December 09 Podcast

Here's an hour long podcast I did quickly today. It's mainly Modern Soul tracks. I will post the playlist when I get chance. Hope you enjoy the tracks.

LISTEN HERE

New Podcast

Here's a new hour long podcast from me.


LISTEN HERE

P.Skillz @ Lava Lounge, Chicago with Sean Sounds

I'm going to be playing at the Lava Lounge, Chicago this Monday, for anyone in the area. Also playing will be Sean Sounds who is an awesome DJ and also runs the excellent BRING THE HEAT site. If you haven't been on Bring The Heat yet you should check it out today.

R.I.P. Roc Raida

Gutted to hear DJ Roc Raida passed away this week aged only 37. He was one of the best at what he did & I couldn't even count the amount of hours I must have spent watching footage of him, when I was heavily in to the Turntablist thing. A sad loss, rest in peace.

Percy & Them - Shake It (DJ Red Greg Edit)

Great edit of the Percy & Them track Shake It by London DJ Red Greg. The original is a spin for a few on the soul scene. Great track & really nice edit too. This features on the Red Greg mix which is on Independent Movement. If you haven't listened to it yet then download it today.

P.Skillz spinning in Chicago Sat Oct 10th

If you're in the Chicago area on Saturday October 10th them come down to this. Will be a pure dirty disco beatdown featuring Myself & some of Chicago's finest dj's - Boogienite, Rahaan, Brian Reeves & Bullit.

THIS EVENT WILL ALSO BE STREAMED LIVE @ www.stickam.com/djboogieniteFOR THOSE THAT CAN'T MAKE IT TO CHICAGO FOR THE EVENT.

Keb Darge Interview

Here's an interview legendary record digger & DJ Keb Darge did a few years ago for a German site. Keb is entertaining & the interview is pretty interesting. There are another 4 parts to it on this link HERE

Jeff White Guest Mix

I just got sent a new guest mix by Chicago's Jeff White. If you like the early 80's sound then you will like this. He also sent me a bio to go with it, so there is not much more for me to add. Enjoy the mix and leave Jeff some comments or shouts. Here's what Jeff had to say:


"My journey into becoming a DJ began in 1981. I was in a dance group called “The Boy scouts” we were at this club in Chicago called The Playground. The resident DJ was Farley Funkin’ Keith, now known as Farley Jack Master Funk. He was one of the hottest DJ’S back in that time. Listening to him spin, the tricks, the blends, and the records he played, grabbed me by the collar. I enjoyed the way the crowd responded to the way Farley was playing, how he held their attention, never letting them go.

Month’s later I bought a pair of Technic turntables and a Teledyn mixer. I began my record collecting by purchasing records from stores like Import ECT, Loop records, Second Hand Tunes & Gramma Phone. Just to name a few, songs like “Keep On Dancing,” “Keep Your Body Working,” “Martin Circus” “Klein MBO Theme,” were some of the hottest records out.

Now as I began maturing in music Disco and Garage became another one of my passions. From the playground I went to Mendell, Sauers, C.O.D.’s, Bismarck hotel and other parties. At C.O.D’s, there was this DJ by the name of Lil Louis. He was one of the hottest DJ’s in the 80’s of the house scene in Chicago, as well as a very dynamic producer. He really touched me with his tracks and the mixture of disco. There would be five hundred + people at these parties. No one going home until the wee hours of the morning.

But it wasn’t until I heard the great late, legendary, Ron Hardy spinning at this club called The Muzic Box, which was located on Lower Wacker Drive. From the time you walked into the Box you were captivated, put in a trance. It was dark, with only the brightness of the flashing strobe lights bouncing off of the walls. The sound system was one of the best in the city. Ron Hardy knew how to grab the crowd. He knew how to work the crowd. He made many edits of certain records, and he was even a record producer. With his style and the system no track or record ever sounded the same.

This made me want to really learn the craft. I began trying different things with records until I developed my own style. I have had the pleasure of spinning at clubs such as Retno 5, The Concrete Jungle, Jackson Harbor Bar & Grill, Hi Ricky’s, The Fiz Bar, Slicks, Family Den just to name a few.

