Martha Wash, Kylie & Me, and the Death of The Dance Machine

This is the first time on my blog that I am announcing, at last after a long time planning it, I have retired from my office job to be full-time Buddy Beaverhausen! Writing and blogging are what I  can devote my time towards. And, of course, going to events especially if red carpet, lights and lots of press cameras are involved! I find myself at a time of life now composed of multi-tasking and, equally, multi-napping.

First, let me just say that I do see eye-to-eye with Madonna on one thing: ageism. When Radio 1 in the UK snubbed playing "Livin' for Love" (the only really good track off the new album), Madonna said we've made progress "in other areas - civil rights, gay rights - but ageism is still an area that's taboo and not talked about and dealt with.” Hear, hear, old girl!

I'm old enough to recall with joy a happy time in my life that included tuning into Chuck Barris' The Gong Show before bedtime with my ex. We loved the appearances of Gene, Gene, The Dance Machine and his stiff, crazy and robotic dance moves. He made us laugh. Gene was a stagehand at NBC before appearing on The Gong Show and, more importantly, the first African-American member of the International Alliance of Theatrical and Stage Employees, Local 33. Eugene Patton was 82 at the time of his passing. 

Giorgio Moroder's "Right Here, Right Now" is a super upcoming dancefloor smash, certainly, with Kylie Minogue on vocals. There will be no shortage of diva-driven disco for this year's Pride festivals!

Not all the remixes of the song are successes and, frankly, I prefer playing Moroder's original extended mix. Mark Roberts' Ultimix dampens down the NRG but there's worse from Felix Da Housecat, Mr Moustache, Ant Larock, Dj Sneak (who are some of these people?!) Kenny Summit, Felipe de Lima. However, I did enjoy 7th Heaven's club mix. Very upbeat.

Martha says "Everybody dance now" once more for producer Tony Moran. Actually, her lyrics are "I want to see you dance" on Billboard's upwardly mobile new dance hit, "Free People." Tony just had a Billboard smash with the fabulous Debby Holiday (an update of "I Like You") and sure knows how to fashion a sound that will make you want to get up and shake your groove thing.

Again, the original Tony Moran/Warren Rigg Global Mix is best. The Cruelty remix is too funky, Giuseppe D too chunky. Actually, most of the mixes available failed to impress with the exception of Yinon Yahel's big-room, Junior-esque house version.

"Free People" is another positive anthem from Ms Wash, very much in her element here as she belts out a feel-good song about loving yourself and expressing it on the disco floor. Just like Gene Gene.

Martha Wash Is Not Coming Down

"I'm Not Coming Down" is the latest single off Martha Wash's album, Something Good, to get the remix treatment for dancefloors and dance radio. http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/02/im-into-something-good-martha-wash.html

First came the Tony Moran/Deep Influence mixes (on Moran's Sugar House label) which have so far signifantly helped the song to the #2 spot on the current Billboard chart... and it doesn't look like the diva is coming down right now. I expect this to take the top spot later in the week. In any event, Ms Wash has another solo club hit on her hands.

It was my distinct pleasure to briefly meet ex-Weather Girl Martha Wash after her show at BB King's in NYC in 2012. (And to give her a photo-op smooch on the cheek.)
http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2012/08/martha-wash-at-bb-kings-nyc.html

New mixes have been circulated amongst djs which has enhanced the performance power of "I'm Not Coming Down" in clubs as well. The album version presents us with an inspirational, upbeat and well-crafted pop ballad. The new mixes are the various icings on that cake.

At close to 9 minutes, the Phil B/Leo Frappier Mix is a disappointment from two of my fave remixers, actually. Though it showcases Martha's power pipes, instrumentally it is a bit spare for my taste with rather unremarkable electronic embellishment. Wayne G's Throwback Club Mix indeed has a nice '90s-like house-music quality. But more successful, exciting and likely to get my ass to the dancefloor is the Rosabel Anthem Mix, a big-room sound with a nice, spoken intro by the diva. John LePage/Brian Cua's mix is also an appealingly rousing hands-in-the-air endeavor as is Ranny's Big Room Club Mix. Gustavo Scorpio's remix has its moments but perhaps kicks off on such a high, it has no place to go, thereby sounding redundant about 4 minutes into its eight-plus.

