Here’s a touch of Friday when everyone was on the floor and showed their appreciation for a musically tip top night.

The three of us weren’t sure what to expect not having seen or heard either of them for a long time. My most recent memory being when Marshall Jefferson arrived to play Casa Musica in May 2005 with a box of dusty and badly scratched records released on the re-issue label from around that time called S12. Don’t get me wrong here, I’m not knocking Marshall or the label, the guy is a legend in his own right. Though agreeing to play a night and showcase all the records he bought, got involved in and having experienced Ron Hardy first hand didn’t really warrant playing a version of Black Box – Ride on Time that jumped around more than when Loletta Holloway realised someone was dining out on her vocal talent with a UK chart number one.

With that in mind we approached the party cautiously and packed several copies of Deep Heat 9 to double up with should the need arise to break out the ‘classics’. First our play time was cut short. Now we’re way beyond getting irate about that, it was more about how we were hustled off the turntables by Marshall himself. Only after telling us he was remixing House Music Anthem. Again.

We made way for Marshall and his pocket sized CD wallet and were animated at the lack of a box full of dusty S12 records. He brought the Cutloose selections to a stand still and soaked up the cheers and applaud.

His first record was an absolute beauty and for a moment we believed we were in for a real insight to the records that had inspired Marshall. As the night went on the record selection seemed to decline and there’s only so much DJM800 filter I can handle in one sitting. Sure this is all subjective and he played to a packed floor who all seemed to appreciate Marshall’s effort. That said I couldn’t help feeling like I’d be transported back to Warrington when bouncers wore Barry McGuigan style suits and you still had to wear shoes to get in clubs. Then I remembered Marshall talking on the Pump Up The Volume documentary and his first experience of the Music Box. Coincidence?

Here’s Marshall’s first record and I only wish he’d played more of the same. Enjoy.

In 1987 the single, Love Is Contagious, became her signature song which is perfect end of the night material. Listen and you’ll understand why.

One of the most forward-looking producers in the continuing Chicago renaissance of the 1990s, Gemini first came to the world’s attention through his recordings for cult Chicago labels Cajual / Relief.

He began recording early in the decade, and gained fame for the minimalist flavour of Cajual twelves like ‘Tangled Thoughts’ and ‘Duality’. Gemini debuted his album work in late 1997 with his stunning ‘In and Out of the Fog and Lights’ LP for Peacefrog, which followed ‘Hibernation’ and ‘North Star’ EP’s.

Being a highly sought after DJ in both America and Europe as well as an in demand producer / remix, Spencer Kincey aka Gemini is one of the most important jewels in the Chicago house crown.

Enjoy this classic Gemini jam. One of my fave Cajual releases of all time.

Other out standing releases are ‘E L Luna Busso‘ where you get to hear the reggae experimentation to ‘Movie‘ which just bumps with quality funk and trumpet stabs showcasing a rap performed by Loredana herself.

Enjoy.

With a change of career as a merchant sailor Mike moved to New York where he performed with several American groups. He returned to Germany and became involved in producing Italo Disco where he achieved his biggest success with the Italo hit “Love Spy” in 1986. Mike also released his first album titled “Dance Control” around that time featuring the track here “Dancing in the Dark”

Through out the 80s Mike had more success with his Italo sound as well as writing for other artists. He released further albums on the well known German label ZYX records. A lot of those productions and releases were re-issued through the 90s.

Dancing in the Dark is probably my favourite release by Mike Maureen. Probably not the most perfect Italo record though those synths and drums just bump. It’s one of those tracks I always think mid set in recent times “fack I wish I’d brought that with me”. Maybe next time.

Let’s go dancing. In the dark.

‘Cant Live Without Your Love’ was released back in 1979 on Polydor Records and was co produced by the incredible Randy Muller (of Brass Construction). This for me is one of those records that just ups the tempo of any party, the intro just blows up and launches the track into a rapacious disco groove keeping our Bab’s vocals prominent throughout. Ace record.

