George FM Playlist 31st Dec NYE 2010 "Bev's Keys In The Pocket"

The final day of 2010 saw 90 covering for a man who needs no introduction: Bevan Keys. Here's what was played...

Savage - Swing! (edit)
Breakage with Roots Manuva - Run 'Em Out
Spektrum - Kinda New
Mayer Hawthorne - Green-Eyed Love (Classixx remix)
Florence & The Machine - You Got The Love (The XX remix)
Amy Winehouse - Rehab (Pharoahe Monch edit)
Syrup - Chocolate
Jamiroquai - Return Of The Space Cowboy
Gary Byrd & Stevie Wonder - The Crown
Don Ray - Got To Have Loving
The Bar-Kays - Loose Talk
JDeep - Tango Hustled
Stevie Wonder - Do I Do (U-Tern remix)
Herb Alpert - Rise (Gay Marvine edit)
Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (Relly Rell$ remix)
John Arnold with Paul Randolph - Rise Up
Waajeed - Funkin' For Jamaica
Ray Parker Jnr. - Ghostbusters (dub)
Aurra - Such A Feeling (LeBaron edit)
Imagination - Street Mix (Disconet edit)

Happy New Year to everyone with a set of ears. See you on the other side.

George FM Playlist 30th Dec 2010 "Body Rockin' In The Pocket"

Big shoes, yo! Covering today for Phillippa. Here's what was played...

Wes Coats - Land Of Music
Elvis Seconde, Shaggy Sharoof, Jacques Palminger & Erobique - Dengue Fieber
Radio City with Bajka - The Hop
T-Connection - Funkannection
The Unabombers - Disco Symphony
Charles Earland - Comin' To You Live (edit)
Jimmy "Bo" Horne - Dance Across The Floor
Zapp - Itchin' For Your Twitchin'
The Ohio Players - Love Rollercoaster
Olympic Runners - Energy Beam
David Bendeth - Feel The Real
Nicole Willis & The Soul Investigators - Feeling Free (Aaron Jerome remix)
Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - Keep On Looking (Kenny Dope remix)
Dublex Inc. - N.H.L.
Kraak & Smaak with Ben Westbeech
Hot Chocolate - Heaven's In The Backseat Of My Cadillac (The Revenge remix)
Norma Jean Bell - I'm The Baddest Bitch In This Room (Moodymann edit)
!!! - AM/FM
El Guincho - FM Tan Sexy

George FM Playlist 22nd Dec "Play It All Back In The Pocket"

I had the pleasure of filling in for Roger Perry on George FM today. Here's what was played...

RAMP - Everybody Loves The Sunshine
Bo Kirkland & Ruth Davis - We Got The Recipe
Gwen McCrae - Rocking Chair
Mark Capanni - I Believe In Miracles
Skipworth & Turner - Thinking About Your Love
Convertion - Let's Do It
Cameo - Keep It Hot
The Spinners - It's A Shame (B.Cause Boogie edit)
Gary Byrd & Stevie Wonder - The Crown (edit)
War - Galaxy (album)
Wes Coats - Land Of Music
Kokolo - Girls On Film
Snooky - Ease The Pain
Jermaine Jackson - Let's Get Serious
Imagination - Street Mix (Disconet edit)
Zapp - More Bounce To The Ounce

Bumps

Bumps are the tunes I'm feeling at the moment. Here's one from the legendary Roger Troutman, former lead singer for the group Zapp & the man who made the Talk Box cool. Just click on the Bumps...

For Your Ears aka Random Review: Mavis Staples 'You Are Not Alone'

Mavis Staples embodies the term living legend.

The US-born vocalist is a Rock n' Roll Hall of Famer, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner & US National Heritage Fellowship Award winner. She has been named one of the Top 100 Greatest Women of Rock n' Roll (VH1) & one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time (Rolling Stone).

