Disco With a Message Philadelphia International All Stars

MFSB created the ultimate voguers and house children classic with Love is the Message. The Danny Krivit edit becoming a classic at The Paradise Garage and all the voguing balls ever since. But in my opinion they reached the pinnacle of their brilliance with their collaboration with the Philadelphia International All Stars.
LET'S CLEAN UP THE GHETTO

The 1977 promo only 12" of Let's Clean Up the Ghetto is soulful disco perfection. Dexter Wansel's arrangement, the lyrics by Gamble and Huff and the vocal stylings of particularly Lou Rawls and Teddy Pendergrass make this one of the deepest and most memorable disco records ever.

Kenny Gamble was married at the time to Dee Dee Sharp so she was one of the few female vocals on it. The O'Jays, Billy Paul and Archie Drell were on board too. All the proceeds went to a charity project but this beauty didn't get anywhere near the attention of later more schlocky super-group projects like Band Aid and U.S.A. for Africa. In fact it only charted for a month on the U.S. disco charts.

WARPY DISCO

Colleagues of an old friend of mine, (Keylo H20) are responsible for this amazing video. The cartoon animation is over the top and the music makes me wanna groove in that disco funk goes modern way that hits me just right.

This video below below contains some explicit cartoon scenes, flashing lights and is FOR OVER 18's ONLY.


Directed by Eric Wareheim (Tim & Eric) in association with Warp Records and Warp Films. Music by Flying Lotus. Co Directed/ Animation by Devin Flynn. Co Directed/ Edited by Eric Fensler. More info at dancefloordale.com

It's a little different then my usual post, but why be predictable?

I LOVE IT, TRUSSEL MASTERPIECE

Trussel was a funk group from Petersburg, Virginia who had one l.p. release in 1980 on Elektra Records. It featured the infectious disco throw-down Love Injection. But the real prize on it was I Love It. A few years back it was included on the superb cd series Azuli Presents, this one featuring Derrick L. Carter, Choice: A Collection of Classics. Since re-discovering it, it has been consistently one of my most played tracks in iTunes.

It is simply just not your typical disco or funk tune. Not even a dollop of cheese on this one. It's a veritable house party in itself. The production work by Fred Wesley, who formerly had collaborated with the Ike and Tina Turner Review, James Brown and Funkadelic is adventurous and far from commercial sounding. Around this time Fred Wesley also came out with a major Loft classic with his own House Party 12" on RSO records. It was featured on Nuphonic records Loft Classics Volume 2 compilation. But back to I Love It cause hot damn I just love it so much!

It just has to be heard to be understood. Do help yourself to the download.

LISTEN TO TRUSSEL

The breaks are on fire on this track. In fact by about five and a half minutes in it turns into a full-stop jazz funk jam session. The lead singer starts a frenzied insane scat and then the hook just repeats over and over:
I Love It
I Love Only You
I Love It
And The Things That You Do
I Love It
I Love Only You
I Love It
And The Things That You Do....That You Do....That You Do...That You Do

Truly a disco funk jazz odyssey. This love mantra just keeps repeating until it fades out but by then you should love it too.

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My Disco Auctions

I love Disco Music. It means the world to me. I remember buying my first 12" disks when I was 12 years old. I had to pretend that I didn't love disco as much as I did because where I grew up was quite provincial and everyone was into traditional rock like Led Zeppelin and Yes and The Rolling Stones.

HOT TRACKS MIX OF CHANGIN'

I soon became an obsessive collector. I spent all of my allowance on records. When I got older I bought entire collections from other people, especially EX dj's. Once I got several hundred records that used to belong to Larry Levan. That was just after he died in 1992. It was an incredible find! Not too long ago I auctioned off one of those treasures. The test pressing of Ms. Sharon Ridley's Changin' HEAR IT. I understand that it was one of the definitive end of the night closing songs at The Paradise Garage. I never got to go to the King St. disco because when I was 18 I moved to D.C. to go to The American University. By the time I moved to N.Y. it had just closed.

I have been attending Loft parties for several years. I adore the Loft classics that David Mancuso plays and I am incredibly drawn to the energy at the party. Now that I'm older I also enjoy the idea of attending a party early. Loft parties are held at the tea dance time and go until about midnight. Take a look at the video below. David DePino, a Larry Levan disciple speaks about when The Loft first started in 1970.

My collecting skills and obsession with accumulating can now become your chance to add that "I've always wanted classic" to your collection. I have been selling my vinyl on Ebay, and have enjoyed my calling as a vinyl vendor. It's been a fun way to communicate with people from all over the world who have like interests.

Maybe you've bought from me before. I've still got a lot of great stuff and much more to post, even though I've been doing this for five years, believe it or not.

Support me if you can. If not pass on my site to a friend. I appreciate it. The link at the bottom of the page will take you directly there.

MY EBAY STORE I also sell on discogs.com under seller name ExpatMichael.