We’re back baby, and it feels so good to be cruising through time, straight into the Double Digits. We’re at 11 editions! Big thanks as always to all of you who have been Hanging With Enjoy Music Since The Jump. Don’t forget too: if you become a Serious Enjoyer (paid sub), you will get access to the Monthly Enjoy posts where I dive deep on some of my favourite artists, and some of their best clips on Youtube.com. Think about it! Enjoy it!
Anyways, after going deep on last week’s Super Stack (which if you haven’t gotten into yet, go Enjoy), we’re gonna move quicker through this one. I’m currently <CFCF voice> On Vacation, which means I Don’t Want To Spend My Time Doing This. I mean, I do, but you know, I should be doing other things, like Enjoying Time With Family.
So let’s cut the chit chat. Here’s five CUTS, guaranteed to Make U Move. Enjoy Your Life, and Enjoy Music!
Carmen - Time To Move (1984)
I made a quick mention of this tune last week, and had to bring it back for the proper Enjoy Music treatment. This tune RULES. It’s “weird” in the best ways. The 7” version that I picked up from the previously mentioned Invisible City in Toronto even starts with the sound of a Child Laughing, which, you know, is not how a lot of songs start! Anyways, this tune RIPS, and does really well on the Dance Floor. I also love instructive dance songs: When you hear a song say, “It’s Time To Move”, you have to do what it says!! Also, once again, Kevin McCord on the production here. Always worth mentioning. Enjoy Moving!
Plunky - Tropical Chill (Jazz Mix) (1988)
I discovered this one on the NuLeaf compilation that was also mentioned last week, and I just had to drop it in. First things first: “Jazz Mix” is an incredible name for a mix. There are a few “xxx Mix” names that I will always pay attention to on a 12”: Paradise Mix, Garage Mix, Paradise Garage Mix. If U See These Mixes, U Buy That Disc. This tune just feels really nice. I love the title Tropical Chill too, and I get that it’s a Little On The Nose in 2023, but WHO CARES BABY! When the Tropical Chilling is This Good, You Can’t Help But Enjoy!
Tom Hooker - Talk With Your Body (Instrumental) (1982)
Wow, this one. I heard Dam Funk open a set with this song, and it was game over. (EDITOR’S NOTE: I once sat at the back of the bar at the Virgil in LA after a show I did at the Echo, with all my gear, drinking a Gin & Tonic, on a Funkmosphere night. I thought I was meeting a Soft Acquaintance, but him and his friends had already left. Didn’t matter though, because I shazammed like 10 songs, and the G&T was delicious.)
Anyways, Back 2 Tom Hooker. The guitar line in this one is so sleazy, with that cheeky subtle wah on it. And then the phased Rhodes chords come in, and wrap it in this insane bed of melodic comfort? UNREAL. There’s a ton of beauty in these melodies, and somehow its still also got that Deeply Italo Sleaze to it, which is one of the best types of Sleaze, if you ask me. Enjoy 80s Italo!
Mandy - I Just Can’t Wait (The Cool and Breezy Jazz Version) (1987)
I gotta say, I hate it when the Algorithmic Machine serves me up an Enjoyable Tune, but damnit, it did a great job on this one. While looking around for some new additions to my ongoing Universe Surfin’ playlist, this one came across my screen, and wouldn’t you know: The Cool and Breezy Jazz Version sounds very good! Big shout out to Mandy for committing to the title here! Some lesser artists would have called it the “Jazz Version” but no, not Mandy! She understands, as I do, the power of a good Adjective. Anyways, this one is a beautiful, rolling, 8+ minute Balearic-pop masterpiece. Enjoy Cool and Breezy Music!
Evelyn “Champagne” King - Love Come Down (1982)
In Peace and Love, I come to you with a moment of humility and vulnerability (two of the Best States): I Am Not A Digger! This simple Stack is an expression of Love, not a Flex or some way for me to try and posture as Someone Who Possesses A Deeper Knowledge Of Music. I’m just sharing five tunes (plus a BGEC) that I love, and whether they’re Raer & Obscure, or something you might hear the local radio DJ play, When The Music’s Easy 2 Enjoy? That’s All U Need!
