Archive for the ‘remixes’ Category

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Music for Unicorns

Thursday, July 5th, 2012

I celebrated American Independence Day by watching clips of The Day After on YouTube. Actually, my roommates did more to celebrate the holiday and they’re both Chinese immigrants. I fail at being American.

But I totally rule at sharing 80s music, so let’s do this.

Bryan Ferry
Is Your Love Strong Enough (Extended Version)
Man, that’s one stone cold stare.

When Ridley Scott finished his Tom Cruise frolics with unicorns fantasy epic that is Legend, the studio was not happy with his final cut. Not only did they strip his original 113 minute version down to 96 minutes for European audiences, they also went ahead and cut the American version even more, down to a scant 89 minutes. But that wasn’t the only change they made to the film when bringing it to American shores.

No, in addition to randomly slicing out seven minutes of pesky plot , they also completely removed Jerry Goldsmith’s fully symphonic score and replaced it with a synthesized score by Tangerine Dream, with additional contributions by Jon Anderson of Yes and Bryan Ferry. From what I’ve read it was because they wanted the film to have a broader appeal, but I think it was just because someone at Universal Studios thought Firestarter was dope.

It’s such an odd thing to do if you think about it. Did the executives at Universal really thing that an electronic soundtrack would really help to bring in the kids and families? Why even bother? Why eat the costs of Jerry Goldsmith’s score? Just seems totally random to me.

Besides, it didn’t help. The movie was a bomb and critical dud. Ironically today, you can find Goldmith’s original score on iTunes and Amazon relatively easily, but Tangerine Dream’s soundtrack has long been out of print. The soundtrack version of this song (which features guitar work by David Gilmour) is on a few Ferry compilations, but this 12″ version has never seen the light of day digitally.

The Cure
Kyoto Song (Live)
A Night Like This (Live)
I was going to put a picture of Robert Smith up, but I think one freaky looking British dude is enough for one post.

These two live tracks are from the 12″ single to “Catch” and originally appeared in The Cure’s 1987 concert film The Cure In Orange. (In case you’re wondering, the Orange in question is the Theatre antique d’Orange, located in the Principality of Orange, France.) The movie was released on tape and laserdisc, but it still has never seen a DVD or Blu-Ray release, something that no doubt makes fans of The Cure even more depressed than they already are. Mopey bastards.

 

Posted in Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music, live, remixes, The Cure | 2 Comments »

Boy George And Family (Not His Family)

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012

 

Look at Boy George. Would you really want to hurt him?

The Family
The Screams Of Passion (Extended Version)
Nothing Compares 2 U
The Family sure sounded a lot like Prince. That’s probably because Prince created the group, wrote nearly all the songs for their sole album (which he also produced) and performed most of the instruments on it as well. Rumor has it that he even recorded vocal tracks that vocalist St. Paul used as a guide for his own vocal performance. Since St.Paul sounds just like Prince throughout the entire album, I think that rumor has some credence.

The Family’s only album failed to chart, and they’ve pretty much vanished into obscurity since the 80s, save for the fact that their album was the birthplace of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” the song that Sinead O’Connor made crazy famous just a few years later (although if you ask me, that’s only her second best cover. This would be her first).

A major bummer about The Family is that, since they were such a commercial failure, almost none of their work was given the 12″ single treatment. “The Screams Of Passion” was the only track from their album that got an extended version, and it’s only about a minute and twenty seconds longer than the original version. Still, it’s a good version of a great song.

The B-side of the 12″ single was the album cut “Yes.” But whatever, I’m sharing “Nothing Compares 2 U’ instead. Because duh.

Culture Club
White Boy (Long Version)
I’m Afraid Of Me (Long Version)
Am I high or does “White Boy” sound a little like a Duran Duran song?

That’s all I got tonight. I’m sure there is something interesting to be said about Culture Club. I’m equally sure that at 12am on a Monday night that I am not the person to do it. Enjoy these mixes that I got off of a crazy looking Japanese 12″ single.

Posted in Culture Club, Prince, remixes | 1 Comment »

Beverly Hills Electro

Tuesday, June 26th, 2012

Hey, it’s music.

Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five
The Megamelle Mix
Pump Me Up (Instrumental)
Do people still do megamixes? I’ve always thought of them as Cliffnotes versions of albums, minus their use as a study aid (although I love to imagine someone listening to this megamix as a means to cram for a final exam on Golden Age hip-hop).

