Another Setting Radio: Body Rhythm #9

Photo: L.A.T.F., 1983

Had been wanting to make a Italo Disco mix for some time now, so decided I'd do just that for this month's episode of Body Rhythm.

Most of these tracks are from the golden sweet spot of 1982-83. I initially included a few instrumental tracks on my first pass at this mix. Decided to do a second try and swap most of those instrumentals for their vocal versions. Even with the sometimes clunky or misplaced English lyrics, the tracks just feel more complete with vocals. Beyond that, those lyrical quirks are an essential part of the music's charm for me.

Further details about these selections in the track notes below... Happy listening!

Body Rhythm #8:
Tracklist:

B.W.H. - Livin' Up
Scotch - Penguins' Invasion (Hot Version)
Trilogy - Not Love (Vocal)
Louise Freeman - Mirage
Marzio Dance D.J. and Gang - Adventure (Theme Version)
Primadonna - Flashing On The Floor (Vocal)
Los Angeles T.F. - Magical Body (Vocal Version)
Vivien Vee - Americano (Vocal)
Annie Anner - Night In The City (Canadian Remix)
I.M.S. (International Music System) - An English '93
Salvy & Giuly - Stop The World (Vocal)
Coco Bill - Evita (Avoid)
Samoa Park - Tubular Affair (Vocal)

All the records played on show #9

Track Notes:

B.W.H. - Livin' Up: The third major production of DJ/producer Stefano Zito (AKA Blackway) and his wife Helene, the duo behind the acronym B.W.H. (Blackway with Helene). Recently reissued, this is from a 12" which paired two absolute killers. My personal favourite "Stop" is on the B-side, but for this I chose to play "Livin' Up" from the A-side. Its tempo and energy felt like the perfect way to start things off here.

Scotch - Penguins' Invasion (Hot Version): The first single from Scotch, when it was still basically the project of producer/arrangers from Bergamo, David Zambelli and Walter Verdi alongside Manlio Cangelli. They'd have bigger hits with "Disco Band" and "Delirio Mind," but the airy chords and synth pulse of this track is more appealing to me. Both versions on my 12" are basically instrumental, but a vocal does exist. Unlike some of the other selections here, I'll have to say the instrumental works better for me.

Trilogy - Not Love (Vocal): Sung and produced Paul Micioni, with Robert Masala (AKA 'Gloves') and Max Di Carlo (AKA 'Konnor'). Micioni had been in Easy Going and Traks and was one of the most prolific producers in Italo Disco, also working with Mike Francis, Gazebo and Gary Low. With it's hard driving beat, it's easy to see how this was one of those tracks which seems to have crossed-over into early house music. That may explain why this was also given a US release on JDC Records, who were known to license the occasional Italo single at the time.

Louise Freeman - Mirage: Originally released in 1983 and recently given a proper reissue by Disco Segreta, I'm surprised this wasn't a bigger hit for UK-born vocalist/dancer/choreographer Louise Freeman. Nevertheless, it has to be up there as one of my all-time Italo favourites. Produced by Gloves and Konnor who were also behind the previous selection, sonically this just seems to have captured some of the coolest, most ethereral synth sounds of the time in a dance record. Even lyrically, it's a cut above what one might expect from an Italo single at this time, which may be owed to Freeman's writing credit here. Hard to believe a track this good was not only overlooked as a hit, but also relegated to the B-side. Interesting fact: Louise is the sister of Tracy Spencer, (not to be confused with the American singer Tracie Spencer) who had a string of pop hits in Italy in the mid 80s. These days Karen Louise Freeman is a fitness instructor, actor and DJ based in London.

Marzio Dance D.J. and Gang - Adventure (Theme Version): I'm often amused by the preponderance of "gangs" in Italo Disco groups or studio projects, and this is yet another. A project of Marzio Mugnaioni—DJ at the Xenon disco in Firenze, whose logo is prominently displayed on the front cover alongside a photo of what I assume is the Xenon discotheque itself—together with producer/arrangers Fabrizio Simoncini and Marco Masini. Picked this up at a local record fair this past spring, and it's an interesting record—a kind of choose-your-own adventure in terms of RPM/tempo. The stated 33 ⅓ RPM speed on the label feels much too sluggish, making it sound like a disco dirge. Personally, I feel like this sounds best at 45 RPM -3, which is approximately the speed I used here.

Primadonna - Flashing On The Floor (Vocal): "Who are you looking at pretty boy? Where are you going tonight?"... Another one of those songs on which I decided to opt for the vocal instead of the instrumental on my second try. Sung by Giorgio Dolce & Stefania Dal Pino, the lyrics about dancefloor attraction are charming, even in their awkward moments. As an example, the response line "dancing double doors" makes little sense, but still makes me smile! Similarly, I doubt that "flashing" is used here in the English colloquial sense; it more likely describes someome who is catching the eye or catching the light, like the facets of a mirrorball. Even with that, the general sentiment still feels stronger with its vocals. Produced by Dolce and the prolific Romano Bais, interestingly American model/actress Debbie Falconer—one time wife of Robert Downey, Jr.—recorded a cover of this song which was only released in France, but it doesn't hold up to the original.

Los Angeles T.F. - Magical Body (Vocal Version): My favourite of the Los Angeles T.F. singles, so named for it's producers - Tony Travagliante and Franco Zaza. The uncredited vocalist on this track is UK singer Katherine Quaye AKA Taffy (note: not the lady in the photo at the top of the post), best known for her Italo hit "I Love My Radio". As far as the lyrics go, they're odd and yet totally catchy and I kinda love them... "Magical, magical is your body... typical, typical, of a latin lover"... Another selection which I had swapped the instrumental in favour of the vocal.

