Filter
Doug Willis
Browse the latest digital releases by Doug Willis
Played by: Sam Redmore, Craig Charles Funk And Soul, Juno Recommends Disco, Gouranga, Shaka Loves You, Benedikt Freyr
Review: Two new remixes here of this Afro-flavoured production by Dave Lee in his Doug Wilis guise, which first came out back in 2007, and which was also remixed by Audiowhores the following year. The man picked to do the honours for 2022 is Emmaculate, AKA Chicago's Eric Welton, who doesn't flip the script too much, retaining the hi-life-ish feel of the Original but now augmenting the Rhodes that took the lead first time around with some scorching sax work. An Instrumental is also supplied, so if you'd rather dispense with the chanted male vox, you can.
Doug Willis/Dave Lee/Various
Played by: Dave Lee ZR, FINGERMAN, Superbreak, Juno Recommends Disco, Tonbe, LEGO EDIT, Gino Boleti, 1Farshad
Review: As the title suggests, this fantastic - and let's face it, pleasingly epic - compilation showcases some of the many disco-centric cuts in the Z Records vaults, throwing in a few exclusives (see Dave Lee's fantastic, hybrid disco-boogie rework of Firefly's 'Love is Gonna Be on Your Side') for good measure. Such is the high-quality threshold that picking stand outs is tough, but our picks of a very strong bunch include the slick, boogie-funk brilliance of Crackazat's 'Sensationalized', Larry Levan's vintage, delay-heavy synth dub of Johnny Dynell's 'Rhythm of Love', the stomping disco-house release of 'Gotta Thing (2021 Remaster)' by Foreal People, Taana Gardner and Dave Lee, and John Morales' epic rework of Sean McCabe's 'Love For Life'. As the old saying goes, this is all killer and no filler.
Various
Review: Glitterbox resident Dr Packer is a leading light of the contemporary disco scene, while Dave Lee was arguably THE key architect of the whole post-house disco phenomenon in the first place. So when the former helms a compilation on the latter's label, you'd expect great things, and suffice to say you're very unlikely to be disappointed. Hell, for this writer the deep n' sultry JN Revival Mix of early 90s classic 'Do What You Feel' is worth the price of admission on its own, but with Packer's own remixes of label favourites making up over a third of the tracklist, the collection as a whole is pretty much unmissable.
Various/Joey Negro
Joey Negro & Horse Meat Disco - "Candidate For Love" (Joey Negro Disco Blend Unreleased instrumental) - (6:37) 123 BPM
Joey Negro - "Love Hangover" (Micky More & Andy Tee Classic Disco Blend Unreleased instrumental) - (6:48) 121 BPM
Review: Undoubtedly the strongest selling point of Z Records' second set of "Dubstrumentals" (largely instrumental remixes to you and me) is the sheer number of previously unreleased mixes on offer. Sure, the quality of the disco and house cuts on show is uniformly excellent but it's unusual to get so many previously unheard treats in one place. There are some genuine gems, too, including a sparkling Hot Toddy nu-disco instrumental mix of Joey Negro's "Stomp Your Feet", an inspired Saison instrumental of Akabu & Linda Clifford's "Ride The Storm" that features two exquisite extended breakdowns, a must-have "Disco Blend Instrumental" of Joey Negro and Horse Meat Disco's "Candidate For Love", and a stellar, proto-house style dub of The APX's "Sweet Surrender".
Various
Jasper Street Co. - "Paradise" (feat Byron Stingily & Norma Jean - Mark Knight & Michael Gray extended mix) - (6:25) 122 BPM
Sterling Void - "It's Alright" (feat Paris Brightledge - DJ Spen & Reelsoul extended mix) - (7:33) 124 BPM
Alex Preston - "Toolroom Poolside 2020 - Mix 01" (Alex Preston continuous DJ mix) - (1:19:30) 122 BPM
Played by: Redfield
Various
Gladys Knight & The Pips - "Bourgie', Bourgie'" (Joey Negro Super Bourgeoisie remix) - (7:24) 120 BPM
Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band - "Secret Life Of Us" (feat Donna Gardier & Diane Charlemagne - original) - (6:20) 117 BPM
Review: Remarkably, three decades have now passed since Dave Lee AKA Joey Nergo inaugurated his label, Z Records. To mark the occasion, Lee has compiled this suitably epic, 44-track retrospective. There are plenty of big tunes and underground anthems present- see Jakatta's "American Dream", Raven Maize's "The Real Life", The Sunburst Band's "Everyday" and Doug Willis's "Spread Love" - as well as some of the veteran DJ/producer's favourite catalogue cuts and some slept-on gems. Throw in a string of memorable remixes - think Ame's remix of Akabu's "Phuture Bound", Grant Nelson's vintage rub of Z Factor's "Gotta Keep Pushin" and Joey Negro's revision of Patrice Rushen disco classic "Haven't You Heard" - and you've got a brilliant retrospective of one of house and disco's most consistent labels. Don't sleep!
