Parade of Sound, Soul, Funk & Fury

It's been awhile since I posted anything here.

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Thu, 15 Aug 2013 02:56:00 +0000

Here's a replay of a pop-heavy set I did at the Beer Garden at Navy Pier on the 4th of July. Mostly pop with the odd Chas nod here and there.

Happy Summer. Click link below.

Navy Pier Beer Garden 7-4-13

Holidaze Mix 2011

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:37:00 +0000

Better late than never. Happy Holidays to all.

1. Charlie Brown Get Up- Colossus

2. Mistletoe and Holly (Kaskade Mix)- Frank Sinatra

3. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Awayteam remix)- Lou Rawls

4. Psycho Jingle Funk- Rithma

5. Funky Jesus- The Jive Turkeys

6. My Favorite Things- Shawn Lee’s Ping Pong Orchestra

7. Soulful Christmas (DJ Catalist Remix)- James Brown

8. You’re All I Want For Christmas- The Salsoul Orchestra

9. Gimmie Some Funk For Christmas- The BellRays

10. Oh Christmas Tree- King Kooba

11. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Mambo (Malibu Remix)- Billy May

12. Do They Know it’s Christmas (Extended Mix)- Band Aid

13. Oh Holy Night- Trombone Shorty & Friends

14. A Message from The Commodores

HOLIDAZE MIX 2011 listen or Download here

Favorite Albums of 2010

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:49:00 +0000

New year, new look for the blog. This is my fourth go at making a "favorite albums" list and this 2010 list was probably the most difficult one for me to assemble yet. While I don't keep official stats or anything, I think its safe to say that I listened to more music this year than ever before. 2010 is probably also the first year where I acquired more new music digitally than in hard copy format. I see both pluses and minuses in

that. On the positive side, less clutter and quicker and easier access to new stuff. On the negative side, I miss having an actual tangible item with artwork, liner notes and the ability to hold it in my hand. Furthermore, I'm better at picking up a cd or record when I see it and going, "I should give that another spin" than I am at scrolling through a list on a computer or ipod and remembering it. Additionally, CDs and vinyl just sound better. I know, blah, blah, blah, FLAC, loseless, and MP3s at 320kps are all supposed to sound great and I shouldn't hear a difference, but, well, I do. Maybe. I'm convincing myself of that more than it being the actual truth, but if I think it, it might as well be so.

At anyrate, in order to compile this year's list- I wound up spending the last few weeks going back and giving multiple listens to a bunch of albums because I did not spend as much time with any one album this year as I normally would. I imagine the list of "one & done" albums I had this year was also huge- if it didn't grab me, I didn't go back. The albums that made the list definetly grabbed me and all demanded multiple listens and are, for the most part, a constant part of my roatation.

So for the curious, here's a look back at the previous lists for 2007, 2008, & 2009, and here now, this year's list:

20. Rock Dust Light Star- Jamiroquai (Mercury UK) I get tons of grief for liking these guys, so I'll keep this brief. This sounds like a Jamiroquai album, I like Jamiroquai albums. Do all the cuts sound like they could be placed on any previous Jamiroquai album and fit in seemlessly. Yes. This is not a problem for me, because

as I mentioned, I like Jamiroquai albums. So while this easily could have dropped in, say, 1998, it didn't. Nothing gritty, or remotely raw about this album, it is the same pristine dance floor friendly pop with the pseudo-funk licks you either like or don't. I do. I'm glad they are back, sounding like they always did.

19. Everything in Time- DJ Center (Push the Fader) I like DJ records. DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, RJD2, Lack of Afro, among many others. Didn't know too much about this guy going in, and while it's hit & miss in places, the hits work really well for me. My biggest gripe with records like this typically lies with guest MCs where the quality can vary drastically. (Certainly an issue I've had with some of RJD2's releases) But it's not really an issue here, I like pretty much all of the guests on this album and DJ Center's beats are first rate.

18. The ArchAndroid (Suites II & III)- Janelle M

onáe (Bad Boy/Wondaland) Full disclosure: My friend Sandy turned me on to this just last week, and while I had heard about its release earlier in the year, I had not bothered to pick it up, let alone listen to it. My gut feeling is that if I'd have had more time with this album it would be ranked considerably higher. Genre-bending and experimental- I have trouble classifying it easily, which is great. Who needs labels, right? There's a lot going on here. It checks in at over 70 minutes and has elements of pop, folk, psychedelia, soul and orchestral music. So far, I think I dig "Tightrope (featuring Big Boi)" and "BaBopBye Ya" the most. Will definitely be spending more time with this album.

17. Back To Reality-Tony Cook (Stones Throw) This is one of those records that I've only heard over the computer thus far. (Cd release is actually this coming January 25th.) The tunes here are compiled from recordings that took place between 1982-1986. Wonderful electro and synth heavy funk, this stuff compares favorably with anything from the genre you're familiar with from back in the day. (Open note to my friend Kirk- You NEED to pick this up, if you buy the cd and don't love it, I'll pay for it for you- this is right in your wheelhouse) To all others- you remember Newcleus? Cameo? Afrika Bambaatta? Did you like them? If so, you need to pick this up too.

16. Seven Feet Under- The Underbelly featuring Roxie Ray (Record Kicks) Some tight, in the pocket funk. These guys are from Cornwall, England. It seems that tons of retro-funk acts come from across the pond. I like the Roxie Ray tracks on this one in particular- they should have put her on more than three tunes as a good vocalist never hurt anyone. Regardless, these guys can flat out play, and if you like saxophone, well these guys go three deep.

15. Cali Fever- Orgone (Ubiquity) These guys put out my favorite album of 2007 (The Killion Floor) and while this one is great as well, they clearly had stronger competition this year and the element of surprise was no longer part of the equation as now I had expectations of them. The album is very good, I particuarily like the start and stop of "Sandstorm" and its rather ominous rythmn, but the album lacked a stand out track like the cover of "I Get Lifted" on The Killion Floor. Still, this was good enough for the 15th spot on my list, and that ain't too shabby. If you like their previous efforts, you'll like this.

