Archive for the ‘Janet Jackson’ Category

Janet Lauper

Wednesday, July 16th, 2014

So, quick question for yinz (that’s Pittsburgh for “y’all).

I’ve been posting a lot of Japanese and/or game music lately. Are any of yinz interested in that stuff at all? I’m always surprised when those posts seem to bring me in less traffic/comments than my silly 80s and dance remixes. Don’t get me wrong, I love Pet Shop Boys, Cyndi Lauper and Prince just as much (okay, way more) than the next guy, but I kind of like posting the Japanese stuff more, mostly because no one is doing it, but also because I feel there are a billion amazing great Japanese artists from the 80s that no one outside of Japan know about.

So, when you come here do you just skim the artist names and then close the tab if you don’t recognize them? Or do you download stuff you’ve never heard before just see check it out?

Of course, this is my blog and your answers to those questions might be entirely meaningless, but it’s nice to get input.

Now silly remixes of 80s dance music.

Cyndi Lauper
Time After Time (Special Remix 1)
Time After Time (Special Remix 2)
So a few months ago Epic re-released Cyndi’s seminal 1983 debut album She’s So Unusual. I reviewed it and basically called it a travesty of a release, with shit bonus tracks that focused too much on “EDM” modern-day remixes instead of the vintage mixes that fans have been clamoring over for years.

Someday I’m going to record high-quality vinyl rips of all the mixes they excluded (including the various “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” mixes). Until then, here are some weird DJ-only mixes of another great Lauper classic.

Posted in Cyndi Lauper, Janet Jackson, remixes | 19 Comments »

Audio update, now with Janet Jackson

Wednesday, May 29th, 2013

Okay, so last night I had a near nervous breakdown over audio issues. Because that’s what normal people do right?

Don’t answer that please.

So, here was my problem: My ART USB Phono Plus for, whatever reason, did not agree with my new computer. When I went from line-in to USB (analog-to-digital) all the high end on my recordings got cut off. It didn’t matter what USB port I used, or how I configured my recording setup, no matter what I did it always sounds the same. And my other preamp, the cheapo regular one, gave me crazy R/F interference that practically made it unusable.

I was just about ready to call it quits for the night, but then I had an epiphany: What if I used my ART Preamp like a regular pre-amp? Meaning I would hook it up to my computer via USB for power, but then run audio cables from the line-out on it into the line-in on my computer? Maybe that would bypass the shit filtering that was going on with the USB connection and I would get my high-end sounding better?

Tried it. It worked. I could finally hear the high-end. I was happy. That’s where I left things last night, with my “MY SHIT SOUNDS DOPE” update.

I spoke a bit too soon though. While my shit sounded good, “dope” was a bit of hyperbole (especially DOPE in caps).

Upon further review, I was still getting a good deal of line noise. Nothing crazy, about the same that I had before, but since I was no longer losing the high-end, I think I was able to hear it better. It was driving me crazy. So, then I had another idea: the ART USB Phono Plus can be powered by either USB or AC. What if I powered it by AC? Would removing USB from the equation help?

Bought an AC adapter for it, plugged it in, gave that a go. Nope. Actually it made it worse. At least I thought it did. So then I plugged the USB connection back into the computer while leaving the AC adapter plugged in, and then I tried to do a compare and contrast between recording via the USB and recording via the line-in. However, I noticed something odd; with the ART running off both USB and AC power it generated far less line noise. It was nearly inaudible over my speakers, and very quiet over my headphones. I suspect that  may have properly grounded it? Maybe did something to block off more RFT? I don’t know.

I could still hear it enough for it to moderately bug me though, so I decided to give some software filters a chance. First I tried Audacity. As always, it fell short. The noise removal in that doesn’t do the job for me. It removes it from quiet sections just fine, but if you’re working with anything that has bursts of noise in a quiet section then you can still hear the noise buried int he louder parts, at least I can anyways. No matter how much I fiddled with the settings in Audacity I couldn’t get it to work. The hiss removal in iZotope wasn’t much better either.

Then I remembered that the maker of my favorite click removal software, ClickRepair, also sells a program that removes line noise, aptly called DeNoise. I download that and gave that a shot, sticking mostly with the automatic settings.

Wow!  It works great. Between my reduced line noise coming in and the added help of DeNoise, my recordings are quieter and clearer than ever before. The difference is pretty amazing, Now I think my shit sounds dope. I don’t know though. You be the judge with tonight’s recordings.