Nonetheless, nice to find Martha available in so many mixes, back at the top of the charts where she belongs and with a well-done promo video of the song to boot.

Preview: New Villiage People Song

The new Village People number, including David Hodo (of the original group (construction worker)), "Let's Go Back to the Dancefloor," posits that group onto contempo disco-friendly floors. Produced by KC (of KC & the Sunshine Band) and Julian Marsh, there are a series of hot mixes including the original "Sunshine" mix.

David Noakes remix is nice. Will get you up and moving! Expectedly, the John LePage/Brian Cua mix cranks the tune up to irresistible happy-house level. Julian Marsh takes the song in a contemporary hiNRG level direction and, people, it is HOT!

Of course, the Tony Moran/ Warren Rigg remix gives the new number an entirely big-room feel. There's something for everyone on this grand remix spectrum.

Give it a listen and you'll want to Go Back to the Dancefloor.

Thanks to Barbara Sobel & Sobel Promotions for this remix package. Available NOW at Amazon.com.

Just a sample:

Billboard Dance Chart's Poor Show for Pride

Sadly, so little to enthuse and inspire us this Gay Pride Month on the week's Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs chart.

Daft Punk with Pharell Williams drop to 4th place this week after holding on to the #1 spot with the disco-funky "Get Lucky."

Tony Moran and Deborah Cooper's "Heartbeat" temporarily hit a wall, stalled at #6. But Abigail's "Surrender" soars from 12th place to #9, which is very good news for lovers of quality, melodic dance music. This is the real deal!

And, finally, the fantastic Chaka Khan is back with a brand new hit on the Billboard Dance chart, sharply rising from last week's 28th place, up 7 spots to #21. Again, Ralphi Rosario's remix is tops.

Get out and dance on your Pride Day, wherever you are. Maybe you've already done so and, in that case, I hope you had a great time. Let me know what really brought you up to boogie on the floor, everyone! Don't be shy to comment on this blog!

And thank you Italy, Australia, Ukraine, Ghana, Ukraine, Philippines for your increased viewership over this past week. Happy LGBT Pride to all! Madison, if you're reading this, check my reply on your blog comment.

Peace, love and disco! Over and out.

Buddy B's Dish on the Latest Dance, Disco and Diva Tunes in Time for Pride

Believe me, nobody's going to accuse the latest Tony Moran/Deborah Cooper dance song, "Heartbeat," of being verbose. And its minimalist lyrics are not all that's indicative of the laziness inherent in modern house music; it has virtually no melody and relies too heavily on its calculated and clumsy beat. This producer and singer are capable of so much better, together and individually; we know because they've done so in the past. And this Heartbeat is half-heartedly cynical, released during international Pride month and hoping to exploit the credentials of its talents to a target audience. It is #6 on the Billboard dance chart, and got there in eight weeks. I think that's a sad statement about the current dance-music scene and the power of payola.

Yet, there is hope! The disco-funky "Get Lucky," by Daft Punk featuring vocals by Pharrell, hangs onto the #1 Billboard club/dance position, which is a very promising sign. In the #12 spot: the return of the simply sublime Abigail, the UK's brilliant hiNRG songbird, here in a kind of trancey, dreamy mode. The Bouvier & Barona-produced number is called "Surrender" and I believe you'll surrender to it if you give it a listen at the YouTube link below.

Canada's groovy diva, Annie, returns with a catchy dance tune, "Tube Stops and Lonely Hearts." Another biggie on Dj Buddy Beaverhausen's current play list. I love the FNM remix especially. Also rather beautiful is a promo I received for the song "Disco Compilation," a well-produced number with a virtual wall of sound surrounding songstress Serafina Steer's strong vocals. I highly recommend it and will be spinning it, especially the Jarvis Cocker remix.

I also received a dance remix of Agnetha Faltskog, essentially a bootleg remix, from her new album, A. http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/05/agnetha-faltskogs-a.html  The song is, surprisingly, "When You Love Someone," a mild ballad on the album, but it works in this "Alias" mix as what could be a club floor filler.

