Robbie Leslie's Remember The Party Mixes

[Roger White]

Would anyone have any info, opinion (or review) of the Robbie Leslie Remember The Party mixes? I have a couple of the Jerry Bonham mixes and enjoy them very much. I am curious about the Robbie Leslie mixes as well. I am rather new to appreciating original Disco (after listening to House for years), and enjoy collecting quality mixes, so I am hoping to get some idea of how these mixes rate.

I can only imagine they have got to be pretty good with all I have read about Robbie Leslie's DJ skills, yet I am reluctant to just buy them on sight considering the price. So, with no apparent way to sample these mixes for myself I am left to rely on input from anyone who might have heard either Robbie Leslie's RTP 1, or the RTP Encore mixes. Any info anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated.

[markydefad]

Hi Roger,

I have both the Robbie Leslie "Remember The Party" cd sets. I was actually at the first party. Robbie Leslie is a legend...the only disappointing parts of the first party were the tracks he played that had house beats remixed into them--stuff he plays at the current circuit parties, I guess--not a great quantity of these, but they were there.

I was listening to the second party last night...didn't hear any of those "inauthentic" beats grafted unto disco in that set. You can find the track list if you do a search here.

http://www.discomusic.com/forums/dis...roc-party.html

So, if I had to pick...start with set 2....if you like that, go for set one..."It's Raining Men"/"It's My Life"/a Donna Summer song I can't recall--maybe "On The Radio" ? [wait, I think it was actually "I Remember Yesterday"..I don't have the track list in front of me] plus a few more... with house beats isn't the end of the world, I guess.

All the parties are worth having. Jerry Bonham's are especially true to the Trocadero Transfer "sound"--but all are expertly mixed and rare examples of DJs from back in the day who are still working today....going back to their roots and lovingly recreating an evening of classic dance music.

Get them all.

[markydefad]

I'm still listening to the 2nd RtP Encore party ["Keep On Holding On" is playing as I type!!]....pretty fab stuff on here...pulled the first party to listen to later--if I have a chance....these are like 7 discs worth of music apiece!!!

But if you have the Bonham parties--by all means get the Robbie Leslie ones...you won't be disappointed...how much does Robbie charge for them now????

[Roger White]

Hey, Thanks for the response,

I was actually more interested in the Encore set, and I think I agree with your comments about the House elements mixed in with the Disco in set 1, that would be somewhat of a mild turn-off for me. I also wasn't sure about the update to 'It's Raining Men' (with the Geri Halliwell cover)

Anyway - I think I will try the Encore set, as well as pick up the rest of the Jerry Bonham sets (on your recommendation) - the ones I have of his really are exceptional.

It's a shame there is so little information (actually none in most cases) on Robbie Leslie's site in reference to any of his other mix sets. It would definitely serve him better to provide a little more detail (particularly considering the investment). I would definitely appreciate it if you can recommend, or have any information on any of Robbie Leslie's other mixes offered on his site that might be worth owning as well.

I don't know enough about Disco music as it is, but with almost no information given it is nearly impossible to make any kind of reasonably informed choice.

Thanks again.

[markydefad]

Roger...if you want playlists and great prices, check out Bobby Viteritti's site for vintage mixes from Trocadero and other clubs he played at. Let me get the address...

this is bobbyviteritti.com

Untitled

Robbie's stuff is kinda pricey and I know he doesn't list titles...I assume it's for copyright issues...but that's just a guess.

[Roger White]

In response to your previous question (I missed), Robbie is charging $150 per RTP set.

I actually did check out the Bobby Viteritti Site and picked up his Billboard party set (after he sent me a sample promo of it for registering on his website) it's a really good, fun set (he mentioned it's the best one he has done). I also got his Morning music mix (mainly because I wanted to hear what 'morning music' was about), also a good mix. I tried one other one (forgot which one) that felt somewhat rushed (a rapid selection of a lot of (brief) songs). I am not sure if I have been spoiled by the newer (technology-sound/mixing) quality of the Jerry Bonham mixes to get into some of the more vintage party mixes Bobby Viteritti has listed - again, it would be great to be able to sample these mixes before purchasing (although I understand it might be much to expect). If you have any input on any of his other mixes I would love to hear it

As far as older mixes though, I did manage to get the Tom Savarese New Years Eve mixes which I am really glad to have - they are all excellent vintage mixes - as far as I know.

