Grand 12 Inches, Vol. 4 by Ben Liebrand - CD4

Grand 12 Inches, Vol. 4 by Ben Liebrand
CD 4 (Alternative and Pop)

1 Georg Kranz - Trommeltanz (Din Daa Daa) 6:19 (original 12" version)
2 Roy Ayers feat. Ubiquity - Running Away 6:56 (original 12" version)
3 Level 42 - Love Games 7:26 (original 12" version)
4 MaiTai - History 7:19 (original 12" version by Rutger Kroese)
5 Mantronix - Got To Have Your Love 8:24
6 Pointer Sisters - Automatic 6:08 (original 12" version)
7 Quincy Jones - Ai No Corrida (I-No-Ko-ree-da) 6:16 (original 12" version)
8 GQ - Disco Nights 5:15 (original 12" version)
9 Laid Back - White Horse 5:45 (original 12" version)
10 Jam & Spoon-Follow Me 12:29 (original 12" version)
11 George Kranz - Din Daa Daa (Acappella / Dub-Version) 3:06

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 192kbps, stereo

Ссылки находятся в комментариях
Links in the comments

Notes by Ben Liebrand
CD 4 (Alternative and Pop)

1 Georg Kranz - Trommeltanz (Din Daa Daa) 6:19 (original 12" version)

Finally a master recording of this track so you don't have to listen o that nasty vinyl transfer that has spread over the world on some CD's As a bonus, the Acappeela / Dub version is also included as track 11.

2 Roy Ayers feat. Ubiquity - Running Away 6:56 (original 12" version)

Excellent track which would fit any relaxed house set. Nice continuous groove and vocals that sound totally as if they were meant to work on the dancefloor right now. Great fender rhodes chords sounding totally retro up-to-date. Good stuff!

3 Level 42 - Love Games 7:26 (original 12" version)

Mark King playing the bass like a god. Slap that bass! Saw them perfrom in Cartouche back then. The stage was only a foot and a half high and people where so close to the band members that you could touch the strings of his bass without even having to reach.

4 MaiTai - History 7:19 (original 12" version by Rutger Kroese)

Dutch production by Eric van Tijn and Jochem Fluitsma. This 12 version was made by Rutger Kroese. Rutger, always going his own dourse kind of dissappeared without trace.
If you know where he is....

5 Mantronix - Got To Have Your Love 8:24 (Club mix with bonus beats)

Lightyears ahead of the competition this track still sounds as if it were completed today.

6 Pointer Sisters - Automatic 6:08 (original 12" version)

Although you do encounter this track now and then, it hardly ever is the 12" version. So here it is!

7 Quincy Jones - Ai No Corrida (I-No-Ko-ree-da) 6:16 (original 12" version)

Chas Jankel's original is also great, but here is master-producer Quincy Jones' remake from 1981

8 GQ - Disco Nights 5:15 (original 12" version)

This track appears in many forms and lengths, this one however sounded the most un-processed, un-remixed and authentic.

9 Laid Back - White Horse 5:45 (original 12" version)

The A-side being a sugar sweet reggea track called Sunshine Reggea, it was this B-side why everyone jumped on Laid Back. Totally wacked, crazy out of your skull electronic Disco. A bit noisy it does sound, but perhaps that is one of the nice we-don't-give-a-rat's-derriere things about it

10 Jam & Spoon-Follow Me 12:29 (original 12" version)

By now you should know that this series is not a regular dance classics series. It is the stuff Ben Liebrand is made of and being a DJ for almost 30 years I come across many styles and inflluences, not only very old ones but also some more recent stuff. This is an example of such a track that simply is true inspiration to even the most experienced and wordly DJ's. No conventions here, no standard build-up, no rules, no limits, no boundaries, no worn out sounds, no more-of-the-same, no let's-please-the-A&R-guy, no let's-stick-to-this tempo, no need for continuing drums, with propably "the mother of open trance breaks without drums".
Respect!

11 George Kranz - Din Daa Daa (Acappella / Dub-Version) 3:06

As promised, the acappella/dub mix just as rare as the original and here presented in the best quality that was to be found (including contacting Georg himself) Special thanks to Stefan Trapp :)

Special thanks to:
Hemmy Wapperom for going along on this quest for perfection.

Special thanks for digging up these masters go to:
Frans vd Kamp (NL), Eric Ten Bensel (NL), Roel Spee (NL), Eberhard (Germany), Peter Schouten (NL), Marcel Hergaarden (NL), Frank Rivero (Mexico) , Kees Franken (NL), Hemmy Wapperom (NL), Eri Komozaki (Japan), Yuko Suzuki (Japan), Angelina Arts (NL), Stefan Trapp (Germany), Donovan (NL), DJ Ed (NL), Gerard van Dijk (NL), Marcel Kivits (NL), Gertjan Hugers (NL), Jurgen Korduletsch (U.S.A.), Rob Robles (UK), Darren Salmieri (UK), Jan Willem van der Laan (NL) and the members of Mixfreaks.
So what is missing:

Obviously, Kraftwerk, the absolute fathers of all sequencer based dance music. Unfortunately, there was no way to contact Ralf Hutter (who I once met in a much to noisy club in Germany) other then riding a bike through his hometown and hoping to catch up with him if I saw him by chance. I have been told that even EMI records does not have a proper means of bidirectional communication. Nevertheless, great respect to Kraftwerk (and if anybody knows a way to contact them).

Bobby Orlando was missing on part 1, 2 and 3......but.....
I managed to incorporate no less than 5 Bobby Orlando productions on Grand 12 inches part 4

Telex : Moskow Diskow. Was missing from Grand 12 inches 1,
I succeeded in getting it! It is now available on Grand 12 Inches 2 !!!

Harry Thumann : Underwater. Was missing from Grand 12 inches 1
I found Baby Records, and it is now available on Grand 12 Inches 2 !!!

