ProfDJ's killer cuts for your streaming shuffle, No.74
Jimi Hendrix. Castles Made of Sand.
People often forget that Hendrix was not just a revolutionary guitarist but wrote some great songs, of which Castles Made of Sand is my favourite. Its got it all, great rhythm section, wonderful, insightful lyrics, backwards guitar solo & of course that coolness Hendrix brought to everything. A classic, and not just for the rockers!
ProfDJ's killer cuts for your streaming shuffle, No.73
The Stylistics. People Make the World Go Around
A fabulous bit of down-tempo political funk from the Stylistics; its groove is so beautiful, driven by a bass, vibraphone combo that is magical, allied to the Stylistics distinctive vocal; and if you hold out to the end of the extended (LP) version, you'll be treated to a great funky flute solo in the closing minute. Wonderful!
ProfDJ's killer cuts for your streaming shuffle, No.72
Jimmy Smith. Mission Impossible
On hearing this version, Lalo Schifrin (its composer) apparently immediately admitted it was much better than his original, recorded for the TV series. Jimmy Smith's version cranks up the rhythm, keeps the original horn & strings arrangement, and adds a blistering organ solo on the middle. Its a blast & remains a favourite spin on Prof DJ's jazz nights.
a Killer Cuts bonus, courtesy of the Guardian.... Nile Rogers top twenty tracks.
I might quibble with the ranking (surely We Are family should be higher), but this is a trove for your spotify shuffle....
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/mar/13/everybody-dance-nile-rodgers-20-greatest-tracks-ranked
ProfDJ's killer cuts for your streaming shuffle, No.71
Andy Williams. Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Rescued from Early Listening limbo in the 1980s, this Andy Williams track has become a cool classic. A great rhythm & building horn arrangement, alongside relaxed vocals and a sing-along chorus; this little piece of magic still sounds great nearly 60 years after it was recorded. If the intro doesn't make you want to click your fingers, then you're in a bad way
ProfDJ's killer cuts for your streaming shuffle, No.70
Faith Evans. Never Knew Love Like this Before
Built by Sean Coombs (Diddy) on a Chic sample, Faith Evans classic bit of hip-hop soul, is a great groove. The Chic rhythm backs a brilliant vocal from Evans & her backing singers, while the relentless groove becomes almost mesmeric. Once again, and you'll be spotting a Prof DJ theme here, a great bit of music built from a small number of elements.
ProfDJ's killer cuts for your streaming shuffle, No.69
Jean Knight. Mr Big Stuff
Driven by a great rhythm guitar riff, this Stax classic is a great slice of Southern soul/funk. Stripped down to its necessities, we have a riff, some great lyrics & a chant-along chorus all enlivened by some horn stabs. Yup. those gals & guys at Stax knew how to put a dancefloor filler together!
ProfDJ's killer cuts for your streaming shuffle, No.68
Dionne Warwick. Walk on By
One of Burt Bacharach's great songs, raised to an even higher level by the magisterial vocals of Dionne Warwick. The cool backing, the great piano riffing, the sublime vocal arrangement, this is just so good, so cool. Nothing more needs to be said, really; enjoy!
ProfDJ's killer cuts for your streaming shuffle, No.67
Willis Jackson. Soul Train
Willis 'Gator' Jackson has a great saxophone tone & here its deployed on top of a driving modal R&B rhythm to great effect. A mash up of jazz & late 60s soul sensibility this is a great bit of early jazz fusion that always fills the dance floor.Hope you enjoy its uncomplicated charms....
ProfDJ's killer cuts for your streaming shuffle, No.66
Davy DMX. One for the Treble
Here's a classic bit of hip hop beat boys cut up genius, which as you will find is all about the rhythm. This beat box driven, scratch enhanced bomber, is a collection of inventive sections all delivering variations on the underlying rhythm track. I'm always surprised this hasn't been sampled more often! Time to spin on that cardboard, beat boys!
ProfDJ's killer cuts for your streaming shuffle, No.65
Maria Muldaur. I'm a Woman
Mara Muldaur's version of this Leiber & Stoller (quasi) feminist anthem is a great bit of American roots music, rattling on with driving horn arrangements, Paul Butterfiled on harmonica & some fabulous vocal backing. Its a wonderfully uplifting sound delivering a great song; what more can you want on a Friday morning?
ProfDJ's killer cuts for your streaming shuffle, No.64
3D (Three Times Dope). Increase the Peace
A great bit of political old school hip hop. Anchored with a Martin Luther King sample, a great rhythm loop & political lyrics reflecting on the racial politics of the time, this really is a great demonstration of the possibilities of cut-up production. Its funky, politically relevant & a great social document. But, the key thing: its a brilliant track!
Reminder for Qobuz users following @ChrisMayLA6 's killer cuts. I have all of these in a Qobuz playlist at:
ProfDJ's killer cuts for your streaming shuffle, No.63
Horace Silver. Song for my Father
There's a certain classic Blue Note sound typified by Horace Silver & Song for my Father is a great/classic example of that groove. Piano led with great solos, Silver leads his band though a series of choruses to deliver seven minutes of jazz heaven.
if that riff sounds familiar, jazz loving Steely Dan lifted it for their big hit, Rikki Don't Lose that Number a few years later
ProfDJ's killer cuts for your streaming shuffle, No.62
War. Low Rider
From the cow bell intro War's driving classic grabs the rhythm and gets going. A tribute to modified cars in the US, this track is so relentless in its drive forward, with its great horns & husky vocal it becomes almost mesmeric. Sitting in the space between funk, soul & rock it has a distinctive sound that has seldom been equalled. Great stuff.
ProfDJ's killer cuts for your streaming shuffle, No.61
T Rex. Get it On
From the first LP I ever bought, T Rex's classic is a blues infused, shuffling boogie that showcases Marc Bolan's talent for making simple music & mysterious lyrics something truly anthemic. Another ProfDJ fave, this still gets people up & grooving, and remains one of my favourite (if nostalgic) tracks to play on the wheels of steel.
ProfDJ's killer cuts for your streaming shuffle, No.60
William DeVaughan. Be Thankful for What You've Got
DeVaughan's relaxed funky classic is an ideal Sunday groove. The lilting funky groove drive by a shuffle beat, some groovy organ & Vince Montana's vibes (who later tried legally to get a share of the royalties for his contribution), is just wonderful. If you can get it the extended LP version is a real treat. Yup, 'digging' the scene with a gangster lean'...
ProfDJ's killer cuts for your streaming shuffle, No.59
Gary McFarland Sextet. Pecos Pete
Here's a lovely little bit of groovy jazz for a Saturday morning; a pulsing rhythm track, some great relaxed solos with McFarland's vibraphone anchoring the entire track. Over 60 years old this still sounds fresh & modern right now. If this doesn't get you tapping your feet and/or clicking your fingers, then you might be following the wrong hashtag 
ProfDJ's killer cuts for your streaming shuffle, No.58
The Drifters. On Broadway
This is such a great record; from the intro, guitar riff to the clicking rhythm and great vocals this still sounds so modern. Its a sort of proto-funk, and this potential is then realised) in the later George Benson (live) cover version, but the latter doesn't quite capture the exquisite musical tension that makes the Drifters' version so brilliant - enjoy!
ProfDJ's killer cuts for your streaming shuffle, No.57
Spandau Ballet. True
From its first notes this great Spandau Ballet ballad is a classic; a great sparse arrangement, the etherial backing vocals, Tony Hadley's impassioned lead vocal... its one of those records that has the room swaying with their hands in the air (yup, another ProfDJ fave). Just a great pop song!
