I'm up late dropping this as usual, but I have a great reason why. After sleeping far too much in the daytime and falling asleep at work from such a great time in Chicago this past weekend, I'd say that all this late sleeping and careful deliberation was well worth it. This could not be done without some help from my friends in the windy city, particularly Shelton and the one, the only, Mr. Kev. Both made my visit a musical heaven and my love goes out to both of them, as I'm sure yours will, when you check out:

Old School Wednesday: The Windy City, Volume I.
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Podcast/mix available here. [Click to play or right click-save as to download.]

01 - Linda Clifford - Runaway Love
02 - Natalie Cole - Annie Mae
03 - 52nd Street - Tell Me How It Feels (Extended Mix)
04 - BBQ - Genie
05 - Tease - Firestarter
06 - Peaches & Herb - Star Steppin
07 - The Jones Girls - Children of the Night
08 - Donald Fagen - Tomorrow's Girls
09 - Swing Out Sister - Twilight World [Superb. Superb. Mix]
10 - Cherrelle - Who's It Gonna Be
11 - Chapter 8 - I Just Wanna Be Your Girl
12 - Earth, Wind & Fire - I'll Write a Song for You
13 - The Stylistics - Children Of The Night

I thought I would lose my mind when I heard BB&Q's Genie at a party from one of Mr. Kev's mixes. It was all uphill from there. Thanks to the Chicago music scene, I had to pull out Star Steppin' to commemorate the steppers, and I had to pull out Donald Fagen and Swing Out Sister from the times when I was introduced to new age music, thanks to the start of Chicago's station WNUA. Let's not forget the original (Stylistics) and the remake (The Jones Girls) of Children of the Night, and songs with Anita Baker (I Just Wanna Be Your Girl) and Chuckii Booker on keyboards (Firestarter). All of these tracks made me appreciate my trip even more. Special appreciation to Mr. Kev, Mr, Shelton, the gracious Mr. Smith and all of my old and new friends up in the city for helping make this mix such a great one.

Take it light.

I'm up late dropping this, but let me get this out as I try not to fall asleep.

Old School Wednesday: Out Of Thin Air, Volume VI.
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Podcast/mix available here. [Click to play or right click-save as to download.]
Podcast coming soon.

01 - Nu Shooz - I Can't Wait
02 - Jody Watley - Don't You Want Me
03 - Sybil - Falling In Love
04 - Portrait - Commitment
05 - Aurra - Are You Single?
06 - Vanessa Williams f/ Brian McKnight - You Gotta Go
07 - Michael Cooper - Gotta Get You Undressed
08 - Change - The Glow Of Love
09 - SOS Band - High Hopes
10 - Joe Jackson - You Can't Get What You Want ('til You Know What You Want)
11 - Boz Scaggs - Miss Sun
12 - Steely Dan - Deacon Blues
13 - Tevin Campbell - Alone With You
14 - Slam/Slam Feat. Dee C. Lee - Giving It Up

This is all good stuff here. I'm loving all these cuts, especially Vanessa and Michael, Portrait, Steely Dan, and Slam/Slam.

Take it light.

I'm up late dropping this, but let me get this out as I try not to fall asleep.

Old School Wednesday: Out Of Thin Air, Volume V.
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Podcast/mix available here. [Click to play or right click-save as to download.]

01 - Lakeside - Your Wish Is My Command
02 - Con Funk Shun - Too Tight
03 - GQ - Disco Night (Rock Freak)
04 - War - Outlaw
05 - Prince - Sexy Dancer
06 - Donald Byrd & The Blackbyrds - Happy Music
07 - Breakwater - No Limit
08 - Foster Sylvers - Misdemeanor
09 - George Benson - Never Give up on a Good Thing
10 - Matt Bianco - More Than I Can Bear
11 - Regina Belle - So Many Tears
12 - Maze - Golden Time Of Day
13 - Stevie Wonder - Golden Lady
14 - Herbie Hancock - Give It All Your Heart

I get to hit you with the 1-2-3 punch with Lakeside, Confukshun, and GQ first, and followup with a classic from War. Outlaw is one of my favorite tracks from them (thanks, CoachMVP). With those four, I couldn't think of anything better to top it off with than Sexy Dancer, one of those head nodders that will get you groovin'.

Donald Byrd and Breakwater lead us to Misdemeanor, a track I'm sure everyone remembers. George Benson's track from 1976 is then followed by Matt Bianco's More Than I Can Bear from 1984's Who's Side Are You On.