Vivien Vee - Americano (Vocal): A very tropical piece of Italo sung in English and a bit of Spanish by Vivien Vee. Italian balearic, perhaps? Produced by Giancarlo Meo with the group Radio Movie and released around 1984/85 (depending on the territory), it is a bit later and noticeably brighter than the other selections here from ’82/’83. Yet, those lush synth textures and captivating chord progressions are what really make this for me.

Annie Anner - Night In The City (Canadian Remix): A bit of Swedish Italo from Annie Anner (AKA Anne-Lie Thorslund) that I had fished out of a dollar bin last summer. Produced by her brother Anders Thorslund and Lars Fjellström this is another one of those select Italo/italo-esque singles which received an actual North American release. Picked up by Canada's Power Records and given a remix by Power's chairman, producer/DJ Vince Degiorgio, who really streamlined the track, in comparison to the original mix. Well before Sally Shapiro emerged, consider this another testament to Italo's popularity in Sweden.

I.M.S. (International Music System) - An English '93: From the US release of the first International Music System EP, which was one of those surprise finds in my hometown, Calgary Alberta, of all places. Unfortunately, the US release didn't come with a picture sleeve, just a generic 12" company jacket. Still, I was glad to find a genuine original pressing for cheap. To me, IMS was one of those projects that perfectly straddled the line between italo disco and US electro. While "Nonline" is usually the big track on this single, this strangely titled and basically instrumental track is a killer too. Naturally, some Kraftwerk in here also, but with extra tempo and percussion. Two of the principals behind I.M.S. - Giorgio Stefani and Maurice Cavalieri were also behind what is probably one of the most iconic italo hits, "Spacer Woman" by Charlie.

Salvy & Giuly - Stop The World (Vocal): The only single attributed to Salvy Lauria and Giuly Piva (vocals), this was a recent reissue and one that I really love. Again, opted to swap the instrumental for the vocal here. I’m charmed by the Italian-accented English; despite the occasional grammatical oddity, the lyrics feel both genuine and still relevant to the state of the world today. I'm guessing they had good help from Ivana Spagna in that department who's credited as a writer here, along with Ottavio Bacciocchi and the prolific Larry Pignagnoli (who would later write and produce Whigfield's "Saturday Night"). Until this was recently reissued, people were willing to put down nearly €200 for an original copy of this record.

Coco Bill - Evita (Avoid): From DJ/producer Jenny Rocco (AKA Gennaro Rocco), arranger Gianni Miele and American vocalist Larry Paul Emmett, a dystopian disco warning about the computers that would take over our lives? You don't say... It's almost as if they anticipated the social media algorithms that influence what we see, hear and think today. "Avoid the leaders that program the computer"—looking at you, tech broligarchy. Beyond the concept, a great piece of cybernetic paranoia with a driving beat and an affective piano melody. Interesting double meaning in the lyrics too with Evita, being the Italian word for Avoid. Even when the singer misspells A-V-I-O-D in the chorus, that even becomes a hook of its own. Initially, this had been released under Larry Paul Emmett's name. Judging by his partner's words on YouTube and Discogs, Emmett had apparently landed a drug charge in Italy just before this single was released. He would be extradited to back to the US, not really knowing what happened to the single he recorded. Trying to avoid a more practical controversy, the producers quickly re-released and rebranded the project as Coco Bill. Sadly, Emmett would pass away from cancer in Jackson, Mississippi in 2012.

Samoa Park - Tubular Affair (Vocal): A pretty great Italo cover and mash-up of two Mike Oldfield hits - "Tubular Bells" and "Foreign Affair" from 1983. Samoa Park was a project which released mostly italo covers and medleys, some more sucessful than others. This one is easily their best, in my opinion. The two songs pair brilliantly and seamlessly under the steely synth pulse, a feeling which builds on the dystopic note of the previous selection.


PREVIOUS RELATED ENTRIES:
another setting radio: body rhythm #6 (monday may 11, 2026)
another setting radio: body rhythm #4 (tuesday march 17, 2026)
another setting radio: body rhythm #1 (sunday december 21, 2026)
disco delivery mix #14: sign of the times (monday january 22, 2024)
tonight.. (wednesday february 14, 2007)

LINKS:
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another setting radio: artist bio - thomas del pozo


CATEGORIES: BODY RHYTHM

Disco Delivery Mix #16: Guest Mix for Disco Dose SOCIETY, Vol. 43

Was recently invited to make a guest mix for one of my favourite Instagram disco accounts, Disco Dose and their SOCIETY mix series.

Many thanks to Øhm Sweet Øhm for inviting me to contribute! Kept things mostly in the realm of funky, American disco with some forays into Eurodisco, boogie and soul.

Take a listen below...




Disco Dose SOCIETY Vol. 43: Thomas del Pozo (Disco Delivery)

Tracklist:

The Dells - Face To Face
The Escorts - Make Me Over
Crown Heights Affair - Dance Lady Dance
The Supremes - You're My Driving Wheel
Tommy Tate - Let Me Entertain You
Tschai Prender - I Wanna Dance Forever
Asphalt Jungle - Freakin’ Time Pt. 1
Spirit Band - Keep Your Love Alive (12" Long Version)
Carte Blanche - Get Up Get On Your Feet (12" Version)
Jimmy Maelen - Spirit In The Flesh
Sunny Gale - I Wanna Know
Prince Phillip Mitchell - Star In The Ghetto
Claudia Polley - Tous Les Bateaux Tous Les Oiseaux (12" Version)

All the records played in this mix.



Track Notes:

The Dells - Face To Face: The title track from The Dells' 1979 album on ABC Records. The Sweet Inspirations also did a good version of this song the same year. Not sure which one came first, but The Dells' version here feels a bit more funk-forward and an ideal way to start things off here.

