A few weeks ago I came across this Decca version of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put A Spell On You” at Detroit’s People’s Records. Since “All Night,” one of my favorites, is also the same label from the same period, and since, what the heck, he’s the best singer/performer/musical personality of all time (I always buy even his worst stuff!), I adopted this puppy and gave it a home with me back in New York City! And it’s been driving the dancers wild ever since!
Jonathan Toubin’s NY Night Train Daily Party Platter YouTube just kicked into gear today! Visit the playlist every day to see what’s cookin’…
Today’s platter is Chicago West Side blues siblings’ Eddie King and Mae B. May’s 1967 winner on Conduc records “Please Mr. DJ”
The inaugural track of the NY Night Train “Daily Party Platter” series is a supremely spicy slab of wax! Its hard to go wrong when raw electric blues collides with a raw rhythm and blues beat. This pleading minor key diamond takes the cake with all of its intensity and wild pleading vocals. “Please Mr. DJ! Play my song!” What song is that? Are they begging for something that sounds like this? I hope so! The rough production and primal nature of the thing makes it difficult to believe this is a 1967 recording! I would’ve guessed five years earlier… Is your hair standing on end yet?
Eddie King was an Alabama-born Chicago West Side blues guitarist who worked with Little Mac early on, led his own band and was recorded by Willie Dixon. Mae B. May was his little sister who was reluctant to sing at first (hence her nickname – “Maybe I will, maybe I won’t”) but when she got down to it, the wind reakky blew through those mighty pipes! Not long after this single the siblings separated. King would become Koko Taylor’s longtime guitarist and Mae drifted back and forth between music and raising her ten children – doing a brief stint in Lonnie Brooks’ legendary band. The duo reunited nearly two decades later for their first and only LP “Blues Has Got Me” before parting ways again. Eddie King just passed away in 2012.
– May 15 Chinatown – Home Sweet Home: Shakin’ All Over Under Sideways Down! with JT
– May 16 Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl: SOUL CLAP & DANCE-OFF Record Release for SOUVENIRS OF THE SOUL CLAP VOL 3 & 4 with contest selector APRIL MARCH and more! facebook event
– May 20 Brooklyn – The Living Room: Rooftop Grand Opening Party
Official Record Release party for Norton Records‘ LPs NY Night Train SOUVENIRS OF THE SOUL CLAP: VOL 3 and 4 all night dancing to the 45rpm 1960s soul magic of JONATHAN TOUBIN! accompanied by the NY Night Train SHADOW DANCERS and visuals! 1AM Metropolis Vintage $100 DANCE-OFF w/DJ APRIL MARCH & MC STEVE MYERS! SATURDAY, MAY 16 at BROOKLYN BOWL! 11:30PM – 4AM, $10
Jonathan Toubin’s New York Night Train SOUVENIRS OF THE SOUL CLAP: Vol 1 and 2 LPs both sold so fast that Norton Records asked for more! And now, less than six months after the first pair dropped, they release the two best editions yet! “An unorthodox mix of old classics and new whims, raw 1960s rhythm and soul and odd diversions you can hear at the New York Night Train Soul Clap and Dance-Off.” Discover supreme uncommon tracks by under-appreciated artists on little local labels and turn them at your own dance party! An eclectic bag of flaming hot soul platters from the dawn of the soul era for your own personal get down enjoyment at home!
Once again Toubin trekked half way across the country to his favorite facility Chicago Mastering to cut vinyl masters directly from his personal live DJ platters to make these as close to the big bold sound of the original 45s as possible! Rock’n’roll legend LENNY KAYE (Patti Smith Group, who compiled and wrote the liner notes for the groundbreaking original Nuggets comp, etc) wrote the liner notes for Vol. 3 and Alexander Thompson’s cover photo is an homage to At Home With Screamin’ Jay Hawkins . Toubin wrote the liner notes for Vol. 4 and the cover is a burlesque of Jackie Wilson’s Baby Work Out. You want these! Grab ’em while they’re hot!
Saturday celebrates the release of these twin enfant terribles at the Soul Clap and Dance-Off at Brooklyn Bowl where you can get both editions for almost half-off – 2 for $20! Souvenirs 1 and 2 will also on hand at a discount if you missed ’em a few months ago! Dancing with JONATHAN TOUBIN and NY NIGHT TRAIN SHADOW DANCERS DEE DEE DAME, ERIN SHEEHY, and SARAH KING gets going around midnight. The contest goes down after 1AM and features fabulous contest selector, the everybody’s favorite chick habit, fabulous chanteuse APRIL MARCH, debonaire referee STEVE MYERS of Mighty Fine/Afghan Wigs, and a distinguished panel of judges (TBA Thursday on the facebook event page)! First place gets $100, second gets a $75 Metropolis Vintage gift certificate, and third gets copies of the new records! Then dancing resumes ’til 4am!
– May 1 Chinatown – Home Sweet Home: Shakin’ All Over Under Sideways Down! with JONATHAN TOUBIN and special guest HOWIE PYRO (L.A.! INTOXICA RADIO!) and PAVINYL (UK, MOCKERS) facebook event
– May 2 Las Vegas – Bunkhouse Saloon – SOUL CLAP & DANCE-OFF w/JT
– May 3 Los Angeles – Cha Cha Lounge: Full Time Punks/Shannon Cornett Birthday party w/JT and more
– Apr 19 New York, NY – Blue Room at GLounge: Live Ideas Festival Laurie Anderson Party – Jonathan Toubin DJ set with live performance by Geo Wyeth more info
JONATHAN TOUBIN/ NYNT PARTY BOOKING jonathan not only plays the types of public events listed here but also does regular weddings, birthday parties, and other private events