14. All Day- Girl Talk (illegal art)- In terms of mash-up artists, this guy sets the standard, simply put- there is no one I know of doing what he does as consistently as he does it. I started really paying attention to mash-ups maybe around 2002 with the release of As Heard on Radio Soulwax Part 2 by Too Many DJs (an album I loved) and started scooping up mash-ups whenever I could. The next "proper" mash up album I grabbed was Girl Talk's Night Ripper, which I also really liked. All Day continues in that vein (throw his Feed the Animals album in as well) of straight good time party music. It's fun to play spot the sample until your head explodes- once you get past that, however, you sort of say, wow- these are really great mash-ups and you say that again, and again, and eventually realize there isn't much else to say about it. Nevertheless, I still can not deny the sheer awesomeness that exists the first few times you listen to this album and perhaps the best thing about it is you can grab it from his website for free.

13. Rolling Blackouts- The Go! Team (Memphis Industries) Alright, I heard the internet leak of this one (thanks, Steve) as it's not due out until Feb 1st. This album is pretty sweet and once again, if you like previous efforts of theirs, you should like this. I've been reading around the interwebs that there was a concerted effort to make sure this album had a coherency to their lyrics that was lacking on previous albums. Hmm...well, ok- but I gotta tell ya, that doesn't matter. I really don't care what those cheerleader chants are saying or what sort of flow Ninja is spitting this time around. I didn't care with the previous albums either, the joy of their work, in my estimation, lies in their ability to take this cacophonus hodge-podge of noise and instrumentation and turn it into their own unique signature sound, No one else sounds like these guys, yet they always sound like themselves and I love it. Although, I must confess I could do without hearing "The Power is On" (off their Thunder, Lightning, Strike album) as it comes on in that NFL Play 60 commercial at least 20 times during an NFL broadcast. Then again, I could just watch less football.

12. The Lady Killer- Cee Lo Green (Elektra Asylum)- About a year or so ago, I confessed to my pal Beave that the Gnarls Barkley albums did not hold up as well as I thought they would. "Crazy" , much like Outkast's "Hey Ya" a few years before it, was everywhere. I found both those tracks to be infectious and while they quickly got played into the ground, I hoped both releases would lead to even better slices of sweet pop goodness. Sadly, both Outkast and Gnarls Barkley's subsequent output hasn't reached those heights in my estimation. Here's the deal with The Lady Killer; "F@#$ You!" gave this album its legs and I'm hopeful that it continues to run. I really like Cee Lo as a vocalist and there's some pretty great stuff here. Having said that, I don't think there's another single here that will have anywhere near the crossover impact that "F@#$ You!" has had, so it's possible this is his finest hour. I'm hopeful that it won't be.

11. Sound of Police- Cut Chemist (A Stable Sound/Soul Kitchen) This is the type of live DJ set where I wish I was there when he threw it down. I don't want to go into a rant about why something like this will almost always trump what Girl Talk and other mash up artists do, but it's what I think. There is something just so immediate and wonderful about this set that it feels fresh every time I throw it on. There is a sonic texture that challenges without overwhelming, I don't know- he's like Girl Talk for adults. Cut Chemist has crates that are both deep and global and instead of saying "wow, listen to how he used that track" (although, you will say that when you hear the Apache Break in part two) more often than not I'm saying "What is that track?" It's that element of discovery that I love.

10. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy- Kanye West (Def Jam) If this album had not landed in my top ten, you'd be able to trash the whole list, because I'd be a liar. All over the interwebs you'll find that this album gets almost universal critical praise and endless gushing reviews. Critics like it even if they secretly wanted to pan it. The reason? Well, quite simply, it's a really good album. It's ambitious, revelatory and pushes hip hop boundaries like few other albums before it. Kanye has a very polarizing effect on people, mostly because he has a tendency to behave like a jackass. People who don't appreciate this album are more than likely those who can't get past that, or don't like hip hop to begin with. I understand. My biggest gripe is the track "Blame Game" with the Chris Rock rant which is just a misfire to me, but I genuinely love "Lost in the World" and "Runaway" (even if it checks in at 9+ minutes) Overall, the album is worthy of much of the love it's received, although, it wasn't my favorite of the year.

9. No Más- Javelin (Luka Pop) Here's one from this year where I quite honestly can't remember how I got turned on to it. It could have been a review, a random internet find, friend recommendation, album forum recommendation, man, I just don't know. What I can tell you is that it's a pretty sweet piece of electro-pop fun. "Vibrationz" and "Susie Cues" have been in pretty heavy roatation since I first heard them and after giving this some recent spins "On it On it" will probably wind up in the rotation as well. I have not done any real digging about these guys so I don't have much to say about them other than the album is on my ipod and I played it frequently.

8. Bread & Butter- The Jive Turkeys (Colemine Records) Neat story how I got turned on to this record. I had written a few 45 reviews over at The UnCool website. (Here's my public plea for an UnCool resurgence, relaunch, or whatever it takes to bring it back. I know the keepers of the site have bigger fish to fry namely -impending parenthood- but that had the makings of a pretty neato site) and as a result, I was sent a pretty sweet promotional package from Colemine Records which included a number of 45s from The Jive Turkeys, among other things. Well, funk me! These sides were right up my alley and I quickly wound up purchasing their full-length LP Bread & Butter. The album does not disappoint if you are a fan of pure, raw, instrumental funk. (Some heavy organ on this) These guys can take their rightful place alongside The New Mastersounds, or The Diplomats of Solid Sound as champions of bringing the old funk back to the front of the line. I love the entire album, but if I were to pick a favorite, it's "Soul Hi" which puts a whole new spin on Sly and the Family Stone's "If You Want Me to Stay." Delicious!

7. Interpreting the Masters, Vol. 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall & John Oates - The Bird and the Bee (Blue Note Records) - Alright, I knew next to nothing about The Bird & The Bee except maybe that they looked like a couple of annoying hipsters I would not want anything to do with, let alone listen to. So, when I heard about this album, I kind of bristled- "These two think they can take on Hall & Oates, who do they think they are!" Sure, plenty of people have covered them, but a whole album? Very few can hold a candle to Daryl Hall as a vocalist, I was sure this was gonna be a train wreck, but I was intrigued enough to listen. And you know what? The album is great. Here's why- the selected songs are all classics, and while they've updated them with a more contemporary sound, they are all faithful enough to the originals that you're just hearing some great songs in a new way. Vocalist Inara George has a pretty voice- pleasant and easy to listen to. She doesn't belt and try to challenge Daryl Hall in any way- smart move- she just sounds good. Pop this album on during some lazy Sunday, you won't be disappointed.

