! Trocadero this Sunday !

[remicks]

******

Looks like I'm heading for the City for this one ! :D :D

---Keefelc, is there any update on what to expect this Sunday? What is the mix of the crowd? How is it being promoted .... is it as much about curious younger people or is it mainly a reunion atmosphere? I looked at the pictures from the last party to get some idea, looked good and crowded ..... anything new/different this time .... that you can reveal? ..... :D

******

[keefelc]

Hi Remicks,
The RtP dances were originally designed for a more "mature" crowd - a reunion of all the folks that remember Trocadero from it's heyday in the late 70s to the 80s. However, at both events, we found a crowd of people that love this era of dance music - most everybody felt comfortable. People were there for the purpose of "grooving" to the music. So, they were able to relax and have a great time.

The basic premise for this Sunday's party is the same - come enjoy an incredible night of classic Trocadero disco with another legendary DJ, Jerry Bonham. I've been told that Jerry has been working overtime on his set for Sunday evening. He's just waiting to spring his brand new reedits of the classics for us. Some of the producers were at the club with Jerry last week to program the light show. Jerry gave them a little sneak preview. One Producer told me he kept getting those feelings of delight that raise goosebumps!

Anyway, we heard some of Jerry's hip club followers are coming to hear him spin on Sunday night (based on Jerry's reputation). Many of them will be hearing the songs as new. We welcome the opportunity to educate them to the classics!

What's new for this Sunday? Well, I can tell you the Glas Kat did a nice refurbishing of their interior and exterior in January. As in the past, additional lighting equipment will be added for the evening to enhance the Trocadero experience! E.g.: the first party had 3 mirror balls, the second had 6. How many are going to sprout up this time??! Also, those of you that remember Troc, the palm trees are back!

Hope to see you on Sunday, Remicks. How will you know who I am - just watch for somebody sprinkling corn meal on the dancefloor throughout the evening!

[Discovery]

Originally Posted by remicks

Looks like I'm heading for the City for this one ! :D :D

Glad you're planning to attend. I am ultra-excited about Soul Recharge! What an honor it is to be part of this joyous celebration! Everyone come celebrate with us!

Remember the Party - Soul Recharge

Sunday, April 24th, 2005
6:00pm - 2:30am
520 Fourth Street @ Bryant
San Francisco

Event line: (415)339-7807

www.remembertheparty.com

[remicks]

******
-----Four tickets purchased !!!! -----We can't wait ! ( and just ---- $ 15.00!! What a bargain)
:D

It'll be a blast to hear nothing but that great music from then , it and nothing else .... one after and into another...

Im very excited to once again hear this stuff played the way it was intended :D

Keefelc, Discovery , and hopefully many others from here ---

............ :D .... SEE YOU AT THE TROC !!! ...... :D

******

[keefelc]

What's even better, Remicks, is that part of the proceeds from the dance are donated to Under One Roof. :D

See you on Sunday!

[keefelc]

Wanna know what we heard on Sunday? Marky, you're gonna weep when you find out about a few of the tunes!

Ooohh, the evening was a perfect Trocadero evening. :D

Remicks, where were you guys?

[nrgbeat]

Keefe, let us know what was played.

[remicks]

Hi Keefelc !
Yep we were there ..... three guys , one gal ..... one of the first through the door!! Great to be back at the Troc. We danced near the bearded guy with the rainbow hair and the guy that kept throwing his t-shirt into the air , just below the guy on stage with his ass hanging out of his chaps!!! --- :D ------ Sorry we didn't connect .. I kept looking for someone sprinkling cornmeal on the floor...???...... :(

[keefelc]

Hey Remicks, you 4 may be in the 2 hours plus of video that I recorded! You may have seen me videotaping throughout the evening from all over the club, including in the DJ booth. I know I saw the guy in drag with the rainbow hair (very festive!). The guy throwing the t-shirt in the air was up on the stage quite a bit, wasn't he?

Were you guys by the guy who decided to get up on the stage to "perform" during Donna Summer's "Lucky" (I was so pleased that Jerry surprised us with this song!)? :o

Anyway, I hope you 4 had as great a time as I did! I LOVED Jerry's set! The mixes were so smooth and the edits he did were simply amazing. :D

I'll post the playlist and more info about the party a little later. I figured out every song except for one.

