On the Town with Buddy B in Diva Town, Part 2: Inaya Day

Inaya Day and her smoking hot band rocked the house at the Village Underground on Wednesday night and I was among the lucky crowd that got to experience this concert that started at 9:30 and went on until the wee hours.

Nick Lion and I headed to the West Village from W. 23rd St. where we'd just seen Gretchen Reinhagen perform (see part 1 of this article). Nick had parked right outside the Metropolitan Room, so it was to the Nickmobile to our next adventure!

Again, there were divas on-stage (Inaya, Toni Menage, keyboardist/singer Amina Buddafly) and off-stage (DeVonde Williams). The set proceeded with a series of rousing arrangements of pop cover classics, kicking off with "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." The '80s were revived via tunes like "Manic Monday" and "Message in a Bottle."

Ms Day and the band were a fine ensemble and vocal duties were generously shared by all. Guest vocalists took to the stage for songs like Billy Joel's "New York State of Mind" and the show was an epic extravaganza that broke for intermission close to three hours. It was unfortunate that, because of the long night and pervious show, and due to our obligations the next day, Nick and I had to leave during the break. Inaya doesn't put on mere shows, she puts on events! My review of her previous show with the group TRIo (with Ms Menage and Ria Alexander) described it as "a happening"

Toni Menage rocked her guest appearance on lead vocals with very soulful interpretations of Adele's "Rumor Has It," top-10 classics like "Killing Me Softly" and "It Takes Two." Ms Day, for her part, roused the audience with reggae renderings of "Sometimes I Get the Feeling" (rapid-fire dance-hall style) and "You Sexy Thing." Prior to that latter number, Ms Buddafy's straight-forward cover of Blondie's "Heart of Glass." had the audience on their feet on the cabaret floor, dancing to the end of the first set.

Lou Rawls' "You'll Never Find" and two Alicia Keys hits -- "No One" and "New York, New York" --were among popular favorites of the night. Over fifty years of pop, rock, reggae and rap were on display. We left, happy, into the night though wishing we could stay for more. A wonderful band that seemed to be able to do everything; courteous and attentive service at our table (from our waitress, Tatianna) and, most especially, the always dazzling vocals of Inaya Day among others finished off this night on the town in an exquisite, grand manner..

Exclusive Q&A with Dance Music's Next Star: DeVonde Williams

I met Devonde Williams at the Queens Pride event at Icon in Astoria. She was backstage supporting her famous cousin, Inaya Day, who would perform later that night. I recall her as a ball of positive energy (much like her cousin). Now it is DeVonde's time to step into the limelight with a new dance single called "Jump In" with Lucius Lowe. Expect dance remixes from Sobel Promotions. It is DeVonde who will grace Icon's stage this time and I look forward to being there to see her at the single's release party on September 12th!

Dj Buddy Beaverhausen: You have a big event scheduled for the not-too-distant future at the club, Icon, in Astoria. Can you share any details with our readers?

DeVonde Williams: This is going to be a high-energy grand event with a lot of love, laughter and of course singing and dancing. You will just have to be there to understand the magnitude of how GREAT an event this will be!

DBB: You happen to be cousins with a major dance-music diva. What was it like growing with her?
DW: Well I can say there was NEVER a dull moment! From jumping on and off beds to falling off beds, singing and dancing all over the place we had and still have a ball! Our family is VERY IMPORTANT to us. Our family is so close-knit, we grew up more like sisters than cousins.

DBB: What kind of music do you like to listen to. And what recording artists, outside of Inaya, have influenced you?
DW: I ABSOLUTELY LOVE MUSIC! I believe music has a healing power! I LOVE ALL genres of music! Funk, r&b, jazz, neo-soul, classical, folk, pop, gospel, rock, rap. I love Jill Scott, Billy Joel, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbara Streisand, Mahalia Jackson, Billie Holiday and my three musical GENIUS friends in my head: Prince, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder. The list goes on but I MUST say the sweet, sultry tone of Gladys knight I just LOVE!

