Category Archives: Disco

SURINAM! BOOGIE AND DISCO FUNK FROM THE SURINAMESE DANCE FLOORS ’76-83.

SURINAM! BOOGIE AND DISCO FUNK FROM THE SURINAMESE DANCE FLOORS ’76-83. All too often, when compilers decide to compile an album of disco, boogie and funk, they stick to what I’d call tried and tested tracks. They’re hardly adventurous, and as a result, far too many compilations of predictable, if not boring compilations are released.Granted …

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DELEGATION-DELEGATION II.

DELEGATION-DELEGATION II. Although Delegation calling their third album Delegation II, might seem somewhat confusing, but in many ways it made sense. Delegation II the second album to feature the new lineup of Ricky Bailey, Ray Patterson and Bruce Dunbar, who’d replaced founding member Len Coley. So essentially, Eau De Vie, Delegation’s sophomore album and now …

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DELEGATION-EAU DE VIE.

DELEGATION-EAU DE VIE. Often, it seems American bands have a monopoly when it comes to producing quality and successful soul and funk music. Sometimes, British groups can match their American counterparts in the success stakes. It doesn’t happen often, but very occasionally, a British band releases a single or album that takes America by storm. …

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GEORGE McCRAE-GEORGE McCRAE.

GEORGE McCRAE-GEORGE McCRAE. Describing George McCrae as an overnight success would be wrong. Instead, the success that would come his way come about almost accidentally. Lady Luck decided to look George’s way. Having spent years of trying to forge a career in music, George McCrae had just about given up hope. He was planning to …

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THE BEST OF BBE 2012.

THE BEST OF BBE 2012. Probably one of the most difficult jobs in music came when BBE Music decided to compile their latest digital release, The Best of BBE 2012 which will be released on 3rd December 2012. After all, BBE Music have been on something of a roll during 2012. That’s something of an …

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JOHNNIE TAYLOR-EARGASM.

JOHNNIE TAYLOR-EARGASM. By the time Johnnie Taylor released Eargasm in 1976, he was one of music survivors, capable of adapting with the ever-evolving musical landscape. During Johnnie Taylor’s career, he’d sung gospel, blues, soul, funk, R&B and by 1976, disco. Johnnie’s career had spanned three decades, and much had changed in music. Indeed, just the …

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KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND-PART 3.

KC AND THE SUNSHINE BAND-PART 3. Imagine you’re a member of a band whose just released a triple-platinum album. Not just any triple-platinum album, but one featured two number one singles. How do you follow this up? This was the problem facing Harry Wayne Casey and Richard Finch, or as they’re better known, KC and …

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INNER LIFE-INNER LIFE 2.

INNER LIFE-INNER LIFE 2. By 1982, when Inner Life released their their second album for Salsoul Records, Inner Life 2 not only was the changing of the guard complete, but Salsoul as a record label had been transformed. Nearly all of Salsoul’s founding father’s were gone and the legendary Salsoul Orchestra was a shadow of …

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LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY-LOVE SENSATION.

  LOLEATTA HOLLOWAY-LOVE SENSATION. There’s a certain symmetry that in return for Loleatta Holloway adding a vocal on what became one of Dan Hartman’s biggest hit singless, Relight My Fire, that Dan returned this favor by writing one of Loleatta’s most successful singles, Love Sensation. This story starts back in 1979, when Dan Hartman was …

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THE MIRACLES-MIRACLES.

THE MIRACLES-MIRACLES. Having done the unthinkable and left Motown after fifteen years, twenty albums and several changes of lineup, The Miracles signed to Columbia and released Love Crazy in 1977. When Love Crazy was released in 1978, it reached number 117 in the US Billboard 200 and number nine in the US R&B Charts. While …

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K.C AND THE SUNSHINE BAND-DO IT GOOD.

  K.C AND THE SUNSHINE BAND-DO IT GOOD.  Sometimes, people forget just how popular an artist or group were. One group people forget just how successful they were are K.C. and The Sunshine Band. With their unique fusion of disco, funk, soul and poppy hooks, K.C. and The Sunshine Band became one of the biggest …

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UNDER THE INFLUENCE VOLUME 2-COMPILED BY PAUL PHILLIPS.