[keefelc]

Okay, I finally have time to post the Playlist for this past Sunday’s party. Before I do so, let me just give you some background info.

The hope for each of the RtP events is to bring back a little more of the Trocadero Transfer's unique atmosphere. Those of you that remember the “Troc” usually first think of the cluster of 9 mirror balls in the center of the room. For this party, we had 8. There were also two additional mirror balls - a giant one directly above the stage and a small one towards the edge of the stage (for special lighting effects!). Plus, instead of just one arc lamp, there were two on opposite sides of the room. The second arc lamp made all the difference. The palette of colors and the swirls of patterns were simply STUNNING! We also had two of the cool fiber optic curtains that gave the “star” effect on the back wall of the stage at the last party, as well as a host of other overhead lighting effects. All of the lighting effects jelled together perfectly for this evening.

Then there was DJ Jerry Bonham. SFBeary told me a few months ago that he was lucky enough to have experience one of Jerry’s all disco sets - he told me we were in for a real treat. Jerry was soooo excited about recreating a pure Trocadero disco set for Soul Recharge. He told me that he admired the original Troc DJs, especially Bobby Viteritti. He especially admired their ability to create unique and fresh sets with custom made reedits of songs. What amazed him even more was those DJs did those reedits using just a razor blade, reel to reel tape and some tape! Jerry was determined to pay homage to those Troc DJs by creating his own unique set. Only this time, Jerry had the added advantage of today’s technology. All I can say is “Wow!” His set respected the classics but at the same time brought a fresh approach to the music. His set flowed so smoothly flawlessly creating the “disco drama” that Bobby Viteritti and Robbie Leslie always strive/strived for in their sets.

So what did we hear (It’s about time, Keefe!)?

Well, the first number was a little tune from Spark’s “No. 1 Song in Heaven" (with "Tryouts For The Human Race”) album, “My Other Voice.” I completely forgot about this nifty little Giorgio Moroder produced song! He followed with Peter Brown “They Only Come Out At Night” and Human League “Don’t You Want Me” – the instrumental side. I was shocked to then hear Suzi Lane’s “Harmony.” I knew there would be a lot of people disappointed that this song was played so early (sure enough, ¾ of the way into the evening, somebody requested the song!). Jerry then continued with:

Gibson Bros. – Cuba
Azoto – San Salvadore
First Choice – Hold Your Horses
Don Armando’s 2nd Avenue Rhumba Band – Deputy Of Love
Bionic Boogie – Risky Changes

JB did the first of his long, flawlessly mixed overlays into Dan Hartman’s “Relight My Fire,” which of course he reedited the heck out of this song.

Next, came Ashford & Simpson – Found A Cure
Undisputed Truth – You + Me = Love (Ooooo!)
Gino Soccio – Dancer
Free Life – Dance Fantasy

At this point, JB played a hot little latiny instrumental that I could not identify. He then followed with Stevie Wonder’s “Another Star”!

Odyssey – Use It Up, Wear It Out
Ray Martinez & Friends – Lady Of The Night.

The next song made me immediately think of Marky. JB caught me off guard when he played Barbara Pennington’s “24 Hours A Day”. Followed by crowd favorite, Diana Ross’s “The Boss” of course he reedited this song skillfully playing around with the "oo oo" part (come on, you know what part I mean! :P ). JB then followed with some of my favorite tunes:

Patti Austin – Do You Love Me (!!!) (The intro and exit of this song is extremely difficult to mix with. So how did Jerry resolve this problem? Well, he mixed from the instrumental section in the middle. It worked so well!)
Change – Searching
Peter Jacques Band – Is It It (!!!)
Midnight Rhythm – Workin’ And Slavin’
Booker T – Don’t Stop Your Love (!!!)
AWB – Let’s Go Round Again (!!!)
Linda Clifford – Shoot Your Best Shot (!!!) (JeffH should have been here for this song!)
Carrie Lucas – Dance With You
The Bombers – (Everybody) Get Dancin’
Capuchino – He’ll Dance With Me (!!!)

Next, JB brought in his reedits of The Three Degrees, “Givin’ Up, Givin’ In” and “Looking For Love”. This reedit was so well done, I thought it should have been on the original album.

