Super-happy to have Sam Don of Free Association joining us at Brilliant Corners for our November session. He's laced us with his current favourite 5 UK cuts. Check 'em out....
Intrigue - One Touch
I rediscovered this in my collection recently and have been playing it repeatedly. It puts me in a good mood without fail. A great mood setter, I used this to as the intro track to a mix for the Life Classics crew (shouts to the Sanctuary crew). A pirate radio favourite back in the day, 1986 sounded a lot better thanks to Intrigue.
Jo Carnegie - Flying
Released on the short-lived Dove Records and with such an airborne title, Flying is as gentle and floaty as you might expect. Is it balearic? It certainly feels like it. If Blue Gas had procured some choice herbs and dug reggae then perhaps they could have made this. Jo also put out a solid digi-reggae cover of I’m Still In Love With You Boy but we can talk about versions later.
Atmosphere – Xtra Special (Dry Mix)
An all time favourite that puts the right step into any party, I’m not sure when this entered my top 5 or whether it will ever leave. I have a particularly great memory of playing this a few years back in Detroit and upon hearing the bassline from the street, my good buddy Meftah bounded down the stairs and across the dancefloor just in time to nail the chorus hookline.
Erica – Tonight Tonight
Lovers rock can often be labelled cheesy (and for good reason) but look deep enough and you can find moments of heaven. Erica Gale had number of releases but this is the choice of them all. Euphoric but with a hint of melancholia, to be played on a paradise beach or as last track of the night in a Hackney house party.
Family Love – Do Me Baby
While Piers' (Soft Rocks) comment that 'if it exists there is a reggae cover version of it' falls somewhat true, and while many of us know the big records from Mystic Harmony and Sabrina Rich, Do Me Baby was treat discovery of last year. Here, Family Love take a lesser known Prince album cut and turn it into one of the cosiest and sweetest lovers cover versions I have heard in some time.
Sam Don plays Brilliant Corners on November 7th.