STUFF

dsco's Podcast

I would have run screaming from Facebook years ago if I didn’t still enjoy my membership in a couple of music groups and if my job didn’t require that I keep an eye on what’s said about us on social media. (Although, I am happy to note, they really don’t much care anymore.) I wouldn’t be surprised if ol’ Zuck’s Bad Pandemic Advice Platform and Home for Mean Girls Tweeting (Lindsey and Donald, I’m talking about you) was no longer around as we know it in the next five years.

But FB did influence this iPodsode. Music nerds rhapsodizing about what may be Sir Paul’s funkiest moment—“Arrow Through Me”—made me think that the tune might link up nicely with Bill Wither’s most disco moment, “You Got the Stuff.” And since we were on the topic of stuff, why not throw in what surely has to be one of the sleaziest moments in a joyously sleazy genre: Nino Tempo’s “Hooked on Young Stuff.” Deep Purple meets tender pink, wrapped in junkie argot. What’s not to lo(v/ath)e?

Social media also led me to Durand Jones and the Indications, one of my happiest discoveries in 2021, and for my disco dollar the hands-down winner of the recent retro-soul race. Also, while I was well aware of Hott City, I was too taken with the whole of the B-side until someone on FB pointed out just how good A-side lead-off “Feelin’ Love” is. I stumbled upon Nazia Hassan in the wild while crate digging, and I likely would have walked on by, but I noticed that “Disco Deewane” was a Biddu joint. Well, clearly it was coming home with me. And while I was a bit let down that Deewane wasn’t some guy from Philly, the disco turned out to be a pretty decent Tina Charles in Bollywood workout.

I’ve had “Speak Well” in the dsco queue for some time. It never made the cut until now; surprising as it’s a great cut and it takes aim at “shawties” everywhere. Never mind the length of the pencil, it’s how you write with it. And you ain’t got no lead. Finally, should I ever get around to making a disco desperation compilation, “Please Love Me Again” will be on it.

Windy City Theme—Windy City ’77 * Chance of a Lifetime—The Four Tops ’79 * Hooked on Young Stuff—Nino Tempo and 5th Ave. Sax ’79 * You Got the Stuff—Bill Withers ’79 * Arrow Through Me—Wings ’79 * A Place Called Tarot—Tantra ’82 * Disco Deewane—Nazia Hassan ’80 * Up the Down Stairs—Wilson Williams ’78 * Witchoo—Durand Jones and the Indications ’21 * Give It If You Got It—Rendezvous ’79 * Speak Well—Philly U.S.A. ’77 * Nothing Compares 2 U—MXM ’90 * Please Love Me Again—V.I.P. Connection ’76 * C’est Le Rock—Bazuka ’79 * Feelin’ Love—Hott City ’79