Reach Up Disco Wonderland duo Andy Smith and Nick Halkes (aka Nick Reach Up) select some nuggets for us here ahead of their forthcoming set on Saturday November 23rd at Hang Dai Chinese in Dublin.
Former Portishead sample digger and world tour DJ Andy selects the first five whilst the XL Recordings and Positiva pioneer Nick picks selections 6 to 10.
DJ Andy Smith’s picks…
1.
Weekend Sun – Losers & Fools (DJ Andy Smith Reach Up Disco Wonderland re edit) (BBE)
Taken from the Reach Up Disco Wonderland Vol 3 comp, this is one of my re-edits. After remixing their ‘Hoochi Coo Strutt’ on the Cordial label I did a re edit of this track which I think came out pretty well. With the help of Dominic Owen.
2.
Queen Samantha – Take A Chance (TK)
A record originating from Paris with music by Harry Chalkitis alongside vocals by Gloria Brooks from Chicago. This 1979 underground disco track still works so well.
3.
Wanda – I Must Be Dreamin (Elektra)
A 1982 bass heavy track from when disco had subtlety turned into boogie. Wanda was the Sister in Law of Narada Michael Walden and this is co-produced by him.
4.
Maxine Singleton – You Can’t Run From Love’ (Creole)
1982 release by British born singer Maxine Singleton who only ever released two tracks. This & the equally good ‘Don’t You Love It’. I went for this one today.
5.
Yam Who & Rikky Disco – Set Me Free’ (Disco Juice)
A recent release from the ever prolific ‘Yam Who’ teaming up here with Swedish disco duo Rikky Disco to make a great sounding nu disco track with all of the vibes of original disco.
Nick Halkes picks…
6.
Birdee, Nick Reach Up, Barbara Tucker – ’Free Yourself’ (FullI Intention remix) – (Tinted)
One of the great pleasures of working in the music industry is the opportunity to create with people that you admire. This track gave me chance to make a record with Barbara Tucker who I’d signed to Positiva years previously and Birdee who I met up with in LA and got on great with. The legendary Full Intention came in on remix duties and it sits proudly on the third Reach Up Disco Wonderland compilation that’s out now!
7.
K.I .D – Don’t Stop (Sam)
This was the sort of track that i’d hear Tony Prince play on Radio Luxembourg when it first came out all the way back in the 80s. In that pre internet era it was quite hard work to track down great new music so I’d listen to the key shows and scribble down details of tunes I liked. I won a copy of a different K.I.D release in a competition on the station actually too. We’ve come a long way baby ! haha
8.
Brothers Johnson – Stomp (A&M)
The recent death of Quincy Jones had everyone digging out his classic productions and this is surely one of them. Andy and I heard The Krazy Psychadelic Shak mobile disco drop this as we stood on the stage next to them as kids and thought ’oooo this is good!’
9.
Elaine Mai, MuRli vs Dave Spoon, Nick Reach Up – Ready (Mark Knight Remix) (Toolroom)
Lets hear it for some Irish talent! Much love to Elaine and MuRli for letting Dave Spoon and I get involved with this one! Mark Knight signed this one to Toolroom and here he brings the remix:)
10.
Michael Gray feat Kimberley Brown and the Sultra Gospel Singers – Fly Away’ (Sultra)
Michael is one of the most consistent producers out there and this one rocks every time! It works as well in a small club as in a festival setting such as Beyond The Pale or Kendal Calling and it’s a guaranteed a spin at Hang Dai!
Reach Up Disco Wonderland duo Andy Smith and Nick Halkes (aka Nick Reach Up) play Hang Dai Chinese this Saturday November 23rd in Dublin.