6. Plain & Simple- Rachel & The Soul Criminals (Soulplex Recordings)- This album was a completely random internet discovery for me from, I think, back in July. Soulful, jazzy goodness. I love this and entertained ranking it a bit higher, actually. This is another retro soul record that hopefully has some staying power. While the swing revival didn't last that long- old funk and soul sounds seem to keep popping up all over the place, which is a-ok with me as long as we keep getting quality stuff. So far, that seems to be the case. I love the title track, the instrumental cut "One 4 Ray" and a bunch of other stuff on this.

5. Complete Mythology- Syl Johnson (Numero Group)- The folks over at Pitchfork gave this collection a rather mediocre review. I think it's a treasure chest full of R&B, soul and funk goodness. But, I am also very guilty of being a Numero Group sychophant. I can't help it. I find nearly all their releases to be revelatory and exciting at best and intriguing and curious at worst. An argument can be made this is the sort of thing that exists just for audiophiles and will overwhelm just about anyone else, and that might be correct, but if more labels put the time, care, and effort into their releases that Numero obviously does, I think the music industry would be in a much better place.

4. Carry Me Home- The Right Now (The Right Now)- I think it was my brother who sent me a link to an article about this band, the fact that they were a local outfit intrigued me. While I sometimes feel I'm criminally out of step with the local soul scene- I do try to keep up and know what's going on. I was all over The Crown Royals years ago, and have been keeping tabs on JC Brooks and The Uptown Sound, but I had no idea who these guys were. Well apparently, I'm out of the loop, these guys have been kicking around in various incarnations for a number of years now, so what do I know? I know this: This is a good band playing soul music with funk flourishes and an exceptional vocalist. I'm gonna try and keep up with them, see them live, delve into some of the older stuff they put out under different names and eagerly await new releases from them. In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy this album and drop "Doing Nothing" and "I'll Get Down" into sets whenever I can. Good stuff.

3. I Learned The Hard Way- Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings (Daptone Records) If you know me, there are no surprises here. These cats are probably the biggest stars of the whole retro soul thing because they are the best. The band, the production, and Sharon out front, you just can't beat it. Really, they only compete against themselves in their little niche as far as I'm concerned. I frequently wrestle with deciding which album of theirs is my favorite (Naturally usually wins) but this one ain't no slouch either. I certainly have played "Better Things" more times than would be considered healthy and that leads to extra plays of "Give it Back" and well, it's a vicious cycle. They're great, you know it, I know it, we all know it. I eagerly await the next release.

2. Hot Stone- Dr. Rubberfunk (Jalepeno Records)- Another DJ record near the top. (Although he's a drummer to boot) This record has more jazzy influences than a lot of DJ records I tend to listen to and I find it to be a nice chill staple in my rotation. Some great breaks to be sure, but it's the fluidity of the whole thing that I find appealing. It's just a groover. There are a number of guest vocalists and instrumentalists on this. (My friend Laura would certainly appreciate the vibraslap on "You're No Good.") Basically I think the record works so well for me because it combines so many musical elements I like to great effect. Great breaks, soul vocalists, funk licks, I like it all.

1. The Outsiders are Back- Kings Go Forth (Luka Bop)- This album is just sick. So good. I must say, people have a really good sense of what I like for the most part as during the course of last year more than half a dozen people called this album to my attention as something they thought I would enjoy. They weren't wrong, that's for sure. Everything here was recorded within the last three years, yet you'd swear this was some newly unearthed gem from like 1971 or so. Big horns. Big drums. Big love. "Don't take my shadow" and "Get a Feeling" are stone cold killers. "One Day" with it's Curtis Mayfield "Move On Up" inspired line is another great one, the falsettos in "High on Your Love, man, the whole thing just wins. These guys are supposed to hit the Double Door in Chicago on January 21st- I've got to try to catch that show, because I can only imagine how these guys run through this stuff live.

So, that's what I got for 2010. Overall, a pretty sweet year for music. I'm sure I've forgotten a few albums that might have challenged for positions on this list, but again, that just speaks to the overwhelmingly amount of stuff that's out there. If you've got a good sense of my aesthetic and think I'm blatantly missing something, let me know about it, because odds are, I want to hear it.

Holidaze Mix 2010

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:58:00 +0000

It's that time of year again- holiday music. Me? I get a kick out of it. Last year I was a bit overly ambitious in my efforts to post holiday tunes and wound up abandoning the project pretty early. Although the Holidaze mix did make an appearance last year, I didn't follow through with a volume 2 or really anything else holiday tune related. No matter, it's 2010 and I'm back with this year's mix. Soul, funk, a dash of hip-hop, a sprinkle of house, and reworked classics are the order of the day. Hope you enjoy it. Have a great holiday season and fantastic New Year.

CLICK HERE FOR HOLIDAZE 2010

Track listing:

1. Getting Down for X-Mas -Milly & Silly

2. A Cold Chillin' Christmas- Big Daddy Kane, Roxanne Shante, and MC Shan

3. Do You Hear What I Hear?- Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra

4. Purple Snowflakes- Marvin Gaye

5. Presents for Christmas- Solomon Burke

6. Christmas Present Blues- Jimmy Reed

7. Jingle Bells (Robbie Hardkiss Remix)- Duke Ellington

8. Driving Home for Christmas (Keljet Merry Christmas Remix)- Chris Rea

9. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (Red Baron Remix)- Berlin Symphony Orchestra

10. Baby It's Cold Outside (ARP Remix)- Dean Martin

11. Get Down Santa- The Jive Turkeys

12. Santa's God a Bag of Soul- The Soul Saints Orchestra

13. Santa Claus, Santa Claus- James Brown

14. Merry Christmas Baby- Ike & Tina Turner

15. Christmas Time is Here- Mayer Hawthorne

Sweet New Release- Groove Merchant Turns 20

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Sat, 13 Nov 2010 20:46:00 +0000

Alright, this item is the first thing to go on my Christmas "wish list", but knowing me, I'll pick it up way before Santa comes down the chimney because I simply can't wait for something this good.

A compilation celebrating one of the best record stores in the universe- Groove Merchant.

It's been years since I've been to San Francisco, but man I loved that store. (Amoeba was pretty cool too.) Being a Chicago guy- I carry a torch for Dusty Groove over all others, but Groove Merchant checks in at a very close #2.

In terms of the album, the compilation sounds like all winners to me. I particularly like this cut here:

Numonics - You Lied by Groove Merchant 20

But judge for yourself- You can preview ALL the tracks and grab the release HERE.

32 for me + you.