DBB: Tell us about Heartshare & your involvement there.
DW: Heartshare human services is an agency that I have been dedicated to for nine years that helps improve the life of people with developmental disabilities and special needs. I am a supervisor in the day program and I help the individuals develop to their fullest potential [regarding] common life-skill goals that we often take for granted. It is very rewarding and I am delighted to be a part of such an organization.

DBB: You're from Brooklyn, where I also live now. Any special summer events there you're looking forward to?
DW: I grew up in Sunset Park I look forward to so many things from the free concerts at Wingate Park to the festival on 18th Avenue. There is no place like Brooklyn! I love it.
DBB: I'm in Bay Ridge, so we're practically neighbors!

DBB: What are your plans, right now, as a singer with a growing career? Do you see yourself following in your cousin's footsteps as a dance diva?
DW: There is no one on this earth, living or dead, like Inaya. My prayer is that I can come as close to her professionalism, her energy, her brilliant mind and her vocal skills and performance. My plan is to keep pushin keep on pushin to the top. [winks]

DBB:I hear from producer Barbara Sobel that dance remixes of your latest recording may be forthcoming. Is that correct? And how do you feel about that?
DW: That is correct and I am ecstatic beyond measure.

DBB Picture this: You walk into a club, they're playing you singing your song and everyone's dancing to it. How do think that you'd react?
DW: I would be super duper elated and would join in on the dance floor.

DBB: Is there anything you like to do more than sing?
DW: No, not really but I love to dance and I love to cook. If I have a bad day, I dance like no one is watching and when people eat my food they feel my love!

DBB: If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be?
DW: [Laughs] Wow, my mother would say fabulous but I say humbled.

DBB: Thank you so much, DeVonde. Look forward to seeing you at Icon in September!
DW: No, thank you! And, yes, I will see you in September.

Diva Dish ~ Gay Pride Edition

LGBT Pride Month begins June 1st, which is Marilyn Monroe's birthday. And LGBT Pride in June celebrates the political liberation that was initiated during the Stonewall riots on June 28, 1968 -- the day after Judy Garland's funeral. Coincidence? I think not. Both icons cherished and were supportive of their legion of gay fans.

LGBT Pride Day, in city after city around the world, will embrace dance-music divas. They're the idols of the post-Stonewall age. These divas will be on parade floats! In clubs! In cabarets! And even right on the streets during Pride Days internationally. Oklahoma City Pride this year will feature the double-powerhouse appearance of Taylor Dayne and Martha Wash, for example. Lucky city! As is Milwaukee, where that burg's PrideFest has the divine Debby Holiday onstage ahead of comedy divas Sandra Bernhard and Lisa Lampanelli.

I've been fortunate to have interviewed both Martha Wash and Ms Holiday:
http://blabittobeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/12/queens-our-city-radio-exclusive-q-with.html

http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2012/06/buddy-bs-exclusive-q-with-debby-holiday.html

Here in New York City, Queens Pride kicked off June 1 with the fabulous Inaya Day belting out her Billboard club hits, "Movin' Up" and "Make Some Noise" 1 a.m. at Icon in Astoria. The Pier Dance in Manhattan will be on Sunday, June 29. This year, the Pier Dance diva will be Demi Lovato who is not enough of a draw, personally, to bring me to that event. Last year, I was there with bells on (only figuratively) to see Cher and Deborah Cox. What an amazing show that was!
http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/07/on-pier-with-cher-and-hot-cox.html

So, what diva or divas are appearing at your city's event? Dj Buddy Beaverhausen would love to hear from you, all over the world. Don't be shy. Enquiring minds need to know. Wishing a happy Pride Day to all, wherever you might be!

Inaya Day Made Some Noise to Usher In LGBT Pride Month

Inaya Day made some noise Saturday night (technically, Sunday morning) to a packed house at Icon, Astoria, Queens and blew us all away. It was the six-month anniversary of the club and a celebration of Queens LGBT Pride Day which was Sunday, June 1.

My friend, Kevin, made the trip from Bay Ridge to Astoria with me. We each had a flute of pineapple champagne in his place before going down for our car which was more than 20 minutes late. Traffic was a mess getting out of Brooklyn and we arrived later than expected but, thankfully, our diva went on later than expected, too.