The Escorts - Make Me Over: This one's a recent pickup, from New Jersey group The Escorts self-titled LP from 1981, the only one produced by Herschel Dwellingham on his Helva label. This was the opener and the standout jam on the album.

Crown Heights Affair - Dance Lady Dance: The title track from the group's fifth album from 1979. Immaculately produced by the band with Britt Britton and Freida Nerangis; right from the jump, the slow glistening intro sets the tone for the funky disco elegance to follow... One of my favourites of theirs.

The Supremes - You're My Driving Wheel: Another old favourite of mine, which longtime readers of this blog will likely attest to. From the final Supremes album, Mary, Scherrie & Susaye from late 1976. That album was the subject of my very first blog entry here, and still one I bring out with me whenever I play. Produced by Brian Holland, co-written with his regular collaborator Harold Beatty alongside Reginald Brown and Stafford Floyd, two members of New York Port Authority, another group The Holland Brothers were producing at the time. This is also one song that I love to warm up with.

Tommy Tate - Let Me Entertain You: A little sleeper from soul singer Tommy Tate's self-titled 1981 album on Frederick Knight's Juana label. Written and produced by Knight, the man behind Anita Ward's "Ring My Bell", this is one of at least four versions of this song that I know of. Knight also produced versions of this song with The Controllers in 1980 using what sounds like largely the same backing-track, and with C.L. Blast, several years later in 1984. Fern Kinney also recorded a version the same year as this one, but this is perhaps my favourite of the four, with the heft and directness of Tate's vocals really bringing the groove to life.

Tschai Prender - I Wanna Dance Forever: An obscure single from an obscure singer that I'd picked up for cheap some years back. No production credit on the label, but written by (and likely also produced by) Charles Blackwell. Blackwell was a major British arranger, producer and songrwriter in his day who'd work with everyone from Marlene Dietrich to Tom Jones, to Shirley Bassey. He was also commissioned to arrange Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" as the "Anthem for Europe" for the European Parliament. Besides that, the man also had some success in disco, writing and co-producing The Larry Page Orchestra's major hit, "Erotic Soul," even recording a disco album under his own name in 1976. While not as orchestrated as his pedrigee would suggest, this single is actually a spare, sexy, synthy disco groover. Discogs only lists the Rio 12" release from Canada, which is what I played here, so not sure if this was released anywhere else. Nevertheless, a treasured piece of cheap heat in my collection.

Asphalt Jungle - Freakin’ Time Pt. 1: A nice slab of funky disco from 1979 courtesy of Philadelphia drummer and producer Keith Benson. One of two known, released production credits to his name, the other is "Can You Feel It" by the Funk Fusion Band. Both selections are immaculately solid, immediate buys in my opinion. Benson was the brother of singer Carla Benson and as one of the MFSB players, has appeared on a number records in that nexus of Philly soul and disco. Was holding out for a 12" of this, but in the meantime recently came across this on 7", which is what I played here. As it turns out, the tracks on the 7" are the same length as the 12".

Spirit Band - Keep Your Love Alive (12" Long Version): A slice of funky boogie from 1982 on the RSP label out of the Bronx. One of those small independent labels that released records in the intersection of disco, funk and early hip-hop. Scored this early this year and was totally taken by the drum action on this record. Overall, there's a looseness here that's just outside what you'd expect from disco or even boogie from this time. The version I played here is the original release, there's a later release of this with an early M&M (John Morales & Sergio Munzibai) Mix.

Carte Blanche - Get Up Get On Your Feet (12" Version): Recently got the Canadian 12" of this catchy British disco nugget. Produced by engineer Geoff Calver, with Peter Yellowstone and Steve Voice, the team behind Kelly Marie's disco hits at the time. Unfortunately the Canadan 12" came in a generic company sleeve, not the nude silhouettes on rollerscates like in other territories. Nevertheless, for the princely sum of $1, I wasn't going to pass it up.

Jimmy Maelen - Spirit In The Flesh: Recently picked up the sole album, Beats Workin', by the late percussionist Jimmy Maelen on DJ/Producer John Luongo's Pavillion label. Maelen, before his untimely death in 1988, was likely one of the most well-travelled session musicians in New York at the time. Chances are if you're listening to something recorded in New York in the late 70s on a major label, there's a high chance he's somewhere in the credits. It certainly isn't the greatest disco record by a percussionist that I've heard (that title would go to Candido Camero), but it's got a few decent songs which stand out, like this one.

Sunny Gale - I Wanna Know: A stellar, lesser-known Vince Montana production and also a little known later effort by 50s singing star Sunny Gale. As far as I can tell, this is likely her last released recording. Though Gale had a string of hits in the early-mid 1950s, among them "Wheel of Fortune," like many pop singers of the time, her career waned in the wake of Rock n' Roll. She made a brief return to recording in the mid 70s releasing an album of Dixieland Blues in 1974, followed by this disco single not long after. Unfortunately, as a single, it was only released on a rare, promo-only 12" on RCA. It would later be made more widely available on a very good RCA disco compilation called Disco Express, Vol. 1, which is where I took this from. Montana would revisit this song under his Goody Goody moniker, with daughter Denise Montana on vocals which remained unreleased until 2002.

Prince Phillip Mitchell - Star In The Ghetto: Taking things down a bit with this song, one that I personally love so much. Prince Phillip Mitchell wrote this, but Ben E. King and the Average White Band released their version first. That being said, this version has the edge for me. From his Make It Good album from 1978, Mitchell's interpretation makes this feel extra personal, likely because it is. Broadly speaking—musically, lyrically, emotionally, I feel like this song speaks to anyone who's quietly plugging away at whatever it is they're good at and passionate about. It may not have been what was expected of them, it may not get them famous or recognized, but they can see those who see them.