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 19:05:00 +0000

Had some extra time on my hands for a change, and was playing around with some new toys and some new(old)tunes. Put this together this morning, 32 minutes of stuff I like these days. Pretty raw, but I liked it when I put it together. Give it a listen if you're so inclined and shoot me a comment if you want the track list.

Enjoy! (click link below to play or save)

32 for me + you

Breezin' - A Smooth Summer Joint.

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 19:59:00 +0000

Been forever and a day since I checked in around here....

As summer kicks in and the assorted hustle and bustle, sometimes I need a glass of lemonade at sunset and a tune like this to just kick back and appreciate it all.

I've got a whole lot of reasons....

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:41:00 +0000

for sharing this....

but the only one that matters is that it is fantastic.

Been feelin' this one this week!

"Playoffs? You Kiddin' Me? Playoffs?"

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:26:00 +0000

It's a bittersweet time of year for this Bears fan. I'm a sucker for the NFL Playoffs and a big fan of the second weekend in particular. However, with the Bears sitting idle again I have to manufacture rooting interest for these games to make them matter. I'm having a tough time with that quite honestly and although I'll watch the games, my heart just isn't in it this time around.

Without anything at stake fianancially, or emotionally- I imagine I will do well in guessing the winners and losers- so here's my fearless forecast:

Cardinals over the Saints

Colts over the Ravens

Vikings over the Cowboys

Chargers over Jets

Those guesses are straight up (I haven't even peeked at point spreads) and look to favor the home team in all games except the Cards vs. Saints game. We'll see how I do.

In the meantime, this Bears fan is left with yet another season of dashed hopes and broken dreams. It's in times like these I am forced to look back at the glory of days gone by and hole up with music as I ponder what might have been.

So since I'm a depressed Bears fan with an affinity for funk, what better place to look than the NFL FILMS MUSIC LIBRARY. Yes, even Sam Spence was touched by the funk bug. Check out this funky disco piece "Quest for the Silver Trophy" It's not quite the same without John Facenda or Harry Kalas providing naration over the top, but it will have to do.

QUEST FOR THE SILVER TROPHY

Favorite Albums of 2009

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:07:00 +0000

I completely dropped the ball on my holiday music posts...things got a bit busy in December and I just bailed on the project. I'll try to do it right at the end of 2010. Sorry.

I have been thinking a lot about my favorites of 2009 and I have to say I've heard a great deal of chatter about it being a "down" year for music, and I must respectfully disagree. In my estimation- lovers of retro funk, soul and R & B could find tons of releases this year that were fantastic. I guess it's just a matter of what you're into. It's funny because most of my gigs this year did not afford many opportunities to play this stuff and yet it's what I would be rockin' at home or on the IPOD whenever I got the chance. So while Lady Gaga, The Black Eyed Peas, Kid Cudi and the like might of been on the speakers, here's what was in my headphones.

20. The Numero Group Releases (Numero Group) -Whatever these guys put out is gold. Period. End of story. The best reissue/re-discovery label ever. (Thanks for playing- Rhino & Hip-o-select.) I've been a subscriber to their catalog for a few years now and it would be easy to pepper this list with their 2009 releases, but it's sort of unfair and less fun. So, I'm putting their 2009 output in at 20, with the caveat that their stuff would be scattered throughout the list if I did it properly. Do yourself a favor, click the link to their website and buy something...anything. It's worth it.

19. BLACK RIO 2- Original Samba Soul 1968-1981 Compiled By DJ Cliffy (Strut)- I was very excited about this release as I was a big fan of the first compilation in the series which came out in 2002. Just a great fusion of Brazilian instrumentation and American funk licks. After Chicago lost the Olympic bid, I was listening to this all over again. Cool stuff regardless of the language barrier.

18.School Me Vol 1.-High School & Collegiate Jazz, Funk, Soul & Psychedelia 1968 to 1975 Various Artists (Stage Band Research)- Another compilation makes the list. The quality of stuff on this varies too much for me to rank it any higher and I think most people would find this to be a curiosity more than anything else, but hey- I'm curious and I dig it.

17. The Pains of Being Pure at Heart- The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Slumberland Records)- This is not my usual cup of tea-but it just grabbed me for some reason. I really like "A Teenager in Love" and "Young Adult Friction" in particular. It's been popping up on a number of "Best of 2009" lists and I think it's deserved. I'm not even sure what to call it, Power Pop? Shoe-Gaze? I don't know, it's just good.

16. Glitter & Doom Live- Tom Waits (Anti-)- I am an unapologetic Tom Waits fanatic and he'd be hard pressed to put out something I was disappointed with. This would rank higher however if 1. It was a new studio effort rather than a live album and 2. If the Glitter & Doom Tour actually passed through Chicago. Nevertheless, I love this and "Make it Rain" sounds especially awesome here.

15. Manners- Passion Pit (Columbia)- Well here's a major label release on my list, look at that. Sweet hooky, synthy-pop goodness. This kind of stuff has been appealing to me more and more these days...strange.

14. Enter the 37th Chamber-El Michels Affair (Fat Beats)- What's this? A funk instrumental reworking of Wu Tang Clan's 36 Chambers? Um, sign me up! I actually had a 45 of them doing C.R.E.A.M from a few years ago and in 2009 they drop all of this?!?! Fantastic.

13.What Have You Done, My Brother?- Naomi Shelton and The Gospel Queens (Daptone Records) Like my list isn't gonna have a Daptone release on it? Another amazing release from this Brooklyn-based label who have yet to misstep in my eyes. Gospel Music? When it sounds like this- Yes. AMEN!

12.Winners Circle- Hey Champ (website release)- Speaking of synthy-pop goodness, it was this Hey Champ remix digital download project that turned me on to Passion Pit in the first place. Electro Funk, Hip Hop, all of that. It's here. Some really fun stuff on this and they'll let you download it gratis at their site.

11. Full English Beat Breakfast- Big Boss Man (Blow Up Records)- I didn't know anything about these guys, but I saw an ad for the album in a magazine and was intrigued by the pull-quote, "The Sgt. Pepper of Boogaloo" and while I'm not ready to go that far, I will say it's a pretty great record.

