Dynamic Superiors - Nowhere To Run (Part I) b/w Nowhere To Run (Part II) (Motown - 1977)

This 7" is a nice surprise and a curiosity for two reasons. The Dynamic Superiors are certainly not the most well known male vocal quintet on Motown roster. But they were rather original, their lead singer Tony Washington being openly gay and dressing in drag on stage. This was what you can call a real punk attitude, especially when you consider that afro american music scene has been always crossed by a clear homophobia. The second curiosity with this Holland/Dozier/Holland penned (for Martha And The Vandellas) disco stomper heavy on percussion is that it was effectively produced by Edward J. Holland. The trio had left Motown in 1968 to create their own imprints, Invictus Records and Hot Wax Records, and they went to court with Berry Gordy over royalties money and breach of contract matters. Curiously, despite the lawsuit, they still produced records for Motown in the 70's.

Download => Dynamic Superiors - Nowhere To Run (Part I) b/w Nowhere To Run (Part II)

Liquid Liquid - Liquid Liquid (GR2 Records - 2008)

No other band deserves more the title of seminal than Liquid Liquid. Much have been said about those 4 new-yorkers. Without Liquid Liquid there would have been no LCD Soundsystem, Battles, a famous scottish DJ duo and plenty of hip hop producers would still be sampling James Brown records in search of the perfect beat. Scott Hartley, Richard McGuire, Salvatore Principato and Dennis Young released only 3 EP's (Optimo in 1983, Successive Reflexes in 1982 and Liquid Liquid in 1981), a few 7" and that's all. They still come back nowadays from time to time for average live shows but they never recovered their original strength. Because the music of those guys is only rythms and percussions (no melody, a few madman lyrics but a massive bassline with drums, marimba, talking drum, and various percussions) it's not that easy to get into it. But if you get grabbed, it can change your life. Punk funk at its best. This compilation comes with the 3 above mentioned EP's and 4 live tracks recorded in Berkley Square in 1982.

Download => Liquid Liquid - Liquid Liquid

Kid Creole - Going Places - The August Darnell Years 1976-1983 (Strut - 2008)

Growing up in the 70's and 80's, I completely ignored August Darnell existed until I saw him in the news in the mid 80's. He was touring in the south of France with the Coconuts and that deserved him a two minutes story. I found his music sounded cheesy and his stage antics were just not funny at all. 20 years later, thanks largely to DFA and James Murphy, the punk funk revival allowed me to digg into Ze Records discography and I really discovered August Darnell work. That guy is just a genius: mixing up every New York street sounds (disco, punk, funk, jazz, salsa etc.) into a big shaker and making of it something unique, intelligent, funny and really really good.  He occupied different positions (artist or just producer) in bands or solo acts like Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band, Don Armando's Second Avenue Rhumba Band, Christina, Gichy Dan's but you can recognize his hand at the first seconds on each record. This Strut released compilation is a perfect introduction to his work.

Download =>  Kid Creole - Going Places - The August Darnell Years 1976-1983