Das Grauen Im All

Susan Justin - Theme From The Forbidden World (1982) (buy)

With Oscar chatter in full force I thought it might be fitting to throw up something movie related today. As most people are having trouble taking a breath between the words oscar and avatar, I thought I'd go for bonus points and get within six degrees of Mr. Cameron. Well, it just so happens that the film for which today's track was composed (by UCLA grad Susan Justin - also produced by Thriller synth man Craig Hundley) shared sets with an Alien knock off called Galaxy of Terror, which the King of The World designed himself. You can check a couple of them here, in a European trailer for the film back from when it was going by the name Mutant:

Slender, Tender, Clever

Claudine - Love Is Blue (1968) (buy)



Claudine - Dindi (1968) (buy)

Quick post today for the sampling talons out there. Honestly when I picked this up I thought it might be some kind of female pop version of the Johnny Johnson track that Ghostface and Edan, among others, have already taken to the chopping block. Not so, but I'll just say that harpsichords are always en vogue.

New Math

As far as adamantly vague, hand wavy cultural generalizations/observations go one of my favorite is the way in which the French have a way of leading you right to the Japanese and vice versa. As far as platforms for advancing said ramblings go this very website before you stands as one of the best I have, and so from Mr. Hallyday today we turn to the Yellow Magic Orchestra, and a few tracks from their 1980 album '×∞Multiplies' ('Zoshoku', lit. 'multiplication'). Break out the times tables:



Yellow Magic Orchestra - Behind The Mask (1980) (buy)



Yellow Magic Orchestra - Technopolis (1980) (buy)



Yellow Magic Orchestra - Rydeen (1980) (buy)

BONUS: Definitely worth mentioned these guys appeared alongside Material on the 'Disco Not Disco 3' compilation with this track.

La Peur

Slacking like there's no tomorrow lately but bringing it back home today with some long over due prime time material from Jean-Philippe Smet aka Johnny Hallyday aka the French Elvis. I'm just going to cut right to the Darryl Hall / Shredder lovechild driven chase:



Motorcycles and explosions too low brow? How's a little art history sound?:



Little heavy on the Francophilia? I haven't heard your cover of Sweet Home Alabama:



Johnny Hallyday - Cartes Posted D'Alabama (1982) (buy)

So there you have it, the tip of a veritable cultural iceberg, a man whose retirement activities involve Harley rides through the California desert and bumping elbows with Nick Sarkozy. Check these on your way out.



Johnny Hallyday - Le Survivant (1982) (buy)



Johnny Hallyday - Veau D'Or Vadou (1982) (buy)

Roll The Videotape

Not much to add to today's tracks - nothing but smooth solid funk culled from Dan Hartman's 1978 disco explosion Instant Replay, an album which features not only Saturday Night Live / Hall and Oates guitar hero G. E. Smith:


but also Vinnie Vincent:


This was the man briefly brought on by Kiss to wear Ankh warrior makeup and replace Ace Frehley only to be fired for 'unethical behavior'. Not enough notes in a single song for these three plus more you say? Check out this unethical behavior:




Good to see whether on guitar or bass, G. E. Smith has kept up the same video standards throughout his career. Oh yeah and now for some music:



Dan Hartman - Double-O-Love (1978) (buy)



Dan Hartman - Instant Replay (1978) (buy)



Dan Hartman - Countdown / This Is It (1978) (buy)

Country Clubbin

So a few months ago I people may or may not remember I shared a couple of tracks from a mean little mixtape one or more of my parents has a hand in around the time I was kickin it in diapers. My favorite song of that post was the one on which I had the least info, as in no artist or song title. Check the comments there, however, and you'll find that a buddy of mine correctly identified it as a 'It's Only Me' by one Bob James.

I can scarcely convey to you fair reader, the ecstasy I found in the cold of Montreal just after New Years, when what did I come across but a copy of Hands Down, the album from which that track was culled a couple of decades back. It is with that jubilation that today I bring you not only a fresh vinyl rip of 'It's Only Me', but also a couple of other Bob cuts. If you've ever in your life caught a second or two of professional golf coverage, imagine the ideal hole panorama / flyover / commercial break intro / outro music, and you'll be in just the right mindset for the funkier parts to hook you in:



Bob James - It's Only Me (1982) (buy)



Bob James - Janus (1982) (buy)



Bob James - Shamboozie (1982) (buy)

Now go get to work on your short game.

Dark Matter

A couple of years back, a little compilation called 'Disco Not Disco' found its way not only into the mailbox of a certain campus radio station, but onto my iPod, under my skin (in a good way) and all up in my sets (it was actually the third volume in the series under that name). It's one of those can't miss kind of compilations, the kind stock full of tracks that people will always come up and ask about.

Cutting to the chase, a week or so in Montreal I came across a copy of Material's 1982 album One Down, whose last track 'Don't Lose Control' happens to be one of the (not) disco jams I still haven't gotten tired of. The album itself, like countless others from around that 77 - 82 ish era is tough to pigeon hole as this or that, or not this or not that. I will say most of the songs are funkier than average, and a lot of them usually throw some sort of crazy curveball sound at you sooner or later. One of them even features an up and coming Whitney Houston. But don't take my word for it:



Material - I'm The One (1982) (buy)



Material - Don't Lose Control (1982) (buy)



Material - Memories (1982) (buy)

If that wasn't enough Material for you, and if you especially liked 'I'm The One', there's a little more to be found here.