July 2005 Archives

It's been a good week everyone. It's hot outside, but it's cool in here.

In Rotation: July 29, 2005.

The method behind the summer madness is as follows:

I started out feeling really good, and being wide awake late at night, and I thought to myself that I wanted to hear a little but of everything, so I started out with the following:

01 - Leela James - Good Time. From A Change Is Gonna Come. I was really encouraged from the feedback from her track Don't Speak. Strong vocals with a vibe that's all encompassing makes it a nice eye opener.
02 - Sy Smith - No Place Like Love. From The Syberspace Social. Honey featured it as an underground soul CD, so you know it's all good, right? It's airy, funky sound is what endeard me to this cut.
03 - The Sunburst Band - Everyday (Joey Negro Club Mix). I got the London Soul CD and I had been checking this cut out and wishing I could get the extended version. Once I found out where it was, and saw Joey Negro on the cover, I had to pick it up, no questions asked. 7 minutes plus of pure goodness.

After all of that head nodding I mellowed it out just a little bit, because I personally knew that I needed a breather from those tracks, so I put on:
04 - Vanessa Marquez - Day Dreaming. I'm still on the Vanessa Marquez tip. Special thanks to Nikki. The guitars and woodwinds made this song a relaxing track.
05 - Jaguar Wright - One More Drink. Everytime I listened to this track, it made me smile, because I've seen this in action at just about every bar I've been at. I can see women vibing to this track and knowing all of the words, trust me, just as they'd be able to vibe to:
06 - Vivian Green - I Like it (But I Don't Need It). After hearing this track though, I'm sure my fellas would take over the turntable with a track that pretty much describes their thoughts after hearing the Vivian Green track:
07 - Anthony Hamilton - Love Is So Complicated, am I right?

But after those tracks, I figured I wanted the heads to nod again and to hear a little hip-hop inflection as well.
08 - Platinum Pied Pipers - Deep Inside. Featuring Sa-Ra Creative Partners, this track starts heads nodding again.
09 - Ladybug Mecca - Dogg Starr. Now, just two weeks ago, I mentioned Trip The Light Fantastic. Well, I was blessed to receive an email from Ladybug who was glad that someone was spinning her record and she mentioned that it was a little different from what people had been used to. I found that surprising mostly because I was able to vibe to the entire album from start to finish. To me, different/eclectic is a good thing. My hats off to you, Ladybug.
10 - Little Brother - Feelin Alright. Again from The Chitlin Circuit, which has also been in regular rotation.
11 - Black Eyed Peas - Like That (Featuring Cee-Lo, John Legend, Talib Kweli & Q-Tip). With those four in this track, I don't believe I need to say anymore why I really like this track.

Since the last track had Cee-Lo in it, I decided to pull out a cut from his from last year to slow things down:
12 - Cee-Lo - Living Again. This track made me pull out another mellow track:
13 - Esthero - Gone. This track features Cee-Lo. I got to see them perform this live earlier this month. Since I was still on the mellow tip and was about to wind down and get some much needed rest, I pulled out:
14 - D'Nell - The Best Way from 1st Magic. With the head nodding and the strings, I felt pretty mellowed out and wanted to wrap it up with a track for a warm summer's night:
15 - Siji - The Day Ahead, from God Given.

And that's how the flow went. Hope you enjoy.

It's summertime and what better time for some hip hop? Presenting:

Old School Wednesday: Summertime Hip Hop.

Thanks to my pal, Godizus, we're able to spin a little hip-hop. Check it:

01 - 3rd Bass - Pop Goes The Weasel
02 - Arrested Development - Mr. Wendel
03 - Big Daddy Kane - Ain't No Half Steppin'
04 - Black Sheep - The Choice Is Yours (Revisited)
05 - Chubb Rock - Treat Em Right
06 - Dana Dane - Cinderfella Dana Dane
07 - D Nice - My Name Is D Nice
08 - EPMD - Crossover
09 - Fu-Schnickens - La Schmoove
10 - Kid N Play - Rollin' With Kid N Play
11 - Leaders of the New School - Case of the P.T.A.
12 - MC Lyte - Cha Cha Cha
13 - Nice And Smooth - Sometimes I Rhyme Slow
14 - Queen Latifah Feat Monie Love - Ladies First
15 - Special Ed - I Got It Made
16 - Afros - Feel It
17 - Three Times Dope - The Greatest Man Alive

Turn it up.....

