Dam Native - sleng teng remix biz

Behold My Kool Style by Dam Native gets the Sleng Teng treatment. One of the greatest hiphop songs to ever come out of Aotearoa, and the music video for it is still incredible. (Trivia - I worked on that video as a production assistant for director Jonathan King.)

Ring The Alarm playlist 4 February 2023

Dam Native - Behold my kool style (Dub Asylum 'Return of the Dredi' reggae remix)

Dubmatix feat Barry Ashworth - Blue monday

Lee Scratch Perry - Many names of god

Fat Freddy's Drop - Hope (3 Generations Walking remix)

Bob Marley and the Wailers - 400 years (Jimpster remix)

Biggabush - Yunaa

Nicolette - Waking up remix

Avantdale Bowling Club - Uphill (AD90 remix)

Sudan Archives - Selfish soul

Saint Etienne - Heart failed (Two Lone Swordsmen remix)

Extra T's - E.T. boogie

Cookie Monster and the Girls - C is for cookie (funky disco version by Larry Levan - this was his first remix)

Can - Aspectacle

Don Cherry - I walk

Lee Fields - Two jobs

Tami Neilson - You were mine

The Altons - When you go (that's when you'll know)

Los Yesterdays - Time

Thee Sacred Souls - Sorrow for tomorrow

Dusty Springfield - Spooky

Gladys Knight and the Pips - Everybody needs love

William Bell - I forgot to be your lover

Lou Donaldson - If there's a hell below (we all gonna go)

Stevie Wonder - As

Dionne Warwick - Walk on by (Disco Tech rework)

Doris Troy - Just one look

Erykah Badu - Bag lady (cheebah sac mix)

Beyonce - Ring the alarm (Tranzformas remix)

Savage - Swing (reggae cut)

 

 

New tune alert! This week in 2005, Swing by Savage hit no 1 in the singles charts in NZ and stayed there for 5 weeks, and this catchy song ended up taking him on to major success in the USA. Here's a dubby reggae take I put together, with steel drums, of course. Enjoy! Name your price download, free or share some dosh with me. Thanks.

Vinyl sales are slowing down big time

From Ted Gioia: Did the music business just kill the vinyl revival?

"Just a year ago, the industry was bragging about a vinyl market that had doubled in size in a single year. In just 12 months, demand had increased from 21.4 to 41.7 million units.

"But then in 2022, the growth rate collapsed from 95% to 4%. That’s not a slowdown—that’s slamming on the brakes right before you hit the brick wall.

"And if it wasn’t for Taylor Swift, the vinyl market would have actually declined in 2022. This one artist did more to support vinyl sales than the much hyped “Record Store Days."

He also highlights that half of vinyl buyers don't own a record player. So those Taylor Swift LPs are memorabilia.

Essentially what his article says is new vinyl sales have stalled, and the record companies haven't been doing anything to increase capacity when seeing the previous rapid growth in vinyl sales, instead relying on technology from the 1950s, and putting up the prices. One could argue that the record companies are more focused on streaming as that's a bigger revenue opportunity. Go have a read.

Real Groovy moves this week

Real Groovy Records announced last month on it's social media it was on the move. They are shifting to midtown Auckland on Thursday and opening at a new spot at 19 Victoria St West on Friday 27 January, above Countdown supermarket. Unlike their last move 3 years to ago, this one is by choice. 

Their previous location at 369 Queen st is now a block of apartments (an office block conversion), as is the location before that at 438 Queen st, across the road. They've moved three times in the past seven years.

The new location is a bigger space, and will have everything on the same level, with a live artist space and a museum.

The Spinoff reports that "By now it’s moved so many times owner Chris Hart has nearly lost count ...“We don’t have to move,” he admits.

"Instead, it’s a shrewd business decision. The store’s current site at 520 Queen Street doesn’t get much foot traffic. Next to Victoria Street’s Countdown supermarket, foot traffic is guaranteed. In two years, when the City Rail Link finally opens, there’ll be even more. “That,” says Hart, “will be the way of the future”. 

"Moving isn’t cheap – the moving company charges $25,000 on its own. He says the store usually runs at a loss after a move as customers get used to finding the new site. “It gives us two years to consolidate,” he says."  

The store's long stay at 438 Queen St saw highs and lows as the Spinoff notes, including going into receivership in 2008 (not 2009, as The Spinoff writes). 

In July 2008, Hart put the business up for sale, saying a bad foreign exchange deal had left the business in need of capital. With no buyers the business went into receivership in October 2008.

Hart and then co-owner Marty O'Donnell set up a new company called Fonografo (registered on Nov 13 2008), recruited a new business partner, Ralph Brayham, and ended up buying the Auckland business back off the receivers. But a lot of folks were left out of pocket from Real Groovy going bust. 

