Weeks & Co, Rockers Revenge, and D Train, mixed by Steve

Weeks & Co ~ Rock Candy ~ Salsoul ~ 1983

One of those records I’ve always had a soft spot for, even though I can’t really tell you why that should be. The band also recorded as the Jammers and scored their biggest hit under that pseudonym with ‘Be Mine Tonight’.

FLIP ~ no video.
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Rockers Revenge ~ Walking On Sunshine ~ Streetwise US ~ 1982

One of THE absolute classics of the electro scene. Even though it features electronic drums, it was an almighty biatch of a track to mix, maybe down to poor edits put onto the master tape. I’m surprised it hasn’t been sampled ad infinitum in more recent years as those synth riffs are so catchy…so catchy and so danceable it made #1 on the US Dance chart and #4 UK. Written by Eddie Grant.

D Train ~ You’re The One For Me (Labour of Love Mix) ~ 1985

MY favourite version of this track has to be this remix by Paul Hardcastle, who maybe had some sort of ‘You’re The One For Me’ fixation as he also recorded his own version too, sounding uncannily like this remix in places. Original reached #1 US Dance, #13 R&B, this remix #15 UK charts.

Oh no! Another video problem – no “Labour Of Love “mix video, so check this out …

R.I.P Amy Winehouse

I’ve been a fan since “Frank” in 2003, this was possibly my favourite track – it always made me smile. Until a minute ago I didn’t realise she based it On Ain’t No Mountain High Enough which was written by Ashford & Simpson.

Paul

Major Lance, Rick Sheppard, Bar-Kays, The Esquires, and Weldon Irvine, selected by Paul

Major Lance ~ Um Um Um Um Um Um ~ Okeh Records US / EMI Columbia UK ~ 1964

Written by Curtis Mayfield Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um” (his biggest hit, reaching 1 US R&B, #5 in the US pop chart and #40 in the UK, where it was his only chart success

Rick Sheppard ~ Can We Share It ~ Columbia ~ ????

Rick Sheppard was in The 60’s version of the Drifters – he joined in 1965 ~ he currently own the Canadian Trademark for the Drifters. I have no idea when this was originally released – to me it sounds early sixties, but the only copy I can find is a double a-side with another artist from the mid-seventies.

Bar-Kays ~ Soul Finger ~ Stax / Volt Records ~ 1967

“Soul Finger” reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, and 3 on the US R&B charts in 1967. The vocals were provided by children from the neighbourhood who had been hanging around outside the recording studio; they were simply told to shout the words “Soul Finger!” and were paid with Cokes – Coca~Cola’s that is. Later the same year, on December 9, The Bar-Kays, made an appearance with Otis Redding in Cleveland, Ohio on the local “Upbeat” television show. They all then went on to perform at Leo’s Casino, a small venue club in Cleveland. The following afternoon, Redding, his manager, the pilot, and four members of The Bar-Kays were killed when his Beechcraft 18 airplane crashed into Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin.

The Esquires ~ Get On Up ~ Bunky Records ~ 1967

Their debut record for Bunky/Scepter was “Get on Up”, which became a major hit in the United States, peaking at number 11 and 3 Black singles chart.

Weldon Irvine ~ We Gettin’ Down ~ RCA ~ 1975

And finally, in this segment, something funky from the mid-seventies. Taken from his “A Spirit Man” album Weldon Irvine. I came across this track via a Jamiroquai compilation on iTunes, you can hear why J.K. chose this track – it’s so much his vibe.

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El Coco, Cloud One, and Phreek, played by Steve

El Coco ~ Dancing In Paradise ~ AVI Records ~ 1978

Jazz trained musicians and composers, Mssrs Rinder and Lewis carved out quite a successful disco recording career for themselves, under several different guises. El Coco was probably their most famous and this, the title trtack from their fifth LP, was their second most successful single. Number 31 on the US R&B chart.

Cloud One ~ Atmosphere Strut (vocal version) ~ P&P Records US ~ 1976

I have this on a compilation CD and was somewhat surprised to see this vocal version included, because I didn’t know it existed and it was the far better known instrumental that had DJs and dancers hooked back in the day.Their LP was the first P&P release.

Phreek ~ Weekend ~ Atlantic ~ 1978

A few weeks ago, Paul played a slightly more recent version of this song by Class Action ft. Todd Terry and at the time we mentioned the Phreek original. Well, here it is, produced by Patrick Adams and Leroy Burgess and containing as it does, the same vocalist as the later copy.