10. The Stripped Mixes- Michael Jackson(Motown/Universal)- There was obviously a flood of MJ related stuff to hit the market this year, everyone wants a taste, right? Well, I listened to a great deal of it and aside from a few individual remixes there wasn't very much that was very revelatory as far as I'm concerned. This release was an exception. The title pretty much sums it up- much of the instrumentation and slick production has been stripped from the mix, leaving Michael and his bros vocal talents front and center. Speaking strictly of the artist- Michael will be remembered primarily as an entertainer first, but listening to these recordings reminds me of the young Michael and the INCREDIBLE vocal talent he was.

9. Burn it Down- The Dynamites Featuring Charles Walker (Outta Sight)- A band I blogged about previously when I saw them live awhile back, and I'm still kicking myself for missing them when they came through Chicago this past September. The album is even better than Kaboom! Charles Walker is right up there with Lee Fields, love him.

8. Aguilas & Cobras- Brownout (Six Degrees)- The first act to appear on both the 2008 and 2009 list. Again, Latin inspired funk that just makes you move. You either feel it or you don't.

7. Dojo Cuts- Dojo Cuts Featuring Roxie Ray (Record Kicks)- A sweet debut from this Australian funk outfit. As mentioned, and as evidenced on my list, I love all this retro funk stuff. Is it formulaic? Sure. Does it matter? Not if it's good. Great album all around, like their cover of Stevie Wonder's "Uptight" a great deal.

6. This is Gizelle Smith & The Mighty Mocambos- Gizelle Smith & The Mighty Mocambos (Mocambo/Legere)- Yup, another one. I wasn't lying. This is probably my current favorite record in terms of the -insert awesome female soul singer- & -the name of the tight funk combo backing her up- albums out right now. Of course that could change next week, but for now, it's this.

5. Made of Stone- Kylie Auldist (True Thoughts)- Blogged about her earlier this year and still really love this album. Her name stands alone on the album release, but make no mistake, The Bamboos (who introduced her on a previous release) really make this work.

4. My World- Lee Fields & The Expressions (Truth & Soul)- Man, oh man, this album is crazy good. Is there a better retro-funk singer on the scene? No, no there is not. Lee has been doing this stuff for years and is just incredible. Listen to his take on "My World Is Empty Without You", because I tell ya, YOUR WORLD is empty without some Lee Fields, trust.

3. The Safe Cracker- The City Champs (Electraphonic)- A great deal more Jazzy than the rest of this list. Equal parts dance and Sunday chillin' out record. Very Hammond B heavy. This is a record that I would not have appreciated as much in my younger years, but works great now. These guys come through town on Feb. 6th in support of The North Mississippi Allstars at the Cubby Bear. Might try to check 'em out.

2. A Strange Arrangement- Mayer Hawthorne (Stones Throw)- Misses the number one spot by just a hair. In truth, I probably played the single, "Just ain't gonna work out" more than any other recording release in 2009 and I LOVE the rest of the album as well, He's a crooner, he's got the retro thing I like, and hip-hop beats to boot. It's really pretty great. But there was one album that spoke to me just a touch more.

And my Favorite Album of 2009 (drum roll)

1. My Groove Your Move- Lack of Afro (Freestyle Records)- Alright, it's like this- If I was a full-on producer and musician and expanded my DJ skills- this is the type of stuff I'd like to do. Seriously, I hear it and wish I had created it. I can't speak for other music enthusiasts who aren't musicians, but I always seem to be hearing mixes and sounds in my head, not necessarily songs per se, but a sonic feeling. I'm not explaining it very well, but it's just this thing. Anyhow, Lack of Afro does that. He manages to fuse all sorts of music and sounds into this breakbeat masterpiece that is just so close to what I want stuff I mix to sound like it's freaky. I like DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist, RJD2 among others, but none of them grab me quite like this guy does. Now maybe this stuff is strictly the province of DJs, audiophiles and music geeks, and its appeal consequently limited- but hey I love it, love his other remix work and his debut album Press On might even be better than this. Seriously cool stuff.

OTHER RELEASES OF NOTE: Well, I liked the Wilco Album (Wilco, The Album) and probably should have given some love to the New Mastersounds recent release (Ten Years On) as well as The Black Dynamite Soundtrack and Music from The Motion Picture release, but I have not really listened to them enough yet to fairly rank 'em. I also have been meaning to listen to some more Ruthie Foster and Ledisi, but just have not gotten around to it. Oh well, maybe next year.

Holiday Tunes Day #8 Baby, It's Cold Outside

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:55:00 +0000

Today's post features a holiday standard. I've posted some remixes and some rather oddball tracks so far, so I figured it was time to post a tune that the majority of readers/listeners should be familiar with. "Baby, it's cold outside".

There are countless takes on this secular classic and I'm not going to list them all. If you are a fan of holiday tunes, I'm sure you have your favorite version. However, unless you are a dorky audiophile like me, you might not have heard the version here, which happens to be my favorite. This one features Blossom Dearie & Bob Dorough. Here's the track:

BABY, IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

WHY I LIKE IT: Well, it's a classic song sung by two great artists. Blossom Dearie's death this past February had sent me into one of those phases where I pull out all the stuff I have by them and start listening to it all over again. I came to the conclusion that she has a permanent place in my list of top five female vocalists of all time. The list is in constant flux changing from week to week, but she will forever be in the mix as far as I'm concerned. Bob Dorough is just the perfect compliment on this track. Perhaps most famous for his Schoolhouse Rock work, he's a talented vocalist and composer. Just a great rendition of this classic with these two, and one that is not likely to be overplayed as it is long out of print. Enjoy.

Holiday Tunes Day # 7 The Holidaze Mix '09.

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:39:00 +0000

So- I've been doing this for a couple of years now. I put together a mix of holiday tunes that I've been playing out, or messing around with, or songs I just enjoy. Typically you'll find some remixes of old standards, some new stuff, and some old stuff you might not have heard. The site I used to post my Holidaze Series to is unfortunately dead, so I can't point you to previous Holidaze Mixes (although I might be convinced to repost them here if there are any requests to do that.)

Anyway, the day sort of got away from me which is why I'm posting this on Monday night instead of during the day- but without further ado, here is The Holidaze Mix 2009 Volume One:

THE HOLIDAZE MIX 2009 VOLUME ONE

Here's the tracklist.

