JOHN MORALES - THE M&M MIXES
May 27, 2010
John Morales, NY producer and sound engineer, created and released M & M Mixes last November. It's a great compilation of 1980s post disco. On the radio, in the record racks, and most importantly on the dancefloor Morales' work (predominately with studio partner Sergio Munzibai) helped define an era and influence future generations of DJs, producers and artists.
Born in the Bronx, Morales, was so in love with the music he heard, as a 12-year old he persuaded his local record store to give him a part-time job with payment not in dollars, but in 45s. By the time he was old enough to get a full-time job his burgeoning record collection had helped land him one of his first DJ gigs at the influential Stardust Ballroom in the Bronx.
As his reputation grew Morales was invited downtown to Manhattan to play guest spots at the likes of Pippins, Bentleys, 1018, Limelight, and the infamous Studio 54. Like many DJs of the 70s John ventured into the studio more through need than necessity. Here's what he had to say about remixing: "I started to make medleys and remixes because the records in those days were too short, most in the 3-minute range, and being a DJ I needed to get more out of the records I was spinning. I first started to do my edits using the pause button a a Teac Cassette Deck...after many hours of self education I graduated and I purchased a Sony 1/4-inch reel-to-reel and learned to edit. It was hard work and long hours editing and putting all the little pieces of tape together and making something creative happen. Reflecting now, I realize how important it was to what I would later do. It taught me a lot about what I wanted to do and how to do it, so that by the time I got in a real studio I was virtually a whiz at editing tape much to the amazement of some of the engineers I worked with."
The M&M Mixes was originally released on November 11, 2009. It combines 19 previously unreleased tracks.
CD 1 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED NYC UNDERGROUND DISCO ANTHEMS
01 Class Action feat. Chris Wiltshire Weekend (JM After-Session M&M Mix)
02 Tony Adderly I Aint Mad At You (JM After-Session M&M Mix)
03 Ronnie Dyson All Over Your Face (JM After-Session M&M Mix)
04 Curtis Hairston I Want You (All Tonight) (JM After-Session M&M Mix)
05 Julia & Company Breakin Down (Sugar Samba) (JM After-Session M&M Mix)
06 Cubie Burke Down For Double (JM After-Session M&M Mix)
07 Universal Robot Band Wanna Be Your Lover (Demo Version)
08 La-Rita Gaskin Never Can Say Goodbye (Demo Version)
09 Bumblebee Unlimited Lady Bug (I Just Wanna Be Your Lady Bug) (12-inch Version)
10 Universal Robot Band Barely Breaking Even (Club Version)
CD2 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED EXCLUSIVE SALSOUL MIXES
01 Inner Life Ain't No Mountain High Enough (JM 4AM Mix)
02 First Choice Happy Love Affair (JM After-Session M&M Mix)
03 Logg Lay It On The Line (JM After-Session M&M Mix)
04 Logg (Youve Got) That Something (JM After-Session M&M Mix)
05 Skyy Because Of You (JM After-Session M&M Mix)
06 Inner Life (Knock Out) Let's Go Another Round (JM After-Session M&M Mix)
07 Logg I Know You Will (JM After-Session M&M Mix)
08 Funk Deluxe This Time (JM After-Session M&M Mix)
09 Instant Funk No Stoppin' That Rockin' (JM After-Session M&M Mix)
Class Action feat. Chris Wiltshire - Weekend (JM After Session M&M Mix)
Ronnie Dyson - All Over Your Face (JM After Session M&M Mix)
Inner Life - Ain't No Mountain High Enough Pt. 1 (JM 4AM Mix)
Skyy - Because Of You (JM After Session M&M Mix)