http://8tracks.com/thesex...ts-journey



First of all thanks for letting me have a go at this. Its nigh on impossible to follow such org luminaries as Paligap and Theaudience, but at least mine will be substantially different to their mixes LOL. Yes I know it’s not a good thing, but still


So, what is the theme? Err well Iam sorry to say but this mix tape doesn’t have one! I did think of maybe doing a soundtrack theme or a guiltiest of guilty pleasure one, but I ultimately decided against it.

As my mix is all pop based, my main focus if you will, was to introduce tracks that you probably have never heard of before, but are still "pop" sounding. That’s about it really.


1) Parrish and Toppano- “Call out to zion". Had to open the mix with something big and different to what people are used to. Iam not religious but this track to me, is very uplifting and unfortunately very obscure. I keep thinking this duo are European for some reason, but they ain’t.


2) Rhythm Syndicate-"Sexitivity". One for rnb and Prince fans (I hope). I dig the humour of this track. This group was merely a front for pop producers Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers (the singer). They were a pop production team in the late 80’s/early 90’s. They also discovered Rhianna.


3) Joe Bruce and 2nd avenue-"Some things never change". Very 80’s, very AOR, very slick etc... Joe Bruce and 2nd avenue were actually Joe "you’re the best around" Esposito and Bruce Sudano ( AKA Mr Donna Summer) and the album itself, which was self titled, is to this day, incredibly hard to find. I read that the album got cancelled at the last possible moment by EMI but a few official copies still got out (ala "Black album"). Iam lucky enough to own it (and trust me its legit, I know my fakes LOL). Must of cost quite a lot in 1987, as the production and the session men on the album would not of been cheap LOL.


Massive fan of the albums producer Michael Omartian, and his production on this track has many nice touches like Dan Huff's "shaft" like guitar on the bridges just before the chorus, and the gorgeous middle 8 that seamlessly goes into a lovely trpmbone (or trumpet?) solo. Great stuff. Oh yeah the song LOL. Iam big on err big production like this LOL. Typical 80’s anthem about homelessness. It is not about how we should save them though as much as it is they should be saving themselves! Condescending? Maybe. Naïve? Definitely, but despite this, I do sort of see where they are coming from. Anyway it’s a lovely sounding song and sort of soothing aswell


4) Ian Hunter-"Wake up Call". Taken from the legendary 80’s OST "The Wraith", which like Joe Bruce and 2nd Avenue, is also very hard to find (well the CD version is). Bootlegs are often on ebay and it makes me upset that people fall for it. Again, I got lucky and own a legit copy. Anyway this was released on the legendary Scotti Bros label LOL, who also released such 80’s classics as "Rocky IV" and "Cobra" OST).

The singer Ian Hunter was once a member of 70’s pop group Mot The Hoople ( check "all the young dudes"). A bit odd to find him all snythed up to the 9’s here, but a lot of artists did this in the mid 80’ LOL. His vocal is somewhat buried in the mix by producer Arthur Baker (who also co-wrote it), but the production is quite beautiful and optimistic though, with a lovely outro to boot!


5) Eleanor Academia-"Bahala na". This track is very immediate and warm sounding to me. Eleanor’s music seems almost completely unknown, despite this track being released off a major (CBS). She is talented to boot as she wrote and produced this track by herself as well as playing the keyboards, bass, bass solo and tambora on the track. Lovely vibe.


6) Valensia-"Love me". I have harped on about this Dutch artist before on here. He seems to of stopped releasing any music at all now, but judging by his more recent work, Iam not surprised! Still, this track, off his 3rd album with an album title to long to bother to mention, is a blast! Shame it only ever got a release in Japan and it’s still quite hard to find now, despite only being released in the late 90’s. Love the huge drums and horns. Lyrics are nonsense really. It’s a dance track LOL


7) Jean Michel Jarre and Tetsuya "TK" Komuro-"Together now". This was a track I had very late in the process of this mix. My mix consists of pretty much tracks released in the 80s, so at least this is something somewhat different. Of course I love the track, and am a fan of Jean Michel Jarre in general (as well as his Dad, film composer Maurice Jarre). T track is quite uplifting, if very of its time.


8) Tommy Puett-"Summer Dayz". Very few may agree, but I LOVE the production on this. I even notice little Prince production tricks as well (sped up vocals etc...). TV teen hunk Mr Puett was very lucky to have producers/writers as great and Jamey Jaz and Ren Toppano. Amazinly, this is the same Lorenzo Toppano that helped produce the first track "Call out to Zion" (well its amazing to me LOL). Jamey Jaz was on that album aswell (but not on that track).

Jaz and Toppano wrote and produced this track and a marvellous job they did too! Tim pierce’s funky guitar intro is a great touch as is the seemless chord change on the final chorus as well. The sax solo and surprising use of organ are duly noted by myself also....