More tomorrow!

[Discovery]

I love “My Other Voice“! What an excellent and beautifully appropriate song to begin the 8 1/2 hour set. I must be present at the very beginning next time. Sorry to miss that one. Other highlights so far include Risky Changes, Relight My Fire, Found a Cure, The Boss, Shoot Your Best Shot, and (Everybody) Get Dancin’.

[markydefad]

Keefe read me the whole list over the phone last night and it was primo Trocadero. :D :D :D Wish I'd been there. Especially Since he played the Disconet ABBA "Lay All Your Love On Me." This sounded like the peak moment acording to Keefe. Get yer hands in the air, kidz!!! :D :D :D

Hot Butterfly, Georgy Porgy, Like an Eagle, Groove Me, Stars In Your Eyes, Was That all It Was are some of the titles in the end "morning music" phase.

What a treat!!! :D :D :D

Now after 3 parties, we've still not heard:

off the top o'me keppe:

This Time Baby - Jackie Moore
Music is My Way Of Life - Patti LaBelle
You Can Do It - Al Hudson & The Partners
La Bamba - Antonia Rodriguez
From Here To Eternity - Giorgio Moroder
Evolution - Giorgio Moroder
Beat The Clock/ Tryouts For The Human Race - Sparks


Records I'll always associate with Trocadero...maybe next time.

[keefelc]

Here we go with more.

JB mixed out of the great Three Degrees medley into Vivian Vee’s “Remember.” Then followed with some major Trocadero favorites:
Kocky – Remone
Cerrone – Je Suis Music

He then moved into the darker, spacier, “druggie” sound with Giorgio Moroder’s “The Chase,” a reedited version of Playback’s “Space Invaders” (seemed to me his version had a more sinister feel), then a snippet of Claudja Barry’s “Boogie Woogie Dancin' Shoes” using mostly the instrumental break and the male vocal singing, “Make me queen for a night.” How appropriate!

Another big Troc favorite, Disco Circus, “Over And Over” then crept in much to our delight.

JB then brought us back down to earth with a song from Voyage’s catalog not played quite as commonly (thank goodness!), “Follow The Brightest Star”. Followed by:
Tavares – Don’t Take Away The Music
The Raes – Don’t Turn Around
Sylvester – Band Of Gold
Marlena Shaw – Love Dancin’

Then, we finally heard the correct side of Johnny Mathis’s Columbia 12 inch single – “Gone, Gone, Gone.” That song, rather than “Begin The Beguine,” was the one that was popular in San Francisco.

Next was Pattie Brooks “After Dark” and then JB’s “love” set starting with Arpeggio “Love And Desire,” a brief portion of Ferrara “Love Attack” and then a quick switch to Debbie Jacobs, “Don’t You Want My Love.”

Next came something wonderfully different from Claudja Barry, “Take It Easy.” Then more Troc favorites - Wonderland Band’s, “Paradise Island” Instrumental, Vera’s “Take Me To The Bridge,” and Theo Vaness’s “Sentimentally It’s You.”

Now what’s a classic disco party without a tune from Donna Summer? How lucky were we to get “Lucky” from the “Bad Girls” lp??? JB then intensified the crowd’s excitement with Space “Save Your Love For Me,” and the Troc standard, Amanda Lear “Follow Me.” It then took the crowd a little bit to fully realize JB was mixing in Abba’s “Lay All Your Love On Me.” Cheers, applause and arms in the air as the lights went crazy, the room filled with fog and the crowd went wild!

How could you top this song? Well, with another Troc classic, Jeff Wayne’s “The Eve Of The War” followed by Don Ray’s “Got To Have Loving”! Next came another surprise, Cheryl Lynn “Star Love.” Cheryl’s voice then became all echoey as JB floated in “The End” by Change and then the Manhattan Transfer’s “Twilight Zone/ Twilight Tone.”

He followed with:
Heaven 17 – Penthouse & Pavements
Gino Soccio – Rhythm Of The World
Romanelli – Chain Reaction (sounded soooo good!)
Patrick Cowley – Megatron Man (with the preceding set, even this song sounded good again!).

As with the past RtP parties, Paul Parker created a song just for the event, “Soul Recharge”!

