Seventh Heaven

Date: 17th December 2010

Found: MAPF Charity Shop, South Ealing, London

Price: 50p

Gwen Guthrie - Seventh Heaven 

4th & Broadway, 1982

A 

1. Seventh Heaven (US Remix)

B 

1. It Should Have Been You (US Remix)

2. Getting Hot (US Remix)

On Friday I braved the blizzard to go to some charity shops in South Ealing that my mum had told me about, apparently veritable treasure troves. She wasn't wrong. Once I got past a huge collection of Five Star records someone had finally give away, I found some real winners.

One of my best finds was this record by Gwen Guthrie, a firm favourite. I had never thought to look for a copy on discogs, and I'm glad I didn't because they're pretty rare, the promo sells for £125!! I'm pretty chuffed I got this for a mere 50p.

The drawn out intro builds up over 2 and a half minutes  until Guthrie's beautifully soulful vocals come in over a cosmic disco groove. This song is a masterpiece!

Seventh Heaven, remixed by Larry Levan of the Paradise Garage in New York, became a club anthem. Guthrie was known as "The First Lady of the Paradise Garage" and gave frequent live performances at the venue.

Midas Touch

Date: 19th September 2010
Found: Battersea Carboot Sale
Price: 50p

Midnight Star - Midas Touch
MCA records, 1986

A
1. Midas Touch (Extended Dance Mix)

B
1. Midas Touch (Instrumental Mix)
2. Midas Touch (Acapella Mix)

We finally made it down to the Battersea Carboot Sale, it was really busy and there was a lot of stuff, a lot of crap... I was quite disappointed that there weren't many people selling records, what with it being touted as one of the few proper carboot sales in london. I was also disappointed at the size, quite pokey really. Anyway I got a few records including this one and an awesome (but expensive) 90s shirt covered in a crocodile and heart pattern.

The first time I heard this song, I was in the Science Museum in London eating flying saucers. I have loved it ever since.

Recently I have discovered two versions I hadn't heard before, which show how versatile this song is and prove it's power to endure the test of time. The first is the version featured on this record, the Extended Dance Mix, and the second (not featured on this record) is the Hell Interface Remix, which is kind of a mash-up (not in the shit Kiss FM way) with Boards of Canada.

See below for the Official Video and Hell Interface Remix version.

Small Town Boy

Date: 1st September 2010

Found: The Cat's Protection League Charity Shop, Ealing, London] 

Price: £1 

Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy

London Records, 1984 

A 

1. Smalltown Boy

B 

1. Infatuation

2. Memories

Pac told me that he used to listen to this on his way to school and Pac went to school in a small village in Somerset... So this being a song about the struggle of a homosexual youth growing up in a small town, I should probably be a little worried...

I feel like I use the word "classic" too much on this blog, but this is an absolute Synth Pop classic. My favourite thing about this song, though, is that when you hear it in a club and the DJ plays the long drawn out intro*,  rather than people getting bored and walking away, everyone seems to start doing this weird slow-motion ballet/voguing dance and then when it drops everyone loses their fucking minds. That's why this song is so good, I can't really think of any other songs that have this effect of the dancefloor.

Also Jimmy Somerville has the voice of an angel.

B sides on this one are okay, bit meh in comparison, can't really be bothered to go into it.

* This is must, dropping it  later on in the track is a sin and ruins that amazing burst of excitement when it finally drops.

See below for the video sans epic intro and further down is the 12" Version.

This Time, Baby

Date: 1st September 2010

Found: Cat's Protection League Charity Shop, Ealing, London

Price: £1 

Jackie Moore - This Time, Baby 

CBS, 1984 

A 

1. This Time, Baby

B 

1. This Time, Baby (Instrumental)

2. Let's Go Somewhere and Make Love

I had this record in my shopping cart on Discogs for months, debating whether or not I wanted to part with £15 for it, so I was pretty lucky to find this near mint copy for only £1, just a 3 minute walk from my house!!

This Time Baby is a proper good disco song; smooth, soulful vocals, classic disco strings and a nice groove.  Originally released in 1979, it is a cover of the O'Jays 1978 version which wasn't massively successful. On the B side is the instrumental and Let's Go Somewhere and Make Love, which is a slightly cheesy pop ballad.

Unfortunately most people know of this song because it was sampled in the horrific 2005 clubland hit Love On My Mind by The Freemasons (and if you need reminding of the horror...)However, if you can block that out of your mind then you should be able to appreciate how beautiful this song is.

See below for the youtube video:

CHARITY SHOPPE - THIS FRIDAY!!!

Charity Shoppe at Dalston Superstore this Friday 10th September!

9-2am - FREE ENTRY

Bring a record, bring your dancing shoes. Me and Pac are billed as playing an Abandoned Acid & Hand-me-down House set but we'll probably just be playing whatever that takes our fancy. Including this:

Nearest Tube/Train : Dalston Junction / Dalston Kingsland - 149 Bus stops literally outside!

Ain't Nobody...

