Desert Island Disco - June 2017

Friday 9th of June, by Helen Hobday Team Laverne

Today's castaway Simon is heading off for a Desert Island Disco with a proper box of treats that has us grinning from ear to ear. Also Simon told us to grin because he's a dentist and he's going to check if our wisdom teeth are finally be coming through.

Hi Lauren

I noticed you had put a tweet out a couple of weeks ago asking for desert island disco suggestions which got me to thinking what would I put in my playlist. After much deliberation here it is.

By way of a bit of explanation;

Mathar is just a great song with fantastic drumming. This Song always reminds me of the old World Head Quarters in Newcastle, a Friday night favourite in my university days

Going back to my roots is another in a long list of brilliant reinterpretations by Richie Havens. If you don't want to dance to this then I don't want to know you.

Roll over and Snore is there because I really wanted something by the Idjut Boys. A favourite of my wife, she took me to one of the Suono nights in Newcastle (shout out to Tony and 586 Records) and that was it.

The Johnny 'Hammond' Smith was regularly played By Davis Mancuso at The Loft and listening to it you can see why.

Sieze the Time is another blast from uni days past. Quality Big Beat from the Kahuna Cuts label.

Automatic. Because Automatic by the Pointer Sisters.

Hallogallo. Couldn't put my name to this without some Kosmiche. The sound of true genius.

Simple Minds Theme for Great Cities is possibly perfect. Driving bassline, soaring synths, just timeless.

Perfect Motion, for Daz and long lost summers of our youth

Wake Up Everybody , Teddy Pendergrass sings us into the sunset with an amazing tune.

Tracks
Mathar Indian Vibes - Dave Pike Set
Going back to my roots - Richie Havens
Roll over and snore (live mix) - Idjut Boys
Los Conquistadores Chocolate - Johnny 'Hammond' Smith
Seize the Time - Fuselage
Automatic - Pointer Sisters
Love Tempo (fac79 remix) - Quando Quango
Hallogallo - Neu!
Theme for Great Cities - Simple Minds
Perfect Motion (Boys Own mix) - Sunscreem
Wake up Everybody - Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes
Hallogallo - Neu!

Friday 2nd June, by Helen Hobday, Team Laverne

Today's Desert Island Disco is so good it's actually ridiculous. It's almost as though our castaway Henry has a degree in Disco (he doesn't, it's art), either that or he's living inside our brain as one of the tracks he picked is the Desert Island Disco theme tune. Anyway, safe to say you'll be up and dancing within about 15 seconds.

Dear Tom,

I love this show and wanted to pick some tracks that really meant something to me. This selection stems from friends, both past and present, who have shared disco music with me, as well as the incredible times that they have brought along with them! I suppose this eclectic mix of disco is a fine example of escapism from the world, listening to this kind of music really helped me through the years, because lets face it, you cannot be uncheered by disco!

I only really discovered the wonders of disco at sixth form, where me and Louis would constantly challenge each other with finding the best tracks. Upon finding these, such as the wonderful Stephanie Mills track (a personal favourite that brings along memories of dancing on tables at the early hours). Slowly the momentum began to take shape and we started going out to see djs playing solely disco, a personal favourite was seeing LCD Soundsystem's James Murphy playing his Fabriclive tunes in London, shout out to Robbie and James!!

Before long, disco was all we were playing and by the time I was at university it was a staple. I met some life long friends through these escapades into disco, who I will always be able to have a good time, with the aid of some amazing disco music! Some of the songs on I will take to my desert island remind me of going to such festivals as Bestival, Soundwave and Gottwood; too many memories to write down from these, but special mention to Confetti at Bestival, which was a special place for me and all my wonderful Winchester friends You'll also notice a slight sway towards Africa towards the end, which stems from a interest that came about with Louis once again, along with my fantastic brother and sister whom without I would not be where I am today.
As I said this selection goes out to my friends, who at this very moment will be deep in their studies, doing that final push for their dissertations. So what better remedy than a good, healthy slice of disco to lift you from your studies.

Selection: From fast paced dance floor stompers, to older grooves, before a foray into Africa, finishing off with some early morning classics.
Cowboys & Gangsters - Gichy Dan
Deputy of Love - Don Armando's 2nd Ave Rhumba Band
Lovin' is Really My Game - Brainstorm
(My good mate Will showed me this stormer at a dinner party, probably my favourite of the whole selection, and impossible to stay still for this one - there is only disco Will!)
Looking For A Girl - Mr Mendel
Don't Push It, Don't Force It - Leon Haywood
I'm Your Boogie Man - KC & The Sunshine Band
(These past two tracks evoke memories of the first few days in university halls. The drab Leeds halls were not so pleasant, but playing these on repeat were a sure fire remedy! Keep grooving Larry, Sophie and Rosa!)
Dancing - Tru Tones
(Rory and I have played this amazing track too many times to recount, such a feel good song)
Disco Inferno - The Tramps
(For the 250 people that attended the legendary 203 Hyde Park house party. What a night, what a tune)
Walkman - Kasso
Shake Your Groove Thing - Peaches & Herb
(What more can be said about this track? Impossible to not shake your groove thing to this!)
You Can Get Over - Stephanie Mills
(Louis, dancing all day long to this in the summer)
Be Africa - Bibi Tanga & The Selentites
(This track epitomises the feeling of an English summer festival. A feel good African disco track, special mention to Danny and Tom and all the Leeds crew grooving til the sun came up at Gottwood)

Coulibaly - Amadou & Miriam
(Not strictly disco, but I have to put this one in. It brings back so many memories of my brother and sister, Polly and George. Staying up far too late in sunny Spain, dancing round the table and taking early morning swims, ridiculous fun)

Disco Hi-Life - Orlando Julius
(I have been playing this song whilst in Copenhagen, so much! This is to all of my pals out in Copenhagen; Robbie, Allan, Jonas, Marc, Matt to name but a few. Nights spent in Tietgen, sitting in the park, or huddled inside - so many good times.)

You To Me Are Everything - The Real Thing
(That fateful night at Soundwave in Croatia. This song is faultless, could play this on repeat all night)

Together In Electric Dreams - Giorgio Maurader
(Johnny, what a song, what a time to be alive)

I Want To Thank You - Alicia Myers
(A classic early morning song, watching the sun come up over some field, or a city scape. The perfect end to a great night)

All the best and keep grooving,

Henry

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