every now and then to see what I am up to. He loves the fact that I am a DJ.

A little while ago a couple of things happened that inspired this mixtape. I was DJing one night when a friend of mine told me that she cried during my set because I played One Way's "Cutie Pie". She said her mother died when she was really young and before she passed on her mom would sing that song to her. It was the best story I have ever been told from DJing. Then I was hanging out with DJ Shawty Slim one day and we heard Rebbie Jackson's "Centipede". That coupled with a few other songs made me want to do an 80s Funky R&B mix. My intent was to make this a half hour mix for a tag team mixtape with Shawty Slim but as I started pulling out songs it got a bit longer than expected.

Well, my 80s inner kid caught wind of what I was doing. He sat in on this session and had a ball. He can't wait to grow up and become a DJ. He loves the mix and I hope you do too.

Dance Of An Inner City 80's Child
Yarbrough & Peoples - Don't Stop The Music
SOS Band - Just Be Good To Me
One Way - Cutie Pie
Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody
The Fatback Band - I Found Lovin'
Nolan Thomas - Yo' Little Brother
Junior - Mama Used To Say
Jermaine Jackson - Let's Get Serious
Pointer Sisters - Automatic
Howard Johnson - So Fine
Denroy Morgan - I'll Do Anything
Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam - I Wonder If I Take You Home
Change - Paradise
Rebbie Jackson - Centipede
Robert Palmer - I Didn't Mean To Turn You On
Apollonia 6 - Sex Shooter
D-Train - You're The One For Me.

The Adventures Of Johnny Swank

I have a friend named John Mitchell. He loves a smoke, a good drink, good times with his friends, and most of all women. All in all, he's a really good guy. His close friends call him Johnny Swank. Which is funny to me because whenever I hear swanky Jazz music, I think of him. But if you know Johnny Swank, Jazz isn't the first thing that comes to mind when you think of HIM. So while I was making this swanky Jazz mix. I was thinking, what if this became the sound of this world? What if suddenly Johnny Swank was living a life where this was the soundtrack to his life? What kind of life would that be for him?

Now I don't think Johnny Swank has anything against Jazz. I'm sure he'll probably listen to this mix and enjoy it. But Jazz isn't his first choice when it comes to music selection.

As for me, I love Jazz. This mix came about because I ran across Mario Biondi and The High Five Quintet's "This Is What You Are" earlier in the week. I couldn't stop listening to it and I couldn't stop thinking of all these other great new Jazz songs that I have heard over the years.

Most of the songs in this mix were released in the 21st century. The one exception is Kimiko Kasai and Herbie Hancock's "I Thought It Was You", which was released in 1979.

Hope you enjoy.

The Adventures Of Johnny Swank
Big Bang - Speak Low
Kyoto Jazz Massive - The Brightness Of These Days
Club des Belugas - Frankie
Miguel Atwood-Ferguson - Jealousy
Sachal Vasandani - Please Mr. Ogilvy
Povo - Uam Uam
Kimiko Kasai and Herbie Hancock - I Thought I Was You
Llorca - Indigo Blues
Mario Biondi and The High Five Quintet - This Is What You Are
Metropolitan Jazz Affair - Navarone
Jonathan Jeremiah - See

Quadron - Hey Love

I fell in love with Coco and Robin Hannibal last year. This dynamic couple from Hovedstaden, Denmark gave me one of my favorite albums from 2012. 

Well, at least that's when I ran across it. Their debut self titled album was released in 2010, but hey, better late than never when the music is as good as theirs.

At moments they sound like they stepped straight out of the golden age of Motown, and then there are times where you think Sade could be writing songs for them. Then there are very special moments when you know you are listening to something new an unique.

PEOPLE! These are good things! Coco's beautiful voice and song writing talents show roots planted in some of the best musical soil to be found. And there is the potential to hear so much more.

So when I ran across their new son, "Hey Love" needless to say I got excited. As the beat rolled in, I was intrigued. Coco's voice didn't disappoint. I was happy. I felt like the day was going to be a good day.