The Megamelle Mix includes snippets from “Step Off,” “The Message,” “Beat Street,” “New York, New York,” “World War III,” and “It’s Nasty (Genius Of Love).” I got it off of a 12″ single for “Pump Me Up,” hence the included instrumental of that track.

Det Reirruc/Club’s Rappers
Axel F (The Beverly Hills Version) (Club Mix)
Axel F (The Beverly Hills Version) (Radio Edit)
Like Eddie Did (Club Mix)
Like Eddie Did (Radio Edit)
All four of these tracks are from an incredibly odd bootleg 12″ single I picked up a few months ago.

The “Axel F” mixes are credited to one “Det Reirruc.” A quick search on Google, and I found out that this is actually Ted Currier (backwards pseudonym!), a producer and songwriter from the 80s whose work includes George Clinton’s immortal “Atomic Dog.” Because of this, Ted Currier should be treated as an American Hero. This track also features the legendary 80s remix crew The Latin Rascals, who are given an “edited by” credit on the label. If you like early 80s hip-hop and electro, this is one hell of a team-up, and worth a listen. The combined forces of Currier and The Latin Rascals transform what was already a pretty legendary piece of instrumental electronic music and make it a beat-heavy, breakdance-friendly banger. It’s pretty amazing stuff. The drum break at the end of the “Radio Edit” alone is awe-inspiring.

Also awe-inspiring, but for entirely different reasons, are the two versions of “Like Eddie Did” by the Club’s Rappers (whoever they are, anyone know?). This…rather interesting little number is a rap tune about the career of Eddie Murphy. That’s right, it’s a biographical rap song about the rise of Eddie Murphy, and how his story should be seen as inspirational to all the young people out there.

It’s a good thing they got this song out before the whole early-90s decline/family film rebirth/prostitute picking up/current day hackery arc of Murphy’s career.

Posted in Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five, remixes, Ted Currier | No Comments »

Supertramp And The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Sunday, June 24th, 2012

I planned tonight’s post as such solely so I could use that headline.

Supertramp
I’m Beggin’ You (Straight Pass)
I’m Beggin’ You (Mad House Mix)
I’m Beggin’ You (Dub)
If you would have told me 10 years ago that I would be rocking out to subpar Supertramp remixes, I would have punched you in the face and called you a liar. Shit, if you would have told me that 10 months ago I still probably would have called you a liar (I wouldn’t have punched you in the face though, I’ve mellowed a bit in my 30s).

But why do I have a newfound appreciation for the group? A band that could be generously called a second-tier prog-rock group turned third-tier pop act? Is it because of my mellowing out? As I’ve gotten older, have I wussed out a bit? Trading in my Pantera and Slipknot albums for easy-listening radio-friendly pop favorites?

No, I’ve just become less of a judgmental asshole.

Honestly, my recent interest in Supertramp has more to do with random chance than anything else. Hearing “Crime Of The Century’ in a record store and being blown away, only to buy the album from which the song gets its name to discover six more tracks that are almost just as amazing (…and “Bloody Well Right,” a song I still can’t get behind). Crime Of The Century remains the only album by the group that I own, but I keep meaning to pick up more. I’m very curious about their first two, super-prog sounding albums, as well as the uber-popular Even In The Quiest Moments and  Breakfast In America.

“I’m Beggin’ You” is not from any of those records though, it’s from the group’s 1987 LP Free as a Bird. The first second record by the group to not feature founding member Roger Hodgson, it was a critical and commercial bomb that pretty much led to a 10 year hiatus for the group. This song isn’t horrible, I’ve certainly heard worse 80s pop tunes, but even I, with my limited knowledge of Supertramp, know that this doesn’t sound like a Supertramp tune at all.

It does have a “house mix” though, and that’s not something you can say for most singles from 70s prog rock groups. Unless somewhere there’s a 12″ house mix of “Mama” by Genesis that I don’t know about.

Oh god that would be so awesome.

Hi Tek 3
Spin That Wheel (Extended Flick Mix)
Spin That Wheel (Flick Mix)
Spin That Wheel (Dub Mix)
Spin That Wheel (Dub Edit)
That’s right, the house mix of a Supertramp song isn’t the dumbest thing in tonight’s post. I’m proud of that.

“Spin That Wheel” is a song from the soundtrack to the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. Hi Tek 3 are a side-project/alternate name of Technotronic, the Belgium dance act who brought the world “Pump Up The Jam.” Based on those two bits of information you probably already have an idea as to what this song sounds like, and you’re probably right. Enjoy.