Claudia Polley - Tous Les Bateaux Tous Les Oiseaux (12" Version): Another record I picked up recently. A French production for American broadcaster and musician Claudia Polley, who had also released records as Claudia Ashley at the time. French chanson set to a disco beatbox, this is a cover of the song made famous a decade earlier by Michel Polnareff and not to mention, a pretty obvious attempt at recreating and recapturing the magic of Grace Jones' version of "La Vie En Rose." While it doesn't quite reach those heights, it's not without its own charms too. Even if the reference is obvious, the fusion of French chanson and disco is a combination I always love. There's also an eccentric—especially for the era—record-scratch effect in the song, which is as curious as it is catchy. Another point of connection with Grace Jones: the song's arranger Gérard Salesses also arranged the original 1975 release of Jones’ first hit, "I Need A Man." Polley would also record an English version of this song entitled "Believe," but even in her American-accented French, I prefer this version... Digging deeper, Claudia Polley’s background is also quite remarkable in itself. In the 70s before moonlighting as a disco singer in France, Polley had been classically trained at Juillard and had gone on to become one of the first black female broadcasters in the Indianapolis area. By the 1990s, she was producing jazz records on the Mapleshade label. These days, she's is a leading historian and preservationist in the Indianapolis, Indiana area serving as the president of the Urban Legacy Lands Initiative—a non-profit dedicated to preserving historically black spaces in Indiana. For those who would like to know more about her, she shares her story in an excellent interview on the podcast On The Aisle with Tom Alvarez.


PREVIOUS RELATED ENTRIES:
disco delivery mix #12: wheels begin to roll (wednesday july 05, 2023)
disco delivery #34: unyque - makes me higher (1979, djm) (thursday february 08, 2007)
the first delivery: the supremes - mary, scherrie & susaye (1976, motown) (tuesday january 10, 2006)

LINKS:
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instagram: øhm sweet øhm
mixcloud: disco dose


CATEGORIES: DISCO DELIVERY MIXES

Another Setting Radio: Body Rhythm #8

Photo: Grace Jones by Lynn Goldsmith (1979)

Made this mix on the heels of the Toronto launch of my friend Christian John Wikane's new book A Night At The Disco (ACC Art Books). Christian has interviewed so many artists and producers over the years and has put them to work for this beautiful book which tells the story of disco through its artists. Packed with well-sourced images and biographical details, it's a wonderful book for the budding or even the experienced disco enthusiast.

I should also mention that Christian is the one who got me writing liner notes during the mini-resurgence in CD reissues, which seemed to last from around 2010-2015. Getting to interview artists and producers and tell their stories in print is without a doubt one of the high points in my ongoing journey of music fandom and writing. Needless to say, it was a pleasure to welcome Christian to our city and to lead a discussion and Q&A about disco and about the book itself. From the bookstore (Flying Books), we headed over to my favourite hi-fi bar, The Little Jerry, where I played disco records through the night for our little after-party. When it came time to make this mix, I still had my records out from the launch and after-party, so this month's selections are largely taken from those - mostly straight-ahead disco with a bit of disco-jazz in the mix.

Further details in the track notes below. Hope you enjoy!

Body Rhythm #8:
Tracklist:

The Chuck Davis Orchestra - The Spirit of Sunshine (Long Version)
Dexter Wansel - (I'll Never Forget) My Favorite Disco (feat. The Jones Girls) (12" Version)
Shobizz - I'm Gonna Live Till I Die
Grace Jones - Suffer
Roy Ayers - Fever
Cloud - Take It To The Top
Bobbi Humphrey - Sweet N' Low
Cerrone - You Are The One (feat. Jocelyn Brown)
Voyage - Souvenirs
Faith, Hope & Charity - You're My Peace of Mind (12" Version)
Gregg Diamond Bionic Boogie - Hot Butterfly (feat. Luther Vandross)

All the records played on show #8

Track Notes:

The Chuck Davis Orchestra - The Spirit of Sunshine (Long Version): Opening things with a lovely, impressionistic disco record which despite the anglo names on the label, is basically a French production. Written by a one C. Carl Wing, an alias for French composer Jean-Claude Pelletier, I'm reminded of the penchant for French disco records to use American-sounding aliases, as that seemed to sell better to French disco audiences at the time. The US release on West End Records that I played here was mixed and finessed by the ever reliable Tom Moulton. The Moulton mix is much more sleek and focused, omitting a lot of the brass solos present on the original which is available to listen on YouTube for comparison. The resulting mix feels a lot gentler, but also sounds deeper and freer.

Dexter Wansel - (I'll Never Forget) My Favorite Disco (feat. The Jones Girls) (12" Version): One of the finest disco singles from the late Dexter Wansel, who recently passed in May at the age of 75. One of the giants of Philly soul, besides his own albums, he's also the man behind records like The Jones Girls' "Nights Over Egypt" and Patti LaBelle's "If Only You Knew," among many others. The Jones Girls' heavenly voices are front and centre here too, an ode to the discotheque and also a musical record of some major American discos of the time. Though Studio 54 is mentioned in the opening verse, I love that the discotheques mentioned are not just limited to New York. Among those given tribute in the lyrics are Chicago's B.B.C. (Bombay Bicycle Club), South Jersey's Emerald City, Osko's in Los Angeles, Philadelphia's The Second Story and Kim Graves, even Charlie's Chili in Acapulco to name a few.

Shobizz - I'm Gonna Live Till I Die: One of my favourite tracks from singer/songwriter and dramatist Rupert Holmes' one-off disco project called Shobizz. Released 1979, the same year as his signature hit "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)," I thought this was one of the more evocative tracks on that album and one which builds on the theme and feeling of the previous selection - the disco as escape, and especially your favourite disco as something close to heaven, if you will.

