Extended Play on George 221204

Quincy Jones-There’s a Train Leaving-A&M-1976 Supremes-I’m Gonna let my Heart do the Walking-Motown-1976 Dazzle-You Dazzle Me-De-Lite-1979 Donald Byrd-Love has come around-Elektra-1981 Hamilton Bohannon-Wake Up (Neroli re-edit)-Slam Jam-2004 Alexander O’Neal-Whats Missing (remix)-Tabu-1985 MC Shan-The Bridge-Cold Chillin’-1987 Hot RS-Slow Blow-Slam Jam-2004 Tilt-Arcade Funk-DETT-1984 Fatback -Girls on my Mind-Cotillion-1984 Change-A Lovers Holiday-WEA-1980 Smokey Robinson & The Miracles-Soulful Shack-Tamla-1967 Musique-In the Bush (FK Mix)-Prelude-1978 Jean Carne-What’s on Your Mind-Philadelphia Int-1979 Duane & Co-JB Piano Trax-Trax-1987 Jamie Principal-Cold World-DJ International-1987 Innocence-I’ll be There (MAW 12” mix)-Cooltempo-1992 Mondee Oliver-Stay Close (Larry Heard Fingers club vocal)-Gherkin-1989 Hardhouse-Check This Out-Easy St-1988 Heaven 17-Lets all Make a Bomb-Virgin-1981 The Reese Project-Direct Me (Underground Resistance Mix)-Giant-1981 Soulwax-E Talking (Nite mix)-Pias-2005 DK7-Slipstream-Output-2004 Tyree Cooper -Acid Over (Matey mix)-DJ International-1988 Chaka Khan-Krush Groove-Warner Bros-1985 Cajmere feat Dajae-I Need You-Cajual-2004 SIN-So Sad (Abe Duque mix)-Sin-2004 Rhythim is Rhythim-It is what It Is-Transmat-1988 Adamski-The N-R-G Symphony in F Minor-MCA-1990 Wham-Everything She Wants (12” mix)-Epic-1984

I always feel rather sorry for large groups at Asian restaurants who politely sit there consuming their own individual meals rather than sharing and partaking in all the available flavours. Actually thats not true....sorrow is the last emotion I feel, rather pity and an overwhelming desire to scream "what the fuck are you doing...get a life". I mean, why bother? Surely someone has the balls to take over or politely explain the seemingly obvious fact that food in most Asian restaurants is made to be shared. Obviously not. The sight of half a dozen girls on a hen night each with their own rogan josh is just plain sad. Sorry...pet niggle

Who the hell would want to be a music critic, especially one who writes those 50 word reviews for the local rags like Real Groove (which actually has its moments and is worthy, especially in an era where the rock mag has largely become redundant with the rise of the electronic media), or Rip It Up (which hasn’t had an issue worthy of the ink used since Murray Cammick left and is rather self important, bloated and sad these days I’m afraid). I should know, I used to churn them out in days gone bye for Murray, and some of what I wrote is simply embarrassing…the 200 hundred words by 9am for an album you’ve never heard before syndrome…a record that some poor bastard spent a year of blood and toil making….as Lou Reed says “you spend a year and a half making an album and some arsehole gives you a b+”

And in the grand tradition of embarrassing reviews, both the above magazines gave Brian Wilson’s Smile fairly luke warn reviews. Including one from a reviewer that I would have thought better of….but, hey, everyone has an opinion and they’re entitled to it. Including me. And my opinion is that they’re wrong. And they are. Beyond question.

And just to nail that point home, Brian Wilson astounded and mesmerised 3000 odd people on Sunday night past at the Aotea Centre here in Auckland. Russell Bailey actually nailed it pretty well in the NZ Herald and I’m loathe to try and better his review.

Suffice to say that Brigid, who has always looked strangely at my Brian Wilson fixation, and was less than convinced by the rocky ending to the first half, is a new born convert. Smile is everything it was always supposed to be and something more. I hate the way the word genius is so loosely applied, but with Brian, the tragic genius is unquestioned.

