Category Archives: Disco

GIORGIO MORODER-ON THE GROOVE TRAIN VOLUME 2 1974-1985.

GIORGIO MORODER-ON THE GROOVE TRAIN VOLUME 2 1974-1985. One of the founding fathers of Euro Disco was the Italian born producer Giorgio Moroder. His career started back in 1966, when he released several singles as Giorgio. It wasn’t until 1969 when Giorgio Moroder first enjoyed commercial success. His 1969 single Looky, Looky, which was released …

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OVERDOSE OF THE HOLY GHOST-COMPILED BY DAVID HILL.

OVERDOSE OF THE HOLY GHOST-COMPILED BY DAVID HILL Sometimes, compilations can be anodyne affairs, with record labels and compilers scared to release compilations of innovative, leftfield music. This results in labels playing it safe and releasing compilations that although not innovative, will pay the bills. Thankfully, there are some labels out their willing to release …

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JOHN MORALES PRESENTS THE M&M MIXES VOLUME 3.

JOHN MORALES PRESENTS THE M&M MIXES VOLUME 3. Ever since John Morales released The M&M Mixes Volume 2 in March 2011 on BBE Music, one of the greatest remixers in modern dance music has been working on the followup. Believe me, the two years John has spent working on John Morales Presents The M&M Mixes …

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VINCE MONTANA JR-FAREWELL TO A TRUE MUSICAL INNOVATOR.

VINCE MONTANA JR-FAREWELL TO A TRUE MUSICAL INNOVATOR. Vince Montana Jr. who passed away on 13th April 2013, aged eighty-five, was one of the most innovative, influential and pioneering musicians in the history of popular music. However, referring to Vince as a musician is an understatement. He was also a songwriter, conductor, arranger and producer. …

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SALSOUL PRESENTS: THE DEFINITIVE 12” MASTERS VOLUME 2.

SALSOUL PRESENTS: THE DEFINITIVE 12” MASTERS VOLUME 2. Recently, I was asked by a friend to recommend a Salsoul Records compilation. They’d heard a couple of songs from Salsoul’s illustrious back-catalogue, and decided they wanted to dig deeper. Realizing that I was huge fan of all things disco, and especially Salsoul, they asked if i …

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SALSOUL PRESENTS: THE DEFINITIVE 12” MASTERS VOLUME 1.

SALSOUL PRESENTS: THE DEFINITIVE 12” MASTERS VOLUME 1. With so many Salsoul compilations having been released over the past twenty years, any newcomer to Salsoul Records is spoiled for choice. Indeed, anyone looking to discover disco’s premier label, will be confused by the sheer variety of Salsoul compilations on offer. Sadly, Salsoul compilations fall into …

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SALSOUL PRESENTS: DISCO DIVAS AND SOULFUL SISTA FLAVAS.

SALSOUL PRESENTS: DISCO DIVAS AND SOULFUL SISTA FLAVAS. when you look back at the history of Salsoul Records, you realize they weren’t short of some stunning female vocalists. Loleatta Holloway, First Choice, Charo, Carol Williams, Jocelyn Brown from Inner Life, The Sweethearts of Sigma, Brenda Gooch and Claudja Barry. Each of these divas feature on …

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GARY CRISS-RIO DE JANEIRO.

GARY CRISS-RIO DE JANEIRO. Recently when I was reviewing a new Salsoul Records compilation, The Salsoul Records Story, which was recently released by Gold Legion, I was pleased to discover that the compilers had included Gary Criss’ Rio De Janeiro. This was the title-track to the only album Gary Criss released on Salsoul Records. Rio …

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JOHN DAVIS AND THE MONSTER ORCHESTRA-THE MONSTER STRIKES AGAIN.

JOHN DAVIS AND THE MONSTER ORCHESTRA-THE MONSTER STRIKES AGAIN. By 1979, John Davis and The Monster Orchestra had released three albums between 1976 and 1976. Their debut albums for SAM Records was 1976s Night and Day. 1977s Up Jumped The Devil and 1978s Ain’t That Enough For You followed. These three albums cemented John Davis …

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DISCO RECHARGE-THP ORCHESTRA-EARLY RISER AND TOO HOT FOR LOVE.

