Archive for June, 2013

Disco > Hate

Wednesday, June 26th, 2013

Other website news:

Wrote up a review of David Yow’s insane solo debut.

Did a mini-rant on how I think limited editions are fucking it up.

And in case I didn’t mention it before: YO, THIS IS A SONG ABOUT DIG DUG BY THE MAN WHO SANG DREAM WEAVER. 

I’m moderately stoked about that one, sorry.

Also, since everyone else on the Internet seems to hate me for this one, a while ago I wrote a thing on Doug TenNapel’s Kickstarter, and why you shouldn’t support bigots. With his Kickstarter hitting the tail end of its fundraising, I would appreciate it if you read it, and if you agree, share it.

And now on a completely unrelated note: some fabulous motherfucking disco.

All of tonight’s songs are all taken from DiscoNet Volume 6, a 1979 DJ-only 2LP set meant for club play.

Afrika Bambaataa/Kraftwerk/Lipps. Inc
Planet Rock/Tour De France (Extended Edit)/Choir Practice
Like most DJ-only compilations I’ve managed to come across, the first side of DiscoNet 6 is a non-stop mix. However, unlike most every other DJ-0nly compilation, this one kicks ass. This set came out in 1983, which was really a great time for dance music. Disco was finally dying out, and being replaced by the Moroder-influenced electronic dance music that would go on to dominate the rest of the decade. Producers and engineers were discovering crazy new ways to use synthesizers and digital equipment, and DJs were taking the art of the mix to places it had never been before. Pretty rad stuff all around, and I think these tracks show that pretty well, starting with this mix that combines American rap, German electronic music and some good old-fashioned disco that still kicked ass.

The “Planet Rock” part of the mix is pretty minor, just the first few seconds honestly. Most of the track is dedicated to “Tour De France,” in an awesome extended edit form that really draws it out to awesome epic length. The closer by Lipps. Inc is also great, and shows that their categorization as a one-hit wonder may have been a bit unjust. Great stuff here.

Valerie Oliver
Get The Money (Extended Club Mix)
I have no idea who Valeria Oliver is. She apparently released just three singles, this being her first, before vanishing from the pop music scene in the mid-80s. This song is pretty silly, an ode to getting yo’ cash from yo’ man, but it’s fun. And I love the Blondiesque rap breakdown about halfway through.

Stefano Pulga
Love Taker
I LOVE THIS SONG.

I love disco sung through a crazy thick Italian accent. I have no idea why. Couple that with the awesome 808 (or possibly 303) squelching and goddamn I’m in love with this Italian man and his amazing hair. I also don’t know what the hell a “Love Taker” is aside from a wicked burn that rhymes well with “Heart Breaker,” but hey, I’m not a songwriter so I can’t judge.

Pamala Stanley
I Don’t Want To Talk About (Extended Edit)
Pamela Stanley has an unreasonably long Wikipedia entry that I highly suspect was created, edited and moderated by either Pamela Stanley or someone who knows her personal phone number. She put out one album in 1979 and had a handful of minor hit singles, but that was about it for her mainstream success. Glad to see she’s still going at it tho. The world is always in need of more disco divas, no matter the decade.

Posted in Pamela Stanley, remixes, Stefano Pulga, Valerie Oliver | 8 Comments »

Terri Nunn is Cooler Than You

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013

First and most important order of business: Everyone go listen to this song about Dig Dug by Gary Wright. It will change your life.

Okay, now some other pressing matters: I want this.

Unfortunately, Death Waltz can’t ship it to the US (sidenote: Death Waltz needs better lawyers). Anyone want to help me out? I’ll pay for it of course. Cover shipping too. Be your best friend, buy you cake, you name it.

I got a copy! Thanks everyone for your help.

Now, a strange combination of remixes.