As such, she could be forgiven for resting on her not-inconsiderable laurels. However, her brand new album, 'You Are Not Alone', is one of the most exciting in a career that began more than 60yrs ago when she started singing with her ground-breaking family group, The Staple Singers.

Recorded with noted US alt-country band Wilco's frontman Jeff Tweedy in the producer's chair, 'You Are Not Alone' showcases the sound of a seasoned performer unafraid of pushing her boundaries. Atop sympathetic instrumentation equally capable of raw, ragged rhythm & blues as of deeply soulful gospel, Staples passionately delivers messages about the state of the world today - many of the songs the famed Roebuck "Pops" Staples led his gifted family through spoke of the same issues of poverty, jobs, welfare & how the love of God will help see us all through in the end. Not for nothing were they known as "Gods Greatest Hitmakers".

Staples covers songs written by blues & soul icons Allan Toussaint, Little Milton & the Reverand Gary Davis; by Randy Newman, John Fogerty & even a few composed by Staples' late father, "Pops" himself; but it's the incredible treatments of the traditional gospel songs 'Creep Along Moses' & 'Wonderful Saviour' - rich in history, passionately performed, immaculately arranged - that mark this as an essential for fans of real rhythm & blues, soul, country & gospel music.

George FM Playlist Sun 19th Dec

Syrup - Chocolate
War - Galaxy (album version)
Wes Coats - Land Of Music
T-Connection - Do What You Wanna Do
Gary Byrd & Stevie Wonder - The Crown (edit)
Basement Jaxx - Miracles Keep On Playin' (Red Alert remix)
Jermaine Jackson - Erucu (AC edit)
Louis La Roche with Ad-Apt - Missing You
Senor Coconut & His Orchestra - Sweet Dreams (Cha Cha Cha)
7Samurai with Angie Stone - Muzic
Rufus with Chaka Khan - Dance Wit Me
The Jackson 5 - Things I Do For You
Aretha Franklin - Everyday People (Everyday remix)
Ronnie Laws - Your Stuff
Kid Creole & His Orchestra - Stool Pigeon (edit)
Average White Band - Pick Up The Pieces
Kleeer - Taste The Music (LeBaron edit)
The Limit - She's So Divine

Propers to the Hit It & Quit It crew for an outstanding End Of Year Revue on Friday evening, with 3 local crews - The Turnaround, The Dose & Recloose+Frank Booker - giving both internationals an armchair ride, allowing them to throw down a seriously deep & diverse set from Moodymann; and a floor-filling, party-rocking set from DJ Day.

Saturday evening saw the incredible Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings sell out the Powerstation & win over every single, sweat-soaked punter in the place, with a blend of razor sharp musicianship & a firebrand performance from Ms Jones herself. At 54yrs of age, she puts "performers" half her age to shame. Mesmerising.

Two more compelling reasons for supporting so-called "underground" music...

Oh, you need a third? OK, click on the link provided among the playlist above. The one which will hook you up with my man Scotty Coats & his bro Wes The Mes out of LA. Too lazy to scroll up again? Alright then... Check it. Wreck it. Play it. Say it!

More 90 On Your Radio

I'm as pleased as punch to be let loose on the George FM airwaves for a whole bunch of weekday shows over the New Year break! Oh yes, that's right, there's gonna be a whole lotta 90 goin' on...

Check out the 10am-noon slot on Thu 30 & Fri 31 Dec, when I'll be prepping you for the big parties.

The first In The Pocket show for 2011 is going to be a cracker - a marathon 6hr session kicking off at 10am in the morning of Sun 2 Jan, with a champagne breakfast, methinks...

Listen up also during the first week of January, as I'll be hosting an extended selector show from 11am-2pm from Mon 3rd - Fri 7th, followed by another extended In The Pocket special on Sun 9th, from noon - 4pm...

I look forward to stuffing my selections into your willing earholes.

Radio Ponsonby Record Review: Walter Gibbons 'Jungle Music'

History is a funny thing.