Various
Bobby D'Ambrosio & Michelle Weeks - "Moment Of My Life" (Joey Negro Dubwise Re-Organ-ization) - (8:51) 121 BPM
Played by: YAM WHO?, Javi Frias, Juno Recommends Disco, Dave Lee / Joey Negro, BRENDON P, LEGO EDIT, Yooks
Review: This excellent collection from Z Records draws together some of boss man Joey Negro's favourite label cuts of 2019, many of which he of course had a hand in either producing or remixing. There are naturally tons of superb multi-track remixes of disco gems old and new (see the versions of the O'Jays, Delia Renee, Tamiko Jones and Double Exposure), as well as fresh revisions of vintage Joey Negro house productions under other aliases (Doug Willis, Z Factor, Foreal People) and a swathe of killer cuts that join the dots between disco and house (Sunkids and Chance, Four80 East and CeCe Peniston, Bobby D'Ambrosia and Michelle Weeks). Throw in tracks and remixes from the likes of Fouk, Crackazat and Lay-Far and you have a superb collection of peak-time-ready workouts.
Don't Want You Back (J Paul Getto's Doesn't Want Anything To Do With You Anymore mix) - (6:14) 126 BPM
Review: Shockingly, 11 years has passed since Dave Lee released his sole album under the disco-powered Doug Willis alias, "Doug's Disco Brain". The two CD set featured versions of cuts he'd released under the pseudonym over the previous 15 years. Here it comes to digital download in newly expanded form, with the original set - a mixture of tidy instrumental re-edits, sample-fired disco-house cuts and typically boisterous peak-time groovers - being accompanied by various new, rare and forgotten remixes. With 32 high quality tracks to wade through, picking highlights is tough, though our favourites include the percussion and horn-heavy "You Should Be Dubbing", the soaring disco-house brilliance of "Doug's Place", the silly-but-sensational "Disco Owl" and the Clavinet-happy brilliance of the Re-Tide & Moon Rocket Remix of "Crystal Lover".
Various
Review: If you missed any of Z Records most potent releases this year, do not fear: boss man Joey Negro has brought together all of the label's best bits on one handy, plus-sized compilation. There's another chance to savour the Escort style Brooklyn disco revivalism of J Kriv and Adeline's "Vertigo", Sean McCabe's smooth and soulful rework of Detroit Rising and Ron Trent's impeccably musically rich remix of Joey Negro's "Distorting Space Time". Synth-fired boogie goodness is also provided via a superb "Unreleased Dub" of Janet Kay's 1980s gem "Eternally Grateful" and a brilliant Joey Negro rework of the APX, while soaring, string-laden disco hits are dotted throughout the compilation. If you dig disco, house and boogie, you need this in your life.
Various
Melvo Baptiste - "Glitterbox - Pump The Boogie! Mix 1 (Continuous Mix)" - (1:13:51) 120 BPM
Melvo Baptiste - "Glitterbox - Pump The Boogie! Mix 2 (Continuous Mix)" - (1:08:29) 124 BPM
Melvo Baptiste - "Glitterbox - Pump The Boogie! Mix 3 (Continuous Mix)" - (1:16:55) 124 BPM
Purple Disco Machine - "Body Funk" - (7:23) 122 BPM
David Penn - "Losing You" - (6:11) 122 BPM
Joey Negro - "Stomp Your Feet (Hot Toddy Instrumental)" - (8:34) 120 BPM
Mark Picchiotti & Fondue - "Pump The Boogie (Basstoy Boogie Mix)" - (10:05) 124 BPM
Gizelle Smith - "Dust" (Dimitri From Paris vs Cotonete Discomix) - (7:06) 123 BPM
Dennis Ferrer - "Church Lady" (feat Danil Wright) - (7:25) 126 BPM
Qwestlife - "Hit It Off" (feat Teni Tinks - Disco Soul version) - (3:49) 111 BPM
Kathy Brown - "I Appreciate" (BC's Anthem) - (8:10) 122 BPM
First Choice - "I Can Show You (Better Than I Can Tell You)" (Phonk D edit) - (6:19) 123 BPM
Salif Keita - "Madan" (Martin Solveig Exotic Disco mix) - (7:35) 128 BPM
Shawn Christopher - "You Can Make It" (Ron Carroll's mix) - (5:03) 127 BPM
Mighty Mouse - "The Spirit" - (3:14) 126 BPM
