Some people don’t know this but I produced a few acid/funky breaks records back in the day under the name DJ Decent.
From what I understand, a well-known dj/producer over in Spain used my song “Where You At, G?” to lead off one of his mix cds. Because the actual record was never widely distributed there and no one knew anything about it, somehow people over there believe he made the track. I can’t substantiate it but that’s the story i heard. Regardless, the song blew up and the result was a notable amount of bootlegs and unauthorized remixes floating around the territory.
Now I can’t say that I’m not happy and appreciative that the song was exposed to people that my have otherwise missed it but it does suck a bit that most people aren’t aware of who actually did it. It’s a double-shame because there was some awesome cover art used in the official version issued by Stickman Records
In any event, here are some relevant videos I found:
I happened to have a random conversation with a friend where I talked about an old 45 (with a handwritten label) that my mother played for me as a young teenager of her singing a song called ‘World of Happiness’. My mom recorded a ‘demo’ for the song for Weldon Mc Dougal III, owner of Hawthon Records in Philly on her 18th birthday in 1965.
After that little trip down memory lane, I became curious to find out whatever became of the song. I was wondering if the producers/writers/record label had found a different singer to record and officially release the song at some point.
After speaking with my mother and trying to find out what she remembered about the people involved, I did a Google search using the bits of info she remembered and the song title.
I started coming across a few charts, playlists and forum discussions of Northern Soul DJs and enthusiasts that included the song title, but they credited Ann Robinson and sometimes Cindy Scott as the vocalist.
Digging a bit deeper, I discovered that even though it was never officially released, the song has become somewhat of a staple of the Northern Soul music scene in the UK. It’s played regularly at events and has been featured prominently on compilations and mixes.
Then, I came across forums where people were disputing the validity of the vocal credits. Now, a mystery still surrounds the song due too the fact that no one in the scene (not even the original producers) knows who the singer of the song is but they all tend to agree that it’s definitely not Ann Robinson and that Cindy Scott is probably not even a real person.
At this point, I realized that it might be a good idea to actually hear the song in question. I came across a YouTube posting listing the song as the #6 “rarest of the rare” Northern Soul classics.
I instantly recognized my mother’s voice …
I happened to have a random conversation with a friend where I talked about an old 45 (with a handwritten label) that my mother played for me as a young teenager of her singing a song called ‘World of Happiness’. My mom recorded a ‘demo’ for the song for Weldon Mc Dougal, owner of Hawthon Records in Philly on her 18th birthday in 1965.
After that little trip down memory lane, I became curious to find out whatever became of the song. I was wondering if the producers/writers/record label had found a different singer to record and officially release the song at some point.
After speaking with my mother and trying to find out what she remembered about the people involved, I did a Google search using the bits of info she remembered and the song title.
I started coming across a few charts, playlists and forum discussions of Northern Soul DJs and enthusiasts that included the song title, but they credited Ann Robinson and sometimes Cindy Scott as the vocalist.
Digging a bit deeper, I discovered that even though it was never officially released, the song has become a staple of the Northern Soul music scene in the UK. It’s played regularly at events and has been featured prominently on compilations and mixes.
Then, I came across forums where people were disputing the validity of the vocal credits. Now, a mystery still surrounds the song due too the fact that no one in the scene (not even the original producers) knows who the singer of the song is but they all tend to agree that it’s definitely not Ann Robinson and that Cindy Scott is probably not even a real person.
At this point, I realized that it might be a good idea to actually hear the song in question. I came across a YouTube posting listing the song as the #6 “rarest of the rare” Northern Soul classics.
My name came up in one of the comments of a posting about an album called “Rules” by The Whitest Boy Alive.
One of the commenters was basically saying that he could hear my influence on their song “High On The Heels”.
I listened to the 30-second clip on iTunes and I thought that maybe he had a point but the similarities could just as easily be a coincidence.
But then, I came across this video with the entire song:
Now, I’m not going to say anything because I’m obviously not impartial or unbiased.
Just check out this tune (especially towards the end) and you tell me. Did that guy have a point about a possible “influence”? Does anything about “High on the Heels” sound familiar?