Even with part 4 finished,
tracks still not available for licensing included Planet Rock. George Duke : Broken Glass and Herb Alpert's 'Rotation' and the track 'Beyond'
Also the tracks by Poussez and the Players Association were not available for licensing at this moment. And not one decent master could be found of Amii Stewarts knock on wood.

Maybe next time....

Grand 12 Inches, Vol. 4 by Ben Liebrand - CD3

Grand 12 Inches, Vol. 4 by Ben Liebrand
CD 3 (My Sequencer based roots)

1 Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls (Produced by Bobby Orlando) 7:51 (original 12" version)
2 Bobby "O" - She Has A Way 5:50 (original 12" version)
3 The Mike Theodore Orchestra - High On Mad Mountain 8:14 (Full Length Version)
4 Divine - Native Love (Step By Step) 5:07 (original 12" version)
5 Bobby "O" - ImSoHotForYou 5:11 (original 12" version)
6 Azoto - San Salvador 6:55 (original 12" version)
7 Easy Going - Fear 7:52 (Full Length Album Version)
8 Midway - Set It Out 6:39 (original 12" version)
9 Flirts - Passion 9:02 (original 12" version)
10 Hot.R.S. - House of The Rising Sun 14:40 (Full length version)

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 192kbps, stereo

Ссылки находятся в комментариях
Links in the comments

Notes by Ben Liebrand
CD 3 (My Sequencer based roots)

1 Pet Shop Boys - West End Girls (Produced by Bobby Orlando) 7:51 (original 12" version)

Proud to finally be able to present several of Bobby "O"s finest productions, here is the first.
A year before the Pet Shop Boys came to fame with West End Girls, there already had been a version out produced by the legendary Bobby Orlando. That version is presented here. This is a vinyl transfer as nowhere a true master could be found. And believe me I tried, I harrased the Japanese, bugged 2 German companies and even consulted the source, mister Orlando's Management in the states but unfortunately no real master.
Also other releases on CD turned out to be taken from vinyl. So this pretty much is the best there is.

2 Bobby "O" - She Has A Way 5:50 (original 12" version)

Korg Drum Machines, PPounding sequencer's , pumping compressor limiters, Bobby Orlando at his best!

3 The Mike Theodore Orchestra - High On Mad Mountain 8:14 (Full Length Version)

Orchestarl Disco in it's finest form, Great Strings and Horns, A four to the flour beat and great choir vocals made this track to one of my favorites in one of my favorite era's when people simply came to dance and live the music.

4 Divine - Native Love (Step By Step) 5:07 (original 12" version)

Yet another great Bobby "O " production launching Divine into a short but memorable period of stardom.

5 Bobby "O" - ImSoHotForYou 5:11 (original 12" version)

Whilst we are at it the next Bobby O track with those thumping Korg drumcomputer sounds.

6 Azoto - San Salvador 6:55 (original 12" version)

Latin sounds straight from Italy. It was the loudest sounding 12" at the time.

7 Easy Going - Fear 7:52 (Full Length Album Version)

Vinyl transfer by Frans van de Kamp as not even de original Italien company had anything resembling a master.

8 Midway - Set It Out 6:39 (original 12" version)

Taken from a true master DAT recording the best version you'll ever hear.

9 Flirts - Passion 9:02 (original 12" version)

As fresh as ever and in superb quality. 2 well placed edits make the build up logical again in clear sections of 8 bars making iit much easier to mix in. A legendary dance track and a true must-have..

10 Hot.R.S. - House of The Rising Sun 14:40 (Full length version)

A classic for the true collector. Here presented it it's full length. Electronic Disco from South Africa. For the Grandmix fans', the sounds that start the "classicsmix" intro are from the track "Slowblow" on the B-side.

Grand 12 Inches, Vol. 4 by Ben Liebrand - CD2

Grand 12 Inches, Vol. 4 by Ben Liebrand

CD 2 (From relaxed to energetic)

1 Grace Jones - La vie en rose 7:28 (original 12" version)
2 Change - You Are My Melody 6:24 (original 12" version)
3 World Premiere - Share The Night 7:26 (original 12" version)
4 BB&Q Band - Genie 6:00 (original 12" version)
5 Aretha Franklin - Who Zoomin Who 8:36 (original 12" version)
6 Deodato - Fire in thge sky 6:48 (original 12" version)
7 Peter Jacques Band - Going dancing down the steet 5:51 (original 12" version)
8 Earth, Wind & Fire - System Of Survival 7:41 (original 12" version)
9 Jacksons - Walk Right Now 7:39 (original 12" version)
10 The 3 Degrees - The Runner 7:40
(rare funky long version)

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 192kbps, stereo

Ссылки находятся в комментариях
Links in the comments

Notes by Ben Liebrand
CD 2 (Form relaxed to energetic)

1 Grace Jones - La vie en rose 7:28 (original 12" version)

Miss Jones gathered a huge gay following right from the start. La Vie En Rose became an instant classic in the scene. just after a high energy section in the evening i'd play this and mix it to Jean Michel Jarre's Magnetic Fields keeping a packed dancefloor all the time. Talking about eclectic....

2 Change - You Are My Melody 6:24 (original 12" version)

Produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Change had one of it's last succeses in 1984. Jam & Lewis went on but unfortunately the Jaques Fred petrus Empire finally crumbled.

3 World Premiere - Share The Night 7:26 (original 12" version)

1983 saw this great funky laid-back dance track with great break and solos.

4 BB&Q Band - Genie 6:00 (original 12" version)

Change along with the BB and Q band originated from Jacques Fred Petrus, who was also responsible for the Peter Jaques Band. As it turns out . This beauty appeared in the last years of his reign. Although Jacques Fred Petrus was credited for production it actually was Mauro Malavasi who took care of that the most.