Both O'Donnell and Brayham are no longer owners as of 2015 and 2010 respectively. Store manager Sarah Williamson (a role she's held since 2008) is now one of the five owners, with Hart retaining a controlling 50% share (source: Companies Office website).

The new location has Hart's collection of neon signs up as decoration, and it's been painted purple. The Spinoff asked on how the move is going and Hart replied "One disaster after another” and laughs. His construction crew is on holiday and won’t be back in time to build him a front counter. He’s just been told it’s unlikely he’ll have internet on opening day. And he still hasn’t sorted the parking situation." 

But he does have a popular local band booked for opening night (updated- it’s The Beths), and the shop will be open for sales. Good luck for the move!

The poster above lists their previous locations:

Mt Eden Rd 1982-84
492 Queen St 84-86
400 Queen St 86-87 (this was a temporary location I think, while they did building upgrades to 492)
492 Queen St 87-89
438 Queen St 1989-2016
369 Queen St 2016-19
520 Queen St 2019-23

However this story on Real Groovy from Alan Perrott (NZ Herald November 2014) says Hart and Real Groovy co-founder Chris Priestly opened on Mt Eden Rd on July 20 1981, and moved to 438 Queen St in 1991.

More reading - Chris Bourke on Real Groovy's longtime spot on Queen st, and its former life as the Dixieland cabaret and other inner city venues.

Aliesha Ward on the music at the Dixieland cabaret, and its Pt Chev cousin, Dixieland by the sea (Audioculture)

A mockup of what Real Groovy's new store front will look like, via Real Groovy's site.

Ring The Alarm playlist 21 January 2023

Fela Kuti - Water no get enemy

Fulgeance - Tribute to Masekela

Dele Sosimi - E go betta (dub)

Tony Allen and Africa 70 - Afrodiscobeat (Africaine 808 rework)

Mark Ernestus' Ndagga Rhythm Force - Jigeen

Mark Ernestus vs Obadikah - April

Rhythm and Sound feat Willi Williams - See mi yah

Salmonella Dub - Problems (Zion Train remix)

The Yoots - Me he manu rere

Jackie Mittoo - Last train to Skaville

Delroy Wilson - Iwant justice

Don Drummond - Man on the street

Phyllis Dillon - Woman of the ghetto

Rita Marley - Friends and lovers

Marcia Griffiths - Melody life

Hortense Ellis - Can I change your mind

Al Brown  - Aint no love in the heart of the city

Slim Smith - My conversation

General Levy - The wig

Teremoana - Four women (Deez remix)

The Triumphs - Burnt biscuits

Spanky Wilson - Loveland (break edit)

Sisters Love - Ring once

The Rock - (Charlie, brother) We've got to love one another

Renee Geyer - Really really love you

Parliament - P-funk

New Loungehead - Waiting for candy apple

Ring The Alarm playlist 14 January 2023

Bassomatic - Fascinating rhythm (Henry's lost dub)

Unlimited Touch -  I hear music in the streets

Machine - There but for the grace of God go I

Shannon - Give me the night (dub version)

Clock DVA - 4 hours (single mix)

The Associates - Tell me Easter's on a friday

Chancha Via Circuito - Vedanta

Pedro Ricardo - Deheba

Sudan Archives - Selfish soul

Sault - Morning sun

Mighty Mocambos - Carry on

Ghost Funk Orchestra - Quiet places

Winston Brothers - Northern light

Charles Bradley - Aint it a sin

Sharon Jones and the Dapkings - Take me with you

Helene Smith -You've got to be a man

Donny Hathaway - Come little children

Sugarman 3  -Turtle walk

Ripple - A funky song

Sylvia and the Moments - Sho nuff boogie

Heroes of Limbo - Don't sweat the technique

Janet Jackson - Got til it's gone (Ummah Jay Dee's revenge mix)

Screechy Dan - Bandits

Pyramid Blue - Rio Niger in dub

Beat Pharmacy feat Spaceape - Ghostship

Stinky Jim feat Nazamba - Steam fish

Sound Foundation - Ram dancehall

Ring The Alarm playlist 7 January 2023

St Etienne - Only love can break your heart (Andrew Weatherall remix)

Sabres of Paradise - Wilmot

Dub Syndicate - Boggled minds

O.B.F. feat Nazamba - Lava

Dubmatix feat Lone Ranger - Ask me (dancehall mix)

Pinchers - Bandolero

Johnny Osbourne - Budy bye (Kenny Dope remix)

Spacek - Eve (Jay Dee remix)

Brand New Heavies - Sometimes (Ummah remix)