Aerosmith
The Other Side [Matt Dike ”Honky Tonk” Version]
The Other Side [Club Mix]
Theme from ”Wayne’s World”
For a rock band, Aerosmith sure as hell has a lot of remixes. At one point in my life, I had remixes of “Love In An Elevator,” “Dude (Looks Like a Lady),” and even “Rag Doll.” I wonder what the point of these mixes was? I can’t imagine people in the clubs were ever really clamoring for Aerosmith dance mixes. And if they were, then where the fuck is the dance mix of “Mama Kin”?

Of these two mixes, the “Club Mix” is exactly what you’d expect. However the “Honky Tonk Version” is really…something. It transforms the tune into a country-flavored rock tune. Very, very odd.

And finally, yo “Wayne’s World” theme. Live. Awesome.

Terri Nunn
89 Lines (Club Mix Edit)
89 Lines (Blurring The Lines Remix)
Terri Nunn is the lead singer of Berlin. She is fabulously awesome and amazing, and no one bought her single solo CD because the world is a dark horrible place and we’re not allowed to have nice things.  I found this promo CD-single in a dollar bin at a record show last week and it was like a beacon of light surrounded by used Jimmy Ray and Constantine CDs. Say what you will about Terri Nunn (I fucking dare you) but she deserves better than that.

Posted in Aerosmith, B-sides, remixes, Terri Nunn | 7 Comments »

Sulking In Pittsburgh

Friday, June 14th, 2013

Who wants an update in my continuing adventures in audio insanity?

Okay, so when I left off last time, I discovered that my my new computer did not like my previous setup of hooking my turntable up to my computer via my Art USB Phono Plus. It was creating a muddy sound that cut off a lot of high frequencies. I then discovered that if I used my Art USB as a traditional pre-amp, and hooked it up to my computer via my line-in, then I got rid of that problem.

The downfall there was that I was getting increased line noise. A problem that I could then reduce by editing the file using the excellent DeNoise program. It was still there, but not in a way that bothered me significantly.

Well, for at least a week or two.

Anyways, before I figured that out, I went ahead and ordered another stylus to see if that was the problem, picking up an Audio Technica AT 120E/T from Amazon, a decent mid-range cartridge comparable to my Nagaoka MP-110. Even though I had solved the problem, I went ahead and gave that cartridge a go with my new setup. I liked how it sounded, just a little fuller with a little more treble, and decided to keep it.

So tonight, I was having problems recording my Blade Runner vinyl. It’s a great-sounding record, but it’s also very quiet, I was having a hard time getting rid of the line noise in the recording. On a whim, I decided to hook up my Art USB to my computer via USB once more, and see how that sounded with the new cartridge.

Holy shit! The “muddy’ problem was gone! Apparently there was something about my cartridge that was angering either the Art USB or my computer. I don’t know how that works, but whatever, now I got a setup that has the best of both worlds; no muddy sound from my previous USB connection, and no line noise caused from a crummy line-in connection.

I’m sure I’ll find something about it that’ll piss me off in a week or so though.

By the way, these were all recorded a while ago and are not indicative of any audio revelations.

A Guy Called Gerald
Voodoo Ray (Extended Mix)
Voodoo Ray (Gerald’s Rham On Acid Remix)
Voodoo Ray (Paradise Ballroom Mix)
Voodoo Ray (Penthouse Mix)
Voodoo Ray (Voodoo Raydio Mix)
A Guy Called Gerald is Gerald Simpson, who at one point was a member of the legendary dance act 808 state. I do not know who Voodoo Ray is.

Now that I think about it, I don’t know what Voodoo Ray is. Perhaps Voodoo Ray isn’t a person, but a raygun that attacks people with the powerful force of motherfucking voodoo. And I saw Serpent and the Rainbow. That shit is fucked up.

Bran Van 3000
Drinking In L.A. (Dave One Remix)
Thinking In L.A. (Zoobone Remix)
Sinking In L.A. (Dub)
Drinking In L.A. (Who Mix?)
Drinking In L.A. (Fink Mix)
I grew up in Toledo, and we had a Canadian-based alternative station called 89x, so I actually heard this song when it first came out in 1997. Later that year, a 17-year-old me went to L.A. for the very first (and last) time to tag along with my dad for an industry convention. Within about about two days I thought, “yup, that Bran Van song has this city pegged pretty well, Hell A.” This is the Canadian hip-hop version of that one Tool song.