5 Aretha Franklin - Who Zoomin Who 8:36 (original 12" version)

A nice clean production with great vocals by miss Franklin

6 Deodato - Fire in the sky 6:48 (original 12" version)

A must in any collection featuring tight production and great vocals.

7 Peter Jacques Band - Going dancing down the steet 5:51 (original 12" version)

And a 3rd track from the Jaques Fred Petrus stable. The Peter Jacques Band was a studio project from day one. Subsequent albums used different musicians.

8 Earth, Wind & Fire - System Of Survival 7:41 (original 12" version)

This is E,W & F in the mid 80's. Tight production and great sounds. Samples, Vocoders and everything that dominated the dance floors at that time.

9 Jacksons - Walk Right Now 7:39 (original 12" version)

Frantic energetic and uplifting. tight sounding drums and synth sounds ahead of their time. Sirenes in the break and great stabs.

10 The 3 Degrees - The Runner 7:40

(rare funky long version)
The 8:13 Moroder sound version was still not to be found but I did come across this extended funky bass version which I had not heard before. Couldn't find any reference to it on the web, but it is cool!

Grand 12 Inches, Vol. 4 by Ben Liebrand - CD1

Grand 12 Inches, Vol. 4 by Ben Liebrand

CD 1 (The Funky Grooves)

1 Michael Jackson - BillyJean 6:25 (original 12" version)
2 War - Galaxy 8:11
3 A Taste Of Honey-Boogie Oogie Oogie 5:34 (original 12" version)
4 Heatwave - Grooveline 7:29 (original 12" version)
5 Chic - Le Freak 5:33 (original 12" version)
6 Jimmy BoHorne - Spank 6:59 (original 12" version)
7 Peter Brown - They Only Come Out At Night 6:24 (original 12" version)
8 Sister Sledge - He's The Greatest Dancer 6:05 (original 12" version)
9 Billy Ocean - Stay The Night 6:15 (original 12" version)
10 Farley Jackmaster Funk - Love Can't Turn Around Suite 17:14 (Special Ben Liebrand Edit)

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 192kbps, stereo

Ссылки находятся в комментариях
Links in the comments

Notes by Ben Liebrand
CD 1 (The Funky Grooves)

1 Michael Jackson - BillyJean 6:25 (original 12" version)

Taken from the original analog production tape as originally issued. No pumped processing on this true master.

2 War - Galaxy 8:11

"To A Nuclear Blast And A Super Sonic Sound" It just doesn't get any better than this.

3 A Taste Of Honey-Boogie Oogie Oogie 5:34 (original 12" version)

Great Funky Bassline, Superb Funkyness from a time where you didn't just listen to music, you really experienced it!

4 Heatwave - Grooveline 7:29 (original 12" version)

The moment I heard that sequencer bass come in, I was hooked to it.

5 Chic - Le Freak 5:33 (original 12" version)

Rodgers & Edwards dressed to a T, ready to meet Grace Jones at the New Years Eve Party at Studio 54. They never made it as the doorman wouldn't let them in. Can you imagine that? Slushing back through the snow, good shoes ruined, they arrive back and instantly decide on writing their frustrations away. All the rage bundled in 2 words, "F*ck Off" followed a funky riff. Lucky for us that they changed it to "Freak Out" after all.

6 Jimmy BoHorne - Spank 6:59 (original 12" version)

Solid Pumpin' Disco. Wild edits and truly spankin' percussion. Hearing this is enough to remeber the exact pattern of the dancefloor under your feet at the time.

7 Peter Brown - They Only Come Out At Night 6:24 (original 12" version)

Linn-drum pumpin' along. Great syncopated break, but hell to mix out of...

8 Sister Sledge - He's The Greatest Dancer 6:05 (original 12" version)

A Rodgers & Edwards master piece which along with "We are family" restarted the early career of Sister Sledge. This track was also sampled in Will Smiths' "Gettin Jiggy Wit it".

9 Billy Ocean - Stay The Night 6:15 (original 12" version)

Even before Billy ocean became famous with a wide audience in the mid 80's he already showed what it took to get there with this solid piece of dance music.

10 Farley Jackmaster Funk - Love Can't Turn Around Suite 17:14 (Special Ben Liebrand Edit)

Adding the Club and the Dub mix, get ready for more than 17 minutes of Love Ca't Turn Around in supreme master quality.

Mixed With Love - The Walter Gibbons Salsoul Anthology

Mixed With Love

The Walter Gibbons Salsoul Anthology

Various Artists 3CD
Salsoul/Suss'd (UK) / 2004 / SALSA CD 015
All selections mixed by Walter Gibbons
Compiled by Jeremy Newall and Ian Dewhirst

TRACKLISTING:

CD One - The Madness Begins...

1. Ten Percent (12" Mix) (9.56) / Double Exposure
2. Block Party (12" Mix) (5.47) / Anthony White
3. Catch Me On The Rebound (12" Mix) (10.47) / Loleatta Holloway
4. Just As Long As I Got You (12" Mix) (8.41) / Love Committee
5. It's Good For The Soul ("Disco Madness" Album Remix) (7.07) / The Salsoul Orchestra
6. Let No Man Put Asunder ("Disco Madness" Album Remix) (4.43) / First Choice
7. Love Is Finally Coming My Way (12" Mix) (6.20) / True Example
8. We're Getting Stronger (The Longer We Stay Together) (7.23) / Loleatta Holloway
9. Cheaters Never Win (12" Mix) (7.55) / Love Committee
10. I Wish That I Could Make Love To You (Album Mix) (6.08) / Double Exposure

CD Two - The Madness Continues...

