Theo Parrish - Ugly Edits #4

The Dells, "Get On Down (Theo Parrish Re-edit)" (YSI link)

Minnie Ripperton, "Stick Together (Theo Parrish Re-edit)" (YSI link)

Let's get back ready for the weekend with some disco . That's right, more Ugly Edits from Theo Parrish! We've posted up one or two other volumes of this series, essential music, some of the greatest edits that I've ever heard, as the Detroit techno third waver and Chicago house-man shows his disco side.

The "Get On Down" edit has sweaty dancefloor written all over it. It's an 11 minute soul workout that really never lets up, getting The Dells ready to take over at peak hour. Parrish has added a rubbery bass that keeps the whole thing moving; amazingly it never gets boring despite the length. I really love the strings on this one, they are out front and melodic. There's a really nice repetitive sound to this one, as Parrish brings a new disco style to the old disco sound. Great stuff.

I'm an even bigger fan of the Minnie Ripperton edit, as this one rewards close listening. There's so many little pieces that turn this one into a winner - piano vamping, Ripperton's whispers, finger snaps. Things stay on a slow burn for the first 5 minutes, then Parrish raises the flame by letting loose with some real vocal fireworks and brings it home strong.

Dmitri From Paris - Southside Edits Vol. 1

Dimitri From Paris, "Madd Luck" (YSI link)

Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, "Bad Luck" (YSI link)

Dimitri From Paris, "Feeling About 'Cha" (YSI link)

Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, "Tell The World How I Feel About 'Cha Baby"

We're jumping right back in the mix here, with two edits from the master, Dimitri From Paris. Dude is probably best known now for his Playboy Mansion mixes, which feature a much more mellow, cocktail jazz, smooth disco vibe. But, the man is also responsible for some perfect, seriously funky, raucous disco edits and tracks and his Southside Edits Volume 1 gives you the perfect window onto that side.

Both of these cuts are edits of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes songs, classic Philly Soul numbers that will remind you of why music is the greatest thing on Earth and Philly's its greatest city. Both are also furiously paced ragers, they get going quickly and never let up.

"Madd Luck" is my choice of the two, Dimitri's edit of "Bad Luck." There's just nothing like hearing Mr. Teddy Pendergrass belting out those "Satisfied"'s and "Down down down"'s over those beautiful strings, cymbal splashes, horn blasts, doubletime beat and vamping keys. Man, this needs to be the soundtrack to your life, this is LIFE MUSIC! Perfect for those days when nothing is going right, as it's sure to lift your spirits or provide company to your misery. For those wondering, Dimitri has mostly fucked with the drums, adding a kick drum to the mix that ups the pace and does away with the more relaxed original. The bass is also less prominent, making it less funky and deliberate.

"Feeling About 'Cha" adds an extended drums intro and outro, but for the most keeps things the same as the original, "Tell The World How I Feel About 'Cha Baby." Again, most of the edit revolves around the drums, as Dimitry has added a much more forceful beat, upping the tempo for the dancefloor. This one's on some feel good, I love my girl, the world is a beautiful place shit. If you don't love that, you don't love America, kittens or apple pie. Download all of this stuff, it doesn't get better.

Greg Wilson Edits

D.C. LaRue, "DC Le Groove (GW Edit)" (YSI link)

Talking Heads, "Gotta Tape I Wanna Play" (YSI link)

I've been meaning to up some more recent music, but as a sign of where my head is at, the only thing I really felt a NEED to put up right now was these edits of old songs by Greg Wilson. Doh! Give these two edits a listen though and you will lose any doubts or complaints that this shit ain't the truth.

The first one, "DC Le Groove," is completely new to me, a re-edit of D.C. LaRue's "Ca-The-Drals." Unfortunately, I can't really say what Wilson has done to this one or how far he strays from the original, but I will simply that this song in and of itself is amazing, a funkified disco stomper that makes the world seem better. It starts off with bass and guitar, some percussion comes in and things start chugging along. Then, every 30 seconds or so you get a great blast of strings and horn noise, which evaporates quickly, leaving you back with the guitar, bass and drums.

The next one should be instantaneously recognized by Talking Heads fans (who isn't a TH fan?!?) as an edit of "Psycho Killer" from the Stop Making Sense soundtrack. Wilson has created a nice extended drum-heavy opening that makes this one dancefloor-ready. It doesn't sound to my ears like he's done a whole lot to the original, which comes in with David Byrne's "Hi, gotta tape I wanna play you" intro. The original features only Byrne, his guitar and the "tape," i.e. drum machine that provides the beat. Wilson adds more percussion, but mostly let's this amazing song breathe.

Ashley Beedle - Dance and Shake Your Tambourine

Inner City Express, "Dance and Shake Your Tambourine (Beedle's Heavy Disco edit)" (YSI link)

Disco edits! Yeah! We did a post last week on "Dance and Shake Your Tambourine," the tune covered by the Universal Robot Band. The original by Inner City Express is hard to come by, but thankfully the master Ashley Beedle decided to drop an edit for the world to experience the original.

Beedle is one of those dudes who always has his hand in great music without becoming an ubiquitous figure. He was a part of the rave-y X-Press 2, made amazing house music with Rob Mello and Josh Howard as Black Science Orchestra and jazzy downbeat music in the Ballistic Brothers project. Dudes has even started three labels over the past decade plus - Afroart, Soundboy Entertainment and Ill Sun. Through it all, he has maintained an interest and love of disco, which has become much more clear recently with his amazing Heavy Disco edits.

This 12" is just pure bliss on a slab of vinyl. I want everyone to download these ASAP, put them on your iTunes or iPod, take 20 minutes out of your work day and revel in the beautiful sounds. I can guarantee you that Monday will seem a lot better and you will look forward to the week ahead and to falling in love and Obama being President. Let the horns and strings and guitars take you away from everything, as this is LIFE MUSIC people. Beedle has put his foot to the pedal on "Dance and Shake Your Tambourine," keeping it a burner right through. He's thankfully kept things mostly the same, including that little kazoo sound. There's a sick drum breakdown, those airy vocals and "oohs" and just the right amount of synths. All I can really say is wow. Grab a copy now.