Party_Jams.html

GOOD AND BAD SAMPLING
(updated blog from Oct. 2021)
Some producers and artists can take a small sample or
piece of a song and create something entirely new. Others
take a familiar tune and add new lyrics and rhythms and
create something exciting. Those are examples of good
sampling. On the other hand, some borrow heavily from the
original and only change 5-10% (often by just adding a
few beats and instruments). Is that bad sampling or just
ripping off the original? The key in sampling is select-
ing the right song to sample. Many stay clear of huge,
legendary tracks and are afraid to touch them (which
shouldn't be a hinderance). Others pick a song that
wasn't very popular to begin with (another mistake).
Artists should stay clear of sampling anything below B+
status. Stick with the hits! Talented artists are capa-
ble of succeeding over and over again, while less talent-
ed ones are only capable of turning out a hit infrequent-
ly and often by accidnent.///////////////////////////////

NEW BLOG TOPICS CAN BE A CHALLENGESHORT
It's not always easy to come up with a new blog subject
every two weeks. That's why I take a Summer break in
April each year by updating and reprinting previous blogs
until September. From then till April I create a new blog
for each chart update. Just as television goes into
Summer reruns, so do I. But, not every blog is updated or
recycled. Only the best, perhaps 66% or less. That gives
my mind a break and vacation, although I do jot down
future blog ideas throughout the Summer whenever they pop
into my head. Look for reprints and updates here of pre-
vious thoughts and observations starting next chart
update!//////////////////////////////////////////////////DANCE ARTISTS DO LIKE FEEDBACKSHORT
I've been doing Dance music promotion since late 1980. In
the early years club and radio DJs were my main focus. I
worked to make sure they were aware of the best and
latest jams available (and their propularity). Then, in
the early 2010's I began streaming music myself which was
also rewarding. I started my USA Dance Mix Facebook page
which has grown into a reputable music venue (that comp-
liments the charts). That's when I began contacting the
artists and record labels directly (usually on their
Facebook pages) to inform them that their musical efforts
were being appreciated and supported. Most of the better
known artists featured in my charts are well aware of my
efforts and quite a few actually listen to the station.
Some have their own radio shows or podcasts but I don't
know of any that have gone as far as I have and broad-
cast 24/7 worldwide./////////////////////////////////////

GUT FEELINGS TOLD ME TO PLAY 2 "DIFFERENT" TRACKSSHORT
Sometimes you gotta go with your gut! On my radio Disco
show at the University Of Florida I decided to spin 2
tracks that didn't fit the mold that my regular jams did.
They were so different, yet so likable. I'd loved "Good
Times" by Chic and when the Sugarhill Gang came out with
what was one of the first sample and Rap projects
"Rapper's Delight" (which seemed like a novelty songs at
the time) I was all for it. Then it started breaking on
radio and at the clubs. A short time later, the B-52's
"Rock Lobster" was unlike any other Dance song around,
yet I liked it. Something about this unique sound made it
enjoyable. At first it seemed like a novelty tune also.
Then, it started gaining at other college oriented radio
stations and soon caught fire. In the span of 6 months
it became a national sensation. It's always rewarding to
expose an audience to hot, new music, even more so in
hindsight when you realize you were in fact one of the
first DJs to play it.////////////////////////////////////

MOST LONG DANCE TRACKS NEED EDITINGSHORT
Most long Dance releases need a shorter, tighter, radio
edit. Tracks are often 4, 5, 6, or 7 minutes in length.
3 1/2 minutes is the ideal length for a radio edit (many
are shorter or longer). Sometimes, a really hot 7 minute
track can be desireable even for 5 minutes or longer.
Those are rare and few. It's frustrating to find a good
track ruined by needless, short segments added to the mix
that don't match the production. They may be anywhere
from 15 to 40 seconds long). Those can be edited out and
spliced together for an improvement, although not truly
the original artist creation. Rarely does my edit begin
where the release starts or end where it ends. There is
a SWEET SPOT (example: :56 to 4:13 of a 5 minute release)
that most usually does not match the artist radio mix.///
TRACK LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVINGSHORT
I received "Moskow Diskow" by Telex in a vinyl promo
package with about 20 other better known (by me) and more
popular tracks. It was on the last record and listed
after a couple New Wave cuts (which was starting at that
time). I concluded (just by looking at the title) that
I'd listen to that MOST LIKELY New Wave song later. Which
I did the next day. WOW! It was really a hot Disco song
and not New Wave at all. It instantly became part of my
current tracks. Before long it was in the Top 40 of the
Billboard Hot 100 Disco chart (should have gone higher).
Until you actually hear a track, the title may be capable
of throwing you for a loop. Just as in real life, looks
can be deceiving.////////////////////////////////////////1980 WAS SINK OR SWIM FOR DISCOSHORT
Was Disco as dead as some were saying it was? Would it
survive and recover from a growing backlash and bad pub-
licity as 1979 came to a close? Many stations abandoned
the format (showing their true colors) and small, inde-
pendent record labels working on shoestring budgets fold-
ed. It was the artists who saved the day for the genre
and provided the proof that it was in fact here to stay.
Artists like Diana Ross ("I'm Coming Out" + "Upside
Down") and from the S.O.S. Band came "Take Your Time (Do
It Right)". They gave the world the answer. Then there
was "Celebration" by Kool & The Gang and "Behind The
Groove" by Teena Marie that kept the dancefloors moving.
Young & Company had everybody dancing to "I Like (What
You're Doing To Me)". Disco was indeed still alive and
radio and club hits were continuing in popularity and
proving it.//////////////////////////////////////////////

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the result can be very enjoyable and rewarding.... ......
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and interesting (without being redundant).//// ////

blog).///////////////////////////////////////////////// ////

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