Some of the past DJ’s who were a major influence on me were: Farley, Steve Hurley, and Ron Hardy, Lil Louis, & Frankie Knuckles. Some of my present influences: Mark Grusane (www.mrpeabodyrecords.com), Mike Cole (www.mrpeabodyrecords.com) Sean Sounds (www.bringtheheat.com much love, and Baby Funk Roy, Joseph, Colbourne ( He’s the real deal!!!! ) also I must not forget Soul in the Hole’s Lee Collins and Sadar Bahar.

I do a mix show every Sunday on: www.stickam/jeff_white (Via video cast LIVE) . Also mix are featured on http://soundcloud.com/jeff_white and www.bringtheheat.com


(((((Open your mind and let the creativity flow through.))))) "



LISTEN HERE

New Unmixed Mix

It's been a while since I posted anything but I don't seem to have much spare time at the moment. Anyway I had a spare hour yesterday so I just played some records for an hour and recorded an unmixed mix. The tracks are modern soul with a few boogie tracks towards the end.

I'm going to try and get back to regular posting again.

Playlist:

Tal Armstrong : You've Got So Much Feeling (In Your Love)
Oscar Perry: Teasin' Me
The Imaginations: Perfect Pair
Little Beaver: Listen To My Heart Beat
Freeway: Get The Feelin'
Spade Brigade: I'm Your Man
Jeff Floyd: Don't Leave Me
James Bradley: Can't Get Enough Of Your Love
Sweet James Epps: Searching
Enchantment: I Know Your Hotspot
George Hill: Do It while It's Hot
Phase II: Follow Me
Rideout: Someone Special
RDS: Magic Wand

LISTEN HERE

New Ian Wright mix on Independent Movement

London's Mark G has just posted a new Ian Wright guest mix on his site Independent Movement, which I have been enjoying this week. If you haven't been on his site then check it out. The mixes section has loads of quality mixes from Mark & guests such as Keb Darge, Rahaan, Boogienite & Sadar to name a few. I've also been playing the Marco Santucci one a lot in the car this week. Do yourself a favour & check his site out today and download all the mixes for free.

CHECK IT HERE


UPDATE: the podcasts are really good too. I especially like the January one. You can check them HERE

Rainbow Disco

Someone posted this clip on a forum I go on & I thought I would share it. If you need to hire a DJ for a party, get this guy in. Rainbow Disco y'all.

New mix: P.Skillz - Because I Love You

Here's a quick unmixed mix which I did this afternoon. It's all soul tracks about love. I made it up as I went along. The needle skips twice about half way through but that is how it is, I can't be bothered to re record it or edit it. Anyway hope you enjoy the tracks.

LISTEN HERE

Playlist:

Tommy Mcgee - Now That I Have You
The Imaginations - Because I Love You
Coke Escovedo - Why Can't We Be Lovers
Creative Source - You Can't Hide Love
The Four Tops - Still Waters Run Deep
Vickie Baines - Sweeter Than Sweet Things
Bobby Reed - The Time Is Right For Love
Beverly & Duane - Love
Roy Ayers & Wayne Henderson - For Real
West Wing - I'm Gonna Love You
Willie Hobbs - Yes My Goodness Yes
Dionne Warwick - You're Gonna Need Me
Jewel Bass - Let Your Love Rain Down On Me
Ramp - I Just Love You
Barrabas - Love Is In The Air
Willie Hutch - Woman You Touched Me

RE POST: Cashmere - Do It Any Way You Wanna (P.Skillz Edit)

Here's a quick edit I did a few years ago of Cashmere's Do It Any Way You Wanna. I have always loved the track, but don't like the way the track starts, as it's difficult to mix in. The instrumental starts better, so I chopped the start off the instrumental & put it as the start of the vocal version, so that it is better to mix in.

LISTEN

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P.Skillz BTH Mix

Apologies for the lack of posts over the last few months, lack of spare time & loss of interest after all my links went dead are the main factors for not posting. I'm going to get back to regular posting in 2009. To start off here's a 30 min mix I sent to another site. I just did the mix live and made it up as I went along, I'm not really into planning mixes and editing them so it's a bit rough in places. I'm going to do some new mixes in the next week or so to post & I also have some new guest mixes lined up.