Nick Lion instantly welcomed us and made us once more feel at home in his plush club. The joint was jumpin' to the dj and it was body-to-body.

I was able to go downstairs, to the club's "green room," to meet Inaya, her promoter and my friend Barbara Sobel, dance diva DeVonde Williams, who I will be interviewing shortly, and some of Inaya's inner circle.

Shortly after I was back upstairs and comfortably seated on a banquette, the diva emerged to take to the stage. And let me say, Day is like a force of nature. What an incredible, powerhouse voice. Amazing! And if you ever have the chance to hear her live, people, don't miss out.

Inaya sang "Movin' Up (Take My Problems to the Dance Floor)" and got us all movin'. Up, down, sideways and swirling around to that great Mike Cruz club smash from '97. It hasn't aged a day as a rousing dancefloor tune. She followed that her latest # 1 Billboard club hit with Dj Escape, "Make Some Noise," and fabulous noise it was. Dj Buddy B was making his own noise at the sheer joy of  experiencing that live.

After showtime, it was "go" time for Kevin and I. We simply hailed a cab outside and were back in Bay Ridge in record time. Thanks to Nick, Barbara, Inaya and all those sexy go-go gods and waiters for a terrific time. Another great Iconic night with a true icon of club music, Inaya Day!

Inaya Day at Night

Brooklyn's Inaya Day will head to Queens on Saturday, May 31, to perform at the fabulous, swank new hot spot, Icon. Doors open 9 pm. The internationally renowned singer is best known as the lead vocalist for her long string of house music hits that include "Keep Pushin'," "Horny," "Movin' Up," "Feel It," "Can't Stop Dancin'," "I Am tha One," the dance cover of "Nasty Girl" and, most recently, "Make Some Noise" with Dj Escape.

Ms Day has performed on Broadway (understudy to Stephanie Mills in "The Wiz") and starred in the Dorothy role on the road. She is an accomplished song writer and has written songs recorded by the likes of Missy Elliott, Bootsy Collins and Randy Crawford. As a session singer, she has appeared on tracks by Michael Jackson, Queen Latifah, Al Green and many others.

It was indeed a privilege to have interviewed Inaya Day this past December:
http://blabittobeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/12/inaya-day.html

This amazing Billboard-charting artist will kick off a series of vocal performances by various dance-music artists at Icon, courtesy of Barbara Sobel and Sobel Promotions. There is no cover charge on May 31. "Drink specials and GoGo Gods will make Club ICON the only place to be as we celebrate Pride!" boasts the club proudly.

Of course, Buddy Beaverhausen will be there and hopes to finally meet the diva in person. Dj Ian Ford will be in the house, bringing up the energy and kicking off LGBT Pride in high style. This will be a major event for June, which is LGBT Pride Month. Manhattan's Pride celebration (June 29) will traditionally climax with the pier dance followed by fireworks. The diva for the annual dance on the pier will be Demi Lovato. Frankly, I much prefer seeing -- and hearing --Inaya Day!

"Club ICON in Astoria Queens is the ONLY Place to be!" exclaims Barbara Sobel. Absolutely right on! And celebrate the Queens LGBT Pride March the following day, June 1st.

EXCLUSIVE Q&A with Dj Woofy B

Dj Sonido Woofy B (Dj Woofy B for short) is part of what makes L.A. so hot. You can hear his upbeat mixes on Sobel Nation Radio when you dance at night and lock the doors where no one else can see.  I truly enjoyed our Q&A with this new, exciting talent who brings excitement back to dancefloors as well as to Internet radio.

 www.sobelnationradio.fm www.sobelnationradio.fm

Dj Buddy Beaverhausen:  It's indeed a joy to interview a favorite dj of mine, Dj Sonido Woofy B! Thank you for agreeing to do this Q&A, Woofy. 

Dj Woofy B: I would like to start out by saying what an honor it is to be a part of the Sobel nation and to have the opportunity to help promote all of the wonderful music from our army of producers.

