Let’s start off with a little tranquility from Phil’s home town:
Title: Lift
Artist: 808 State
Label: ZTT Records
Genre(s): House, Techno, Early Chill
Year released: 1991
I’ll always remember Lift for the days when I started college in 1991, and it was part of my soundtrack as I commuted from home every day. While most here in Chicago knew 808 State for Cubik and Pacific, I liked the strings and tranquility of Lift, and still keep it in rotation on my phone/MP3 player to this day.
I’ve talked about 808 State before here, but for those who did not know, they were an electronic music group started in the late 80s in Manchester, England. Most interesting is their full on rave/electronic sound while many groups in the area were melding rock with dance music in the whole “Madchester” sound. 808 State stood the test of time, and thus had much life beyond that era.
Still avoiding most of the news and social media on shootings, as this classic brings me some inner peace…
Title: Lola’s Theme
Artist: The Shapeshifters
Label: Positiva
Genre(s): House, Disco House
Year released: 2004
A simple sample of Johnnie Taylor’s 1982 R&B hit “What About My Love”, add in a beat, some new vocals, and it ended up being a big hit 12 years ago. Funny enough I didn’t really notice Lola’s Theme until 2008 with a new remix that was put out, but that disco loop just always makes me feel good.
Wildly enough, I found the title “Lola’s Theme” was a working title. Simon Marlin, one of the members of the Shapeshifters, is married to a woman named Lola, who happened to have an extensive record collection. Thus while listening to said collection the duo conceived this anthem.
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