Happy New Year!
I bless 2011 to be a great year for music and music-bloggers everywhere.

I bought this CDi single from Chicago back in 1989, when I was a freshman in college. The disc itself had a gold surface. The tracks on this CDi were exactly the same as the standard release but with the video of Headhunter included in it.

I still love all three tracks on this Front 242 CDi-single release because of their industrial-sounding stabbing basslines. All the basslines are programmed tightly with a midi sequencer. The sounds of the rolling bassline in Headhunter (at least to my ears) are processed heavily through a reverb effect. Headhunter became the band’s first club hit.  Welcome To Paradise also has industrial rolling/stabbing basslines but without vocals. Instead, the band uses make heavy-use of many voice clips and sound-bytes sampled from various American evangelists (possibly sampled from television and/or video recordings).

According to Wikipedia…
Front 242 was created in 1981 in Aarschot, near Brussels, Belgium, by Daniel Bressanutti and Dirk Bergen, who wanted to create music and graphic design using emerging electronic tools.  [Perhaps Daft Punk were influenced by such approach of Front 242's.]

Front 242 – “Headhunter” (V2.0)…

Artist: Front 242
Title: Headhunter (V2.0)
Year: 1988
Label: Wax Trax! Records

Front 242 – “Headhunter” (V2.0) (mp3)

Front 242 – “Welcome To Paradise” (V1.0)…

Artist: Front 242
Title: Welcome To Paradise (V1.0)
Year: 1988
Label: Wax Trax! Records

Front 242 – “Welcome To Paradise” (V1.0) (mp3)

Front 242 – “Headhunter” (V1.0)…

Artist: Front 242
Title: Headhunter (V1.0)
Year: 1988
Label: Wax Trax! Records

Front 242 – “Headhunter” (V1.0) (mp3)

This is one bad-ass remix. Electronic, acid-pop house, 4/4 to the floor. Ben Liebrand at his best.

INXS – “Need You Tonight” (Ben Liebrand Mix)…

Artist: INXS
Title: Need You Tonight (Ben Liebrand Mix)
Year: 1988
Label: Mercury

INXS – “Need You Tonight” (Ben Liebrand Mix) (mp3)

INXS – “Need You Tonight” (Mendelsohn 12″ Mix)

Previously posted last March 2010.

CLICK HERE

Desireless is French singer Claudie Fritsch-Mentrop who’s voice is one of the most beautiful in the world. Her track Voyage Voyage was released in 1986 and hit number-one in many European and Asian music single charts, selling more than 5 million copies. It still remains to be one of the most sought-after tracks on the playlist of countless radio stations (on the airwaves and internet) around the world. Every year, it seems, Voyage Voyage is still being discovered by new listeners who hear it for the first time. The track is a perfect blend of emotional French singing/song-writing and Italo-disco that drives and carries the song to a whole new level of synth-pop, becoming essentially a romantic and electronic dance. Personally, I prefer the Britmix version over the 12″ Mix of Voyage Voyage. The lead/front vocals are dryer and not as drenched in reverb, thus adding more warmth and depth with closer presence of emotions to the overall delivery and feel of the tune. The same goes for the background vocals, hearing more clearly all the “aah” and “voyaaah voyaaah” vocal layers. The tight, melodic bassline and its underlying syncopated synth chord chops/stabs also have more presence than the 12″ Mix … not only fitting perfectly around and under the vocals & drums but also driving the entire Britmix with more oomph … making the track more serious and groovy. Voyage Voyage is one of those rare successful synth-pop tracks that is true through and through. It always makes me close my eyes and sing passionately along with Claudie.

