Let The Week Begin...

My man WARLORD from the UK sent me these links/comments to some classic rap tracks. A nice assortment of hard to find underground goodies. This man knows his music - respect!

Dezo Daz-It's My Turn
1. It's My Turn (vocal)
2. It's My Turn (instrumental)
3. It's My Turn (bonus beats)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=8T6MV857

Dr Funkenstein & Dj Cash Money-Scratchin To The Funk (1986) - Cutting up another one of my favorite tracks - Trouble Funk-Pump Me Up:
1. Scratchin To The Funk (part 1)
2. Scratchin To The Funk (part 2)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=C0W80JYK

My favorite year in hip hop was 1989.When this track came out it was hot!
Stezo-Freak The Funk (1989)
1. Doug Lazy remix
2. Dub mix
3. Instrumental
4. Lp version
5. Radio version
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=K3RRUCWL

Here's an album that is a bit rare to get hold of - Mikey D & the LA Posse-Better Late Than Never
1. Taking No Shorts
2. Go For It
3. The Executioner
4. I Get Rough
5. Bust A Rhyme Mike
6. Party Time
7. My Telephone
8. Comin In The House
9. Peep It
10. Dawn
11. Kill That Bass
12. Listen To The Bassline
13. Beethoven Scratch
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KDVT6FZP

More to come...

Music For Your Weekend

Summer is here and I wanted to include a nice selection of tracks to kick off the season...Enjoy!

Summer Soul:
Everybody Loves The Sunshine(9th Wonder Remix) - Roy Ayers
Sunshine Day - Osibisa
Apparently Nothing - Young Disciples

Some 80's Club Favourites:
Such A Feeling - Aurra
Can't Keep Holding On - Second Image
You're The One For Me - D Train
You Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It Too - Brenda Taylor

Classic Rap Picks:
Get Tough - CDIII
I Love Them All - Supreme Nyborn
Breakdown - T La Rock

Chart This!

Here are the latest Top 10 charts from across the country...

Clyde(Deep Entertainment/Saskatoon,SK)
1. Slytek - Spinout
2. Jaytech/Matt Rowan - Spin Cycle
3. Jay Lumen - Calypso
4. Squash 84 - Captured Girl
5. Sultan - Jeopardy
6. Carlos Legaz - Funk Me No More (Legaz & Spider Oxi-Dub)
7. Sebastien Davidson - Where We Are
8. Wally Lopez - C'est Paris (Paolo Mojo mix)
9. Alexinno - Sunrise 5am (Treitl Hammond)
10.Greg Cerrone - Bulllit

Jason Palma(Play De Record/Toronto, Ont.)
1.The Sunburst Band “Put A Lyric In It” (Z)
2.The Heliocentrics feat. Percee P and Doom “Distant Star” (Stones Throw)
3.Zaki Ibrahim “Computer Girl” (Red Ink)
4.Yaw “Where Will You Be” (cdr)
5.Martino feat. Sacha “Praying For Rain(original mix)” (SSR)
6.Fertile Ground “Simple, Timeless” (Sonar Kollektiv)
7.Elizabeth Shepherd “Higher Ground” (Do Right!)
8.Jesse Futerman “Low” (cdr)
9.James Brown “There Was A Time(Kenny Dope rmx)” (Verve)
10.Sleepwalker “Brotherhood” (Jazzmin)

Eric D(JE Productions/Saskatoon,SK)
1.Alex Gold - Give it Up
2.Dariush - Good Vibration (DJ Remy Roland Klinkenberg Remix)
3.DJ Niki Belucci - Get Up (Chris Kaeser Remix)
4.Shazer k - Black Castle (Original Mix)
5.MC Flipside - Just The Tip (Hatiras Dub)
6.Wolfgang Gartner - Front To Back (Original Mix)
7.Sydney Blu - Give It Up For Me (Original Mix)
8.Sunny - My Trust (Sandy Vee Paul Star Remix)
9.fRew - Call Of The Crow (Red October Edit)
10.Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Chew Fu Refix ft. J-Cast & Substantial)

