#Farley Jackmaster Funk

[djevilninja]

Farley "Jackmaster" Funk & The Shy Boyz - U Ain't Really House

[c-40]

A-T-5 054 From Funkin' Keith to Jackmaster Funk

Farley 'Funkin' Keith was a member of the DJ team Hot Mix 5 with Mickey 'Mixin' Oliver, Ralphi 'Rockin' Rosario, Kenny 'Jammin' Jason and Scott 'Smokin' Silz (Silz was replaced by Julian "Jumpin" Perez in 1985 and Mario "Smokin" Diaz joined later as a sixth member). The original DJ team had been put together by Chicago radio station WBMX Program Director Lee Michaels in 1981. People in the know might say Hot Mix 5 ushered in the second wave of house DJs with Frankie Knuckles, Chosen Few DJs, and Ron Hardy being it's first wave They laid the foundations of house music, first, by mixing disco and contemporary European imports (what was getting called 'Punk Out' at the time) in their intricately sequenced and edited collages (clearly influenced by Shep Petibones' Mastermixes and the Latin Rascals edits). When local productions began appearing they incorporated them into their sets. They broke all the early Chicago house records on the show, these included many of their own productions. There are references in what the DJs were playing in the early Chicago productions, baselines, drum patterns and melodies mimicking 'Feels Good (Carrots & Beets)', 'Peaches & Prunes', '119', 'Walk The Night', 'Life Is A Jungle', 'White Horse', 'Beat The Street', 'Disco Circus', anything Kraftwerk etc

Hot Mix 5's Friday Night Jams were recorded and passed around and many still exist online, like the one below

https://www.mixcloud.com/uniquesoundsofamerica/farley-jackmaster-funk-friday-night-jam-1985-hot-mix-5-wbmx-chicago/

Farley ‘Jackmaster’ Funk - Friday Night Jams 1985 - Hot Mix 5 WBMX Chicago

Farley 'Funkin' Keith changed his name to Farley 'Jackmaster' Funk around 1985. As well as radio show he was resident at The Playground (later the Candy Store) which was one of the clubs that grew the young, then nameless (well, called anything but House!), scene on the South Side (and West Side) of Chicago

Chip E. and Farley go in together to create the label House Records which puts out the foundational EP Jack Trax. But according to Chip E. in a post on Discogs "House Records was MY original label. Farley (Jack Master Funk) was supposed to be the executive producer (come up with funds) but somehow it fell through after the label art was done (wasn't as easy as it is today). Long story short, I sold my nearly new SL1200 MK2 turntables to afford the studio time, and my mother loaned me her tax return funds to have the first 500 pressed at QCA" - so according to him Farley didn't hold up his end of the bargain

As well as putting out records on House Records Farley 'Jackmaster' Funk is among the first artists on the influential Trax and DJ International labels, deified in the UK

Farley 'Jackmaster' Funk with his roommate Steve 'Silk' Hurley (below as J.M. Silk - Jack Master Silk) led the Jackin' craze when their records became pop hits in the UK (remember The Reynolds Girls 'I'd Rather Jack Than Fleetwood Mac'?) I read the other day the term 'Jack' which was initially more popular as a name for the music than 'House' was short for ejaculate? In all my years I'd not heard this before

Farley 'Jackmaster' Funk - Farley Knows House from Funkin With The Drums Again

Farley 'Jackmaster' Funk - Jack The Bass - borrows heavily from the Laidback track 'White Horse'

Farley 'Jackmaster' Funk - Aw Shucks (Let's Go Let's Go) - reproduces the bassline from Sharon Redd's 'Beat The Street'

Some other artists mixed by Farley

J M Silk ‎– Music Is The Key (House Key) - Steve "Silk" Hurley with vocals from Keith Nunnally on the main mix

Razz Featuring Matt Warren & (fellow Hot Mix 5 DJ) Ralphi Rosario - Razz-Matazz - usually you hear 'Kill Yourself Dancing' or the rhythm trax type track 'Pump It Up' off this release but I like 'Razz-Matazz'

[kickmag]

Farley Jackmaster Funk Will Throw The First Pitch At Chicago Cubs Game To Commemorate 40 Years Of House Music

House music pioneer Farley Jackmaster Funk is throwing the first pitch at the Chicago Cubs game this Friday, August 16, at Wrigley Field. The DJ and producer's pitch is part of Chicago's 40 Years Of House Music celebrations around the city. Mayor Johnson has acknowledged Farley's contributions with a proclamation and leadership over the city's activities to honor the creative milestone that has influenced dance music worldwide. Farley was a member of the influential DJ crew Hot Mix 5, heard on Chicago's WBMX-FM 102.7 during the '80s. The City of Chicago already recognized their contribution to house music, with streets named after each member. Farley released several foundational house records, including "Jack the Bass," "Love Can't Turn Around," "Funkin' With The Drums," "Give Yourself To Me," and "The Acid Life," which was the blueprint for Technotronic's "Pump Up The Jam."