Grace Jones - Suffer: Going from heaven to purgatory here, perhaps? Easily my favourite track on Grace Jones' third album Muse from 1979. The third and final of her Tom Moulton-produced disco trilogy, this track feels almost quintessentially Grace to me. Electric whips, cries and regret set to a disco bass (courtesy of Jimmy Williams). A killer groove, but also a little bit camp at the same time. This song also features the voice of the album's Icelandic arranger Thor Baldursson in something of a sadomasochistic duet with Grace. Apparently Baldursson lent his voice as a scratch vocal, which to his surprise, was left on in the final mix. One of those happy accidents that also works perfectly.

Roy Ayers - Fever: Not the only time the signature hit of Little Willie John and Peggy Lee has been covered in disco fashion; Sylvester also did a great version for his 1980 Sell My Soul album. Nevertheless, Roy Ayers' version here is also one I enjoy. Produced by Ayers and singer Carla Vaughn off his 1979 album of the same name, I thought this particular song was perfectly adapted to his style and to the disco demands of the day. Though I can't say the same for some of the other selections on the album; I don't think I'll ever need to hear a disco version of "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" again, for instance. I imagine a lot of the jazz critics of the day weren't especially thrilled with this direction, but speaking for myself, this one's always done it for me.

Cloud - Take It To The Top: Came across this lovely bit of disco-jazz from 1981 by the brit-funk group Cloud in a local shop a few weeks ago. Took a listen to it and had to pick it up straight away. This record still slaps, as they say. The vocal is minimal (basically an occasional gravelly recitation of the title), but the groove here does all the work.

Bobbi Humphrey - Sweet N' Low: Continuing in a disco-jazz vein here, this was also something I had recently picked up (at the same time as the previous selection, actually). I've been increasingly curious about flautist Bobbi Humphrey's recordings and when I found a nice copy of her 1979 album The Good Life, I had to buy it, especially after hearing all of its disco overtones. This track is among the most danceable on the album, with all the groove and syndrum (pew! pew!, pew! pew!) you could possibly want. Produced by noted percussionist Ralph MacDonald and William Eaton, who also wrote this track.

Cerrone - You Are The One (feat. Jocelyn Brown): A pairing of two titans of disco here. The opener and title track of Cerrone's seventh album from 1980, Jocelyn Brown is the featured vocalist on this and all of the songs on the album. Recorded between Paris and NYC's Power Station (Chic's home base), it's perhaps Cerrone's most 'American' sounding record, yet ironically enough, has never actually been given a proper US release. My copy is the Canadian Black Sun/Unidisc pressing and even that's not one I see very often around here. Besides Brown on vocals, Voyage guitarist Slim Pezin is on this record, as is noted French bass and synth player Sauveur Mallia, along with Dave Letterman's bandleader Paul Shaffer. Over the years, this song has emerged as a favourite of mine in both Cerrone and Jocelyn Brown's oeuvre. It's disco on the surface, yet structurally I feel like it's one of the most convincing pop songs Cerrone has put out.

Voyage - Souvenirs: Thought this went well with the previous track, especially given that there are some musicians in common and that it's also one of the most evocative disco songs out there. Hearing this is almost like an emotional trigger, regardless of whether you lived through the time period or not, but perhaps especially so if you did. Voyage cut their teeth as Paris studio musicians who also regularly released library records/production music. Some of those records, often as Disco & Co., are even getting proper reissues now. This song though, at least to me, remains the pinnacle of their output. The lyrics and vocals bring forth the feeling of the disco as a kind of utopian vision, of the dancefloor as a place to imagine and enact albeit temporarily, community, celebration and freedom. "'Cause all we need is a world of dreams. Forgotten feelings come back in streams. Come join us, don´t hesitate. Just be yourself, be free, let´s be free..."

Faith, Hope & Charity - You're My Peace of Mind (12" Version): Van McCoy is obviously best known for "The Hustle," one of the penultimate disco hits; but I feel he doesn't get quite as much credit for the poignant, soulful songs that he was writing and producing for the group Faith, Hope & Charity or David Ruffin at this time. This song being a case in point. From Faith, Hope and Charity's 4th album Life Goes On from 1976, it's a song radiating with positivity but with a hidden undercurrent of melancholy inside. "You're my peace of mind, that's what you are to me, baby you're my sanity," that undercurrent revealing itself in the line, "when everything's dismal and dark." The disco mix I played here, which extends the song from 7 to just over 9 and a half minutes, is also one of Fire Island DJ David Todd's earliest disco mixes.

Gregg Diamond Bionic Boogie - Hot Butterfly (feat. Luther Vandross): From 1978 and the title track of Gregg Diamond's second Bionic Boogie album, this is probably one of Gregg Diamond's finest songs which Chaka Khan would later make famous. Led here by Luther Vandross, with Cissy Houston on the background chorus, though there are some slight differences in the lyrics and interpretation, it basically strikes the same wistful notes of love and yearning as Chaka's version. Both are interpreted beautifully, and I thought this would be a fitting way to end things here. Interestingly, both Luther Vandross and Cissy Houston would also appear as backing vocalists on Chaka's version, two years later.


PREVIOUS RELATED ENTRIES:
another setting radio: body rhythm #7 (monday june 15, 2026)
disco delivery mix #15: music you can ride on (thursday june 27, 2024)
disco delivery mix #12: wheels begin to roll (wednesday july 05, 2023)
more, more, more, the pre-moulton mix (friday march 06, 2015)
disco delivery mix #5: midnight rendezvous + beam me up 2nd anniversary & bring your own record night (friday september 12, 2014)

LINKS:
another setting radio
instagram: another setting radio
soundcloud: another setting radio archives
another setting radio: artist bio - thomas del pozo
simon & schuster canada: a night at the disco


CATEGORIES: BODY RHYTHM

Another Setting Radio: Body Rhythm #7

Photo: David Bendeth by André Duval (1979)

Here is Episode 7 of Body Rhythm for Another Setting Radio, broadcast on Sunday June 14, 2026.