Sergio Flores - "Give It Back" (feat Joy Malcolm) - (7:28) 126 BPM
DJ Mes - "Da Change" (Miguel Migs Salty Rub) - (6:35) 122 BPM
E-Smoove - "Deja Vu" (feat Latanza Waters) - (6:24) 113 BPM
DJ Spen & Ann Nesby - "I Feel" (DJ Spen Disco Dreams re-edit) - (8:30) 125 BPM
Lee Curtiss - "Erotic Tendencies" (Feat. Desmond 'DSP' Powell - extended Club mix) - (6:51) 122 BPM
Purple Disco Machine - "Move Or Not" - (6:40) 120 BPM
Slam Dunk'd - "No Price" (feat Chromeo & Al-P - full Intention remix) - (7:17) 123 BPM
Kim English - "I Know A Place" (E-Smoove Club mix) - (11:10) 124 BPM
Bosq - "Can't Seem To Hide" (feat Megan Doherty) - (5:46) 121 BPM
Lord Echo - "Just Do You" (feat Mara TK) - (6:19) 126 BPM
Gershon Jackson & Reset Preset - "Hands Together" (House Of Omni Hands Together extended Club mix) - (6:36) 126 BPM
Brian Tappert - "The Organ Track" (The Other House mix) - (6:41) 127 BPM
Oeil Cube - "Disk Two" - (6:25) 125 BPM
Mekkah - "I Got You" (feat Bryan Chambers - Club mix) - (9:08) 127 BPM
Paradise Express - "Dance" (Special 12" Disco mix) - (8:17) 132 BPM
Played by: Krystal Klear
Joey Negro/Various
Sweet Touch - "Live It Up" (feat Jocelyn Brown - DJ Friendly edit - album Exclusive) - (5:57) 125 BPM
Joey Negro & Horse Meat Disco & Angela Johnson - "Dancing Into The Stars" (feat Angela Johnson -Horse Meat Disco dub Wise vocal Mix- album Exclusive) - (6:41) 120 BPM
Played by: Dave Lee ZR, FINGERMAN, YAM WHO?, Limpodisco, Alan Dixon, BRENDON P, SITUATION, Ruff Diamond
Played by: Dave Lee ZR, Dicky Trisco, Kraak & Smaak, YAM WHO?, Dr Packer, Juno Recommends Disco, Tonbe, J&M BROTHERS, BRENDON P
Review: While Dave Lee (best-known as Joey Negro) has always dealt in disco-fied dancefloor grooves, few of his projects are quite as mirrorball-focused as his Doug Willis material. Here he dons the tongue-in-cheek, Neighbours-inspired alias for the first time in four years. There are two fresh cuts to set the pulse racing: the jaunty, piano-heavy, slightly housed-up gospel disco swirl of happy-go-lucker opener "Risky Biznizz" and the heady, heavily orchestrated peak-time disco brilliance of "Doug's Disco Theme", whose stabbing string motifs are particularly memorable. Also included in the EP are two fresh remixes of Willis classics, with Dr Packer's smooth, delay-laden, roller disco-goes-deep house version of "Skate Dancer" just edging out the tougher Re-Tide & Moon Rocket disco-house rework of "Crystal Lover".
Joey Negro & Horse Meat Disco & Angela Johnson - "Dancing Into The Stars" (extended DJ Friendly edit) - (10:24) 120 BPM
The Sunburst Band & Pete Simpson - "Why Wait For Tomorrow" (Al Kent Disco Madness version - Record Store Day edit) - (8:18) 120 BPM
Timmy Vegas & Kerry Davies - "Get Yourself Together" (Timmy's B'ham Disco Authority mix) - (6:35) 120 BPM
The Sunburst Band & Donna Gardier & Diane Charlemagne - "The Secret Life Of Us" (original mix) - (5:44) 117 BPM
Joey Negro/Various
Played by: Dr Packer, Juno Recommends Funky House, Tonbe, Alien Disco Sugar / Leonidas DeeJay, Murder He Wrote, BRENDON P, Alioscia Mele, Vito & Druzzi
Review: With the 2016 Ibiza summer season in full swing, Dave 'Joey Negro' Lee has gathered together a bumper collection of label tracks that are currently doing the business on the White Isle. There are few surprises amongst the 28 selections - think swinging piano-house, soulful grooves, sun-kissed broken beat, contemporary disco reworks and synth-heavy boogie-house - but the quality threshold remains remarkably high throughout. Highlights include Lee's glistening 2016 re-rub of his vintage Doug Willis anthem "Spread Love", a deliciously loose and synth-laden Fouk rework of The Sunburst Band, the bad-ass boogie business of Spirit Catcher's "Rendez-Vous", and a killer 1995 rework of Fonda Rae's "Over Like A Fat Rat" from U.S house legend Victor Simonelli.
