Break out your Jheri curl, Michael Jackson gloves and boombox as you get down to the sound of this musician who pays homage to 80's production. Behind The Drums takes a deep dive into the rhythms which built a generation. I'm proud to be raised on this type of music and now present the source of these magical drum sounds and grooves.

Based on the "Behind The Drums" sources, here is a list of the drum machines mentioned, the producers or programmers who used them, and the specific songs they were used on. I'm also including some of my favorite mixes to highlight drum sounds introduced in the 80's courtesy of Sparkle Motion:

Click on each header below to be redirected through my Awin affiliate link to each drum machine listed for sale on Reverb.

• Linndrum & Emu Drumulator: Used by Tears For Fears on the song "Shout".
• Linndrum: Used by producer Keith Forsey on the Billy Idol song "Eyes Without A Face".
• Linndrum: Programmed by Paul Waaktaar and produced by Alan Tarney for the A-ha song "Take On Me".
• Linndrum: Programmed by Chris Hughes for the Tears For Fears song "Everybody Wants To Rule The World".
• Linndrum: Programmed by Neil Giraldo for the Pat Benatar song "Love Is A Battlefield".
• Linndrum: Programmed for producer Giorgio Moroder on the Berlin song "Take My Breath Away".
• Linndrum: Programmed by Michael Sembello for his song "Maniac".
• Linndrum: Used by producer Mutt Lange (or sampled via a Fairlight CMI) for The Cars' song "Drive".
• Linndrum & Sequential TOM: Used by producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for the Janet Jackson song "What Have You Done For Me Lately".
• Linn 9000: Programmed by Sammy Merendino for the Cameo song "Word Up".
• Linn 9000: Used by the production team Stock Aitken Waterman for the Dead Or Alive song "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)".
• Linn 9000 (speculated): Used by producer Elliot Wolff for the Paula Abdul song "Straight Up".
• Linn LM-1: Mentioned as a machine known to be used by Tears For Fears.

• Oberheim DMX: Programmed by Fred Zar for producer John "Jellybean" Benitez on the Madonna song "Holiday".
• Oberheim DMX: Programmed by Stephen Bray for the Madonna song "Into The Groove".
• Oberheim DMX: Programmed by Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner for the New Order song "Blue Monday".
• Oberheim DMX: Used by producers Tom Petty and Dave Stewart on the song "Don't Come Around Here No More".
• Oberheim DMX: Programmed by Larry Smith for the RUN DMC song "Sucker MC's".
• Oberheim DMX: Used by producer Jimmy Iovine (programmed by either Prince or Dave Bluefield) for the Stevie Nicks song "Stand Back".
• Oberheim DMX (for cabasa): Used by Phil Collins on the song "Take Me Home".

• Roland TR-707: Programmed by Andrew Ferris for the INXS song "Need You Tonight".
• Roland TR-909: Programmed by Phil Collins for his song "Take Me Home".
• Roland TR-909: Programmed by Gota Yashiki for producers Jazzy B and Nellee Hooper on the Soul II Soul song "Back To Life".
• Roland TR-909: Programmed by Schoolly D for the song "PSK," which was later sampled by Stephen Hague for the Siouxsie & The Banshees song "Kiss Them For Me".
• Roland TR-727: Used for additional percussion on the Shep Pettibone remix of Madonna's "Into The Groove".

Other Machines & Samplers

• Simmons SDS7: Used for white noise by Sammy Merendino on Cameo's "Word Up".
• Simmons (Toms): Used by Stephen Morris and Bernard Sumner on New Order's "Blue Monday".
• Fairlight CMI: Used by Tears For Fears for the kick drum on "Everybody Wants To Rule The World".
• Akai MPC 2000XL: Used by the video host, Nick, for the recreation of the drums for Soul II Soul's "Back To Life".

"Knee-deep in the jazz fusion sound made popular throughout the city, Lights Out soon evolved into a synthesizer-fueled funk group fronted by vocalist Andy Stokes and featuring guitarist Greg "Gee Mack" Dalton. It's this era of Lights Out that made converts of the haters and annihilated 800-capacity dancefloors. It’s this era of Lights Out that is being celebrated on this release.

Recorded in 1982 at Wave Sound Studios - a facility that housed local punk acts such as The Wipers and The Rats - the material on this LP was intended as a demo for Solar Records. As a touring trumpeter for The Whispers, Collins was to pass the reel up the chain. When Solar fumbled it, Collins and Dalton left Portland for Los Angeles signaling the end of the group." - Albina Music Trust

Rare acetate vinyl digger Umberto uploads a smooth Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis-produced gem to soothe the soul. Enjoy two rare mixes of "Tell Me If You Still Care" by The S.O.S. Band, one of the many remarkable acts to work with Flyte Tyme. Also sampled by Rakim on his Clark Kent-produced b-side "New York To Cali".

