This morning it was pouring rain in LA (I know, right, does that ever happen?) -- with thunder and torrential downpour and the whole thing -- so we had to put on some sunny dance music to wake up right and get in a good mood.
Jay Kay and his team usually does the trick.
(Oh, and apparently they're releasing a new album in November!) Happy Monday.
First released in 1977 and inspired by the Johnnie Taylor hit "Disco Lady," this track was originally called "Dancing Lady" and came off a request from Marvin Gaye's label that he perform disco.
We're here in LA this weekend and last night had a taste of the full Hollywood experience — a film premiere at the historic Grauman's (now TCL) Chinese Theater for the Screamfest LA horror film festival, followed by a wrap party at the Hotel Roosevelt's cocktail bar / bowling alley, The Spare Room. The DJ was spinning vinyl jams from the 1970s and 1990s R&B all night, and when this track came on it was one of those "no more standing there beside the walls" situations, as Marvin would put it.
Thanks to Johnny Galecki for all the drinks and an incredible performance in the film, which he also produced. If you're into creature movies and comedic horrors, go see The Master Cleanse. The legendary Anjelica Huston and Oliver Platt also feature in the cast, which was top notch. Plus, the creature puppets (no CGI here) were simultaneously adorable and repulsive — and the movie will get you thinking about the demons you have trapped inside of yourself.
Produced by Prince Paul and featuring vocals from Q-Tip and Vinia Mojica, this track samples Chicago's "Saturday In The Park" (another classic) and always makes me want to head to the roller disco when I put it on.
🎶 Saturday, it's a Saturday // 5 days of work, 1 whole day of play // C'mon everybody, wear your rollerskates today 🎶
Happy Friday, y'all.
We're taking things back to the 80s with this one. The music video might be pure cheeseball, but there's just something about it that never fails to put me in a good mood. Is it those classic boombox stereos? The Walkmans? Luther's sweet K-Way jacket number he's rockin' in the studio? Who can say?
Whatever it is, it's never too much.
Ever since I first caught Toronto's Tommy Paxton-Beesly (aka River Tiber) open up for Kaytranada at Mezzanine in San Francisco, I haven't been able to get this song out of my head. I was instantly mesmerized by his haunting R&B vocals, the way he layers in guitar to create a sense of atmosphere, and that early 90s influence that seems to characterize much of the music coming out of The Six.
This song reminds me of the feeling of being a Canadian living in California, that spirit of "going west" and being lost in a dream.