1. Nice N' Naasty (12" Mix) (5.25) / The Salsoul Orchestra
2. Hit And Run (12" Mix) (11.10) / Loleatta Holloway
3. My Love Is Free ("Disco Madness" Album Remix) (4.54) / Double Exposure
4. As Long As You Love Me (12" Mix) (5.35) / True Example
5. Catch Me On The Rebound - Instrumental (12" Mix) (7.22) / The Salsoul Orchestra
6. Can't Turn You Loose (12" Mix) (5.39) / Anthony White
7. Ten Percent ("Disco Madness" Album Remix) (7.07) / Double Exposure
8. Law And Order (12" Mix) (9.35) / Love Committee
9. Ice Cold Love (Album Mix) (6.12) / Double Exposure
10. Where Will It End (12" Mix) (7.41) / Love Committee

CD Three - Total Insanity...

1. Salsoul 3001 (12" Mix) (6.46) / The Salsoul Orchestra
2. Moon Maiden (12" Mix) (8.51) / Luv You Madly Orchestra
3. (Dance With Me) Let's Believe (12" Mix) (8.45) / Cellophane
4. Catch Me On The Rebound ("Disco Madness" Album Remix) (7.20) / Loleatta Holloway
5. Rocket Rock (12" Mix) (4.23) / Luv You Madly Orchestra
6. Magic Bird Of Fire ("Disco Madness" Album Remix) (8.04) / The Salsoul Orchestra
7. (Super Queen (12" Mix) (9.30) / Cellophane
8. Stand By Your Man (12" Mix) (7.47) / Robin Hooker Band
9. Your Cheatin' Heart (12" Mix) (9.28) / Robin Hooker Band

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Ссылки находятся в комментариях
Links in the comments

From http://www.discomusic.com

An excellent compilation of Walter Gibbons' mixes for the Salsoul label. Possibly one of the more prolific mixers of the disco era, known for his at the time eccentric, out-the-box mixing style. Considering that it's common for labels today to commission remixes that radically alter the original, Gibbons was really a pioneer in remixing. Overall this set has an eclectic selection featuring some Salsoul staples such as Double Exposure, Loleatta Holloway, Love Committee and all the way to the more obscure like Cellophane, Luv You Madly Orchestra and country-disco from the Robin Hooker Band..

The artwork and layout is impressive as is the 40 page booklet, with very extensive liner notes by Tim Lawrence (author of "Love Saves The Day") featuring quotes from Tom Moulton, Ken Cayre and Jellybean Benitez among others.. Lawrence writes a very interesting account of Gibbons life and his influence on disco and beyond.. Quite possibly the closest thing to a Walter Gibbons biography out there.. The sound quality is generally consistent throughout, even if there are some tracks mastered from vinyl, but only a few of those are noticeably so.

There really aren't any bad tracks on here - although I'm not crazy about Anthony White's "Can't Turn You Loose" or the country covers, Gibbons at times off-the-wall (see his mix of The Salsoul Orchestra's "It's Good For The Soul"), rhythmic style has it's own brilliance.. Even if it only covers his Salsoul work, this set does a great job of highlighting Walter Gibbons' contributions and place in disco history. Highly recommended.

From All Music Guide

One of the dance figures whose influence and exposure far exceeds his actual name-recognition association, Walter Gibbons pioneered the concept of the remix and 12-inch single in America. Influenced by Jamaican dub producers, Gibbons began altering tracks for his DJ sets in the early '70s, then took his innovations to the studio and recorded the first commercially available remix singles. He started his career as a DJ, and became one of the most popular mixers in New York by the early '70s. Gibbons began working for Salsoul Records in 1976, and recorded his first remix singles that year, Double Exposure's "Ten Percent" and the Salsoul Orchestra's "Nice 'N' Nasty." Utterly transformed with the addition of echo/reverb effects borrowed from dub and drum breaks, the singles influenced dozens of producers (and DJs).

As well, the tracks' influence hardly ended away from the dancefloor. Released on the 12-inch vinyl format at a cheap price, they became incredibly popular and soon spurred other labels (including the majors) to begin releasing their own 12-inch remix singles as well. Gibbons also worked on tracks for West End and Gold Mind during the late '70s, but was inactive for several years. He returned in 1984 with his most seminal record yet, a classic on New York's growing garage scene known as "Set It Off." Gibbons' original soon became the "Roxanne, Roxanne" of the garage community, swamped by dozens of remakes and answer tracks, including versions by C. Sharp, Maquerade, Number 1 and Strafe (the latter is undoubtedly the most-heard and definitive). He also remixed a 1986 Arthur Russell single for Sleeping Bag, Indian Ocean's "Tree House/School Bell," but later left the recording industry altogether. He died in 1994.

Walter Gibbons

Walter Gibbons

Walter Gibbons (April 02 1954 - September 23 1994)
was an American record producer, DJ and remixer.

From - http://www.discomuseum.com/WalterGibbons.html

Walter Gibbons was a true "Native New Yorker." Born in 1954 in Queens he had a rather uneventful childhood growing up in the big apple. By 18 Walter was plugged into the emerging gay nightlife scene and he became one of disco's earliest d.j.'s.

In 1972 Walter was the house d.j. for the Galaxy21 club on 23rd Street near the Chelsea Hotel. The club was a cavernous affair created out of two brownstone townhouses merged together. The club was an a potpourri of black, latino, gay, whites and straights, all joined in Walter's tribal percussive symphonies played out with religious fervor.

Predating the amazing cut and paste skills later developed by hip-hop d.j.'s, Gibbons would take two copies of a record and work the drum breaks so adroitly it was impossible to tell that the music you were hearing wasn't originally recorded that way. Two cuts that he was famous for using in this trick was "Erucu" from the "Mahogany" soundtrack and "Two Pigs & A Hog" from the "Cooley High" soundtrack.

John "Jellybean" Benitez is quoted as saying; "I thought I was the best d.j. in the world until I heard Walter Gibbons play. Everything he was doing back then, people are doing now. He was phasing records, backbeating them for an echo effect, quick cuts and little tape edits that would freak people out."