Music For Your Weekend

Lots of goodies this week! Some classic rap joints, along with a little funk and a couple of club classics thrown in for good measure:









Hip Hop Niceties...
Like A Throttle - BDP
Funky Song - Low Profile
No Justice, No Peace - Intelligent Hoodlum

A Little Funk...
The Funk Is Gonna Get You Yet - Karavan
Move On Up - Curtis Mayfield(Full Length Groove Version)

Classic Club Goodies...
Hear The Music - Gypsymen(A classic Todd Terry production)
Finally - Ce Ce Peniston(12" Choice Mix)

"Expansions" Radio Show Broadcast June 13th, 2008

**Interview with "Cheryl The Pearl" of Sequence fame on this program!!

Segement One
http://www.zshare.net/download/136182338bf2a481/
Segment Two
http://www.zshare.net/download/13618768cfda5961/
Segment Three
http://www.zshare.net/download/136195920e54d6b7/

Tracklisting for "Expansions" broadcast June 13th, 2008:
SEGMENT 1: CLASSIC RAP TRACKS...New Jack Hustler - Ice T/Gittin' Funky - Kid N' Play/Bring The Pain - Method Man/Crushin' - Fat Boys/Rock N' Roll Dude - Chubb Rock/Regulate - Warren G/I Ain't Trippin(Inst) - Too Short
SEGMENT 2: TRIBE CALLED QUEST TRIBUTE - Hot Sex/Scenario/Oh My God/Award Tour/Pubic Enemy/Stressed Out/Find A Way
SEGMENT 3 - INTERVIEW W/"CHERYL THE PEARL" OF SEQUENCE:Funk You Up - Sequence/**Interview w/ Cheryl The Pearl/Rhythm Change - Cheryl The Pearl/In The Mood - Cheryl The Pearl

"Expansions" Radio Show Broadcast June 6th, 2008

Part One
http://www.zshare.net/download/1358265041eab45f/
Part Two
http://www.zshare.net/download/135835200be3be14/
Part Three
http://www.zshare.net/download/1358401462edfe53/

Tracklisting for "Expansions" broadcast June 6, 2008:
Part One - Shake It Up Tonight - Cheryl Lynn/I'll Do Anything For You - Denroy Morgan/It Must Be Magic - Teena Marie/You Brought It On Yourself - Gayle Adams/Time - Stone/White Horse - Laid Back
Part Two - Fresh Idea - Deco/Shake It Up - Dazz Band/Bye Gones - Tom Browne/It Doesn't Really Matter - Zapp
Part Three - Guess?Who? - Doug E. Fresh/Don't Sleep On It - Rob Base & DJ E.Z. Rock/Here She Comes - Antoinette/Years To Build - 360 Degrees/On A Mission - Double XX Posse/My Part Of Town - Tuff Crew

Events This Weekend

Here's what's happening this weekend...
Friday
"Expansions" Radio Show w/Dr.J. Interview with "Cheryl The Pearl" of Sequence fame. Tribute to the music of Tribe Called Quest. Program airs Friday night 9:00-10:30 CST on 90.5FM CFCR. Check it on the web @ www.cfcr.ca

Saturday
"On Rotation" @ The Spadina Freehouse featuring Dr.J spinning the best in funk, soul and rare groove beats. Music starts @10:00. No cover charge.

"Ghetto Blasta" @ TCU Place featuring Krafty Kuts and Ill Insanity(Rob Swift,Total Eclipse,Precision). Doors open @8:00

Music For Your Weekend

Here are some classic rap joints to get your weekend started...