DBB: Now, you most likely were not baptized Sonido Woofy B any more than I was baptized Buddy Beaverhausen. Where, why and when did you adopt that name? 

DWB: Woofy B is a nickname that I was given about 10 years ago in my hometown of Atlanta from fellow bikers in a motorcycle riding club in which I was active. One of my favorite leisure activities is riding on long-distance motorcycle road trips. The “B” really has two meanings. It refers to “Bear” and it is also the first letter of my given name. “Woofy” is a term of endearment used in bear culture by someone who is considered attractive or sexy by this admirer. 

DBB:  We can hear you on Sobel Nation Radio as Dj Woofy B, Saturday nights at 8 pm EST, 5 pm PST. What can people who tune in expect to hear? Who is your target audience? 

DWB: My target audience is part of a pretty large, diverse spectrum: Fans of circuit house music, listeners who want to checkout some of the newer dance releases, and audiophiles who want a different option from the everyday radio stations which are known to play the same track line-up hour after hour. I do post my completed mix shows on Soundcloud.com/Woofy-B. With Soundcloud, I am thrilled and grateful to have a pool of loyal listeners. I aim to please and always value listener feedback. Some followers report bringing my downloadable mixes with them to the gym, some play my mixshow in their retail shops to entertain their customers while they shop, and a couple dance club owners on the east coast reported playing my mixes a couple times a week on nights when they were missing an in-house DJ. Those are the types of stories from listeners that delight me. 

DBB:  I love your upbeat mixes. And I love that they're very diva-oriented for a large part. Who are some of your favorite dance divas? 

DWB: I have been a huge fan of Inaya Day since I first started going out to the Atlanta clubs in the early 90’s. Within the big world of dance music, urban soul (aka uplifting vocal house music) has always been one of my favorite go-to genres. Divas who really put me in “the zone” are Inaya Day, Kim English, Vernessa Mitchell, Michelle Weeks and Amanda Wilson. 

DBB: If you could pick one ~ and only one ~ dance-music diva you'd like to meet, who would she be? 

DWB: Inaya Day. Her music has been such a huge influence in my musical journey and in my life over the past 20 years. Whenever I have to think too long about what song to play next in my set, I go just right into the Inaya collection. 

DBB:  Born in Atlanta, you moved out to L.A. When, and why? 

DWB: I moved from Hotlanta to LA in 2011 as part of a company relocation. I have been with this same company for a little over 15 years now. You could say I am a bit of a geek. In my day job, I do technical troubleshooting on data networks. Before this year is out, there is a likelihood of me doing another relocation to our office in Dallas. I would be excited to checkout the Dallas scene. 

DBB: How's life out on the West Coast been treating you? 

DWB: I really enjoy West Coast living. In the last 3 years, I have made some wonderful friends and have an adopted California family who support me in following my dreams and have been there for me with when my recent long term relationship ended. In California, I feel more connected to the music scene, in and out of the club scene. Some of my favorite producers hail from San Francisco which is another wonderful city that I enjoy visiting. 

DBB: You can also be heard on Dance World Radio. How did that come about? 

DWB: I can really thank Barbara Sobel for believing in my mixes and recommending me to the station manager of Dance World Radio, John Carroll. I went from doing a monthly podcast on Soundcloud, Bear Night Radio, to a regular weekly set on Sunday Nights at 10PM EST. I am really thankful for the opportunity to be a part of internet radio and to help promote the latest releases. 

DBB: At what point in your life did you become interested in dance music? What/who were your early influences? 

DWB: For those of you who can remember back to the mid-80’s, I had a boombox in my room and often cranked up many of the popular billboard tracks at the time. I started collecting 12” vinyl remixes in the 90’s and DJ’d at fraternity parties. Before I started following diva house music in the late 90’s, some of the earlier 12” remixes which I played a lot were New Order, Information Society, and Depeche Mode. 

DBB: On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Woofy.B?fref=ts, you wrote "My local coffee shop has turned into a full blown community music production studio. Music and caffeine are my addictions." I believe you were at Starbucks at the time. In what way did it become a studio? And what's your favorite drink there? 