Mike Love can trek around the world recycling surf hits endlessly (and providing Mojo with odd “I’m a good guy…really….” interviews that just dig his hole a little deeper) and suing people like poor old rather talentless, Al Jardine- Brian left him behind decades ago. I loved the accoustic bracket at the beginning, and the way he dug out lesser known early tracks ("Wendy" & "Forever"...bliss), and when he ended with a bracket of hits, it was because wanted to, unlike Love's oldies crew trading on the Beach Boys name, it wasn't the reason we were all there.

Fucking genius.

The first is from one arguably one of the most talented rappers to ever pass through the West: The D.O.C. Before a car accident destroyed his vocal chords and ended what would have been a career that could have made Snoop seem like a little doggy dogg, D.O.C. was THE Man. Powerful voice, untouchable flow, and just a presence on the mic that towered over the entire NWA posse. "The D.O.C. and the Doctor," was my first introduction to him and it remains my favorite song by him even though he's had bigger hits ("Funky Enough"). It's just how ill the song opens - the thrash guitar, the convo b/t him and Dre, and the explosive: "I'm the diggy-diggy-Doc-ya'll" which is only outdone by the opening to the 2nd verse: "When I hear a BASS drum/I gotta get dumb."

So says Oliver Wang on soul sides. I'm a massive fan of the D.O.C., and the album remains an almost lost hip-hop classic. But Wang is wrong to dismiss the hip house version of "Portrait" as cheesy. I assume he's refering to one of the CJ Macintosh remixes, which came on two uk 12"s, one of which is mentioned here. There were two separate CJs...the red sleeved one already mentioned, and a blue sleeved one with a hip hop and a tougher house mix. I have a real soft spot for the CJ (& Dave Dorrell) mixes of tthe late eighties. There was a rolling charm to many of them and at their best (Roxanne Shante's "Live on Stage" & The D.O.C. mixes) he added something without belitting the original....something rare with UK mixes of US hip hop of the era (as Eric B & Rakim found out). In particular the remix of "Boops' leaves the original in the dust.

I've also just rediscovered CJ & Einstein's electric scratchfest, "The Tables are Turning" on Simon Harris's label, Music Of Life. Hard as hell to find but worth grabbing if it turns up, as one did the other day in the cheapie bins at Real Groovy (where all the best records are).

Extended Play 151204 on George Fm

Willie Williams-Armegideon Time (discomix version)-Studio One / Soul Jazz-1980 Dunn Pearson-Groove On Down-Shrylden-1978 Martin Circus-Disco Circus (FK Edit)-Prelude-1979 Captain Sky-Station Brake-WMOT-1981 Common Sense-I used to love H.E.R.-Relativity-1994 Mantronix-Who Is It (Club mix)-Ten-1986 Public Enemy-More News at Eleven (Funk Minister Mega length mix)-Def Jam-1992 CJ Macintosh & Einstein-The Tables are Turning-Music of Life-1987 Simon Harris-Bass (Bomb the House mix)-FFRR-1988 Siouxsie and the Banshees-Hong Kong Garden-Polydor-1977 Rex the Dog-I Look into mid air-Kompact-2004 New Young Pony Club-Ice Cream-Tirk-2004 Rong Edits-Edit #1-Rong-2004 Ragtyme-I Cant Stay Away (Knuckles vocal)-Bright Star-1987 Sounds of Blackness-I Believe (Morales classic Gospel mix)-Perspective -1992 Free Chicago Movement-Recognize-Nuphonic -1995 Seven Grand Housing Authority-The Question -Simply Soul-1993 Frankie Goes to Hollywood-2 Tribes (Carnage mix)-ZTT-1984 S- Express-Theme from S Express (Carl Craig's Birthday Surprise Mix)-Rhythm King-1996 Unit 4-Bodydub (Freak Electric mix)-Clone-2004 Josh Wink-516 Acid (Chicken Lips Acido de Boogie mix)-Ovum-2004 Alden Tyrell-Disco Lunar Module-Clone-2004 Roach Motel-Wild Luv-JBO-1994 Underground Track Master-Battle Cry-Mix Inc-2004 Powerhouse 3-The Magnificent-Nu Groove-1991 Fingers Inc-Bye Bye-Jack Trax-1988