The U.S. remix of The Passengers “Hot Leather” was next and then more Trocadero favorites, “Magnifique,” the instrumental (actually I think JB did a new edit of the instrumental and vocal versions) of Boots Clements “Ghost Riders In The Sky.”

Some Moby Dick Record releases followed - Stereo Fun Inc. “Gotcha Where I Want You Babe” and the Boystown Gang “Remember Me/ Ain’t No Mountain.”

Next, another favorite - Saint Tropez’s “One More Minute.”
A pitched down but frantically reedited version of Brainstorm, “Loving Is Really My Game.” One of many where JB used today’s technology to slow down the song without affecting the vocals. I don’t understand how a computer can do that, but the effect is amazing!

JB continued with Eddie Holman “This Will Be A Night To Remember,” He then started a set with more flawlessly lengthy overlays and special effects starting with Ripple “The Beat Goes On.” The song segued for about a minute into Frankie Valli’s “Soul/ Heaven Above Me (Thought of Pizzazz at this point!). The instrumental of Sharon Redd’s “In The Name Of Love” was then brought in with lots of reverb added towards the end giving the song an airy sound. Floating in was France Joli’s “Come To Me,” which JB made fresh again by adding reverb to the vocals but not the instruments. Sounded really good!

Beautiful Bend – Make That Feeling Come Again
Sylvester – I Who Have Nothing (once again a delight to hear a less common song from a popular artist’s catalog)

We were then plunged into a beautiful Morning Music set! The songs speak for themselves.

Risque – Starlight
Bionic Boogie – Hot Butterfly
Toto – Georgy Porgy
The Jones Girls – You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else
Dennis Parker – Like An Eagle (JB added lots of phasing to give the song a more eerie effect and the fog machines went full blast)
Loleatta Holloway – Hit And Run
Fern Kinney – Groove Me
John Tropea – Living In The Jungle (Wow!!! Even back in Troc’s heyday, this song was a rare treat.)
Skatt Brothers – Walk The Night (Sleaze!)

At this point, I was getting a bit tired on my feet, but I was “recharged” with Herbie Hancock’s lovey, “Stars In Your Eyes” and one of The Emotions’ best, “Flowers” – the beauty of that song is sooo enhanced on a club’s good sound system! I couldn’t leave the floor when JB played Jean Carn’s “Was That All It Was,” or Marlena Shaw’s “Touch Me In The Morning” – another song pitched way down but with vocals fully intact.

Finally, since it was already way past the closing time of 2:30 am, JB concluded the evening with The Three Degrees, “My Simple Heart”! Is there any doubt that the still substantial crowd applauded and yelled for more? But the club had to close, so JB made a gracious apology and bid us all a Good Night!

Can you tell this party was a labor of love? I wish all of you the opportunity to experience such an incredibly lovely evening! :D

[remicks]

******

Thanks for listing the playlist Keefelc .... were you able to identify all these just from hearing them that night? Sure was good to hear this music again. I believe "Lay All Your Love On Me" was the crowd's fave of the night ...as you described , there was a spontaneous burst of approval once it was clear what song was emerging .
I especially liked hearing Stevie Wonder's "Another Star" and Diana Ross' s "The Boss" --what a well constructed song ..not a wasted note within it and one of the all-time most joyous...really livened up the room. On the other end ....least favourite of the night ... Arpegio's "Love & Desire" . PU ..more annoying than ever. Those squeaky vocals and pinball effects!
---- Another great outcome of events like these is rediscovering some music that 's been forgotten or hadn't been indentified in the past . That's another reason I appreciate your list . New for me ---- AWB's "Let's Go 'Round Again", The Raes "Don't Turn Around" , Claudja's "Take It Easy" , "The End" by Change and "San Salvadore" by Avoto --which I am listening to now. I could never find it BITD because I was looking for a record called "Sounds At My Door" or "Sounds of Amour" :D

I'll give Jerry an A+ for his mixing skills that evening --not one klunker. :)

*****
By the way , what was the performance on stage that occured during DS's "LUCKY" ?? I missed something?

[Discovery]

The entire 8 1/2+ hour set was recorded as usual, but this time I understand it will be available at a more reasonable and affordable price for everyone. :)