Desireless – “Voyage Voyage” (Britmix)…

Artist: Desireless
Title: Voyage Voyage (Britmix)
Year: 1988
Label: CBC Records

Desireless – “Voyage Voyage” (Britmix) (mp3)

Desireless – “Voyage Voyage” (12″ Mix)…

Artist: Desireless
Title: Voyage Voyage (12″ Mix)
Year: 1986
Label: CBC Records

Desireless – “Voyage Voyage” (12″ Mix) (mp3)

Desireless – “Voyage Voyage” Lyrics (French)…

Au dessus des vieux volcans,
Glisse des ailes
Sous les tapis du vent,
Voyage, voyage,
Éternellement.
De nuages en marécages,
De vent d’Espagne en pluie d’équateur,
Voyage, voyage,
Vole dans les hauteurs
Au dessus des capitales,
Des idées fatales,
Regarde l’océan…

Voyage, voyage
Plus loin que la nuit et le jour,
(Voyage, voyage)
Voyage (voyage)
Dans l’espace inouï de l’amour.
Voyage, voyage
Sur l’eau sacrée d’un fleuve indien,
(Voyage, voyage)
Voyage (voyage)
Et jamais ne revient.

Sur le Gange ou l’Amazone,
Chez les blacks, chez les sikhs,
Chez les jaunes,
Voyage, voyage
Dans tout le royaume.
Sur les dunes du Sahara,
Des îles Fidji au Fujiyama,
Voyage, voyage,
Ne t’arrêtes pas.
Au dessus des barbelés,
Des coeurs bombardés,
Regarde l’océan.

Voyage, voyage
Plus loin que la nuit et le jour,
(Voyage, voyage)
Voyage (voyage)
Dans l’espace inouï de l’amour.
Voyage, voyage
Sur l’eau sacrée d’un fleuve indien,
(Voyage, voyage)
Voyage (voyage)
Et jamais ne revient.

Voyage, voyage
Plus loin que la nuit et le jour,
(Voyage, voyage)
Voyage (voyage)
Dans l’espace inouî de l’amour.
Voyage, voyage
Sur l’eau sacrée d’un fleuve indien,
(Voyage, voyage)
Voyage (voyage)
Et jamais ne revient.

Plus loin que la nuit et le jour
(Voyage, voyage)

Desireless – “Voyage Voyage” Lyrics (English translation)…

On top of the old volcanos,
Slip of the wings
Under the carpets of the wind,
Journey, journey,
Eternally.
Clouds in marshes,
Of wind of Spain in rain of equator,
Journey, journey,
Fly in the heights
On top of the capitals,
Fatal ideas,
Look at the ocean…

Journey, journey
Further that the night and the day,
(Journey, journey)
Journey (journey)
In the space of the love.
Journey, journey
On the crowned water of an Indian river,
(Journey, journey)
Journey (journey)
And never does not return.

On Ganges or the Amazon,
At the blacks, the sikhs,
At the yellows,
Journey, journey
In all the kingdom.
On the dunes of the Sahara,
Fiji islands in Fujiyama,
Journey, journey,
Do not stop you.
With the top of the barbed wires,
Bombarded hearts,
Look at the ocean.

Journey, journey
Further that the night and the day,
(Journey, journey)
Journey (journey)
In the space of the love.
Journey, journey
On the crowned water of an Indian river,
(Journey, journey)
Journey (journey)
And never does not return.

Journey, journey
Further that the night and the day,
(Journey, journey)
Journey (journey)
In the space of the love.
Journey, journey
On the crowned water of an Indian river,
(Journey, journey)
Journey (journey)
And never does not return.

Further that the night and the day
(Journey, journey)

Let’s get one fact straight… former Sex Pistols impresario Malcolm McLaren was the first to bring vogue-dancing (from the gay underground scene in New York) to the international mainstream music almost two years before Madonna.  McLaren and Bootsy Collins’ Bootzilla Orchestra collaborated together and came up with a track called Deep In Vogue — an ode to the ballroom scene started by young, gay African-Americans and Latinos in New York City featured in the documentary Paris Is Burning. Dedicating the song to all the houses of ballroom and vogueing, the track featured vocals from voguing pioneer and legend Willi Ninja. (Also, click here to view image-results of Willie Nina.) On the production side, additional remixing were done by Mark Moore (of S-Express, watch video of “Theme Of S-Express”) and William Orbit.

