Love is the Message: Dance, Music and Counterculture
In this patrons-only episode Tim takes the long view on Walter Gibbons: DJ, remixer, break-juggler, born-again Christian and seminal character in the LITM story. In part one, we hear about Walter's early life, the techniques he developed to extend tracks when DJing, and his early experiments in reel-to-reel editing.
Tim also discusses difficulties with disco historiography, misunderstandings about the relationship between Bronx-based Hip Hop and the Downtown party scene, and how connections between the two can be mediated by Walter himself.
This episode draws on Tim's article 'Disco Madness: Walter Gibbons and the Legacy of Turntablism and Remixology' from the Journal of Popular Music Studies. Read Tim's original article is here:
Tracklist:
Strafe - Set It Off (Walter Gibbons Love Mix)
Jimmy Bo Horne - Gimme Some (12" Mix)
La Belle - Messin’ With My Mind
Arthur Russell - School Bell / Tree House (Walter Gibbons Mix)
Bobby Byrd - Hot Pants
Compilations:
Walter Gibbons - Jungle Music [Strut Records]
Walter Gibbons - Mixed With Love (The Walter Gibbons Salsoul Anthology) [Suss'd Records]
Books:
David Toop - Rap Attack, The: African Jive to New York Hip Hop
Peter Shapiro - Turn The Beat Around
Mark Katz - Groove Music: The Art and Culture of the Hip-Hop DJ
Nelson George - The Death of Rhythm and Blues