Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – The Night Labi Siffre – It Must Be Love The Drifters – You Gotta Pay Your Dues The Montclairs – Hung Up On Your Love Leslie Uggams – Love Is A Good Foundation Jeanie Tracy – Making New Friends Target – Give Me One More Chance Getto Kitty – Stand Up & Be Counted The Dells – It’s All Up To You Bobby Taylor – There Are Roses Somewhere In This World King Tutt – You’ve Got Me Hung Up Moment Of Truth – So Much For Love Moments – Nine Times The Carstairs – It Really Hurts Me Girl Tavares – Don’t Take Away The Music Collins & Collins – Top Of The Stairs Otis Clay – The Only Way Is Up Benny Troy – I Wanna Give You Tomorrow Rhonda Davis – Can You Remember Best Friend Around – It’s So Good To Know Patterson – Gonna Find A True Love GD & The Big J – Movin’ On Touch Of Glass – I Just Can’t Say Goodbye Spinners – Are You Ready For Love Dennis Mobley & Fresh Taste – I’d Do Anything For Your Love Family Of Eve – Please Be Truthful Nina Simone – Touching And Caring The Main Ingredient – Happiness Is Just Around The Bend
This month, the D*ruffalo Hit Squad pays their dues to Northern Soul, the most stubborn of all underground dance music scenes. And in contrast to nearly all compilations documenting decades of ridiculously dedicated digging, this two hour set consists entirely of supreme anthems. Or “oldies”, as the veteran rare soul jocks and dancers call them (meaning neglected guilty pleasures that opened sesame all those years ago, more or less). Which is the same twisted logic applied that led to the term “Modern Soul”, the majority of which is not that modern at all. But that is another story that shall be told even more indulgently on you know where, but you don’t know when, but it could be soon.
In the meantime, lay out the towel, spread the talc, put on appropriate gear, turn it up some, and get seriously going. And keep the faith, of course!
Barrett Strong – Gonna Take A Journey Tommy Sears – Get Out Fred Hughes – I Keep Tryin’ Jackie Lee – Would You Believe Clifford Curry –I Can’t Get A Hold Of Myself The Valentines – Breakaway Dobie Gray – Out On The Floor Darrell Banks – Our Love Is In The Pocket Dave & Ruben – (I Love Her So Much) It Hurts Me Maurice Williams – Being Without You Gloria Jones – Finders Keepers The Olympics – The Same Old Thing Shirley Lawson – One More Chance Chuck Wood – Seven Days Too Long Edward Hamilton & The Arabians – Baby Don’t You Weep Ed Crook – That’s Alright The Inspirations – Touch Me Hold Me Kiss Me The Ballads – I Can’t See Your Love The Parliaments – Don’t Be Sore At Me Sid Barnes – I Hurt On The Other Side Trade Martin – She Put The Hurt On Me The Ad Libs – Nothing Worse Than Being Alone Duke Baxter – I Ain’t No Schoolboy Maurice Williams – The Night The Angels Cried Ronnie & Robyn – As Long As You Love Me Roscoe Robinson – That’s Enough Vivian Carroll – Oh Yeah Yeah Yeah Larry Santos – You Got Me Where You Want Me Ann Sexton – You’ve Been Gone Too Long Bobby Treetop – Wait Till Get To Know Ya The Inspirations – No One Can Take Your Place The Adventurers – Easy Baby Mill Evans – I’ve Got Have Your Love Sam Dees – Lonely For You Baby Don Thomas – Come On Train Barbara Lewis – I Remember The Feeling Fred Hughes – Don’t Let Me Down Joanie Sommers – Don’t Pity Me Rhetta Hughes – I Cry Myself To Sleep Steve Flanagan – I’ve Arrived The Barons – Walking In The City Willie Parker – I Live The Life I Love Sam Fletcher – I’d Think It Over Kenny Wells – Isn’t It Just The Same The Winstons – Color Him Father Clarence Hill – A Lot Of Love Goin’Round Little Esther Phillips – Just Say Goodbye The Exits – Under The Street Lamp
Pere Ubu – Non-Alignment Pact Richard Hell & The Voidods – Blank Generation The Members – Sound Of The Suburbs The Exploited – Attack The Ruts – Babylon’s Burning The Cockney Rejects – War On The Terraces The Undertones – Teenage Kicks The Damned – Disco Man The Business – Smash The Discos The Buzzcocks – Oh Shit! Mission Of Burma – Dumbells The Wipers – Romeo Joy Division – Failures Age Of Chance – Be Fast Be Clean Be Cheap The Fall – Prole Art Threat Dead Kennedys – Take This Job And Shove It Bad Brains – Sailin’ On Patrik Fitzgerald – All Sewn Up
Now we’re the king of the swingers, the jungle VIPs. We’ve reached the top and had to stop and that’s what’s botherin’ us. So we want to be like the other people, people, and stroll right into town. We’re tired of monkeyin’ around!
