Friday 10

This weekend I'm DJing a 70s/80s party for a youth group (quit yer fucking snickering). In honor of the time period in question, I am listing 10 of my fave tunes that I will be spinning:

1. SOS Band - Take Your Time (Do It Right)
I distinctly remember taping this song off of KFRC back in the day. Truly fantastic to dance to and all about doin' the nasty...and I like doin' the nasty.

2. Ohio Players - Skintight
They had the album covers your parents didn't want you asking questions about. A true highlight in my life is when my band at the time opened for them at the long-closed Omni in Oakland. Those dudes got DOWN.

3. New Order - Blue Monday
For years the biggest selling 12" single ever (not sure if it still is - could be), this is just pure, unadulterated dancefloor goodness, with one of the most recognisable intros ever. Taste the 80s.

4. Mary Jane Girls - In My House
You just KNEW that only 1 or 2 of these girls could actually sing, but it didn't matter at all cos they were Rick James' girls. On top of it, this song was SO bomb - great harmonies and killer funk keys. This, I believe, was played at every family party.

5. The Time - Jungle Love
Morris Day, Jerome, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Jesse Johnson, Jellybean Benitez...FUCK. What a lineup. They brought the funk, psychedelia, pop, and soul, all rolled into one. The first thing I ever won was a copy of "Ice Cream Castles" off of KMEL.

6. Led Zeppelin - Dancing Days
One for the white kids! Seriously though, when you're drunk and playing a bunch of dance tunes, this one sounds astonishingly good in the mix. About as groovy as the Zep got.

7. The Bee Gees - Night Fever
I've always dug the subdued sound of this song. A great string arrangement makes it happen. Sure they sound like muppets, but I always liked the muppets. The rhythm is in the pocket - a total avenue walker.

8. Thelma Houston - Don't Leave Me This Way
Oh SHIT. This bitch just SLAYS this song. The Communards did a respectable version in the 80s, but this is the all-time, can't-fuck-with-it original classic - I don't care that Harold Melvin did it first, cos he didn't do it anywhere near as good. I would buy this woman dinner in a heartbeat. I wouldn't even ask her if she was hungry.

9. The Gap Band - Burn Rubber
This song was so freakin' cool when I was a kid. Indeed, the whole concept of burning rubber was. Therefore The Gap Band was cool. As a Mexican, there was no avoiding The Gap Band - EVERYONE listened to them. The only thing that I can talk shit about is the fact that EVERY SINGLE ONE of their songs have the same drum fill! Plak-doom-plak-doom-plak-doom-plak!

10. Tainted Love / Where Did Our Love Go? - Soft Cell
My first favorite band that wasn't my parents' music. There isn't a soul with ears that hasn't heard this song. The original by Gloria Jones is fantastic too. I still remember the first time I heard it like it was yesterday; probably the song that had the biggest effect on my life. There is a place in heaven reserved for Marc Almond and Dave Ball.

Have a great weekend, bitches!