Sweet Power

Music In The Streets

alexburke — Sun, 11 May 2014 21:21:10 +0000

It’s Sunday afternoon and someone just linked me to the livestream of a huge NYC block party in honor of legendary DJ Larry Levan. Here’s a little something about Levan, the Paradise Garage, and one of his records with The Peech Boys:

A while back, a listener called me up during Sweet Power — he was driving with his wife and informed me that she (a native New Yorker) was FREAKING OUT at hearing the songs she used to get down to at The Paradise Garage & The Loft (another early NYC dance club) on the radio in San Juan Bautista. I think this was the song that prompted the call:

It seems like everyone has such incredible memories about Larry’s marathon sets. Many attendees referred to the weekly party as “Saturday Mass.” I get it.

Uplift people!

Interview with Producer Dexter Wansel

admin — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 21:58:08 +0000

Teddy Pendergrass, Performing ‘The More I Get, The More I Want’

admin — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 21:49:17 +0000

Disco 101

alexburke — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 05:58:34 +0000

Dance music legend Tom Moulton recently sat down for a chat with NPR’s The Record. In the interview the veteran DJ and producer reveals the accidental origin of the 12″ single, the very intentional origin of the extended disco mix (lunch break-related), and comes across as a pretty down-to-earth guy.

NPR: You Can Never Say Goodbye To The Dancefloor

Happy November 6

alexburke — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 00:40:24 +0000

Here’s elder statesman Barry White with a seasonally-appropriate banger from his 1983 album Dedicated:

Boogie Down

alexburke — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 18:07:25 +0000

I was just put on to this track from Amalia which came out last year on her album Art Slave:

It’s like the best moments of Kashif or Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis circa 1984 but with some modern refinements. Hindsight really is 20/20 and producer Opolopo got it just right.

Budding label Cherries Records will release a 7″ version later this month, at which point I will be playing it to death across the radio airwaves.

The flipside ain’t half bad either.

Hi!

sethkolski — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 17:22:43 +0000

Poo Poo La La

alexburke — Sun, 27 May 2012 18:00:08 +0000

(means I love you)

Sweet Salvation

alexburke — Fri, 18 May 2012 00:45:57 +0000

For those in need of redemption, Los Angeles-based DJ/producer Dam-Funk offers this gospel-inspired boogie mix. Originally released in 2009 as a Stones Throw podcast, this is the full, unedited version of that presentation. Tracklist follows at the link, but is not even necessary as Dam-Funk presides over the whole affair, introducing each song individually like a minister spreading the good, funky word.

A Special Mix for WNYU’s A Downtown Affair

alexburke — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:12:50 +0000

A couple of weeks ago my Sweet Power co-host Seth K. sent a mix to our friends Mike McGill and Tackleberry over at WNYU’s A Downtown Affair.

They’ve been doing their thing broadcasting high-quality dance music across the tri-state area for several years now. They also run the Let’s Get Serious blog, which I highly recommend perusing for a PLETHORA of hot sets from both guest DJs and the hosts alike.

For the ADA mix, Seth K. picked the records — rare boogie, electro, and R&B with a couple of modern tracks thrown in for good measure. Props to DJ Seth Dean of Watsonville, who mixed the whole thing.

We’ll be playing a mix from hosts of A Downtown Affair on our program in the very near future so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out their blog at Letsgetserious.net and grab Seth’s mix!