March 16, 2009By: hollispmonroe Category: Release News
The Beautiful Cherifa & I
The Beautiful Ones is my new project created to release an ongoing series of sonic dedications to all the exquisite women who have had a positive impact on my life.
ABOUT THE PROJECT:
This concept has actually been floating around my mind, heart and hard drive for years. Now, for whatever reason, I feel a sense of urgency to move forward with it. Each of the primarily instrumental songs will be named for a different woman I have known. Some of the songs and versions will be available for free download and others will be released officially. Elements of some will probably show up in other songs just as the influence of these great women shows itself in various aspects of my life, personality and relationships. The free songs probably won’t be mastered or particularly well-mixed but they will indeed be raw with the essence of my appreciation that I fondly send out in full view of you all.
ABOUT THE SONG:
I started this song about 11 years ago. A short while back, I had finally gotten to a point where it began to feel complete. Then my hard drive dies on me! Fortunately, I found the last mixdown I did before the files were lost. Unfortunately, there are a bunch of random percussion sounds playing over it that I was testing…
ABOUT THE WOMAN:
Cherifa is my soul-sister. She has a lovely face, a beautiful voice and and a truly generous heart. She gave me shelter, fed me and introduced me to a wonderful group of friends in Montreal. She has held me down and had my back since the day we met.
December 05, 2008By: hollispmonroe Category: Release News
The Bargrooves : Winter Warmers mix CD has been topping charts all over the world for the last week! Andy Daniell and company have obviously done an excellent job of reaching the househeads with this one. This mix just so happens to include Andy’s brilliant remix of THIS WAY (featuring Christa) which recently peaked at #7 on the iTunes Top Ten Dance Chart in Norway!
November 15, 2008By: hollispmonroe Category: Release News
My remix closes out the Galactique Recordings “freelease” of CASSETTE TAPES by Taperecorder! The ’30 secondish remix’ experiment is an album of 30 to 40 second long songs which have been remixed by a variety of different musicians such as tim ‘love’ lee, someone else, miskate, toof, rob mall, pacifica, mossyrock, [blank], intergalactic faerie funk, bix, and i luv luvbirds. . They are then presented back to back with originals of those said songs. The only rule was that the remix couldn’t be more than double the length of the original. Click on the artwork below to download the entire album for FREE! All I can say is, “Expect the unexpected…”
here’s the ever expanding list of all my favorite jams. i think this will give insight on what moves me and the kind of person i am. it will always be a work in progress but here’s the meat of it:
here’s the ever expanding list of all my favorite jams. i think this will give insight on what moves me and the kind of person i am. it will always be a work in progress but here’s the meat of it:
we can funk (the bootleg version) – prince
everybody here wants you – jeff buckley
one more chance (stay with me remix) – notorious b.i.g
i don’t know – big audio dynamite
plowed – sponge
i can’t make you love me – bonnie rait
it’s a fine day – opus 3
if i was your girlfriend – prince
so fine – mint condition
idioteque – radiohead
flowers – armand van heldon feat. roland clark
i can’t believe i loved her – pevin everett
nobody else – ce ce peniston
getting late (live version) – floetry
silly – denise williams
babylon sisters – steely dan
around the world – daft punk
sailing – christopher cross
computer love – zapp
africa – toto
men at work – kool g rap
nothing compares to you – the family
dominator (joey beltram mix) – human resource
always in my dreams – wendy and lisa
strong enough – sheryl crowe
funky dividends – 3 times dope
music sounds better – stardust
these dreams – heart
gabrielle – roy davis jr featuring pevin everett
broken language – smoothe da hustla featuring trigga the gambla
cascades of color – ananda project
let me be your fantasy – baby d
the horns of jerico – the prodigy
a stronger man – ben watt featuring sananda maitreya (terence trent d’arby)
a song for you – donny hathaway
roulette dares (this is the haunt) – the mars volta
if you were here tonight – alexander o’neil
don’t stop – brazilian girls
sure thing – st. germain
all that you give – cinematic orchestra
all about love – earth wind & fire
don’t think twice, it’s all right – susan tedeschi
stay – the dells
let this – ayro
everlong – foo fighters
destination – ananda project
worlds – passion dance orchestra
don’t stop the music – yarbrough & peoples
the ride – joan as police woman