He founded the House Records label in 1985, releasing classics like Chip E's "Jack Trax." As of 2024, he is the longest-running house music DJ in the world on Chicago radio. Farley is a big fan of the Chicago Cubs and is excited and grateful for the opportunity to do the ceremonial first pitch. In addition to his appearance at the Cubs' game, he will DJ at the O'Hare Airport for DNC Travelers on Aug 18, from 11 to 2 p.m., on behalf of the House Music Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation, of which he is the founder. Farley is participating in the Inaugural House Music Parade and Festival on Saturday, August 31 at 10 AM in the South Loop. Find out more at the official website. 

[priokskfm]

#MixOfDay #Podcast #Radioshow #LiveDjset Traxsource LIVE! #491 with Melvo Baptiste This week we welcome radio show presenter, DJ, producer, label owner and music selector Melvo Baptiste to Traxsource LIVE! Melvo heads up The Remedy Project label that oozes, Soul & Funk while also showcasing new talent in the scene and developing forward-thinking, genre-bending and ambitious musicians. Melvo's mix delivers a fantastic blend of Disco, Soul and House today in support of his new record with Annette Bowen 'Did You Pray Today?' on the mighty Glitterbox Recordings, available now at Traxsource. Expect hot tunes from Aroop Roy, Opolopo, Seamus Haji, Mike Dunn and much more.. get ready to vibe! 20+ countries, 80+ radio networks and 10 million+ weekly listeners can’t be wrong. Keep it Traxsource. Keep it underground. Follow us on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/traxsource Follow us on Soundcloud: https://ift.tt/8vy2Bbe Follow us on Facebook: https://ift.tt/5ZtqlEs Follow us on Instagram: https://ift.tt/QcPHj7l Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/traxsource Melvo Baptiste - https://ift.tt/0qs5WOu Did You Pray Today? - https://ift.tt/JFaqY1z Glitterbox Recordings - https://ift.tt/8rEHQMd The Remedy Project - https://ift.tt/unV2oXB MELVO BAPTISTE - TRACKLISTING: AUG 1ST, 2024 01. Melvo Baptiste feat Annette Bowen – Did You Pray Today (Glitterbox) 02. Close Counters – Dancing On My Own (Glitterbox) 03. Recloose – Dust (Aroop Roy Remix) – (Remedy Project) 04. Telefax Productions pres. DeeVoeNay – Break This House Down (Classic Music) 05. Opolopo – X Machine (Unknown Label) 06. Phazer – Nothing Is The Same (Daniel Paul’s Disco Blend) [Perfect Love] 07. nocapz. – Coming For Ya – (Gruuv) 08. No ID - Look Like It (Space Talk) 09. Seamus Haji Presents Mekkah – Race Of Survival (Original Sonz Of Soul Mix) – Soul Love 10. Ben Westbeech – Times Are Changing (Two Sole Fusion Remix) – Glitterbox 11. Farley Jackmaster Funk feat. Billy Monroe - I'm A House Head (Mike Dunn Blackball Soul Mix) T’s Box FORTHCOMING GUESTS ON TRAXSOURCE LIVE! • Soul Clap (Aug 8th) • Groove Assassin (Aug 15) traxsource, Glitterbox, Opolopo, Gruuv, "traxsource live", "house music", "soulful house", "Melvo Baptiste", "Did you pray today", "Annette Bowen", "Classic Music Company", "Louie Vega", "Seamus Haji", "Soul Love", "Mike Dunn", "Farley Jackmaster Funk", "Ben Westbeech", "Close Counters", "Telefax Productions" www.priokskfm.online https://ift.tt/L50gDaF

[kemetic-dreams]

House is a music genre characterized by a repetitive four-on-the-floor beat and a typical tempo of 120 beats per minute as a re-emergence of 1970's disco. It was created by DJs and music producers from Chicago's underground club culture and evolved slowly in the early/mid 1980s, and as DJs began altering disco songs to give them a more mechanical beat. By early 1988, House became mainstream and supplanted the typical 80s music beat

House was created and pioneered by DJs and producers in Chicago such as Frankie Knuckles, Ron Hardy, Jesse Saunders, Chip E., Joe Smooth, Steve "Silk" Hurley, Farley "Jackmaster" Funk, Marshall Jefferson, Phuture, and others. House music initially expanded internationally, to London, then to other American cities, such as New York City, and ultimately a worldwide phenomenon.