Galaxy's owner George Freeman hired an unknown french drummer to play alongside Walter giving the club an unusual take on live and recorded music. The drummer would set his kit up on the dancefloor and play alongside Walter's tribal beats. This odd beginning was the basis for a long and prestigious career for Francois Kevorkian.

Walter weaved his magic at Galaxy 21 mainly, but was also heard at the early clubs Fantasia and Buttermilk Bottom. "Walter played in a black clubs and he was as white as can be" remembers Tom Moulton. Moulton who created the 12" single sites Gibbons as the first person to have a commercially released 12" single of his mix.

It was Gibbons transformation of Double Exposure's "Ten Percent" from a three minute album track into an eleven minute dancefloor stormer that radically changed the disco undergound in terms of record production, remixing and development of the 12" record. At the time when orchestration was commonly used on dance records, Gibbons' technique was to concentrate on percussion and the song. He was an explorer and innovator of DJ techniques and skills which we now take for granted. The 12" single was Salsoul's 8th release but was the world's first
commercially available 12" single, a nifty title that Walter treasured. The song was so successful that he worked almost exclusively for the Cayre Brothers for the next several years. That same year, 1976, he followed with the Salsoul Orchestra's "Nice 'N' Naasty" another commercial triumph for Walter and Salsoul Records. Magic was cast for both Gibbons and Salsoul Records with the combination of Walter's mixing and Salsoul's distribution, their product kept adding up to chart Gold.

1977 was another banner year for Walter. He remixed Anthony White's "Block Party/I Can't Turn You Loose" in a jungled frenzy. He then moved over to the Salsoul subsidiary Gold Mine Records to launch Loleatta Holloway's "Hit & Run" and Love Committee's "Cheater's Never Win."
1978 found him remixing Loleatta Holloway's "Catch Me On The Rebound" and Love Committee's "Just As Long As I've Got You" for Gold Mine and Cellophane's "Super Queen" and The Robin Hooker Band's "Stand By Your Man" for Salsoul before moving over to Mel Cherren's West End Records to mix Bettye LaVette's "Doin' The Best That I Can" into disco history and H & L Records last hit single of Sandy Mercer's "Play With Me/You Are My Love."

During this period Gibbons put remixing on hold as he first moved to Philadelphia to spin at The Second Story and then to Seattle to work at George Freeman's Monastery. It seemed he was in search of something in his life that perhaps he felt was missing. 1979 brought his final remixing work with Loleatta Holloway's "I May Not Be There When You Want Me," the two compilation "Disco Boogie" albums and "Disco Madness" both for Salsoul Records.

While out in Seattle Walter came to terms with God and became a born-again Christian. It is widely noted that during this period he refused to play anything with sexually explicit lyrics and anything that didn't have an upbeat spirtual message. Needless to say, disco was the devil's music and his playlists were rather short and the crowds dwindled to nothing.

Most people believed that Walter Gibbons was a fading legend in the early history of disco, then in 1984 he resurfaced, and had a new and immediate impact on the development of Chicago House Sound. Gibbons released an independent 12" record called "Set It Off" which started to create a stir at Paradise Garage, the black gay club in New York, where Larry Levan presided over the wheels of steel. Within weeks a "Set It Off" craze spread through the club scene, including new versions by C. Sharp, Masquerade, and answer versions like Import Number 1's "Set It Off (PartyRock)." The original record had been "mixed with love by Walter Gibbons" and was released on the Jus Born label, a tongue in cheek reference to Walter's christianity. Gibbons had set the tone again, the "Set It Off" sound was primitive house, haunting, repetitive beats ideal for mixing and extending. It immediately became an underground club anthem, finding a natural home in Chicago, where a whole generation of DJ's including Farley and Frankie Knuckles, rocked the clubs and regularly played it on local radion stations.

His final mixes were in 1986 when he joined Arthur Russell for "Let's Go Swimming" and Indian Ocean's "Tree House." Gibbons had returned to New York in the early 1980's and died at his home in Long Island on 9-23-1994. Gibbons outlined his feelings prior to his death in an interview with Steven Harvey. "You really have to think that every time you change the record, the title or something about the record it's going into people's heads," said Gibbons. "For me, I have to let God play the records. I'm just an instrument." Rest in peace Walter and thanks for all the wonderful songs throughout the years.....

Grand 12 Inches Vol 2 Cd 4 by Ben Liebrand

Grand 12 Inches Vol 2 Cd 4 by Ben Liebrand

CD 4 (Funk , Pop & Alternative)

1. the Jacksons – Can You Feel It (Live Version) 06:08
2. M – Popmuzik (12" Version) 04:54
3. Paul Hardcastle – 19 (12" Version) 05:14
4. Mdmc – How About It (12" Version) 07:24
5. the Bbq Band – On the Beat (Original 12"Version) 05:55
6. Sunbelt– Spin It (12" Version) 07:38
7. Felix – Don't You Want Me (12" Version) 05:54
8. Yazoo – Don't Go (Vocal + Dub Version) 08:25
9. Sheila E – Glamorous Life 06:34
(Sheila E.)
10. Macho – I'm a Man (Full Length Version) 17:34

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Ссылки находятся в комментариях
Links in the comments

CD 4 (Pop + Alternative + More)

1. The Jacksons – Can You Feel It (Live version) 06:08

"Can Youuu Feeeel It!!!!" Yes, that's where Todd Terry has taken it from.

2. M – Popmuzik (12" version) 04:54

This is Pop music in the true meaning of the word. It was featured on a double groove 12" version and this is the full version ending with "Loud and clear clear clear". ZTT dug up the master copy for me and although it sounds a bit noisy in the beginning, it still is the best sounding version I cam across.