Finally, there are no words to describe how fierce the Ralphi Rosario remix rework of Chaka Khan's new "It's Not Over" is! It will positively lift you to the disco floor. 

Love, peace and disco! And welcome, to the island Mauritius, to my blog!

R.I.P., Peter Rauhofer

Peter Rauhofer received tribute from his peers in the dance-music industry today after it was announced the famed and acclaimed music producer had died.  It was less than a month ago that I first heard the news he'd been hospitalized with a massive brain tumor, and I hopefully wished the best for him at that time. http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/04/peter-rauhofer.html

"Shocked at the death of Peter Rauhofer," producer/ remixer/ dj Chris Cox wrote on Facebook. "We didn't always see eye to eye, but I always respected his music. R.I.P."   

Producer Tony Moran noted: "A short while ago I heard that one of our music heroes past away. I was shocked, hurt and angry that someone who I am certain had so much left to offer is gone. Condolences to his family and friends and I am now moving my energy to all the contributions that Peter has made. I will miss you, Tony."

Diva Kristine W wrote: "I am very sad about the news of Peter Rauhofer, I have meet him several times and enjoyed talking to him at various events and privately in conversation. I will miss this Dance Music Legend and I am sure he has a packed dance floor in heaven. He was a great talent. I will always cherish the amazing remix he did for me on my single 'Some Lovin'." 

And Rolling Stone reported: "Pioneering DJ, producer and remixer Peter Rauhofer died today after a long battle with brain cancer, according to a note from friend and manager Angelo Russo.... He was 48." Rauhofer remixed all the major disco divas of the day (Cher, Madonna, Whitney, Mariah, Yoko, Adele, Toni Braxton) and was a major influence in the dance-music world since the 1990s. He received a Grammy for remixing Cher's "Believe" in 1999.

Peter, thank you for the joy all your music brought us. You are missed in clubs and dance floors around the world. He will be buried in his native Austria.

Beaverhausen's Big CD Giveaways

Since readers have taken me over the 12,000 viewers-per-month mark, I decided to gratefully give you something in return! My first giveaway gifts, with postage paid by me, no matter where you live on this planet! (Offer does not apply to those living outside the planet Earth.)

One great house music mix: West Coast Excursions vol. 3, 2006, mixed by Dj MFR, featuring Carla Prather, Miguel Migs & more.

One terrific Tony Moran-produced & mixed Mix Magic Music, 2011, featuring Jennifer Holiday, Deborah Cox, Frenchie Davis & more.

Both cds unwrapped, unplayed.

To receive giveaway, merely comment on this post. First post wins. Specify which cd you'd like and it's yours (only one per person). I will direct you as to how to confidentially private message me on Facebook with your mailing address. Absolutely free!

Good luck, gang!

Thank You, Blog Viewers!

Ok, people, you know I love you! And, obviously, you're loving me back! In October, I was so close to what was then my glass ceiling of 9k hits with 8,961 views for the month of October. Well, we're finishing the month of November (Greenwich Mean Time) with 10, 346 views! Can you believe it???!! Big WOO!

Let's celebrate with the new Frenchie Davis song, produced by the fantastic Tony Moran, at #24 on Billboard. I hope it goes to the top.

Bless everyone; thank you Czech Republic for your record number of hits this month! Thank you all, around the world, for your checking out my blog! Even better things to come!

Dance, people, dance!

Buddy B's EXCLUSIVE Q&A with DEBBY HOLIDAY

When I first heard "Dive" (Chris Cox remix) in a club eight years ago, I had to know who this diva was! Thus began my love affair, dj-wise, with Debby Holiday. Mention "Joyous Sound" to most gay men and they kvell! The Tony Moran/Warren Rigg mix of "Surrender Me" still sends chills up my spine. So it is a special pleasure to interview the one, the only, the fabulous ... Ms Debby Holiday!

Dj Buddy B: Debby, I've been such a big fan of yours since I first heard "Dive," so it's particularly sweet that you would do a Q and A for my blog in time for Pride. Thank you so very much! 

Debby Holiday: Aww, my pleasure!

DBB: What are your Pride plans, with so many Pride celebrations around the world? Will you be performing?

