Our pal $mall ¢hange can only be described as a crazy Californian—especially if you were to meet and hang out with him for a short period. However, get to know him and you will know a fine example of humanity: intelligent, sincere, honest and possessing a fine sense of humor. He sponsors the Blackcrack group on the Facebooks—a bunch of folks discussing DJ gigs and all sorts of things dealing with vinyl records—and is himself one of the finest club DJs in the City. The Boogalooo Bag writers have never been to a room where $mall ¢hange was working and witnessed people sitting on their hands. When $mall ¢hange says, “dance!” everybody dances!

Recently, $mall ¢hange has become a club owner. He and the fine people who own The Commodore have joined forces and opened a new joint called El Cortez. It is a Tex-Mex restaurant with a hip jungle theme. It has two floors: the first floor serves the food and the upstairs Safari Room is where there is another bar and a dance floor.

Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus was asked to DJ in the main room on Tuesday June 30. The Boogaloo Bag writers are here to tell you that this is one beautiful club. Located in the industrial area of East Williamsburg, El Cortez is notable as soon as you see it, with its tall totem pole and full moon on the façade. Walk in and you will be doubly impressed by the very groovy décor. (The Boogaloo Bag writers are embarrassed that proper photos of the place were not taken on this night, so The Boog will have to be asked back in order for photographic evidence to appear in the Boogaloo Bag.) The Boog made the scene on a slow Tuesday evening (is there ever a busy Tuesday?), but folks were in the room all night, boppin’ and appropriately groovin’ to a night The Boog called INSTANT GROOVE!

INSTANT GROOVE! combines musics of various hot rhythms: funk, soul, reggae, mambo, afro-beat—totally in cahoots with the jungle-themed venue. At various times, El Cortez clientele approached the DJ booth to express satisfaction with the DJs selections. Here is a list of all the records played by Phast Phreddie the Boogaloo Omnibus at INSANT GROOVE! at El Cortez:

