We had a blast this past Friday with Frantz Barosy in the studio. The board in the studio was monitoring the broadcast signal in the Bronx for the first half of his set, which explains the latency and a couple of bumps along the start of the mix (Frantz – our bad!!!); but dude was nonplussed and put down some nice outsider selections alongside some of our favorite program staples. I was especially feeling some of the last couple (Lisa Warrington’s I Like The Way You Do It!!!, and closing with some TSOV). Tackleberry and myself played a bunch of program premiers in the second half – look out for the joint by Noel Williams of Connie Case fame, Do YOU Wanna Dance?, Southern Freeze on BB, the kosmiche club burner Disco Drum, the promo-only J.T. cut I Love Music and Frantz’s slip of the beautiful Put A Little Love Into It When You Do It done by Eloise Laws.

Thanks again Frantz!

Part 1 w/Frantz Barosy:

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INTRO
The Bobbettes “Love Rhythm” (Radio Records) 12″
The Paul Simpson “Use Me, Lose Me” 12″
OVS “Crimes of Passion” (Potrait) 12″
Jimmy Williams “All of My Lovin’ (Extended Club Version)” (Salsoul) 12″
Alexander O’Neal “Saturday Love (Jacques de Booty rmx)” (w/l) 12″
Chocolette “It’s That Easy Street” (Atlantic) 12″
Raphi Rosario “Get Up, Get Out” (Hot Mix 5) 12″
Escort “Karawame” (Escort) 12″
Wandra “Sex Attack” (THO Records) 12″
Elias Rahbani and his Orchestra “Liza (Sexican version in C#)” (Golf Channel) 12″
Jo Bisso “Desires” (Jobiss) 12″
Universal Robot Band “Freak with Me” (Red Greg) 12″
Sekou Bunch “Can’t Stop Lovin’ You” (Sugar Hill) 12″
Lisa Warrington “I Like The Way You Do It” (Sound Modification) 12″
4 Reel “One Life To Live” (People’s Potential Unlimited) 7″
Danny Gold “TSOV Groove” (The Sound of Virginia) 12″

Part 2 – Mike McGill & Tackleberry take over, Frantz slips in a couple as well:

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King Sporty & The Ex Tras “Do You Wanna Dance?” (Dancefloor) 12″
Richard von Smith “Love Is What I’m After” (Jive) 12″
Sharon Redd “Love How You Feel” (Prelude) 12″
Azoto “Anytime or Place” (Modulation) 12″
Cloud 7 “Dance To The Music” (EMI) 12″
The Freeze “Southern Freeze” (Beggars Banquet) 12″
Jackie Stoudemire “Invisible Wind” (Numero) 12″
Lou Rawls “I’ll See You When Get There” (Philadelphia International) LP
Amuzement Park “So Inspired” (Our Gang Entertainment) LP
The Passion “Don’t Stop My Love” (Prelude) 12″
Taana Gardner “No Frills” (West End) 12″
The Glass “Let Me Feel Your Heartbeat” (West End) 12″
Eloise Laws “Put A little Love Into It When You Do It” (Invictus) 12″
Esther Williams “I’ll Be Your Pleasure” (RCA) 12″
Wild Fire “Try Making Love (inst.)” (Strakers) 12″
The Cats ‘n Jammer Kids “Disco Drum” (Ebony) 12″
J.T. “I Love Music” (Vanguard) 12″
Voyage “I Love You Dancer” (Marlin) LP
Stephanie Mills “You Can’t Run From My Love” (Casablanca) 12″

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Henry Maldonado, Darshan Jesrani and Doug Gomez came on the program this past Friday for a special guest set. Together, they PLAY IT LOUD! on a monthly basis at one of our favorite parties. We had them take over the full two and a half hours for good reason! Plenty of great selections, and material that hasn’t made it on the program in the past. I’m especially fond of Tee Scott’s mix on “If You Read My Mind”, the steamy Quincy joint that Doug turned me on to, and the cooled out vibes of Roy Ayers on the B-side of his 1984 release “In The Dark” b/w “Love Is In The Feel”. All killer, no filler!

