Dimitri from Paris returns to Playboy Mansion

That one I swear I didn't see coming.

When Dimitri from Paris' name no longer graced the Playboy at the Mansion compilation cd series, it didn't feel right, no respect to the two djs that followed him, and Playboy wanted to diversify the dj roster nothing wrong with that, but sales speak words and in the hearts of those who got their hands on the first 2 cds, Dimitri was the man, he truly represented the spirit of the mansion, he seemed to me and most that only HE could fill the spot.

So here we are in 2008 with the 6th Playboy mansion compilation cd (and 2 disc vinyl LP) hitting stores in mid-April 2008 with THE man at the helm and what better way to do it than give the Nu Disco artist emeritus who wears hats even if is hairline is not receding, the honor to get the spot on track 1, that is Jamiroquai. Here's the complete tracklist:

CD 1

1. Cosmic Girl - Jamiroquai
2. Always There [Masters At Work 1996 mix Dylan re-edit] - Incognito & Jocelyn Brown
3. Liv And Love - DJ Fudge & Mani Hoffman
4. Keep The Fires Burning [Tony Economides mix] - Kenny Thomas
5. Hot Like An Oven - Robert Strauss & Leroy Burgess
6. Show You My Love [DFP re-edit] - Goldie Alexander
7. Feel The Need [Boogie Down mix] - Weird Science
8. Call My Name - Timmy Vegas
9. More I Get The More I Want [promo 12" mix] - Lorraine Johnson
10. Love Massage - Musique
11. Ain't No Mountain High Enough [DFP re-edit] - Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
12. Cure And The Cause [DJ Meme Philly suite mix] - Fish Go Deep & Tracey K
13. Got To Have Loving [DFP re-edit] - Don Ray
14. Let's Love Dance Tonight [Leonard part sixx edit] - Gary's Gang
15. I Like It (What You're Doing To Me) - Young & Co.
16. Is It In [12" mix] - Jimmy 'Bo ' Horne
17. Midnight Interlude - Mr. Ali
18. This Is What You Are [M. Midnight Monti & G. Gotta Soul Gottardi restyle] - Mario Biondi & The High Five Quintet
19. Come Go With Me - Teddy Pendergrass

CD 2

1. Close The Door - Teddy Pendergrass
2. I'm Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby - Barry White
3. Un Po' D'uva E Un Liquore - Pino D'Angio
4. Friends - Amii Stewart
5. Gotta Get You Home Tonight - Eugene Wilde
6. Sweetest Pain - Loose Ends
7. I Want You - Marvin Gaye
8. Can't Stop Loving You [original Marshall Jefferson version] - Richard Rogers
9. Be Thankful For What You Got - William De Vaughn
10. Don't Let It Go To Your Head - Jean Carn
11. For Real - Flowers
12. Let's Funk Tonight [DFP re-edit] - Blue Feather
13. You Are My Melody - Change
14. Your Good Lovin' - France Joli
15. Never Stop [Blaze mix DFP re-edit] - Brand New Heavies (The)
16. Standing Right Here - Melba Moore

The fun doesn't end there. The special edition package boxset comes complete with Playboy playing cards and stickers. No words yet if the girls on the cards are dressed as rabbits or if there are vintage naked 60s and 70s centerfolds.

Return to the Playboy Mansion cd
Dimitri from Paris MySpace

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Gloria Gaynor's 30th anniversary of I Will Survive

Gaynor to appear on nationally syndicated show Better TV

– February 27th Nashville, TN – After 30 years of its release, Gloria Gaynor continues to ride the success of "I Will Survive," touring the country and the world over and performing her signature song on dozens of TV shows. A few successful remixes of the song during the 1990s and 2000s along with new versions of the song by Diana Ross, Chantay Savage, rock group Cake and others as well as constant recurrent airplay on nearly all Soft AC and Rhythmic format radio stations have helped to keep the song in the mainstream.

Now in 2008, Gloria celebrates the 30th Anniversary of her Grammy Award winning song. The lyrics of this song are written from the point of view of a woman, recently dumped, telling her former lover that she can cope without him and does not want anything more to do with him. The song has become something of an anthem of female emancipation, and is still a staple of office parties and karaoke nights.

This past weekend you may have seen Gloria Gaynor appear on The Food Network as part of Paula’s Party where she and Paula Deen cooked up some Chicken ala Gaynor!! Tomorrow, February 27th Gloria will appear on the nationally syndicated talk show Better TV and in the coming weeks she will make an appearance on Fox’s highly-rated Don’t Forget The Lyrics with host Wayne Brady as well as Showtime at the Apollo.
Our 2008 interview with Gloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor official website

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Moby's chicken revenge under disco ball

As you probably know by now, Moby had a disco album in the works. The first single is now out and the video is ready to do damage.