Back in town from Philly, and this is an easy way to start it out. Carla made me do it:

Ten years ago: Lived and loved pretty hard.
Five years ago: Celebrated the new millenium.
One year ago: I was celebrating a new birthday and having a good time doing it.
Yesterday: Was in Philadelphia, Pennsyvania at a friend's house and in Wilmington, Delaware at a BBQ, listened to enough old school music to do two radio blogs, watched more episodes of Good Times than I should have, and decided to not go to a concert and hung out with friends instead.
Today: Took a plane back home, talked on the phone with a couple of friends, took a long nap.
Tomorrow: I’ll be back at work and catch up on television that I missed this past weekend.
5 snacks I enjoy: Sun Chips, Krispy Kreme Donuts, Cashews, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Little Debbie's Nutty Bars.
5 bands that I know the lyrics of most of their songs: Not much of a lyrics type of guy, since I listen to so much music, but I recite lyrics to a lot of Mint Condition, Prince, The Time.
5 things I would do with $100,000,000: Payoff the house, all remaining bills, open up a computer consulting firm, set up a charity, and save the rest.
5 locations I’d like to runaway to: In no order: Chicago, The Bay Area, London, Hawaii, Toronto.
5 bad habits I have: Dirty clothes where they shouldn't be, forget to clean the sink after shaving, driving until I see the gas light come on instead of filling up in advance, purchasing music like a crack fiend, reading blogs when I should be sleeping.
5 things I like doing: Watching TV, reading blogs, working, purchasing music and listening to music.
5 things I would never wear: thongs, bras, polyester, lycra, rings.
5 TV shows I like: The Amazing Race, Star Trek series, 4400, Battlestar Galactica, CSI.
5 movies I like: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, The Incredibles, New Jack City, Fight Club, The Matrix.
5 famous people I’d like to meet: Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Prince, Bill Clinton, Bill Withers.
5 biggest joys at the moment: Television, reading, hanging out with friends, listening to music, and being a technogeek.
5 favorite toys: As a kid: Spirograph, Lite Brite, Perfection, Lego, GI Joe.
5 people to tag: Todd, Obi, Luke Cage, **RPM**, and Terecico. Anyone else who wants to play, please go ahead.

I'm typing this here live from Philly, where I'll be this weekend to continue the celebration to a (somewhat nondescript) birthday week. What makes this easier and is making me excited, however, is the fact that Todd Kelley has put his goodness into the music. So while I'm looking forward of hitting the Electric Factory to see John Legend/De La Soul/Rahzel/DJ JS-1 (and yes, I will have camera), we can all bob our heads to this:

Todd Kelley: When You Hear The Birthday Song.

Big shoutouts go to Honey, Obi, KB, Luke Cage, and the one, the ONLY, Todd Kelley for this mix. This made my whole week worthwhile.

From here, he drops it to you:

01 - Intro / The Birthday Song
02 - Shout Out: Obi from South London
03 - Breathe In - Ivana Santilli
04 - That's How I Know - D'Nell
05 - Take Your Time - Pete Rock f/ Loose Ends
06 - Station Drop 1
07 - Stand Alone - Sy Smith
08 - Shout Out: Honey
09 - Spread My Wings (Remix) - Troop
10 - If You Were Here Tonight - Alexander O'Neal
11 - Station Drop 2
12 - In Time - Jazzy Jeff f/ V
13 - Been Gone - Symbolyc One & ILLmind f/ Strange Fruit Project
14 - My Place - Jaguar Wright
15 - Station Drop 3
16 - 2nd Childhood (Cookin' Soul Remix) - Nas
17 - Affection - Tamara & The Seen
18 - Butterfly - Jamiroquai
19 - That Easy - Clara Hill

That's all I'm gonna say about it. Man, I'm getting all misty eyed....
Have a good weekend! I see you, Philly!

Since my birthday was laid back and kinda chill, I had music to vibe me through, so I reached into the crates for this one. This one goes out to the Leos. This is how we do it. Take notes.

Old School Wednesday: The Gauntlet, Volume I.

These are cuts that I'm sure everyone can vibe to that have either not hit the charts or have placed on or below the top 20. Here we go. You remember these? If not, let me help you.

