the soundtrack to any spanish holiday between 1977 and 1983 September 30, 2007

if you went on a family holiday to benidorm, torremolinos, majorca or anywhere on the costa brava between the late 70s and mid 80s then this post is for you.

disco produced some enduring classics, yet most of the tunes that endured once the initial fad died down were the novelty tunes. these formed a staple musical diet for spanish hotels, wedding receptions and church hall discos until about 1990.

we used to go to the same hotel in majorca every year until i was about 8. it was the hotel flamingo in c’an pastilla, an area now overrun with germans. it was at this very hotel that i was introduced to the german-towel conundrum. my dad used to just chuck them in the pool. i loved sitting by the pool with my feet dangling whilst drinking chocolate milkshake with lots of ice.

i loved the hotel. it had shiny marble floors and the decor was brown and orange, well into the 80s. i used to gaze at the spanish kids tv – they looked like the muppets, but i couldn’t understand a word they were saying. i used to play donkey kong in the bar until we went out at night, where i would sit drawing until my parents were pissed.

when we would get back to the hotel, the disco would usually have started. and this was the inevitable playlist. i would jump around in my rara skirt, and wish i was allowed to wear makeup.

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baccara – yes sir i can boogie

bee gees – night fever

cliff richard – we don’t talk anymore

earth wind and fire – let’s groove

gonzales – i haven’t stopped dancing yet

ian dury and the blockheads – hit me with your rhythm stick

liquid gold – dance yourself dizzy

kelly marie – feels like i’m in love

ottawan – hands up

rod stewart – do ya think i’m sexy

taste of honey – boogie oogie oogie

tina charles – i love to love

the house that dad built September 30, 2007

 

this is for the original house crew, you know who you are. you clubbed your way through the 90s and every now and then you get the urge to do it all again. but you’re pushing 35 and just haven’t got the energy. all of those lists entitled ‘you know you’re over 25 when…’ are scarily true.

so you frequent bars that play background house music and kid yourself that you’re not getting old…well, here is a mix of chilled out house from back in the day. dadhouse is not a new phenomenon, where did you think the shoom lot got to in the 90s?

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cajmere – underground goodies part iii

petra and co- just let go

kerri chandler – atmospheric beats

francois k – hypnodelic

underground resistance – jupiter jazz

paperclip people - throw

norma jean bell – i like the things you do

wamdue project – higher

glenn underground – feelin’ love

cajmere – wet dream

underground resistance – hi tech jazz

backroom – definition of a track

nu yorican soul – that nervous track

delano smith – metropolis

black science orchestra – new jersey deep

k-hand – street knowledge

green velvet – answering machine

jt company – feel it

red nail – never

floppy sounds – ultrasong

muskmen – never thought i’d see the day