Regina Belle's So Many Tears (from her 1987 debut All By Myself) was always played on quiet storm and was one of those songs that were always incredible all the way through, encompassing torch, jazz, and R&B.

I then follow up with two golden tracks from Maze (Golden Lady) and Herbie Hancock's Give It All Your Heart, a duet with Patrice Rushen which is absolutely awesome and is a great ender to a solid mix. Much love to Gadziller for enlightening me.

Take it light.

Happy New Year! I'm proud to say this is the third year that Old School Wednesday has been featured, and there's still uncharted territory that we've yet to explore. This will be the beginning of a great year. Starting this year out, as I reflected on 2006 and what an interesting year it was. I realized that his year, I wanted to be able to branch out and do more socially and personally. To achieve this, I needed to take all of the negatives in my life and turn them into positives. In effect I just needed to push the reset button.

Old School Wednesday: 2007: Push The Reset Button.
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Podcast/mix available here. [Click to play or right click-save as to download.]

01 - O'Bryan - Lovelite
02 - Al Hudson & The Partners - You Can Do It
03 - Dynasty - Do Me Right
04 - Imagination - Just An Illusion
05 - Odyssey - Inside Out (12 inch Version)
06 - SOS Band - Borrowed Love (Extended Version)
07 - Twennynine with Lenny White - Fancy Dancer
08 - Wally Badarou - Chief Inspector
09 - Boz Scaggs - Jo-Jo
10 - Steely Dan - Do It Again
11 - Roy Ayers - Searchin
12 - Loose Ends - Choose Me
13 - Maze Feat. Frankie Beverly - Lady Of Magic
14 - Heatwave - Look After Love
15 - Shalamar - I Don't Wanna Be The Last To Know

While Odyssey (with Mark Adams from Slave kicking a killer bassline), SOS Band (Jam and Lewis, anyone?), and Loose Ends are my staple, I couldn't put this mix up without including some O'Bryan, Roy Ayers, Twennynie, Al Hudson (remember One Way?), Boz Scaggs, Steely Dan, Dynasty, and Shalamar in the mix. I even placed one of my favorite instrumentals in from Wally Badarou and two slow cuts not often heard, Maze's Lady of Magic and Heatwave's Look After Love.

This is the fourth year that we've been giving Old School Wednesdays to the masses. Special props to the resident genius Mr. Grundy, the amazing infectious Mr. Grantlove, my dungeonmistress Honey, and of course the originator Mr. KB. Even deeper props to everyone who's touched this and pushed me when I was sure I had gone far enough. There's nowhere to go but up. Take it light.

Mr. Grundy does it again, If you thought the first set was on-point, check this out. This time, he presents us with:

Old School Wednesday: Rest In Peace, James Brown - Vol. II.
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Podcast/mix available here. [Click to play or right click-save as to download.]

01 Prince - Musicology
02 Bobby Byrd - I Know You Got Soul
03 Lyn Collins - Think (About It)
04 James Brown - I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch Me, pt 1
05 James Brown - It's A New Day, pt 1
06 James Brown - I'm A Greedy Man, pt 1
07 James Brown - White Lightning (I Mean Moonshine)
08 The JBs - Givin' Up Food For Funk, pts 1&2
09 Marva Whitney - What Do I Have To Do To Prove My Love To You
10 Bobby Byrd - Try It Again
11 The JBs - Gimme Some More
12 The JBs - You Can Have Watergate But Gimme Some Bucks And I'll Be Straight
13 Vicki Anderson - The Message From The Soul Sisters, pts 1&2
14 James Brown - Funky Drummer
15 James Brown - Funky President
16 James Brown - People Get Up And Drive Your Funky Soul
17 James Brown - Out Of Sight
18 James Brown - Bewildered
19 James Brown & Dee Felice Trio - Sunny
20 James Brown & Full Force - Static, pts 1&2
21 James Brown - Maybe The Last Time

Mr, Grundy explained his method behind his musical madness. "I wanted to throw a few different JB type sounds in this one from some of the various parts of the "JB University of Soul & Funkology." I definitely agree with him on this one. I'm really impressed that Bobby Byrd, The JBs, and Prince are in this mix. What makes it more electrifying, in my opinion, are the fact that songs from Vicki Anderson, Marva Whitney and Lyn Collins are also represented here. This is definitely exceptional, and a perfect way to bring in the new year.

Take it light.