Warning: marathon post - my top 25 and my guilty feelings

[maarten]

Bernie – this is terrible. And to think I actually did this to myself, as the original Top 500 ‘curator’. I mean of course selecting 25 songs to submit to the Top 500. My self-imposed rules were a little stricter than Bernie’s. I selected from 1970 – 1982 as I feel that was more ‘pure’. I selected my own favorites, so it’s a mix of album tracks and 12”s, of hits and “never heard of’s” (I hope).

Anyway, here is what I submitted (all 12” unless otherwise listed – “album” indicates album version):

1. The glow of love – Change
2. Love is the message (Tom Moulton mix) – MFSB
3. Feelin’ lucky lately – High Fashion
4. Right in the socket – Shalamar
5. Your love (it’s the one for me) – SOS Band
6. I’ll do my best (for you baby) – The Ritchie Family
7. Hold tight (album) – Change
8. 212 North 12th Street – Salsoul Orchestra
9. Candidate for love – TS Monk
10. On the beat – BB&Q Band
11. Good times – Chic
12. So you wanna be a star (album) – Mtume
13. Take it to the limit – Norman Connors
14. Circles (album version) – Atlantic Starr
15. I want you closer – Starpoint
16. The very best in you – Change
17. Love’s theme – Love Unlimited Orchestra
18. Happy feet (album) – Al Hudson & The Partners
19. Souvenirs – Voyage
20. Sure shot – Tracy Weber
21. Rescue me – Sybil Thomas
22. Free and easy (album) – Plush
23. Give me a break – Vivian Vee
24. Fancy dancer – Gregg Diamond’s Starcruiser Band
25. Superlove - Skyy

But, I feel that I have to share with all of you the songs that made my first cut but were eventually “de-selected” (hey Marky, this could be a whole new trend: using “de” the way you used it in “de-volved”). Not that you care but I just felt compelled to show respect to the songs that are dear and relevant to me. I guess it is a guilt thing…

Anyway, here we go:

I’m gonna love you just a little more baby – Barry White. WHAT? No Barry? Very controversial. This track, together with The Temptations’ “Papa was a rolling stone”, formed the basis for my love for danceable music (not necessarily just disco…).

(Gosh – if I have as much to say about all tracks this will be a marathon post. Right, I better continue.)

