Where do I even start with this one? Eurodance! Euro house! Shirtless Fabio-looking dude painting in front of Sonsie! Piles of flyers on the windshield of a Porsche parked at Armani Cafe! Club M-80! Silk Stalkings on USA Network!

Okay, I’m sure that none of that really makes sense to most of you. That was life for a certain set of people in my hometown of Boston. I wasn’t a part of that life, but if you looked for it, you would find it.

A lot of these Eurodance songs were commercial hits in the US (you should recognize most of them). But there was something particularly amazing about hearing these songs in the CONTEXT of certain physical spaces. These cheesy Eurodance songs just work in a giant venue where bouncers check your footwear and everyone smells like bad cologne. There was just this whole category of international seen-and-be-seen places that at the time I made fun of and never stepped foot in. We called them “Eurotrash.”

But now, to be completely honest, I really do miss them. Not just ironically. I legit miss all of those fun micro-scenes. And the music was actually massive. Everyone heard these jams on the radio, on club mix CDs, at school dances, and even under 18 clubs. We secretly loved these tracks, even if we pretended to not like them.

So in honor of those amazing places and memories, I present to you: EURODANCE!

Tracklist for August 22, 2018

01 :: Haddaway – What Is Love (12″ Mix) [Arista]
02 :: Corona – The Rhythm Of The Night (Original Version) [DWA Dance World Attack]
03 :: Captain Hollywood Project – More And More [ä]
04 :: Snap! – Rhythm Is A Dancer (12″ Mix) [Arista]
05 :: 49ers – Touch Me (Sexual Version) [4th & Broadway]
06 :: No Mercy – Where Do You Go (Ocean Drive Mix) [Arista]
07 :: Technotronic feat. Ya Kid K – Move This (LP Version) [SBK Records]
08 :: Whigfield – Saturday Night (Spike Vocal Mix) [Curb Records]
09 :: 2 Unlimited – Twilight Zone (Club Mix) [Radikal Records]
10 :: 2 In A Room – Wiggle It (The Club Mix) [Cutting Records]
11 :: Twenty 4 Seven feat. Captain Hollywood – I Can’t Stand It (Dub Mix) [BCM Records]
12 :: The Shamen – LSI (Love Sex Intelligence) (Beatmasters 12″ Mix) [Epic]
13 :: Black Box – Strike It Up (Original Remix) [RCA]
14 :: Jordy – Dur Dur D’Être Bébé! (Club Mix) [Columbia]
15 :: Aqua – Barbie Girl (Extended Version) [MCA Records]
16 :: Gina G – Ooh Aah… Just A Little Bit (Motiv8 Vintage Honey Mix) [Warner Bros. Records]
17 :: Urban Cookie Collective – The Key, The Secret (Glamorously Developed Mix) [Pulse 8 USA]
18 :: Los Del Rio – Macarena (DJ Dero – Latin Piano Mix) [BMG U.S. Latin]
19 :: Ricky Martin – Maria (Spanglish Extended) [Columbia]
20 :: 20 Fingers feat. Gilette – Short Dick Man [D.J. World Records]
21 :: Technotronic feat. Felly – Pump Up The Jam (Original Mix) [SBK Records]
22 :: TDC – Keep Groovin’ (The Dutch Light Mix) [Rhythm Stick]
23 :: Culture Beat – Mr. Vain (Vain Mix) [550 Music]
24 :: Cher – Believe (Almighty Definitive Mix) [WEA]
25 :: Eiffel 65 – Blue (Da Ba Dee) [White Label]
26 :: Quad City DJ’s – C’Mon ‘N Ride It (The Train) (Remix) [Big Beat]
27 :: La Bouche – Be My Lover (Club Mix) [RCA]
28 :: Real McCoy – Another Night (Club Mix) [Arista]
29 :: DJ Miko – What’s Up (4 B’s Mix) [ZYX Music]
30 :: Nicki French – Total Eclipse Of The Heart (Extended Mix) [Critique]
31 :: Rozalla – Everybody’s Free (To Feel Good) (Original Mix) [Epic]

South African Afro-Rock (1966-1986)

This time we go back… way back… back into once upon a time in South Africa, when black musicians began playing western style afro-rock, soul, funk, jazz, and disco. Sometimes it was called “monkey jive,” and other times “Soweto soul.” But whatever people chose to call it, the music from this era was, and remains, undeniably awesome.