Went for a more straight-ahead disco sound all the way through this time. As per usual, kept things fairly loose, a combination of things I had recently acquired and others that were close by. Though most of these songs are from 1977-1979, even the latest selection (from 1984) is still quite disco-esque. A few obscurities may be present, some may be both obscure and well-known at the same time. You'll get what I mean if you listen back.

Further details in the track notes below.




Body Rhythm #7:
Tracklist:

David Bendeth - Feel The Real (Special Disco Version)
Teresa Carpio - Love Hangover
The McCrarys - (Do You Wanna) Dance With Me?
Richie Havens - Going Back To My Roots
Donna Summer - Journey To The Centre of Your Heart
Hello - Feel This Thing (12” Version)
Dennis Dean - Lady Change
Pisces - Touch Me
Jocelyn Brown - Hot Natured Woman
Chain Reaction - Sweet Lady (Dance With Me)
Soul Children - Butt La Rose
Barbara Mason & Bunny Sigler - Locked In This Position (12” Version)
Celi Bee - Alternating Currents

All the records played on show #7

Track Notes:

David Bendeth - Feel The Real (Special Disco Version): Artist/Producer/A&R and all-around music industry veteran David Bendeth released this classic jazz-funk tune in 1979 while working in Canada. Recorded in Toronto, this song eventually went on to become a classic particularly in the UK jazz-funk scene over the years. So much so, Incognito even covered it. Led by the smooth vocals of The Boyer Brothers, it's got a groove that almost perfectly anticipates what Jamiroquai would later do. Though its been revisited in covers and remixes over the years, the original still does it for me though, especially in the extended disco version here. For the curious, Bendeth has posted this song on his YouTube account and regularly responds to comments there.

Teresa Carpio - Love Hangover: From Hong Kong singer Teresa Carpio's 1977 album Songs For You, which I had picked up in a dolllar bin several years back. Sung in English, the album is basically a collection of straightforward covers of popular western songs from the time. Nothing particularly radical, her versions of "I'm Easy," "Fernando," and "Lovin' You" all stay pretty close to the originals. I suppose it's all very much in the vein of southeast asian karaoke culture and being half-Filipino myself, I'm fairly familiar. Of all the songs on the album, her version of "Love Hangover" stands apart for me. Even if they don't take too many liberties, they still lock into a really good groove here. Between the lovely work on the rhodes and Carpio's vocals, which may not be as flagrantly boozy as Diana Ross', but like everything else here - feel just loose and natural enough to make it all work well.

The McCrarys - (Do You Wanna) Dance With Me?: The gospel-inflected opening track from family group The McCrarys fourth album, On The Other Side from 1979. I had this album in storage for some years now, only recently pulled it out and gave it a good listen. Not sure what took me so long, but sometimes you don't need to dig any further than your own collection. The well-travelled Trevor Lawrence produced this album (note: he also produced the opening selection on Body Rhythm #4) and it's solid all the way through.

Richie Havens - Going Back To My Roots: Taken from folk singer Richie Havens' 1979 album Connections, which saw him making a stylistic pivot towards a more contemporary pop/soul sound. Produced by Charles Calello, I find it to be a pretty good effort. This song however, his version of Lamont Dozier's "Going Back To My Roots" is the major standout on the album. The grit and heft of Havens' voice over Calello's slick production turn this song into a real dancefloor burner. Personally, I'd go so far as to say that it even outclasses the original as the definitive version of this song.

Donna Summer - Journey To The Centre of Your Heart: While I'm not entirely sure of the divison of labour here, this feels and sounds to me like a perfect combination of Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte's individual production styles. It has those trademark Moroder synths, plus a full horn section behind it for extra energy and momentum, which reminds me of the work Bellotte was producing for Marsha Hunt and Melba Moore around this time. Additionally, Pete Bellotte's underrated lyrical style, lofty and cinematic are on full display here also. Easily one of my favourite album tracks off Donna's signature Bad Girls album.

Hello - Feel This Thing (12” Version): One of the last singles by British glam band, Hello, heard here attempting to keep up with the times in 1979. Written by the Allen brothers - Jeff who was a member of Hello and Chris (AKA Chris Cross) who was the bassist in Ultravox. Interestingly, producer John Hudson would also later work with Ultravox, Midge Ure, Five Star and Tina Turner among others in later years. Here though, they seem to be going for something of a "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" vibe, with the sax making things just a little extra sleazy. I found that the synth, sax and bass on this song mixed well with the same motifs present in the previous Donna Summer selection.

Dennis Dean - Lady Change: The second Can-Con entry on this mix, sung by Dennis Dean, who I don't know a whole lot about but who had apparently sang in a group called Black Connection with Geraldine Hunt and Pierre Perpall. Produced by Georges Monnier and Michel Daigle, the most promiment name on here, who had produced a number of Montreal disco records. Somehow the title of this song seems like an error, since he's clearly singing "lady chance," not "lady change." Either way, I thought the noodly synth and heavy vibes worked well coming off the previous selection.

Pisces - Touch Me: Getting a little more sensual here, this is my favourite track from a South African disco record called Disco 6 by an outfit called Pisces. One of those records from labels like EMI's Music for Pleasure imprint, consisting of studio band/s covering mostly popular hits. This particular song is one of the exceptions on the record, a killer original that completely hits the spot for me - deep and sensual with a strong disco tempo. No credit for the vocalist, but produced by Mike Pilot, who had done a number of albums of hit parade re-recordings as well as some now notable disco obscurities like Rene Riche and Blush.