And so, we wrap up this week with Love Come Down, an ALL TIME UNDENIABLE JAM. Last summer, I heard this song playing in a TARGET. IT WAS JULY 4TH AND I HEARD IT IN AN AMERICAN TARGET. Everyone loves this song, and it sounds good in every context. NUFF SAID, Enjoy It!
BONUS GUEST ENJOY CHOICE: EARLY
I first met Russ, aka Early, at a big event that Red Bull was throwing in Vancouver, in collaboration with the label he co-founded, Pacific Rhythm. A quick history on Pacific Rhythm: it’s been one of the foundational labels in “The Vancouver Scene” (pukes), throwing parties, running a record shop and releasing records, for a decade now. The first track on their first release is the Canadian Riviera Classic: Sunrise Market (Extended Version) by LNRDCROY, which is one of the best tunes ever released. ANYWAYS, Pacific Rhythm has been a huge influence on me, and when I had the pleasure of meeting, and sharing the stage with, their founders D.DEE and Early, it was clear why the label was so beloved: not only was their set an all-vinyl, boogie masterclass, but they were both the most laid-black pleasant people. Russ and I kept in touch after he moved back to Southern Ontario, and I’m thrilled to get to be DJing alongside him once again tonight! He’s an actual digger, record collector/seller, and just has incredible taste and knowledge. PLUS, when I asked him to contribute, he came through with FOUR picks, and said, “Pick your favourite!” Here at Enjoy Music, we don’t discriminate baby: GET READY FOR FOUR BGECS FROM EARLY. Enjoy Music baby!
Clifford McClain - I Can’t Fight It (Release Date Unknown)
“I like to imagine McClain placing this record on his girlfriend's Technics SL-210, pouring a dram of whiskey and firing up a Kool. Viewing from across the room she is absolutely radiating - he knows now it’s only a matter of time before they walk down the aisle. A single private press 45 is all that was required to complete his life's mission.”
Hiram and Direct - Love Flight (Release Date Unknown)
“Dug up, reissued, and absolutely worth 4 minutes of your time. Take a trip!”
McKinley Jackson - Tribute to Marvin Gaye (Love Overture) (1984)
“An absolute prolific arranger and composer - from Lamont Dozier, Ramsay Lewis, Aretha Franklin, The Jones Girls, Mary Wells, The Temptations....and so so many more. It’s wild this is only his second self titled release ever. He takes Marvin Gaye - Come Live With Me Angel, and flips it into a 10 minute fire starter. Sidenote: McKinley is D12 member Proof’s (RIP) father.”
L.J Reynolds - Trust In Me (1982)
“When you need that special someone to have some belief in your actions - rely on L.J to lay it on the line. What an absolute gem of a track. Oh yeah, Parliament/Funkadelic’s Bernie Worrell is on this lacing you up and down with that synth funk. Trust.”
Holy lord, incredible to think that you just opened your inbox, or the Stack App, and next thing you know you now have NINE OF THE SMOOTHEST TUNES YOU’VE EVER ENCOUNTERED. You need to go spend some time with Early’s Evergreen Dream mix collection. If you’re at all into GOOD MUSIC, GOOD, ENJOYABLE MUSIC, you will be rewarded for your time. THANK U RUSS, so so so appreciative to get these four picks.
OKAY, so as we talked about EARLY’r in the Stack, me and our guest this week will be stepping into the booth at Pressure Drop in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. I’m out here on vacation, as previously mentioned, and I’m so glad we were able to set up a Chill Engagement like this. Come through if you’re in the Windsor, Ontario area.
THEN, this weekend, we’re heading up to the provincial capital, Toronto, Ontario, to play at Standard Time. And speaking of foundational Vancouver artists and labels, I’ll be warming up for the Pender Street Steppers, who also happen to be my favourite producers and DJs, maybe on the Whole Planet Earth. Very excited for this one, let me tell ya. There’s A FEW TICKETS left, so zip over to RA and grab one of the few remaining tickets. It will be the Best Party Of The Days In Between Summer And Fall.
Lovely to see you again, see ya next week!