• King Curtis & the Kingpins–Instant Groove (Atco)
• The Seven Souls–Groovin In (Venture)
• Billy ‘Guitar’ Davis–You Put Me in a Groove (A&M)
• J.J. Caillier with Dalton Francis & the Flaming Arrows–I Got a Groove (Maison de Soul)
• The Heptones–Get in the Groove (Studio 1; Jamaica)
• The Destroyers–Compass (Cotillion)
• Underground Vegetables–Melting Pot (Ximeno)
• Terry Montana–Why Can’t We Live Together (Vogue; France)
• Quartette Trés Bien–Boss Trés Bien Part 1 (Norman)
• The Latin All Stars–Oye Como Va (Roper)
• Pace-Setters–Push on Jessie Jackson (Kent)
• Tony Newman–Soul Thing (Parrot)
• Bobby Bennett–Bumble Bee (Sting Me) (Philadelphia International)
• Tony Aiken & Future 2000–Soul Disco (Kimsha)
• Eddie Bo–If It’s Good to You (It’s Good For You) Part I (Scram)
• The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band–Do Your Thing (Warner Bros.)
• Mongo Santamaria–I Got You (I Feel Good) (Columbia)
• The Cheap Skates–Latin Skate (Bang)
• Johnny El Bravo; canta: Toñito Lopez–No Hay Dinero (Proyect)
• The International Ray Camacho & the Teardrops–Caballo Negro (California Artists Corp.)
• Reebop Kwaku Baah–Kye Kye Kule (Island)
• Augustus Pablo–King Tubby Meets the Rockers Uptown (Mango)
• The Meditations–Tricked (United Artists; UK)
• Lou Donaldson–Everything I Do Gonh Be Funky (From Now On) (Blue Note)
• The Four Tops–One Chain Don’t Make No Prison (Probe; UK)
• Tyrone Davis–Love Bones (Dakar)
• Gunga Din–Crabcakes (Valise)
• Beaufort Express–Here I Come (Priscilla)
• The U-Dwi Peoples Paraphernalia–Push and Pull (The Tom Jones) (BRC)
• The Undisputed Truth–Law of the Land (Gordy)
• Funkadelic–Red Hot Momma (20th Century/Westbound)
• Paul Humphrey & His Cool Aid Chemists–Funky L.A. (Lizard)
• The Rascals–Jungle Walk (Columbia)
• Osibisa–Music for Gong Gong (Decca)
• Vic Upshaw; Mickey Baker Orchestra–Popcorn Crazy (Disc A-Z; France)
• Vigon–Popcorn Popcorn (Egg; France)
• Preston Epps–Mister Bongos (Donna)
• Jimmy Cliff–Guns of Brixton (Collective Sounds; UK)
• Aswad–Three Babylon (Island; UK)
• Meditations–Wake Up! (Double-D)
• Dennis Brown–Rock With Me Baby (Observer; Jamaica)
• Marvin Gaye–You’re the Man (Part 1) (Tamla)
• Mongo Santamaria–Hippo Walk (Atlantic)
• Boogaloo Assassins–No, No, No (Sicario)
• Pete Terrace et son Orchestre–Here Comes Pete [from EP Le Boogaloo] (Disques Vogue; France)
• The Joe Cuba Sextet–Push, Push, Push (Tico)
• Melvin Jackson–Funky Skull – Part 1 (Limelight)
• The Fatback Band–Njia (Nija) Walk (Street Walk) (Perception)
• Ondatrópica–Pig Bag (Soundway; UK)
• Black Soul–Africa, Africa (Vogue; France)
• Tommy McCook and the Supersonics–Tribute to Don (Yew)
• Laurel Aitken–Mr. Popcorn (NewBeat; UK)
• Lee Dorsey–Give It Up (Amy)
• Tommy Strand–Am I Groovin’ You (Fame)
• Willie Tomlin–Stroke My Yoke (Peacock)
• Everyday People–I Like What I Like Part 2 (Paramount)
• The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band–Giggin’ Down 103rd (Warner Bros.-Seven Arts)
• Billy Sha-Rae–Let’s Do It Again (Triple B)
• Mark V Unlimited–Gone! (Sagport)
• The Trammps–Hold Back the Night (Buddah)
• Dave Collins–Shackatac (Rhino; UK)
• Upsetters–Return of Django (Upsetter; UK)
• Mongo Santamaria & Orchestra–Tacos (Riverside)
• Ray Rivera Orch.–Guava (M-G-M)
• [no artist listed]–Get It On (Hoctor)
• Lee Fields–Tell Her I Love Her (Bedford)
• Naomi Shelton featuring Cliff Driver–Talkin’ About a Good Thing (Daptone)
• Jo Ann Garrett–Sting Me Baby (Duke)
• Eddie Bo & the Soul Finders–We’re Doing It (The Thang) Pt. 1 (Vampi Soul; Spain)
• Bobby Rush–Done Got Good to Me Pt. I (Sedgrick)
• Eugene Morgan–It’s Your Voodoo Working (Full Sail)
• Señor Soul–Pata Pata (Double Shot)
• Cris Powell–Mambo Powell (Grand)
• Johnny Zamot–Mambo Village (Decca)
• Fela Ransome-Kuti and the Africa ’70–Chop and Quench (Regal Zonophone; UK)
• Jackie Mittoo & Randy’s All Stars–30-60-90 (Dynamite; UK)
• Burning Spear–Lion (Island; UK)
• Dellenger & King Tubby–Jah Jah Dub (Jackpot; Jamaica)
• Warren Covington and His Orchestra–El Watusi (Decca)
• Ray & His Court–Soul Freedom (Jazzman; UK)
• Billy Martin and the Soul Jets–The Strut (London; Canada)
• The Beginning of the End–Monkey Tamarind (Alston)
• The Fabulous Fugitives featuring Michael Sharkey–You Made Me Cry (Cultures of Soul)
• Syl Johnson–I Take Care of Homework (Twinight)
• The Barons–No More Baby Love (Shout)
• Don Gregory & the Soul Trainers–Soul Line (Apt)
• Earl King–Mama & Papa (Listening Post)
• Richard Groove Holmes–Don’t Mess With Me (Blue Note)
• Leon Thomas–Let’s Go Down to Lucy’s (Flying Dutchman)
• Black Heat–The Jungle – Pt. I (Atlantic)
• The Al Capps Band–Sissy Strutt (Columbia)
• Walter Wanderley–Kee-Ka-Roo (Verve)
• Jackie Edwards & Soulmakers–Che Che (Daran)
• Jack Costanzo; guitar – Neil Norman–Viva Tirado (GNP Crescendo)
• Willie Bobo–Fried Neckbones and Home Fries (Verve)
• Joe Thomas–Chitlins and Cuchifritos (Today)
• Merry Clayton–Good Girls (Ode ’70)
• Bill Withers–Better Off Dead (Sussex)
• Max Romeo & the Upsetters–One Step Forward (Island)
• El-Rego et ses Commados–Hessa (L.A.Aux Ecoutes; Nigeria)
• Grupo Sta. Cecilia; canta: Sergio Ruíz–1 – 2 – 3 Hustle (Orfeon; Mexico)
• King Errison–Samba D Jubilee (Canyon)
• Nanette Workman–Lady Marmalade (instrumental) (Pacha; Canada)
• The Devil’s Anvil–Karkadon (Columbia)
• The Hip Sound–Far Out (Limelight)

None of these records are for sale