Do you have an uneasy feeling when political or social conscience blends with dance music. The scenario is this. You have a dance song with a beat obviously, so dancing equals party, but how do you party when watching chickens being slaughtered. Doesn't feel right. Are we supposed to boogie, laugh or think?

In other words, Moby attacks the iconic chicken colonel, that's his right - he follows Pamela Anderson, Russell Simmons, Sir Paul McCartney, Alec Baldwin and many others. And true, the meat industry does engage in cruel practices, there's plenty videos to back this up. Moby wants to raise awareness through a music video, it's been done before so what's the fuss? Does it work? Yes! And why not.

Well for some of us, the disco ball is sacred and have no place in a video of this nature. I'm all for Moby the artist (and person) and the cause but come on, blood splatter, Was that necessary?


Moby "Disco Lies" music video on YouTube
PETA's chicken display and celebs at GoVeg
Have fun and kick the bucket: Make your own sign display

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Disco, death, greed and scandal

A very well alive Canadian disco label and its founder president -name witheld- has been ordered by a Canadian provincial Superior Court recently to annul all contracts signed on a 70s artist -name witheld- hospital death bed last year and reimburse his widow 75gs in damage.

The widow who's the manager of the 70s artist did sign the contracts on his behalf. Who's the shark? The widow, the record label, or both?

UPDATE March 1st 2008: Record label proposed to annul all contracts signed on deathbed in exchange of the check they made, widow-manager refused. I suspect the record label will win the case, while we're at it, it's Unidisc.

Even if this was published by a reputable press agency and reproduced in various newspapers, I wasn't able to track and view the court document, for this reason, I omitted the names.

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Catch those disco shows straight from the air

On Long Island's airwaves live on Saturdays or from the internet 24/7, the Disco & Funk King Show on WCWP Radio from 2PM-5PM (Eastern Time) spotlights the legendary clubs of the late 70s-early 80s period.

Feb 9th 2008- Check out the DFK MixMaster All-Stars as
they spotlight the music from the Trocadero Transfer
in California!

Feb 16th 2008 - Spotlight on the Legendary 2001 Odyssey

And there are many other clubs to be highlighted every week.

The "Funhouse" and "Studio 54" were spotlighted January 19th and 26th respectively...


Catch the DFK MixMaster
All-Stars MixMaster Max, Delmar Browne, Tony Rocca
(ARBITRON RATED Number 1 IN NYC RADIO), Joey Luciano,
Frankie Dinella, Vinnie Campisi and others as they
work the mix beat2beat and back2back as they do each
and every week on The DFK Quick Mixx at 2:20pm, The DFK
Hott Mix at 3pm, and the DFK Hidden Track Mystery Mix at
4pm.

PLUS all show long DFK MixMaster All-Star's Delmar
Browne and Tony Rocca will be
in studio with Jay Mirabile picking tracks from their own
personal record vaults.

Catch the Disco and Funk King show (Disco, Freestyle Dance, 80's/90's Club
Tracks, Slow Jams and Today’s Hottest House Beats )live on the internet at:


www.WebRadioWCWP.org

or the podcasts at www.dfkwcwp.podomatic.com

Make your requests by:
E-mailing them to – DFKWCWP [at] Yahoo.com
Calling Into The Show – 516-299-2038
or through their MySpace www.Myspace.com/DFKShow

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Disco Book: guide to bootlegs vinyl 1974-1986

Over 28 years of collecting and research into the business of bootleg disco era vinyls has now been documented, and Disco Patrick's website from the Netherlands has been converted and redesigned into a book just published and titled "The Bootleg Guide to Disco Acetates, Funk, Rap and Disco Medleys."

This is the first reference book that covers disco acetates and bootleg vinyl medleys released between 1974 and 1986.

In its 384 pages, there's ...

Listings of the most famous acetate bootleg labels - Sunshine Sound, Melting Pot Sound and Disco Queen.
Histories and interviews with acetate mixers John Morales, Rick Gianatos and Rich Flores from the people who were there.
Over 500 full colour, high resolution pictures of acetate labels and vinyl bootleg medleys.
Unique, previously unreleased pictures of djs, Walter Gibbons memorabilia, disco flyers.
Tracklistings of more than 400 bootleg vinyl and acetate medleys.