Thanks for taking the time to let me know about the RTP mixes, as well as the Viteritti site. Any other recommendations you might have regarding Disco mixes would be great - anytime.

[markydefad]

There's no denying that modern technology has made it easier for a DJ to execute a flawless program...but Bobby V.'s vintage stuff usually holds up better than most DJs......there were some real trainwrecks on that Tom Savarese set...as good as it was to hear.

I was very impressed with a 1976 New Year's Eve set from Florida where he was DJing at the time...I posted about it in the 1976 Billboard chart thread...it was excellent...he also sent me the "Doctor Love" set which I enjoyed for the most part [ a couple tracks I would have cut--like Meco's "Star Wars"...but what the hey...to each his own.]

[Roger White]

I agree with the trainwrecks on the Tom Savarese mixes - although for me I guess it is just a great introduction to a lot of really good disco songs in a reasonably authentic mixed format.

I can always appreciate quality mixing, and expect nothing less from House music mixes, with Disco mixes though some passive mixing seems OK. I guess with House music the quality of the transition (between songs) is all important and can make or break a mix, with Disco (at least so far for me) it's really about the songs - although, admittedly, I might be more focused on so much new music right now.

I will definitely check out the New Years Eve 1976 Viteritti mix (after recovering from purchasing the Robbie Leslie Encore mix). I appreciate all your information, it is good to know that Disco music has such a nice, thoughtful, community to be counted on.

[markydefad]

Roger,

OK, I finished a complete run-through of Encore!--the 2nd RtP...Oct. 3, 2004

7 cds with 80 songs

only WTF moment: out of nowhere.... the weird appearance of the 1989 Pet Shop Boys' "Left To My Own Devices"...after Marlena Shaw's "Touch Me In the Morning" and before the morning set started with Sharon Ridley's "Changin'"......very jarring!!!! ....I think I recall a story that something went wrong with the equipment towards the end of the party so maybe that was a "save" to keep the music playing...the morning sequence appears to be one of Robbie's "Rarities & Lost" compilations played as is...

only heard grafted-on "house beats" on ONJ's "Xanadu"...maybe on Sylvester's "Mighty Real"...

special treats for me: Bonnie Raitt's [Bonnie Raitt at Trocadero??!!!--hell yeah!!!] lovely & moving "Nick Of Time" remixed with a dancebeat after the remix of Nicolette Larson's "Lotta Love"; Dionne Warwick[e]'s "Take It From Me"; Vera's "Take Me To The Bridge"; Janis Ian's "Fly Too High"; and the whole first cd with my kinda tracks from the likes of Stephanie Mills/Phyllis Hyman/Evelyn "Champagne' King/Change/George Benson/Doobie Brothers/Nicolette Larson/ Bonnie Raitt/The Spinners/Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes/The Intruders...the Philly section extends to the 2nd cd with Joe Simon & Dionne Warwick[e]...then it gets more traditionally late Seventies disco-y.

[Roger White]

Wow! Thanks for the review - and for listening to all those CD's in succession.

I noticed the Pet Shop Boys in the tracklisting on the RTP site and thought that might somehow be OK. I don't really know their stuff so unless the production is radically late 80's (and far out of place) then I figure it probably will blend in - though I really cannot imagine. I also heard somewhere the Xanadu track was an updated version and would not be surprised by the added House production. If these are the only WTF moments then they may be easily overloooked.

Incidentally, on the Bobby Viteritti Morning Music mix - he mixes in a early 80's Steve Winwood song (second track, or so) and surprisingly it works (at least for me). It's definitely not the most Disco song, but as a starter track in that mix, for some reason, it sounded fine.

Otherwise, it sounds like we are on the same page when it comes to Disco music judging from the choice tracks you listed and your descriptions of discs 1 through 2. It does sound like it would be worth picking up this set afterall, any unlikely songs and beats seem to be pretty negligible compared to the wealth of music (80 songs) overall.

Thanks again for taking the time.....