3. Paul Hardcastle – 19 (12" version) 05:14

Paul's biggest hit and rightfully so, here in the original English 12" version

4. MDMC – How About It (12" version) 07:24

Produced by Sander Bos and myself and a pretty experimental 12" it became. The track made it to no.1 in the dance charts in Europe and the version presented here is taken form my own master archive.

5. The BB&Q Band – On The Beat (original 12"version) 05:55

There is a longer remix, but I opted for the original version comparing many versions on CD to find the cleanest one.

6. Sunbelt– Spin It (12" version) 07:38

The first time ever for this to appear on CD. This was one of the tracks that found it's way to my dance floor on the famous Disconet DJ-only label.

7. Felix – Don't You Want Me (12" version) 05:54

A more recent "Grand 12 inch". Daring and with great dynamics in it's build-up

8. Yazoo – Don't Go (vocal + dub version) 08:25

Presented here in the Vocal + Dub Version. A great New-wave dance track from the 80's in master quality

9. Sheila E – Glamorous Life 06:34

(Sheila E.)
There is an ever longer album version, but this is the one that worked best on the dance floor.

10. Macho – I'm A Man (full length version) 17:34

Spinning this in the Keizer Karel Club in Nijmegen in the early 80's and mixing it to "Revanche" or "Easy Going's" "Fear". I found a shorter 11 minute master which was labeled being digital, but which sounded over- processed and was pumping into distortion. Frans vd Kamp came to me with a vinyl transfer which simply sounded better. Dilemma.... An over-eager mastering engineer probably ruined the only master version around, so this is the closest to conveying you the way it should sound, and to ease the pain of loss, in it's full 17:34 version.

Grand 12 Inches Vol 2 Cd 3 by Ben Liebrand

Grand 12 Inches Vol 2 Cd 3 by Ben Liebrand

CD 3 (the Most Beautiful Pieces of Dance Music)

1. Sharon Redd – Can You Handle It (Francois K Mix) 08:58
2. David Joseph – You Can't Hide (Your Love From Me) (12"Version) 06:41
3. Sharon Brown – Specialize In Love (12"Version) 07:13
4. Jean Carn – Was That All It Was (12"Version) 06:31
5. Mtume – So You Wanna Be a Star (12"Version) 05:19
6. Hugh Masakela – Don't Go Lose It Baby (12" Version) 07:35
7. Miami Sound Machine – Conga (12"Version) 05:55
8. Manhattan Transfer – Twilight Zone (12"Version) 06:06
9. Donna Summer – Last Dance (Full Length Version) 08:10
10. Santa Esmeralda – Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (Full Length Version) 16:12

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Ссылки находятся в комментариях
Links in the comments

CD 3 (The most beautiful pieces of dance music)

1. Sharon Redd – Can You Handle It (Francois K Mix) 08:58

You know the version with all those edits, well this is that same mix in it's original form without all the edits.
It is a true Grand 12 inch, more than a piece of great music. It is an adventure you embark on taking you through more than brilliant musical arrangements with many solos, ad-libs, vocal scats and resolving in Sharon's wonder full vocal performance.
It was mixed by Francois Kevorkian in a time when having a mix neatly and clearly visualized on a computer screen was still decades into the future.
It leaves me wondering how he did it. Francois, let me know....

2. David Joseph – You Can't Hide (Your Love From Me) (12"version) 06:41

Mixed by Larry Levan, a close friend to Francois K, this track sounds so great it's unbelievable. Great bass line, funky synth riffs and super drum outro.

3. Sharon Brown – Specialize In Love (12"version) 07:13

Listen to that percussion, the delay on the hand claps, those vocals, the solo. Listen and listen again.

4. Jean Carn – Was That All It Was (12"version) 06:31

One of my personal favorites ever! It was never a hit, but is always cherished by me and I felt a great urge to share this wonder full melancholic piece of dance music with you as this is also a part of what makes me tick. Brought to you in the complete 12" version taken from the original production masters which had to be baked in an oven for 10 hours at 55 degrees Celsius in order to become playable again. (Serve at room temperature)

5. Mtume – So You Wanna Be A star (12"version) 05:19

Everyone knows "Juicy Fruit", but this is probably one of the finest pieces of sophisticated soul full funkiness ever made. Real food for the soul.

6. Hugh Masakel – Don't Go Lose It Baby (12" version) 07:35

Raising the tempo and energy a little, here is the full 12" of the version I love spinning in the 80's

7. Mimai Sound Machine – Conga (12"version) 05:55

To my knowledge never before released in master quality, here is the full 12" version taken from the original production master from the archives of Sony.

8. Manhattan Transfer – Twilight Zone (12"version) 06:06

Manhattan Transfer affair with the dance floor opting for a solid groove but never loosing there sophisticated sound.

9. Donna Summer – Last Dance (full length version) 08:10

Still looking to get my hands on "Our Love", here is another track by the true Queen of Disco. Taken from the casblanca box in it's long version.

10. Santa Esmeralda – Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (full length version) 16:12

Taken from a great sounding unprocessed master made in the mid 80's, this is the full length version.

Grand 12 Inches Vol 2 Cd 2 by Ben Liebrand

Grand 12 Inches Vol 2 Cd 2 by Ben Liebrand

CD 2 (the Funky Grooves)

1. Grandmaster Flash – the Message (12" Version) 07:13
2. Blondie – Rapture (Full Length Version) 10:02
3. Chemise – She Can't Love You (12" Version) 05:04
4. Stephanie Mills – Medicine Song (12" Version) 06:20
5. Colonel Abrams – Trapped (12" Version) 06:28
6. T-connection – At Midnight (12"Version) 09:42
7. Latoya Jackson – If You Feel the Funk (12" Version) 05:11
8. Miami Sound Machine – Dr. Beat (12"Version) 06:31
9 . Peter Brown – Love Is Just the Game (12"Version) 07:00
10. the Limit – Say Yeah (Vocal + Dub Version) 10:34

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Ссылки находятся в комментариях
Links in the comments

CD 2 (The funky grooves)

1. Grandmasters Flash – The Message (12" version) 07:13

From the famous Sugarhill label a landmark piece in Rap and Hip hop

2. Blondie – Rapture (full length version) 10:02

Blondie's short love affair with the dance floors of the clubs resulted in this track that might of just as easy been a chic track. Brought to you in the longest version around.

