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

Extended Play 81204 George FM

MFSB-Love is The Message (Tom Moulton remix)-Philadelphia Int-1973 Sandy’s Gang -Hungry (Sean P re-edit)-Tirk-2004 Womack and Womack-APB-Elektra-1983 Eric B & Rakim-Mahogany-MCA-1990 Rong Edits-#4-Rong-2004 Alexander O’Neal-Criticize-Tabu-1987 Incognito-Everyday (MAW Dobie mix)-Talking Loud-1995 Grace Jones-Feel Up (Larry Levan mix)-Island -1984 Frankie Knuckles & Jamie Principal-Your Love-Trax-1984 Basement Boys-Love Don’t Live here Anymore (Zanzibar mix)-Jump Street-1988 Rythim is Rythim-Strings of Life (Carl Craig / Derrick May unreleased mix)-Mastercuts-1994 PIL-Rise (instrumental)-Virgin-1986 Liquid Liquid-Bellhead-DFA-2004 Mr Fingers-Stars-Black Market-1992 Bomb the Bass-Beat Dis (Bonus Beats)-Rhythm king-1987 Sharam Jey-Feel Nobody-Underwater-2004 Dee-Lite-Runaway (Kenlou Dub)-Elektra-1990 Swan Lake-In The Name of Love-Bad Boys-1988 Lopazz-Blood (Tiefschwarz mix)-Output-2004 Abe Duque-Besame Mucho-Duque-2004 Turntablerockers-TTroy Dub-Fine-2004 Cameo -Money (Reese Hardcore mix)-Reprise-1992 Human Resource-Dominator-R&S-1991 Psyche-Elements-Transmat -1990 The Ballistic Brothers-I”ll Fly Away-Junior Boys Own-1995 David Duriez-On My Elbows (Hard Floor mix)-Duriez-2004 Blake Baxter & Abe Duque-Battle Cry-Mix Inc-2004

"That George Bush has pledged to bring peace and democracy to Iraq is a yardstick that he will be measured by. That George Bush seems ignorant, as so many are, not just of the debts we owe to Islam and the Arab world, but of the opinions and views of the Iraqis themselves, is an irony that is not of the delicious variety... it's unforgiveable."

So says Kid Oakland on my favourite US political blog, Daily Kos, in a succinct ramble he's called sofa coffee magazine...read it, you'll understand why

I guess I should format and dress this but I'm keen on getting out for breakfast..... So..the records I listened to most in 2004 (I guess I've missed a few too...a year is a longish time):

Phonique-Red Dress (Tiefschwarz) Inner City-Say Something Slam-Lie to me (Dave Clarke) David Duriez-On Your Elbows (Hardfloor) Zap Mama-Bandy Bandy (Carl Craig) Kellis-Trick me (Tiefschwarz) Tiefschwarz-Blow Unit 4-Body Dub Kraftwerk –Aeorodynamik (FK & EdC/PB) Vector Lovers-Electro-Robotic Disco Abe Duque & Blake Baxter-What Happened Blake Baxter-Enjoy the Silence Ferrer & Sydenham-Timbuktu Greg Churchill-Plutonic Spektrum-Something New (Tiefschwarz dub) Stratus-Vapour Jersey Devil Social Club Elvis Costello-The Delivery Man The Killers Nouvelle Vague Brian Wilson-Smile Moxie-5, 6 , 7 Directions & Throbbing Gristle- (Carl Craig) Rex the Dog-Prototype and the b side of Frequency that sounds like Hong Kong Garden Depeche Mode-mixes 04 Black Strobe-Abwher Disco Alden Tyrell-Disco Lunar Module Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom-Rise LFA-Yeah Aardvark-Cult Copy 2 (Carl Craig) Ricardo Villalobos-Dexter Cajmere-Midnight Abe Duque-Besame Mucho Roy Davis-About Love Kayne West album Chikinki LP & 10” Mu-Paris Hilton DFA Vol 2 Comp Turntablerockers-Troy Dub Soul Jazz Philly 2 Soane CD Mutiny / Robert Owens-Lucky My Love Michael Mayer Putsch 79- Putsch LP Social Classics Vol 3..Don Letts LP Playgroup-Reproduction LP Kraftwerk-Tour De France LP Harrison Crump-Ride Annie-Chewing Gum (Mylo) Baitercell-Whats down Low Churchill Mix v/a-Out On a Funky Trip CD v/a-Groove On Down LP Mateo Murphy-Panic Temptations-Psychedelic Soul CD Hardfloor-Soulful Spirit DK7-White Shadow (actually the killer acid b side but I can't remember the name) infinity-Back to Chicago NERD-She Wants to Move (DFA) Eric Kupper-Cuchifritos Blake Baxter-Sexuality (Ben Sims) Jeff Mills Choice LP and a veritable truckload of early techno, electro, soul, nyc eighties garage & funk, chi-house, hip hop (big Cold Chillin' thang), post punk rhythms, lovers, roots reggae, and sixties brit-pop....