“Let me tell you… how it will be. That’s 1 for you… and 19 for me.” “And this is what you rap to her…” I can still feel the sweat on the pads of my Sony headphones, riding uptown on a train car with faulty A/C. What this tape contains has survived no small amount of challenges: It didn’t get dubbed over, at a time when nobody thought any of this would matter; it was transported cross-country, twice, in a shoebox; it lived, without a case, in the door pocket of my car for a year or so; and finally, it got lost in my apartment under a huge pile of unlabeled or incorrectly labeled cassettes from the era. This thing has God on its side.

What you are about to hear is a live “breaks” mix, circa fall of 1995, from WNYU radio. I have no idea who the DJ is, but if anyone that was around back then has an idea, I’d love to know. Whoever it was… this was the pre-serato, CDJ, mp3 era… they had the joints. That wasn’t a small thing.

Now I know everyone and their mother has since caught these records, sourced the artists, found a box, sold them on ebay, bought them back for cheaper, gripped it and flipped it and… well suffice to say if you call yourself into beats and grooves and breaks, and can’t name every record on this mix, in 2010, well… you are not at all thorough. But that’s not the point. No, it’s not. These are not exactly top tier secret squirrel records NOW, but back then, you had to have some game to have the kind of collection that powered this mix. And the skill with which it’s executed – again, all live, all vinyl – I know this mystery dude has to be someone of a certain stature.

Another challenge this tape survived: I played it every day, multiple times, in a walkman that didn’t even make it to the following year. And every time I listen to this mix now, I’m transported back to that era. I’m right there, on the train uptown, looking out the window at the apartments and projects, the huge throwies and fill-ins and rollers that replaced the classic pieces which occasionally could still peak through and give us a glimpse into another past, yet further off. The rush of finding joints on here, for the first time: for me, this tape was a genesis. Sure, I was already digging for records, DJing, sampling, and I was listening to all kinds of music from jazz to salsa and rock to funk and so on. But, to use a vague, loaded term that I still think any record guy can understand, I didn’t get it. I got turned on by this mix, it all started to click.

Hopefully, if you were into hip-hop and breakbeats in the mid 90s, this will take you back to those days. If that era precedes you, maybe you’ll find this entertaining and authentic. And if you’re not into that scene at all, maybe you’ll still learn a cool record or two that might seem like old hat to an old head. Whichever way is up for you, please enjoy with my compliments.

- Jonny

Go get Adobe Flash Player!

Download HERE

Track list below the fold.

1. bobby byrd – i’ll lose my mind
2. chapparrals – country girl
3. carla thomas – unchanging love
4. tommy ridgely – live while you can
5. nomads – girl you move my soul
6. private charles bowens – xmas in vietnam (instrumental)
7. larry saunders – darling i love you
8. marvin gaye – distant lover (alternate mix)
9. tommy mcgee – make sure
10. chuck jackson & maxine brown – something you got
11. alvin robinson – something you got
12. sugar hill – that’s love
13. darrell banks – my love is strictly reserved for you
14. johnnie taylor – aint that loving you (for more reasons than one)
15. reginald c – take what you want but leave a little bit
16. cornelius brothers & sister rose – since i found my baby
17. shirley brown – so glad to have you
18. bobby day – your love
19. gloria taylor – deep inside you
20. garland green – girl i love you
21. tammi terrell – all i do is think about you

Here’s a mix of great old school (60’s & 70’s) haitian records pulled from my crates. If you aren’t familiar with Konpa or other classic Haitian sounds, now’s the perfect time to get schooled. There’s some great tunes on here that you probably won’t find anywhere else. Donate at least $5 to Partners In Health and forward me the confirmation email that you get and I’ll give you a link to download the whole mix (broken into separate tracks for your listening enjoyment). Forward your donation receipt to this address: charlie@mixtaperiot.com

DONATE HERE: www.pih.org
more on my site: www.mixtaperiot.com

The mix is bad ass and I encourage everyone to donate and grab it.

Well now it’s here.

New York and San Francisco meet in key to bring you the best
song sandwiches both sides of the Mississippi.

“I have no idea who this guy was. He arrived around 7:45 PM, ordered a beer, took a sip, and just sat there and let the beer turn to lawn water. That was it. He just sat and stared. He had on these dumb mirrored shades and wore a Dungaree jacket. He could have been 21, 41, I have no idea. He never talked to anyone. Everybody thought he was blind, but he never stumbled or fell or used a cane. Not in front of me at least.

At some point, when nobody else was using the jukebox, he went over and layed his hands on it. No—I got that wrong. He layed one hand on it and stuck out the other arm like he’s Trent Reznor reaching out to touch the black dragon. Some song I know we got on the jukebox, like “White Rabbit,” starts playing. Except it’s not that song. It’s that song plus The Police or something else from the radio. Most people liked it OK. People bought him beers, but he never touched them. This one guy gave him a twenty and the kid did nothing but stare at him. After he did his thing, he sat down and ordered another beer, took a sip, and then left.

I haven’t seen him since. I kinda liked that one with Yes and Lionel Richie. It was angry and sad. I think the kid had, like, a GPS in his coat to pick up radio signals but Pedro patted him down and all he had on him was a pack of those Christmas Trees you hang from your rearview mirror. Dude was somewhere else.”

- Bartender. Bill’s Bar and Billiards, Omaha, NE

DOWNLOAD HERE

And be sure to check out both DJs’ blogs: www.docdelay.com and diamondsinthedust.blogspot.com for a ton of great music.