Date: 4th August 2010

Found: Soul & Dance Exchange, Notting Hill Gate, London

Price: £2 
Rufus & Chaka Khan (Remix Version / Hallucinogenic Version)WEA Internation Inc, 1989 
A 1. Ain't Nobody (Remix Version)
B 1. Ain't Nobody (Hallucinogenic Version)2. I'm Every Woman (Dub Version)
I'm gonna skip talking about the A side, pretty standard remix of the original, in fact if it wasn't labelled "remix", I wouldn't have thought it was one.
The B side is where things start to get interesting, the Hallucinogenic Version, is a wonderful drawn out Frankie Knuckles remix, the vocal doesn't kick in till about the last third of the song. Lots of lovely "hallucinogenic" piano, a nice contrast to the original which just seems a bit too camp in comparison.
I wasn't going to bother listening to the dub of I'm Every Woman because I hate that song, it makes me think of French Supermarket radio and large packs of women roaring the lyrics on a Hen do. However I was very pleasantly surprised to hear a sophisticated disco re-work of the original.

Krushhhh

Date: Saturday 21st August 2010

Found: Families Relief Charity Shop, West Ealing, London 

Price: £1 

Krush - House Arrest

Club Records, 1987

A

1. House Arrest (The Beat is Law)

2. House Arrest (Blue Murder Mix)

B

1. Jack's Back

2. Back Beat

My only decent find this weekend (the others we shall not speak of) and quite lucky really considering how reluctant we were to dig through the huge, dirty crates at The Families Relief Project, probably the mankiest charity shop ever. It looks more like someone has crammed the contents of their house into one room and has refused to throw anything away for 50 years. They always seem to have the same stuff in stock year in year out.

House Arrest was a massive hit when it was released in 1987 and I can see why, it errs on the cheesier side of acid house but I still like it. A very English response to the American house style of that time - or "exclusive American Fashion" as quoted on the sleeve. This is essentially a fun pop song which got House music into the pop charts in the UK. I enjoyed the B sides on this record too. Less of an assault on the ears, Jack's Back is a mellow, instrumental house tune, which still sounds very different to the American House style.

Interestingly, the members of Krush went on to bigger and better things with Rob Gordon become a founding member of Warp Records - producing this and Mark Brydon becoming the producer of Moloko. Vocalist Ruth Joy went onto work with Kurtis Mantronik on solo projects.

See below for the House Arrest video and B side Jack's Back.

Break 4 Love

Date: 28th July 2010

Found: Discogs

Price: £1 

Raze - Break 4 Love 

Champion Records, 1988 

A 

1. Break 4 Love

B 

1. Break 4 Love (Caught in the Act Mix)

A beautiful song from Vaughn Mason (who was responsible for Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll) with a sublime vocal from Keith Thompson. I didn't really realise how much I love this song until I bought it. I remember playing Grand Theft Auto with my little brother and always choosing the radio station that had this song! It's a subtle enough song to just listen to and relax, but still has the power to get people dancing in a club.

The Caught in the Act Mix is much deeper and more drawn out. I think I like both the same, the original is more poppy but the B side is a nice darker alternative.

Watch the two videos below for the Original & the Caught in the Act Mix.

Where is My Man?

Date: 4th August 2010

Found: Soul & Dance Exchange, Notting Hill Gate, London 

Price: 50p

Eartha Kitt

Record Shack Records, 1983

A
1. Where is My Man? (Vocal)

B
1. Where is My Man? (Instrumental)

An absolute One Pound Vinyl favourite from Catwoman herself! (RIP)

This was such a bargain find (50p!?) and quite a surprise, Pac was very jealous after leaving me to rifle through all the bargain soul 12"s  on my own. I love this song, it always make me want to get up and disco dance around the room. Eartha Kitt's voice is amazing and bizarre, she actually sounds like a cat - rolling those Rrrrrs. Brilliant record!

Watch the video below for the Vocal version and to see Eartha Kitt acting mental around lots of leopard print and mirrors.

Cool With Nature

Date: 28th July 2010

Found: Discogs

Price: 99p 

Carlton - Cool With Nature (Promo)

FFRR Records / 3 Stripe Records, 1990

 A 

1. Go Beat Mix

2. The Nature Mix

3. Drum and Bass Mix

 B 

1. The Time to Rhyme

2. Cool with Nature - Go Beat Instrumental

I came a across this song by accident whilst idly browsing a sellers stock on discogs and almost didn't buy it but I am pretty happy I did as I now listen to it almost everyday.

The Nature Mix is the one, The Go Beat Mix is the reason I bought this record originally but in comparison it's just okay. The piano and bass guitar add a lot more soul to this recording and are much more complimentary to the fragile, sweet vocal than the heavy drums and slightly sinister tinkling keys on the  The Go Beat Mix. The Drum and Bass Mix is not the drum 'n' bass you might be thinking, just a more boring version on The Go Beat Mix. 

On the B side there is a confusing song called The Time to Rhyme that samples Dawn Penn and has a weird slightly faux-patois rap on it - it's just a bit lack-lustre, no real energy to it. Cool with Nature - Go Beat Instrumental is worth a go though, kind of a combination of all the tracks on the A side sans vocal. 

See below for a Youtube video version of The Nature Mix.