Book is printed standard and limited. Limited edition numbers to 100 and has a laser cut vinyl front and back cover signed by authors Disco Patrick, Patrick Vogt and producer/mixer Jonh Morales.

You can find out more about this book as well as order your own copy at:

www.discopatrick.com

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Chic Live at Budokan DVD to be re-released

The concert was filmed in Japan in 1996 and was to be the group's last with Bernard Edwards shortly before he passed away.

Before 2008, the only way to get the DVD was to buy it used, in the coming weeks, Liberty Entertainment in the UK will re-issue "Chic Live at the Budokan" with extra features and new packaging...

Guest performers Sister Sledge and Slash also appears both on the concert and in the extras: Biographies Of Chic, Sister Sledge and Slash, Chic Discography, Concert Commentary By Nile Rodgers, Tribute To Bernard Edwards From Rolling Stone and Bass Player Magazines...

TRACK LISTING:

Do That Dance, He’s The Greatest Dancer (feat. SISTER SLEDGE), We Are Family (feat. SISTER SLEDGE), Dance Dance Dance, I Want Your Love, Good Times, Le Freak (feat. Slash of GUNS AND ROSES), Chic Cheer, Just One World.

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Disco dancing horse found in China

A certain Mr. Liu in Sichuan China claims his neighbor's horse can "disco dance and do other kinds of dances".

source: China Daily

The proud owner was surprised that Dashanyang, purchased for a mere 1000 Yuan 5 years ago could easily be trained to perform tricks and steps....

Mr. Dong Yongfa's horse wouldn't be the first dancing horse in existence, but certainly the first to do a disco dance ...

Considering that the claim comes from a Chinese man, what exactly is a disco dance? The Hustle? Pop and Lock? Break dancing? Unfortunately, haven't come accross a video of this. If this is indeed true, then soon enough, we'll see Dashanyang in a music video soon!

Dashanyang could very well be the famed white horse of Studio 54, one of very few horses to have had actually lived an active nightlife, stepped on a disco floor and mingled with the hottest female celebs.

To ride the white horse, one had to be female, naked and rich, therefore demystifying the meaning of the disco not disco tune "White Horse" by Laid Back.

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Mouse Disco

Not refering to Mickey Mouse here - as a side note, did stumble upon the Mickey Mouse disco album from '79 shortly before x-mas -, but your computer's mouse.

Everytime you close a window, open your computer, save a file, your computer
will emit a sound. That can be easily customized, the trick is to have the desired sound as a wave file ...

Did play around this 2 years back. Took a snippet of a Salsoul release from 1977, "Can't turn you loose" by Anthony White. All that was needed was to play it back on the computer's cd player and record with Windows Sound Recorder that can be found in the accessories section. Although quite fun, didn't want to risk getting tired of a much love record and eventually scraped the thing.

Now you're probably surfed on Disco Guy's website Disco-Disco.com at one time or another. Lately, he went as far as recording and customizing 19 disco snippets specially for the computer. And he's offering them to you for your enjoyment.

Disco pc sounds at Disco-Disco.com

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Strut returns part II

Strut is now officially alive and its first new release is available for pre-order.

As mentioned in an earlier post, the printed media were the first to get the promos for review, so expect to read all about it in your local entertainment weekly newspaper this week.

Here's the tracklisting... :

1. Vivien Goldman - Launderette
2. Delta 5 - Mind your own business
3. Shriekback - My spine is the bassline
4. Konk - Your life
5. Isotope - Crunch cake
6. James White and The Blacks - Contort yourself (August Darnell remix)
7. Quango Quango - Love Tempo (remix)
8. Gina X Performance - Kaddish
9. Material - Don't loose control (dance version)
10. Kazino - Binary
11. Liaisons Dangereuses - Los ninos del parque (12 inch mix)
12. A Number of Names - Sharevari (instrumental)
13. Six Sed Red - Beat'em right
14. Maximum Joy - Silent Street/Silent Dub

Disco not Disco 3 at Amazon.com
Disco not Disco 3 at Amazon UK
Disco not Disco 3 microsite
Strut Records website soon!

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Strut returns, but where?

So we're expected to be able to get hold of a "fresh of the factory" classic Strut compilation without searching the second hand and used market, great news! But how? They are nowhere to be found.

Last summer it was announced in "selected" (read: magazines in print) publications that Strut would return, it would have Grandmaster Flash on its roster, its catalog would get the re-issue treatment and its first new release of 2008 would be a "disco, Not disco" type of compilation.

In the last ... few months I searched and searched for more information and all I could find is the news about it, all hype, no evidence, even the original Strut website URL is still for sale (as of January 2008), since there was nothing to substantiate it, didn't even bother to mention it and that was in July 2007.