3. Chemise – She Can't Love You (12" version) 05:04

80's disco in top form along the lines of Patrice rushen. Mellow tempo and groove work like magic. I always remembered the track being longer, but this seems to be the full running time.

4. Stephanie Mills– Medicine Song (12" version) 06:20

Don't you just love that groove!! Great tom fills and sequences bass line combined with a super vocal performance by miss Mills

5. Colonel Abrams – Trapped (12" version) 06:28

All time classic in 12" version. This track saw it's life-span greatly expanded by the very use full acappella version included on the 12". Unfortunately there was no space left to include it...:(

6. T-Connection – At Midnight (12"version) 09:42

In a time with drummers not keeping the rhythm to tight this was a relief with a rock solid groove probably made from a tape-loop and minutes of it before the song kicks in.

7. Latoya Jackson – If You Feel The Funk (12" version) 05:11

No idea how she did it and not a fan of the rest of her doings, but this is a great track and I DO feel the funk.

8. Mimai Sound Machine – Dr. Beat (12"version) 06:31

Taken from the original production master from the archives of Sony.

9 . Peter Brown– Love Is Just The Game (12"version) 07:00

Great track from Peter Brown. I did my homework listening to "Do you wanna get funky with me" from one of his earliest albums. Master quality form original Production master.

10. The Limit– Say Yeah (vocal + dub version) 10:34

Produced by two of my friends (and mentors) Bernard Oattes and Rob van Schaik and mixed by John Luongo (who also did "Relight my fire") this is the definite master to have. Not the radio version messed up by over-eager processing, but the original clean 12" mixes. A and B-side, both taken from the original analog masters. Simply brilliant!

Grand 12 Inches Vol 2 Cd 1 by Ben Liebrand

GRAND 12 INCHES 2

CD 1 (More of my roots and favorites)

1. Telex – Moskow Diskow (English 12" Version) 05:25
2. Harry Thumann – Underwater (12" Version) 06:01
3. Martin Circus - Disco Circus (Full Length Version) 14:02
4. Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F (12" Version) 07:12
5. C.O.D. – In the Bottle (12" Version) 06:03
6. Dazz Band – Let It All Blow 05:51
7. Dan Hartman – Vertigo / Relight My Fire (Full Length Version) 11:59
8. Supermax – Love Machine (12" Version) 08:38
9. American Gypsy – I'm Ok, You're Ok (12" Version) 05:24
10. Telex – Moskow Diskow (French 12"Version) 07:28

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Ссылки находятся в комментариях
Links in the comments

CD 1 (More of my roots and favorites)

1. Telex – Moskow Diskow (English 12" version) 05:25

At the time when part 1 of Grand 12 Inches was released it was impossible to get this track, therefore I am so pleased to get it for Grand 12 Inches. It ranks way up there with Moroder and the best of sequencer based electronic dance music. What makes it even better is that the french version is also included as last track on this CD!!

2. Harry Thumann – Underwater (12" version) 06:01

It took some time but I finally got a hold of this track and "Baby Records", the original record company it came from. Underwater marks the absolute pinnacle in instrumental / orchestral dance music. It's drive is only equaled by it's excellent orchestral arrangement. It's rhythm and bass line are pumpng and when played in your car, will have you speeding in no time. Special Thanks to Freddy Naggiar for granting me this track.

3. Marin Circus - Disco Circus (full length version) 14:02

Another disco gem for true connoisseur. It proved however impossible to find the full length version. The best that could be found was a master of the first 7 minutes and a quite remarkable quality vinyl transfer. Should it be the better sounding short version or the 14 minute vinyl transfer. I decided on both giving you the first half from the master and the second half of the vinyl transfer carefully matched to the master.
If eventually the full master pops up somewhere, I am sure to find a way to get it to you in my effort to bring you the best possible (and impossible).

4. Harold Faltermeyer – Axel F (12" version) 07:12

The theme to Eddy Murphy's charismatic performance of Axel Foley in the series of "Beverly Hills Cop" feature films. A decant master of the Latin Rascals version could not be found.

5. C.O.D. – In The Bottle (12" version) 06:03

A well executed electro version of Gil Scott Heron's "In The Bottle by C.O.D. which features also the much used "Uno Dos Tres Quattro" intro. Great stuff and great sound!

6. Dazz Band – Let It All Blow 05:51

Why this track? First of all because of the great syncopated synth riffs and daring arrangement, the funky clean sound and because I never could find it on any compilation CD previously.

7. Dan Hartman – Vertigo / Relight My Fire (full length version) 11:59

It is true that this record is abused for anything and everything related to the 80's. Nevertheless it is one of the finest pieces of disco ever made. Why does it deserve to be here whilst it was on so many CD's before? Because this is the most complete version ever. The original 12" version featured the 6:52 vocal version and the B-side had the 4:34 Vertigo Intro running seamless into the 6:48 "progressive instrumental version". Somewhere mid 80's the vertigo intro was spliced to the vocal version, but now you get the full story starting of with "Vertigo", the full length drum break before "Relight my fire" , the full length vocal version and the full length drum outro at the end. And all of this mastered from the original analog tapes from the archives of Sony resulting in a whopping 11:59 seconds

8. Supermax – Love Machine (12" version) 08:38

This was so over the top at the time that it became cool again. It is a pain to mix as the tempo actually increases during the song from somewhere about 129 to a little over 132 BPM. Nevertheless great sound and master quality.

