Gay Anthems v1 | Limited Release

‘Tis the season for rainbows and multi-striped lollipops and as such, I will be releasing a new Pride mix alternated with a new Gay Anthem set about every third day until the end of the month.  So get your iPods ready, because I’m going to fill them up!

Since the beginning of the year, I have had repeated calls from folks to make the Gay Anthems available again.  If you remember, they were originally intended as a one-time offer that was to raise money for Equality Across America.  Thanks to your generosity, we raised $531!  While my passion has moved from advocacy to civil disobedience, I do believe there is room for both in our fight for equality.  In the interest of disclosure, the money will not be going towards any advocacy organization this go around.  As I wait in lay for all the dust to settle on who’s really doing what, all new subscriptions will remain in the Party Favorz coffer to help cover my costs from last months losses.  Because of this year’s theme involving Get Equal, I’ll continue the discussion in my next post, all the while doing my best not to dampen your enthusiasm for this month’s ongoing celebrations.

In the meantime, I decided to go ahead and bring back the four sets for a final spin before they are retired indefinitely.  Each week between now and the end of the month (or say July 4th), I will be posting one new mix in this series.  These are strictly for premium subscribers, so if you haven’t signed up yet, that’s the only way they will be available.  Once they’ve all been posted and July 4th rolls around, I will take them down and they will be laid to final rest.  Never fear, because Party Favorz will be working diligently on a fresh new batch of gay anthems to be released on a future date.

I hope everyone is gearing up for what’s certain to be a fabulous weekend!  I’ll be checking in again with you guys (and gals) on Monday.

Until then, ENJOY!

Album : Party Favorz 2009: Gay Anthems v1
Disc : 1/4
Tags : Club Classics Promotional Gay
Year : 2009
Total Time : 1:33:33:00

Track : 1
Title : Everybody’s Free (7th Heaven Mix)
Artist : Kortezman feat. Rozalla
Purchase : Juno Download

Amazing 2006 remake of the early 90s classic featuring the original vocals of Rozalla.

Track : 2
Title : Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But The Rent (Soulshaker Remix)
Artist : 7th Heaven feat. Katherine Ellis
Purchase : Track It Down

Gwen Guthrie’s 1986 #1 club hit get’s worked over by 7th Heaven with one of my current favorites Miss Katherine Ellis (Bimbo Jones) doing the vocal workover.

Track : 3
Title : And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going (Almighty Anthem Mix)
Artist : Jennifer Holliday
Purchase : Almighty Records

No introductions required here.  The Dreamgirls star became a sensation in the early 80s with her rendition of this song from the Broadway play.  It wasn’t until 2001 that the dance mixes from Rosabel and Junior Vasquez took the song to #6 on Billboards Hot Dance Music/Club Play Chart.  The vocals were re-recorded for this Almighty version giving it an entirely new feel for generations of queers to come. An essential in any gay card carrying member’s music collection.

Track : 4
Title : Love Hangover (Almighty Anthem 12” Mix)
Artist : Diana Ross
Purchase : Almighty Records

In 1976, Diana’s initial foray into disco took her straight to the top of the pop and disco charts.  Featured prominently in the movie “Looking For Mr. Goodbar” this song along with it’s companion by Thelma Houston (see #12 below) are considered among disco’s biggest hits.

Track : 5
Title : Chase (Josh Harris Club Mix)
Artist : Maiysha
Purchase : Perfect Beat

Critically acclaimed and Grammy Award nominee, R&B newcomer Maiysha struck a homerun with the second release from her album “This Much Is True.”  What is true, she’s an amazing vocalist and someone to watch out for in the coming years.  If you haven’t heard the Josh Harris production of this song, you’re in for a real treat.

Track : 6
Title : Free (Full Intention Vocal Mix)
Artist : Ultra Nate
Purchase : Beatport

Ultra Nate has been a longstanding favorite of the gay community.  “Free” the #1 club song from 1997 was the gay pride anthem of the year.  Expect an updated Freemason’s version sometime in 2010, which should be fabulous!

