Always being online can cause many things. Two habits that I've picked up in the past couple of years: Google Searching, and iTunes Music Store Searching. While Google may take me to a list of links that have a great deal of info, I really want to hear a sample of the music I'm looking for. Its tough when you're into dance music or club music. But, iTMS has been working on this for a bit, and I've found some rare tracks that I hadn't heard since I was little, some since I started clubbing, others where "I didn't know that so-n-so wrote that!". I suggest that you give iTunes & and iTunes Music Store a shot. There's a LOT of music in their databases. If you find anything of great interest, or something you'd think I'd dig, please e-mail me. I love checking out new music! Later!

CD COVER
TRACK / DESCRIPTION / MEMORY
French Kiss - Lil' Louis & The World
Released 1989
Wow, what can I say about THIS track... Well, one thing is for damn sure. This is not a song you play for the youngsters! This is a very adult track. Released as one of the most controversial tracks of its day. French Kiss causes many people to go: "Oh my god... I remember THIS track!" The beat was incessant, and of course the woman in the song, who is moaning due to her significant other "takin' care of bidness". As the pinacle of the track gains steam (and I mean literally!) and the beat gets faster, Lil Louis has actually proven that your heartbeat, your breathing, and every move you make is rhythmic. I've had some VERY memorable moments at a club with ladies when this song came on. There was even a lyrical version of it. Maybe I'll find it...
Don't Call Me Baby - Madison Avenue
Released 2000
This is one of those chuggin'-disco-house classics. The lyrics are infectious, the chorus is damn sexy, and it'll be in your head long after you've left the club. I first heard this track at Fluid Nightclub in Philly on one of Josh Wink's Last Wednesday Parties. I immediately regained any lost energy when the needle hit this one! It's just such a fun, bouncy track. Only problem, it's a bit too short. Another three minutes would be PERFECT!
House Music - Eddie Amador
Released 2004
"Not everyone understands House Music..." the song starts. This is SO true. Hip hop folks complain about the lack of lyrics, Others into other dance genres complain about it's speed or it's lack of hardness (until hard house came into being). But just as the song says "It's a spritual thing, a body thing, a SOUL thing..." I first heard this one dropped by Chris Udoh of the Wamdue Kids from Philly. The floor PACKED, and everyone was sweating and enjoying the shared energy. Chris Udoh was bobbin' back and forth to the beat, Deep C was working the lights, and place went white hot when the beat finally surfaces. Listen to this one LOUD. You'll be glad you did.
Freak-A-Zoid - Midnight Star
Released 1983
This is what I call a "Rollerskating Classic". You can't go rollerskating and NOT hear this song. It's one of those songs that everyone knows, but not everyone knew who was behind it. Heck, even Homer Simpson sings it! This song uses the infamous vocorder style that was becoming prevalent in breakdancing tracks, and was born from the late disco and Kraftwerkian timeframes. I don't know about anyone else, but I went FASTER when this song came on!
Night & Day - Al B. Sure!
Released 1988
Now here's a song that's SMOOOTH. It's got a seriously addicting beat, and an infectious chorus. It makes you even FEEL smooth. I always heard this one on "Couples Only" during my rollerskating sesisons... Al B. had a few other hits, but none that moved you like this song. Definitely one of those timeless pieces of music that sounds great and will almost fit any situation. A MUST if you're an 80's music fiend.
Walk The Dinosaur - Was (Not Was)
Released 1988
Right after "Bust A Move", the DJ at the skating rink would play this song, and it was such fun in so many ways. One was to watch the 16 person pile-up on the floor when people would try to skate too fast. My only gripe about this song was towards the end of the song, they're singing "Everybody KILL the Dinosaur"! It's a fun song, the music video (which MTV has aired only a few times) was funny, and you got to actually see that they were a band. You can always play this where people feel that today's dance music wouldn't be "appropriate". I haven't heard one person complain about this one.
Channel Surfing - Feature Cast
Released 2002
Now, talk about a hard to find track? This is one of them. When you hear this you may think: "I KNOW I've heard this somplace...I just can't seem to place where...." Here's a hint... a BIG hint. iPod. Yep, you guessed it! This is the track played behind the silhouetted, iPod-carrying breakdancers in one of Apple's iPod + iTunes commercials in 2002. I scoured the net looking for the QuickTime of that particular commercial (Apple didn't post that one right away on it's own site), and finally got it. I was over a friends house, and he was making me a CD. And as we were previewing the tracks in his own iTunes collection, this one came on. I naturally LOST IT. I couldn't believe that he had it. I asked him where he got it, and he said off of iTunes Music Store. Immediately added it to my iPod when I got home. Breakdancin' goodness!
I'll Be There For You - Weekend Players
Released 2003
This is one of those sultry, emotional dance tracks that makes you feel like hugging your friend. Just a bit more dance-y. Anyhow, this is one of those songs you can sing along with as well. Not really sappy lyrics either. But meaningful, heart felt lyrics. Don't be surprised if you get tears of happiness. I've been in a club full of people who were throwing down as hard as they could, and when the music became more soulful, and this track came on, you could see a tears of joy streaming down a few faces. And yes, I don't think it was sweat, either. Definite "must-have".
Chase - Giorgio Moroder
Released 1978
You may remember a movie called "Midnight Express". It's a movie I've heard a lot about but have never seen myself. That's one that I must get. But, I'll tell you the first time I heard this track. Rollerskating. As you may have noticed, that I used to rollerskate a lot. Kind of runs in my family. Anyhow, I was in camp, and they had taken us to a rollerskating rink (not the place I go now), and I had heard it there. Every so often, I'll hear a snippet of it in some other song, or remix... but it always brings back memories of camp, and being one of the few people at camp who knew how to rollerskate.
Black Shaolin - Carl Cox
Released 1999
This song, is one of those quirky, "can't get it out of my head" kind of songs... Once it gets in there, you'll find yourself humming it, and possibly dancing. It's a little UK-Ragga-break track that mega selecta Carl Cox wrote, and it will definitely cause you to play it over and over and over again. The first time I heard this track was in one my favorite movies: Human Traffic. I won't describe the scene in the movie, just make sure you watch the WHOLE thing, because it's in there. And when you see the visual matched with the audio, you'll get the big laugh I did when I first saw it. It's got great bass, and will definitely make the subs in your car flex a bit. Great track for all dance music junkies! Don't miss out!
As I do more searches on iTunes, I'll post my findings here. If you found one that you think I'd like, e-mail me! =)