Young hearts run free – Candi Staton.
Love in ‘C’ Minor – Cerrone. Tough choice. I will admit I bought at the time because of its cover… But it is a timeless classic.
I’m every woman – Chaka Khan. I love Chaka. And I love Ashford & Simpson. Nuff said.
Love is a natural – Dan Hartman. By far my favorite Hartman track. From the Instant Replay album.
No one gets the prize/The boss (special 12” mix) – Diana Ross. As said, I love Ashford & Simpson. And these two tracks made even La Ross acceptable… (uh oh…)
Lucky – Donna Summer. My favorite track by Donna, followed closely by Sunset People and Theme From The Deep.
September – Earth, Wind & Fire. “Getaway” was the first time young me became aware of EW&F. September has great memories for me.
Back to love – Evelyn Champagne King. I love this singer, and I love Kashif. I think he and her were at their respective peaks here.
Armed & extremely dangerous – First Choice. A track well ahead of its time. Doesn’t even tire today!
Knock me out – Gary’s Gang. Dancing the night away… memories…
Love x love – George Benson. Quincy and Temperton = magic. It certainly worked here!
Turn it around (instrumental 12” version) – Gino Soccio. Classic beauty.
If you weren’t afraid – Giorgio Moroder. Classic beauty.
Taste of bitter love – Gladys Knight & The Pips. Did I say that I love Ashford & Simpson? The combination with Gladys works extremely well.
I am somebody – Glenn Jones. Inspirational as well as danceable!
Never can say goodbye (12” version) – Gloria Gaynor. I was so happy when I found this in a sale at the time.
Shake – GQ. Such a great, easy track.
Goin’ crazy – Heatwave. Subtle, funky and different. Together with “Big guns” my favorite Heatwave track.
Walk right now – The Jacksons. Great record to use in the mix. Who else agrees?
Dance across the floor – Jimmy “Bo” Horne. OK – was there a 12” of this one?
Get down tonight (12” version) – KC & The Sunshine Band. Classic! That bass line was well ahead of it’s time.
Taste the music – Kleeer. Oh no – controversy again… OK - #27 then!
Pretty baby – Kool & The Gang. I wanted to choose “Too hot”. No, I mean “Open sesame”. Eeehhmm “Summer madness”. OK, “Pretty baby” always cheers me up so here goes!
Funkytown – Lipps Inc. Classic, and actually got better and more interesting over time (as did the Lipps Inc. albums).
Law & order (Walter Gibbons remix) – Love Committee. Thank you Francois K for letting me know about this track.
Oh love, well we finally made it – Love Unlimited. I love all three versions (Barry, his orchestra and this one).
Suite seventeen – Marlena Shaw. Not a great fan of the drama queen genre but this one is excellent!
What’s going on (long version with that strange fade in the ending) – Marvin Gaye. Classic!
Gigolo (12” version only!) – Mary Wells. Funk! And that organ riff – excellent!
Maybe maybe – Mass Production. I could choose at least 2 more tracks from the “In a city groove” album! I choose this one for the bass line.
Ain’t no stoppin’ us now (12”) – McFadden & Whitehead. Classic, the track as well as the artists.
You stepped into my life (12”) – Melba Moore. I was tempted to select the Kashif production “Mind up tonight” but this one is a true gem, even if it is written by The BeeGees (uh oh pt. II).
Tonight I’m allright – Narada Michael Walden. He was at his dance peak at this time, working also with Stacy Lattisaw and Phyllis Hyman. After this he gained more success (Whitney!) but was less danceable (exception for his own “Divine emotions”).
Love is in you #2 (12”) – Nightlife Unlimited. Thump thump thump thump. Italo-USA production. Album version is very nice, too, but the 12” break is great for mixing.
Once I’ve been there – Norman Connors. Respect. This is a true disco track which was IMHO well ahead of it’s time.
992 arguments – The O’Jays. It’s that intro with the piano. And the fact that it is just absolutely beautiful!
Inside out (12”) – Odyssey. That bass line. The smoothly sung and arranged lyrics. Summer, late at night at the club!
Gigolette (12”) – Ozone. What a great track. Teena Marie participated.
In New York (12”) – Passion. I wanted to list all Passion tracks… I choose this one as it is a classic disco track and I want more recognition for Passion’s music.
Never gonna give you up (12”) – Patrice Rushen. Again, difficult to choose. She is both commercially successful as well as musically adventurous. I heard she is now involved in scoring TV and movie music.
Dance with me (12”) – Peter Brown. Cannot choose. This is his most funky electronic track. But I equally like “Baby gets high”.
Might fine – Peter Jacques Band. From the “Welcome back” album. Together with “The louder” this track stands out, as it is orchestrated disco funk. Did I just make up that classification?
Stuff like that (LP version) – Quincy Jones (with an all star cast!). A classic. Hey, there are Ashford & Simpson again…
The beat goes on (12”) – Ripple. Last time Ripple was listed in my top 25. And now out? Yep – even though I love this track there had to be some movement.
Think about it – Rockie Robbins. A recent discovery. Very, very nice track.
Best love – Rose Royce. Such a great song. And I just always have to hum along with the ending! “Whooaa, whooaa, whooaaa, best love”.
Do you love what you feel (LP version) – Rufus & Chaka Khan. Another impossible choice. This was of course from the collaboration with Quincy. But there is also the “Camouflage” album, of which I could nominate the complete A side (Better together, Jigsaw (what a bass line), Secret friend, True love).
Midnight fantasy – Saint Tropez. Delightful.
Spacer (12”) – Sheila B. Devotion. Awesome classic and a great guitar solo.
Fly robin fly – Silver Convention (12”) – I was hooked from day one. Still am.
He’s the greatest dancer (12”) – Sister Sledge. OK, that is two Rodgers/Edwards classics shunned. But Goodtimes is included (whew… saved myself)!
Slide (12”) – Slave. We discussed this the other day, thanks to Paul.
D.A.N.C.I.N. (12”) – Stephanie Mills. A great Mtume/Lucas production. I think this is their best for/with Stephanie.
I need your lovin’ (12”) – Teena Marie. Classic, and it was a hard choice between this one and Square Bizz.
In the middle (LP version) – Unlimited Touch. I like all their tracks but this is my fav.
Imagination – The Whispers. One of the best examples of their Solar hit years.
Can’t fake the feeling (12”) – Geraldine Hunt. I never tire of this song.
I can’t shake this feeling (12”) – Klique. See above.
Walk on by (12”) – Dtrain. See above. One of the best disco ‘remakes’ I know.
Love injection (12”) – Trussel. Excellent and not enough respect.
Never give you up (LP) – Sharon Redd. As much as I like Francois K and Larry Levan, there were times when they were really on cloud cookoo… So the album version will do nicely.
War dance (12”) – Kebekelectrik. I still can’t spell that name correct the first time. I rediscovered this track thanks to the board.
Take it to the top (12”) – KID. Timeless.
The break (12”) – Katmandu. Same!
Love fever (12”) – Gayle Adams. Ditto!
Do it to the music (12”) – Raw Silk. Yes, please!

So there it is. Just ignore me…


(this is the edited bit:) Free - Ashford & Simpson. My alltime fav and it really should have been in my top 25. I would, in hindsight, probably swap it with Vivian Vee.

_________________
"ON THE BEAT"

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: maarten on 2002-08-01 18:33 ]</font>

[california mike]

what an awesome selection, especially those on the "de-selected from de-list".
it's always great to see ashford and simpson get recognition, but none of their own 12 inch singles?
also glad to see narada michael walden.still think his "i cry, i smile" album is a gem, though not a dance album.
and, the jacksons album "triumph", with "walk right now" is still a great album waiting to be discovered!

[maarten]

Mike you are absolutely right. I have edited my post above and included "Free" by Ashford & Simpson. How that one slipped past me... it is only my alltime favorite track by them!