LISTEN HERE

BSTC - Jazz In Outer Space

Love this shit. New disco played by a live band. I need to pick up their LP for sure.

Dennis Coffey Lecture On Red Bull Music Academy

I got sent the link for this today & I haven't watched it yet, but you know a lecture by Dennis Coffey is going to be the shit. Thanks to Davide for sending me the details.

WATCH THE LECTURE HERE

Below is what the Red Bull Music Academy site had to say about the lecture:

DENNIS COFFEY
Detroit, USA

It started in late 1968 with a marvelously fuzzed-out guitar riff at a Motown recording session. But Dennis Coffey’s electrifying axe-for-hire didn’t just fuel the Temptations’ psych soul classic Cloud Nine (amongst countless other Hitsville hits), it staked a counter-culture freak flag in Berry Gordy’s Sound of Young America, and helped usher in an era of ultimate breaks and beats that reigned supreme through the ‘70s. Coffey and his Detroit Guitar Band’s repertoire of funk bombs – Scorpio, Getting It On, Son Of Scorpio, Ride Sally Ride, Theme From Black Belt Jones, etc. – enjoyed much-deserved prolonged life when the likes of Kool Herc and Afrika Bambaataa started spinning them at South Bronx park jams late in the decade. But by then Coffey and partner Mike Theodore had already gone on to produce and record a number of disco and Loft classics (C.J. & Co.’s We Got Our Own Thing and Devil’s Gun, as well as his own Wings Of Fire) that bookend-ed the era before returning to his native Detroit. His distinctive fretwork now sample fodder on too many digi-age tracks to keep track of, Dennis still resides back home, where he gigs with great frequency and popularity, forever the pride of the Motor City.

Al Kent Interview On Secret Rendezvous Site

There's an excellent interview with Al Kent, who is the guest at my night this month, on new blog Secret Rendezvous. Check it HERE

Rare Funkshun Night Newcastle UK

I have a new night starting in Newcastle, UK called Rare Funkshun. The first night is Saturday 27th of September at The Other Rooms, Newcastle Upon Tyne. The aim is to put on a monthly Funk, Soul & Disco club. Our goal is to serve up the very best in forgotten, quality, black music from the 70s and early 80s – Deepfunk, Underground Disco, Modern Soul and Rare Grooves . We will be bringing in specialist DJ's from around the world, who play rare soulful music.

Joining me on the first night will be guest DJ's:
Disco edit king Al Kent, who runs the Million Dollar Disco site. He has also just recently released the excellent Million Dollar Orchestra LP on the Barely Breaking Even label. Read more on Al Kent HERE

Also flying in for an exclusive UK date will be Chicago's DJ Boogienite. DJ Boogienite is a member of the Chicago based DJ Crew The Chuck Bros. Boogienite is a DJ & Producer who came up spinning on the underground Chicago party scene. His sets feature Soulful, Underground Disco music.

Promises to be a good night, so if you are in the area come through & enjoy the disco beatdown.

Just Got Back From NY & Chicago

Sorry for the lack of posts recently. I've been away in the USA this week visiting people in Chicago & NY. I met loads of cool people, had some good food, drank loads & picked up some good records (perfect trip really). Big City Records is a great shop, if you are ever in NY be sure to check it out. I saw Lord Finesse in there digging for beats. Picked up a few nice records in Chicago too. Thanks to all the people who hooked me up while I was there. I will post a mix with some of my new records in the next few days. I have put a few of my pictures from the trip below (thanks to Connie & Boogie for sending me the pictures)
















Out & about in NY














Me with two members of the Chicago based Chuck Brothers DJ crew, Boogienite & Cee White (thanks for looking after me in Chicago. Boogie's BBQ food was awesome)















Chicago beauties Soul Sista & F-Me (Soul Sista's fish patties were to die for)















Me with Chicago DJ's Cee White & DJ Darryn

That Voodoo That You Do

I thought I spent quite a lot of my time & money digging for records, but some people take it to a whole other level. Found a cool blog the other day, where a guy spent 3 years in West Africa digging for records. He has posted various mixes of some of his finds. There are loads of afrobeat & African disco & funk mixes on there. I have just started checking out the mixes & there is some nice stuff. The blog is called Voodoo Funk & you can check it HERE

Disco & Boogie Mixes

If you like Boogie & Disco, like I do, then check London based DJ Red Greg's mix page. There are stacks of top quality mixes on there for you to download. It's all for free also. I particularly like his new "Unmixed Soul Mix" which has some awesome music on it.