That was a weird sentence.

Anyways, these mixes are from a 12″ single. And if you’ve never heard of Bran Van 3000, check them out, they’re pretty fantastic.

And yo, don’t forget that I’m once again trying to get rid of some records! Check out this post for more info.

Posted in A Guy Called Gerald, Bran Van 3000, remixes | 7 Comments »

Yo! Wanna Buy Some More Records!?

Thursday, June 13th, 2013

Here we go again, I’m looking to unload some of my massive collection of vinyl and CDs, and I thought I’d give you all first dibs.

In case you missed my first sale, here’s how this works:

1. Click here to check out what I’m selling.
2. Shoot me an email (lostturntable AT yahoo DOT com) with an offer, try to include “I WANT TO BUY” in the subject. I get so much spam it’s like woah.
3. Assuming we agree on a price, you I will then remove the items off my list.
4. You pay me within 48 hours.
5. I ship your records.

Any questions, also shoot me an email.

Happy bidding, new post with music tomorrow!

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

Ryuichi Sakamoto – Discord Gütninja Remixes

Monday, June 10th, 2013

Been neglecting Lost Turntable in favor of Mostly-Retro for the past week or so. Sorry about that, getting a blog up and running is hard work, especially when you’re trying to balance it with work that actually pays. In case you’re interested, some stuff I’ve put up there recently includes this review of the latest by Queens Of The Stone Age, and a rather obscene take on Microsoft’s rather obscene used games policy they seem to be adopting with the Xbox One. If you miss my foul-mouthed rants of old then you should probably read that post. I suspect you’ll like it.

Now music.

Ryuichi Sakamoto
Discord - Gütninja Remixes (complete album download)
I bought this in Tokyo, and recorded it last month. About the only thing that has stopped me from sharing it here is trying to figure out how to write about it, as well as the realization that only about five other people in the world will care about it. But hey, I’m sure those five people will be stoked.  For the rest of you, I’ll try to talk you into downloading this and giving it a chance.

I’ve written about Sakamoto on this site before, but in case you missed those posts, here’s a quick refresher. Ryuichi Sakamoto was part of the super-influential/amazing/incredible Japanese electronic pop group Yellow Magic Orchestra; a group who helped to lay the groundwork for synth-pop, electronic dance and even chip-tune. After they disbanded in the mid-80s, Sakamoto embarked on his wildly diverse and successful solo career, which includes mainstream rock music, ambient electronica, and orchestral compositions. He even won an Oscar in 1987 for his work with David Byrne and Cong Su on The Last Emperor.

In 1997, Sakamoto released Discord, his first classical work that was not for the screen (although many of his previous works had some classical elements). Primarily orchestral with a touch of piano, the album also featured some guitar and even some turntablism from DJ Spooky, so even if classical isn’t your thing, I think you should give it a chance. It’s really different.

Two years later, Sakamoto (or someone on Sakamoto’s label) handed Discord off to various DJs, producers and other electronic musicians for remixing, and the result is this album. It’s something special and unique, thanks largely to the remixers chosen for the project, who include Amon Tobin, Coldcut, Andrea Parker and Tavin Singh (a lot of Ninja Tune is on this record). They really work to transform the classical compositions into entirely new tracks, sometimes removing and reworking so much of the original pieces that they’re nearly unrecognizable. That’s not a bad thing in this case, however, all these tracks are great, even when they have little to nothing in common with the source material.

In case you can’t tell, I really dig this record. It’s pretty much everything I love all rolled into one big ball of awesome; Sakamoto, Ninja Tune, crazy remixes, and awesome weird Japanese shit. I really hope I’ve convinced you to check it out too.

Posted in Complete Albums, remixes, Ryuichi Sakamoto | 10 Comments »

The D.C. Cab Soundtrack. I don’t know why.

Wednesday, June 5th, 2013

Giorgio Moroder produced three soundtracks in 1983.