Since Strut has been acquired by K7! home of the highly respected "DJ Kicks" series, I went on their website, nope, nothing to be found.

Strut was notable for and a precursor to quality rare disco compilation cds starting in 1999, today, used copies are very pricy. When they folded in 2003, numerous labels entered the rare disco compilation cd trend.

They say patience is a virtue, fine, but my excitement wore off.


Image source: Strut's Danny Krivit Grass Roots at Amazon

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Disco deep and shirtless

Suss'd UK has recently unveiled Volume 2 of their "Deep Disco Culture" series, easily recognizable by its Studio 54 black and white photos featuring a topless model. The uncensored image graces the back cover. Did get my hands on the 12 inch vinyl sampler from Volume 1 and for some strange reasons, the sound was so distorted and screechy, I never played it again, since I had 2 of the 70s original, it was easy to see and hear by comparison that the fault was on the mastering of the sampler vinyl itself.

Tracklisting for Deep Disco Culture Volume 2 on CD is ... as followed:

1. Azoto - San Salvador (12" instrumental mix)
2. Buari - I'm Ready
3. Franky and Jamo - Set Me On Fire
4. Bumblebee Unlimited - Funk For Days
5. The Bean Brothers - Feel The Groove
6. Crosstown Traffic - Party People
7. Donna McGhee - I'm A Lovebug
8. Caress - I Can't Let You Walk Away
9. Eli's Second Coming - Love Chant (part 1)
10. Starzarus - Starship Love
11. Poopee and The NY Squirrels - Bust That Nut (Downtown mix)
12. Universal Robot Band - Doing Anything Tonight
13. Captain Dax - Dr Beezar
14. Holzer and Kamura - Pure Love
15. Oral Caress -"Charlies Angels (edit)
16. Rhythm Makers - Zone (remix)
17. Jimmy Handyman Jones - Handyman Back In Town
18. Kim Taylor - Stomp Your Feet and Dance (12" vocal mix)
19. Lee Porter - Can You Make Love To A Disco Beat (vocal mix)
20. Family - Music (Listen To The Music)
21. Ray Munnings - Let's Boogie
22. Sammy Gordon and The Hip Huggers - Making Love
23. Cloud One - Atmosphere Strut (1979 remix part 2)
24. Main Ingredient - Everything Man
25. Pam Todd and The Love Exchange - Can't Hold This Feeling
26. Sparkle - Disco Madness
27. Classy Dance Orchestra - New York Strut
28. Tantra - Hills Of Katmandu (Patrick Cowley mix)

On the subject of boobs in the clubs, some rather flash 'em behind the deck than on the dancefloor, especially when it's lucrative to do so and an entry to superstar dj status. One serious side effect to breast augmentation surgery is the urge to go topless on any occasions.

Deep Disco Culture Vol. 2 at Amazon.com

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Disco Book news: Out and Hypnotic

Bob Collacello has released a collection of Studio 54 photographs in the predictable black and white color so to speak in "OUT". I'm asking myself, how many black and white pics of disco era Studio 54 do we need to see, apparently, some can't get enough. Personally, as a child, remember the 70s in vivid colors, laser lights and neons. Can't connect or relate with black and white depiction of the 70s and 80s. Recommended for its stunning photos though, if you dig B&W ...

Another book with the word disco used in the title is "Disco Hypnotic", a book sold only through the Chicago Poetry website, a book about the power of the mind in reference to sound and the dancefloor. No disco history or facts there.

Bob Collacello "Out" at Amazon
Disco Hypnotic the book

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Return of Telex

Telex was an electronic band from Belgium famous for its hit Moscow Disco back in 1978.

Found out there was a MySpace page dedicated to them. Now, I thought that a Telex fan made it up, as you know on MySpace there are plenty pages dedicated to defunct or deceased bands and artist, but no, it's really Telex! And not only that, they have an official website and a new album coming out.

Their website is full of goodies, info, podcasts, sound clips, 8 bit ... style graphics, games, it's not only fun, it's informative and highly entertaining!


Telex official website

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Moby's next album will be disco

Expect it to be vocally divaesque, Donna Summerish and Grace Jony!

He told Billboard: "... more late '70s, early '80s sense of dance music, that post-disco period. It doesn't sound like big, banging techno tracks". Planned released date, February 2008.

Waited for more info on it and maybe snippets, cover pic or leaks before posting, time passed and nothing, so for some of you, this may be old news as it was announced late Summer '07.