In its most typical form, the genre is characterized by repetitive 4/4rhythms including bass drums, off-beat hi-hats, snare drums, claps, and/or snaps at a tempo of between 120 and 130 beats per minute (bpm); synthesizerriffs; deep basslines; and often, but not necessarily, sung, spoken or sampled vocals. In house, the bass drum is usually sounded on beats one, two, three, and four, and the snare drum, claps, or other higher-pitched percussion on beats two and four. The drum beats in house music are almost always provided by an electronic drum machine, often a Roland TR-808, TR-909, or a TR-707. Claps, shakers, snare drum, or hi-hat sounds are used to add syncopation. One of the signature rhythm riffs, especially in early Chicago house, is built on the clave pattern. Congas and bongos may be added for an African sound, or metallic percussion for a Latin feel

One book from 2009 states the name "house music" originated from a Chicago club called the Warehouse that was open from 1977 to 1982. Clubbers to the Warehouse were primarily African, gay men, who came to dance to music played by the club's resident DJ, Frankie Knuckles, who fans refer to as the "godfather of house". Frankie began the trend of splicing together different records when he found that the records he had were not long enough to satisfy his audience of dancers. After the Warehouse closed in 1983, eventually the crowds went to Knuckles' new club, The Power House, later to be called The Power Plant, and the club was renamed, yet again, into Music Box with Ron Hardy as the resident DJ. The 1986 documentary, "House Music in Chicago", by filmmaker, Phil Ranstrom, captured opening night at The Power House, and stands as the only film or video to capture a young Frankie Knuckles in this early era, right after his departure from The Warehouse. 

In the Channel 4 documentary Pump Up the Volume, Knuckles remarks that the first time he heard the term "house music" was upon seeing "we play house music" on a sign in the window of a bar on Chicago's South Side. One of the people in the car joked, "you know that's the kind of music you play down at the Warehouse!" In self-published statements, South-Side Chicago DJ Leonard "Remix" Rroy claimed he put such a sign in a tavern window because it was where he played music that one might find in one's home; in his case, it referred to his mother's soul and disco records, which he worked into his sets

[jnkmamma]

(DJ M-TRAXXX)

[randomvarious]

Chicago House Playlist

Alright, folks, here's something that's been a long time coming: a playlist of house tunes that came from the city that gave birth to the global phenomenon in the first place, and also kickstarted the whole evolution of electronic dance music as we currently know it. When house music began, most dancefloors had moved on from disco to a mishmash of post-disco, boogie, hi-NRG, dance-pop, synthy funk, electro, freestyle, and a whole lot of other stuff, but there was something different that started to brew itself into a movement during the mid-1980s among a predominantly black, gay crowd in the city where disco had first been symbolically murdered in 1979.

And eventually, it became known as house music, named after both The Warehouse, the place that the genre's godfather, Frankie Knuckles, would have residency, and the posters that would be hung up to advertise the venue's events, which referred to 'house parties' and 'house music.' The Warehouse would open up in the late 70s and close in the early 80s, but in 1983, Frankie would open up his own club, The Power House, which would then change its name to the Power Plant, and then change its name again to The Music Box, after another legendary house DJ, Ron Hardy, would take up residency there.

So, a lot of this playlist channels the greatness of some of those halcyon Chicago house days. And so much of it is just pure, primordial dance music bliss; lighthearted, unserious, super fun, revolutionary grooves. There was an amateurishness to a lot of it back then that gave it a significant level of goofy charm, and that's something that seems to have gotten mostly left behind as the music continued to grow into the 90s. Songs like "Move Your Body," by Marshall Jefferson, which opened with this rich and clanging, jauntily unpolished piano rag of sorts, was so infectious, and Curtis McClain's plainly bad, but passionate singing voice that would follow that iconic intro couldn't help but be adored too. And the song on this playlist that currently comes after that one, "Love Can't Turn Around," by Farley "Jackmaster" Funk & Jesse Saunders, is in much the same vein, as featured vocalist Darryl Pandy goes over-the-top berserk to start his second verse, making for another song that you really just can't resist 🥰.