1. Oh Come All Ye Faithful- Shawn Lee's Ping Pong Orchestra

2. I'll Be Home for Christmas (Omega Watts Remix)- Charles Brown

3. Hey, Santa Claus- The Moonglows

4. Crazy Cool Christmas- Kermit Ruffin

5. Merry Christmas to You- Salem Travelers

6. I'll Be Your Santa, Baby- Rufus Thomas

7. The Christmas Song- Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66

8. Frosty The Snowman (Rondo Brothers Remix)- Patti Page

9. Jingle Bells (Bombay Dub Orchestra Remix)- Joe Williams

10. Marley & Marley- Statler & Waldorf of The Muppets

11. I am Blessed (Wax Tailor Remix)- Nina Simone

12. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (Stuhr Remix)- Kay Starr

13. Funky Funky Christmas- Electric Jungle

14. I'd Like You For Christmas (Ursula 1000 Remix)- Julie London

15. Christmas Celebration- B.B. King

USEFUL TIPS: You can listen to any of my posts simply by hitting the play button by the track, or you can download to your device by right-clicking and using "save as". This will not work if you are catching this feed on a reader, or facebook...you'll need to come to the blog. Finally, I know there are some lurkers out there which is totally cool, but if you like what you hear, let me know and pass the site along. Again, if anyone wants me to post Holidaze '07 and '08, let me know and I'll try to put 'em up. Enjoy.

Holiday Tunes Day #6 Ain't No Chimneys in the Projects

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Now here's a band that I have some SERIOUS affection for. Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings are probably my favorite band touring today. I have done my best to spread the gospel of Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings since I got their first lp Dap-Dippin' with Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings(2002). If you like REAL FUNK and REAL SOUL, you'll love 'em. It's that simple. In fact, if this is your cup of tea (and it really should be) I'll go so far as to vouch for the entire Daptone Record Label. Check out their website here.

Today's track is brand spankin' new! It comes from Daptone's forthcoming holiday 45. "Ain't No Chimneys In the Projects" b/w Binky Griptite's "Holiday Breakdown" Here's the A-SIDE:

AIN'T NO CHIMNEYS IN THE PROJECTS

WHY I LIKE IT: The song is short and sweet and to the point. Young Sharon is concerned that Santa can't come because she doesn't have a chimney-her mom assures her once she falls asleep, a chimney appears. She figures out the truth as an adult. As always, Sharon sounds great, and the band's arrangements and playing are always first rate as well. Glad to add this track to my collection.

Holiday Tunes Day #5 Hawaiian Style?

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Alright- she's popular, and I'll admit to finding both "Suddenly I See" and "Black Horse and a Cherry Tree" stuck in my head for awhile after I hear them. The "woo-hoo's" of "Black Horse and a Cherry Tree" remind me alot of the "woo-hoo's" of "Neutron Dance" by The Pointer Sisters, and now when I hear one, I also hear the other in my brain. Thank you KT Tunstall.

Today's selection comes from the Scottish singer's (Target store-only) 2007 EP Have a KT Christmas. "Mele Kalikimaka (Christmas in Hawaii)" is probably familiar to most folks from the Bing Crosby with The Andrew Sisters rendetion, but there many, many more. This one just happens to be my favorite. Here's the track:

MELE KALIKIMAKA (CHRISTMAS IN HAWAII)

WHY I LIKE IT: I've always found it to be a fun upbeat tune. I love KT's voice on this and she's got some pretty sweet kazoo action going on. Nice!

Holiday Tunes Day #4 I Think It Was December.

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:50:00 +0000

Who knows when I first saw it. Probably on Friday Night Videos or MTV or something...But Prince's "1999" video was a sexual awakening of sorts...no, not the androgynous Purple One, but rather his female keyboard "players." Who were these hot chicks? And what were they doing with each other at that keyboard?

Why, it was Wendy & Lisa! Alright, if you want to have a discussion about inappropriate male fantasies about lesbianism, you can start by putting the blame squarely on that video. I'm telling you, that's the starting point for any guy my age. Good Lord! I didn't really understand what I was seeing, but I knew I liked it.

Alright Chas, that's great- but bring it around to holiday tunes, would ya?

Ok- here you go. Wendy & Lisa weren't just eye candy for prepubescent boys, they were an integral of Prince's band The Revolution. While their actual contribution lies somewhere between their display in the "1999" video and the fictionalized tale of them writing "Purple Rain" in the film of the same name, the fact is they are talented musicians. They have not had a great deal of commercial success, but they still have some good tunes in their catalogue in my estimation. " I Think it Was December", off their second release Fruit on the Bottom, being one of them. Here it is:

I THINK IT WAS DECEMBER

WHY I LIKE IT: The gospel-ish bluesy intro grabs me right away. Wendy and Lisa were responsible for writing some of the arrangements for Prince and you can certainly hear that on this track. While not a text book "holiday tune" per se, I find the references to "God", "being an angel", and "late December" enough for me to qualify it. Besides, I really only play it during the holiday season, so I say it counts.

Holiday Tunes Day #3. Tom Waits- Two-fer.

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:50:00 +0000

Holiday Tunes Day 3 brings a holiday two-fer one. But first some backround, I am an unapologetic Tom Waits nut. Probably one of the first and only artists I got really obsessive-compulsive about. I have all of his albums, even more bootlegs- I just love him. Can't help it.

Now some people can't get past the voice (same issue Bob Dylan has- we'll get to him in a later post) and well, those people are gonna hate this, plain and simple. For those who can get past the voice, or better still, like it.- this will be a treat. For me, Waits is first and foremost a great storyteller. His songs paint pictures for the listener. This is particularily true during the first decade or so of his recording career. Before all the later experimental stuff (equally great in my opinion) Waits was a singer songwriter who sat at the piano and just spun fantastic yarns in song.

Today's tunes are an example. This recording comes from a bootleg of a 1979 concert in Sydney, Australia. It features Tom doing the traditional "Silent Night" (like only he can or would) and then he segues into his own "Christmas Card From A Hooker in Minneapolis." Here's the track:

Silent Night/A Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis

For the studio recording of "A Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis", you'll want to pick up Wait's 1978 LP Blue Valentine. It's a great album.

WHY I LIKE IT: Um, because it's bittersweet and beautiful. I'm not gonna spend much time explaining it here. I find that most folks who are exposed to Tom Waits have a visceral reaction- and either feel it in their soul, or shake their head in disgust. I'm feelin' it- at least until Valentine's Day.

Holiday Tunes Day #2- Christmas Won't Be The Same This Year...