Macolm McLaren & The Bootzilla Orchestra
- “Deep In Vogue”…

Artist: Malcolm McLaren
Title: Deep In Vogue
Year: 1988
Label: CBS Records

Malcolm McLaren & The Bootzilla Orchestra
- “Deep In Vogue” (mp3)

Macolm McLaren & The Bootzilla Orchestra – “Deep In Vogue” (Banjie Realness)…

Artist: Malcolm McLaren
Title: Deep In Vogue (Banjie Realness)
Year: 1988
Label: CBS Records

Malcolm McLaren & The Bootzilla Orchestra – “Deep In Vogue” (Banjie Realness) (mp3)

Music Video: Macolm McLaren – “Deep In Vogue” (Banjie Realness)…

Documentary edit: Paris Is Burning (of Willie Ninja)…

R.I.P. Willie Ninja (Apr.12.1961 – Sep.02.2006)…

In loving memory of Willie Ninja who was a legend and one of the early pioneers of vogue-dancing and posing.

The first video in the playlist below made me very sad with a huge apple in my throat. Every time I’ve been watching it brings tears to my eyes.  Perhaps I should just release it and ball out crying. And I will.  Willi Ninja — he was so beautiful man.  Rest in beautiful peace, Willie, as I’ve learned about your passing.  You were sent away heroically instead of dying like some aging deadbeat in a nursing home.  You danced, you taught, you loved, you lived most truly, and that’s what life is all about.  What a beautiful man you were and still are… .

Willi Ninja (April 12, 1961  September 2, 2006) was an American dancer and choreographer best known for his appearance in the documentary film Paris is Burning. Ninja, who was gay, was a fixture of ball culture at Harlem’s drag balls who took inspiration from sources as far-flung as Fred Astaire and the world of haute couture to develop a unique style of dance and movement. He caught the attention of Paris is Burning director Jennie Livingston, who featured Ninja prominently in the film. The film, a critical and box office success, served as a springboard for Ninja. He parlayed his appearance into performances with a number of dance troupes and choreography gigs. His style served as an inspiration to Madonna, who immortalized it in her 1990 hit song and music video “Vogue.” He also starred in the earlier music video for Malcolm McLaren’s Deep In Vogue.

Will Downing – “A Love Supreme” (Jazz In The House Mix)…

Artist: Will Downing
Title: A Love Supreme (Jazz In The House Mix) [ Produced by Arthur Baker ]
Year: 1988
Label: 4th & Broadway
Media Source: Recorded straight from 12-inch record to enhanced digital.

Will Downing – “A Love Supreme” (Jazz In The House Mix) (mp3)

Pebbles – “Mercedes Boy” (Extended Remix)…

Artist: Pebbles
Title: Mercedes Boy (Extended Remix)
Year: 1988
Label: MCA Records
Media Source: Recorded straight from 12-inch record to enhanced digital.

Pebbles – “Mercedes Boy” (Extended Remix) (mp3)

Pieces Of A Dream – “Rising To The Top” (UK Remix)…

Artist: Pieces Of A Dream
Title: Rising To The Top (UK Remix)
Year: 1988
Label: EMI – Manhattan Records
Media Source: Recorded straight from 12-inch record to enhanced digital.

Pieces Of A Dream – “Rising To The Top” (UK Remix) (mp3)

Pieces Of A Dream – “Ain’t My Love Enough” (UK 12-inch)…

Artist: Pieces Of A Dream
Title: Ain’t My Love Enough (UK 12-inch)
Year: 1988
Label: EMI – Manhattan Records
Media Source: Recorded straight from 12-inch record to enhanced digital.

Pieces Of A Dream – “Ain’t My Love Enough” (UK 12-inch) (mp3)

Spring 1988, Denham Village, Buckinghamshire, UK ….. on the way to Syco Systems (high-end pro audio shop — by appointment only — caters only to high-end clientele and famous artists such as Peter Gabriel) to pick up the gear for my first studio (see pictures below)  ….. I heard this track by Mantornix on the radio.