Sudan Archives - Selfish soul

DJ Format - Here comes the fuzz

Millie Jackson - House for sale

William DeVaughn - Be thankful for what you've got

Ike and Tina Turner - Doin' it

Johnny Nash - Oh baby, you've been good to me

Vicki Anderson and James Brown - Think

Osibisa - Music for gong gong

Kokolo - Magnificent seven

Herma Keil and the Keil Isles - If you want to be happy

Maori Troubadors - Shakin' in the shaky isles

Tina Cross - You can do it

The Johnny Rocco Band - She's knocking at my door

Liz Aku feat Mara TK - The drum major instinct

African Vibration - Hinde (Julien Dyne rework)

Yoko Ono - Walking on thin ice (Peter Ruhofer electro mix)

Cochemea - Black pearl

Eck Echo - El carmen (Dengue Dengue Dengue remix)

Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown admits he demolished His Majesty's Theatre

During the last Auckland Council meeting for the year last Thursday December 16, Auckland's new mayor, Wayne Brown, decided to make some off the cuff remarks about what will happen to the shares Auckland Council owns if say, the Airport company decided to dilute its shares to raise funds for a new runway.

This resulted in a share trading halt on Auckland Airport on the NZ Stock Exchange, while the mayor clarified that he was just speculating, and didn't apologise.

The other delightful fact to emerge from this meeting was reported by NZ Herald's Simon Wilson:

@simonbwilson Dec 16
"Guess who the demolition contractor on His Majesty’s was? Guess what he said about then-mayor Cath Tizard? (I’m told it’s true.) From my ⁦@nzherald⁩ wrap of yesterday’s big council meeting, newspaper only."

"Near the end of the meeting, in a discussion on heritage buildings, Brown produced another surprise. He revealed he was the demolition contractor who pulled down His Majesty's Theatre in 1987. The mayor at the time, whose name he couldn't quite remember, was publicly opposed to the building coming down. It was Cath Tizard.

"But, said Brown, she was keen to promote 'another building up the road'. So she signed the demolition order on His Majesty's and got up very early one morning to give it secretly to Brown. Then she came back to join the protest..."

Former NZ Listener editor Finlay McDonald replied, highlighting the role of Auckland City Council member and entertainment promoter Phil Warren, with Tizard's daughter Judith noting her mother did not make a habit of dropping off demolition permits. Her initial reply to Wilson was...

@JudithTizard
Dec 16 Replying to @simonbwilson and @nzherald
"Told by whom? No mayors ever signed nor delivered administrative orders! If Brown is lying it’s a worry but if he thinks this is true it’s even more worrying."

Finlay Macdonald
Dec 16 Replying to @simonbwilson and @nzherald
"Seem to recall Phil Warren's fingerprints were all over that clandestine demo job."

@JudithTizard
Dec 16 Replying to @MacFinlay @simonbwilson and @nzherald
"That’s my memory. Cath was in the middle of getting all the CWGames [Commonwealth Games] venues done. The ACC couldn’t buy it so had no choice but let it be knocked down. She NEVER delivered demolition permits personally! And was very sad that she couldn’t do anything to save it."

Timespanner Blog has the story of His Majesty's from its beginnings thru to its demise... here's the last days recounted...

"The last show in the theatre was Vince Carmen’s magic show, which ended 21 December 1987. Kerridge Odeon advertised the building for sale by auction for the following February. The upcoming opening of the Aotea Centre also meant that any refurbishment costs Kerridge Odeon might have put into His Majesty’s were unlikely, in their opinion, to be recovered.

The situation wasn’t helped by comments such as those made by City Councillor Phil Warren, who described His Majesty’s as “a rat-infested dump with no artistic, historic or architectural significance.” Hamish Keith disagreed, saying that the councillors should lead the way and not let developers “walk all over them.”

Added to this – by then, Kerridge Odeon itself had been taken over by Pacer Pacific Corporation, to become Pacer-Kerridge. Demolition of the building now became imperative.

Demolition work began on the night of 23-24 December 1987. Protestors gathered, and the Council inspector was summoned, gaining entry at 1am to tell the workmen inside to cease, as the demolition permit, applied for by Pacer Corporation, had only been lodged the day before.

The permit was granted anyway on 31 December 1987, and the demolition proceeded in the new year on 3 January with a crane arriving to remove the roof, the stage was demolished 13 January, and the point of no return was reached by around 14 January 1988 when most of the rear of the theatre was destroyed. 29 protestors were arrested for trespass and obstruction at this time." 

This timeline suggests Brown started demolition on 23 Dec without a permit.

Pacer Kerridge collapsed in 1992, owing its bankers $129 million.

ADDED Stuff.co.nz's Todd Naill covered the story, noting that writer Maurice Shadbolt and musician Jools Topp were among the 29 protestors arrested.