DWB: At any time of day or night, my local Starbucks will have a customer with a laptop on just about every table. I have seen customers bring full-sized keyboards in to work on their music tracks, a couple will bring an entire iMac in to work on their guitar tracks, A few podcast DJ friends (we follow each other on Soundcloud) work on their mix shows at Starbucks pretty regularly while they are getting their coffee buzz on. I like to checkout the latest remixes from Sobel Promotions while I am warming up with a java. My favorite drink is called a red eye. That would be coffee with a shot of espresso for a little extra kick. 

DBB: Is it true that, when not in public, you like to spin in the nude? 

DWB: That particular rumor does hold some truth. On occasion I do go nude. I find that the less clothes I am wearing, the more free my mixes flow. It really brings out the creative streak. Regarding the other part of your question- Who says that you can’t spin nude in public? This is California, a pretty liberal state. Ok.. semi-nude in public. If I am doing a club event in public I prefer DJ’ing at venues which allow me to go shirtless. That’s why I don’t do weddings. 

DBB: Thank you so much, Woofy! Any last shout-outs to the world? 

DWB: I want to say that I am grateful for each and every one of my loyal listeners who tune in to my weekly shows. Keep listening!

Interviews You Won't Want to Miss!

So much great blab and buzz you don't want to miss with Beaverhausen!

The links, darlings! The links ~~

Martha Wash:
http://blabittobeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/12/queens-our-city-radio-exclusive-q-with.html

Inaya Day:
http://blabittobeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/12/inaya-day.html

Fredrick Ford:
http://blabittobeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/12/an-incredible-journey-with-fredrick.html

France Joli:
http://blabittobeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/11/dj-buddy-beaverhausen-comes-to-france.html

Victor Po:
http://blabittobeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/11/dj-buddy-beaverhausen-shakes-it-with.html

Enjoy!

Billboard's Dance/Club Hits of August 10

For the Billboard magazine week ending August 10, Cher's new single (with remixes), "Woman's World," usurps the #1 spot on the Dance/Club chart, as anticipated! It's really Cher's world; we just live in it.

Inaya Day will "Make Some Noise" if she damn well pleases. The perennial house music diva is back, up at #4 with Dj Escape on that number.

Plumb's "Need You Now" is now nestled in the top ten at 10th place with Kylie close behind as "Skirt" shakes it way to #11.  And "Soothe My Soul," by the UK's very durable band over the decades, Depeche Mode, is up at #12 . UK's equally durable Pet Shop Boys this week find their "Vocal" in 14th place and rising.

Upwardly mobile, though currently much lower on the Club chart, are the new Lady Bunny song (who was a Lady long before Gaga), "Take Me Up High" by an unfunny, serious Bunny as house music diva; Yoko Ono's "Walking on Thin Ice" 2013 driven by top-notch remixes from Dave Aude and Ralphi Rosario; and the 2013 remixes of Sylvester's "Mighty Real."

Billboard Beefs Up

Finally, there's some hope on Billboard's dance-music horizon now that "A Woman's World" by Cher is in the #2 position for the club chart ending August 3. It's poised to top the chart next week.

The always remarkable Inaya Day and Dj Escape's "Make Some Noise," is a true floor-filler, up at 6th place this week, while Jennifer Lopez's "Live It Up" is down at #8. The JLo tune peaked in first place, and was at #5 last outing. Fading but still strong.

Ciara's "Body Party," also a previous #1 (last week, in fact), steeply fell to 11th place but it was nice to find the girl charting for the dancefloors again.

"Need You Now" by Christian Contemporary singer, Plumb (nee Tiffany Arbuckle Lee), features strong remixes by RedTop, WaWa and Dave Aude. It's upwardly mobile on the dance/club chart at #15, as is venerable Depeche Mode's "Save My Soul," now in the current 16th spot.

Kylie Minogue works her "Skirt" into the 17th spot, and she's always a welcome presence on the gay club scene, this being no exception.  In the 18th spot, we have Anton Clamaran's "This Is My Goodbye" featuring diva Fenja. It's a pop-friendly high-NRG, trancey number that will seduce you to the dancefloor. Unfortunately, it peaked on Billboard at #13 last week, so it's falling now. Still, it's recommended. (Radio edit posted below.)