Important periods of history are often condensed into bulletpoints or a handful of names designed to invoke an accepted wisdom.

A good example would be New York dance music legends like Frankie Knuckles, Larry Levan & David Mancuso, whose names invoke images of decadent mid-‘70s parties with heaving crowds of largely black gay men dancing with abandon to early disco & proto-house anthems.

However, the DJ those famous names above (& more) flocked to watch when they’d finished their own sets each night was a slightly built white guy by the name of Walter Gibbons.

One of the most important & yet unheralded DJs & remixers in dance music history, Gibbons was a pioneer of both reel to reel edits & the remix, while also inadvertantly acting as a tangible link between early hip hop & disco – he was extending the “break” of a record by playing two copies back-to-back seamlessly at a similar time Kool Herc began his famed block parties across town in the Bronx.

Jungle Music is an archive collection of essential & unreleased edits & remixes assembled from 1976-1986, a period which spans the release of the first ever 12” single – Gibbons’ remix of Double Exposure’s ‘10 Percent’ – to his “discovering” God & stepping back entirely from the groundbreaking, heavily percussive & often deeply trippy remixes which are found here.

These excitingly raw & uninhibited tracks - many of which push the 10min mark - may not be to everyone’s slick, modern dance music tastes, but as an historical document ‘Jungle Music’ is nothing short of essential.


Radio Ponsonby Record Review with 90 every Wenerei around 8.30am on Murry Sweetpants' Breakfast Show. Tune in! 107.7FM

George FM Playlist Sun 12th Dec 2010

? - Mysteries Of The World
? - I Thought It Was You
Disconet - A Taste Of Honey/Boogie Oogie Oogie
Azymuth - Dear Limmertz
Aurra - Such A Feeling (LeBaron edit)
Pleasure - Joyous
Harold Jackson & The Jackson Brothers - Freedom Riders
Big Mama Thornton - They Call Me Big Mama
Teddy (Mr Bear) Macrae & His Orchestra - Hi Fi Baby
Tammi Terrell - All I Do Is Think About You
Ned Doherty - Give It Up For Love*
The Reverend Al Green - I Got What You Need*
The Spinners - It's A Shame
Fat Larry's Band - Act Just Like You Know
Yarbrough & Peoples - Don't Stop The Music (Professor La Croix edit)
Skipworth & Turner - Thinking About Your Love*
Michael Caprini - I Believe In Miracles*
Don Ray - Got To Have Loving
Louis La Roche with Ad-Apt - Missing You
Crown Heights Affair - Dreamin' A Dream (Frico edit)
Lois Johnson - Be Mine (Coppa edit)*
Love Bizarre - I Want You For Myself*

It was a great pleasure to be joined in the George FM studio by my good mate Jay "Fat Albert" Jeffrey, who spun all of the tunes with an * next to their names above. Nice one, squire! Thanks for your ears, everyone...

Radio Ponsonby Record Review: Recloose 'Early Works'

We don't know how lucky we are, I reckon.

There are a myriad of reasons we should be thankful to live in NZ. The one relevant to this music review is that Detroit, Michigan-born producer & DJ Recloose aka Matthew Chicoine also lives in NZ.

Perhaps, though, we don't fully appreciate the regard with which Recloose is held outside of NZ.

This is a man whose recorded output began on Carl Craig's ground breaking techno label Planet E alongside the likes of legends Kevin Saunderson, Moodymann & Kenny Larkin. Much of the label's output twisted techno into exciting new territories, blending elements of many different genres into the kind of futuristic funk for which Planet E is now famous.

Recloose Early Works is a collection of just that: six tracks released on Planet E, one on Omoa Music (as Dapp) & seven never before available, all dating from the late '90s & early '00s. Assembled by Holland's esteemed Rush Hour label, the compilation showcases Recloose's burgeoning abilities to blend funk, soul, jazz & even downbeat into a brew which still saw 4/4 as its main ingredient.

