Disco | Boogie 400 Items

Don Blackman is an iconic, cult artist. A pianist, songwriter, producer, and vocalist from New York he is a mystical figure for record collectors, one of those artists where if you found an old dusty record with Don's name on it, you'd buy it on sight. He is best known for his 1982 magnum-opus, the eponymous album that featured the all-time classics 'Heart's Desire' and 'Holding You, Loving You’. He also collaborated with other greats such as Bernard Wright, Weldon Irvine, Roy Ayers, and Lenny White.

We couldn't believe it when Chicago DJ/digger/producer, Marc Davis, told us there was a vault of unreleased Don Blackman material. Marc had reached out to Don’s children, Irene and Kyle, in 2019, building a relationship with Kyle with whom he shared a musical affinity. To Marc's delight, Kyle confirmed that there was indeed a treasure trove. As Kyle described it, “In 2013, shortly after my dad’s passing, my sister and I collected all of his possessions and put them in a storage unit. I came across forty years’ worth of music history. Hundreds of cassettes, CDs, Disks, reel-to-reels, paperwork, photos and VHS tapes. It took about ten years to organise and digitise everything. All of this magic was almost thrown away in the trash, never to be seen, never to be heard forever.”

Two tracks were selected, 'Your Love Makes Me Crazy' and 'Say You'll Be Mine'. 'Your Love Makes Me Crazy' is as funky as it gets, with infectiously catchy vocal hooks, and a serious jam, whereas ‘Say You’ll Be Mine’ is a classy, soulful boogie, instrumental number, that shows off Don’s masterful piano playing. Both tracks warrant full attention and capture a master at work. He was also a one-man show when it came to production, playing all of the instruments when recording these tunes in his home studio in South Jamaica, Queens.

On first hearing the tracks, Marc knew he wanted to extend the songs and enlisted fellow Chicago legend, Tone B. Nimble, to work on the project with him. Their extension/edit of the songs was conducted in a way that was respectful and true to how the tracks were originally recorded by Don. They extended and re-sequenced the groovy parts of the songs organically for the DJs and dancers.

The final words on this release are best coming from Kyle, “We are very excited and thrilled to continue to share all of this unreleased magic with the world. We hope that this music will help, heal, and inspire a new generation of artists to never give up, and to strive for what their hearts desire.”

A beautiful compilation with some early New York Disco from the archives of Richie Weeks! "By Day, Richie Weeks Sorted Mail. At Night, He Was a Disco Mastermind." Declared the New York Times last year for the release of Richie Weeks first volume of the Love Magician Archive take from the incredible treasure trove of unreleased Disco songs co-produced by the late Patrick Adams and Richie from the late Seventies to the mid-Eighties. Volume 1 received critical acclaim and press worldwide and instantly floored every Disco aficionado. It also sold out instantly. So here's Volume 2. 12 songs straight from the archives, never released and absolutely mind-blowing. It's Disco at its finest with the bests in the game. A timeless compilation made with a lot of dedication and care. Curated by Past Due Records boss Jerome Derradji. Enjoy!

New label Smiling C starts off with a compilation LP of released and unreleased works by the Arabic rapper, Shams Dinn.
For their first ever reissue, Smiling C connects with the Arabic rapper Shams Dinn to release a compilation his best songs, including the hit "Hedi Bled Noum". The compilation covers his entire career of with songs made between 1985-1990, most of which went unreleased at the time. One of the few Moroccan rappers to ever be recorded on vinyl back in the 80s, Shams Dinn was a pioneer of Arabic flow. Starting his career because he wanted to be a positive light for the Arabic immigrants living in France. He earned his status participating in freestyle competitions, and performing in small clubs around Europe. His career came to a turning point when he was asked by a major label to record a full LP. Unfortunately, the label decided they didn't want to promote Arabic music (largely because of the Gulf War) - and asked Shams to translate the Arabic to French. Shams Dinn wouldn't stand for that, and he was dropped from the label. The following years he worked at a school, teaching kids how to rap and express themselves through words.
The reissue comes with newly imagined art, and an inner sleeve with interview and photos.

Six Nine Records Ltd. UK proudly presents Confection’s first release on the label with the amazing track “Delectable U”. The track is taken from the Australian duo’s CD only album “Private Conversations”, which was released in 2012. This is a real masterpiece by Joshua Beagley and Juanita Tippins and a vinyl release was long overdue in our humble opinion. As a really nice bonus, exclusively for this release, Yuki "TGroove" Takahashi has worked his magic and gives us a remix on the flip which definitely takes the track to another level. Enjoy! Definitely not to be missed as it is a limited UK press with full colour printed picture cover!