Part 1:

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Feel “I’d Like To” (Sutra)
K.I.D. “Don’t Stop” (SAM)
Sequence “Simon Says” (Sugar Hill)
Newcleus “Automan” (Sunnyside)
Royalle Delite “(I’ll Be A) Freak For You” (Skyview)
Muscle Shoals Horns “Born To Get Down” (Dazz)
Morning Noon & Night “Feelin’ Strong” (Roadshow)
David McPherson “You Can’t Stop (Dub)” (SAM)
Rock Candy “I’ve Got Love” (Profile)
Cookie “I Can’t Judge A Lover” (Le Jazz)
Fresh Band “Come Back Lover” (are ‘n bee)
Quincy Jones “Betcha Wouldn’t Hurt Me” (A& M)
Columbus Circle “If You Read My Mind” (Elektra)
Thompson Twins “Love On Your SIde (No Talkin’)” (Arista)
In Flagranti “Additional Alpha Blocker” (Speak)
Evelyn King “I Don’t Know If It’s Right” (RCA)
Ripple “And The Beat Goes On” (Salsoul)
Tony Rallo and The Midnite Band “Holdin’ On” (Calibre)
Mandrill “Hang Loose” (Polydor)
Lenny Mac Dowell “Make That Body Dance” (ohrwurm records)

Mic Break:

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Billy Nichols “Hold Me Tighter In The Rain” (CBS)
Womack & Womack “Baby I’m Scared Of You” (Elektra)
Linda Clifford “Runaway Love” (Curtom)
Gwen McCrae “Poyson” (Atlantic)
Cashmere “Do It Any Way You Wanna” (Philly World Records)
Lace “Can’t Play Around” (RFC)
NV “It’s Alright (Extended Version)” (Sire)
Thelma Houston “Used To Hold Me So Tight” (MCA)
Galaxy feat. Phil Fearon “Wait Until Tonight (DUBMIX)” (Ensign)
Roy Ayers “Love Is In The Feel” (Columbia)
Larry Graham “Sooner or Later” (WB Records)
Oliver Cheatham “Saturday Night” (Mca)
The Underground “Doin’ It” (SAM)

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Looking ahead to 2010, we’re excited to keep pressing forward. While continuing to bring in guest deejays we dearly respect, we’ve got some ideas about expanding the format of the program in interesting ways. All the while we’ll remain dedicated to the cause of tasteful music programming. Stay with us, we’ll be here a while.

2009 really was something special. We’ve had plenty of people come by to play records on A Downtown Affair. I’ll do my best to share some highlights. Thanks y’all!

Foreal People – Nov 18th 2008 (OK, this was late-late ’08, but seemed to fall in the same phase of early ’09)
Josh Dunn, Benguin, and Love on The Run pulled in last minute after a scheduled Leather Bar gig didn’t materialize. I suspect they reshuffled the crates, as Benguin and Richie strung together an array of soulful disco and boogie material before Josh dimmed the lights for the midnight mix; a testament to their knowledge and taste.

Stewart Upchurch – January 9th 2009
Stewart rolled in with his man Giorgio, replete with full shades and fur, and I knew things were really going to take off that night. The vibe was too right to pack things up at 1AM, so we kept the broadcast going for another hour until our crates emptied. This program’s stacked with some great selections, many of which found their way into the repertoire of ADA over the course of the year.

Cowboy Mark

We scheduled Mark to join us for somewhat of a blue moon calendar coincidence – Valentine’s Day on Friday the 13th. Alex hooked this up, and I recall being a little uptight after the first record or so, thinking to myself “I’m feelin’ this, but dude knows it’s kind of a um… disco program right?” Alas, no worries. Soon after the cult beauty “She and I” things started to head towards home. Plus, Mark got chat about his times at summer camp over a German porn soundtrack. Ace! For the second half, Alex and I tripped out some Italo, Cowley megamixes, and darker boogie material to capture the pairing of fright and tender.

Jeremie Delon
I’ve been buying records from Jeremie over at A1 Records for years – he’s turned me on to some of the boogie records that ended up as touchstones in the progression of my taste, leading me to fetishize new nuances of production from the early ’80s, and unabashedly getting into vocal stylings that used to make me quiver. When he was chatting me up about the program and expressed interest in coming on I was ecstatic. I had no doubt he’d bring the heaters, but I was curious what he’d pick out for the show. This one’s still in rotation, and reminds me why a shop like A1′s really something special.