Highlights of Early Works include the opening one-two punch of Get There Tonight & Soul Clap 2000, as well as Insomnia In Dub. All three are from the critically acclaimed Spelunking EP from 1999, which arguably "broke" Recloose internationally. The sexy sounding Absence Of One (which out-Kruder & Dorfmeister's the famed Austrians with one spliff tied behind its back) & the unreleased Maui's Lament & Land Of The Lost Dance are also standouts to these ears.

Many of the tracks here have that special Detroit sumthin' sumthin' that is not so obvious in much of Recloose's NZ-based output; and while I highly rate both Hiatus On The Horizon & Perfect Timing, Early Works serves as an excellent primer to his musical beginnings & also stands as testament to why he is still described by those in the know as The Don.

Check out the Radio Ponsonby Record Review with 90 every Wenerei morning on Murry Sweetpants' Breakfast Show around 8.30am. 107.7FM on your dial, or click here!

George FM Playlist 5th Dec 2010

Little Ike with Jimmy Beck & His Orchestra - She Can Rock
Philly Armada Orchestra - For The Love Of Money
Imagination - Just An Illusion
Imagination - Street Mix (Disconet rework)
Gary Byrd & Stevie Wonder - The Crown (rework)
Suff Daddy & Charles Earland - Come & 2U Live
Grand Pianoramax with Spleen & Celena Glenn - The Hook (DJ Spinna remix)
Tama Waipara - Where I Go (MdCL remix)
Electric Wire Hustle - Perception
Ladi 6 - Dark Brown
Marvin Gaye - Sexual Healing (Simon's Dark Keys remix)
Aloe Blacc v Mary J. Blige - I Can Love A Dollar (DJ Theory Flip)
Aloe Blacc - I Need A Dollar (DJ Theory Get The Money remix)
Prince Fatty - Insane In The Brain
Jermaine Jackson - Let's Get Serious
George Benson - Love X Love (Koko Southport edit)
Jeffrey Osbourne - Stay With Me Tonight
The Gap Band - Beep-A-Freak
Jewel - Paradise (extended)
Norma Jean Bell - I'm The Baddest Bitch In This Room (Louie Vega Soulful mix)
Suzanne Vega - Tom's Diner (E's E remix)

Celebrating the good ol' fashioned crate digging experience this week, having had the opportunity to spend a couple of days searching through vinyl at both Conch & Real Groovy.

Both offer world class record shopping experiences, in my opinion: the selection of 2nd hand music at Groovy is huge, and worthy of a few hours investment; while having Cian personally select a stack to sift through with the headphones on is the epitome of the phrase "enjoyable & educational".

It's all well & good to pillage blogs for mp3 downloads - after all, it's really about the music, not the platform - but there's something truly therapeutic about searching for, buying, playing & listening to vinyl records; some connection that heals the soul in a way the digital search & consumption of music just can't quite manage.

UPDATE: having said all of the above, check out the Never Enough Rhodes blog (where I picked up the tasty Marvin mix played on the show above!). Propers, squire!

The Radio Ponsonby Record Review: TITO PUENTE - El Rey

An easy review for me this week, with this 2CD "best of" compilation from El Rey himself, Tito Puente, landing on my stereo last week & seldom leaving it since.

The good folks at Fania Records have put together a stellar collection from the King Of Mambo, which includes more than 40 tracks featuring Puente in full flight, alongside guests & collaborators such as Santos Colon, Rudy Calzado, Bobby Escoto, Celia Cruz, Frankie Figueroa & more.

From the recognisable (Oye Como Va, La Guarachera, Hit The Bongo) to the lesser known (Loco Bossa Nova, Wata Wasuri, Tokyo de Noche); from high-energy, fiery Latin percussion-led monsters to more subtle, intricately rhythmic tracks; from the beard-stroker-pleasers to the dancefloor fillers; El Rey is an outstanding collection of tracks that paints a thrilling picture of one of the most important & influential percussionists to have graced the earth.