• Low Motion Disco – Love Love Love
• The Chap – Woop Woop
• Wally Badarou – Endless Race
• Loud-E – Robolove
• Ivan – Fotonovela (Pete Herbert Edit)
• Coyote – Afro Balearic (Rune Lindbaek Mix)
• Greg Wilson – Cosmic DJ Delight
• Lurifax – Midnight Drive
• Photonz – Our Fable (Micky Moonlight Mix)
• The Mole – Alice, You Need Him
• Benjamin Brunn – Electric Brain Nova (Move D Remix)
• Runaway – Brooklyn Club Jam (LSB Mix)
• Lowtec – Untitled A1
• Secondo – It’s Any Late Time
• Terry Toner – You’re My B-Boy
• Lee Jones – Theme For Frank
• Sideshow – If Alone (Chateau Flight Dub)
• Prosumer – Go Silla
• Kenny Larkin – Vibin’
• Dapayk Solo – How Low
• James T. Cotton – Got To Let You Know
• Photonz – Night At The Police
• Orgue Electronique – The Plot
• DMX Krew – SH101 Triggers MS10

Tonight’s get together down at the Melody features special guest Andy Blake (Dissident Distribution). All kicks off at 10.30pm. Coventry Eagle is also in town.

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.

Everyone knows Todd Terry and many of his different production guises. Today’s Youtube video comes courtesy of his Gypsymen alias.

I think it’s safe to say he knew how to put a record together based on disco loops and samples. The rawness of this release is one of the best. Those kicks, hooks, stabs and loops on a nice sounding system do the trick every time and you can’t help but lose yourself in the groove. Especially at 2:47 and that drop.

It’s been re-issued on green vinyl with another mighty Gypsymen release “Stoppin Us”. Worth picking up the double pack for the all the cuts.

Davina is a female vocalist / musician from Detroit who in her early days ran her own record label, she was also the an house recording engineer, talented lady no doubt. After hooking up with Mike Banks amongst a string of other Detroit cats of that era Davina continued to put out some mighty fine records throughout the early nineties. She was then signed up for the impeccable Loud Records in 1996 as an artist in her own right.

New school Detroit techno mainstay “Mad” Mike Banks is actually the guy behind this Detroit classic which is a firm favourite with many Detroit Techno head. Banks (a founding member of Underground Resistance) throws together the awesome sounds of the timeless Roland 808 drum machine and fuses those incredible electronic synth stab lines with an elegant piano loop over the top. Add Davina and those amazing warm sultry vocals to complement and you have, as the infamous Barnet Sheildhouse once said, “Scchexy Techno at its best”.

The Popular People’s Front edits inspired by SWAG maestro Chris Duckenfield are certainly, with the odd exception, truly excellent and do what an edit should do , i.e. improve the original whilst bringing something new to the table. The original Chaka Khan & Rufus record (1972) was based on a slow funk riddled groove punctuated by Khan’s stunning vocals.

The LeoZero edit is beefed up nicely with a breakdown to remember and a sensual beat throughout, a perfect way to end the night!

Gwen was also a very talented songwriter and musician who went on to write and produce songs made famous by artists such as Roberta Flack and Ben E King. All the above tracks were famously remixed and produced by Paradise Garage maestro Larry Levan and as her close working relationship with Larry developed throughout the eighties and early nineties, Gwen actually became dubbed as the ‘First lady of the Paradise Garage’ as most of her tracks became huge anthems there.

‘It Should Have Been You’ was Gwen’s first 12” that came out on Island Records back in 1982, it was produced and arranged by Sly Dunbar & Robbie Shakespear who were renowned for there dub influenced club cuts around that time. The track was in fact taken from her debut album ‘Gwen Guthrie’ of which Sly and Robbie were also heavily involved. It was after this album that Gwen hooked up with Larry Levan but for me this is one of her best moments regardless. Just listen when the track goes solo at around the 4 minute mark…

Those beats just hooked me in along with that Todd Terry sounding groove. Then the siren. You can’t beat a good siren and they all know how much we love them at Block E in dusty downtown Ancoats.

It’s a pretty rare record apparently [one on discogs for £60] and it remained unknown and illusive for a long time following it’s release. I collected volumes 2, 3 and 4 and I believe there is a 5 though I’ve never seen or heard of one.

It was only in the last few years I found out via Mike Woods that it’s actually an edit of a track by Safire. Remember her? Needless to say we both went out and bought a copy.