Dance/ Soul music idol Chaka Khan's "It's Not Over" truly deserved to be a #1. It peaked at a respectable #7 and is now at  #20.

And "Vocal" by Pet Shop Boys just cracks the Top 25 this week in the 25th spot, but moving up for sure.

Meanwhile, bubbling up in the Top 50, Lady Bunny gets even higher (#43) with the fabulous, ascending "Take Me Up High." New, 2013 remixes of Yoko Ono's "Walking on Thin Ice" (#47) and Sylvester's perennial disco classic and gay anthem, "(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real," is at #50, rounding out the chart.

Gay Pride Anthem 2013?

With Memorial Day weekend nigh, Gay Pride events will be launched, lasting through the month of June. And what will the club anthems be on the floats, decks and dancefloors this year? Who will our Pride 2013 divas be?

Christina Aguilera's strong pipes send "Let There Be Love" up the charts. It is #2 on Billboard's Dance/Club and looks bound for #1 next week despite its less-than-memorable melody.  The very same criticism can be said about dance mixes of Kelly Clarkson's club charter, "People Like Us." The tune is meant to be anthemic, yet all that really registers is its hook. There is something cold and robotic about this "anthem," too. Kelly's vocals are strong but punched across without much genuine feeling; a technical exercise.

Sometimes, it's all in the remix. Chris Cox works wonders with Kat Deluna's "Stars," letting the young diva's vocals skim above the haunting electronica that's sure to draw you to the dancefloor. The disco-influenced Jump Smokers remix of Rod Stewart's "Sexual Religion" also brings that '70s "diva" back to the limelight. Nice work, Jump Smokers! And people, do you want Rod's body? Still?

Celebrating 40 amazing years in the industry, Chaka Khan has a new release to drop just in time for Pride. And her new body's looking very sexy, indeed. "It's Not Over" is a well-written, soulful tune with a powerful hook that is bound to chart and make you want to move onto the dancefloor. Ralphi Rosario's remix is distinctly the cream of the crop. And, yes, when Chaka socks it to you, it's from the gut.

But the true club divas rule. Ultra Nate's latest tune, "Everybody Loves the Night" is a dancefloor-designed beauty produced and mixed by Brinsley Evans, RedTop, Bill Coleman and Count DeMoney with back-up vocals by Inaya Day, joe DNA, Lisa Molina, & Toni Seawright. Irresistible!

Inaya Day has her own new club song out, done with Dj Escape, "Make Some Noise!" And she does make noise. Beautifully. These are the divas who may dominate this year's Pride around the world. Check them out. And download. MP3s available from Amazon.com.

It's time to party!

My Divas, the Recording Booth and Me

Kathy Griffin Tweeted on Halloween, in light of the hasty Kardashian/Humphries divorce: "Ok, so how many of u r changing ur Halloween costumes NOW 2 'Kim & Kris'? I'm running out 2 get stilts & an inflatable ass." Also: "Ugh! gay couples like Kim K & Kris H ruining the sanctity of marriage is the problem w the radical homosexual agend--- oh wait, oops:)" (We knew they were incompatible from the starting gate. But who wouldn't want to marry an 8-foot hunk? Take it from Buddy, though: body parts don't always measure up. Honestly, I expect the kalculating Kim knew, before her nups, what she was getting into -- and what was getting into her, as well.)

On Facebook, dancefloor divas can be truly divine and accessible when Friended. The great Carol Hahn sent me inspiring words when my Mom became seriously ill; Inaya Day thanked me for commenting on her rendition of the Gershwins' "Summertime," from a concert in Germany, on Youtube; and Amber Dirks asked us to consider casting a vote for her, as a contestant, for tv's Wives of Favor. I did just that, and she sent me such a sweet, personal thanks. She is now a finalist. (Go, Amber!)

