Crate Diggin' : Shep Pettibone

Here is the first of what hopefully becomes a semi-regular series, where we show love to those grinding long before the internets, names that might have slipped through the cracks between today's Tweets and tomorrow's Hype Machine mashups: This is CRATE DIGGIN'.

Shep Pettibone. You have either never heard the name or are rolling on the floor laughing at me for posting this here.
In a nutshell, Pettibone was the sound of 80s pop/club music (think epic snares) and the mastermind behind countless artists you would shell out $65 to see perform without blinking. Heard of any of these?
Madonna - Vogue
Janet Jackson - The Pleasure Principle
Pet Shop Boys - Heart
Duran Duran - I Don't Want Your Love

Pettibone's extensive discography probably deserves a blog on its own (check out his indulgent 15 minute mix of Vogue) but I will leave you with a couple personal favorites and an amazing mixtape from 1983.

Janet Jackson - The Pleasure Principle (Shep Pettibone Vocal Mix)


BB&Q Band - Dreamer (Shep's Dream Version)


Shep Pettibone Mastermix on New York City: Kiss FM 98.7 WRKS (Part 1)
Shep Pettibone Mastermix Part1 by nuyori

A Minha Menina

Here’s a little story about serendipity.
I have this random record that I picked up on a whim. It’s a compilation of songs recorded during the Brazilian psychedelic rock movement from the late 60s and early 70s known as Tropicalia It features some of the most influential players of the scene, and showcased songs from the movement ranging from rowdy experiments in guitar reverb to trippy Asian-influenced psychedelic acid rock. I couldn’t tell you the name of a single artist on the record, but I can assure you that it’s good; it’s perfect background music for whenever I’m feeling a little weird. This past weekend I went to Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin. The Saturday lineup featured a band I’d never heard of called Os Mutantes. I gathered from the other festivalgoers that they were a) Brazilian b) Kind of a big deal, so I decided to watch their set on a whim. Halfway through I recognized some familiar, buzzy guitar chords. As I wracked my brain for a connection, the band launched into the chorus and it hit me: “THIS IS MY FAVORITE SONG OFF THAT RANDOM RECORD!” Sure enough, Os Mutantes are ‘kind of a big deal’ to modern psychedelic rock like Willie Nelson is ‘kind of a big deal’ to modern country music. Which would explain why the band members looked so old.

Right Click to Download: A Minha Menina--Os Mutantes