Another total favorite of mine on here is one that was produced by Frankie Knuckles himself: "Let the Music Use You," by the Night Writers, which is a near-eight minute masterpiece that has a divine, string-pad-and-bell-laden beat that immediately shows you why Frankie was revered as such a master of his own craft. And that beat gets paired beautifully with Ricky Dillard's soft and tender, heartfelt vocals too.

And then there's Kevin Irving's "Children of the Night," which features his excellent, soulful voice on a beat that combines string pads with prickly electro stabs, and was made by Larry Sherman, the founder of the most important label in the history of Chicago house itself, Trax Records, which has also caught a lot of flak over the years for its shady business practices.

A couple more notes: first, be forewarned that the track that starts this playlist is another tremendous classic, "Mind Games," by Quest— which features the voice of Liz Torres and some great and dreamy freestyle-type synth work—but even though it's on Spotify, it is, unfortunately, pretty damn scratchy. Luckily, I was able to include a much cleaner version on the YouTube version of this playlist, though 😊. And second, I like to keep these playlists as chronologically ordered as possible, but I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out when Screamin' Rachael's "Bip Bop" was actually made. It has an aggressive male rap vocal on it that's reminiscent of Turbo B's on Snap!'s "The Power," so it could be from that early 90s period, but I really don't know. So I just put it at the end, where it will stay until I one day possibly figure out when it was actually created.

This playlist is ordered as chronologically as possible and links are provided below to songs that have been posted about previously in order to give them more context:

Quest - "Mind Games" Marshall Jefferson - "Move Your Body" Farley "Jackmaster" Funk & Jesse Saunders - "Love Can't Turn Around" On the House - "Pleasure Control" Housemaster Boyz - "House Nation" Ralphi Rosario - "You Used to Hold Me" Night Writers - "Let the Music Use You" Dalis - "Rock Steady" Kevin Irving - "Children of the Night" Bam Bam - "Where's Your Child?" Paul Johnson - "3rd Dimension (Remixed by Armando)" Screamin' Rachael - "Bip Bop"

And while there are some incredible moments in that Spotify playlist, I still have way more Chicago house music to show you in the YouTube version. Some tracks that stand out in this bonus crop are the first one, the silly and campy "Undercover," by Doctor Derelict, which has about 3,500 plays on YouTube across a couple uploads; another one from Frankie Knuckles, which is a rare remix of his very popular "Baby Wants to Ride" that has ~31.6K plays, and features some political opining from vocalist Jamie Principle, and even a detouring interpolation of "America the Beautiful" in its second half (😆); and then one from a later era of Chicago—'99, to be exact—called "Testing & Balancing," by Jimminy Cricket, aka James Curd, that has around 170 plays and liberally samples from Al Green's soul classic, "Love & Happiness."

Doctor Derelict - "Undercover" Jungle Wonz - "The Jungle" Steve "Silk" Hurley - "House Beat Box" On the House - "Ride the Rhythm"Libra Libra - "I Like It" Paris Grey - "Don't Make Me Jack" Liz Torres - "Can't Get Enough" Frankie Knuckles - "Baby Wants to Ride" On the House - "Let's Get Busy" Mister Lee - "Come to House" Jimminy Cricket - "Testing & Balancing"

And this playlist is also on YouTube Music.

So, with the Spotify version of this playlist, we currently have 12 songs that total an hour and 16 minutes, and with YouTube, we're at 23 songs that total 2 hours and 24 minutes. Clearly, there are a whole lot more goodies in that YouTube one.

And if you want a Chicago house playlist that's a bit shorter, I have one that's made of stuff that's solely from the 80s too.

1980s Chicago House: Spotify / YouTube / YouTube Music

Enjoy!

More to come, eventually. Stay tuned!

Like what you hear? Follow me on Spotify and YouTube for more cool playlists and uploads!

[chicagohousemusic308]

🎵Chicago House Music🎵 Throwback airchecks from FM Chicago radio stations in the 80's including WGCI, WBBM, WBMX and more with DJ's including Farley Jackmaster Funk, Mickey Mixin Oliver, Kenny Jammin Jason, Mike Hitman Wilson, Mario Smokin Diaz, Edward Get Down Crosby, Ralphie The Razz Rosario and more. Homemade house and dance mixes compiled and created in the 80's and 90's by a Chicagoan. All uploads transferred from cassette tapes to digital. by Chicago House Music

[higherlearningtvshow]

PRESS For Immediate Release 

Inaugural House Music Parade This Saturday in the South Loop & the Playground Reunion Block Party and More.

