DJ, author, journalist, university lecturer and erm, West Bromwich Albion devotee, Dave Haslam is a man with many strings to his bow. From manning the wheels of steel in the hedonistic days of the Hacienda to curating audiences with the likes of Guy Garvey, Kevin Rowland, Mark E Smith and Jarvis Cocker, he has accumulated a frightening amount of musical knowledge. Coupled with having a great ear for a tune, it makes him the perfect candidate to slot a quid into The Soul Kitchen Jukebox this week.1) First Record That I Bought
T-Rex ‘Telegram Sam’
I was ten or eleven. A proper 7” single. In those days after they’d been in the charts for a while they were discounted, often with a hole cut out of the middle (sometimes these were ex-jukebox too), and they’d be 35p or something and sold at the local newsagents to kids who didn’t get much pocket money. When you’re that age good pop music is like some key to open up a whole new world. I assumed the lyrics were some kind of code or mantra; I’d sing along and be transported to a better world.
2) Song That Makes Me Hit The Dancefloor
Jinny - Keep Warm
It’s a pop dance Italo piano classic from almost twenty years ago. Not very underground back then and probably not very sophisticated to modern ears, but it worked (and still works) for me. The video is worth checking out because those moves the girls performed when the song was on Top of the Pops; that’s what it’s like when I hit the dancefloor. Kinda.
3) If I Could Only Play One More Song As a DJ It Would Be...
Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody
I’m guessing this is the record I’ve played most in the last three decades of DJing. Not every night, obviously, but it’s one of those records – or maybe the only record – that you can play to any decently-minded, pretty-pissed audience. I’ve played this in the same set as songs by New Order, Caribou, Stevie Wonder, whatever, whoever. I love when everyone sings along.
4) Song I'm Listening To Most Right Now
Korsakow feat. Erlend Øye ‘I've Been Waiting So Long’
Erlend Øye has one of the most wonderful and distinctive vocals in music; you’ll have probably heard him fronting Kings of Convenience and Whitest Boy Alive, or guesting with Royksopp. Here his breathy, melancholic otherworldliness beds down beautifully in a deep house track that bubbles along nicely without going all-out and anthemic on us. Hot and deep enough to give you a very very lovely experience.
5) My Guilty Pleasure Song
Holland Dozier Holland - Why Can't We Be Lovers?
I don’t really have guilty pleasures. It’s either a pleasure or it isn’t and I don’t have enough of a sense of humour to like something shit. However, people have been mildly surprised by some of stuff I’m into, and sometimes I’m surprised too - especially stuff I might have thought was a bit wet when I was young. I never liked smoochy stuff and I still don’t unless it’s got some real deep soul element too it. This is a melancholic make out tune beautifully sung by Lamont Dozier. “When I say I’m leavin’, I’m just makebelievin’”.
Dave can be followed on Twitter @Mr_Dave_Haslam and has plenty of his work on show, including interviews with Ian Brown and Sonic Youth at www.davehaslam.com
Keep on Keepin' on,
Baia
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