Here, have a banana.
Smoke City – Aguas De Marco (Restless Soul Movement) The Neville Brothers – Fly Like An Eagle (Slippin’ Dub) Julio Iglesias – Guajira/Oye Como Va (Un Beso Dub) Tom Tom Club – You Sexy Thing (Deep Bass) J. – The Promise (Deep Dub Mix) Rodeo Jones – Natural World (Reese Deep Mix) Bette Midler – To Deserve You (MK Dub 1) Trey Lorenz – Photograph Of Mary (Bass Hit Dub) Definition Of Sound – Pass The Vibes (In House Mix) Queen Latifah – Come Into My House (Zanzibar Mix) Kiss AMC – A Bit Of… Paul McCartney – Ou Est Le Soleil? Pet Shop Boys – Where The Streets Have No Name (David Morales Remix) U2 – Lemon (Bad Yard Club) Pet Shop Boys – So Hard (Red Zone Mix) Siouxsie And The Banshees – Fear (House Of Fear Extended) Grace Jones – Love On Top Of Love – Killer Kiss (The Cole & Clivilles Garage House Mix) Les Negresses Vertes – Mambo Show (Tee’s Freeze Instrumental) Les Negresses Vertes – Mambo Show (Tee’s Freeze Mix – The Shulimambo Edit) Patricia Kaas – Reste Sur Moi (BlueVelvet Mix) Jodeci – You Got It (Mack Dub) Deee-Lite – Call Me (Ralphi Rosario Extended LP Mix) Herb Alpert – North On South St. (Deep Dub Version) The Associates – Fire To Ice (Late Night Frozen Beats) Ryuichi Sakamoto – Love And Hate (Love Mix) Shakespear’s Sister – Black Sky (Dub Extravaganza Part II) Prince – The Future (Remix) Raven Maize – The Real Life (Original 12” Mix) Different Gear Vs. The Police – When The World Is Running Down (Original Bootleg Mix) Par-T-One Vs. INXS – I’m So Crazy (Original Mix) Finley Quaye – Spiritualized (Vibin’ Vocal Mix) The Beloved – Deliver Me (Eau De Livami Vocal)
The D.H.S. gives the dance the D.H.S. treatment, in a punky reggae fashion.
The D.H.S. rules the dance.
Seen?!
Scritti Politti – The Sweetest Girl The Flying Lizards – Ash And Diamond Au Pairs – Headache Colourbox – Baby I Love You So The Beat – Drowning The Special AKA – Racist Friend The Specials – Ghost Town UB40 – Food For Thought A.R. Kane – Catch My Drift Grace Jones – She’s Lost Control The Clash – Armagideon Time Kid Creole & The Coconuts – Schweinerei The Flying Lizards – The Window The Raincoats- No Ones Little Girl The Bodysnatchers – Too Experienced Orange Juice – Flesh Of My Flesh Colourbox – Shotgun World Domination Enterprises – Asbestos Lead Asbestos XTC – Dance With Me, Germany Wayne County And The Electric Chairs – C3 The Selecter – The Dream Goes On Gang Of Four – Woman Town Material – Ciquri Czukay/Liebezeit/Wobble – Where’s The Money Madness – Yesterday’s Men Patrick Cowley & Jorge Socarras – Burn Brighter Flame A Certain Ratio – Funaezekea Steel An’ Skin – Afro Punk Reggae Dub Dislocation Dance – Show Me 400 Blows – Black And White Mix Up Pere Ubu – Humor Me Young Marble Giants – Eating Noddemix Sad Lovers & Giants – Sleep (Is For Everyone) The Cure – All Cats Are Grey
The D.H.S. DJ selector mixing selecting a M-A-S-S-I-V-E special post- (or pre-) carnival set selection. Praise!