WHAT: In commemoration of this year's 40th milestone for the music genre that started in Chicago, the Inaugural House Music Parade steps-off down Michigan ave.  Immediately following is the Playground Reunion Block Party.

WHEN:  This Saturday, August 31st.,

Parade times - 10:00am .

 Block Party times - 12n to 7p

WHERE:  Parade Route - Stepping off at 23rd & Michigan ave, turning on 26th street to Calumet ave

Block Party Location - 27th to 29th & Calumet ave

WHO:  Invited guest to help celebrate are Dignitaries, guest DJs, Dance Troops and Car Clubs. This project is brought to you on behalf of the House Music Museum and Hall of Fame Foundation, Founded by Farley Jackmaster Funk, an original member of the Hotmix 5.

WHY:  We'are giving a House Music History tribute - the theme is to  remember the WBMX Radio Station Days, when car radios dominated the streets across Chicagoland with House Music.  The WBMX Radio station was where House Music was popularized and became mainstream in the early 80's, by the Hotmix 5 Multicultural DJ Group.

This year, the City of Chicago is recognizing 40 years of House Music and hosting a number of citywide celebrations. This marks another project for Farley upon Mayor Johnson writing a proclamation acknowledging his contributions and appointing him to spearhead some city’s activities as his history of co-creating and pioneering the House music genre runs deep and across the globe.

Farley is notable for writing and producing a number of highly influential tracks over the last several decades that became characteristic of the Chicago house music sound. He is also currently the longest running House Music DJ in the world on Chicago radio and lots more.

For more information, you can visit the website:

www.thehousemusicparade.com

[graemepark]

THIS IS GRAEME PARK: LONG LIVE HOUSE RADIO SHOW 01DEC23

THIS IS GRAEME PARK: LONG LIVE HOUSE RADIO SHOW 01DEC23

In this week’s Long Live House Radio Show:

Kry (IT)

Los Charly's Orchestra

Philippa

Simon Hinter

AC Soul Symphony

Ridney & Roisto

River Ocean feat. India

South Street Player

Juliet Roberts

Soul Central & Kathy Brown

Nu Colours and more.

LONG LIVE HOUSE RADIO SHOW 01DEC23

Title (Mix), Artist

Hang Up Your Hang Ups (The Only One), Paul Woolford feat. Kim English

The Light (Club Mix), Tête de la Course

This Is Our House, Kry (IT)

Vibration, Los Charly's Orchestra aka Juan Laya & Jorge Montiel

Entregate a Mi (Eric Faria Remix), DJ Paulo Leite & DJ Grouse & Lisa

(We Are) The Tribe Of All Nations (Rubber People Big Afro Remix), Jay B McCauley feat. Spirit-T

Hold, Philippa

Antenna, Simon Hinter

Housed In My Soul (Extended Mix), Sweet LA

YoYo Disco (Extended Mix), Wolfram & Josh Ludlow

Losing My Mind At The Disco, AC Soul Symphony

A&S (Extended Mix), Ridney & Roisto

Love & Happiness, River Ocean feat. India

Here Comes The House Music, Massiande

Let’s Get Jazzy, KC Flight

Feels So Right (Odyssey Inc. Remix), Solution

(Who) Keeps Changing Your Mind? (The Night Mix), South Street Player

Power Of Bass (Club Mix), Armand Van Helden vs Hervé

Caught In The Middle (Def Classic 12" Mix), Juliet Roberts

LFO (Leeds Warehouse Mix), LFO

Do What You Feel (Birdee Remix), Joey Montenegro

Love Can't Turn Around, Farley "Jackmaster" Funk & Jesse Saunders feat. Darryl Pandy

Sunday Shoutin' (Dr Packer Remix), Johnny Corporate

House Nation, Soul Central & Kathy Brown

Desire (Masters At Work Dub 3), Nu Colours

[djevilninja]

John Rocca - I Want It to Be Real (Farley’s Hot House Piano Mix)

[c-40]

A-T-5 040 Chip E Jack Trax

I'm reading Bob Stanley's book Yeah Yeah Yeah. It's a history of pop music trends from 1952 up until the early 2000s (I think). I'm currently reading the section on Philly soul. There's obviously lots of mentions of early disco records (of the up tempo R&B type) which the consensus agree emerge around 1974. What is missing from the story is disco had begun its development well before the first disco records