9. American Gypsy – I'm OK, You're OK (12" version) 05:24

It is incredible that this piece of American sounding disco was produced by the same guy who created the cheesy girl group "Luv" in Holland. His name is Hans van Hemert. I'd loved to include the full Disconet version, but there simply wasn't room enough to fit it on any of the CD's

10. Telex – Moskow Diskow (French 12"version) 07:28

As promised, also the french version of this great Belgian piece of electronic dance music.

Precious Wilson - 1986 - Precious Wilson

Precious Wilson - 1986 - Precious Wilson

Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: USA
Released: 1986
Genre: R’N’B / Soul
Style: Soul, Disco

Tracklisting:

A1 I'll Be Your Friend 5:27
A2 Love Can't Wait 4:50
A3 She Don't Really Wanna Know 4:18
A4 The Letter 3:40
B1 Nice Girls Don't Last 4:50
B2 State of Relations 3:45
B3 The Jewel of the Nile [from the soundtrack album 'The Jewel of the Nile'] 5:25
B4 New Moon in the Summer 4:40
B5 Don't Take It Away [duet with Richard Jon Smith] 4:08

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 128kbps, stereo

Ссылки находятся в комментариях
Links in the comments

Review by Søren Jensen http://rateyourmusic.com/

An album that was very modern-sounding for 1986 with Jam & Lewis-inspired soul that was more authentic R&B than what Frank Farian had been able to produce for Precious on her previous albums. There are plenty of fine tracks here, "I'll Be Your Friend", the movie theme "The Jewel Of The Nile", and "Love Can't Wait", the second single in the USA while Europe chose the poppier "Nice Girls Don't Last". This album had all the potential to turn Precious Wilson into a world star, what a shame she never became one.

Motown Disco - Various Artists

Motown Disco
Various Artists

Motown (UK) / 2005 / 982 3087-2
Two (2) CD set in slim double jewel case

Motown Disco: Soulful Grooves From The 70's & 80's
Original recording remastered

Tracklisting:

CD 1 of 2

Law Of The Land 5:04 The Temptations
Keep On Truckin' 7:58 Eddie Kendricks
Love Hangover 7:51 Diana Ross
Down To Love Town 5:56 The Originals
High Energy 5:27 The Supremes
Date With The Rain 2:43 Eddie Kendricks
Saturday Night, Sunday Morning 6:17 Thelma Houston
Got To Give It Up 11:52 Marvin Gaye
You And I 8:00 Rick James & The Stone City Band
Standing On The Verge (Of Getting It On) 5:38 Platinum Hook
Get It Up For Love 5:50 Tata Vega

CD 2 of 2

Need To Know You (Better) 5:28 Finished Touch
Don't Leave Me This Way 5:46 Thelma Houston
Nowhere To Run 9:12 The Dynamic Superiors
(I Love To See You) Dancin' 4:15 Jerry Butler
Tailgate 5:45 21st Creation
The Boss 7:24 Diana Ross
I Was Born This Way 6:32 Carl Bean
Behind the Groove 6:03 Teena Marie
Big C 6:26 Rick James
(You Pulled A) Switch 4:03 Switch
In and out 7:23 Willie Hutch

Codec: Lame 3.92
Quality: CBR, 320kbps, stereo

Ссылки находятся в комментариях
Links in the comments

From http://www.discomusic.com/

Motown Disco is a well done double CD compilation out of the UK that features great sounding full album and extended versions of 70s and 80s soulful grooves. Well worth getting.

Posted by: Michael Sawer

Excellent, excellent album! The Tempt's "Law of the Land" is considered one of disco's earliest "rumblings on the dance floor" along with Eddie Kendrick's "Keep On Truckin'" and the cult classic "Date with the Rain." Diana Ross's "Love Hangover" and Thelma Houston's "Don't Leave Me This Way" are acknowledged Legends but so are the underrated 1979 12'' mixes of "The Boss" and "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning." It is incredible to have Teena Marie's "Behind The Groove" and Rick James's "You and I" back on CD but I was especially knocked out by Carl Bean's soulful ode to gay tolerance "I Was Born This Way" which is just as timely now as it was in the seventies when it was first released! Motown promises to release more of this funky material in the future so I'm looking real foreward to that!

From Editorial Reviews www.amazon.com
Product Description

When people talk about the `Motown sound' they usually mean the golden period of the 1960s, the mighty pop soul ballads of Smokey Robinson, or jive-perfect dancers by the likes of the Supremes or Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. It's often forgotten that, along with many of its artists, Motown adapted well to the 70s disco boom and the new sounds coming out of labels such as Salsoul, Philadelphia International and TK. And, ironically, that it produced many of the 70s and early 80s disco classics on which today's dance sound is more genuinely based. In the late 70s, with the demise of their Invictus label, the legendary Holland brothers (who had written so many of Motown's 60s classics with their partner Lamont Dozier) returned to the Motown camp to join multi-talented song writing teams such as Ashford & Simpson, Sawyer & McLeod and Mike & Brenda Sutton who were all able to perfectly capture the essence of the disco era. And the soulful vocalists and stellar musicians already in house at Motown were able to carry it all off with the sort of performances the material deserved. Of course, Motown's two biggest hitters, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, also both made their very best records in the 70s, and both dabbled successfully in disco from time to time. Add funky new acts like Rick James, Stone City Band and Teena Marie and Motown pretty much had all soulful dancefloor bases covered during the disco era. They were also the first to `eye cue' their 12" disco discs, giving DJs the track's BPM and info on the exact length of the various sections of the song - one of the earliest examples of a record company recognising how important the DJ was to become. By `79, and very much with the DJ in mind, 12"s such as Diana Ross' `The Boss' were being purposely intro'd with mix-friendly drum beats, something that's become par for the course these days for most dance tracks released. But, as this compilation demonstrates, those disco beats were already infiltrating the Motown sound as early as 1972. Universal.