Harry Mudie Meet King Tubby‘s – Dub With A Difference Horace Andy’s Dub Box – Dub Larking Horace Andy – Skylarkin Junior Dan – A House Is Not A Home Junior Murvin – Police And Thieves Niney – Quiet Barrington Levi – Under Mi Sensi Althea & Donna – Uptown Top Ranking Ken Boothe – Everything I Own Gregory Isaacs – Cool Down The Pace Dennis Brown – Changing Times Max Romeo – Chase The Devil Mikey Dread & King Tubby – Parrot Jungle Super Chick – Roach Killer Sister Nancy – Bam Bam Connie Bell – Vampire Harry Mudie Meet King Tubby‘s – Dub In Rema Horace Andy – Money Money Jah Warrior – Dub From The Heart Anthony Red Rose – Tempo Tenor Saw – Ring The Alarm Robert Lee – Dreams Clement Irie – Kolo-Ko Wayne Smith – Under Me Sleng Teng Ackie – Call Me Rambo Ricky Melody – What A Act The Icebreakers – Work Out Linton Kwesi Johnson – Doun Di Road The Heptones – Message From A Black Man Nicky Thomas – Love Of The Common People Willie Williams – No One Can Stop Us A.L.T. Joe – Hitching A Ride The Paragons – The Tide Is High Derrick Harriott – Groovy Situation Marcia Griffiths – Feel Like Jumping Jim Brown – Seen Him Michigan & Smiley – Eye Of Danger Harry Mudie Meet King Tubby‘s – Full Dose Of Dub Lone Ranger – Badder Den Dem Ras Clifton – Look Over Yonder Otis Gayle – I’ll Be Around Ken Boothe – Memories Cocoa Tea & J.C. Lodge – Time For Love Dandy Livingstone – Big City Horace Andy – Quiet Place The Heptones – Mistry Babylon Linton Kwesi Johnson – Dread Beat An Blood Dillinger – Cocaine In My Brain Sound Dimension – Granny Scratch Scratch Richard Ace – Stayin’ Alive Norma White – I Want Your Love Risco Connection – Sitting In The Park Little Girl Wonder – It’s My House Dread And Fred – Warriors Advance Anthony Red Rose – Electric Chair King Tubbystyle – Deuteronomy Foxy Brown – Love Is Where You Can Find It Johnny Clarke – Wante Wante Can’t Get It Jacob Miller – Healing Of The Nation Johnny Osbourne – We Need Love Horace Faith – Black Pearl The Cimarons – We Are Not The Same Marvels – Rock Steady Toots & The Maytals – Funky Kingston Greyhound – Black & White Bob & Marcia – Young Gifted And Black
Mixes recorded for the Invitation To Openness Special at soulsender.de
Aaron Smith – Sometimes I Wonder Creative Force – It’s So Good Mirage feat. Gary L – Everything’s Gonna Be Alright Ron Carroll – A New Day Donnell Rush – Symphony Inner City – Pennies From Heaven Ce Ce Rogers – Brothers And Sisters Total Eclipse – Come Together Kevin Elliott Presents Malik Hart – We’re On Our Way Tommye – I Need To Go Away Miss Joi Cardwell – Goodbye The Bias Project – The Valley Mark Rogers – Twilight For Some
Mixes recorded for the Invitation To Openness Special at soulsender.de
New Deep Society – Warehouse (Days Of Glory) Park Avenue – Don’t Turn Your Love Sterling Void – Someday Masquerade – Real Love Frankie Hollywood Feat. Ricky Dillard – Feel The Fire Fred Fowler – Times Are Changin Joe Smooth – I Try Paris Brightledge – Learn To Love Irving And Romeo – Brighter Day Ce Ce Rogers – Someday Will Downing – A Love Supreme Fingers Inc. – A Love Of My Own
Michaela Melián – Convention (Monika Enterprises) Dee Dee Brave – Can’t Get Over It (Champion) Stefan Goldmann – Heatwave (Victoriaville) Jackin’ Bernard Badie – Bernard’s Got The Funk (D.J.B. Productions Records) Unknown Artist – Untitled (Chicago Underground) Unknown Artist – Untitled (Other Side Records) Barry Manalogue – Koyo Front (Nonplus Ltd.) Ricky Smith – Cry Baby (Chicago Bad Boys Records)
In early 2004, I was occupied with the confusing and chaotic last stages of leaving my cozy and beloved seaside hometown Kiel up north for the bright lights of Berlin. My girlfriend was already there for a while, and I was more than happy to live with her again, but at the same time I was very sad to leave my family and friends behind for what was very likely to be a move for many years and a future uncertain. One of those said friends was the one who operates under the Gram moniker, a likeminded soul with whom I shared a lot of cultural interests and lasting experiences, and with whom I wholeheartedly clashed heads over what we could not agree upon in many nights of smart conversations (and more often than not far less smart amounts of drinks and cigarettes).