UNDER THE INFLUENCE VOLUME 2-COMPILED BY PAUL PHILLIPS. It doesn’t seem like a year since Red Greg compiled the first installment in the Under The Influence series. Time it seems, does go far too quickly. During that time, I’ve reviewed many compilations, but Red Greg’s was one of my favorites of 2011. Given how good …

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DISCO RECHARGE-CHANGE-GLOW OF LOVE AND MIRACLES-SPECIAL EDITION.

DISCO RECHARGE-CHANGE-GLOW OF LOVE AND MIRACLES-SPECIAL EDITION. It’s quite a feat for any artist to release one critically acclaimed and commercially successful album, never mind two. What makes this even more remarkable is that both albums were released in the disco era. Not many artists managed this, but Change did. Change released their debut album …

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DISCO RECHARGE-ULTIMATE-ULTIMATE AND ULTIMATE II.

DISCO RECHARGE-ULTIMATE-ULTIMATE AND ULTIMATE II. All too often, history repeats itself in music. This is as true in music as life. There are many examples of this, but a good example of this is the story of Bruce Weedon. Bruce who was one of the most innovative and creative disco producers of the late-seventies. No …

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DISCO RECHARGE-COME INTO MY HEART AND USA-EUROPEAN CONNECTION-SPECIAL EDITION.

DISCO RECHARGE-COME INTO MY HEART AND USA-EUROPEAN CONNECTION-SPECIAL EDITION. For far too long, Boris Midney’s role in the development of Euro Disco has been overlooked. That is until now. Recently, the Disco Recharge label released a double-album of two of of Boris’ albums. This was Disco Recharge-Boris Midney Volume 1-Beautiful Blend and Caress. However, two …

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DAN HARTMAN-RELIGHT MY FIRE.

DAN HARTMAN-RELIGHT MY FIRE. During his career, Dan Hartman wrote almost 250 songs and appeared on over one-hundred albums and worked with everyone from Loleatta Holloway, Dusty Springfield, Little Richard, Diana Ross, James Brown, Tina Turner and the Average White Band. Dan also released eight solo albums between his 1976 debut album Images and his …

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DISCO RECHARGE-VOYAGE 3-SPECIAL EDITION.

DISCO RECHARGE-VOYAGE 3-SPECIAL EDITION. Since Harmless Records launched their Disco Recharge label in June 2012, they’ve revisited the first two of Voyage’s four albums, Let’s Fly Away and Voyage. For anyone who loves disco, these two albums were a very welcome rerelease and became part of their collection. Now for the latest instalment of the …

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DISCO RECHARGE-BORIS MIDNEY VOLUME 1: BEAUTIFUL BLEND-MAKE THAT FEELING COME AGAIN AND BORIS MIDNEY-CARESS.

DISCO RECHARGE-BORIS MIDNEY VOLUME 1: BEAUTIFUL BLEND-MAKE THAT FEELING COME AGAIN AND BORIS MIDNEY-CARESS. As usual, Mr. Pinks has been the hardest working man in disco, compiling not one, not two, but five instalments of Harmless Records’ Disco Recharge series. His hard work has certainly paid off, with him rediscovering some glittering disco gems. The …

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FIRST CHOICE-BREAKAWAY.

FIRST CHOICE-BREAKAWAY. After becoming one of Norman Harris’ first signing to his new record label Gold Mind Records in 1976, First Choice released Delusions in 1978 and Hold Your Horses in 1979. Soon, Double Choice became one of Gold Mind Records and indeed, Salsoul’s biggest commercial successes. This lead to First Choice touring worldwide and …

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SADAR BAHAR PRESENTS SOUL IN THE HOLE.

SADAR BAHAR PRESENTS SOUL IN THE HOLE. Sometimes, record labels go through something of hot spells, where they release one great album after another. This has certainly been the case for BBE Music in 2012. It’s been one winner after another. BBE Music started 2012 with a bang, releasing Al Kent’s five disc disco Magnus …

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