Josh Dunn and Bennett4$enate
I wanted to get Bennett and Josh on the program together -these two cats share a taste in dignified R&B, the seemingly ironic record that really makes you feel something, and a skill in programming records that lends itself to the radio format. This night, Bennett was sending out fresh promo copies of his mix Wine Coolers and the phones were ringing off the hook. We all stepped on the mic and rapped about the newly discovered format. Some of the year’s banter highlights are nestled somewhere between one of Bennett’s signature club dubs and one of the many chart-topping R&B hits from ’81 to ’82. Go get it.

That’s only the start of it. Vin Sol came on and dropped some silly records fresh from SF. James Mulry & Matt Harrison selected some material that had callers fawning. We had back to back sets by Kamui and Mark Murphy, the former was ripping through a crate of boogie & funk 45s, while Mark’s plays included some program staples aside some seriously deep heat. Asaf dropped by and played some records I’ll probably never hear again (fitting as only a portion of the show was recorded!). Teddy King put together a seamless program of soulful classics before closing out with Nolani Cypriano’s Lihue. We had the Mister Saturday Night residents Justin Carter & Eamon Harkin come into the studio to share some music, and vibe on Kashif for a quick second. Stegs and Russell of Vietcong Disco rolled through and made me more confident in putting down some of those seriously questionable R&B records – likely because we were seriously throwing beers back in the studio that night. Benguin hooked me up with Steve Shakewell and Patrick Duckcomb, aka Sharegroove, who put me on to some real shit! These dudes are versatile! Plenty of new plays on this show; super soulful, super tasteful. Not only did Jared (aka JBX, aka Big City Records proprietor) put us in touch with several of the deejays who eventually came on the program, but he also graced us with a beautiful all 45s set. Mark suggested we have DJ Fucci come play on the show (dude, thanks!). Fucci was also kind enough to give a proper explanation of ‘schmaltzy disco’; for reference check the show. We also had Danny Auster from the A1 shop come in for a guest set. We all got deeply tangled in disco vibes and decided the only solution was to start a night together, so we’re still LIGHT(ING) UP THE NIGHT over at Le Poisson Rouge on a monthly basis.

And then there’s the many nights that Alex and I manned the ship, burning through records on a weekly basis while still hustling and struggling to ensure we’re keeping it fresh and turning heads. For a full look at the archived radio programs, click through here

I can’t wrap up the year without sending out some love to the listeners. Hearing from y’all (and those who have never arrived at our internet outpost) makes it a lot more satisfying to spend so much time digging for records and lugging them into Manhattan each and every Friday night. Heavy callers like Paul, Chris, Lance, John, Nancy, and those that I’m missing – ya’ll are it! From Flushing to Glendale, Bay Ridge to Bed-Stuy to City Island to the East Village to the Port Authority… we got you! Expect another year of dedicated programming brought to yours truly.

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Popping off towards 2010! Here is the recording from last week’s show. Unfortunately the recording of the second half of the show was compromised, so as of now it is unavailable. I will attempt to restore it, and with any luck it will be up here shortly.

Part 1:

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Discotheque “Disco Special” (Carrere) 12″
Fonda Rae “Over Like A Fat Rat” (Vanguard) 12″
Dr. York “Don’t Stop” (York Records) LP
Play It Safe “This Love Is Real” (Que) 12″
Krystal Davis “So Smooth” (Urban Rock Records) 12″
Ellie Hope “LUCKY (inst.)” (RFC) 12″
Pino D’Angio “Ma Quale Idea” (P.B.I.) 7″
Steely Dan “Peg (B& D edit)” (Community Service) 12″
Venus Dodson “Where Are We Headed?” (RFC) 12″
Ramona Brooks “I Don’t Want You Back” (Q Records) 12″
Caprice “Candy Man” (People’s Potential Unlimited) 7″
K.I.D. “Hupendi Muziki Wangu?!” (SAM) 12″
Aurra “In The Mood (To Groove)” (Dream Records) 12″
Goldie Alexander “Show You My Love” (Chaz Ro) 12″
Midnight Star “Midas Touch” (Atlantic) 12″
Mona Raye “Do Me” (Park Place) 12″
The Crusaders “Street Life (Special Full Length US Disco mix)” (Mca) 12″
Roundtree “Get on Up” (Omni) 12″
Dr. York “Roll-a-Rock” (Passion) 12″

