Joe Gibbs - 12" Reggae Discomix Showcase Vol. 4 (17th North Parade/VP - 2010)

Among the 5 volumes VP Records made with Joe Gibbs discomix 12" singles, the fourth volume will probably satisfy the most mainstream ears thanks to its two Michael Jackson covers: Shake Your Body To The Ground by Ruddy Thomas and Welton Irie and Don't Stop Till You Get Enough by Derrick Lara and Trinity. The last one, with its infectiuous bassline, will smash every dancefloor when played, even the less reggae friendly. The rest of the record is more made for true reggae heads and is filled with absolute scorchers and classics made by a producer then (end of the 70's/begining of the 80's) at the peak of his inspiration.

Download => Joe Gibbs - 12" Discomix Showcase Vol. 4

Sylvia Striplin - Give Me Your Love (Uno Melodic Records - 1981)

There are good records you only listen to once or two times. And there are good records you listen to again and again: in the morning, in the evening, in your car, when you feel good, when you feel bad. In the latter category stands Give Me Your Love, an absolute classic produced by Roy Ayers for his chorist Sylvia Striplin with nice strings arrangement thanks to William Allen. Roy occupied only the producing seat here and doesn't play any vibes but it's probably one of the best records he ever made. There are absolutely no filler and hip hop heads will recognise easily the melody of You Can't Turn Me Away and Give Me Your Love, two songs largely sampled or covered (http://www.whosampled.com/sampled/Sylvia%20Striplin/). A must have nicely repressed by Soul Jazz Records in 2010.

Download => Sylvia Striplin - Give Me Your Love

The Dictators - Go Girl Crazy! (Epic - 1975)

I recently posted about New York funk (Auguste Darnell), New York punk funk (Liquid Liquid) so let's post this time about New York punk. I don't mean The Ramones or The Dead Boys, not even Blondie or Television, but a band among the originators of punk rock, The Dictators. Born in The Bronx and lead by Richard Blum (aka Handsome Dick Manitoba), members Ross "The Boss" Funicello, Scott "Top ten" Kempner, Adny Shernoff and Stu Boy King had a taste for 60's pop song covers (I Got You Babe, California Sun) and loud hard rock with a I don't give a fuck funny attitude. Those guys knew that all this rock'n'roll CBGB circus was just a joke and behaved accordingly. They never got the recognition they deserved and vanished in obscurity after 3 LP's. Their first one, Go Girl Crazy! is their best and they definitely have a first class seat in New York rock posterity.

Download => The Dictators - Go Girl Crazy!