Notice: If you need to know more about Mantronix and the man himself, Kurt Mantronik, refer to my previous blog Hanson & Davis. Please read that first and then come back here and continue reading this blog/article.

I used to dream about having a Linn-9000 one day, so I could load my own drum samples and program beats with its sequencer; I used to sit for hours and drool over the brochures of the Roland D-50 synth and think about how breathy and paddy (also see video below) my tracks would sound along with the Linn-9000 drums pulsing underneath. The D-50 was revolutionary at its time (1987), because it was the first synth to have built-in effects, such as the the reverb, attack-transient samples and linear synthesis, among many other things. When I went to Syco Systems with my dad to buy the new gear, Kendall Wrightson (see quick shout-out below) informed me that the Linn-9000 was no longer in production, because its parent company went bankrupt; however, its designer Roger Linn had come up with a much better machine through Akai. He pointed his finger towards the Akai MPC60 at the other end of the room. It was GORGEOUS. It looked like a mean machine with a tilting LCD screen! Oh, those 16 square rubber finger pads. I didn’t hesitate to add it on the transaction. Kendall said something along the lines that he had one in stock, boxed and with Tony Banks’ name on it (yes, Tony Banks — the keyboardist of Genesis), but Tony didn’t want it at the time. When I looked at the box, sure enough his name was in fact printed on the shipping label.

After picking up my new studio gear from Syco, I stopped by Our Price record store, bought the 12-inch of Simple Simon and then drove home from London to my parent’s country-home in Denham Village. I love this track through and through. It’s very melodic and street-emotional, especially the bassline. Love the guitars (which are not real but tone-sampled and played from a keyboard sampler). The sound and style is very different from Mantronix’ previous releases which were more freestyle-based. Simple Simon sounded more mature but still had that “Mantronix” feel … perhaps it was the snappy, hard drum samples and programming coming from an E-mu SP-1200. Whatever it was, it certainly had the Mantronix‘ stamp with MC Tee‘s rap vocals. These two guys really stood out with this one.

I used to play both A and B sides of the 12-inch. Check out the amazing editing and fast-gating on You Dubba Regard mix, which were very hard to produce. Around that same time of year, the Latin Rascals were doing clever edits like this, with stutters, splice-edits and gated chops. Check out their sound/edits on Information Society’s – What’s On Your Mind which I’ve blogged about previously.

Quick shout-out to Kendall Wrightson:

Kendall Wrightson who was my personal salesman at Syco Systems. He was very well-known in the pro-audio industry, for representing and selling high-end gear like the Fairlight (watch Kendall’s demonstration), Syclaviers, SSL mixer consoles, etc.. There were times when Kendall used to let me and my best friend Noel Derblich to go inside one of Syco‘s studio rooms and transfer samples from the E-mu Emulator-III (also watch video here) to my Akai MPC60 drum-sampler/sequencer (64 midi channel, 99 tracks). Kendall was also featured in several documentaries about music technology.

Mantronix – “Simple Simon” (You Gotta Rock Hard)…

Artist: Mantronix
Title: Simple Simon (You Gotta Rock Hard)
Year: 1988
Label: 10 Records (UK)
Media Source: Recorded straight from 12-inch record to enhanced digital.

Simple Simon – “Simple Simon” (You Gotta Rock Hard) (mp3)

Mantronix- “Simple Simon” (You Dubba Regard)…

Artist: Mantornix
Title: Simple Simon (You Dubba Regard)
Year: 1988
Label: 10 Records (UK)
Media Source: Recorded straight from 12-inch record to enhanced digital.

Mantronix – “Simple Simon” (You Dubba Regard) (mp3)

My first studio with nice gear which I've bought from Syco Systems, London. Kendall Wrightson was my personal salesman. See his videos below.