Posted in Hi Tek 3, remixes, Supertramp | 8 Comments »

A Couple Of Good Beats

Thursday, June 21st, 2012

This post is going up on around 9:30PM, July 21st, 2012.

I wanted to get in one more blog post before the world is forever made a darker place by Miami Heat winning a fucking NBA Championship. Fuckin’ Miami. I wish I had a rare version that that Against Me! song so I could just post that.

The Twins Plus Him
Turn The Beat Around
Turn The Beat Around (Dub Version)
Turn The Beat Around (Short Version) 
I love/hate it when I find a track by a mysteriously-named artist who released no other work. I love it because I feel like I stumbled across some hidden gem/unknown great who no one knows about. I hate it because they’re typically so mysterious that I can rarely find anything else out about them aside from the one song. So, anyone know anything about The Twins Plus Him? Who are The Twins? Who is Him? I suspect the Him in question may be Richard Alexander, a disco-era producer who produced this take on the song that Vickie Sue Robinson made famous in the 70s. However, the identity of the lead singer(s?) is a complete mystery to me. They’re not credited at all on the label. If anyone could shed some light on this one I would appreciate it.

Pumpkin
King Of The Beat
King Of The Beat (Instrumental)
Pumpkin was the alias of Errol Eduardo Bedward, a drummer who worked on a lot of late 70s/early 80s disco and electro tracks. I don’t know much of his work outside of this track, and that’s a shame because hot diggity damn this is some great old-school electro shit. It’s simple, effective, and (not surprisingly) has a great beat. If I could breakdance I would totally breakdance to this tune. I’d try, but with my luck I’d have a muscle spasm while trying to do the worm. Then my spasming leg would then probably kick my aquarium stand, which would in turn knock over the aquarium onto my head, killing me instantly.

Or maybe I would just wind up looking like an ass, either way, I’m not taking that chance.

Posted in Pumpkin, remixes, The Twins Plus Him | 3 Comments »

What a Motherfucking Feeling

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012

Tonight’s songs are defiant pleasures.

That’s right, DEFIANT pleasures. Not guilty pleasures. I hate that term. To paraphrase Chuck Klosterman, a song cannot be a guilty pleasure. It doesn’t actually cause you any harm. Now, cocaine, that’s a guilty pleasure.

Defiant pleasures. You like them in spite of what everyone else may think of them, or what they may think of you for liking them. Stand tall in your adoration for upbeat pop songs you can dance to. Upbeat pop songs you can dance to make the world go ’round. Download these songs, put them in your iPod and rock out to them loudly. Then, when some hipster wanker gives you shit for them. Jump up and just dance in their face until they scoff and walk away.

And when their back is turned, that’s when you kick them in the head.

Y’know, out of defiance.

Irene Cara
Flashdance (What A Feeling) (Remix)
I first found out about this extended version of the theme to Flashdance about three years ago, and have been desperately seeking out the tune ever since. Thank you Vinylpalooza! I got this gem for just a buck, and I would have easily paid 10x that for the privilege of hearing this amazing seven-minute version of one of my favorite tracks of the early 80s. If you hate this song that doesn’t mean you’re a bad person, but you are just a little bit dead inside. I hope you know that.

 

Kylie Minogue
The Loco-Motion (The Kohaku Mix)
The Loco-Motion (Sankie Mix)
My knowledge of Kylie Minogue’s singing career is spotty at best. I know this song, then there’s about a 12 year gap, and then everything from “Love At First Sight” on. I guess you could call that an American view of the singer, since she was pretty much a nobody here during the entirety of the 90s. What stuff from the 90s is her best? I’ve heard mixed things about Impossible Princess. Does it hold up still?

You know what still does hold up? This great cover of The Loco-Motion (that’s how it’s spelled on the sleeve). I need more mixes of this one. I might have to start buying some of Kylie’s many remix collections. If for no other reason than to support that trend. More artists need to compile and release their mixes. I think one of these might be commercially available in the states, but whatever. Do the locomotion.

Posted in Irene Cara, Kylie Minogue, remixes | 5 Comments »

Feminism, Record Sales and Janet Jackson

Wednesday, June 13th, 2012

A few quick things that have nothing to do with much of anything.

First, if you at all follow video game news then you probably know that Anita Sarkeesian (the woman behind the amazing website Feminist Frequency) recently launched a Kickstarter to help fund her project about the portrayal of women in video games. You also probably know that her announcement of said project set forth a tidal wave of misogyny, threats and hatred toward her. Want to piss of a misogynist? Donate to her Kickstarter and fight the good fight. By the way, if you have anything negative to say about her, that project or feminism in general, please take your stupid little thoughts elsewhere, like off a cliff.

