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What’s up everyone? Thanks for clicking on the Sorry State newsletter.
We’re into August already. This year is moving by so fast. Thankfully, now the temperature around here isn’t too unbearable, and we’ve had some much-needed rain. So that’s good at least. Hopefully wherever you are it’s comfortable too.
We’ve been keeping busy here at the store. The wheels keep turning. New release on our label with Dream World, lots of other new releases from far and wide, and of course, some tasty used records have all been arriving in the last few weeks. Plenty to listen to and check out. I’ve been digging discovering the L.A. band Beast Of Beast, who were a goth punk group from the early 80s. Their sole 12” E.P. from 1983 on My Ass Records has just been reissued by Mono Records, and the repress also includes an additional ten tracks of rehearsals and live material plus a poster. If you are a fan of female-fronted punk bands and say like Siouxsie and Legal Weapon for example, then you should check out Beast Of Beast.
As I type, Danny is listening to David Bowie’s Blackstar album, and it’s a good reminder that a bunch of his later 90s and 00s albums have been repressed and made available once more. Some of these albums have been tough to find and by extension become expensive. So it’s good to have them back in the bins, without costing an arm and a leg. I could listen to David Bowie read the phone directory, so it’s hard for me to say he has made a bad record. Are these latter albums a match for his 70s prime? Perhaps not, but they are still worthy and interesting records. Investigate if you are a fan and maybe missed some of these the first time around.
John Scott mentioned that he and I went to Roanoke, Virginia recently on a little adventure to go watch Billy Strings and the boys. I really do have John Scott to thank for getting me aboard the Billy train. I’m a fan for sure. He’s a generational talent, and barring tragedy, has a lot more years of great music-making to come. The new album is just a few weeks away from being released. The show in Roanoke was the kick-off to the summer tour, and since then I have been trying to catch as many other shows that have been live-streamed. Again, thanks to John Scott, this time for access to his Nugs account. LoL. Next best thing to being at the show is watching it from your couch. The couch tour has its pluses. I’m still reeling from this past weekend’s shows at Woodstock, where among other things the boys treated the audience to a twenty-plus minute version of the Jerry Garcia and David Grisman epic Arabia. On Jerry’s birthday. A fitting tribute.
In additional listening, I’m still plucking the odd 12-inch single from the collection of disco and boogie records that we have been getting from my army DJ buddy. We’ve got a lot to go through and to clean and price, and some need a clean. Being used by a working DJ means records are often covered in fingerprints and the odd scuff, etc. However, in my experience, once cleaned up, 12-inch singles generally sound great despite how they might appear. Not always the case, but like 45s, they are more forgiving with scratches and scuffs than LPs tend to be.
When it comes to the disco and electro-boogie era, there are so many small and independent labels that released great music, besides the major labels. Spotting certain labels and their company sleeves, even if you aren’t familiar with the artist, is often all you need to tell you that the record might be good. I’ll always check out anything on the Sunnyview label, for instance, and anything on the West End label. I noticed the familiar red sleeve with the Manhattan skyline silhouette and setting sun of West End Records whilst triaging a box the other day and pulled out a couple of bangers. Both I was already familiar with, and one, is a bona fide classic. That classic is by Loose Joints with the song, Is It All Over My Face? Released in 1980, written and produced by Arthur Russell along with DJ Steve D’Aquisto, the song comes in two versions: one with a male vocal and the other with a female vocal. The female vocal version was also given some disco glitter magic from Larry Levan, who provides a tasty remix. It’s the female version that has gone on to be the most popular and has appeared on countless compilations over the years, including the influential Disco Not Disco album. Larry Levan is of course the ultimate DJ for many, me included. If I could travel back in time, I would love to go hang out at the Paradise Garage, the influential club where Larry held residency. He, along with Nicky Siano, David Mancuso and the Loft deejays, is the best. They told stories with their sets and let the music do the talking. Playing the right tune for the moment and surroundings was what they were about. They put the dancers and the atmosphere of the room ahead of their own egos. Something I tried to take inspiration from. The celebrity DJ thing isn’t for me. The focus should never be on the dude or gal twiddling the knobs but on the music and the vibe of the room. In my opinion.
On the Loose Joints record, the female version clocks in at just under seven minutes, but the male vocal side goes for almost ten minutes. I can see why folks prefer the female version as it’s a bit smoother, and getting the Larry Levan remix gives it extra sparkle. However, I have been rocking the other side and like how the groove is bit rawer and goes on a little longer. Hearing the male vocal side is a little odd at first when you are more used to the other version, as the vocal does come in a little harsh to my ears at first, but once the tune settles, it’s a jammer. This copy looks like the Stanley Cup was played on it, but plays very well, albeit with a tad of surface noise at the start. Good enough for me. I’m happy to have a physical copy of this gem and disco artifact.
The other 12-inch, also on West End, is by Sparque, with a song called Let’s Go Dancin’. This one came out in 1981 and features a mix by Larry Levan along with Francois K, another legendary name in the disco and post-disco world. This one comes with two versions of the song: the party version and the club version. For my money, the club version might just have the edge. Killer bass sound. The club mix is a longer one and is the one with the Larry Levan remix, however there is a lot to like about the slightly shorter party version. Take your pick. Either way, a very influential track.
Okay, there you go. A couple of disco bangers for you to check out this week. They say disco is dead, but it’s just sleeping. I predict major parties once the orange stain has been removed, and you just know people are going to want to party and dance and celebrate once we kick these fascists out of office and power. We’ll need and want tunes like this to boogie and shake our asses to. We might even claim back Y.M.C.A. We’ll see.
Take care everyone. Thanks for reading. Thanks for supporting the arts and any store like ours that is trying to keep the independent flag flying and keeping it fun and making music accessible to the people. We love you.
Cheers - Dom