As it became clear to the both of us that we would not see each other as much again for quite a while, we were toying with the idea of recording a mix together. Some kind of final joint venture for the time being, a testament to both our friendship and music we both loved. At that point we had a few discussions about digital mixing devices, Ableton and the likes were on the upswing, and he was dabbling in a few track productions on the computer and was more open to the idea than me, as I was pretty determined to not abandon my turntables for this kind of progress. But then I felt it would be a good opportunity to try something I had not tried before, particularly instead of criticizing a method I only knew in theory. So we soon agreed to embark on the endeavour of a digital mix that should at best use what seemed to be the ultimate advantage over a setup with two turntables, meaning the use of multiple tracks and the ability to insert more sounds than you could with two records playing at once (no, I’m no turntablist). The problem was that we had no Ableton or similarly advanced mixing software at hand. Among the programs Gram knew his way around was Cakewalk, which at the time was already vintage, to say the least. We soon realized that the only way for us to do it was to combine analogue hardware with it. The idea for the source material was quickly agreed upon. I had vivid memories of the Acid House glory days, and I was miffed about how revivalists were mostly only clinging to 303 sounds whenever the genre came back into the spotlight, whereas I always experienced Acid House as template for parties that incorporated diverse styles, and not only one. So basically we wanted to use landmark records of that era with a bit of stylistic leeway left and right and play them like we felt they should be played: energetic, raw, the archetypical aural rollercoaster ride. With this in mind I browsed my record collection for the basic tracklist and also for what should be the added value of the enterprise: a whole plethora of acapellas, samples, vocal snippets from records and movies, sound detours, intros and outros, all coming from different angles. We narrowed down the selection to how much we would need to match the typical CD length, and to how much elements we could inject into a track without drowning it, and then we chose a basic record and a basic tempo (Tyree’s “Acid Over”, which strangely then did not make it to the final tracklist later on) and I pre-mixed all in sync with it on two Technics MKs and we recorded each single track and snippet onto the computer afterwards. I don’t recall how many tracks of the program we could fill with all those recordings, but for me, who rarely used more than three channels on a mixer, it sure looked impressive. What also impressed me was the hours it already took to finish this first stage of the mix. And it was only preparation still.
When we then started to structure all the single components into a whole, it took way more time. For more than one month, we met several times a week and spent hours from early evening to early morning trying to work out the best sequence for our material that we felt we were capable of. I must add that I’m hardly a perfectionist and a studio boffin even less, but my collaborator was, and that fit like a glove with my enthusiasm for the idea and my many years of DJ experience. In fact, despite barely managing to complete more than one or two track sequences in several hours of work, it felt like we were already exploring the atoms of everything we used, and then splitting it into even smaller fractions, and it felt like a strange universe on its own. Frequently, we took a break, stepped back from the monitor and listened thoroughly to what we just did, and how it worked with what we did before, like a painter studied what ended up on the canvas (I’m not getting carried away). And it was like we’ve created a monster, too. Something that spiralled out of control. Something that seemed more out of reach in terms of finishing it with every little step we took. But then again, every small step, however long it took, seemed to lead to something we had not expected. New opportunities came to mind that led to the deletion of the ones not considered as good anymore. There were setbacks, detours, fresh and false starts, bad ideas. And there were leaps of faith, open sesames, sudden solutions, good ideas (I’m not getting carried away again). For the work on something as functional and purposeful as a recorded mix, it was pretty intense. When we finally stuck the outro to the last track, and gave the whole thing a final listening, we were surprised with how fresh and accomplished it sounded, and how little of all our efforts were apparent. We conceived artwork to complement the listening experience, and we were done with it. We were ultimately satisfied with the result. Of course anyone with enough skills could have come up with something equally or more engaging in realtime, thus sparing oneself the ridiculous amount of time we spent on it. But that was not the point. The point was to spend this ridiculous amount of time on it, together. Not caring if somebody would ever appreciate what and how we did it (and also secretly hoping somebody would). Not knowing if the dam we built would hold.
But it did. Time went by, and we are still very good friends, and still living in different cities. We never recorded something together again, but we sometimes speculate what it would have sounded like if we would have. I have never recorded a digital mix again, being too impatient and feeling too uncomfortable with anything else than two turntables. Gram, however, went on to record a few other fine mixes with the same dated setup. We both are still very proud of “Smileyville”. For us, it has stood the test of time, like the music it contains.
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