Janet Jackson
Miss You Much (Mama Mix)
Miss You Much (Sing It Yourself Mix)
Miss You Much (Oh I Like That Mix)
You Need Me
I was going to test out my new setup with an abstract orchestral composition by Ryuichi Sakamoto, but I thought it might behoove me to use a song that people have actually heard before, so they can compare and contrast. Hence, Miss Jackson (if you’re Nasty).

Beastie Boys
The Beastie Boys Medley
Hey Ladies (Extended Funky Mix)
These are both from “Ultimix” LPs, special DJ only records. Typically, these things tend to suck. They’re usually quick and sloppy re-edits that don’t add anything new or original to the tracks. These mixes are pretty good though, the “Hey Ladies” extended mix ads a lot to the track and is a lot of fun.

 

Posted in B-sides, Beastie Boys, Janet Jackson, remixes | No Comments »

Squirrels! And Pop Music!

Wednesday, November 14th, 2012

There’s a monster behind me.

Well, not a monster. But something. And it’s literally behind me. In my closet.

Let me explain. My office/gaming area/general nerd den has a closet that is directly my computer desk. On Monday morning I was cleaning up when I heard a strange noise coming from said closet. I glanced over and saw a fucking paw sticking out from under the door. That door has no latch. The only thing separating me from the furry demon on the other side was the chance that it wouldn’t actually press up against the door.

I made a beeline for the door, putting my weight against it, it scurried off (probably back out the way it came, the door to the attic) and I immediately threw about four heavy boxes in front of the door, just in case it decided to return.

Now whenever I hear a noise in my home I naturally assume it’s another squirrel/muskrat/raccoon/opossum/bigfoot/that fucking thing in the Creepshow movie and that it’s secretly, quietly plotting a way to get out from the closet and to me so it can murderize me.

So if you see a headline about a large man in Pittsburgh being found dead in his house under mysterious circumstances, know it was the squirrels. They came for me…

So um…who wants some 80s pop music?

Janet Jackson
Control (The Video Mix)
What Have You Done For Me Lately (Extended Mix)
When I Think Of You (Dance Remix)
Let’s Wait Awhile (Remix)
I got these tracks from a remix album! Remember remix albums? Shit, remember albums?

Kylie Minogue
It’s No Secret (12″ Version)
Made In Heaven (Maid In England Mix)
That is not a typo, it is supposed to be “Maid.” Why? Fuck if I know. Let’s just blame it on the 80s and move on.

Like most 80s Kylie, this is some sugary pop music. Sweet as cotton candy and just as light. I listen to it now more as a curiosity than anything else, it hasn’t exactly stood the test of time (unlike her cover of “Locomotion,” which is still bangin’). I know Kylie has in the past taken some her older material and updated it for her live show, but I can’t imagine that either of these songs could be updated in anyway at all. They sound more like Debbie Gibson tunes than Kylie tracks.

Posted in Janet Jackson, Kylie Minogue, remixes | 7 Comments »

Debbie Harry, Madonna and Janet Jackson walk into a dance club…and everyone is like “OMG”

Thursday, July 5th, 2012

It’s an 80s diva clearinghouse here at the Lost Turntable! Hurry up and grab your favorite pop dance mixes before they’re gone for good! All sales are final!

Debbie Harry
French Kissin (Dance Mix)
Did you know that this song was written by Chuck Lorre? Yes, the same Chuck Lorre who brought us Dharma and Greg, The Big Bang Theory and Two And A Half Men?! What? How? Huh?

It turns out that this was the only pop song the dude ever wrote (at least, the only one that made it onto an album) and he went on to TV pretty soon afterward, his first stop being a co-composer for all the music to the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon! And I thought the dude from the Exotic Birds who ended up drumming for Stabbing Westward only to go on to create music for A&E shows had a weird career arc.

I can promise you that this song is exponentially better than any episode of any television show Chuck Lorre has worked on in the last 10 years.

Madonna
Frozen (Extended Club Mix)
Frozen (Meltdown Mix)
Hanky Panky (Bare Bottom 12″ Mix)
Hanky Panky (Bare Bones Single Mix)
One of these songs is a meditation on the difficulties of maintaining a serious relationship with someone who refuses to open up emotionally. The other is about a spanking fetish. Guess which one is which.

