Heatwave - Too Hot To Handle (Epic - 1976)

Heatwave - Too Hot To Handle

What's the difference between British disco funk and American disco funk? If you listen to Heatwave, they ain't any. Maybe because Heatwave was a multicultural combo (4 American guys, one Brit, one Czech, one Spanish) and they all spoke fluently the funk language.Too Hot To Handle, their first album, grooves from the begining to the end and never sounds corny or near anything cheesy. The harp intro, the strings and chorus on Boogie Nights are by example closer to jazz than to a suburbian hotel nightclub. It is just the perfect kind of album you can listen to very loud while driving your car all glasses opened and still don't look like a perfect idiot.

New Order - Movement (Factory - 1981)

New Order - Movement

I just watched French filmmaker Olivier Assayas fantastic film about 70's left wing terrorist Carlos and it made realised that New Order signed with Dreams Never End, largely used in the film, one of the best guitar and bass lines played crescendo as introduction to rock'n'roll song. I write that being not that much a big New Order fan. I definitely respect their legacy, the way they reinvented themselves and pop music after Joy Division, their open minded ears, what they brought to clubland with the Haçienda, all what made their legend. But I don't particularly find their albums that good from the start to the end. Movement is no exception. In fact the music and Martin Hannett production are innovative and annouce the best of the 10 years to come. But I find Peter Hook voice is a bit embarrasing. OK, it is a cold wave album, it's not that important but the guy actually can't sing!!!

Rose Royce - Car Wash b/w Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is (MCA - 1976)

A/ Car Wash


B/ Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

I just found this original 7" at a yard sale and I couldn't resist to post it, even if the vinyl cracks a little bit. Produced by Norman Whitfield, Car Wash and Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is are both classics for one damn good reason: they have that raw funky groove. that make you smile anyway, anytime. I never saw the movie Car Wash and I don't know if the trailer really makes me want to try the adventure.