CHECK THE MIXES HERE

New Site: Independent Movement

There's a new site just gone up called Independent Movement. Looks like it's going to be a cool site. It's still under construction but already contains several mixes by the likes of Rahaan, Mark Gurney, Keb Darge & Paul Phillips. Worth checking out if you like Deep Disco & Soul tracks.

CHECK IT HERE

Give The DJ A Break Radio, Episode 5

Here's the latest episode from me, I just did this real quick today, it's just me mainly playing 45's. It's mainly soul & disco tracks. I'll post a new mix in the next few weeks but until then I'll leave you with this.

LISTEN

Dope Mixes

Some mixes I have downloaded recently and have enjoyed listening to very much, have been the "Love On The Run" & "Dirty Hans" mixes on the Million Dollar Disco site, CHECK THE MIXES HERE All the mixes on this site are very good though, so check them all if you can.

Also the DJ Anonymous mix on the 100 Limousines site, CHECK THE MIX HERE

Happy Easter

P.Skillz Mix On Bring The Heat

I've just posted a mix on the Bring The Heat site. It's a DJ battle where 2 DJ's submit a 30 minute Disco mix & then people vote for which one they think is the best. Check out the mix on the site & vote if you like the mix.

VOTE FOR THE MIX YOU LIKE THE MOST
BATTLE ENDS: MARCH 23RD AT 12PM US CHICAGO TIME

PSKILLZ (NEWCASTLE, UK) VS DJCARLOSP (CHICAGO, IL)

CHECK THE MIX HERE


UPDATE

I won the battle with 78% of the vote, but to be fair the other mix was poor, so the victory is a bit of a hollow one.

Give The DJ A Break Radio, Episode 4

Here's the latest episode from me. This is a bit more up tempo than the previous ones. I got sent some tracks off Brooklyn producer Lorn, on Friday, so I made a mix on Sunday inspired by the tracks I had been sent. If you haven't heard any of Lorn's tracks then I suggest checking out his Myspace

The tracks he sent me were all made recently, but have an 80's feel to them, the rest of the mix is mainly 80's stuff. The mix was just made up on the spot so is not perfect, but it sounds OK. Enjoy the mix & send me some feedback.

LISTEN

Tracklist:

Lorn: Control
Hipnosis: Astrodance
Mr Flagio: Take A Chance
B-Beat Girls: For The Same Man
Lorn: My Single
Kosmic Light Force: Mystic Waves
Lorn: My Drum Machine
A.I.M.: Thailand Seeds
Kid Frost: Rough Cut
Judy Torres: No Reason To Cry
Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine: Dr Beat
Lefturno: Out Of Sight
Patrick Cowley: Get A Little
Gino Soccio: Remember
Munich Machine: Space Warrior

Uhm..... Who Is Zernell?

If you saw my last post, you will see I advised you all to check out the Bring The Heat site, where you will find some of the best underground Disco mixes available, as well as DJ battles & forums. Well Zernell, who is one of the guys who was involved in the last DJ battle on the site, which was a classic battle by the way, has kindly sent me a mix to post on my site. The mix is called " Uhm... Who Is Zernell?" If you don't know, now you know. Check out the mix for a slice of bangin Disco from one of Chicago's finest. If you like the mix you can send Zernell shouts or feedback through the Bring The Heat site as well as if you leave comments here.

There will be some more guest mixes to follow in the coming weeks, you lucky people!!!

Feel The Disco Heat

Bring The Heat

If you haven't been on this site yet I would advise you to check it out. Loads of good disco mixes & also regular DJ battles. The last one between Rahaan & Zernell brought the heat & the latest one between Orlando Vaughn & Sean Sounds is hot too. If you like underground Disco you will love the site. Shout to Sean Sounds for running the site.