The same is true of house music in Chicago, the scene, the fashion, the dances, the clubs, were there and had been there for some time before Jesse Saunders' remake of the Mach b-side 'On And On' (a Stars On 45 style disco medley). Jesse Saunders' released 'On And On' was released in January 1984. He also release a handful of HiNRG tracks under various names, with Vince Lawrence

Marshall Jefferson hears 'On And On' and isn't impressed, he thinks he can do better and hearing this record gives him the confidence. Jefferson says 'On And On' inspired everyone to make a record and get it out. Farley "Jackmaster" Funk believes Jesse Saunders had no intention to make a house record, he just wanted to be Prince!

Jamie Principle's 'Your Love' had been around for a while but wasn't pressed up onto wax until 1986 (is it?). The other real contender for first house record is Chip E's EP 'Jack Trax'. House wasn't widely used as a term, Jack was bigger. Mike "Hitman" Wilson says Chicagoans went mental for jack. According to Joe Smooth (who played on 'Jack Trax') Chip E. embraced the scene. Mike Dunn would say 'It's House' from 'Jack Trax was the first real house record on wax. The EP is the first to use the words Jack and House

So what do we have

Mirage featuring Chip E. - Time To Jack the original version off 'Jack Trax'. The bassline is lifted from 'Life Is a Jungle' by Kikrokos

Mirage featuring Chip E. - MB Dance

Mirage featuring Chip E. - It's House

Chip E. Inc Featuring K. Joy - Like This (House Mix) this is a separate release not on 'Jack Trax' - with Kimberly J. Salter on vocals and J.M. Silk

[kickmag]

Upcoming Documentary About House Pioneer Ron Hardy Has A Crowdfunding Campaign

Chicago house music pioneering DJ and remixer Ron Hardy is getting a new documentary made about his life. Director Vito Nicholas has set up a Kickstarter campaign to raise money for I Was There: The Rise of House Music in Chicago. Hardy inspired a new generation of artists with his intense style of playing music that was sped up and many times played backwards on his turntables at the Music Box nightclub during the '80s. He made sure that disco didn't die and nurtured its successor, called house, by adding new songs to Chicago's dancefloors and using rhythm and sound effects as a weapon against the propaganda of Disco Demolition Night.

Frankie Knuckles pioneered the house sound with more professionalism and politeness at the Power Plant and Warehouse Clubs, but Hardy was an avant-garde underground hero with no restrictions on what he did in the DJ Booth. Hardy's live remixes gave inspiration to legends like Jesse Saunders, Steve "Silk" Hurley, Farley Jackmaster Funk, and more. Unfortunately, Hardy died young, at the age of 33 in 1991, as a victim of the A.I.D.S. epidemic, and he never became as known as other artists from the scene. Nicholas has interviewed house legend Robert Owens and others to uncover Hardy's legend and reveal the true story of house music. The crowdfunding campaign is scheduled to end in October. 

[eepy-poster]

{❤️☕}

[heartbeatkitty]

Extraordinary, joyous, life-giving house music, equal parts angelic and devilish (the glimmering production is heavenly, but those horns are just filthy). If you want to know where to find all the tricks in the Pet Shop Boys toolbox, start here. Chris Lowe loved this song (he listed it in a couple fave-tunes-of-1986 articles), and traces of it can be found in many of his own sonic landscapes. Off the top of my head, I hear bits and pieces of this song in “Opportunities” (the heavily processed percussion), “Hit Music” (the aforementioned horns), “Domino Dancing” (those dramatic synth stabs). And of course it’s all over the rest of Introspective. 

But regardless of what it spawned, “Love Can’t Turn Around” is a marvel unto itself. More and more, I’m finding myself wanting to listen to music that’s exciting, dense, packed with layers and fueled by energy, and if this track’s got anything, it’s fire. And that’s thanks not just to the amazing musical panorama, but to vocalist Darryl Pandy, who turns in a performance that’s so over-the-top one can only behold in awe. As SPIN magazine writer Barry Walters put it, “He begins ‘Love Can't Turn Around’ with all the hypermasculinity of an ill-fated Wagnerian baritone, to come back in the third verse as Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. His dynamics are so ridiculously wrong by contemporary R&B standards that they become absolutely right for house.” 

This is one of my favourite songs ever. It never fails to pick me up. Go, give it a listen!