'Brown recalled a family trip to see the stage show “My Fair Lady” at the theatre, but he saw little of it, due to being sat behind a post.

His tale to the council meeting ended with his pleasure at later “being able to drive the digger which pulled that bloody post down” though he seems to have meant it metaphorically, telling Stuff he just got the permit for a client.'

Ring The Alarm playlist 17 December 2022

Shackleton vs Kasai Allstars - Mukuba special

Clear Path Ensemble - Absolvo

Myele Manzanza feat Rachel Fraser - Unfold

Aaron Ottignon - So hold still (Surly remix)

Stinky Jim - Loose carry

Rubi Du - Back up

Dub Asylum - Tally ho

The Brassouls feat Rick Bryant - Lies

Opensouls - Rise up (Lewis McCallum remix)

Herbs - Durham Lane

Yoko Ono - Walking on thin ice (Peter Rauhofer electro mix)

Don Cherry - I walk

Delta 5 - Mind your own business

Medium Medium - So hungry, so angry

Cabaret Voltaire - White car

Theo Parrish - Goin' downstairs pt2

Salmonella Dub - Problems (Sonsine remix)

Tha Feelstyle - Laave it at that

Little Simz - X

K.O.G. - No way (Poirier remix)

Dub Syndicate - Subway style

Ring The Alarm playlist 10 December 2022

Dub Asylum x Scribe - How many dubs?

Horace Andy - Let's live in love

Prince Douglas - Jam love dub

Love Joys - Let me rock you now

Jah Batta - Informa (watch it)

Norma Fraser - Respect

Lester Sterling - Afrikaan beat

Bob Marley and the Wailers - Simmer down

Jackie Mittoo - El bang bang

Rockers Hifi - Rockers to rockers (come again)

Overproof Sound System - Kingstep (Unitone Hifi dub)

Horace Andy - Watch over them (Moody Boyz remix)

Miss Red - Nuh bad love

Sandman Project - Hamsa (ayala's rhythm mix)

Xique Xique  - Senhor Carangeju (Dengue Dengue Dengue remix)

Myele Manzanza feat Rosie Frater Taylor - Falling fast

Winston Brothers - Free ride

Sault - Morning sun

Sharon Jones and the Dapkings - White Christmas

Melba Moore - Don't cry

Annie Williams - I got a man

Eartha Kitt - Any way you want it, baby

Big Mama Thornton - They call me Big Mama

Etta James - Nobody loves you like me

Big Maybelle - One monkey don't stop no show

Jim Sharp Mix - Things and bees and flowers 

George Clinton - Atomic dog instrumental

New Dub Asylum funky reggae bizz

Out now for Bandcamp Friday, some funky reggae covers from me, taking in James Brown via Jamaica, and Miss Aretha Franklin's classic, Rocksteady. Enjoy!

Ring The Alarm playlist 26 November 2022

Mighty Mocambos - Theme from Beverly Hills Cop

Stereolab - Emperor tomato ketchup

Aural Exciters - Spooks in space

Evelyn Champagne King - Get up off your love

Parliament - Testify

Temptations - Plastic man

Rose Royce - Sunrise

Temptations - Friendship train

Undisputed Truth - You + me = love

Temptations - Zoom

Gladys Knight and the Pips - The nitty gritty

Myele Manzanza feat Omar - Therapy

Ghost Funk Orchestra - A song for Pearl

Winston Brothers - Boiling pot

Tami Neilson - When you were mine
Dubinator feat Seanie T - Police in helicopter (Oliver Frost remix)
Monzanto Sound -The fool
Night Owls feat N'Dea Davenport - Cramp your style

Ugly Mac Beer - The new flame

Natural Yoghurt Band - Images

Plumstead Radical Club - One way (Natural Self remix)

Orchestra of Spheres - Eletric kompani

Bic Runga - Something good (Submariner remix feat Tha Feelstyle)

Ugly Mac Beer

 Okay so this French Beatmaker is named Ugly Mac Beer - which is gonna sound like an odd name to NZ folk, but give its a spin. His album is out in January 2023, but the first single is out now.

"... The concept of this instrumental album is based on the search for the ultimate and perfectly heady loop, the one that can be listen to over and over again. 'The Valley Of The Kings' is Ugly Mac Beer's own 'old movie about Egypt' concept LP, a story that takes us on a journey back when the pyramids were built.

"A digger/beatmaker effort par excellence, very inspired by the 90s productions of masters of the genre such as Madlib, DJ Shadow or RZA, the concept of this instrumental album with oriental sounds is based on the search for the sample of "THE" ultimate and perfectly heady loop, which can be listen to over and over again. "

Painspeople newie

Great new fruity track from Painspeople, go take a listen.