The one we're having sitting in front of us this week is far away from being one of those guys ! His tribute to the dance music on its whole is prizeless, giving him a well deserved place on the UK Contemporary Music Hall Of Fame alongside Norman Jay, Dr Bob Jones, Paul 'Trouble' Anderson, Gilles Peterson and Patrick Forge. Today marks the release of the second album of his Sunburst Band outfit, prior seing him as one of the headlines of this week-end Southport Weekender. Ladies & gentlemen, please welcome Dave Lee aka Joey Negro…

A while we haven't talked. Last time was something like in Paris at RadioFG's studio. So wassup, bro ?
Yo Fredrick, howzitgoin ? Just hanging with my boys and feeling the vibe my man !

Consistancy seems to pay as recently said by Roy Ayers on these columns. Any comment ?
If that's what Roy says then I'm not going to argue. I'd be interested to know what Lonnie Liston-Smith has to say on the subject though.

Got another exemple with Blaze who you've licenced tracks from while doing Republic Records ?
I haven't spoken to Blaze for some time, I still like some of their records. I may re-issue "One Kiss" by Pasha again at some point. That was a nice song.

Ever felt the will to relaunch this fantastic data basis ?
I doubt it, most of the tracks were licensed from American labels and the contracts have expired now, so it would be expensive to start again. Also worldwide sales of house music have unfortunately declined quite drastically since those days, so I don¹t know if it would be financially viable.

How do you see all the records that you've released under this banner some 15 years ago ?
I still like most of the stuff, especially tracks like Arnold Jarvis's "Take Some Time Out". I have fond memories of the period.

That New Jersey sound you've championed 'd been touted by some observers as to become the counterpart of the Motown era at the time. Alas, things have shown the contrary. How come ?
There are so many reasons. I don't think the song writing in New Jersey garage was in most cases quite in the same league as the best of Motown. Also there wasn't much radio support or real pop artists ¬ which is really essential nowadays. Ultimately, I don't think much NJ stuff is poppy enough, it is too gospelly, jazzy and underground sounding. Maybe if there had been a Berry Gordy and a Holland Dozier Holland type song writing team then things might have been different.


Do you still believe it could meet the media attention and get the investment it deserves ?
It seems pretty unlikely now, but maybe if someone with a lot of money decided they loved it and wanted to invest in it. There is still some good music coming out of that scene.

If not doing a mistake, this new album arrives right on time, preceeded by remixes of yours which have made some noise (Roy Ayers, Martin Solveig). Not to mention your contribution to the Southport Weekender comp…
I guess so, but it wasn't particularly planned that way. I made the album last year, since then I¹ve done a few bits like the remixes you mentioned which have ended up coming out before it.

You obviously put some money in it, judging by the amount of people involved. Would it mean, like some of your pals, that when doing an album, you always have in mind the fact that it could be the last one ?
I hope it isn't the last one ! Whenever I'm in the studio, I always try my best to make the best LP I can. It maybe wasn't as expensive as you think for the session singers. For example the track with Linda Clifford was recorded some years back when she was in the UK. The Chic girls just happened to be over in London for a gig, so there wasn't any flight/hotel costs. What did cost money is the amount of time it took to make the LP, which stopped me doing any other more lucrative work. Also working with musicians is more time consuming as it does take ages sifting through takes and getting the best performances out of people,

Funny somehow to see you keeping on being the ambassador of disco when in France we have people spreading totally opposite vibes as demonstrated by the electroclash wave. Thinking about some French guy called Yvan Smagghe who recently released a compilation entitled "The Death Of Disco"…
I think Disco has maybe become un-cool again, all the trendy idiots are into 80's sound-alikes at the moment. Some of it like Chicken Lips or Metro Area is great but most of it is nonsense. For me a good record is a good record, whether it is the "cool" sound of the moment or not.

Is there still place for what has to be taken as modern disco in the times we're living ?
Jamiroquai makes a pretty good living out of it, but it will never be as big as it was in the 70¹s.

Have you ever felt hard to stay true to your roots ? Tempted to chose some reputedly easier path ?
I've made many more commercial records like Jakatta, Raven Maize etc. Producing more mainstream material isn't easier, just a different set of rules and objectives. I don't mind doing it, but not all the time.

Never thought about asking you what's been the first record you've ever bought ? Your heroes ?
First record I bought was Sweet "Blockbuster", a UK Glam Rock record. I still like that style. I love people like Earth, Wind & Fire, George Duke, Roy Ayers, Mtume/Lucas ¬ the great 70's producers !

Can't help myself thinking about a weekly show on Radio 1 called Disco Saturday Night Show at the end of the seventies. Was one of my favourite with Jeff Young's Big Beat ten years after. Does this ring a bell for you ?
I used to listen to Radio Luxemburg in the late 70's. They had "disco" shows on 5 nights a week ¬ shame the reception was so awful. I used to check out Jeff Young when he replaced Robbie Vincent on Radio London on Saturday Lunchtimes. Those were the days !
All the Best,
Dave

JOEY NEGRO presents THE SUNBURST BAND Until The End Of Time LP (Z Records)
V/A: SOUTHPORT WEEKENDER 3XLP (SuSu)