The first was for Flashdance, it went on to sell millions of copies, win an Oscar for best original song, and helped influence the very sound of the 1980s.

The second was for Scarface. While not as influential, it certainly served as a memorable score for the film, and featured great songs by the legendary Debbie Harry.

The third was for D.C. Cab. And hey, two out of three ain’t bad.

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Shalamar
Deadline USA
Shalamar is how the world was introduced to Jody Whatley, an 80s pop also-ran who scored a few hits with tracks like “Looking For A New Love” and “Real Love.” She was rad. Shalamar was…less rad. But they weren’t bad, and were probably one of the only disco acts to successfully make the transition to 80s pop and score a few MTV hits. This song is certainly catchy as hell, and reeks of Morder’s production, even if it was actually produced by Pete Bellote, a frequent Morroder collaborator. Synthesized funk gold. Seriously, the more I listen to this song the more I love it. I want to set my own real-life 80s training montage to it.

Peabo Bryson
D.C. Cab
This is the hardest I’ve ever heard Peabo rock, which is saying absolutely nothing considering he’s best known for songs like “Tonight I Celebrate My Love” and his “Beauty and the Beast” duet with Celine Dion. If you hear this song and think “wow, I need more Peabo in my live!” trust me, you don’t. You really don’t.

Champaign
Knock Me On My Feet
I only barely know one other Champaign song, the minor 1981 hit “How ‘Bout Us,” which I forgot completely until I looked it up on YouTube, and then promptly forgot about again. That song is horrendous. This song is amazing, probably the most Moroder of the songs from the soundtrack that I’m featuring here. The guitar solo is dope!

Karen Kamon
Squeeze Play
Karen Kamon is a singer who is probably best known for her work on the Flashdance soundtrack. No, she didn’t sing “Flashdance,” that was Irene Cara. And no, that wasn’t her on “He’s a Dream,” that was Shandi. She sang “Manhunt,” the soundtrack for the other, other dance scene in the film. She released two albums in the early 80s as well, but I’ve never heard them and they’ve never even been re-issued on CD, so I can’t speak to them. This song is pretty great though. It’s no “Manhunt,” but it’s a nice dance tune. Unfortunately, the LP suffered from some drastic inner-groove distortion here, so it’s a little distorted.

Leon Sylvers
World Champion
Don’t know much about this guy either, apparently he was a big producer for a bit, but he hasn’t done much in a while. Not a bad song, but forgettable.

Stephanie Mills
Party Me Tonight
Stephanie Mills was the original Dorothy int the first Broadway production of The Wiz, and that’s fucking awesome. I don’t think her pop career was ever as big as her stage one though. This is a synthtastic example of Mordoder production, and would fit in perfectly on the soundtrack to Flashdance.

Gary U.S. Bonds
One More Time Around The Block Othelia
Gary U.S. Bonds sung “Quarter To Three,” one of the best soul songs of the early 60s. Twenty-one years later he was on the D.C. Cab soundtrack. Man, life can be rough. At least he got the theme song to the baddest motherfucker in the movie, Othelia, played by the ultimate bad-ass Marsha Warfield. But I’ll talk more about her when I review the movie on my other site.

Giorgio Moroder
Knock Me On My Feet (Instrumental)
I guess Giorgio had high hopes for this one if he felt he should close the soundtrack with this instrumental version. Like I said before, it is definitely very Moroder, but when you hear the other stuff he was putting out around that time, this just doesn’t compare at all. Eh, at least it’s not “Danger Zone.”

The D.C. Cab soundtrack also featured “The Dream” by Irene Cara (wow!) and DeBarge’s “Single Heart.” However, those are both available on CD and digitally, so I’m not including them here. Sorry!

Hope you enjoy these tunes, and after you grab them, head over to my other site for reviews of the Beggars 5CD box sets, Joyful Noise’s Cause & Effect Vol. 1, and the really bad vinyl version of the really good new Alice In Chains album. And if you’re feeling like hating humanity, check out this post too.

Posted in Giorgio Moroder, soundtrack | 3 Comments »