DISCO RECHARGE-THP ORCHESTRA-EARLY RISER AND TOO HOT FOR LOVE. One of the phenomenons of the disco era was the disco orchestra. Following the success of The Salsoul Orchestra, other record companies decided they too, wanted their own disco orchestra. Soon, disco orchestras were springing up throughout America. It seemed no American city was immune from …

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DISCO RECHARGE-BORIS MIDNEY-COMPANION AND DOUBLE DISCOVERY.

DISCO RECHARGE-BORIS MIDNEY-COMPANION AND DOUBLE DISCOVERY. Looking back at the collateral damage caused by the events of Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park, Chicago on 12th July 1979, it’s hard to believe the effect the Disco Sucks movement had on disco. Record labels like T.K. Records folded, artists were dropped by labels and radio stations …

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THE T.K. RECORDS STORY VOLUME 1.

THE T.K. RECORDS STORY  VOLUME 1. Throughout his life, Henry Stone has been immersed in music. Indeed, ever since he was discharged from the US army in 1947, Henry Stone’s life has revolved around music. His career started in sales and distribution, at Modern and Jewel Records in 1948. After that, he moved to Miami, …

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THE WEST END RECORDS STORY.

THE WEST END RECORDS STORY. When Ed Kushins and Mel Cherin founded West End Records in 1976, they had no idea that their newly founded label would become one of the most important, influential and innovative labels of the disco era. Now nearly four decades later, West End Records is held in the same esteem …

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THE SALSOUL RECORDS STORY.

THE SALSOUL RECORDS STORY. Given Salsoul Records is disco’s premier label and was responsible for some of the most innovative and influential music of the disco era, you’d expect there to be many more compilations available than there are. Granted there have been a number of compilations released over the past few years, but recently, …

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THE MANHATTANS-THERE’S NO ME WITHOUT YOU.

THE MANHATTANS-THERE’S NO ME WITHOUT YOU. Like so many other groups, success took time to come The Manhattans’ way.  Indeed, The Manhattans released seven albums before making a commercial breakthrough with 1976s The Manhattans. It was certified gold, and 1977s It Feels So Good and 1980s After Midnight repeated the feat. However, before their 1976 …

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ARTHUR PRYSOCK-ALL MY LIFE.

ARTHUR PRYSOCK-ALL MY LIFE. Ever since his career began in 1944, Arthur Prysock had watched musical tastes constantly change. Since then, Arthur’s music had been in and out fashion several times. His fusion of jazz, blues, pop and R&B had proved commercially successful during the fifties and sixties. Arthur’s recording career began in 1959 at …

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PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL CLASSICS-THE TOM MOULTON REMIXES-SPECIAL VINYL EDITION.

PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL CLASSICS-THE TOM MOULTON REMIXES-SPECIAL VINYL EDITION. Just a year after the release of Philadelphia Classics-The Tom Moulton Remixes, now lovers of vinyl will be able to purchase a copy of what was one of the most anticipated box sets of 2012. While the four CD box set of Philadelphia Classics-The Tom Moulton Remixes …

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ANITA WARD-SONGS OF LOVE.

ANITA WARD-SONGS OF LOVE. The best way to describe Anita Ward is an accidental disco diva. Why? Well, before the release of her disco classic Ring My Bell, Anita hadn’t even been in a disco. Instead, the whole disco craze had passed her by. So, when she released Ring My Bell, Anita became disco’s latest …

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FERN KINNEY-GROOVE ME.

FERN KINNEY-GROOVE ME. After taking a break from music to raise her young family, Fern Kinney decided to mount her musical comeback. Little did she realize that she was about to release what not only what become a disco classic, but a song that would become synonymous with her and transform her career. That song …

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THE ORIGINAL MASTERS-DISCO VOLUME 10.

THE ORIGINAL MASTERS-DISCO VOLUME 10. Often, when it comes to a successful compilations series, record companies are loathe to kill what has become a musical golden goose. You can see their point. After all, the music industry is not only going through the toughest time in its history. So any album that’s commercially successful and …

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