Sir Dance-A-Lot

Last week I played a track from Nytro, a production from one of the architects of the Motown sound, Norman Whitfield (picture). From 1966 to 1974, Whitfield produced almost all of The Temptations' material, experimenting with psychedelic sound effects and other new production techniques. He teamed up with lyricist Barrett Strong, who was the first to have a hit record (‘Money’) on Motown. Together they wrote songs for The Temptations and other Motown artists, such as Marvin Gaye and Gladys Knight & the Pips. Both acts recorded Whitfield-produced hit versions of the Whitfield/Strong composition ‘I heard it through the grapevine’. The Gladys Knight & the Pips version was the best-selling Motown single ever to that point, but it was replaced a year later by Gaye's version. Because of the fact that in September it is 4 years ago that Whitfield passed away, I pay tribute to him with songs from The Undisputed Truth, Rose Royce and Nytro. 'Nytro express' is a rough funk track that almost sounds like a demo. It is followed by a more smooth version that Rose Royce made two years later. Both tracks are produced by Whitfield.

The stripped down funk track from Evans Pyramid (Andre Evans) is from a very nice new album that is out on Cultures Of Soul. Evans sounds like Prince in his early days: tight and funky. 'Disco love affair' from Tommy Stewart (known for 'Bump and hustle music') is another fine new release on Cultures Of Soul. Best track of the album is 'Universal love' that sounds as sophisticated as the Mizell Brothers in their productional heyday. Both albums contain quality disco and funk for aficionados and connoisseurs of seventies soul.

Best line in the mix: 'I met my favourite porn star down the Champs Elysees...' from French nu disco act Kool Bandits. Enjoy!

Tracklist:

The Undisputed Truth – Help Yourself (1975)
Olympic Runners – Sir Dancealot (1978)
Alphonse Mouzon – I'm Glad That You're Here (1981)
Carl Carlton – Sexy Lady (1981)
Amuzement Park – So Inspired (1982)
Alvin Fields – Lucky Number Seven (1981)
Jerry Knight – Fire (1982)
Expression – Release Disco (1982)
Skylite ‎– Boogie Butt (1979)
Harvey Mason ‎– Groovin' You (1979)
Gusto ‎– Disco's Revenge (1996)
Kool Bandits – Gliding Over The City [Radio Edit] (2012)
Philly Cream – Motown Review (1979)
Rokotto – Boogie On Up (1977)
Nytro – Nytro Express (1979)
Rose Royce – R.R. Express (1981)
Carol Douglas – Burnin’ (1978)
Bob Esty – Cunga (1979)
Ritchie Family – Brazil (1975)
Evans Pyramid – Never Gonna Leave You (1978)

Sir Dance-A-Lot by Professor Eddy on Mixcloud