01 - Shuggie Otis - Inspiration Information. Only went as high as #52 on the R&B chart. Classic, classic song.
02 - Heatwave - Happiness Togetherness. From Central Heating in 1978. Never hit the charts.
03 - First Love - Things Are Not The Same (Without You). This cut was pulled from the crates by the one and only London Lee. Classic cut that was written and produced by Jason Bryant of the SOS Band we believe, and personally reminds me of Tell Me If You Still Care. Thanks, Lee. I owe you one.
04 - DeBarge - A Dream. Sung by Bunny DeBarge, and never hit the charts.
05 - Shalamar - Over and Over. Went as high as #26 on the R&B chart in 1983.
06 - Switch - Call on Me. This cut should send shivers down your spine. Sung by Terrance Gaines (not Bobby or Tommy DeBarge). Went as high as #70 in 1982.
07 - Mtume - C.O.D. (I'll Deliver). Tawatha Agee anyone? 1984 at #20.
08 - The Jacksons - Give It Up. From the Triumph CD in 1980. Never hit the chart.
09 - Rufus & Chaka Khan - Live In Me. From Masterjam in 1979.
10 - Phyllis Hyman - Ain't You Had Enough Love Baby. Reminds you of Loose Ends? It should. Written by them and of course- and on background vocals? Jane Eugene. Went as high as #29 on the R&B chart in 1987.
11 - Patti Austin - Only a Breath Away. If it sounds somewhat like Pleasure Principle, it should. This was written and produced by Monte Moir, who (along with Jimmy Jam) was a keyboardist for The Time. He was also part of the original Flytetyme team.
12 - Change - Warm. Produced by Jam and Lewis while they were in Italy. They never got paid for this either. This is off of Change Of Heart, released in 1984.
13 - Central Line - Don't Tell Me. Released in 1982.
14 - GQ - Shake. Released in 1981 and went as high as #23 on the R&B chart.
15 - Dynasty - Day And Night. Leon Sylvers anyone? Released in 1983.

Vibe it through.

You should be celebrating this entire this weekend. On Saturday, July 16th, at 7:20PM, I turn 19.

Err, um, times two.

There will be a lot of introspection goin' on this whole weekend. I really thought about trying to concentrate on the flow as much as I could, but just like I'm all over the map, so is the playlist.

This week's In Rotation: 07/16/05: EJ's 38th.

00 - EJ Rotation Intro. Done by Todd Kelley. He's a bad man, people. He's got skillz.
01 - Jamiroquai - (Don't) Give Hate A Chance. If you're a Jamiroquai fan, you should pick this up. This is a feel good, wake up song.
02 - Groove Collective - Up All Night. I have to thank Trader Mike for this one. Made me realize what I was missing on the Acid Jazz front.
03 - Fat Joe - I Can Do U. A really good mackdaddy cut from Fat Joe. Special shoutout to Nastybastard.
04 - Little Brother - Love Joint. Alright, I should be warning you that this is not a PG track. I can't help it. I still vibe to it. A head nodder, for sure.
05 - Vanessa Marquez - In The Midnight Hour (2nd Version). Nikki, I owe you one. I still can't stop playing this track (Rocka, take note). Nikki, just for this, I'm gonna get you a Being Bobby Brown DVD for your birthday! *ducks*
06 - Nate James - Set The Tone. Another track from Britain.
07 - Little Brother - The Yo-Yo (Nicolay Remix). From The Chitlin Circuit CD.
08 - The Foreign Exchange - Foreign Exchange End Theme. With Yazahrah on vocals, I love this short track.
09 - D-Nell - That's How I Know. I think Honey and Todd can agree with me that this track is a nice one.
10 - Jaguar Wright - Ecstacy. Thanks. Honey. We love you down here in the dungeon!
11 - Sy Smith - Aquarius Rising. Did I mention the dungeon? This track (from an already great CD) is graced by Nicolay, which, right now, speaks volumes. Nicolay and Sy Smith may go unappreciated, but not by me.
12 - Raheem DeVaughn - Where I Stand. I'm tellin' you, my people, get this CD. This CD will be in rotation for a while. I'm sure of it.
13 - Missy Elliott - Irresistible Delicious. This track features Slick RIck and it's infectious. I believe Silence Is A Rhythm Too would agree with me. Special shoutout to Kim for the vibe.
14 - Vivian Green - All About Us. Just like KB said, say what you want....the album is a good one.
15 - Amerie - One Thing (Silk Remix). Matt - thanks for the vibe for this one. I didn't think I would like this, and I've gotta admit, this is a great remix of this song. Special shoutouts to O-Dub too, who was feeling this track.
16 - Ladybug Mecca - Centre Of Nowhere. Her CD Trip The Light Fantastic is a must-have if you are, or ever have been, on a Digable Planets vibe. Forilla.
17 - Koop - Summer Sun (Markus Enochson Remix). Keeping summer in mind, I want to drop two remixes. The first is another remix from a very good album from Koop. From Disco Jazz, Volume 1.
18 - Louie Vega - Sunshine (Sacred Rhythm Mix). Ending this mix on a house note, and who better than Louie Vega. You know how we do. From Elements of Life - "Extensions".

