Let's Go To Bed

I've been listening to Joey Negro's classic 'Disco Not Disco' compilations a lot the last couple of weeks... and as a result thought i'd give some props to a really underrated band - Was (Not Was).

Don Was (Donald Fagenson) and David Was (David Weiss) were Jewish school friends from Detroit (Yes.. yet more Mo'Town music) who decided to form a band after running into a bit of financial difficulty (Don was about to get involved in a spot of robbery out of desperation). They sent a tape off to the legendary ZE records in New York, who agreed to release 'Wheel Me Out’ as a single.. with vocals re-recorded by David’s mother!

The track is a real soundclash, with elements of Funkadelic, Blondie and Moroder all held together with a killer bassline. The term 'Punk Funk' could have been invented to describe this groovilicious yet provocative track... instead Joey Negro settled on the equally appropriate 'Disco Not Disco'.

ZE decided to keep the band members' identity (and in particular race) a secret… thus allowing radio play on both black and white stations.. and this probably helped the record become a big club hit in the US and Europe. This would also go down a storm on any discerning dancefloors in 2005.

WAS (NOT WAS) - WHEEL ME OUT

The band reached their commercial peak in the late-80s with transatlantic hits ‘Walk The Dinosaur’ and ‘Spy in the House of Love’... however i'm totally hooked on another minor hit they had in 1992 - 'Shake Your Head'. Amazingly this features the vocal talents of Kim Basinger and Ozzy Osbourne! I had to listen to it about 8 times to convince myself that it was actually Ozzy, but yes, it's him.

Apparently Madonna was originally approached for the female part, but refused to duet with the Prince of Darkness. It does sound in a way like the better Madonna songs of that time, and would have suited her perfectly. I'm not sure whether Basinger was asked to impersonate Madonna, but the voice does sound quite similar.

Production is by Steve 'Silk' Hurley (of 'Jack Your Body' fame), which would probably account for the housey piano riffs. I just think this is a damn good track that you will find yourself listening to on repeat for an hour. Enjoy.

WAS (NOT WAS) - SHAKE YOUR HEAD