Acetate vinyl available here at Discogs.

Dip into an archive of excellence in 80's Boogie as PTG revive the music of artists who can still ignite the dance floor and warm your heart. From lesser-known acts such as The Main Attraction and Wynd Chymes to household names such as The Dramatics, Atlantic Starr and Stephanie Mills, PTG revisit the classics with all-new CD disc art for your shelves.

www.ptg-records.com

One of the most thorough labels to cover the classic sound of 80's R&B and Funk does it again on "FunkyTownGrooves Presents The Vaults Vol 1". On this awesome 41-track compilation, FTG feature mostly b-side bonus versions of songs which represent some of this era's best music. Enjoy a playlist of 12", extended and alternate versions of funky grooves created by a who's who of 80's Boogie.

The 3-CD set of this compilation is now available at Amazon.

Tracks : CD 1
1 The Modulations I Can't Fight Your Love (7" Version) 1975
2 Brick Dazz (Long Version) (Dazz Disco Mix) 1976
3 Chocolate Milk Grand Theft (7" Version) 1977
4 Odyssey Native New Yorker (12" Disco Version) 1977
5 Norman Connors Once I've Been There (7" Version) 1977
6 G.Q. Disco Nights (Rock Freak) {12" Version) 1979
7 The McCrarys You (Album Version) 1978
8 Brick Dusic (Long Version) 1976
9 Black Ivory Mainline (Album Version) 1979
10 Ray Parker Jr & Raydio It's Time To Party Now (12" Version) 1980
11 Herbie Hancock You Bet Your Love (Special Disco Version) 1979
12 Norman Connors Take It To the Limit (12" Version) 1980
13 G.Q. Boogie Oogie Oogie (12" Version) 1979
14 Ray Parker Jr & Raydio All In The Way You Get Down (Remix) 1981


Tracks : CD 2
1 Herbie Hancock Stars In Your Eyes (Special Disco Remix) 1980
2 Earth Wind & Fire I've Had Enough (7" Version) 1981
3 Keni Burke Risin To the Top (7" Version) 1982
4 Tom Browne Bye Gones (Extended Version) 1984
5 Kashif I Just Got To Have You (Lover Turn Me On) {Single Version} 1983
6 Angela Clemmons Give Me Just A Little More Time (12" Version) 1982
7 Peter Brown (Love Is) Just The Game (John "Jelly Bean" Benitez Mix) 1984
8 George Duke Reach Out (12" Version) 1983
9 Cheryl Lynn Encore (Extended Version) 1983
10 Juicy Sugar Free (Deo Super Dance Mix) 1985
11 Peter Brown They Only Come Out At Night (12" Mix) 1984
12 Johnny Kemp Just Got Paid (Dub Version) 1988

Tracks : CD 3
1 Billy Griffin Hold Me tighter In The Rain (7" Version) 1982
2 Stanley Clarke Heaven Sent (12" Version) 1984
3 Mtume Juicy Fruit (Vocal Version) 1983
4 Tease Firestarter (Album Version) 1986
5 Champaign Try Again (album Version) 1983
6 Jermaine Jackson Do What You Do (12" Remix Version) 1984
7 Skool Boyz Before You Go (Album Version) 1984
8 Glenn Jones Giving Myself To You (Extended East Coast Version) 1986
9 Mtume You, Me and He (Polygamy Mix) 1984
10 Surface Happy (Extended Version) 1986
11 James D Train Williams Oh How I Love You Girl (12" Version) 1986
12 Johnny Kemp Anything Worth Having (7" Version) 1986
13 Glenn Jones Stay (Edited Version) 1986
14 Regina Belle Show Me The Way (Extended Version) 1987
15 Isley Jasper Isley Caravan Of Love (Single Version) 1985

Get down to the unmistakable Funk of the guy who gave us the hook to BIG's "Sky Is The Limit" plus more classic musical moments. Funky Town Grooves present the one and only James D-Train Williams who lends his heart to 14 jams on his 1986 LP "Miracles of The Heart". The prolific Funky Town label keeps churning out the remastered and expanded classics in this gem by D-Train plus more funk flavor for the summer of 2017.

Check out more remastered reissues by Funky Town here at Juno Records, including the music of The Delfonics, Tyrone Davis and Eloise Laws.