DJ's: Producing and marketing your own CD's

Forrrce · #31 November 11th, 2003, 03:40 AM

Ho-ho. To house people, Larry Levan's reputation is largely built on two records - by Loose Joints & Peech Boys. They wouldn't be so sycophantic regarding this mysterious period in time when everythng was 'all good'. Get real - why is everything these guys played 'inspirational'?

No disrespect to the old guys, you know that - but I checked out the Mancuso gig in London a couple of weeks ago, which was rather anodyne - yet the 'in crowd' were cheering even when they didn't have clue what this or that particularly humdrum house cut was...and looked around in bemusement when Tamiko Jones dropped.

No other DJ could have charged £20 admission and kept his kneecaps after all that! No mixing? He'd have been stoned! Using pucks and what looked like Linn K9s on Technics, but not the pitch control? Laughed out of town and his mother's door egged like it was Halloween. "But hey, he's an original and we have to dig what he plays, 'cause he's the master who paved the way and...". Oh, button it. You know I like a grumble on this one - bring it on, muthaf**kas!

QUINNY · #32 November 11th, 2003, 06:25 AM

Oh dear, this eternal problem. How much respect to give to the previous generations.
Forrrce, I can see where you're coming from and to some extent, as a non famous and maybe not much worse DJ, I can get pretty pissed off at times. :evil:
However, I guess a lot is going to depend on whether their status was earned at the time or at some later date by a new generation. Mancuso, to be fair has never claimed to be a DJ, has he? Did he have immaculate taste? I don't know and I don't really care, but obviously for his devotees who've put him up onto the high altar in the holy church of Disco, he is a saint. Just 'cos someone's skill or taste is not to one's own taste or understanding, it doesn't mean they still can't be great, does it? As long as they did something that was defining at some period, I guess they deserve to be honoured, 'cos without groundbreakers the present, the now wouldn't exist. For me, the Jury is still out on this.
Or should we, for example, diss the old Jazz masters, 'cos in absolute terms, their skill is way below today's best?

And I'm known as the whinger around here!!!!! :lol: :o

Bernie · #33 November 11th, 2003, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QUINNY

As long as they did something that was defining at some period, I guess they deserve to be honoured, 'cos without groundbreakers the present, the now wouldn't exist. For me, the Jury is still out on this.
Or should we, for example, diss the old Jazz masters, 'cos in absolute terms, their skill is way below today's best?

And I'm known as the whinger around here!!!!! :lol: :o

Quinny,

Very well said. I think you hit on something here. Just because we don't fully understand a person doesn't mean he/she wasn't relevant. Having spoken to Mancuso on several ocassions I can tell you that I could feel the energy of the past through his words. And yes, he said he wasn't a DJ just someone who liked to throw parties, but that simple desire helped spark an entire culture and musical genre. For that he and others with the vision should be honored. Had I just met him in the street I probably would have thought of him as a normal Joe

David Mancuso Interview

Forrrce · #34 November 11th, 2003, 09:18 AM

You're not hearing me correctly. I'm not criticising the old guard, I am aware and in awe of their collective legacy. Once again, the silly muppets who have little understanding of the music represented and tag along blindy to anything connected with disco's evolution, are the target.

QUINNY · #35 November 11th, 2003, 09:32 AM

Forrrce: Fair dinkum, but what if it's the muppets who've collectively elevated said person. What then? That's the case with Mancuso, 'cos I for one wasn't aware of him at the time. HE was a very local, very cliquey NY phenomenon, wasn't he? I genuinely don't know.
I'm the worst person to be discussing this, 'cos I generally don't get involved with historical time lines and who did what with whom at what time and to what effect. Life's too short. So tell me to shut up if I'm way off beam.

Forrrce · #36 November 11th, 2003, 09:52 AM

Quinny,
'What then?' is easily applied to everything and answers nothing. You like to misconstrue when it suits you, because you like being controversial - am I right?!

Maybe it's my line of work; the people I know, the people I hang out with, the people I hear. This re-occuring theme (by my hand, yes) is a topic I do find rather annoying - and I'll admit that there are some more personal gripes in there, too.

All told, I have spleen to vent - and I'm gonna get on with it!

:lol:

Bernie · #37 November 11th, 2003, 09:53 AM

Forrrce,

I was replying to Quinny's statement without regard to your previous statement. Sorry for the confusion.

Forrrce · #38 November 11th, 2003, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bernie

Forrrce,

I was replying to Quinny's statement without regard to your previous statement. Sorry for the confusion.

Bernie, am I ever gonna have the justification to take a pop at you as well?!

:D

QUINNY · #39 November 11th, 2003, 10:23 AM

Forrrce: I just misconstrue.....it ain't deliberate. There are those of us who go through life being misunderstood and miscontrueing what others might say. I'm one of them. :cry:

Everything else aside, I can't quite get what your gripe is about. Sorry, I'm a simple soul, with simple needs.

Forrrce · #40 November 11th, 2003, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by QUINNY

Everything else aside, I can't quite get what your gripe is about.

...and don't want to, no doubt. My crusade will continue unhindered!

QUINNY · #41 November 11th, 2003, 11:32 AM

Forrrce: Help me out here. Are you pissed off with Mancuso 'cos he has fans who are muppets or are you just mad at the muppets themselves? Seems to me you're almost blaming the muppets for his bad DJing and (maybe dodgy) record selection and him for playing to them and cashing in. Either way, it doesn't sound like much respect going in his direction.

Must fly, we have Andy Sheppard tonight at Southampton Jazz Club and it's gonna be absolutely jam packed (i.e. I, along with the rest of the committee, have to get there early to set it all up). Circular breathing anyone?

Forrrce · #42 November 11th, 2003, 01:15 PM

Quinny,
No, I've nothing against Mancuso at all and have no reason to do so. The gig was nice but not a revelation, by any means.
My bugbear is that this exact set by anyone else wouldn't have been received so warmly; and serious critique about the merits of the sound quality wouldn't have been entered into. I've seen some of the same records clear the floor on other occasions, but if you're one of the type I'm referring to and in the presence of a legend, you'll not want to look as if you don't know what's going on, will you? Certainly wouldn't be cool to do so. You dance, smile, lap it up, make sure you enjoy it and have something to tell the grandkids. But Joe Soap spinning? Nah, get him off.
Any warmer?

Have a musical treat with Mr. Sheppard.

born2disco · #43 November 11th, 2003, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Maybe even I could do it?

Even someone as dumb as me could!

And I do try to create something a little more danceable than "mush". :lol: Whatever, I love my mush.

QUINNY · #44 November 11th, 2003, 06:34 PM

Forrrce: Ah so its the 'bullshit baffles brains' scenario you don't warm to. Unfortunately the whole world is built on it. I guess you just have to bask in the warm glow of knowing bullshit when you see it and not getting swept away by it.

Andy Sheppard was supreme. There were some real moments.