Jocelyn Brown - Hot Natured Woman: A little sleeper track from one of the iconic voices of the past 40+ years in disco and dance music more broadly. This was from the EP bearing her major hit "Somebody Else's Guy," on the Prelude imprint Vinyl Dreams. Though this version was released in 1984, the string sweetening here gives this song more of a classic disco feel than the year would suggest. Interestingly, this song was originally released a couple of years prior in 1982 under the moniker Love Connection, with Jocelyn's vocals initially uncredited. The two Love Connection tracks with Jocelyn's vocals (this song and "Hot Blood") were both remixed and included on her Somebody Else's Guy EP. Though now using a mobility scooter, Jocelyn has been performing again in the UK recently and reminding people about some of the shady business behind her signature hit. All these years later, and she reportedly hasn't seen a dime from it.

Chain Reaction - Sweet Lady (Dance With Me): One of only a few singles released on the Jam Sessions label, and a slice of funky American disco from the band Chain Reaction. Likely led by drummer (and the record's producer) Harold Sargent, Chain Reaction released a handful of singles from 79-89, including what may be their best known (at least to me anyway), "Dance Freak" on one of Peter Brown's P&P labels. As far as this single goes, the groove chugs along so well here, I had to play it until the last note. This also happens to be an early Jellybean Benitez mix, which may also be part of the reason why.

Soul Children - Butt La Rose: Recently picked up a nice copy of Soul Children's second-to-last album, Open Door Policy from 1978 on Stax. Ended up buying it in large part after hearing this song. Written by black country singer/songwriter Obie McClinton the lyrics are frankly silly, extollng the virtues of "Butt LaRose [who] wears them sexy clothes." The groove is undeniably funky, though. "When she starts walkin', the streets start smokin'."

Barbara Mason & Bunny Sigler - Locked In This Position (12” Version): The title track of Barbara Mason and Bunny Sigler's 1977 duet album on Curtis Mayfield's Curtom label, this is one I haven't really played a whole lot. Co-written by T. Life (he who produced Evelyn "Champagne" King's "Shame") and featuring Bunny Sigler's signature tight and busy production style, it goes hard, fast and funky in a way that I love. Grooving at a good 126 BPM, and extended to a generous 10 minutes on the promo-only 12" (I didn't play it all the way through here), it's full-tilt boogie on this one.

Celi Bee - Alternating Currents: Taking things way down here with the title track of Celi Bee's Alternating Currents album from 1978. Recently picked up a nice copy, and this was one of the highlights of the album for me. Lyrically, I'm not sure if I'm enough of an elecrician to fully get the metaphor, but it's sung and arranged well enough that it doesn't fully matter. Lovely piece of slow disco, if you will, with a bit of a latin feel.


PREVIOUS RELATED ENTRIES:
another setting radio: body rhythm #4 (tuesday march 17, 2026)
another setting radio: body rhythm #3 (monday february 16, 2026)
disco delivery #64: melba moore - burn (1979, epic) (saturday april 14, 2012)

LINKS:
another setting radio
instagram: another setting radio
soundcloud: another setting radio archives
another setting radio: artist bio - thomas del pozo


CATEGORIES: BODY RHYTHM, CAN-CON DISCO

Another Setting Radio: Body Rhythm #6

Photo: James Haan for Upfront America (April 1980)


Here is Episode 6 of Body Rhythm, which aired on Another Setting Radio, Sunday May 10.

This month's mix came together rather quickly. Mostly consisting of records I just had sitting around the decks; some new acquisitions, along with some long-time favourites of mine. I can't say this is the roughest mix I've recorded, but probably not the smoothest either. Either way, I enjoyed it enough while listening to leave it alone for the most part.

Mostly in the realm of 80s R&B/Funk, along with a couple entries each of Italo and straight-ahead disco.

Listen back to the archived show below, along with further details in the tracklist and track notes below.




Body Rhythm - Show #6
Tracklist:

Diana Ross - Telephone
Sharon Redd - Sweet Sensation
Lillo Thomas - Settle Down
Kid Seville - Do You Have A Car?
Stargard - What You Waitin’ For
Lace - Can’t Play Around
Girls Can’t Help It - Baby Doll (Extended U.S. Remix)
Norma Jean Wright - Love Attack
Betty Miranda - Take Me To The Top
Fesh - Scandal Eyes (Special T.I.T. Mix)
Caroline Bernier - Take It Off
Irvin Lee - I Need Your Lovin

All the records played on show #6

Track Notes:

Diana Ross - Telephone: After her hit album with Nile Rodgers & Bernard Edwards of Chic in 1980, this is one of those times Miss Ross would work with both of them in the following decade, albeit individually. Produced by Bernard Edwards and co-written by Edwards and Denzil Miller, this is one of favourite tracks off Ross' 1984 Swept Away album. It was something of a minor R&B hit for her in the US, but probably one of my favourite of her post-Motown singles. With Diana's silky, emotive vocals and Bernard Edwards' bass up front, it's got a cool, spacious groove that also fits with in with the sophisticated R&B that I associate with the time period. A friend of mine who wasn't necessarily a Diana Ross fan told me he'd had this song on repeat after hearing it for the first time, and I competely get it.

Sharon Redd - Sweet Sensation: Sharon's one-time boss Bette Midler used the phrase "sleaze with ease" to describe her backing trio, The Harlettes. It also happens to be the perfect descriptor of this song and really, of Sharon's vocals. One of the standouts on her last LP (and my personal favourite), Love How You Feel from 1984 on Prelude.

