Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Bar-Kays - Let's Have Some Fun (1976)



The Bar-Kays definitely groove as one on this track-- with amazing choppy guitar, bumping basslines, and brassy horns - all wrapped up with some wonderfully warm production!

Monday, April 5, 2010

Niteflyte - All About Love (1979)

A beautiful jazzy modern soul track -- and quite possibly the best tune by this legendary combo! There's a joyous, upbeat feel here that's totally great -- miles from mainstream soul of the time, in a way that's always made the record a favorite for fans of the Free Soul scene -- who've kept it strong for years.

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Cerrone - You Are The One (1982)



The maestro of French disco is still going strong here -- recording at his home turf of Trident Studios, and serving up the usual batch of extended club-happy grooves!


Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Whispers - The Solar Years























The Track was produced by Leon Sylvers and has a tight 80s groove sound that's very nice........

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Solar Record Video 1978/1986


S.O.L.A.R. Records (acronym for Sound of Los Angeles Records) was founded in 1977. The "SOLAR sound" was a collective effort, with artists working on each other's sessions and artists encouraged to be creative. Leon Sylvers III was the main producer behind the trademark SOLAR sound: funky, progressive dance music infused with soul and disco.

Super-Wolf - Super-Wolf Can Do It (1980)

Super-Wolf sampled this track by Denise Lasalle's "I'm So Hot". Super-Wolf was Jackson, Tennessee's rap legend back in the 1980's. Super-Wolf had one of the first hits in rap history with this regional favorite "Super-Wolf Can Do It".

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

G.Q. - Disco Nights & Sad Girl (1979) [live in 1980]



GQ began as Sabu & the Survivors in 1968. They had two Top 10 R&B and Top 20 pop hits, as well as a number one R&B single in 1979, with "Disco Nights (Rock-Freak)" also peaking at #12 pop; the single also won GQ an American Music Award. All their hits were on Arista from 1979 to 1982. 4 gold records & 3 platinum records.


Saturday, January 30, 2010

Rick James - Bustin Out (1979)



One of the greatest track of the end of the 70s -- written, arranged, and produced by the Super Freak himself -- with that bass-heavy punk-funk groove that Rick virtually invented!

Ohio Players - Fire (1975)



One of the biggest tunes ever for Ohio Players -- a track that took their earlier funk sound and targeted firmly at the mainstream with a lean, mean groove that a million other groups copied at the time!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Whispers - In The Raw (1981)



Classic Dance Solar material by The Whispers produced by Leon Sylvers with a tight 80s groove.

Lakeside - Something About That Woman (1981)



This cut comes from Lakeside's 6th album (and the fifth for Solar Records -- the west coast powerhouse for uptempo soul! ). The track's a great one !

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Instant Funk - Bodyshine (1979)


Instant Funk was one of the late disco era's greatest groups, and they really shine on this sesson of their own -production by Bunny Sigler, and remixing by Larry Levan.