Anyone wanting to give? Paypal and Amazon are there for you.
Good gyrations for everyone this weekend.
Also, give your good vibes to Edwidge as this is also her birthday weekend as well! Go Edwige!

Two Cancerian women just had birthdays - this one, and that one. So I asked 'em both to come up with a list of tunes they would want to hear. Have you ever seen two women born in the month of July so excited?

Old School Wednesday: The Cancer Ladies.

01 - Stevie Wonder - Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing
02 - Bill Withers - Lovely Day
03 - Donna Summer - Love To Love You Baby
04 - Jeffrey Osborne, L.T.D. - (Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again
05 - Cheryl Lynn - Got to Be Real [Single Version]
06 - Al Jarreau - Roof Garden
07 - George Duke - I Want You for Myself
08 - Natalie Cole - I've Got Love On My Mind
09 - Larry Graham - Just Be My Lady
10 - Tom Browne - Funkin For Jamaica
11 - Chaka Khan - I Know You, I Live You
12 - Ray Parker Junior & Raydio - You Can't Change That
13 - Miki Howard - Baby Be Mine
14 - Phyllis Hyman - You Know How To Love Me
15 - Rick James - You and I

Love is here, there and everywhere. I'm sure you said happy birthday to the both of them already, right?

Someone asked me a while back, "EJ, why do you put up mostly radio blogs? I mean, is there some hidden message there? What do they mean?" Without blinking I said, "No, there's no hidden message there. Either you get the flow or you don't. Either you feel it in your bones or you don't, in which case you click through them. I'm happy with the way the flow is." When listening to other mixes, other flows, I'm rarely ashamed to say, "I don't get the flow." Reading and absorbing thoughts and flows around me is essential. Listening to music is a learning experience, 24/7. In short, Vibing is fundamental.

I suppose I could sit and lament over life's issues and bring myself down. Lord knows there's a lot of 'em. Or, I can do as I always do, sit there and brood for a while, fuss around for a while, then put my headphones on, and then get back up and keep going, because the flow is always there. The tunes will always be here. And, as they always say, life will go on. It's always good to get a kick in my shins from a couple of people, 'cause that's what they're here for.

Now, where does the flow come from? Well, this time, I believe I've got enough space and time to put some words around my thoughts as I sequence the flow for this week's In Rotation. This is my month that I get to shine, since this is the month of my birthday, and marks the third year blogging and entering my second year of being able to share my music.

Most of the flows come through just from listening, reading, reacting, and movin around the internet and blogosphere. Check it:

This week's In Rotation: 07/09/05.

01 - Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered (DJ Smash Essential Funk Mix). From Motown Remixed. JT and Terecico really liked the album and based on their recommendations, I picked it up.
02 - Vanessa Marquez f/ Justin Timberlake - Want You To Know. Rocka dropped this one to me exactly ten minutes after I had completed this mix, which made me have to reshuffle everything just to fit it in. There was no way I could have possibly ignored this cut.
03 - Five Point Plan - Tremble. From Rare, another recommendation from Honey.
04 - Mint Condition - That's The Way (It's Going Down). A lovely lady by the name of Lis has a new site devoted to Mint Condition which is called TMF: The Mint Factory. This is one of the cuts she has there for your listening pleasure, from the movie Good Burger. Check her site out, let her know what you think.
05 - Vanessa Freeman - Dawning Of A New Day. From the CD London Soul, which inspired me to check her out even more and order her CD. Be sure to stay tuned for more from Vanessa. This is only a taste.
06 - Will.I.Am - Swing By My Way. More Galactic Soul for you. By default, because of the flow, I had to followup with:
07 - Yam Who - Star Of The Story. More Midnight Soul for you. I never thought I'd say this, but this is a damn good remake that injects just enough funk to make it different but not take away from the original. Considering this is one of my all-time favorite songs that Yam Who remade, that's saying quite a bit.
08 - Anthony Hamilton - Icing On The Cake. From the new CD, Soulife.
09 - Raheem DeVaughn - You. If you don't have The Love Experience, then you need to go get it. Now. Everytime I hear this cut, I start thinking about Moments In Love by The Art Of Noise. Classic.
10 - Leela James - Don't Speak. Leela takes a song by No Doubt and injects gritty soul into it.
11 - Rebirth - Common Ends. Now, a while back I was mentioning that I was looking for this CD. Hypothetically Speaking immediately let me know where to find their CD. Glad she did.
12 - Dwele - Real Love (U Don't Love Me). Another single from Verbs and Predicates.
13 - Salakida - Like Heaven. From her album of the same name.
14 - Ivana Santilli - Caramel Sky. More Ivana. Just ask Tyrone from Palm Trees In The Ghetto.
15 - Lina - Story Goes (featuring Big Rube). Big Rube was one of the members of Society of Soul way back in the day, and can be heard on quite a few Outkast cuts. Nice flow from this track on The Inner Beauty Movement.
16 - Esthero - My Torture. Just ask Lisa from Nonsensical Musings, she'll tell you just how good this track is.