The Radio Ponsonby Record Review with 90 is brought to you by The Longroom at 114 Ponsonby Rd. Check it out every Wednesday around 8.30am on Murry Sweetpants' Breakfast Show on Radio Ponsonby 107.7FM.

George FM Playlist 28th Nov 2010

Aloe Blacc - Bailar (Scene 1)
Aloe Blacc - Patria Mia
Massak - B.L.A.
Santana - Wham!
Quantic Soul Orchestra with Noelle Scaggs - Lead Us To The End
JuJu Orchestra with Terry Callier - What Is Hip? (Mo Horizons Latinstyle)
Big Bang with Rasiyah - To The Full Every Minute (Yam Who? remix)
Roots Manuva - Witness Heads (Nostalgia 77 edit)
Nate with Medusa & Raashan - Rock On
Me&You - Love In Be Must We
Al Green - I Can't Get Next To You
Havana - Shine
Sa-Ra Creative Partners - Rosebuds
James Pants - Crystal Lite
Herbie Hancock - Stars In Your Eyes
Sweet Pea Atkinson - Dance Or Die
L.T.D. - It's Time To Be Real
Speedometer - Work It Out (Beatfanatic remix)
Attaca Pesante with Shea Soul - Make It Funky For Me (Rusko remix)
Hydroponic Sound System - Young Ladies In The House
Moka Only - Lowdown Suite
Marvin v WJK - Musik

Waajeed flipping Marvin into some seriously D-influenced hip hop soul groove. I ain't bragging (much!) but am stoked to have the limited ish red vinyl pressing...

George FM Playlist 7th Nov 2010

Wild Bill Ricketts - Coconut Tree [WBR]
Groove Armada - Purple Haze [Zomba]
Louie Vega - Jungle Fever [Ubiquity]
Up Hygh with Tony Clifton - Higher [Jugglin']
Tweet with Missy E. - Oops (Oh My) [Sony]
Ladi 6 - Bang Bang [Question]
The Politik with Blu - Moonlight [Antipodean]
Moka Only - Lowdown Suite [Battleaxe]
Apani B - Abracadabra [Q-Boro]
People Under The Stairs - Tuxedo Rap [Tres]
Gotan Project - Arrabal (Haaksman & Haaksman remix feat. Ras Donovan) [Ya Basta!]
Common with Jill Scott - I Am Soul (Tangoterje edit) [Supreme]
Amp Fiddler - Too High (Wonderland remix) [White Label]
Slynk - Gotta Shine [Good Groove]
Aiff - Afro Riddim (Aiff remix feat. Crucial T) [Unique]
Quantic with Tempo - Sabor (12" mix) [Tru Thoughts]
J-Roc - Funkanomical Boom [Good Groove]
Bebel Gilberto - Aganju (Spiritual South Sub Rub vocal mix) [Ziriguiboom]
Robert Strauss with Leroy Burgess - Hot Like An Oven [Robert Strauss]
Coke Escovedo - I Wouldn't Change A Thing [White Label]
Huba - Man Brings The Bread [Texicalli/Jupiter]

One of my "secret weapons" when DJing is pretty much anything by the Finnish group Huba (keys/vocalist Tuomo's solo album is also well worth checking out).

So, check them out here & here. Your ears will thank you profusely...

J Dilla Goodness

Seems I've managed to "misplace" a few weeks worth of playlists, so please accept this token gesture of some J Dilla goodness as an apology, of sorts.

Cian from Conch gave me the heads up on the latest Strange Games comp which features the Sylvia Robinson track Sweet Stuff, which Dilla sampled for that killer b-line in his track Crushin' (alongside Bonita Applebaum...). Classic.

The official J Dilla site
J Dilla Crushin' vs Sylvia Robinson Sweet Stuff