I think it’s fair to say that “Frozen” is the deeper of the two songs. It’s also the one I like more, but that has less to do with the lyrical content and more to do with the production as a whole. “Hanky Panky” is a fun song for sure, but I’ve never been a big fan of any modern song that tries to ape the 40s jump blues/jazz sound. I will say though that I do like the “Bare Bottom 12″ Mix” a bit more than the original version, thanks to its (very) extended breakdown that really emphasizes the beat over the horns and other more “vintage” aspects of the song’s production.

Additionally, I’m very depressed that no one has ever done a mash-up of this song with Christina Aguilera’s “Candyman” and/or “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”

Janet Jackson
Escapade (Shep’s Good Time Mix)
Escapade (The Get Away Dub)
Escapade (Shep’s Housecapade Mix)
Escapade (Housecapade Dub)
Escapade (I Can’t Take No More Dub)
These “Escapade” mixes will be the last Janet tracks I’ll be sharing here…until I find more. There were eight singles for Rhythm Nation 1814, and you bet your ass I’m going to get all of them someday.

Until that glorious day, enjoy these cuts. These are great mixes, and the near-acapella sections really show just how much Janet sounded like Michael back then. There are portions in the “Shep’s Good Time Mix” where she sounds just like her brother. It’s freaking eerie.

 

Posted in Debbie Harry, Janet Jackson, Madonna | 6 Comments »

Feminism, Record Sales and Janet Jackson

Wednesday, June 13th, 2012

A few quick things that have nothing to do with much of anything.

First, if you at all follow video game news then you probably know that Anita Sarkeesian (the woman behind the amazing website Feminist Frequency) recently launched a Kickstarter to help fund her project about the portrayal of women in video games. You also probably know that her announcement of said project set forth a tidal wave of misogyny, threats and hatred toward her. Want to piss of a misogynist? Donate to her Kickstarter and fight the good fight. By the way, if you have anything negative to say about her, that project or feminism in general, please take your stupid little thoughts elsewhere, like off a cliff.

Okay, on to happier news! This weekend (June 15th, 16th and 17th) Jerry’s Records is putting together a massive vinyl convention dubbed Vinylpalooza. Detailed information about the event can be found here. If you are at all anywhere near the Pittsburgh area, I suggest you check it out. It should be awesome.

Finally, if you are one of the eight people who visited my other blog, Random Record Reviews, I have bad news for you. I deleted it. I think my goal of reviewing a randomly chosen album every week was crazy, and I just didn’t have the drive to keep it going. However, I can promise you that you have not seen the last of that feature, I plan on taking it elsewhere. I have some big plans coming this year, and if it all pans out right then you will all hopefully be seeing a lot more writing from me.

I really hope it all works out right. Until then, let’s listen to some Janet Jackson. Yeah, another Janet Jackson post. Don’t like it? Well, what have you done for me lately?

Ooh ooh ooh yeah.

Janet Jackson
Control (Extended Version)
Control (Dub Version)
Control (Acappella)
Nasty (Cool Summer Mix Part I)
Nasty (Cool Summer Mix Part II)
The Pleasure Principle (Long Vocal)
The Pleasure Principle (Acappella)
The Pleasure Principle (12″ Dub)
The Pleasure Principle (The Shep Pettibone Mix)
I think I posted most of these before, although I can’t be sure. Some of my oldest posts are MIA, lost during my migration from Blogger to my own site. However, even if I did share these songs before, these are brand spankin’ new rips, and sound way better than my old ones. So you should download them regardless. I should have a post of all-new music (well, newly posted here) either tomorrow or early next week.

 

Posted in Janet Jackson, remixes | 5 Comments »

Blackest Cats

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

Did everyone have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend (and for my international readers, did everyone have a lovely…um…regular weekend)? Mine was a mixed bag. The family stuff was less than stellar, but I did get to spend my Saturday at Movement in Detroit watching Public Enemy (with Ice-T!!!) tear shit up. That was pretty damn rad.

When I wasn’t at Movement or trying desperately not to swallow my own tongue as a means to avoid my brother, I visited a few record stores in my decrepit hometown of Toledo, Ohio, a city that still has a surprising number of quality independent record stores. I’ll be posting some highlights from that shopping outing in a few days. Until then, some Janet.

Janet Jackson
Black Cat (Funky 12″)
Black Cat (Funky 7″)
Black Cat (Video Mix Short Solo)
Black Cat (3 Snaps Up 12″)
Black Cat (3 Snaps Up 7″)
Black Cat (3 Snaps Up Dub)
I posted a couple of these remixes ages ago, and at the time the equipment I had was so sub-standard that I wasn’t able to record the other tracks in a way that I thought would be worth sharing. The times have changed! Now here are all the remixes from the amazing 12″ single to this classic Janet Jackson tune.