DH: Oh, yes indeed! I'll be at Seattle Pride this weekend! Can't Wait!  Lots of friends there AND I'll have a chance to hug Phil B,who's spinning!

DBB: You and Dj Phil are a winning couple, musically.  Love out to you both!

Debby, we adore you in NYC! Will you be doing a show here any time soon?

DH: Oh, bless you -- I tell ya,  I am WAY overdue for a NY show! Hmmm - gotta ask one of my agents about that. [laughs.] I will however, be performing at Cobalt in DC on July 14th and Rehoboth Beach at the Blue Moon on July 15th. Both venues are new to me, so definitely looking forward!

DBB: We will so be loving you once you get here!

It's so great to see you on the Billboard dance chart so frequently lately! You just had a top-ten charter with producer Phil B ("Never Give Up") and, now, your song with John LePage, "Key to Your Soul" is climbing up. You actually had two numbers on Billboard at once. How did that feel? And to what do you attribute this recent Billboard boost?

DH: Well, it took me about two weeks to even remember that! "Hey, wait a minute, is my name on two singles at once?" [laughs.]

Definitely a pretty cool feeling. I've been very blessed so far. Eleven singles all in the top 25! I attribute that to a lot of hard work AND working with great people! "Never Give Up"and all !! :)

 
DBB: Billboard said you straddle the fence between soul, rock and disco, yet you always seem outside the box. Could you tell us a little about your musical influences and background?

DH: Oh, very eclectic. From David Bowie and AC/DC, Janis Joplin to Tina Turner, Prince, Lenny Kravitz, Aretha Franklin ... and ... Chopin. My father had every possible kind of musician traipsing through our home as a child so I learned to appreciate and love a lot of different styles of music. Oh... and the first live show I saw ... Bette Midler!   

DBB: It is the rare dance diva who writes or co-writes most of her material, but you are one of them. How do you feel about that?

DH: My father [soul legend Jimmy Holiday who co-wrote "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" amongst others] wrote a few huge hits, so song writing is an honored art form in my heart and mind. It means a great deal to me -- to have the pleasure/honor of sharing thoughts -- especially the uplifting songs because I know music saved my life many times. [Mine, too, Debby. ~ Dj Buddy B] When I felt no one understood, music was my constant solace.

DBB: You did a fabulous, blow-the-roof-off cover of "Heaven," produced by LePage and LFB,  a classic 1990's club hit originally recorded by Sarah Washington. What was it like to tackle something that already had the status of this sort?

DH: Well, it was very odd at first. I mean, come on, Sarah Washington is amazing! So, I tried to stay true to her passion while making it my own. I had a blast and am really thankful John suggested the whole idea.  

DBB: It turned out wonderfully!

I'll ask you about other disco divas, now, if you don't mind. For example, Cyndi Lauper is NYC's grand marshal in our march this year. In July, I have the opportunity to see Nona Hendryx (of Labelle). Like you, she definitely is on the edge of the soul/rock/dance scene. In August, Martha Wash. I wanted to get your take on these women with powerful voices who, like you, have guided us to the dance floor and made us wanna sweat.

DH: Not much I can say except: all hail those beautiful women! Strength, grit, tenacity ~ adore each and every one of them!! It's a good thang to sweat! Ohhh, yes!!

DBB:  The club world has had some terrible losses recently; I'm referring especially to the deaths of Whitney Houston and Donna Summer. What effect did these events have on you?

DH: The loss of such powerful voices and spirits always makes me reflect on why we are here, how short our journey is and that we MUST try to cherish every minute. The ups -- the downs -- all of it! I will be forever in awe and grateful to the musical voices that were here with us ... lifted us up, gave us hope, made us dance, smile, FEEL Life.

DBB: Last questions. Care to comment on the President's stance on marriage equality? And anything special you'd like to shout out to your gay fans all over the world?

DH: I am SO proud of our President. It took a great deal of courage to be the first American President to say it! I know he lost a lotta Bible Belt folks over speakin' his truth. To my gay fans/friends, I say ... I love you! We are all equal, PERIOD! We will continue to spread a message of love and equality and strength and unity. One mind, one open heart at a time ... we Belong! Each and every one of us!