Here it is, at long last… the epic reggae session at Lost & Found. In two parts.

Strong shout outs to my man DJ Wicz, the venerable Mike Stanley, and our gracious hosts Jared, Chris, and Pablo.

Part One features (in order): JBX, DJ Wicz, myself, Mike Stanley, and Boogieman playing 30-40 minute sets of reggae each. Some deep, deep tunes were dropped this night! A set for the ages, no doubt…

Part Two soon to come.

Stream the whole damn 3 hour session here:

Download it separated & tagged HERE

Burn one, family! And enjoy…

Brian has laced us with the following mix that is packing, well, a hell of a lot of that fire.

DOWNLOAD HERE

Track list below the fold.

01. Bob Pinodo – Africa
(from Show Master of Africa, 1978)
02. Uhuru Dance Band – Biribi
(from The Sound of Africa, 1975)
03. Bunzu Soundz – Zinabu
(from Bunzu Soundz, 1977)
04. Ogyatanaa – Akosua Manu
(from Yerefrefre, 1975)
05. Orchestre Poly Rythmo de Cotonou – Minsatole Mi Dayi Homin
(from Volume 1, 1972/1983)
06. Orchestre Picoby Band – Jo Ahi Nou Se
(from Jo Ahi Nou Se/Vikoue 7?, 197?)
07. The Big Beats – Kyenkyema
(from Kyenkyema/Mi Nsumoo Bo Donn 7?, 197?)
08. K Frimpong & His Cubano Fiestas – Kyenkyen Bi Adi M’awu
(from Self Titled, 1976)
09. Ebo Taylor – Heaven
(from Self Titled, 1978)
10. Sweet Talks – Eyi Su Ngaangaa
(from The Kusum Beat, 1976)
11. Dan Satch – Je Nr’okan
(from Je Nr’okan/Woman Pin Down 7?, 1971)
12. Avolonto Honore – Na Mi Do Gbe Hue Nu
(from La Mort N’a Pas De Date Fixe, 197?)
13. The Funkees – Break Through
(from Break Through/Slipping Into Darkness 7?, 197?)
14. One World – I Need Your Help
(from Victory, 197?)
15. The Apostles – Play Girl
(from Self Titled, 197?)
16. SJOB Movement – You Only Live Once
(from A Move in the Right Direction, 197?)
17. Thony Shorby Nwenyi – No Wrong Show
(from Sweet Funk Music, 1978)
18. Akeeb Kareem – Tomorrow
(from Blackman, 1972)

This was done for the annual mix swap over on Waxidermy.

The aegis of the mix was listening to all of these fantastic, unknown, rare LPs that were all of a sudden gracing the shop, directly from Africa… and wanting to do something with them but not something that had already been done. And among all of the well-sorted funk, afrobeat, disco, and boogie mixes and compilations out there, nobody had really touched the most popular form of music in West Africa: Highlife. Now, I’d be lying if I really had proper grounds to explain the scene or the music. I just know what catches my ears. And the melodies, the shimmering guitar runs, the counter-rhythms and pulses… at its best this stuff is downright hypnotic. So I present, with no further ado, a mix of highlife and blues from Nigeria and Ghana (and one record from Benin).

Thanks to Sean Manchee for the cover art!

Update: When I first posted this mix, it was still part of an ongoing swap by limited participants. That swap is long over, and I’m happy to attach a download and track listing for all who asked. Cheers, Jonny

Download HERE

Track list below the fold.

1. Miki Jaga & His Dance Band – Oye-Oba
2. Alex Konadu’s Band – Eno Abenaa
3. Banico International – Uzo Ije Siri Ike
4. Uhuru Dance Band – Yabyian
5. Dr. K. Gyasi & His Noble Kings – Epono Hini Me
6. Ebo Taylor & The Pelikans – Come Along
7. Papa Yankson – Woma Menkabi
8. The B’Comers – Onye Ma Echi
9. Yamoah’s Band – Menua Ba Ahofe
10. Banico International – Ihe Mmadu
11. Celestine Ukwu & His Philosophers – Okwukwe Na Nchekwube
12. Achile Johnny – Mede Woui
13. The People’s Star – Mbaukwu Boys Special

I was at this gig and man… one of the best sets of rare soul that I’ve heard in recent memory. It’s a real pleasure to post this mix (thanks Aaron!)

Be sure to check out Peoples Records if you’re in the D!

Long-time Good Records NYC employees Delay and Manchee have been working on this one for a while, and I’ve been sworn to secrecy for weeks now. But I just got the go-ahead to share this amazing mix with the rest of the world! Tom and Sean got together over a number of evenings, got blitted, and did what they do best – wade into a universe of space vibes and psychedelic sounds. So turn on the jacuzzi jets, break out the roach clip, and mellow out. It gets deep.

Go get Adobe Flash Player!

Download HERE

So you all know longtime friend of Good Records Hoody Allen is one of the hardest tape collectors out there. Long-time fans of the site are no doubt familiar with his Red Alert and Tony Humphries tapes, which he was so gracious to allow us to host. Well now he’s back to bless us with another crazy tape… Mickey Mixin’ Oliver live on Chicago’s WBMX, New Year’s Eve 1983/84. You can imagine how crazy it must have been going down back then! This massive mix takes us back there with Oliver mixing seamlessly through house, disco, electro, and boogie classics. Listen!

*note: Woody Allen watermarks are *not* part of the mix, just a lil somethin’ to remind heads where the tapes are coming from. Peace & Grease, Jonny