Okay, on to happier news! This weekend (June 15th, 16th and 17th) Jerry’s Records is putting together a massive vinyl convention dubbed Vinylpalooza. Detailed information about the event can be found here. If you are at all anywhere near the Pittsburgh area, I suggest you check it out. It should be awesome.

Finally, if you are one of the eight people who visited my other blog, Random Record Reviews, I have bad news for you. I deleted it. I think my goal of reviewing a randomly chosen album every week was crazy, and I just didn’t have the drive to keep it going. However, I can promise you that you have not seen the last of that feature, I plan on taking it elsewhere. I have some big plans coming this year, and if it all pans out right then you will all hopefully be seeing a lot more writing from me.

I really hope it all works out right. Until then, let’s listen to some Janet Jackson. Yeah, another Janet Jackson post. Don’t like it? Well, what have you done for me lately?

Ooh ooh ooh yeah.

Janet Jackson
Control (Extended Version)
Control (Dub Version)
Control (Acappella)
Nasty (Cool Summer Mix Part I)
Nasty (Cool Summer Mix Part II)
The Pleasure Principle (Long Vocal)
The Pleasure Principle (Acappella)
The Pleasure Principle (12″ Dub)
The Pleasure Principle (The Shep Pettibone Mix)
I think I posted most of these before, although I can’t be sure. Some of my oldest posts are MIA, lost during my migration from Blogger to my own site. However, even if I did share these songs before, these are brand spankin’ new rips, and sound way better than my old ones. So you should download them regardless. I should have a post of all-new music (well, newly posted here) either tomorrow or early next week.

 

Posted in Janet Jackson, remixes | 5 Comments »

Jesus And Tori Amos walk into a dance club…

Tuesday, June 12th, 2012

’90s Music y’all.

MC 900 Ft. Jesus
Regression Session
MC 900 Ft. Jesus is pretty much known for only two things. One is the video for his 1994 semi-hit “If I Only Had A Brain,” which was directed by Spike Jones. The other is that his name is MC 900 Ft. Jesus. I sure as heck don’t know much else about the dude. So anything I’d say here would just be a retread of his wiki. So go read that if you want to know more about him.

As far as this song, it’s the b-side to “If I Only Had A Brain,” and sounds absolutely nothing like it. It’s not a rap jam, it’s not a dance tune, it’s literally what the title says it is; a regression therapy session (with a free jazz musical backdrop). Those who are easily open to suggestion may not want to listen to the tune whilst driving, lest they regress to toddlerdom.

Tori Amos
In The Springtime Of His Voodoo (Hasbrouck Heights Club Mix)
In The Springtime Of His Voodoo (Quiet Mix)
In The Springtime Of His Voodoo (Sugar Dub)
In The Springtime Of His Voodoo (Hasbrouck Heights Single Mix)
I really wish someone in Tori Amos’ camp would put together a remix collection featuring just some of the amazing mixes from her singles of the 90s and early 2000s. A lot of her best tracks from the era were remixed amazingly into surprisingly great dance tracks. I particularly remember that the remixes to “Raspberry Swirl” were great, and I also enjoyed the mixes of “Jackie’s Strength” and “Professional Widow.” Why can’t Tori fans (if any remain) buy them? The Tori fans of the 90s were pretty hardcore and needed to get everything. I’m sure that Tori released a box set, or even just a digital-only collection, of these mixes, it would sell to that crowd still.

But hey, until then enjoy the downloads.

Posted in remixes, Tori Amos | 5 Comments »

I’m Still Gonna Git You Sucka

Friday, June 8th, 2012

When I posted excerpts from the I’m Gonna Git You Sucka soundtrack a few weeks ago (which can be found here) there were a few comments about the singles from the album, and the remixes they contained. I didn’t even know such singles existed! So I thank those who mentioned them. The Discogs merchants from whom I bought them from probably thank you as well. And now all the readers should thank you too, because here are some remixes from the said singles.

Boogie Down Productions
Jack Of Spades (Extended Remix)
Jack Of Spades (Instrumental)
I’m Still #1 (Extended Remix)
I’m Still #1 (Numero Uno Re-Recording)
How bad-ass is KRS-One? So bad-ass that he sounds like a mean motherfucker even when he’s rapping about a character in a Wayans Brothers comedy. That’s pretty damn mean. “Jack Of Spades” is pretty much just a rap re-telling of Jack’s story arc in I’m Gonna Git You Sucka, so I guess the song should feature a spoiler warning if you’re still interested in seeing the movie.