DBB: We love you, Debby. And thanks so much for your time and for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us. Happy Pride and have a great summertime! You are beautiful, inside and out!

DH: Thank you for having me!  I feel very fortunate to know some delicious beings like yourself. Big ol' hug to ya!

Debby Holiday, available on iTunes. Support our artists that support us. Happy Pride to all! Good luck, Debby, in Seattle! xxxx!

Divas, Djs, Buddy & Billboard

By and large, the Billboard dance chart and I frequently part company when it comes to top tunes, though there are some things on my turntables that also make it on that chart.

Hey, I'm a populist! Give the people what they want, I concur. But, also, I believe a dj's set should expose people to new music, to help shape tastes and mix things up. Contemporary chart music, underexposed club productions and disco classics can all live in harmony. I think it excites a crowd to hear the unexpected, the fresh, the new and exciting when they're out to dance. Nobody hits the dance floor if he or she is uninspired (unless pleasing a date; Buddy B knows all too well) or gagging on a Billboard hit for the umpteenth time. Throw in a little retro, embellish with some camp, include plenty of uplift in the melody and the messages, give good diva drama, et voila!

So let's begin with a peek at Billboard's top club hits. Billboard says it's "compiled from reports from a national sample of club DJs." But does anyone know who these dj's are exactly?  I'm just going to address the songs from the chart that I, as a dj, like and play. It will prove painlessly brief:

Despite Madonna's record drop in album sales of MDNA, her club-friendly "Girl Gone Wild" is sitting pretty in first place as "Give Me All Your Luvin'" drops, still comfortably entrenched in the 10th spot. That song already ascended to #1 two weeks ago and has made a meteoric rise and fall in just eight weeks.

Melanie Amaro's cover of "Respect" is at 3; Katy Perry's "Part of Me" is one of this week's Greatest Gainers at #6, followed by "Love on Top" by Beyonce, having already topped the chart.

The always welcome Debby Holiday's new one, "Never Give Up," floats like a butterfly to #16; Yoko Ono gets down to #18 with "She Gets Down on Her Knees." And, beyond that, I'm afraid, is where Billboard and I part company.

My divas, oh my divas! I do love my divas. They are almost everything to me in terms of putting across the emotional elements of a song that help make it be exciting. So against diva-wannabe drama in real life, I say save drama for the stage, movie, tv or the disco, where it belongs.

Unlikely, at this point, to make it onto Billboard's top 25 club songs, is Gladys Knight's return to dance floors with her cover of "I Who Have Nothing." This classic tune was composed by Carlo Donida with English lyrics written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, and originally recorded by Ben E. King in 1963. Sylvester previously did a disco version of it, and now it's Gladys whose distinctive voice helps make this newly exciting to club-goers. Best remix is by Tony Moran/Warren Rigg. And, truly, Nicki Minaj's pathetic "Starships" beat this on the US dance/club chart? Pshaw!

It was Tony Moran, also, who produced a number that is an instant club classic, in my estimation, though it didn't chart the way I thought it would. "Magic," a true diva thrill-ride sung by none other than Jennifer Holliday, was indeed club magic. Released at the beginning of the year, it was certainly a hit in the gay clubs. So who, exactly, are these Nielsen-family djs? That's what I'd like to know!

Of the latest crop of promos, I am enjoying the 2012 club mix of Rich B's "Revolution" featuring Marcella Puppini (of Puppini Sisters fame, and already discussed in a recent post). "Tonight" is the new dance offering from St Etienne, the original extended mix preferred. I love Sarah Cracknell's voice; it's somewhere between Kylie and Deborah Harry, floating beautifully above her band's dreamy instrumentals.

Again, it's the original extended mix to go with when it comes to the trancey "Sunshine in My Life" by FunkySober with true diva vocals by one Sharlene Hector. Beautifully dancetastic despite simplistic lyrics. (Not always a drawback when you just need to work it out on the disco floor.)

From the tv series, Smash, it's Katherine McPhee who's lifted to disco-diva status at last, just like she was lifted on the show during that number by chorus boys. The original tv episode's version was clearly meant as a club tune. Right now, I'm digging the original extended club mix. Let's hope for brilliant remixes and that this will be a Smash.

