May 11th, 2009
The Sweetback! is turning 10! After 9 successful outings for the Sweetback! crew, Sweetback! returns to the Augusta House in May with their tenthennial extravaganza!
Friday, May 29th, 2009
SWEETBACK! v.10 !!!
This month with a special exclusive DISCO SET from Platform/Box Of Kittens artist:
JAMIE KIDD
and feat. Sweetback! djs
The White Falcon
(aka CutHowyaLike)
The Jive Express
(Chameleon Project)
Come help us celebrate our 10th jamaversary!
$5 @ the door
Doors at 9:30pm
Augusta House
(152 Augusta Ave.)
.
Tags: Disco, Event, Funk, Party, Toronto
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April 11th, 2009
The thing I have found about hip-hop is that so many of the truly great songs have borrowed their hooks and baselines from classic funk and disco tracks most people probably don’t remember, or the new generation never heard. To think of a few off the top of my head, would you know that Eminem’s “My Name Is …” was Labi Siffre’s “I Got The …”, J Dilla’s “Dilla Says Go” used The Trammps “Rubber Band”, and Dr Dre’s “Nothin’ But A ‘G’ Thang” was most recognizable as Leon Haywood’s “I Want’a Do Somethin’ Freaky To You” but also contained portions of Kid Dynamite’s “Uphill Peace of Mind”.
Well Hip hop has done it again, reviving a relatively obscure classic deserving of a second spin. When Jadakiss released his album “The Last Kiss” on April 7th, I listened through and found myself drawn to the track “By My Side” which was noticeably different from the rest of the cuts. On closer inspection I found that indeed we had another case of under-appreciated disco.
Teena Marie never won any awards for her own songs, all of which were written, produced, sung and arranged herself from 1980’s “Irons in the Fire” and going forward. She was also Rick James’ protege and together they recorded some great tunes, but what she would ultimately be recognized for was the song “Oh La La La” which reached the top of Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart, and remains her only #1 single to date. You may remember this song re-interpreted as the chorus for The Fugees’ “Fu-Gee-La” in 1995 which remains The Fugees’ top selling single and certified Gold.
But in her first release as writer, producer, artist and arranger, Teena Marie would hit the top 40 with this song, a true dancefloor jam, and respectfully brought back to life by Jadakiss for us all to enjoy again:
I Need Your Lovin' - Teena Marie [3:37m]:
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Tags: Disco, Funk, mp3
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April 3rd, 2009
The Sweetback! just won’t quit! After yet another strongly supported discofunkstravaganza in March, Sweetback! returns to the Augusta House in April!
Friday, April 24th, 2009
SWEETBACK! v.9
feat. djs
The White Falcon
(aka CutHowyaLike)
The Jive Express
and
Platform Shag
playing rare disco, funk, and
forgotten dancefloor monsters.
Come early, stay late,
shake booty, don’t hate.
$5 @ the door
Doors at 9:30pm
Augusta House
(152 Augusta Ave.)
.
Tags: Disco, Event, Funk, Party, Toronto
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March 29th, 2009
In the Bill Brewster & Frank Broughton book “Last Night A DJ Saved My Life”, Tom Moulton describes how he and his mastering engineer José Rodriguez were cutting 7″ metal blanks for Al Downing’s “I’ll Be Holding On” when Tom Moulton decided the spectrum wasn’t rich enough. He deduced that the grooves on a 7″ record were too small to carry a real bottom end since they were more geared toward radio play, preferring a sound that was all middle. So they tried it on a 10″ record and the sound difference was astronomical. They cut so many 10″ acetates that when they started the next project, Moment Of Truth’s “So Much For Love”, they had run out. So José suggested they try it on a 12″ blank and thus make the sound even louder. This was the birth of the DJs most effective tool… the very first 12″ single.
On one side they cut an extended mix of the song (Also known as a Tom Moulton Mix), and on the other an instrumental version. It was on the strength of that 12″ release Moment Of Truth was signed to Salsoul Records and their next release came with “So Much For Love” as the B side.
The A Side for that next release, the second ever publicly available 12″ Disco Single, is less known. But it is a monstrous raging carnivore of a disco song, complete with full-on orchestral arrangement, heavy horns, soulful vibes, rhythm guitar and sweaty black man emotion testifying throughout.
This is one I just don’t want to get out of my head:
Helplessly - Moment Of Truth [6:25m]:
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Tags: Disco, mp3
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March 24th, 2009
Many people ask where we took the name Sweetback! from for our events. There is the obvious possiblity; the Melvin Van Peebles motion picture entitled “Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song”. Or the less obvious choice; Roosevelt Sykes classic “Papa Sweetback Blues”. But the real answer comes in the form of a hot little “groove jazz” number from 1975.
Here’s a 3 minute clip of that tune for your aural pleasure:
Sweetback - Ivan Boogaloo Jones [3:00m]:
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Tags: Funk, Jazz, mp3
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March 12th, 2009
Tags: Photos, Toronto
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March 9th, 2009
Thanks to everyone who made Sweetback’s return last month a bumpin’ success, SWEETBACK! is now monthly on the last Friday of every month.
Friday, March 27th, 2009
SWEETBACK! v.8
feat. djs
The White Falcon
(aka CutHowyaLike)
The Jive Express
and
Platform Shag
playing rare disco, funk, and
forgotten dancefloor monsters.
Come early, stay late,
shake booty, don’t hate.
$5 @ the door
Doors at 9:30pm
Augusta House
(152 Augusta Ave.)
.
Tags: Disco, Event, Funk, Party, Toronto
Posted in Events | No Comments »
January 13th, 2009
After a year of waiting it’s back…. THE SWEETBACK! RETURNS!
The baddest rare disco and funk monthly in Toronto is on again at the very dance friendly Augusta house. Expect great people, great vibes and the illest grooves you never heard.
Friday, Feb 6th, 2009
SWEETBACK! v.7
featuring
The White Falcon
(aka CutHowyaLike)
The Jive Express
and
Platform Shag
rest up that booty,
you gonna need it!
Presented by:
Priceless Audio, Nufunk.ca
& the Augusta House
$5 @ the door
Doors at 9:30pm
Augusta House
(152 Augusta Ave.)
Tags: Disco, Event, Funk, Party, Toronto
Posted in Events | No Comments »
