I’m in the midst of reading Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity which features music centrally as it tells the tale of Rob, the thoughtful and confused record storeowner. There are references to songs, albums, and artists throughout, but one chapter in particular struck me as particularly loaded with great tracks. It’s chapter seven, in which he describes his past experience as a DJ:
For a couple of years, at the end of the eighties, I was a DJ at a club in Kentish Town…I was a good DJ, I think. At any rate, people seemed happy; they danced, stayed late, asked me where they could buy some of the records I played, and came back week after week.
The story continues, as he details how he met Laura and, more famously, describes how to make a (mix) tape (“making a tape is like writing a letter”). But along the way, he rattles off one of his characteristic top five lists, in this case, the top five “floor-fillers” he used as a DJ:
- “It’s a Good Feeling” by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
- “No Blow No Show” by Bobby Bland
- “Mr. Big Stuff” by Jean Knight
- “The Love You Save” by the Jackson Five
- “The Ghetto” by Donny Hathaway
This list struck me. On first read, I didn’t know several of the songs. Once I sought out the rest of the list, it just seemed an odd list for a late 80s dance party. Not one of these songs was released in the 80s—in fact, they range from 1953 (Bobby Bland) to 1971 (Mr. Big Stuff). And in my experience, dance parties are usually dominated by more contemporary dance and r&b hits.
Furthermore, there are some big differences between these five songs. They could all be loosely classified as soul, but they range from a simple, jazz-influenced shuffle in “No Blow No Show,” to a slower funk groove on “The Ghetto,” to the unfettered ebullience of “The Love You Save” and “It’s a Good Feeling.” Yet, according to fictional Rob the DJ, they all got everyone off of their seats and onto the floor.
I can see why. I would love to be at a dance party DJ’d by Rob. It would be so invigorating to show up at a party and hear classic soul music like this blasting out of the speakers in place of the Black Eyed Peas and Beyonce (which isn’t to say that I don’t like the Black Eyed Peas or Beyonce… I just like soul music more, and feel more comfortable dancing to it). DJs, take note: more soul music!
Anyways, here are a couple of the tracks from Rob’s list. Enjoy. Dance around. See how fun it is.
The Jackson Five – The Love You Save (YSI) (filesavr)
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles – It’s a Good Feeling (YSI) (filesavr)
Bobby Bland – No Blow No Show (YSI) (filesavr)







0 comments:
Post a Comment