Akabu/Various
The Sunburst Band & Joey Negro - "Caught In The Moment" (feat Pete Simpson - The Reflex Revision) - (7:30) 124 BPM
Soulpersona & Princess Freesia - "Keep It Working" (Joey Negro Disco Blend instrumental) - (5:17) 123 BPM
The Sunburst Band & Joey Negro & Vivienne McKone - "Trust Me Feat. Vivienne McKone" (DJ Spinna Nostalgic Future dub) - (6:33) 122 BPM
Played by: Dave Lee ZR, Dr Packer, Juno Recommends Deep House, Monkey Boots, HWah, Le Visiteur Online, Deep Dish
Review: It wouldn't be summer without every house label under the sun releasing an Ibiza-themed compilation. To be fair to Dave Lee's long-running Z Records imprint, they've been delivering White Isle-themed collections every summer for many years. Given that their sound - a blend of funk-fuelled grooves, soulful house, tech-tinged anthems, disco re-edits, boogie revivalism and classic US garage influences - is well suited to sun-drenched alfresco parties, it's little surprise to find that Z Records Presents Ibiza 2015 is rather good. While much of the standout material comes from Lee himself under a variety of guises (check, in particular, the Doug Willis jam "Crystal Lover"), there are also top-notch cuts from Sean McCabe, Opolopo and Fibre Foundation, whose cover of disco/boogie classic "Weekend" is simply superb.
Various
Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band & Vivienne McKone - "Trust Me" (DJ Spinna Nostalgic Future vocal) - (7:46) 122 BPM
The Sunburst Band & Angela Johnson - "Only Time Will Tell" (Joey Negro City Connection mix) - (7:35) 125 BPM
Various
Akabu - "Everybody Wants Something" (feat Alex Mills - Kolombo back to bassix remix) - (7:06) 120 BPM
Zo - "We Are On The Move" (feat Erro & Phonte - Joey Negro revival mix - exclusive) - (7:05) 123 BPM
The Sunburst Band & Atjazz - "Where The Lights Meet The Music" (feat Darien - Andreas Saag remix) - (5:53) 116 BPM
Antonello Ferrari - "Make Room For Me" (feat Jennifer Wallace - Joey Negro disco boogie dub extravaganza) - (8:13) 123 BPM
The Sunburst Band - "Only Time Will Tell" (feat Angela Johnson - Joey Negro jazz dance dub) - (6:14) 125 BPM
Played by: Dave Lee ZR
Review: Z Records annual Ibiza compilation is a much-loved institution, intended by Joey Negro as a companion for those heading out there this summer or for those listening at home in the less Balearic UK. With a 22-song tracklist it'll take all summer to get through it, but what a summer! Highlights include Negro's collaboration with the mighty Horse Meat Disco, "Candidate For Love", the raw disco-not-disco gem "Crystal Lover" and the simply gorgeous forlorn house of "Everybody Wants Something". So, another great season then!
Joey Negro presents Doug Willis
Joey Negro/Various
AC Soul Symphony - "Still In Love" (feat Ricci Benson - Joey Negro Love Symphony mix) - (7:46) 126 BPM
Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band - "In The ThickOf It" (feat Angela Johnson - Joey Negro Endless Summer mix) - (7:05) 123 BPM
Joey Negro Presents Mistura - "Better Things To Come" (feat Kadija Kamara - Joey Negro club mix) - (7:52) 123 BPM
Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band - "Why Wait For Tomorrow" (feat Pete Simpson - Al Kent Disco Madness version) - (8:18) 120 BPM
Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band - "The Secret Life Of Us" (feat Donna Gardier & Diane Charlemagne - Director Cut Signature mix) - (7:51) 123 BPM
Marshall Jefferson Presents Ragtyme - "Raindance" (Joey Negro & Marshall Jefferson mix) - (6:42) 124 BPM
Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band - "Survivin'" (feat Leroy Burgess - Joey Negro Funkdown mix) - (6:11) 124 BPM
Review: Following a host of releases with his Sunburst Band, Z Records boss Joey Negro is back to perhaps what's he's best known for: spinning light and soulful disco house. This second in the series kicks off with the handbaggy "Smile" by Mistura and take in thumping diva business "Every Day Of The Week", sublime techy house "Life Is So Strange", unsullied authentic disco "Power To The People", acid-jazz on "Better Things To Come" and the phaser-heavy, electro-boogie of "Begun To Love".