Part 2:
(Currently unavailable, but will attempt to recover the recording!)
Rufus & Chaka Khan “Do You Love What You Feel” (Mca) 12″
Peaches & Herb “Funtime” (Polydor) LP
Mouzon’s Electric Band “I Still Love You Baby” (Vanguard) 12″
Shirley Alston “Feel The Fire (mike’s (so) hot edit)” (N/a) CD
Project “Love Rescue” (PBI) 12″
The Shades Of Love “Come Inside” (Scorp Gemini) 12″
Mouzon’s Electric Band “Everybody Get Down” (Vanguard) 12″
Soiree “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” (Unison) LP
Powerline “Journey” (Prelude) 12″
Goody Goody “It Looks Like Love” (Atlantic) LP
Francine McGee “Delirium” (RCA) 12″
Dinosaur “Kiss Me Again” (Sire) LP
Aquarian Dream “East 6th Street” (Buddah) LP

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Last week’s show I brought out the winter warmers – soul classics, emphatic disco love jams, heavy Salsoul rotations, and the requisite ‘Disco Christmas’ to start things off. Enjoy, and peace to 2009!

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Universal Robot Band “Disco Christmas” (Red Greg)
Silvetti “Spring Rain” (Salsoul)
Cloud One “Dust to Dust” (P& P)
Lamont Dozier “Family” (Wb)
Brenda Russell “Get It On” (Horizon)
Minnie Ripperton “Inside My Love” (Epic)
Debbie Peters “Baby It’s Alright” (Free Flight)
Outside “The Plan (kton mix)” (Dorado)
Level 42 “Love Meeting Love” (Polydor)
Creative Source “You Can’t Hide Your Love” (Sussex)
Womack & Womack “Baby I’m Scared Of You” (Elektra)
Logg “Something Else” (Salsoul)
The Flakes “Sugar Frosted Lover (inst.)” (Magic Disc)
Rhyze “Just How Sweet Is Your Love” (SAM)
Loose Joints “Tell You (In Dub)” (N/A)
Black Ivory “Mainline” (Buddah)
The Players Association “Turn the Music Up” (Vanguard)

Part 2:

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The Players Association “Turn the Music Up” (Vanguard)
Jeffree “Mr. Fix It” (Mca)
Brick “Ain’t Gonna Hurt Nobody” (Bang)
Convertion “Let’s Do It” (SAM)
Salsoul Orchestra “Take Some Time Out (For Love)” (Salsoul)
Luther Vandross “Never Too Much (12″ mix)” (Epic)
Jessie Henderson “Did It Againt” (LOH)
Soiree “Close To You” (Unison)
Alicia “I Want To Thank You” (Mca)
Bumblebee Unlimited “Lady Bug” (RCA)
Candido “Dancin’ and Prancin’” (Salsoul)
Logg “I know you will” (Salsoul)
Lee Moore “Reachin’ Out” (Source)
Mighty Pope “Sweet Blindness” (RFC)
Family of Eve “I Want To Be Loved by You” (Kay Dee)

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I’ll be joining Steve ShakeWell and Duckcomb for a SHAREGROOVE party over at Tandem in Bushwick. Check out the guest mix they did on A Downtown Affair this past summer to get yourself in the mood… Expect deep flavors all night long!

We’ll be in the back room starting at 10pm.

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Last week we had James Mulry (Black Label/Chicken Hut) and Matt Harrison (1/2 of Rockers Galore) come on the program to do a guest mix. We had a super fun time playing records all weekend – thanks to all those that made it happen!

Mike McGill starts it off:

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The Partners “Give It To Me All Night Long” (Moby Dick Records) 12″
David McPherson “You Can’t Stop” (SAM) 12″
Fonda Rae “Heobah (Instrumental)” (Posse Records) 12″
Revelation “Feel It” (Handshake) LP
Shep Pettibone “Falling In Love (instrumental)” (Salsoul) 12″
Sinnamon “Thanks To You” (Beckett Records) 12″

James Mulry takes over:

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Visual “The Music Got Me” (Visual) 12″
Nightlife Unlimited “Tonight” (Uniwave) LP
Jazzy Dee “Get On Up” (Laurie Records) 12″
People’s Choice “You Ought To Be Dancin’” (Casablanca) LP
202 “Get Up (Rock Your Body)” (Fire Sign Ltd.) 12″
Debbie Jacobs “High On Your Love” (Mca) 12″
Gregg Diamond “Danger” (T.K. Disco) 12″
Air Power “Be Yourself” (AVI Records) 12″
Bambu “I Don’t Wanna Lose It” (Zebra Records) 12″
Vera “Take Me To The Bridge” (Qio Records) 12″
South Shore Commission “Free Man” (Wand) LP
Suzy Q “Tonight” (RFC) LP
Esther Williams “You Gotta Let Me Show You” (Friends & Co.) LP

