I plunked this CD into my car's player and the party started jumpin', the music was bumpin' – hey, we be jammon!! Suddenly, I was back in 1987 courtesy of George Andros, better known musically as Georgie Porgie, and the album called "Love Life & Be Happy" [Music Plant and Vinyl Soul MPLV 003]. What a causative title! It is of worth to note that Music Plant and Vinyl Soul is his own independent record label. This collection made me break out my beloved Chouse (Chicago house) jams by JM Silk and Marshall Jefferson. In fact, what really caught my attention during my first listen is that Georgie covers Silk's "I Can't Turn Around", which was originally written by the iconic Isaac Hayes, on track five of this effort. It has become the song I cannot get out of my head once again (gee thanks). So let the music take control as we break it down...
My DJs, you should feel free to drop any uptempo bomb from this disc into your mix and become the darling of your crowd with all hands in the air, and double-up on it like you just don't care!
Georgie and crew are pushing "Love Is Gonna Save The Day" (track two) as the anthem of this album, which was adopted by many in to bounce back in the wake of 9/11 as an inspirational song. "We advanced this song to very few and the response has been terrific! The fans really like this one. This song came from my heart and soul. I wrote "Love Is Gonna Save The Day" well before the tragic days of September 11th, and I feel both honored and delighted that the song has been motivating and inspirational for many," he says. Symbolism and spiritualism comes in many forms, and there are many other tracks that we can party to guilt-free to that have yet to acquire deep or geo-political meaning like "Life goes On" (track one), which I think unintentionally honors the feeling of the late Sylvester's "You Make Me Feel" by being in a similar key and pocket. There is also "Be Happy," and another of my faves, "Sunshine" (track two), which samples the beat of the Whispers' "And The Beat Goes On" from the early eighties.
"Love Story" provides a timely and smooth medium-tempo change of pace mid-disc. You'd think the title of that song was "Come back to me," the way those words weave so often throughout.
This disc has its roll on! Imagine a recording studio listening session featuring Mr. Porgie moving through his moods as you sample the variety of hors d'oeuvres! He gets back to the boogie with "Don't Want You," before ending with the aforementioned "I'm In Love," and you will still want to stay and meet this puddin'-pie. All in all, this is a very superb album by a talented self-starter in the best tradition of beloved, danceable House music. I feel the fact that he says "I think it is important for people to take back their lives by reaching for their power within, that we are all capable of finding." So for the great music and practicing what he preaches I can rate this CD with Five pumpin' stars! It feels good to be able to do that, and for more insight please check him at his website.