The track was called Taste the Bass with David Morales on the mix. It’s still a great record though since getting a copy I’ve thought about re doing the Deep Beats thing. That said it’s so good in it’s own right I doubt I’d get close.

Enjoy.

Aril Brikha is a surpassingly talented DJ/Producer from Stockholm whose career jump started back in 1998 when he sent various demo’s stateside to some of his best-loved record labels. Derrick ‘The Dinosaur’ May recalls Aril’s demo landing in the post of which he quickly snapped up for his own record label ‘Fragile’. The ‘Art Of Vengeance EP’ was Aril’s first release and featured this amazing track ‘Groove La Chord’. The record literally blew up all over the world with DJ’s right across the board jumping all over it. It was a huge favourite at the famous Body & Soul parties in NYC which were hosted by the highly respected Danny Krivit, Francois K and Joe Claussel. I remember hearing Derrick May play this in Liverpool a couple of years back and he was juggling two copies at the same time and he had the place going crazy.

Anyway, Aril went on to produce a string of hits on labels such as Peacefrog, Kompakt and Transmat. When he’s not in the studio Aril can be found playing at some of the finest parties across the globe with regular appearances at The Detroit Music Festival which of course happens every year at the back end of May. Apparently his much talked about live sets at the DEMF are phenomenal. Just like walking on Blancmange I imagine.

I don’t know much else about the track and when you listen I don’t think you need me to actually type anymore. It’s one of my favourites and wanted to share it here. House music at its best.

It was the Summer of 95 and I was playing out regularly in Wigan [Yep that's right] promoting my own night with my friend. Looking back we didn’t really have a clue about the promotion thing, we just wanted to hear the music we were buying played out aloud.

For me in the early to mid 90s there was so much good stuff coming out of the US and those said records formulated the evenings listening. Labels like Vibe, Cajual and others were outputting good quality house music consistently and back then I couldn’t get enough.

‘Do it’ was an early evening staple with it’s laid back boogie groove and relentless vocal that’s so repetitive it leaves you wanting more. Again we probably weren’t 100% aware of what we were doing at the time and how important it would turn out to be years later when playing elsewhere. Sure we didn’t want to smash it out from the start though we’d be mixing and blending these records with boogie and the odd disco track. Where as later in the evening we’d be upping the stakes with music from Trackhead Steve, Robert Armani and DJ Funk and more. It was a refreshing change and allowed us to do more with the music compared to what was being released domestically.

The sun is shining and this makes perfect mid week listening even in January. Enjoy.

If your thinking you’ve heard that bass line before, well it was also pinched and put to great use by the probably more familiar Fat Larry’s Band in their smash hit Act Like You Know, which was released approximately about a year later. Have to mention that Help Is On The Way was mixed by the sadly lost, but not forgotten Tee Scott. Tee Scott was making records for the likes of Larry Levan, Frankie Knuckles pre The Garage, Music Box etc. His DJ sets down at the Zanzi Bar in New Jersey were described as some what legendary, his productions are timeless classics and Help Is On The Way is no exception.

Anyway…just wait for the break at around the 3 minutes 55 seconds mark…ouch!!!

This is one of my favourite releases on the label. I don’t think there’s many words to describe this track so sit back and soak it up and enjoy the weekend.

Italo Disco, some people still think of it as eighties music with ridiculous cheesy vocals, listened and produced by only north Italian philanderers with huge ego’s and bad hair, basically music that would not survive the eighties.

Amin Peck was George Fyron, Leonard Parker, and Max Marne a group of top dog Italians who had a long string of Italo hits under their belts. This one is for sure still alive and got recently got hammered by Metro Area at this years PS1 in New York.

Its a nice instrumental track with a drenched slap bass and cosmic synth line, pitch it down slightly and it just sounds absolutely incredible on a big system. Anyway, courtesy of YouTube.

That said we could probably cherry pick many more.

Back in 2007 DJ Spun’s offshoot label Tu Rong re-edited the track with Ray Mang on duty. They included the Hip House version which is here for your listening pleasure. If you can’t find the original then pick up the Tu Rong release. You won’t be disapointed.