Disco-Electrofunk-BBoy Classic


Released 1984 on NIA

Release Yourself by Aleem
Odd as it may seem by today's standards, "Release Yourself" by Aleem straddled itself effortlessly between two different dance music scenes in the 1980's on both sides of the Atlantic.

On one side there was the break dancing fraternity checking out the new electrofunk sound from the US that was coming out on imports as well as compilations here in the UK, primarily on "Streetsounds" courtsey of one Mr Morghan Khan.

Across the Atlantic however the New York disco scene was checking out Larry Levan at The Paradise Garage as he dropped "Release Yourself" plus a miriad of other seminal electrofunk recordings into his sets to a multi ethnic and polysexual crowd of enthusiasts down on King Street .

Having lost my original copy some time ago and mistakingly picking up the copies from Hard To Find Records as a substitute, I was thrilled to discover that here in Brighton the original was available at Pure Pleasure Music run by Chris from Soft Rocks who happend to have this back in stock, thanks Chris.

More info

Release Yourself" by Aleem featuring Leroy Burgess

Aleem are identical twins Taharqa Aleem and Tunde Ra Aleem. The brothers began their recording career with Jimi Hendrix's Cry Of Love and Rain Bow Bridge, as The Ghetto Fighters. (They also shared the same apartment with Jimi).

With Leroy Burgess as featuring lead vocalist they formed Aleem in New York during the early '80s and originally released hardcore dance songs on their own label, NIA Records.

These included 'Hooked On Your Love', 'Get Down Friday Night', 'Release Yourself' and 1985's 'Confusion', which resulted in a deal with Atlantic Records. In 1986 they recorded Casually Formal, and worked together as producers on acts including Fonda Rae, Caprice, Captain Rock and Process & The Doo-Rags.

6 comments:

  1. Anonymous10:14

    Choice tune Ali...the dub is wicked on this tune great to hear streetsound are coming back again :)

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  2. Go Bang Brighton10:41

    You are so right mate, the dub is 100% the best version, still amazes me how a few changes here and there completely change the whole overall feel of a track. I've listened to a few of the planned releases, the spirit of the original electro sound that Street Sounds gave us is still very much evident, some of the tracks are a little furious for me but they've kept the blue print non the less, not too sure about their urban side line though, what do you think?

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  3. Anonymous12:06

    I've not listened to them yet...would be nice if they are pushing some sub 115 bpm dub grooves... I'll dip my ears in and let you know ;)

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  4. Anonymous12:10

    ahh just visited the site and saw the link to the Urban Street Anthems ...to be honest anything with the word urban in music is enough to put me off.....maybe my loss...but hey.. I can live with that :)

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  5. Go Bang Brighton12:54

    Check the Nu Electro section mate. My initial thoughts were the same but then I remembered that electro was urban for it's day though, still, didn't make me want to check out Morghan's urban flavors either, too much water under the bridge for all of that.

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  6. Anonymous13:31

    ok will do...I cannot find any sound clips on the street sounds website ...where are they? ...lol probably cannot see the wood for the trees

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