Track : 7
Title : Love On My Mind (Back To Philly Mix)
Artist : Freemasons feat. Amanda Wilson
Purchase : DJ Download

Heavily sampling the 1979 classic disco track “This Time Baby” by Jackie Moore, this former #1 from 2007 just got a makeover on the Freemason’s recently released “Shakedown 2″ album.  With amazingly dead-on vocals by Amanda Wilson, anticipations are running high that we might be served with a full version sometime in 2010.

Track : 8
Title : You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) (Don Carlos Club Mix)
Artist : Byron Stingly
Purchase : Masterbeat

Byron updated this 1978 disco classic with vocals the eerily recall the late, great Sylvester.  His 1998 #1 club hit deserves accolades for an amazing rendition with snippets of of other Sylvester hits like “Do You Wanna Funk.”

Track : 9
Title : Young Hearts Run Free (Almighty Mix)
Artist : Hannah Jones
Purchase : Almighty Records

To this date, I don’t believe that anyone’s has licensed the original vocals by Candi Staton’s 1976 disco classic.  The good news is that she’s taken her gospel work and is finally getting back into the club scene.  Regardless, Hannah Jones (You Only Have To Say You Love Me, No One Can Love You More Than Me) does a fantastic re-work of this song.

Track : 10
Title : Faith (7th Heaven Remix)
Artist : Bliss Inc. feat. Carlotta Chadwick
Purchase : Track It Down

Originally released in 1998, this uplifting gospel track got some well-deserved 2007 remixes.  7th Heaven took the honors and delivered a heaping slice of disco heaven with a positive message.

Track : 11
Title : Enjoy Yourself (7th Heaven Remix)
Artist : Viola Wills
Purchase : Masterbeat

With 80s disco classics like “Gonna Get Along Without You” “If You Could Read My Mind” (yes, she did it first) and “Stormy Weather” the queen of 80s NRG was poised to make a comeback after she signed to Harlequin Records.  Doing her legacy proud, “Enjoy Yourself” is a romping disco treat that will go down in the annals of all-time gay anthems.  Sadly, Viola passed away earlier this year.  RIP Viola, you will be missed.

Track : 12
Title : Don’t Leave Me This Way (Almighty Mix)
Artist : Thelma Houston
Purchase : Almighty Records

Thelma Houston’s “Don’t Leave Me This Way” is considered to be one of disco’s all-time greatest.  The Almighty treatment brings it to a whole new generation of club goers making it a must have in any gay anthem compilation.

Track : 13
Title : Chains Of Love (Almighty Essential Mix)
Artist : Erasure
Purchase : Almighty Records

OMG, OMG, OMG!!!  Erasure and Almighty make a fabulous paring.  Also be on the lookout for “A Little Respect” and “Oh L’amour” in the Almighty archives.  Grab them before they’re gone!

Track : 14
Title : I’ve Never Been To Me (Sophisticatz Funky Remix)
Artist : Eye Witness feat. Charlene
Purchase : Juno Download

Originally released in the late 70s not once, but twice and failing to make a dent on the charts, Motown re-released it again in 1982 where it became a worldwide smash landing the #2 spot on Billboard’s Hot 100.  Featured in the 1994 gay film classic “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” this song has been played out by every drag queen from around the world.  This unlikely remix from 2008 features Charlene (Oliver) reprising her biggest hit and taking it to the floor.  What a fabulous delight!

Track : 15
Title : Sing (Almighty 12” Anthem Mix)
Artist : Wynonna
Purchase : Masterbeat

Taking a page out of the Leann Rimes handbook, Wynonna (Judd) authorized remixes for her latest single earlier this year.  Party Favorz is glad she did, because “Sing” is an emotional and uplifting song falling under the empowerment category

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Tags: Club Classics, Gay Anthems

This entry was posted on June 4, 2010 at 10:40 AM and is filed under Promo Only. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.