...Little touches like these go a long way for me, and these guys, despite writing and producing very cheesy music, have a deft touch at at least creating something that is quite intricate compared to their contempories at the time like Maurice Starr and Stock Aiken and Waterman. Cheesy pop can still be well produced LOL!

Jamey Jaz (whom for years I was not sure if he was black or white?) went on to write for Tevin Campbell and Rahsaan patterson. He also worked with AOR cult hero Mark Spiro. A man with very varied credentials indeed!


9) Desmond Child-"A Ray of Hope". Probably the most well known artist on this mixtape, and yet it’s a rather peculiar song by him. Mr Child was a famous producer and songwriter particually in the 80’s, penning hits for Bon Jovi, Cher, Alice Cooper, Aerosmith etc.. before later unleashing Ricky Martin to the world with "Cup of life" and of course "Livin’ la vi da loca" etc..

...Yet here he is, on his sole solo album, singing a song not written by him, to a tune that’s neither his usual shouty commercial rock or pop. Child is not much of a vocalist, and you could say this song is overwrought, but I think the lyrics are quite touching, as is the minimal production by himself and Sir Arthur Payson (an alias of Child some people say LOL).

Desmond writes in the liner notes that the songs writer, Don Paul Yowell, died of aids at 31 and dedicates the track to his brother, Joey, who also died on aids at 25. He also gives a US statistic for aids that for when the song was released in 1991, paraphrasing "the annual US budget for aids is 1.9 billion dollars. The cost of the war with Iraq was 3 billion a day!" For when the song was released, 1991, it was probably quite unusual to openly put this on any pop album, and its cool of him to do so, even if it was due to tragic circumstances. With that in mind, the lyrics have quite a sad yet uplifting vibe about them.

"As I walk down these city streets,
I see a side of life, that isn’t always pretty.
But I know that we’re all part of the plan,
Saints and sinners all of us, walking hand in hand"


Iam not religious, and as I said, Desmond does struggle abit with his voice, but the passion is there I feel and the simplicity of the lyrics and the piano are quite moving. Rest in peace Don paul Yowell.


10) Marc Jordan-"Kensington Garden"/"Catch the moon". Here’s a gorgeous cut by AOR hero Marc Jordan. Apparently used in an episode of Dawsons Creek, which is kinda cool since this song went pretty much unnoticed when it was released on Marc's album "Talking through pictures" in 1987.
[Edited 4/27/10 15:38pm]

Good show, Sam. Let's get you stickified.

Call Out to Zion - Definitely feel uplifted. Got the churchy feeling.

Sexitivity - WHOA! What a transition from church to sex! For sure has that Prince vibe. I am soooo feeling this!

Some Things Never Change - I don't know why, but I can almost hear some Billy Ocean following this. I like the horn section.

Wake up Call - I like the 80's upbeat quality. Makes me want to work out and dance like I'm in FAME.

Bahala Na - I like this. Mellow and diggin the lyrics. Never heard this, but really enjoying the nice calm to it. I feel like I'm on a remote island.

Love Me - Ok, now this is fun. I'm really enjoying all of the different layers in this. So many different sounds and the shifts of language. Nice!

Together Now - I thought this track was going to go in a completely different direction judging from the intro. So glad I proven wrong! This sharp, fast change was so out there! Then more of a catchy melody after. My fave on this mix so far!

Summer Dayz - I forgot this guy did music! lol Cheesy for sure, but I can appreciate it.

Ray of Hope - Drastic change from the previous. This song touched me. I think the gentleness of the music really helps the person focus more on the message of this.

Kensington Garden/Catch the Moon - This was a nice lil gem. Soft, but strong chorus. I had the feeling of ending credits to this song.

Nice mix. I'm always up to being enlightened by artists and sounds I've never pounced upon or are familiarized with. There are a couple here that really caught my attention. Thanks for sharing!

Moonstar319, thanks so much for listening. I didn't think anyone would listen to it LOL.

Cheesiest song I put on by far was Tommy Puett's "Summer dayz", but I do love that song so much LOL. The production, the organ, the sax, everything! So cheesy

Surprised you liked "ray of hope". I think fans of Desmond Child hate that song. Not typical Child thats for sure.

I should of said the last song is 2 songs stuck together. The first being a short instrumental. It segues into "catch the moon" so well though, that I thought I would cheat a little.

Very few seemed to of heard of Eleanor Academia "Bahala na", ditto for Parrish and Toppano's "Call out to zion" (which isn't too surprising I suppose), and even fewer know of the Joe Bruce and 2nd avenue track "Some things never change". Yep, they are on youtube, as its seen by some as AOR collectors gold. But why supposedly cancel such a commercial release as that one is beyond me?

