With You in 4/4

Every once in a while nature calls during one of my sets at Spin. It’s usually no big deal because I’ll choose the longer mix of some track and run off to take care of my business. On my way to the little DJ’s room, someone inevitably stops me to ask the name of the song I played five minutes ago ‘that one with the female vocals.’ Duh. That’s all I play…

Anyway, after making some polite excuse-me noises I can usually manage to slip away for a moment, relieve myself, wash my hands (I can’t stand folks who don’t wash their hands after any sort of potty time…gross) and head back to preach to the interrogator of the moment about the fabulous track (s)he just heard.

So without any further fanfare, here’s the list of tracks that you’ve all been asking about over and over when I’m on my way to the loo.

Ann Nesby ‘Shelter’ – One of the most misquoted songs I play, people think it’s a churched up version of ‘Rhythm is a Dancer.’ It’s not. She’s saying ‘Shelter. He Gives Me Shelter’ in reference to God. There’s nothing quite like Miss Nesby hollering at you about the big person up above.

Milk & Sugar ‘Let The Sunshine In’ – A track present in nearly every single set I play, everyone always asks who it is. It’s not a remix of the legendary Fifth Dimension track. Instead, the M&S team has redone the vocals and mixed it up with a Latin feel. Definitely a crowd pleaser that everyone knows the words to.

Brownstone ‘If You Love Me’ – One for the ladies, the movie ‘Living Out Loud’ brought this track to a whole group of people who might have otherwise passed it by. Lyrically it’s one of the best full-vocal tracks on my ‘floor. The hook is incredibly catchy ‘if you love me; say it! If you trust me; do it! If you want me; show it! If you need me; prove it!’ Flawless. It’s part of my personal soundtrack-of-the-mind in an Ally McBeal kind of way. I’ve sung it in my head at a few men in my past.

Loleatta Holloway ‘Dreamin” The Mavrik Moves Me Mix – Loleatta Holloway, an original Disco diva, was remixed into a frenzy by Satoshi Tomiie. I’ve reworked the remix and turned it into a very Peter Mavrik sound. This is a classic tunes that the house-heads know and love. Just hearing her scream the hook ‘Stand up, tell everybody I got him!’ sends them running to the ‘floor.

Cajmere featuring Dajae ‘Brighter Days’ – Lord have mercy, from the first ‘Oooh, ohhh, ahhh, eee’ people always holler when this track comes on. The remixes are hard to find for cheap these days, and the underground goodies tracks on the B-side with the jazz clarinet gets them going. This is ground-stompin’, window-shakin’, thundering house.

Always with you in 4/4,

Peter Mavrik

peter@windycitytimes.com