Lillo Thomas - Settle Down: In line with the previous selections, early-mid 80s R&B has been a mainstay in my personal listening lately, and Lillo Thomas' first two albums are prime examples of it. Produced by Paul Lawrence, it's got that trademark Hush Productions sound that a lot of Melba Moore's records had around that time. I had recently got Lillo's second album All Of You, so it was nearby and I wanted to put something from it in this mix.

Kid Seville - Do You Have A Car?: A later Salsoul single from 1984, when they were really getting street and funky from Leonard Williams, AKA Kid Seville. Produed by Walter Kahn, who had also produced Karen Young's disco mega-hit "Hot Shot," this is a great funky single that straddles boogie and early hip-hop. I love how this single both glamorizes car culture and sends it up at the same time. There's a girl who's thinks she's got too much class to be seen in a broke-down old ride ("not in that '75!"), and the guy who charms her by bragging about his "Cadillac at home with the colour TV." Meanwhile, the girl catches him at the bus stop and he doesn't deny it. In fact, he loves the great conversation on public transportation. That "funky ride," likely ain't cheap, so he likes "to save on cash and save on gas," so therefore he uses his "'trans pass.'" The second half of the song then shifts to our main character extolling the virtues of picking up girls on the bus. Gotta love it!

Stargard - What You Waitin’ For: The title track of Stargard's 2nd LP from 1978 and another Norman Whitfield tour-de-force. Just like their big hit "Which Way Is Up," this song was written by Whitfield, but produced by his associate Mark Davis. Whitfield would later cut this song on Rose Royce the following year for their Rainbow Connection IV album but Stargard's version remains my personal favourite of the two. The groove hits a little harder and the production, packed with funky hooks, just has more grit and guts to it. There's a false fade here that basically divides the song in two, and it's that second half of the song, basically an extended instrumental break which really seals it for me.

Lace - Can’t Play Around: Mixed by Larry Levan and a stone-cold classic from the female group Lace (whose Discogs entry, as of this writing, needs some amalgamating). From 1982 - another really good music year in my opinion, it's perhaps too late to be called 'classic disco,' but it certainly carries so much of the groove and spirit. The vocals in particular really carry the weight here, as in "that's the time when I get serious!"

Girls Can’t Help It - Baby Doll (Extended U.S. Remix): A recent pickup of mine, written and produced by Colin Campsie and George McFarlane AKA The Quick. The Canadian 12" has the extended US remix by Mark Kamins (though he remains uncredited on this pressing), which is what I played here. I can't say these are my favourite lyrics ever, but I suppose they're perhaps better taken ironically rather than literally. Production-wise though, Campsie & McFarlane don't miss on this one.

Norma Jean Wright - Love Attack: An excellent slice of boogie from the first lady of Chic, Norma Jean Wright. Produced by John "Skip" Anderson and Steve Williams, both members of Lenny White's Twennynine, this is probably one of my favourite singles of hers as a soloist and outside of the Chic umbrella. Surprisingly not an easy one to come across these days, but was glad to finally snag a copy recently.

Betty Miranda - Take Me To The Top: A recent Italo pickup by Betty Miranda (real name: Miranda Gobbetto), who was apparently one of the first prominent female DJs in Italy working both in clubs and on radio. She'd eventually make the leap to recording, working with Romano Bais (AKA 'Mongow') who wrote this song. Produced by Elvio Pieri and Massimo Sierra, this would be the first of three singles she'd release in the mid 80s. While I find the synth sounds and production more sophisticated than the lyrics; even in their phonetic deadpan, I still found the vocal appealing enough to play over the instrumental here. Today, Miranda remains a broadcaster and voice actor in Rimini.

Fesh - Scandal Eyes (Special T.I.T. Mix): Continuing on the Italo tip here... From 1986, this one's a little bit after my favourite period of Italo Disco, but when I took a listen to this at a local shop recently, I was promptly hooked. "Scandal Eyes," also sounds like "Scandalize" so not sure if that mondegreen was intentional, but it feels clever anyway. Despite being on a label called Italoheat, it seems this was entirely produced in Germany by German & Austrian writers and producers. Given that Italo Disco was branded by Bernhard Mikulski of the German ZYX label in the first place, perhaps that shouldn't come as a complete surprise. The production is credited to the anonynous TEAM Musikproduktion, but I'd guess this is largely a product of the writing team - Austrian singer Gilla, (credited here as G. Winger) and her husband Helmut Rulofs. Not sure who Fesh is or was, this seems to be the only single attributed to her on Discogs.

Caroline Bernier - Take It Off: The sole Can-Con entry on this mix, Caroline Bernier had a little disco hit as Carolyne Bernier with "Secret Agent Love" in 1978. This track, written and produced by Motown legend, Edwin Starr (!), is probably the catchiest track from her second, self-titled album from 1981 on Unidisc, which was also mostly written and produced by Starr. Since her days as a disco singer, Bernier has made a name in the fashion and beauty industry, most recently executive producing a reality show called The Fashion Hero, billed as "the first competition TV series changing the unrealistic standards in the beauty and fashion industry."

Irvin Lee - I Need Your Lovin: A nice little piece of electro-funk that I picked up at a small record fair recently. Irvin Lee was a member of the band Special Delivery, but had put out a few singles on his own in the mid 80s, including this one from 1984. Synthy without sounding overly slick, this one got me from the first play.


PREVIOUS RELATED ENTRIES:
another setting radio: body rhythm #2 (tuesday january 20, 2026)
real live #10 (friday june 6, 2008)
disco delivery #2: norma jean wright - norma jean (1978, bearsville (saturday, january 14, 2006)

LINKS:
another setting radio
instagram: another setting radio
soundcloud: another setting radio archives
another setting radio: artist bio - thomas del pozo


CATEGORIES: BODY RHYTHM, CAN-CON DISCO