I began compiling the songs for this mixtape at the beginning of 2020, letting the playlist shift and grow over three tumultuous years. This is my “ultimate” mixtape; one that covers the formative decade of my childhood that began a half century ago (concentrating on the early 80s), and focuses on Black legends in the genres of R&B, jazz-funk, disco and boogie during the final period of analog recording. This is music that finds me most at home in my body, with familiar and positive lyrical themes. It’s a Black yacht rock movie dream.
As with previous mixtapes, there is melodic and harmonic mixing as well as beat matching and a smooth tempo curve. I worked to create an occasionally seamless conversational flow from song to song, and was surprised that led me to include well-known anthems alongside my usual “rare groove” selections. The result is a more unified mood and less eclectic set. No effects have been used, and where possible, songs are segued naturally with little or no crossfading.
PART I
Barry White | Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up (1973)
DeBarge | I Like It (1982)
Wally Badarou | Preachin’ (1980)
Gene Dunlap Featuring The Ridgeways | It’s Just the Way I Feel (1981)
George Duke | Corine (1979)
Syreeta | I Don’t Know (1977)
Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson | Alien (Hold on to Your Dreams) (1980)
Tania Maria | Come with Me (1983)
Minnie Riperton | Adventures in Paradise (1975)
Anita Baker | Do You Believe Me (1983)
D Train | Children of the World (1983)
Jeffrey Osborne | Ain’t Nothing’ Missin’ (1982)
Herbie Hancock | Magic Number (featuring Sylvester) (1981)
PART II
The Jones Girls | Nights over Egypt (1981)
Odyssey | Love’s Alright (1982)
Billy Ocean | Everlasting Love (1981)
Patrice Rushen | Get Off (You Fascinate Me) (1984)
Brenda Russell | Way Back When (1979)
Chaka Khan | I’m Every Woman (1978)
Aretha Franklin | Jump to It (1982)
Luther Vandross | I Wanted Your Love (1983)
Bernard Wright | Move Your Body (1983)
Dazzle | All (1979)
Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly | Love Is the Key (1983)
The Emotions | Here You Come Again (1981)
Sylvia St. James | So I Say to You (1980)
Ibrahim El Mahboob
January 2023
EL MAHBOOB 