After a run of shows that took the band on three stops in Texas, one in New Orleans with Monsters Of Funk, and one at Suwannee Hulaween, The Motet will bring their Mixtape 1979 show to Asheville, NC’s The Orange Peel tomorrow for Halloween night. Check out photos from the New Orleans show with Monsters Of Funk in the gallery below, courtesy of photographer Taylor Cohen.

To get fans excited for the finale, the band compiled a Mixtape 1979-themed Spotify playlist, along with explanations of each of the songs included. Listen along to the sounds of 1979 and read what members of  the band had to say about them below:

Michael Jackson – Working Day and Night

Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall Album is a quintessential part of the 1979 playlist. The king of pop was changing the sound of music in his day with collaborators on this album such as George Duke, Stevie Wonder, Jerry Hey, and Quincy Jones just to name a few. Check out the horn section work at 2:42!

Ramsey Lewis – Wearin It Out

This relatively unknown self titled album by pianist Ramsey Lewis was one of the last tunes to get added to our 1979 playlist. We were searching for great funk instrumental cuts and somehow this one came up on our list. Although there are vocals on the track, the rhythm section really gets featured on this cut with unison lines throughout the jam.   

Tony Williams – Hip Skip

Many jazz musicians of the 60’s and earlier had evolved their sounds to a more funky dance vibe by this time. Drummer Tony Williams’ record The Joy of Flying is a prime example of such evolution. The personnel on this record are some of the most highly esteemed jazz musicians including Herbie Hancock, Randy and Michael Brecker, Ronnie Cuber, and George Benson. With all that talent in the room you know the end product is going to be fantastic!

Tom Browne – Throw Down

Tom Browne was not only a master of his instrument, but also contributed a great deal to the late 70’s and 80’s funk scene, which isn’t common for a band led by a trumpet player.  This track not only allows the band to stretch their musical “chops,” but also keeps the groove going to keep the hips swaying.  

EWF – You and I

“I Am” is one of my favorite EWF records, and though it isn’t as well known, it was the first one I really dug into back in the day.  “You and I” really blew my mind and was a huge representation of EWF’s ability to seamlessly go from key to key & feel to feel without it being jarring or feeling out of place.  Plus, when that chorus groove drops… you can’t help but bounce and smile.

Glide – Pleasure

I’ve been wanting to do this song since I first heard it more than a decade ago.  It’s one of the most quintessential late 70’s bass lines, and Garrett is going to absolutely murder it.  Plus, you don’t see many songs nowadays just ride a groove for extended periods of time.  It becomes almost minimalist funk, making each little change really hit you at your core. 

Prince – I Wanna Be Your Lover

I mean… c’mon.  Prince was 21 when he released the self-titled album, where he straight wrote, arranged, composed, produced, and performed everything on it.  This was the 1st single and really showed that Prince was different – inspired by so much before him, but delivers unlike anything before.  It was funk but with vulnerable falsetto.  It was sexual and direct, but not forceful or rude.  Plus, he showed he gave absolutely no fucks on the album version.  It’s the opening song on the record, and he takes it on a 3 minute synth-fueled jam after the single-edit stops at 3 minutes.  Undeniable G-status. 

Teddy Pendergrass – Turn Off The Lights

I would be remiss not to mention one of my favorite singers of all time on this list.  I don’t think I could see The Motet playing this live, but good lord is it incredible.  Teddy took a very different approach than the aforementioned one by Prince.  Teddy took control, and let everyone know it.  He is the definition of masculine romance, gritty but vulnerable, in control but never abrasive, and always telling it just like it is. 

Funkadelic – Not Just Knee Deep

Junie Morrison plays one of the most memorable funky synth lines EVER at the top of this cut!  He is also playing some of the funkiest synth bass ever recorded.  Just add amazing soulful gospel vocals and you have one of my favorite tunes of 1979!!!

I Just Want To Be – Cameo

Punchy horns, funky synths, gang vocals, super funky quarter-note-feel on the drums.  ‘Nuff said.

Beautiful Girls – Van Halen

One of my favorite party anthems with another trademark catchy Van Halen guitar riff to start the tune.

Another Brick In The Wall – Pink Floyd 

Top 10 best guitar solos of all time in my opinion.  Can’t go wrong with teenage angst lyrics – “HEY TEACHER!  LEAVE THOSE KIDS ALONE!”

Johnny Osborne – Can’t Buy Love

From the seminal Studio One album recorded in 1979, “Truths and Rights”, which cemented Johnny Osborne as one of the great Reggae singers of the era. While he was known for conscious lyrics and for speaking out on social issues through his music, he could also deliver a love song like no other as he does here. The quality and emotional nuance of his voice fits perfectly in this setting. For our cover of “So Much Trouble”, also in the 1979 mixtape, we quote the horn melody from Can’t Buy Love which is considered one of the classics and is still used regularly in dancehall to this day. 

Old and New Dreams – Lonely Woman

Ornette Coleman collaborators Dewey Redman (one of my favorite saxophone players and father of Joshua Redman), Don Cherry and Charlie Haden formed this incredible band with Ed Blackwell, and recorded for the influential European label ECM. This is truly one of the great jazz albums of the time, especially considering that many players were gravitating to a much smoother sound during this period as is indicative of GRP Records and the lasting influence of unsavory fusion jazz excursions. These guys kept it real and were fearless in their creation. Here we seem them playing an extended version of “Lonely Woman”, one of Ornette’s most well known compositions from the landmark album “Shape of Jazz To Come”. 

Yabby You – Beware Dub

The music of Vivian Jackson, aka Yabby You, has been an obsession of mine as of late. We are lucky to have several reissues of his work available. “Jesus Dread” is the most well known and was released in 1997 by the defunct label Blood and Fire. We now have the recently released 3-Volume box “Dread Prophecy” available widely and in digital form on Shanachie Records. Shanachie is a fantastic label, they released several albums by my homies and former bandmates John Brown’s Body. “Beware Dub” showcases the innovative and masterful sounds of Yabby You and Dub Godfather King Tubby, as well as an all-star cast of the best Jamaican musicians of the day.

Frank Zappa – Filthy Habits

This is the opening track from one of my favorite Zappa albums: Sleep Dirt. It reminds me of mid 70’s Miles Davis. I love the angular head and the awesomely weird extended guitar solo.

Earth, Wind, & Fire – In The Stone

Bassist Verdine White is so good on this. And, like all EWF recordings Maurice White and Phillip Bailey’s vocals are on point. This track just sounds great, turn it up!

Bee Gees – Tragedy

Barry Gibb’s epic and hilarious falsetto really stands out on this track. The Bee Gees get me pumped!

Michael Jackson – Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough

My favorite MJ! Let me help you out with the first line in the chorus: “Keep on with the force don’t stop”. You’re welcome.