Joey Negro presents Doug Willis
Review: Marking 20 years since its first release, Joey's beautiful One Way-sampling disco house joint gets another new lease of life thanks to Alex Kenji and Mr Willis himself. The former adds an alluring bump-bass jack (think Daft Punk's "Burnin'") while the latter just beefs the original up to contemporary production standards and ensures that crisp acid line is an equally strong feature as the lead sample. Also included is "Doug Biscuit", a more cosmic, dreamy house version of "Spread Love". Three first class takes on one of Joey's earliest releases. Spread the love today...
Various
Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band - "The Secret Life Of Us" (feat Donna Gardier & Diane Charlemagne - Joey Negro extended mix) - (6:40) 117 BPM
Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band - "In The Thick Of It" (feat Angela Johnson - Opolopo Boogie remix) - (6:33) 123 BPM
Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band - "Dialed Up" (feat Noelle Scaggs - Andreas Saag remix) - (7:32) 122 BPM
Review: End of year reflections... For some labels it's just a re-hash of familiarity. For others it's a chance to really celebrate the breadth of releases. Negro's Z Records definitely falls in the latter category as we're dazzled with disco and funk sciences through the ages: From cheeky edits of disco classics (Lady Aya's "Shake Your Body") to rare funk jams like Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers "Back It On Up" (taken from Paul Phillips ace Under The Influence album) via more straight up funky house work-outs Jakatta's "Scattering Stars" and Supernova's superb futurisation of "American Dream".
Various
Geoff M presents The Ridiculously Good Looking Guys - "You Better" (David Penn remix) - (7:07) 127 BPM
Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band - "Dialed Up" (feat Noelle Scaggs - Andreas Saag remix) - (7:32) 122 BPM
Doug Willis - "Don't Want You Back" (J Paul Getto Doesn't Want Anything To Do With You Anymore mix) - (6:14) 126 BPM
Joey Negro & The Sunburst Band - "The Secret Life Of Us" (feat Donna Gardier & Diane Charlemagne - Joey Negro extended mix) - (6:40) 117 BPM
Played by: Juno Recommends Funky House
Review: No, don't worry, it's not the Ibiza closing party... Ibiza remains open all year and promoters are already organising line-ups for 2013. This is the label boss Joey Negro's personal closing party. And having spun tunes there for well over 20 years, he knows how to select the very best party tracks. No-nonsense funky house business, then. With a strong nod to the bass influence in today's dancefloor patter, too. Cuts like Z Factor's "Sound In The Air" and Spirit Catcher's "Absolute Drop" both reference the old while sounding band up to date with crisp, vibrant production qualities and dominant bottom end. There's plenty of Joey's own material here. Appearing in his many guises expect to find an ace rework of Jakatta's "American Dream", a handful of Doug Willis flavours and a rather fetching Kaytronix remix of Akabu. The party season might be over, but it'll always be open in your heart if you invest in this...
Various
Played by: George Kelly, Gazeebo, FINGERMAN, Faze Action, Superbreak, JKriv (Razor-N-Tape), Tasun, Del Strange
Review: Although famous for straight-up house productions, Joey Negro's Z Records has spent the last few years cosying up to the nu-disco crowd. Here, many of the label's most disco-centric releases get a new lease of life, on a collection that gleefully joins the dots between nu-disco, disco-flecked house, boogie and electrofunk revivalism. There's another chance to check the Revenge's excellent edit of Chapter 3's "Smurf Trek", remixes from Faze Action, Tornado Wallace and The Idjut Boys, a smattering of classic re-edits from Onur Engin and Red Greg, and plenty of original material from Dave 'Joey Negro' Lee under a multitude of aliases. Oh, and a sparkling 60-minute bonus DJ mix from Faze Action.
DJ Meme/Various
Played by: DJ VIVONA
Review: Released on Joey Negro's Z Records, Rio spinner DJ Meme whips through thirty of the best from Z on this new mix - available either as individual unmixed tracks or as one continuous mix. Always a haven for the best soulful and funky house, Z Records highlights such as JN's mix of Doug Willis' "Power To The People", Sean McCabe's mix of JD73's "Think Twice" and Akabu's "The Phuture Ain't What It Used To Be" make for an effortlessly bumping and uplifting voyage.
Various