And if anyone should ever ask you-- yes, Cancers rule this month. Enjoy the flow.
Soon to come, my 10 After 6. Jason has started a revolution. Don't sleep.

I didn't get to make it to Chicago for the fourth, thanks to not being able to rebook my flight, so I hate that I missed out on all the activities, good times, and all the other stuff that went on in the city this past weekend, but not to worry, I'm trying to make it up there for a second time. I'm also planning on being in Philadelphia later on this month, so stay tuned. I'm sure that everyone had a good Independance Day.

Xquizzyt1 gives it to you again:

Old School Wednesday: Xquizzyt1: The Dancehall Mix, Part II

01 - Barrington Levy - Murderer
02 - Dawn Penn - You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)
03 - Foxy Brown - Sorry
04 - Beres Hammond & Cutty Ranks - Tempted to Touch
05 - Shabba Ranks - Roots and Culture
06 - Shaggy and Rayvon - Big Up
07 - Reggie Stepper - Kimbo King
08 - Buju Banton - Dickie
09 - Beenie Man - Old Dog
10 - Louie Culture - Ganga Lee
11 - Shabba Ranks - Telephone Love
12 - Super Cat - Don Dada
13 - Buju Banton - Champion
14 - Mad Cobra - Flex
15 - Sanchez - The Saddest Day of My Life
16 - Bounty Killer & Barrington Levy - Living Dangerously

On part one, I mentioned that I knew none of the songs. In this selection, I knew seven of them, so I'm not as unfamiliar with dancehall as I previously thought. Enjoy.

My Luther, man, my Luther.



I remember first hearing Luther's Never Too Much and seeing the video. Ever since then, he's been a legend to me. I can't say enough about him, his visions, his passions, his way of making everyone feel good even when the everything around was painful. Ask your mother, the mack daddy across the street, your friends. Everyone has a favorite Luther song. Or two. Or ten.

Forget the In Rotations, people. It's time for The Luther Tribute. Todd and I are in full agreement, this is just a partial list.

01 - Change - The Glow Of Love
02 - Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn - If This World Were Mine
03 - Luther Vandross - Love Won't Let Me Wait
04 - Luther Vandross - Any Love
05 - Luther Vandross - Superstar/Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)
06 - Luther Vandross - Make Me A Believer
07 - Luther Vandross - Forever, For Always, For Love
08 - Luther Vandross - Better Love
09 - Luther Vandross - Promise Me
10 - Luther Vandross - Because It's Really Love
11 - Luther Vandross - Anyone Who Had a Heart
12 - Luther Vandross - I'm Only Human (f/ Cassandra Wilson, Bob James)
13 - Luther Vandross - Going Out of My Head
14 - Luther Vandross - Never Too Much
15 - Luther Vandross - A House Is Not A Home
16 - Luther Vandross - Don't You Know That?
17 - Luther Vandross - She's a Super Lady
18 - Luther Vandross - Here And Now
19 - Luther Vandross - If Only For One Night
20 - Luther Vandross - Creepin'
21 - Luther Vandross - Wait for Love
22 - Luther Vandross - Other Side of the World

Don't be surprised if this list gets longer. Luther, my man, your spirit will always be with us.

Think I have them all? No, not at all. Check out Trader Mike's Tribute too.