Huge thanks again. Iam so glad you enjoyed it! "Together now" was your fav then? Its off a world cup compilation LOL.

Really enjoying this, good job!

I like "Call Out to Zion" - sounds like something that might be played at a Disney Church or something, heh... over the top and exuberant but uplifting.

Really liked Sexitivity - - - funky funky. Great transition in the timeless Princely fashion on God & Sex, hehe..

Some Things Never Change - Love cheesy 80's AOR. This reminds me of some of the stuff from the Lost Boys soundtrack. I recently bought Michael Morales's first CD from Half.Com. Remember "Who Do You Give Your Love To?" This kinda reminds me of him for some reason.

Ian Hunter - - love the obscure 80s soundtrack stuff! Got lots of these, but never heard this one. I have the "Cobra" soundtrack, hehhe... great period stuff on some of these soundtracks.

Eleanor Academia-"Bahala na" - - agree, very "warm" vibe. Lovely tune. Sounds like something from the Lion King soundtrack (and i mean that in a good way, i love that soundtrack) - although more the broadway version than the movie version.

Valensia-"Love me" - - thanks for all the cool rare stuff. I thought this was another 80s tune until I read your notes. Definitely fits the overall vibe quite well.

Together now - - liked this quite a bit - totally veered off from what i expected. Sounds like the soundtrack to Gay Night at Disney circa 1992 I like it

Summer Dayz - more 80s nostalgia. Good stuff. I agree has some Prince influence for sure. especially the "Kiss Away!" in the background - very Lovesexy.

Desmond Child - i'm very familiar with him, and i think i have a good portion of stuff that he produced in the 80s, for sure. Love his work on the Cher album. Very touching song, at the height of the AIDS epidemic.


Kensington Garden/Catch the Moon - nice way to end! Very fitting for the overall vibe of the mix.

Excellent job, glad to hear some things that are rare and alot from the 80's, which is the era i love the most.

I'm not good with reviews first-handed but from the track listing, I know I'm gonna dig it. Listening now. Thanks.

Call out to Zion OK Mr. Broadway movie soundtrack



Sexitivity Love this Truly funky and the 90s production just works


Some things never Change Shoo Bop Shoo Bop Shoo Bop. I like that part, but that's it



Wake Up Call I feel like I'm in the Breakfast Club dancing the footloose!



Bahala Na Not feeling this. AT ALL.



Love Me - This has an interesting sound. Are they singing in a different language? They are right? Some of this sounds like English but then I hear Spanish. What the hell is going on here



Together Now YAY!!!! Alright for that switch up!!! Love the way it goes all techno I was set to really resist this song when it started but it sold me



Summer Dayzmmm….80s again



Ray of Hope This feels out of context with the mix but I really really like this song. Really beautiful.



Kensington Garden Ending on the Soundtrack vibe. I do like the Harmonies in the chorus though


If I'm not mistaken, the picture you have is a skyline shot of downtown LA Is there a specific reason you chose LA since you are in the UK?

For someone who complains constantly about music, I expected more from you Nothing is ever up to par when it comes to your musical tastes, at least that is how you often express yourself. I guess this is a "pop" mix but I think I expected something totally refined and this mix is, well, not that. MikeMatronik posted a pop mix that was very very focused. This was a little more broad.

I love the 80s too. I grew up as a teen in the 80s so I have such a hardcore connection with the music from that time but I felt like I was in an 80s soundtrack for a really cheesy movie Most of this I was not feeling. Maybe it's the difference in UK / US music sensibilities? I feel like Simon Cowell right now

Now that I have listened to the mix, I will read your review. We'll see if I feel differently based on what you have written. I hope you aren't traumatized by my review Sexitivity is my favorite song on this mix. Take your mix from there and I'm in. I appreciate that a lot of this is personal to you so I'm being kind here

NoVideo said:

Thanks so much for your track by track review. It is much appreciated.

What is AOR?


OK, now that I have read your review I am SHOCKED that you actually know anything about music. You're quite an encyclopedia and it still doesn't make me love your mix.

But I love you!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

LOL, Iam cool. I said to Lammastide I didn't even think anyone would dare try even listening to this mix LOL. So huge thanks for giving it ago. I could of found more track like "Sexitivity", but then Iam more cheesy AOR then pop/rnb these days I guess.

Thanks again!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

AOR is adult orientated rock or album orientated rock. Good examples would be Toto, Chicago, Jefferson Starship/Starhip, Journey, even Kenny Loggins. Often cheesy, but often very slick, well produced, well played "soft rock". AOR does verge into MOR at times. I personally think both genres are quite closely linked. Heck 2 of the same letters of the name are the same LOL.

"Sexitivity" is my shit.

Timmy84 said:

Yeah, thats a cool track. Very Princey.