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:50:00 +0000

...not without Michael around. Although with all the "point of purchase" Michael Jackson stuff you've seen at various retailers, you could argue that he's actually more ubiquitous than he's been in years. That's right, 2009 will mark the year he officially entered the Elvis stratosphere. Of course, you need to die to reach that level, but hey-at least now you can buy a Michael Jackson cell phone skin sticker for that special someone this Christmas.

Forgive my cynicism. I liked Michael Jackson. I still like Michael Jackson. Well alright, I like his music. Anyway, Michael might appear solo in a later post but for now I'm going with an old Jackson 5 tune. "Christmas Won't Be the Same This Year" originally appeared on the 1970 Jackson 5 Christmas Album, which was reissued in 2003 as part of the 20th Century Masters Collection and (big surprise) appeared on this year's holiday cash-grab, I mean- offering Ultimate Christmas Collection. Here's the track:

CHRISTMAS WON'T BE THE SAME THIS YEAR

WHY I LIKE IT: Song starts with a warm "Merry Christmas" from four members of the Jackson 5 but we learn Jermaine is not so thrilled about Christmas this year, cause he lost his girl. "He's crying" Jermaine's out front on this one telling us why it "won't be the same" and you know what, I feel for him, I really do. In the end, the song just sounds like a J5 song, rather than their take on some traditional Christmas classic, and I like that.

Holiday Tunes Day #1. Oh Sweet Music.

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:49:00 +0000

I've been away from the blog for awhile with focus centered around getting 1985 up and running. Well, it is and you should see it, plus Factory's late night show Hunky Dory- and that's all I'll say about that for now.

Now, it's on to the music- specifically holiday- or to be less culturally sensitive- Christmas Music. I am a fan- plain and simple. As a rule, I wait until the first of December to start playing stuff out- but the hunt usually begins in mid-November. I was a bit behind in my search this year, but I did grab some gems, plus I've got a ton in the vault- so if you're into holiday tunes you'll want to bookmark this site, because I'll be posting a new one every day between now and January 1st. That's right- consider it my little gift to you this year, because lord knows I can't afford to buy you anything! My plan is to highlight a tune each day or the occasional mix when I have the time. Now, if you know me, you also know that my personal tastes lean towards funk, soul and R&B. While that's true, I promise to go out of my box every now and then and provide you with something you might not expect from me. My only request of you is that if you like what you hear- go explore the artist featured a bit further and/or drop a comment about what you think. That's it.

You cool with that?

Ok- let's get to the first tune: This is Oh Sweet Music, with their song Oh Sweet Christmas.

OH SWEET CHRISTMAS

I don't know too much about these guys, I can tell you they are a Swedish Band fronted by Magnus Nordström from a band called Piotorand and they maintain a Myspace page. They released a self titled EP this year and well, that's all I got.

WHY I LIKE IT:
Love the romantic sentiment here. Guy wants to fly his girl away to spend the holiday alone with her, avoiding the traditional family awkwardness, and going so far as to hit his boss up for cash to make it happen. Girl reprimands him for being irresponsible but admits she wants it to happen to avoid an institutionalized Christmas.

I like the acoustic guitar, the horn blasts and the interplay between the vocalists. It's a fun, simple song.

1985- The Experience.

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:31:00 +0000

The process of bringing 1985 to the stage officially kicked off yesterday with the start of rehearsals. Tempering my excitement with some realistic expectations and goals would probably be a good idea. However, this will prove to be difficult as I am surrounded by so many talented and committed people, starting with our Director, Eric Roach and including our marvelous cast, crew and production staff.

2009 is a bit of a milestone year for me, it marks the 10th year of my association with the Factory Theater. I first started working with them in 1999 when Steve Walker and Mike Mazzara brought me into the fold to work on Endzone. (Mazzara's play about bowling & high school football.) I had been a fan of the Factory Theater for some time and loved many of the shows I'd seen prior to Endzone, (Bitches, Alive, White Trash Wedding & a Funeral) but I never auditioned for them. I think I let my pride and ego prevent me from going in and just saying, "Hey, I really want to work with you guys." Fortunately, a number of my college friends started to infiltrate the Factory ranks and eventually Steve & Mike got me to come in for Endzone. I worked on the sound design and appeared in a number of supporting roles for the show; perhaps most memorably as Oaky the Owl-complete with ridiculous costume designed by Molly Brennan. I had a great time on that project and was thrilled to be asked to join the ranks as an ensemble member shortly thereafter. Since then, I've had the pleasure of acting in many Factory shows, designed sound for many more, and assumed the role of Managing Director for the company. I was the Assistant Director on Dick Danger: DJ Crimesolver and have had some of my written material performed in Chicagostyle and at the Abbie Hoffman Festival.

1985 is my first full-length play to be
produced...anywhere.
While I don't lack confidence- I will say it took every bit of the 10 years I've been associated with the Factory to feel ready to bring something of my own to the table. Being able to work with so many talented people over such a long stretch of time allows ample opportunity to learn and grow as a "theatrical artist" (wow- that looks pretentious) and it is my hope that 1985 will be able to stand alongside some of the great productions of Factory past when its curtain closes at the end of the year.

I'm getting ahead of myself here, as Chicago once sang:

We're only just beginning!

And while I have already been mentioning this all over the interwebs, I would not be doing my job if I did not remind anyone and everyone who reads this to help get the ball rolling for 1985 by coming to our Factory Theater Rooftop Shuffle THIS COMING SATURDAY. Lots of food, drink, entertainment and prizes to be had. You'll also get to see Factory Theater members tackle a live rendition of this:

I won't say which verse I'm going to try and "tackle" but those who know me might be able to figure it out.

BEAR DOWN!

Heavy Rotation--Lookin For You

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 05:31:00 +0000

This is one-

Lookin For You

-I'm feelin' lately.

It's from Kylie Auldist. She's another in the long line of retro soul singers I have fallen in love with. Much like Sharon Jones having the Dap Kings behind her, Ms. Auldist has a sweet band The Bamboos bringing the flavor. Unlike most of the others I've been smitten by, she's not an American or a Brit, she's Australian...so that's new, I suppose.

Love the new album, "Made of Stone" and highly suggest ya pick up a copy.

I'll be playing other stuff in this vein and so much more during a guest set on Friday over at Cole's Bar (2338 N. Milwaukee) where I'll be joining the dynamic Ross Vegas and King Hippo. Check it out if ya can- sometime after 10, I believe.

This Summer Madness

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:53:00 +0000

Wow- I still love the summer, love it like a teenager. This summer has been particularly wonderful for a number of reasons. I like lists, so here's a list of why this summer has been spectacular.