I will say it did sound more radio pop than I am used to from them. However, I am a firm believer in the fact that if radio pop was more diverse and played more music like this I would listen to more of it. So if this get Quadron on the radio in the States then so be it, as long as they continue to be creative.

"Hey Love" will be available on iTunes March 5th. Until then I guess we just have to keep hitting play below.

Roger

Return Of The Electronic Soul Molester

Years ago I made a mix called "The Electronic Soul Molester" it was kinda out there for the time and for Macon, Georgia. It was mostly passed around on CD. I don't think there is an electronic version of it out there.

I have always been interested in electronic music, growing up in Detroit with the birth of Techno. And even prior to that hearing groups like Art Of Noise and the music Brian Eno was making. I knew computers had something to do with the sounds I was hearing and I loved computers just as much as I loved music.

So the over the years my love of the Electronic has never faded. From time to time I find that I have collected all this lovely electronic soulful sounds and I compile them. They are too good to keep for my self so I share.

So I present:

Return Of The Electronic Soul Molester
Dego - Interlude
Taylor McFerrin feat. Vincent Parker - Broken Vibes
4Hero feat Jack Davey - Take My Time
Sebastian - Embody (DJ Premier 95 Break Remix)
Miles Bonny x B.Lewis - First Ride
James Pants - Cosmic Rapp
Millie Forte - The Titleless
Sebastian feat Mayer Hawthorne - Love In Motion
Screamin' Jay Hawkins - I Put A Spell On You (Jeremy Sole's Zombie Stomp Remix)
J Dilla - Love Jones
Max Sedgley - Happy (Make You Happy)
Mos Def - Jam On It (Main Mix)
fatima - On The Go
Man Parrish - Hip-Hop Be-Bop
Flying Lotus - Do The Astral Plane
Sarah White - Seek Elevation
Olivier Daysoul - In The Now
Homeboy Sandman - The Carpenter
Major Lazer - Pon De Floor
Diplo & Oliver Twizt - GO
Sbtrkt feat Sampha - Living Like I Do
Floco Torres - Hot Like The Sun
Alt-J - Fitzpleasure (The Internet Of Odd Future Remix)
Cut Chemist - Adidas To Addis
Freestyle Fellowship - We Are
Little Dragon - Ritual Union (MonkeyRobot Remix)
Sbtrkt feat Yukimi Nagano - Wildfire

The Psychology Of Musical Preferences

Ever wonder what makes you like the songs you like? Ever wonder why when you go crazy over a song and you try to play it for others, they don't respond with anywhere near the enthusiasm you have for it? Do you hear the stuff others listen to and wonder how come their eardrums haven't gone on strike? What do our musical choices say about our personalities?

Hope you all enjoy this one. Let me know what you think.





The Psychology Of Musical Preferences
Charles Bradley feat Menahan Street Band - Heart Of Gold
Slum Village - Players
The Sound Providers feat The Procussions - 5 Minutes
The Roots - Sacrifice
Tears For Fears - Head Over Heels
Serge Gainsbourg - Requiem Pour Un Con
Notorious B.I.G. & K-Def - Big Flavor
Run DMC - Sucker MCs
Citizen Cope - Hurricane Waters
Eric B & Rakim - I Know You Got Soul
Hackney Colliery Band - Africa
Electric Wire Hustle - Again
Gabriele Poso feat Osunlade - You Don't Love Me
Janelle Monae - Wondaland
J*Davey - This One
Tensei - Plazzio's Revenege
Quantic & Alice Russell - Look Around The Corner
My Morning Jacket - Wordless Chorus
Hectic Zeniths - The Loneliest City
Blackalicious - Make You Feel That Way
Bobby Cole - A Perfect Day
Gregory Porter - 1960 What? (Opolopo Kick & Bass Rerub)
Jiva - Stars (Tauriva Remix)


Roger