This record absolutely blew me away the first time I heard it. A collaboration between Larry Heard and Joe R Lewis, one of Chicago’s most talented, underrated and most inspiring operators. Joe’s career kick started almost 20 years ago down at his local ice skating rink where he organised packed to capacity parties every Friday and Saturday. Loop Machine was the name of the party and DJ’s such as Frankie Knuckles and Farley ‘Jackmaster’ Funk were frequently on the bill. Off the back of the Loop Machine Joe then opened his own club which he christened The Jungle club. It was here he struck up a close relationship with Larry Heard who was a regular down at the venue.

The Love Of My Own was Joe’s first release, put out on the newly formed Target Records in 1987…rare as as hens teeth it is too. I picked up a copy in Berlin a couple of years ago at a hefty price and then sod’s law it recently got bootlegged and re released, so if you delve deep enough you should be able to grab yourself an unofficial slab of this superior black stuff. Following this Joe went on to release a further 2 EP’s on Target Records which are also like gold dust, if you can find one you’ll be paying top whack I promise you. Whilst talking hard to finds, look up a track called Midnight Dancin’, this also came out on Target records in 1990 and was another collaboration between Joe and a guy called Darryl Godlett under the disguise Survival, this record went on to become one of the most recognised Chicago anthems of all time.

Anyway…Joe R Lewis – The Love Of My Own…enjoy.