Artiste: C.J & Co.
Album: Tony Humphries Choice: A Collection of Club Zanzibar Classics
Spotlight Track: Sure Can’t Go To The Moon
Label: Azuli
Track is produced & arranged by Mike Theodore And Dennis Coffey
I’ve had the luck of finding Tony Humphries Choice Compilation on Azuli a few weeks ago at Gramaphone. It was a sure hit with the rest of the boys, bringing back many memories for them. For me, it reconfirmed my love for black dance music (or simply put, disco).
With this compilation, I’m truly spoilt for choice! All the tracks are killers, carefully selected by the godfather of garage himself, Tony Humphries. Although the tracks are varied and eclectic, one thing in common is the distinct vibe found in all of them, and it’s definitely a subliminal product of the disco era.
Dance music now as we know it may have very well hit a dead end, save for some creative individuals pushing the boundaries, but back then it was more straightforward. Dance music was black (and gay) and it was all about sharing positive messages, happy vibes and to party all night long. Champions like Nicky Siano at The Gallery, David Mancuso at The Loft, Larry Levan at Paradise Garage, Tony Humphries at Zanzibar, Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy in Chicago, they were all breaking grounds back in the mid-seventies to late eighties. The songs that worked the floor to a frenzy were MFSB “Love Is The Message”, Eddie Kendricks “Girl You Need A Change Of Mind”, Risco Connection’s “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now”, Peech Boys “Don’t Make Me Wait”, Dinosaur L “Go Bang!”, Third World “Now That We Found Love” and so on. Eventually the people partying to disco music got so inspired, they went on to evolve the music to House, Techno, Hip Hop and Garage, and everything else to follow.
Tony Humphries is the true don of the “Jersey Sound” created in the lengendary club, Zanzibar. His taste for soulful, gospel-tinged sound is eclectic but always SPOT ON! We had the good fortune of dancing to his set recently at Zouk til 630am, amazing stuff! After much thought, the spotlight track chosen is CJ & Co’s “Sure Can’t Go To The Moon”. This track is a forgotten classic first released on the Devil’s Gun LP on Atlantic. Its message is about the current state of society, for we sure can’t go to the moon once we have destroyed our earth! Man, I love this track! The rest of the tracks are also worth a mention, from Tongue ‘N’ Cheek’s “Tomorrow”, to rave tunes like Psychotropic’s “Hypnosis”, this comp is totally worth it. Check it here.
Here in Singapore we have a strong media-force, which makes us spoilt when it comes to what music we listen to. With a small nation like ours and too many fan boys starting their own movement, why not stop to look at what the disco has to offer?
Tangkap This!!!
-Kenny