Matt Harrison of Rockers Galore finishes off:

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Peter Brown “Do You Wanna Get Funky With Me” (T.K. Disco) 12″
Loleatta Holloway “Hit And Run (Moxie edit)” (Moxie) 12″
Marvin Gaye “A Funky Space Reincarnation (Space Race rework)” (PPF) 12″
Queen Samantha “Take A Chance” (Bull Ding Recordings) LP
Nitro Deluxe “Let’s Get Brutal” (Cutting Records) 12″
Daniel Wang “In A Golden Haze” (Balihu) LP
40 Thieves “Yanks Abroad” (Rong) 12″
- “For A Ride (Horse Meat Disco mix)” (HMD) 12″
Boney M “Ma Baker (C.O.M.B.I. edit)” (c.o.m.b.i.) 12″
Voyage “From East To West” (Power) 12″
Harry Thurmann “Under Water” (Unidisc) 12″

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Rockers Galore were kind enough to invite James Mulry and myself to play records with them this Saturday night. Seriously nice digs over Bushwick Starr, a spacious loft space replete with boudoir, roof deck, and a full soundsystem enclosing the dance floor. Hey, we’re even poppin’ off some bubbly to start, so arrive after treading the FINELINE in Williamsburg.

Tomorrow night I’ve invited Greg & Matt of RG and James for a special guest appearance on A Downtown Affair. 89.1FM to the outerzones of the Tri-state from 10:30pm-1:00am.

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Tackleberry and Mike McGill get back on the saddle for the standard program of choice selections after consecutive weeks of guests followed by the Halloween Special. Doin’ a little steppin’ on our own…

Part 1:

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Deodato “Whistle Bump” (Wb) LP
Universe City “Serious” (Midland) LP
Deodato “Whistle Bump” (Wb) LP
The Brothers “Under The Skin” (RCA) LP
Soiree “You Keep Me Hanging On” (Unison) LP
- “Tangled” (c.o.m.b.i.) 12″
The U.N. “Hot Lover” (Prelude) 12″
Powerline “Double Journey” (Prelude) 12″
Francine McGee “Delerium” (RCA) 12″
Air Power “Be Yourself” (AVI) 12″
Starship Orchestra “You’re A Star” (Columbia) 12″
Shadow “Love Lite” (Elektra) LP
Kwick “We Ought To Be Dancing” (EMI) LP
- “I Love Your Beat” (Factory Beat) 12″
Chain Reaction “Sweet Lady (Dance With Me)” (Jam Sessions) 12″
Total Unity “Green-Eyed Lady” (Claridge Records) 12″
Terry Nova “Push with Size” (Prospect) 12″
Moodymann “The Thief Who Stole My Bays…Ya Blessin’ Me (B)” (KDJ) 12″
Carl Bean “I Born This Way” (Next Plateau) 12″
Inner Life “I’m Caught Up” (TCT) 12″
Universal Robot Band “Barely Breaking Even” (Moonglow) 12″

Part 2:

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Gene Chandler “Get Down” (20th Century) 12″
Eklips “My Love” (Real to Reel) 12″
Sandy Barber “I’ll Do Some Steppin On My Own” (Olde World) LP
Ramona Brooks “I Don’t Want You Back” (Q) 12″
Night Bandit “Like A Thief In The Night” (Cherry Hill) 12″
Mint “Perfect Guy” (E.Q.) 12″
Gene Van Buren “Rock The House” (Motown) LP
Laurice Hudson “Feel My Love” (Snowflake) 12″
Black Ivory “You Are My Lover” (Panoramic) LP
Cashmere “Try Your Lovin’” (Philly World) 12″
Rhetta Hughes “Crisis (Inst)” (Aria) 12″
Gaznevada “I.C. Love Affair” (Italian) 12″
Discotheque “Disco Special” (Carrere) 12″

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LIGHT UP THE NIGHT is joined by special guests Vietcong Disco this Saturday night at Le Poisson Rouge. Check out their recent guest mix on the radio program for a peek at what to expect. Or, if you’ve been to one of their loft parties than you already know what’s good! Daniel Auster, Tackleberry and myself will be deejaying throughout the night as well.

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