Owl Records has another 12" that will get your head swiveling and booty shaking. It comes from the BBC 6 Music host, TV legend turned funk and soul tastemaker Craig Charles who has put totters a couple of sizzling edits. First up he layers a classic Hot Chocolate sample over a rolling and rubbery beat and bassline that will pump any dance floor. On the flip is a more slow and seductive sound in 'Rok On' with its funky bass and sleazy vocals over low-slung and slo-mo beats. Add in the playful trumpets and muted string and you have a brilliantly curious and compelling cut.

In 1986 Arthur Russell was diagnosed with HIV, that same year he released his career-defining masterpiece World of Echo, the first and only solo album issued during his lifeltime. Arthur had found his voice and a fresh direction with a set of new, transformative material, unlike anything he or anyone else had previously released. His illness ensured that the artistic growth and sense of exploration encapsulated in World of Echo would be tragically curtailed. Within six short years Arthur was gone. Arthur's final years were filled with a renewed commitment to creativity and unceasing live and recording work. He regularly performed the World of Echo material and incorporated several of its compositions in collaborations with choreographers active in New York's innovative dance community. Arthur worked closely with Diane Madden, Allison Salzinger, Stephanie Woodard, and John Bernd, usually playing his cello and effects boxes off stage as the choreographers’ pieces were performed. In 1993 Arthur posthumously received a prestigious Bessie Composer Award for his work in the dance world. Picture of Bunny Rabbit features nine previously unreleased performances from this era compiled from completed masters culled from two unique test pressings, including one, dated 9/15/85 by Arthur, provided by his mother and sister. A further four tracks were discovered in his tape archive. The track listing includes an exceptional and dramatic solo recording of “In The Light of a Miracle” and the enigmatic title instrumental “Picture of Bunny Rabbit,” written especially for a friend's pet rabbit. The bulk of the material was recorded with engineer Eric Liljestrand at Battery Sound Studios, New York, which was located directly opposite the World Trade Center and at Arthur’s apartment studio in the East Village. “Music is a very personal thing. How you deal with your music is very closely linked with how you deal with your life. If you misuse your capacities as a musician, you’re misusing your capacities as a human being and you’re taking humanity in the wrong direction”—Arthur Russell (03/17/77 Soho Weekly News) “In outer space you can’t take your drums—you take your mind”—Arthur Russell

A juicy 4-track EP from Eine Welt. 700wet is an art pop project by queer opera singer Marja Christians (award-winning dancer) and Cid Hohner (Moonwalk X Records, Otto, Aufgang B). Luring outsider synth-pop with touching and honest opera vocals. It reminds of Grace Jones doing minimal wave in a Chicago house. They call it “Lovers-Dance”. While you may melt on the slow and extended dubbed out title jam “Gimme Love”, the sassy “Cannoli Amore” is a catchy, fun dancer at 120 bpm. Recorded during the pandemic primarily with nothing but cheap 1989 Yamaha keyboards.The project also reflected what they wanted to hear when there was a big void.

Uku Kuut & We Are, recorded with his high school band during his time in Sweden. Includes the recordings "Funky" and "What's Happening Today". Special thanks to the late Maryn Coote for unearthing all these gems from Uku's cassette tape archive! This is an alternate pressing than the single-sided PPU release of "Funky". There was an issue originally with the B Side which was scraped, but all has been fixed and "What's Happening Today" is available as the B Side in all it's glory!

In 1985 Michael Soward and Shelby Hurns set out to create the new gospel sound with their self-released album entitled "Real Love". The LP was a progressive mix of synthesized gospel soul and spiritual funk. This heavenly blend proved to be visionary for their time and sounds so right today. Ppu-022 features an edited version of "Standing On The Top" and all the original versions from Soward & Hurn's landmark debut "Real Life!", guaranteed to bless speakers worldwide.

Hot on the heels of the first influential volume - Milano Undiscovered 1982-1986 – here’s the uncommon sophomore release. The city of Borsa and fashion has been always struggling for an underground identity, collecting a series of rough contaminations between post-punk and dance music. The new compilation is undoubtedly a step forward, a second chance for many of the early artists involved. Altogether with some illustrious emerging names of the local electronic scene, here’s a definitive collection of contemporary Italo disco and synth pop tracks from the future past. Enjoy !