Protons Do It Better

I'm a little late on this, but Dublab, one of Los Angeles's finest non profit organizations, musically oriented or otherwise, brings its fall fundraiser to a close this Tuesday. If you haven't donated already you fall into one of two groups - either you've heard the word and know about what the Labrats have been up to for the past ten years, or you're hearing the word now and are about to happen upon something severely worth your time. However you self identify, check them out, and give what you can.

This past Wednesday I had to opportunity to stop in at the Dublab studio and spin some tunes for a few hours. Some of it sounded something like this:



Jung Hollywood - Proton Drive Mix (2009)

Trax:

Jung Hollywood - Manhunt
Alan Trajan - Speak To Me Clarissa
Art Ensemble of Chicago - Funky AECO
Curtis Mayfield - Little Child Runnin' Wild
Arthur Russell - Make 1,2
Burial and Four Tet - Wolf Cub
American Spring - Sweet Mountain
Mount Kimbie - Sketch On Glass
Tones on Tail - Lions
Marcos Valle - Bicho No Cio
King Tubby - A Rougher Version
Michel Magne - Petrole Pop

There's plenty more where that did and did not come from over at Dublab, so stop reading this and go check it out.

Back Against The Record Machine

Welcome to the working weekend folks - it's getting to be tryptophan weather so here's something to keep your ears warm.



202 Machine - Get Up (1981) (buy)

Yr Limo Is Ready

I promised more and more is what you're getting. If this Weeks & Co. track gives you even a fraction of the joy you see across the faces of those kids above my work for the day is done:



Weeks & Co. - Rock Your World (1981) (buy)

There Is No Knowledge That Is Not Power

Hello again - it's been a long time coming but let's play the fourth quarter and finish out aught nine strong. Get your good foot on this one and expect more bangers on the way:



Mona Raye - Do Me (1981) (buy)

Menagerie Shmenagerie

Say hello to Mr. Bill Withers. If you count yourself a fan of Dr. Dre, Tupac, Jay-Z, Kanye, Will Smith or the song 'Lean on Me' then you might already know him even if you don't know it. Don't let the vaguely stern look on his face there fool you - in 9 out of 10 smoothness contests his voice tops the even the leading baby's bottoms. Similarly, don't take my word for it, check out a couple of these tracks from Mr. Withers' 1977 album Menagerie. The first one has popped up in a few other places online recently (check the blog roll, fifth from the top), but I came upon a vinyl copy a couple of weeks back so here we go:



Bill Withers - Lovely Day (1977) (buy)



Bill Withers - She Wants To (Get On Down) (1977) (buy)

If you find your interest piqued check out the upcoming documentary Still Bill, directed by Damani Baker and Alex Vlack.

Showtime

Yeah, that's Lew Alcindor and yeah that's Bruce Lee. I never quite realized just how much Law from Tekken was based on the latter, and I think I just now got the gag of his first name being Marshall. Speaking of things I just got check out a couple of red hots I just ripped from Slave's 1981 album Showtime, the last from that group to feature Steve Arrington, a drummer/singer/songwriter/and later in life minister good enough to leave Slave and form Steve Arrington's Hall of Fame:


Look into that when you get the chance. First, a couple slabs o' Slave. 'Slap Shot' was the single, but I think 'Funken Town' holds up a little better three decades later:



Slave - Funken Town (1981) (buy)



Slave - Slap Shot (1981) (buy)

Spy On You

Never really been a huge fan of discoed up versions of older tunes but now and then the reworkings are worth the while. Case in point - Ultimate's 1980 take on Steve Barri and P.F. Sloan's Secret Agent Man. Barbara Hernandez, Riti Saunders and Deborah McGriff lay down choice Philly vocals while the Ultimate Players keep things moving. Three bass players, Ron Caesar, Vince Fay and Larrey Lebes are all listed on the record so I don't precisely who to credit there. The bass line is good enough that they might have had to sit down together and do some brainstorming. Or basstorming:



Ultimate - Secret Agent Man (1980) (buy)