I am also using this opportunity to beg for some more remixes to this song. Specifically, I am looking for the following:

  • Edit Version
  • Video Mix / Long Solo
  • Featuring Vernon Reid
  • “The 1814 Megamix” (Full Version)

If anyone can help me locate these mixes I’ll totally be your best friend forever. I know I’ve said that before, but this time I really…am saying it again. Seriously though, if you can help me out I’ll hook you up with some mixes as well. Leave a comment if you can! Hey, leave a comment if you can’t too. I like comments.

Posted in Janet Jackson, remixes | 6 Comments »

Dual Divas

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

Anyone care to recommend a good direct-drive turntable? I’m finding more and more problems with my Audio Techinca. Any advice would be appreciated.

Madonna
The Power of Good-Bye (Fabian’s Good God Mix)
The Power of Good-Bye (Slater’s Filtered Mix)
The Power of Good-Bye (Slater’s Super Luper Mix)
The Power of Good-Bye (Dallas Austin Low End Mix)
Of the 12″ Madonna singles I picked up in San Francisco last month, this one was my favorite and remains the only one I regularly listen to still.  It’s a great example as to why I love 12″ singles so much. One song. Four remixes. Each drastically different.

“Fabian’s Good God Mix” is a beat-heavy dance mix made for the dance floor, as is “Slater’s Filtered Mix” but while the “Good God” mix is a pretty straightforward 12″ mix, the “Filtered” mix changes the song radically. It transforms it into a crazy hardcore rave track with distorted vocals and a non-stop throbbing beat. But it’s not even the weirdest mix on the record. That would be “Slater’s Super Luper Mix,” which is nothing more than the lyric “freedom come” looped over and over again until it looses all meaning and devolves into unintelligible noise. It’s over eight minutes long though, and that one trick really wears thin after the first four minutes or so. Finally, there’s the “Dallas Austin Low End Mix” which is a sparse mix that is, not surprisingly, heavy on the bass. I enjoy that one as well.

Janet Jackson
Together Again (Tony Moran 12″ Club Mix)
Together Again (Tony Humphries Club Mix)
Together Again (Jimmy Jam Extended Deep Club Mix)
Together Again (DJ Premier Just Tha Bass)
According to Wikipedia, “Together Again” is one of the best-selling singles of all time, an ironic feat considering that the album it came off of, The Velvet Rope, was considered to be something of a commercial disappointment. I haven’t heard that album in its entirety in ages, but it does have two of my favorite Janet Jackson singles on it, this track and the excellent Joni Mitchell-sampling ” Got ’til It’s Gone.” For the record, my favorite Janet Jackson single is “Black Cat.” I need to re-record that 12″ single and put it back up here sometime.

The Tony Moran and and Tony Humphries mixes are good, but relatively standard as dance mixes go. The other two mixes are more interesting, especially since they feature entirely different vocals by Janet that slow the song down tremendously. I don’t know if I like them as much as the more upbeat dance versions, but they certainly match the bittersweet theme of the song better than the poppy, happy, delivery on the original version.

Posted in Janet Jackson, Madonna, remixes | 3 Comments »

I know what I have and I still have it. So hah.

Friday, May 7th, 2010

Random pop culture recommendations:

Foxy Shazam’s new self-titled CD is un-be-fucking-lievable. Buy it.
How To Train Your Dragon is amazing. See it in 3D if you can.
The Protomen kick ass. Buy everything they have and see them live if possible.

Janet Jackson
Got ‘Til It’s Gone (Def Club Mix)
Got ‘Til It’s Gone (Def Radio Mix)
Got ‘Til It’s Gone (Armand Van Helden Speedy Garagez Mix)
Got ‘Til It’s Gone (Nellee Hooper Master Mix)
Got ‘Til It’s Gone (Jimmy Jam Mellow Mix)
Got ‘Til It’s Gone (Ummah’s Uptown Saturday Night Mix)
Got ‘Til It’s Gone (Original Extended Version)
Got ‘Til It’s Gone (Ummah Jay Dee’s Revenge Mix)
Got ‘Til It’s Gone (LP Instrumental)
This is probably my fifth favorite Janet Jackson song. Behind “Nasty,” “Rhythm Nation,” “Control” and “If.” Although that last one is probably my favorite solely because of the video which was just…damn. Sure it may not be that risque now but it left quite the impression on me when I was 12.