Ah, my divas, my divas! Where would I be without them? I was raised on divas (not robbery)! Singers like Patti Page & Peggy Lee (before I moved on to Patti Smith and Kiki Dee), but movie divas, too. My grandmother practically insisted I watch films, along with her, on the tv, that starred every movie with Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Barbara Stanwyck, Claudette Colbert, et al. She even took me to the movies to see "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" I remember she sadly sighed during that film, "They used to look so beautiful!" But I watched these films and I learned. It was quite a cool education, Gran.

I have a recording of myself as a kid (around age 7), with my grandfather, in a recording booth in the Jersey shore town of Keansburg, NJ. He introduced me and I burst into a show tune; a favorite of mine at the time, punching across every line. I knew every single word! The song was "Hey, Look Me Over" from the Broadway flop, Wildcat, starring Lucille Ball. Now, if you heard Lucy sing in the movie version of Mame, perhaps you can figure out what closed the show.

Lucy was a tv diva. America's cathode-ray sweetheart but one tough broad who was so intimidating, she even frightened Joan Crawford to death when she guested on The Lucy Show. (Or was it Here's Lucy?)

But I digress as usual. Because my recording booth experience in Keansburg, NJ reminds me of the cd album I listened to last night: Don Rosler's Recording Booth. Lawrence Ferlinghetti's "A Coney Island of the Mind" might also be an apt title for this astounding concept album, with a slew of amazing vocalists. There are genuinely antique recording-booth moments nostalgically, poignantly laced throughout the songs. It's the aural version of earlier Fellini films, American-style, and it's ingenious and a total original.

Rosler's songs wistfully evoked, for me, moments of the music of Jacques Brel, Paul Simon, George Harrison, Nino Rota, Jimmy Webb; yet the songs also seem fresh in their ways; not merely nostalgic or homages to their collective influences. Available to download on Amazon, and available on cd (nicely packaged with liner notes; recommended format) from CD Baby, it has received rave reviews. Particular attention has been graced upon the lovely song, "Doris from Rego Park," posted below.

The only thing missing from Rosler's Recording Booth is my Live from Keansburg rendition of "Hey, Look Me Over!" Get with it, Don!

On My Turntables, Sept. 5, 2011 (Labor Day)

Erasure's new single has hit the U.S., and my cd deck and download playlist both. "When I Start To (Break It All Down)" is from the group's forthcoming LP, "Tomorrow's World," available this fall. The album marks the band's first in more than four years and was written in London, New York and Maine.

"When I Start To (Break It All Down)" has Andy Bell and Vince Clarke back in top form, after four years, enhanced by their collaboration with producer Frankmusik. I have posted a Youtube video for the original track at the end of this column so you can hear what an uplifting dance groove it is. It glimmers and shimmers in an uplifting sonic swirl, and I expect it will be big on dance floors in the upcoming season. Favorite from the remix e.p. I received is the Steve Smart & Westfunk club mix that clocks in at 6:19. Available on both US and UK iTunes and Amazon.

The hiNRG sound from the UK is alive, well and invading US clubs come autumn. Leona Lewis' "Collide" has already started climbing the US Billboard club-play chart. The Cahill and Alex Gaudino/Jason Rooney remixes are particular standouts. Ex-Spice Girl Melanie C is back with the catchy "Think About It." And which Spice was she? Sporty, darlings, Sporty! (And please never forget that.) Groovesplitters club mix is good, 7th Heaven's Almighty-influenced mix is best.

Olivia Newton-John's 2011 re-recording of "Magic" is just that with Ms. N-J ship-shape, voice stronger than ever and still so incredibly smooth. Down Under's remixer extraordinaire Steve Peach shares the honors on the Peachy & Murphy club mix which is the needed hocus-pocus for the floor.

Now, when my favorite divas contact me and say they've dropped something new to kick off September and to get a jump on the fall releases, I go right to CD Baby and iTunes and get my legal downloads asap. And, people, let me tell you that Buddy was in ecstasy listening to new songs by Inaya Day and Debby Holiday all weekend.