"Spell It With A J(Yes, Yes Jorge) - Kurious
"Day In Day Out" - Dream Warriors
"9th Wonder" - Digable Planets
"Rockin Music" - Steady B
"Now That Whodini's Inside The Joint" - Whodini

Music For Your Weekend

Dr.J - "Expand Your Mind" Volume 3
*This is my latest old school rap mix featuring tracks by The Beastie Boys, Tricky Tee, Bad Boys, Kid N' Play, Naughty By Nature and more. Enjoy!

Some Hip Hop Heat...
Ain't Sayin Nothin' - Divine Styler
Get Rough - Mikey D
5 Times The Rhymer - Deuces Wild

Some Classic Reggae...
Sorry - Foxy Brown

Chart This!

Here are some classic 80's rap joints...

1.Bring The Beat Back - Steady B(Jive)
2.Livin' In The World Of Hip Hop - MC Shan(Cold Chillin)
3.All Hail The Drum - Fresh Force(Sutra)
4.10% Dis - MC Lyte(First Priority)
5.The Godfather - Spoonie G(Tuff City)
6.Droppin' It - Bizzie Boyz(Payroll)
7.Court Is Now In Session - Chill Rob G(Wild Pitch)
8.Ragamuffin Hip Hop - Asher D & Daddy Freddy(Profile)
9.The Tragedy - Super Kids(NIA)
10.Just Say Stet - Stetsasonic(Tommy Boy)

Boyz II Men - Cooleyhighharmony

Sneaking into the backstage to sing for Bell Biv DeVoe's Michael Bivins was the gutsy, but worthwhile move that lit up the career for Boyz II Men. They made an immediate impression by singing an a cappella version of “Can You Stand The Rain”, which had originally been performed by Bivins' former group, New Edition. The quartet was signed to Motown records and soon saw their fame explode upon the 1991 release of the debut album, “Cooleyhighharmony” (from the '70s film, Cooley High, to which the title paid tribute). The group topped R&B charts with the release of their first single, the dance-oriented “Motownphilly”, which featured Bivins rapping alongside the smooth and polished harmonies of the soulful four. This success was followed up by the powerful and riveting a cappella cover of “It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday”. As if the success from the original album wasn't enough, in 1993 the group released an extended version of “Cooleyhighharmony” which included remixes, a cover of the 1956 hit, “In The Still of the Night”(originally performed by the Five Satins) and the record-breaking hit, “End of the Road” which was recorded for Eddie Murphy's Boomerang soundtrack.

Boyz II Men showcased profound harmonies delivered by Shawn Stockman's refined and smooth tenor voice, Wanya Morris' commanding and vibrato-laden tenor vocals, Nathan Morris' full baritone sound, and the deep rhythmic purring bass of Michael McCary. The fantastic four brought us an innovative sound, featuring the balanced and seemingly effortless trade-off of leads between members rather than the traditional R&B arrangements highlighting one or two lead vocalists with backup singers. Their debut album represents a talented group of young vocalists solidly establishing their niche among the realms of both up tempo street beats and heartfelt romantic ballads. The savvy combination of their 60's soul roots with the urban trend of New Jack Swing makes them, undoubtedly, one of the top R&B groups of all time.

By Amy B. Ware

Sympin

Motownphilly

Steely Dan In Review

Review: Steely Dan – Pretzel Logic
Released 1974
ABC Records / MCA Records

Any comprehensive review of Steely Dan’s career should probably start with their first two albums – Can’t Buy a Thrill (1972) and Countdown to Ecstasy (1973). Both of these albums contained several hits including classics such as “Do it Again”, “Reelin’ in the Years”, and “My Old School”. Yet, during this period the Dan was turning out what was basically pretty generic early-70’s rock. There were definitely shades of funk and jazz on both of these early albums but the genesis of the fusion of rock, funk, and jazz that Steely Dan would come to master only started to appear in all of its brilliance on their third album “Pretzel Logic” (1974).