But anyways, were here to talk about this song, which was apparently produced by the late great J. Dilla. And if you know who J. Dilla is then you probably already knew that. You also probably already knew that the “Ummah” mixes of the song were remixed by the Dilla also. Well look at you, aren’t you smart. Show off. These are from a 12” single.

Madonna
Causing a Commotion (Silver Screen Mix)
Causing a Commotion (Dub)
Causing a Commotion (Movie House Mix)
Now, don’t get me wrong, “Causing a Commotion” is an excellent pop song. I love it. That’s why I bought the 12” single. But the “Movie House Mix,” is nearly 10 minutes long. And unlike “Atomic Dog,” you can have too much of this number. The six-minute “Silver Screen Mix” is far more palpable. You’ve been warned. Also listening to either version will probably cause the chorus to be stuck in your head for about six hours.

Posted in J. Dilla, Janet Jackson, Madonna, remixes | No Comments »

I Bet You Think This…meh whatever.

Monday, August 24th, 2009

Things are finally starting to slow down after Lollapalooza. My backlog of work is dwindeling, and I’ve finally been able to record some of the stuff I picked up in Chicago. Expect some cool shit in the coming days. For tonight, the promised shitload of Janet Jackson remixes.

Janet Jackson
Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You) (Al B Rich Son Of A Club Mix)
Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You) (Al B Rich Son Of A Club Radio Dirty)
Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You) (Al B Rich Tribe A Pella)
Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You) (Bad Boy In House Mix)
Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You) (Cottonbelly Dub)
Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You) (Cottonbelly Remix)
Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You) (P Diddy Remix)
Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You) (P Diddy Super Extended Mix Dirty)
Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You) (Rock Remix Dirty)
Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You) (Route 80 Remix)
Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You) (Ruff Mix)
Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You) (The Original Flyte Tyme Remix)
That’s 12 remixes of this song. I had more, but sorry, this is enough. The rest were clean cuts or instrumentals. I can only take so much of this tune, although I do love it. It’s no “If” though. That song is an underrated classic. Well, maybe I think that because of the video. that one was an…education for me back in the day, let me tell you.

Posted in Janet Jackson, remixes | 6 Comments »

What Have I Done For Me Lately?

Monday, July 20th, 2009

To the person who shared the Aphrodite remixes, thank you so much! I only had them in mix form, not as separate tracks. I’m stoked.

Since that worked out so well for me I’m going to request some music for a change! That’s right, I’m a hypocrite! So I’m looking for a few rare tracks. Anyone who shares them will have their wildest wishes come true. Or I’ll hook them up with some rare tracks of their choice, whichever. They are:

David Bowie – Cat People (Putting Out Fire): I’m looking for the super-long 8:20 version that was only on the Australian single.

Janet Jackson – Any official remixes of “If” and “Son Of a Gun.”

Like I said, any help in finding these would be rewarded.

I’m planning a series of incredibly awesome hip-hop posts, so tonight’s post is kind of sparse. I’ll make up for it soon.

Janet Jackson
Nasty (Cool Summer Mix Part I)
Nasty (Cool Summer Mix Part II)
I said I was done posting Michael Jackson songs, I never said anything about Janet. Stop me though if I start posting La Toya remixes. Part II is more of a megamix, incorporating “What Have You Done For Me Lately” and some other Control tunes, still good though. However, this is 18 minutes of “Nasty” when combined, which is far more of Janet Jackson’s Nasty than you could ever want. And yes, I realize how gross the term “Janet Jackson’s Nasty” sounds when using “nasty” as a noun. About three and half minutes in there’s a slight jump in the recording that I just couldn’t fix. It’s barely noticeable though.

Arcadia
Election Day (Consensus Mix)
Election Day (Cryptic Cut [No Voice] Mix)
Election Day (Fact & Story Mix)
Goodbye Is Forever [Extended Mix)
Goodbye Is Forever [Dub Mix)
I was actually accumulating a solid collection of Arcadia singles when someone sent me a link to a torrent that had all of them. I’m still working on completing my collection, but these files sound a hell of a lot better than my vinyl rips, so I’m going to post them instead. After I do my mega-awesome-hip-hop posts I’ll put up the rest of these tracks.

Posted in Arcadia, Duran Duran, Janet Jackson, remixes | 16 Comments »