1. The Weather. This can't be overstated. I can't remember a more delightful summer in Chicago in my lifetime. It's been warm at times, but rarely out of hand. Perfect. Give me 75 degrees with a slight breeze, forever.

2. Miracle Max. My older dog seemed to be at death's door just a month ago, yet with little to no medical intervention he has bounced back and continues to be a vibrant active pooch. He rules.

3. My strong as hell wife, Barbara. She has faced a great deal of adversity this summer and has kicked its ass. Everyday I'm reminded how awesome she is and how lucky I am to have her in my life. Nothing beats living with someone and sharing your life with someone who gets it. She's cool and I love her.

4. The Factory Theater Gang. Good people who know how to have a good time. Some of the most talented and pretension-free folks you could ever hope to meet, and I get to work with them all the time. Awesome.

5. Love & Marriage. This summer found a lifelong friend getting hitched to the woman he loves after a very long courtship (or whatever ya wanna call it) I had the privilege of being the Best Man, (it was my fourth time having that title bestowed on me and probably my last) and I enjoyed every minute of it.

6. Kids Today. A number of friends added members to their family this summer. Including one of my closest friends AND I was named The Godfather of yet another great friend's child.

7. Work and Play. "Nothing is work unless you'd rather be doing something else." So said, Papa Bear George Halas, and this summer- I've been fortunate enough to be able to take that to heart, filling my days with activities I enjoy and being able to eek out a living. Tough stuff- but man I love it. Focus has been on acting, DJing, and working the rooftop. I've enjoyed it this brief run of work being passion focused, so to speak, and thankful I've been able to do it. With the fall new work and focus shifts will need to come, but I'm happy I've had the summer.

8. The Music. Ah yes, it always comes back to this, doesn't it? I've heard so many different styles and have become infinitely more receptive to others' tastes than I have ever been in the past. No I don't like everything, and I still maintain a tastemaker's snobbery to a degree. But- I've become tolerant of things I typically wouldn't be. I soldiered through playing this summer's "anthems" off the pop charts again and again and was able to accept the fact that although I might not be the biggest fan of "Stanky Leg" "Boom Boom Pow" or "Love Game" It's always cool to see music make people happy. Here's a mix of tunes that makes ME happy. Cool summer grooves that put a smile on my face. Some old some new. All good in my book. Enjoy.

THIS SUMMER MADNESS MIX

Here's the tracklisting:

1. Touch My Soul (Lack of Afro featuring Steve Marriott)

2. Mas Que Nada (Al Jarreau)

3. Hercules Theme (Hercules and Love Affair)

4. Sexual Healing (The Hot 8 Brass Band)

5. Electric Feel (MGMT)

6. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band- Streetlab Remix (The Beatles)

7. Be Thankful For What You've Got- 12" UK Mix (William Devaughn)

8. Atomic Dog (George Clinton)

9. The Secret Life of A.J. Lewis (Andy Lewis)

10. Bring on The Night (The Police)

11. Summertime (McNeal and Niles)

12. Show You The Way (The Jacksons)

13. Summer Madness (Kool & The Gang)

MICHAEL

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:47:00 +0000

Well, The King of Pop has left the building. Haven't blogged for a while and don't really have much time to now, but as I heard the news I couldn't help but start thinking about all the music he left beyond, and how much of it I actually loved. I started playing around with it and dashed off this mix, it's raw & clunky in parts but contains lots of hits, some remixes, and one cover tune.

I can't make sense of the man's life (lots of ugly stuff there...figuratively and literally) and I don't know how I really feel about his passing. I LOVED the music however, when it was cool, uncool, or somewhere in between. Anyone heading out to the Dead Wrong Opening will definitely hear some MJ & J5 at the post-show party, I promise. Last year I had a post about the Rhymefest/Michael Jackson Man in the Mirror Download Album, which I believe is still up. Definitely worth a listen if you get the chance.

The mix I'm posting here features some of my favorites. You can press play to listen or right click to download. (It's just short of 60 minutes and is about 78mb.) Feel free to comment with your favorite MJ tunes or to request a track list. Rest in peace, Michael Jackson.

THE MICHAEL MIX

Cover Tune Tuesday (Single Cut Edition)

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Wed, 13 May 2009 04:58:00 +0000

Time slipped away this week, so no full mix- but I offer up The Apples with their take on "Killing in The Name" originally by Rage Against The Machine. The original was a bit out of my comfort zone, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it back in the day. At any rate- I grabbed the 45 of The Apples version last year and fell in love with the track all over again. Redone in such a way- that perfectly compliments my current musical sensibilities. Horn Blasts...FUNK....AWESOME. As a result of this wonderful goodness, I grabbed the entire album and it become my #1 release of 2008.
ENJOY!

THE APPLES KILLING (CLICK HERE)

Late to the Party...

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Mon, 11 May 2009 22:40:00 +0000

Sometimes certain events pass me by and I kick myself for not knowing to go or not being able to go, or whatever. Such is the case with the Stone Throw Records Tour that came through Chicago a few weeks ago. A quick little jaunt to the Abbey Pub would have allowed me to see Mayer Hawthorne- a guy who has been getting alot of blog & press hype, but someone I just hadn't taken the time to check out. I like Peanut Butter Wolf and James Pants- it would have made perfect sense for me to go to that show...but, well...life happens I suppose. (Or at least I'll tell myself that- because looking back at my calendar it is apparent that I could have gone.)

Add Hawthorne to the list of retro soul artists I've been digging the last few years. I hope this guy breaks out in a big way, as I think he's completely deserving. I love the first video (see below) and the few tracks I've heard of his. Time will tell- but I think he's on his way.

Swine Flu PSA with Funky Guitar!

vrba22@gmail.com (DJ Chas) — Thu, 07 May 2009 22:26:00 +0000

You'd have thought these funky PSAs would have nipped everything in the bud back in '76, but I guess not. However, over at Cranched For Now,

(audio courtesy of CFN) it seems the blog had a premonition about things to come as this was originally posted at the end of March in 2008. So take heed, readers and be sure to take care and get that "shot of protection".

Of course, this wasn't a "vinyl only" release- there was a video campaign as well. See below.

1. Pass Along (Click Here) :60

2. Pass Along (Click Here) :30

3. "Truckdriver" (Click Here) :10

4. "Woman" (Click Here) :10

5. "Male Executive" (Click Here) :10