It was around this time that Donald Fagan and Walter Becker (the two core and most recognizable members of the group) started to take control, slowing pushing out the rest of the band, replacing them with world-class session musicians. Many of these session players were funk and jazz masters (such as Jeff Porcaro, Larry Carlton, Lee Ritenour, and Bernard “Pretty” Purdy) leading the sound of the Dan into what most people familiar with their music would now recognize. This change in sound from straight-ahead rock isn’t that noticeable on the opening cut – “Ricki Don’t Lose That Number”. Obviously, this is a well-known hit followed by a much lesser known track.

It is this second track though that really starts to drive the new sound of the Dan home. "Night by Night" is totally unexpected – the listener is expecting to hear another rock track and is hit right between the eyes with rock-funk fusion. The Dan locks into a groove on this cut that is hard to ignore. This song was not a Top 40 hit but is definitely one of the strongest grooves on the album. Listen to this one at full blast with the windows open!

"Any Major Dude Will Tell You" follows with a much more mellow groove than "Night by Night". It’s easy to hear why this tune is a fan favourite, but it definitely sounds dated 34 years after its release. There are some memorable guitar hooks but the ample use of an old Fender Rhodes that carriers the melody of the track sounds really out of place today.

The only instrumental and only cover tune produced by the Dan is found on Pretzel Logic – Duke Ellington’s "East St. Louise Toodle-oo". This track, more than any other released by the group at this time revealed the new direction being taken. This is as far away from straight-ahead rock as they could get! This tune combines a myriad of different musical styles from jazz, to ragtime, to the blues. A major risk was taken recording this and strangely it fits in. I’m not sure that I would be playing this track at a yuppie house party though. Definitely do not play this one full blast while cruising the streets…

Continuing on in the direction of incorporating jazz into their sound and paying tribute to jazz greats, "Parker’s Band" is truly a standout track. It is an homage to jazz great Charlie Parker and incorporates two drummers (session aces Jeff Porcaro and Jim Gordon). The different drumming styles can distinctly be heard by adjusting the speaker balance from left to right.

The album is rounded out by five more tracks, two of which are standouts. "Through With Buzz" is a completely unexpected short song that sounds more like early ELO than Steely Dan. It’s as if Jeff Lynne showed up during the recording sessions – his sound is all over this track including the liberal use of a string quartet. Finally, the song "Pretzel Logic" drives home a bluesy sound that completed the Dan’s move from rock into the fusion that they would explore so successfully on subsequent albums.

A landmark album in rock, Pretzel Logic demonstrated the promise of a completely new sound for this period of the 1970’s. Sadly, Steely Dan as a band that toured came to an end with this album. Only Walter Becker and Donald Fagen would remain to compose and record future work. The influence of other band members would be felt throughout the rest of the ‘70’s though – in particular that of guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter and Michael McDonald who would go on to join The Doobie Brothers and transform that group from a hard rock sound to a blue-eyed soul hit machine.

By Schwinkle

Colour Me 80's! Party This Weekend

This Saturday night I will be hosting the Colour Me 80's! party @ Lydia's along with my man B-Lair. Here are a few 80's tracks to get you warmed up...

Human(Extended Version) - Human League

Shout(Dub Mix) - Tears For Fears

State Farm(Madhouse Mix) - Yaz

Presenting Ms. Chaka Khan...

Being a huge Chaka Khan fan and having just recently interviewed her for my radio program, I found it fitting to post some of her material here on the blog. I have included material from Chaka's "I Feel For You" album(released in 1984) which includes "This Is My Night", "Eye To Eye" and the classic hit "I Feel For You" which includes a rap cameo by Melle Mel. I have also included tracks from Chaka's recent album - "Funk This" which includes the single "Disrespectful" featuring Mary J. Blige and my favourites "Will You Love Me" and "One For All Time". Fans of Jill Scott, India Arie, Sade and Badu will surely enjoy this effort from Chaka. Two great albums from one of soul music's greatest treasures.


This Is My Night

Eye To Eye

I Feel For You



Disrespectful

Will You Love Me

One For All Time