Inaya Day has been one of the hardest working, tireless club artists since the 1990s, recording here and throughout Europe consistently. Her voice is very distinctive and powerful. If I'd never heard a song of hers and it was being played in a club, I'd know immediately who the diva in question was. And she never disappoints. That can certainly be said of "Higher Place," her latest, especially the Randy Bettis/Dj Boyd Anthem Mix. It is a soaring, driving, dance-inspiring number that is completely irresistible. Comes with a positive, easy-to-digest message.

I only recently learned from Debby Holiday that she is the daughter of the legendary performer/songwriter Johnny Holiday, perhaps best known for writing "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" with Jackie De Shannon. Debby's powerful pipes have been a boon to the dance-music scene. Her recent "Catch a Fire" was a big hit during Pride this past June and, now, the drivingly upbeat "One World" is even more marvelous (with lyrics that echo the Bacharach/David song, "What the World Needs Now Is Love," also a hit for Miss DeShannon, ironically). "One World" is bound to tear up dance floors, dance charts and, I expect, be an overall autumn club hit. Comes with various remixes, my fave being the Solar City Gospel Brunch club mix.

And, lastly, I have tweaked an unofficial remix of Lady Gaga's "Marry the Night" in my Dj Buddy B's Benadictines v the Matt Nevins private mix. It will be on my next promo ("Desire @ the Disco, vol. 7") and 4 copies can be won as free promo giveaways later in the week, when I run my second contest for this blog.

Till then, I look forward to the new season, the music, the dancing, the nightlife and to you, the world over; it's all about the love and the musical groove. Amen.

August Music

The dog days of August have settled, and the rush of September releases is pending. Still, there are songs new and noteworthy to keep us spinning, even as we apply the Bactine to our insect bites.

Good thing I'm not a guy who bets for money. I predicted, since June, when I put Ricky Martin's club remix of "Freak of Nature" on my NYC Pride Anthems 2011 promo, that it would capture the #1 Billboard spot on the Dance/Club Play chart. But it stalled at #7 and currently dropped to 12. Still, it cracked the top ten and has, so far, had a solid 2 months charting. Congratulations, Ricky, you deserve it. And what's that Enrique guy doing at #1? Song's not nearly as hot.

On the other hand, Kylie Minogue's "Put Your Hands Up," which was on my April promo, Fagtastic, has defied all odds and made it to the #2 spot on the US chart, with #1 totally within her reach. Great going, Kylie and great dance tune! You so deserve it, too; in fact, you should be so lucky!

Guilty pleasures? I got plenty of 'em (and they don't all have to do with dance music, believe me). In fact, brought up Catholic, all pleasures are naturally guilty -- and forbidden, but that's what makes them such fun! The latest such tainted joy is the song, "Chic C'est la Vie" by reality-tv creature, Countess LuAnn, from Bravo's The Real Housewives of New York City. I've deliberately avoided the series and its ilk, so I know very little about this particular celebutante. But she talks out this song in a manner not unlike the grand, growling style of Divine, with a deliberate campiness. The Fontana/Newman remix alone is fun to listen to, pumping the beats up to make you wanna shake your booties to this fluff. Let's call it a "fluffer," then, shall we!

Inaya Day is a perennial diva of the dance scene since the '90s and, though perhaps underrated, certainly is frequently utilized at home and throughout Europe. Her latest, in conjunction with Italian producers Menini & Viani, is a vibrantly realized production in classic House style. The original club mix can be found on the August issue of Promo Only's UK Club Beats cd (highly recommended 2-disc set). On the same issue, you'll find the always-fab Shena with her Betty Wright-like "Homewrecka!" Gay newlyweds take note of this cautionary number. Be afraid, be very afraid.

"Taste the Night," by Dalal, is absolutely beautiful contemporary dance music, especially in the hands of remixer extraordinaire Tony Moran. You'll be on your feet in a dreamy swirl to this well-written & -composed song, beautifully sung as well.

The Wash woman cometh! As August closes, the great Martha Wash will take the stage at Fire Island Pines. That's Saturday, August 27. Tickets for "Martha Wash on Fire" can be purchased online @ http://www.dutfnyc.com/. $35 in advance and well worth it.