On a different note, on his MySpace blog he says ... "You know, like many people I suffer from panic attacks!" . His scientifically inclined explanation no doubt demonstrate there's more to Moby than music. There's also the philantropic side of him on his website MobyGratis where anyone may download music for free as long as it's used in a non commercial matter otherwise the proceeds/profits of the commercial license will be directed to the humane society.

We see less and less of the glasses nowadays...

Moby's website

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Pet Shop Boys 4th Disco album

This time, they're remixing other's works.

Here's the tracklisting:

The Killers - read my mind (Psb Stars Are Blazing Mix)
David Bowie with Pet Shop Boys - Hallo Spaceboy (Psb Extended Mix)
Pet Shop Boys - Integral (Psb Perfect Immaculate Mix)
Yoko Ono - Walking On Thin Ice (Psb Electro Mix)
Madonna - Sorry (Psb Maxi-Mix)
Atomizer - Hooked On Radiation (Psb Orange Alert Mix)
Rammstein - Mein Teil (Psb There Are No Guitars On This Mix)
Pet Shop Boys - I’m With Stupid (Psb Maxi-Mix)

Only 8 tunes! On the upside, it'll be available on vinyl ... too.

This summer, Damon Albarn (Blur/ Gorillaz/The Good, The Bad & The Queen) made it clear to an unnamed source that The Pet Shop Boys "had made the song sound like their own." in reference to the song "Girls and Boys" by Blur remixed and planned to be released on "Disco 4".

As you can see, it is nowhere to be found on the tracklist.

Pet Shop Boys Disco 4
Pet Shop Boys website

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Disco still dead according to US TV News

US news are not trustworthy as far as music trends are concerned.

Again and again every time July comes, they bring up Chicago's disco demolition night from 1979 and pass that as news.

Instead of researching the subject, whether disco is popular or reinterpreted in music, the influence of disco culture in today's apparel style and trends, all they do is rehash disco hatred and glorify Steve Dahl. They also fail to mention that disco has been played again at Comiskey Park ... (renamed Cellular Field) during a Chicago Sox game as we reported in the disco news section of our website 2 years ago.

Watch their excitement as Dahl announces there are plans for a movie based on this event.

Keith Olbermann is best remembered for airing his opinion about the White House recently.

Watch the fools on YouTube

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Blaze's Kevin Hedges leaves West End Records, Cheren retires

We do not know yet why Mel Cheren retired and what will happen next at West End Records. Here are excerpts from Kevin Hedges' farewell ...

"It is with sadness that we announce the retirement of a music industry legend, Mr. Mel Cheren, b.k.a. Uncle Mel."

"Mel's retirement saddens me because I will miss our daily conversations and his gentle management style. However, I am taking all that he has taught me and applying it to our new company, Blaze Imprints. With this new label, my team, Josh Milan and I will strive to continue to find, produce and distribute the very best Soul Music we can create and discover." ...

Blaze has remixed Dreamgirls "Family" recently with the fabulous voice of Jennifer Hudson

Blaze Imprints

UPDATE: Mel passed away December 7th 2007

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Melba Moore releases concert DVD

Melba Moore will release a concert DVD in early July 2007.

It features Freddie Jackson reuniting with Melba singing their smash #1 hit together "Just a Little Bit More" taped live in NYC's Lincoln Center, she also performs "You Stepped Into My Life," "Falling," "A Little Bit More," and the classic "Lean on Me."

As we write this, the complete tracklisting is not yet known, the DVD ... is compatible for all regions.


Melba Moore Live in concert DVD at Amazon.com
Melba Moore Live in concert DVD at Amazon UK

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Return of Supermax on the dancefloor

The loving machine will be in town in a club near you (more likely in Europe).

Supermax is Kurt Hauenstein from Germany and the group behind Love Machine, the sleazy euro disco rock track that sold millions worldwide back in 1978.

Haunstein's career wasn't over after Love Machine, even though not much was heard of him stateside come the 80s, he continued performing and writing music well into the 21st century, dabbling with reggae, african grooves, soul and pop.

Supermax has just released the ... latest Vinyl and CD: REMAXED VOL. 2, only available for pre-selected Club-Djs.

In September 2007, a new double album with remixes of Supermax songs by the 20 best Djs, will hit the the market.

Supermax will perform their new remixed dancefloor music in clubs to be closer to the fans.

For those looking for Supermax Loving machine extended 12 inch version, we are pleased to announce it is included in the Disco Deutschland compilation cd wich we just reviewed this week on discostyle.com

Disco Deutschland review at DiscoStyle.com
Supermax website

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