lundi 14 Jul 2008, 20h22m

seandalai.muxtape.com (link no longer works, RIP Muxtape)

I made this a while back, but of course there's no time like the present to party. 11 of my favourite dancing songs plus a requisite end-of-events comedown.

Lokonon André & Les Volcans - Mi Kple Dogbekpo
From my favourite compilation of the year so far, African Scream Contest by Samy Ben Redjeb of Analog Africa. Everyone should own this album.

Rufus Thomas - The Breakdown (Part 1)
Rufus Thomas was king of the funky novelty dance in the 60s/70s, introducing to the world such dances-your-sister-mother-brother-can-do as the Walking the Dog, the Funky Chicken, the Push and Pull and the Funky Penguin. The Breakdown is one of his more sensible contributions.

Sly and the Family Stone - Sing A Simple Song
One of the greatest basslines of all time, by one of the greatest bands.

Roxy Music - Editions Of You
Got to keep the rock kids happy, this one's for them.

Les Rita Mitsouko - C'est comme ça
When doing the musical genealogy post I realised I like very little music from the mid-/late-80s. Les Ritas are an exception, and "C'est comme ça" (one of their more hinged songs) is exceptionally catchy.

Sam and Dave - Hold On! I'm Comin'
Sam and Dave's breakthrough hit in 1966, backed up by the Stax dream team of Isaac Hayes/David Porter and Booker T and the MGs.

Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules Theme
I didn't get the original hype about H&LA and I don't get the eventual backlash either. Andrew Butler et al. do a pretty good 21st century take on the Paradise Garage end of disco, though not everything works on the album. This is one of the highlights.

Le Knight Club - Nymphae Song
I don't usually like this kind of thing, but Le Knight Club (inc. half of Daft Punk) win me over with their filtery French house done good.

Talking Heads - Life During Wartime
The story goes that Arthur Russell almost joined Talking Heads in 1976, which could potentially have lead to a universe-expanding musical explosion if Russell and David Byrne had kept the personal politics under control. Another story (see here) is that Russell took personal offense to the line "This ain't no disco" in Life During Wartime, suggesting it never would have worked out. Anyway, one of the Heads' dancingest in my opinion.

Edwin Birdsong - Cola Bottle Baby
It's ridiculous that none of Edwin Birdsong's albums are in print. I think this song was sampled by someone or other.

Chic - I Want Your Love (Todd Terje Edit)
Can you improve on perfection? Todd Terje thinks so.

M83 - We Own The Sky
I never paid any attention to M83 until the latest Saturday=Youth album. This feels like it should soundtrack the last train home of the night with a group of teenagers offhandedly making myths, and that's probably the point.