Kendall Wrightson at Syco Systems, demonstrating the Linn-9000…

Kendall Wrightson at Syco System, demonstrating the Fairlight…

Roland D-50 synthesizer demonstration of its sounds/presets…

E-mu Emulator-II demonstration of its sounds/presets…

Mantronix - “Simple Simon”…

What a gem this track is. Summer 1988 …. What’s On Your Mind comes out …. one of my all-time favorite retro electropop tracks by Information Society. The Latin Rascals did killer job in editing the club-mix version, and by such editing (especially in the breakdown) was very difficult to do at that time when there was no Protools; the only digital-audio multitrack recording/editing that could be done at that time was on very expensive proprietary systems such as the Synclavier (also read my other blog post here) or Fairlight CMI. It’s amazing how this track still stands the test of time. Brilliant production nonetheless. A lot of gating and stuttering effects. Automation wizardry.

Information Society – “What’s On Your Mind” (Club Mix)…

Artist: Information Society
Title: What’s On Your Mind (Club Mix)
Year: 1988
Label: Tommy Boy
Media Source: Recorded straight from 12-inch record to enhanced digital.

Information Society – “What’s On Your Mind” (Club Mix) (mp3)

Information Society – “What’s On Your Mind” (What’s On Your Dub Mix)…

Artist: Information Society
Title: What’s On Your Mind (What’s On Your Dub Mix)
Year: 1988
Label: Tommy Boy
Media Source: Recorded straight from 12-inch record to enhanced digital.

Information Society – “What’s On Your Mind” (What’s On Your Dub Mix) (mp3)

Information Society – “What’s On Your Mind” (The 54 Mix)…

Artist: Information Society
Title: What’s On Your Mind (The 54 Mix)
Year: 1988
Label: Tommy Boy
Media Source: Recorded straight from 12-inch record to enhanced digital.

Information Society – “What’s On Your Mind” (The 54 Mix) (mp3)

Information Society – “What’s On Your Mind” (Pure Energy Mix)…

Artist: Information Society
Title: What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy Mix)
Year: 1988
Label: Tommy Boy
Media Source: Recorded straight from 12-inch record to enhanced digital.

Information Society – “What’s On Your Mind” (Pure Energy Mix) (mp3)

Information Society – “What’s On Your Mind” (Percapella)…

Artist: Information Society
Title: What’s On Your Mind (Percapella)
Year: 1988
Label: Tommy Boy
Media Source: Recorded straight from 12-inch record to enhanced digital.

Information Society – “What’s On Your Mind” (Percapella) (mp3)

I am so happy for having bought this rare 12-inch (45 rpm) single in London back in 1988.  When the original (album) version of Talkin All That Jazz was released internationally, it was an instant hit worldwide.  There was an extended version released on 12-inch, but having lived in UK half my life and knowing how that country is big on several kinds of remixes/versions of the same single, this particular remix of Talkin All That Jazz (Dominoes Mix) was the best one.  I remember hearing Dominoes Mix for the first time at Hippodrome nightclub (Picadilly Circus, London) in Fall-1988 …. oh man its bassline shook the roof, especially on that last note sustaining in the hook completing the measure (before the bassline lick repeats again on the one). Dominoes Mix is just steadier with a driving groove that is not as busy as the drums/bass in the original version, making it flow and kick more intensely.

Since Talkin All That Jazz is about sampling, it is worth noting that its bassline sample is taken a 1975 track “Dominoes (Falling Like)” by Donald Byrd which is a nice jazzy, funky fusion. This original track was provided by BeatElectric.Blogspot.com (thank you guys!).

Stetsasonic – “Talkin All That Jazz” (Dominoes Mix)…

Artist: Stetsasonic
Title: Talkin All That Jazz (Dominoes Mix)
Year: 1988
Media Source: Recorded straight from 12-inch record to digital.

Stetsasonic – “Talkin All That Jazz” (Dominoes Mix) (mp3)