The Isley Brothers, Highways of My Life (from the album 3 + 3, 1973)
Ravishingly beautiful work from the Isley Brothers - from the piano intro to the synth-laden verse, to the astonishing chorus, a stunning song. This was to be the opening track of my new Endless Mixtape playlist, but it tumblr doesn’t seem to like it. Somewhere, somehow, the kibosh was put on adding playlists. However, that doesn’t stop me from adding the link here: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE02D58FD79961F10
Enjoy!
PLAYLISTS
Here’s a playlist called New-Found Truths (named after a song by Catalyst), with around 200 newly-discovered or rediscovered songs. Mostly 70s funk, soul, jazz, disco, etc, but with a bit of the 80s and a bit of the 60s too. I’ve cleaned it all up so there’s no “dead” songs in the list…and there will be more to come!
The Isley Brothers, “Here We Go Again” (from the album Go All The Way, T-Neck, 1980)
This song played to an empty house early on in my recent DJ set, but it still sounded great on the sound system!
Betty Wright, “Where Is The Love” (from the album Danger: High Voltage, Alston, 1974)
Of all the songs I DJed last night, this one sounded the most incredible on a good sound system. Turn it up!
The S.O.S. Band, “Take Your Time (Do It Right)” (from the album S.O.S., Tabu, 1980)
Here’s one I planned to play but didn’t…but I might play it when I DJ again tonight (at The Piston here in Toronto).
L.T.D., “(Every Time I Turn Around) Back In Love Again” (from the album Something To Love, A&M, 1977)
This was another winner on the dancefloor. I actually remember this song being on the radio as a kid - as soon as I heard it again this year it was like a muscle memory.
McFadden & Whitehead “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” (12” single, Philadelphia International, 1979)
People danced to this too - the long version, all 10 minutes and 46 glorious seconds of it!
Archie Bell & The Drells - “Let’s Groove” (from the album Dance Your Troubles Away, Philadelphia International, 1975) One of the best songs I played when I DJed last month. People danced!
This is another one of my favorite Gil Scott-Heron songs, from the album Midnight Band: The First Minute Of A New Day (Arista, 1974). He is well known for his earlier spoken word and poetry-centred albums on Flying Dutchman, but I think he hit his stride in the mid-seventies with this album and Winter In America, his sole recording for the great Strata East label.
Gil Scott-Heron 1949-2011
One of my greatest heroes passed away last week. One of the great voices of the last 40 years has been silenced, and Winter in America just got a little colder. He will be missed.