Every Carol Hahn song's worthy of a celebration. Her newest release is no exception. "If This Is Love" is a great, contemporary hi-NRG number. Talk about uplift in message and melody, this is brilliant! I like the Julian Marsh mix best, fyi.

"Dance Again," Jennifer Lopez' newest, is a guilty pleasure and sure to pleasure the Billboard crowd. Adam Lambert offers "Better Than I Know Myself," of which I'm loving the Mike Rizzo club mix best. And beloved club divas Toni Braxton and Suzanne Palmer are back, people! And that is good news indeed!

Mark Picchiotti is always brilliant and his re-working  of "I Heart You" by Ms Braxton is no exception. May he guide her to the top where she belongs, at least for the club crowd. Suzanne's soulful "Keep on Keepin' On" is a dance delight with a few good remixes on hand to enhance. Right now, I like Gustavo Scorpio's work the most.

May I add that dancing is not only fun, it unites? Peace and happiness to all! Haters are losers. Clubs are where the happy people go. Thanks to all my viewers around the world. Love to all! Shout outs to Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Singapore, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates and everyone else! It's one world. Love each other, love the music, dance, peace and out. It's all about the music.

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.

Perennials

The world of dance music is full of performers, djs and labels that burned brightly and then went out of existence in what seemed like a flash. It's not unusual in the entertainment world but it's especially applicable to the trendy, flavor-of-the-moment dance-music microcosm. So, it's always heartening to look at perennials of the industry who seem to be around forever and without whom the dance-music world would be the poorer. Take for example, Almighty Records in the U.K.

Almighty is a true phenomenon not only of dance music labels but of indy labels generally. This London-based, hiNRG organization has been going strong since 1990 with their remixes and NRGized cover-versions for the dance floor. They've famously remixed Cher, Diana Ross, Elton John, Liza Minnelli, Pet Shop Boys, Wynonna Judd, Pamala Stanley, Katy Perry and countless more. Almighty have produced singles by Hannah Jones, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Gloria Gaynor, Donna Summer, Freda Payne, and have gone platinum internationally with their Abbacadabra (NRG covers of you-know-who) project.

Martyn Norris is head producer and CEO of Almighty Records and monitors and runs everything, from creating new projects to creating the music to searching for vocalists for Almighty's in-house productions like Almighty Gaga Girls and Obsession. Martyn is the head of Almighty Associates and a member of the Almighty remix team. Since the '80s, he has been something of a hiNRG wunderkind and, apparently, savvy businessman. Congratulations to Almighty for such fantastic, make-you-wanna-dance music for 21 years so far.

The ageless Tony Moran is a one-man producer/remixer who evolved from freestyle (he remixed "Show Me" by The Cover Girls) to a fusion of freestyle, house and NRG. Tony is, along with Junior Vasquez, one of the USA's most influential producers/remixers over the past two decades and is still going strong. He has a new compilation, the continuously mixed Mix Magic Music on his current Sugarhouse label. It includes his work with powerhouse divas the likes of Nicki Richards, Frenchie Davis, Ultra Nate, Deborah Cox and Jennifer Holliday. (Wow!) Highly recommended, currently available for download or, in NYC, at Rainbows and Triangles in Chelsea (8th Ave., 19th-20th Streets)and Rebel Rebel on Bleecker, off Christopher.

This week on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart, Ricky Martin moving up to #11 with "Freak of Nature" (to hit the top 10 by next week), "I Wanna Go" by Britney Spears is the new Power Pick as it leaps to 23 from its debut, last week, at 45. Yoko's "Talking to the Universe" captures the 17th spot from last week's 25 and Kylie's "Put Your Hands Up" hits #10. Gaga's "Edge of Glory" (with Clarence Clemons on sax) is up at #5 while her Judas makes its way down the chart at 43 after a solid 12 weeks.

On the Dance Airplay chart, the fab Kim Sozzi rises, now at 16, with "Little Bird," her cover of the Annie Lennox number. I recently mixed the intro to the extended version with dialogue and loops from Hitchcock's "The Birds" featuring Tippi Hedren. Hopefully, this track will find its way to the club chart.