Check It

Give The DJ A Break Radio, Episode 3

Here's the latest radio show from me. I just did this today & made it up as I went along, I have a mix that is nearly finished that I will post in the next week or so. I should have a guest mix which will be a Valentines special, so look out for that. Anyway check it out.

Check It

DJ Elwood - The Colorful Sweater Mix (2008)

If you like 80's shit like Howard Johnson & Kashif, like I do, then check out DJ Elwood's new Colorful Sweater Mix. It's another dope mix following on from the classic "Soul Glo" mix he did before. I have to give Elwood a shout, he always gives me feedback on my posts & he does some nice mixes. Anyway go to his site & download that shit & if you haven't checked Soul Glo get that too.

Check It

Give The DJ A Break Mixshow, Episode 2

Here's the second mixshow from me. Again it's all mainly 80's stuff. I will post some more tracks in the next few days also. Drop me a message with some feedback. The guy in the picture is off a current TV show, in the UK, of tribute acts. He is supposed to be Lionel Ritchie!!!! So bad it's good. Enjoy.

Tracklist

P.Skillz: Intro
X-25: Candy (Inst)
Caprice: 100%
Gemini: Ain't no love (better then your love)
Sparque: Take some time
Mid Air: Ease out
Jimmy Williams: All of my lovin
Billy Jones: I can't wait to break
Katmandu: Get crackin
Cecil Parker: I've been missing your lovin
Kreamcicle: Hold on
Wyndchimes: Baby you're the one
Candye: Loverboy
Nuance: Take a chance
Freeze: IOU
Shannon: Give me tonight


LISTEN

Give The DJ A Break Mixshow, Episode 1

Here's the first mixshow from me. I hope to bring one out every few weeks if possible. I should have some mixes from some guests in the next few weeks also, so look out for that. There is a feed on my site, for anyone that wants to subscribe. If anyone out there wants to contribute a mix please email me.

Tracklist

P.Skillz: Intro
Pamela Nivens: It's You I Love (So In Love)
Krystal Davis: So Smooth
Dollette McDonald: Special
Cookie: Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover
Kick: Lollie Pop
Mick Jessop: Take It Easy
Karavan: The Funk Is Gonna Get You Yet
O'Bryan: Tenderoni
Family Brown: I'm Gonna Get Ya
Sequence: Just Want You To Know
Terri Wells: I'm Giving All My Love
Terri Jones: Do It Again Tonight
Les Femmes: Yes You Thrill Me
Lew Kirton: Talk to me (Inst)
Colors: Am I Gonna Be The One


I hope you like it.

LISTEN

Quick Boogie Mix

Here's a quick mix I did the other day with mostly records I have just bought. It's all pretty much good 80's Boogie shit. Again none of the mixes were planned or anything. I will put out some proper mixes soon, but in the mean time I will post some of these type of quick mixes just to share some of the music I am listening to.

As per my last post, I am only going to be able to put out limited posts over the next few weeks, but I will try to post something as much as I can. Thanks to all that do leave comments or feedback but there are still loads of people who don't bother. I haven't had time to do tracklists but I can let people know tracks if they email me. It may take me a few days to get back to you though.

LISTEN

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Soul Glo

Being a fan of the 80's wet look perm I was pleased to find DJ Elwoods Soul Glo Mixtape. Go to his site "Every Few Days I'm Hustling" for some dope mixes, photoshoppery & vinyl rips. Just let your soul glow!!!

CHECK IT

New P.Skillz Mix

Here's a quick mix I did on Sunday. It's Electro with a couple of Italo tracks at the end. The mix was just done on 2 turntables & a mixer. It was just spontaneous,none of the mixes were planned or practiced or anything like that. Anyway check my mix.

LISTEN

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P.Skillz Electro Funk Mix

Here's a quick mix I knocked out today. It's a bit ruff in places but I can't be bothered to re do it. It's 80's Electro Funk type shit. I'm putting an 80's Boogie mix together, which I will post soon, along with a Hip Hop mix. I'm also thinking of starting some radio station type podcasts, with guest DJ's, so look out for that. Anyways check my mix out.


LISTEN