“I’m Still #1″ wasn’t on the I’m Gonna Git You Sucka” soundtrack, so instead of being about how awesome Jack Spade is, it’s about how awesome KRS-One and crew are. His argument is pretty convincing.

K-9 Posse
This Beat Is Military (Hard Corps Version)
This Beat Is Military (Hard Corps Radio Edit)
This Beat Is Military (Hard Corps Dub)
This Beat Is Military (Basic Training Version)
Turn That Down
When I previously talked about this tune I described it as one of the most brilliantly stupid rap songs of all time, and I still love it for its unwillingness to veer away from the “I’m as hardcore as a major military force” metaphor. As for these alternate versions, the “Hard Corps Version” is pretty similar to the original aside from some added beats, while the dub and radio edits speak for themselves. The “Basic Training Version” is radically different though, no A-Team opening (sadly) and the hard-pounding military-inspired beats are cut and replacesdwith some really out-of-place keyboard loops. It also puts a really big emphasis on the line “Def Jam? What’s that? Are we cut?” I sense a beef there. Finally there’s “Turn That Down,” and while that may sound like a different song, it’s really just an instrumental/dub version of the “Basic Training Version.” They keep in an opening Def Jam dis though.

Man, I really want to know what went down between the K-9 Posse and Def Jam, they seemed pissed.

Now for some non-I’m Gonna Git You Sucka hip-hop that I’ve been hanging on to for a bit.

Run-D.M.C.
30 Days (Instrumental)
Sure, this probably appeals to about five people. But I got it, so here it is, a seven-and-a-half minute instrumental version of a Run-D.M.C. song. Enjoy

Mantronix
Bassline (Club Version)
Bassline (Instrumental)
Bassline (Radio Version)
Technically this isn’t hip-hop, it’s electro, but whatever.

Posted in Boogie Down Productions, K-9 Posse, Mantronix, remixes, Run DMC | 5 Comments »

(A) (Post) (With) (Excessive) (Parenthesis) Featuring Dead Or Alive and Coil (And Telex)

Wednesday, June 6th, 2012

I’m going ahead and I’m writing The Lost Turntable Guide to Buying Vinyl. So if you have any questions or topics you want covered, let me know! I think it’s going to be a pretty cool piece. So far I’m covering the following topics:

  • What to look for when buying new/used/collectible records
  • Audiophile vinyl terms
  • Where to buy records
  • Tips for buying records online
  • The perils of download cards

Anything I’m missing? Let me know! Until then, here’s an incredibly random assortment of music.

Telex
Moskow Diskow
Is this disco? Is it synthpop? Who cares! It’s awesome! I never heard of these guys until I bought this single, and now I think I’m falling in love. I think that if Kraftwerk and YMO had a baby, and that baby was raised by Sparks (in Belgium), it would sound like Telex. Really goofy, but still incredibly well-done, dance music with a slick sense of humor. I’m loving it and want to hear more.

This version of “Moskow Diskow” is taken from a 12″ single, and is not the same version as the one that can be found on their first album.

Coil
Windowpane (Astral Paddington Mix)
I know nothing about Coil aside from the fact that most of their releases are crazy rare, weird and hard-to-find. This single to “Windowpane” is actually the first Coil release I’ve ever seen in a record store, which is why I bought it. The original version is pretty good. This incredibly bizarre remix is…something else, especially for 1990. Trent Reznor is a fan right? I could see that.

Dead Or Alive
That’s The Way (I Like It) (Dance Version)
Keep That Body Strong (That’s The Way I Like It)
I have to imagine that Dead Or Alive’s take on this KC & The Sunshine Band “classic” is one of the few synthpop covers of a disco tune. I don’t remember much of the early 80s, (as I was born in 1979), but I do recall that there was a strong disco backlash that continued pretty much until the mid-90s. Of course when your lead singer is an androgynous gay man who enjoys dressing up as a woman, I guess all bets are off.

Both of these mixes are from a 12″ single. They’re available on some versions of Dead Or Alive’s first LP, Sophisticated Boom Boom (wow, that title) but not the one that’s easily available in America, so I’m sharing them.

Tags: ,
Posted in Dead Or Alive, remixes | 5 Comments »

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