Working within the inhumane confines of apartheid, the musicians of this era nevertheless produced socially conscious music that bridged tribal differences, brought folks together in social environments, all while eluding the harsh censorship and separate development laws on the books. The music produced was nothing short of revolutionary.

Many of the musicians featured here have recently passed on, but their legacy deserves to endure forever.

A lot of the South African afro-rock tracks played here are EXTREMELY rare and you will not hear them anywhere else. My love for the band Harari has allowed me to branch out and find related afro-rock descendants of their musical tree. Today I share some of my vinyl findings with you.

Tracklist for August 15, 2018

01 :: The Beaters – Thiba Kamoo [The Sun]
02 :: Harari – Senyamo [Gallo]
03 :: Marumo – Khomo Tsaka Deile Kae? [Spades]
04 :: Sir Alton – Veredjina [Black Talent Music]
05 :: The Beaters – Mashala [CBS]
06 :: The Beaters – Every Day [Dawn]
07 :: Saitana – Soweto [JAS Pride]
08 :: The Soul Throbs – Little Girl [Soul Soul]
09 :: The Crackers – Osizini [Masterpiece]
10 :: The Movers – She Loves You [City Special]
11 :: Philip Mallela – Sunny Day [Black Soul]
12 :: The Disco Cats – Sweet Words [Reprise Records]
13 :: Kenny’s Razmataz – It’s A Gas [Atlantic]
14 :: Kabasa – Happy Together [Atlantic]
15 :: Harari – Party [Gallo]
16 :: Saitana – Love Fever [Black Music]
17 :: Umoja – 707 [Awesome Tapes From Africa]
18 :: Harari – Playing For People [Rufaro]
19 :: Kabasa – Pickin’ Up The Pieces [Atlantic]
20 :: Masike Mohapi – Standing On The Top [Raintree Records]
21 :: Manana – Afro Funky [Drum Rock]
22 :: Kabasa – Kabasa [Atlantic]
23 :: Harari – Feeling Restless [Gallo]
24 :: Batsumi – Toi Toi [Matsuli Music]
25 :: Hugh Masekela Introducing Hedzoleh Soundz – Languta [Blue Thumb Records]

New wavers will enjoy the shit out of this mix. It’s all in there.

Tracklist for August 1, 2018

01 :: Tears For Fears – Mad World [Mercury]
02 :: Talk Talk – It’s My Life [EMI America]
03 :: Modern English – I Melt With You [Sire]
04 :: Kim Carnes – Bette Davis Eyes [EMI America]
05 :: The B-52’s – Dirty Back Road [Warner Bros. Records]
06 :: The Cure – Let’s Go To Bed [Elektra]
07 :: Eurythmics – This Is The House [RCA Victor]
08 :: Yazoo – Only You [Sire]
09 :: Kraftwerk – Tour De France (Remix) [Warner Bros. Records]
10 :: Devo – Beautiful World [Warner Bros. Records]
11 :: Gary Numan – Cars [ATCO Records]
12 :: Visage – Fade To Grey (Dance Mix) [Polydor]
13 :: Pet Shop Boys – Suburbia [EMI America]
14 :: Depeche Mode – People Are People [Mute]
15 :: The Smiths – How Soon Is Now? (Long Version) [Sire]
16 :: Howard Jones – New Song (Extended Version) [Elektra]
17 :: When In Rome – The Promise (O.N. Mix) [Virgin]
18 :: Dead Or Alive – Brand New Lover (The Dust Monkey’s Love Bubble Club Mix) [Epic]
19 :: Heaven 17 – Penthouse And Pavement [Arista]
20 :: Wang Chung – Everybody Have Fun Tonight (LP Version) [Geffen Records]
21 :: Steven Tin Tin Duffy – Kiss Me (1983) [10 Records]
22 :: ABC – Be Near Me (Munich Disco Mix) [Neutron Records]
23 :: Echo & The Bunnymen – Lips Like Sugar (12″ Mix) [Sire]
24 :: Gary Numan & Tubeway Army – Are ‘Friends’ Electric? [ATCO Records]
25 :: The Art of Noise – Moments In Love [Island Records]