All Categories 
CDs (244) new/used, Vinyl (324) new/used, LPs (240) new/used, 12-inch (62) new/used, 7-inch (22) new/used, Books (2), All (570)
disco 
Sort by
Exact matches: 66
1
Various —
French Disco Boogie Sounds Vol 2 – 1978 to 1985 – Selected By Charles Maurice ... LP Favorite (France), Late 70s/
That's a suave-looking dude on the cover, and there's some suave-sounding sounds within – the cream of the crop of the hippest spectrum of the French club scene at the start of the 80s, brought together in a beautiful package of grooves! The work here is quite different than some of the cheesier, clunkier Euro disco hits of the time – and instead, there's a lot of care and craft brought to the rhythms and lyrics – often a lot more soul elements than you might expect, and with occasional global currents that reflect the unique sound of Paris in the postcolonial years. There's almost an AOR catchiness to some of the tunes, but the presentation is more strongly soulful overall – on titles that include "Bye Cocotiers" by Marc Ashy, "Keep Cool" by Messan, "Sunshine" by Greg Smaha, "Sheriff's Horse" by Roots, "Funky Biguine" by Crystal, "Havana" by Nielo Feel, "Funk Force Leader" by Ideku Dynasty, "Talk Me Mam's" by Black Bells Group, "Le Sherif Qui Danse" by Claude Morgan, and "Givin It Up" by Charms. LP, Vinyl record album
2
Julie Coker —
Life In The Limelight – Lagos Disco & Itsekiri Highlife 1976 to 1981 ... LP Kalita, New Copy ... About June 7, 2019
... LP, Vinyl record album
3
Various —
On – The Sound Of On Records 1987 to 1989 – South African Synth-Disco, Bubblegum, & Electro Boogie (3LP set) ... LP Egoli (Belgium), Late 80s. New Copy 3LP Gatefold ... $49.99
A cool collection of cuts from a time when the South African scene was discovering a new sort of groove – taking all the electro soul influences that had been bubbling over during the past few years, and forging them into the kind of catchy cuts that should have taken the world by storm! There's definitely elements here of the bigger SA styles that got global play earlier in the 80s – but most of these tunes are also so catchy and tight, they might well be the sort of synth pop tunes coming out of the London scene! Most vocals are in English, and the production is thankfully spare enough to keep these tracks from sounding too commercial – with titles that include "Mjondolo" and "She's A Witch" by The Bees, "Don't Do It" and "Leribe" by Little Big Man, "Mosquito" and "Nopaka" by Whoosha, "Gambling" and "Ano Tambura" by Pamela Nkuta, and "Sbarara", "Roadblock", "Lalavuka", and "Blackjack" by Mafika. LP, Vinyl record album
(Limited edition!)
4
Electric Machine —
Disco Fashion ... LP Erezioni (Italy), 1979. New Copy (reissue)... Temporarily Out Of Stock
The sound is electric, but also pretty darn funky – not the colder electro disco that would dominate the European scene in the 80s, but the earlier mode that often had lots of live instrumentation at the core – then augmented by sweet touches on moog and other keyboards! The instrumentation is nice and tight throughout – and the whole thing is very much in the best moogy disco modes of the underground – maybe a bit more offbeat than a record on P&P, but with a similar appeal at times. Not much is known about the original group – but titles include "Space Ship", "Briskness", "To Squeeze Through", "Fancy Good", "Disco Fashion", and "Off The Track". LP, Vinyl record album
5
Various —
Hustle – Reggae Disco – Kingston London New York (expanded 3LP edition – with download) ... LP Soul Jazz (UK), Late 70s/
A fantastic collection that looks at the relationship between American soul and reggae in a very unique way – not the early crossovers of soul and rocksteady in the 60s, but a big wave of disco-inspired sounds in the 70s! The set brings together some great Jamaican and British versions of American club tracks from the late 70s and early 80s, plus some soul cuts from earlier years – often done with rhythms that are slower and more bad-stepping, in a true reggae mode – but with songs and lyrics that are lifted right from bit hits by artists like Chaka Khan, Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, and others! The mix of modes is wonderful – and maybe comes across even better than on some of the Afro disco records of the period – thanks to a great track selection, in the usual Soul Jazz standard. Titles include "I'm Every Woman" by Latisha, "In The Rain" by rRnest Ranglin, "Reggae Beat Goes On" by Family Choice, "Ring My Bell" by Blood Sisters, "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" by Derrick Laro & Trinity, "Do It Nice & Easy" by Chariot Riders, "Don't Let It Go To Your Head" by Black Harmony, "Upside Down" by Carol Cool, "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" by Sharon Forrester, "Rappers Delight" by Xanadu & Sweet Lady, "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" by Risco Connection, "Am I The Same Girl" by Charmaine Burnette, and "Be Thankful For What You Got" by One Blood. LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes download! New expanded edition – with more material than the previous version!)
6
Various —
Greg Belson's Divine Disco Vol 2 – Obscure Gospel Disco 1979 to 1987 ... LP Cultures Of Soul, Late 70s/
A pretty fantastic selection of rare disco tracks from the American underground – all of them infused with a spiritual message, but served up with grooves that go head to head with some of the best underground club of the time! The mix of positive energy and upbeat grooves is wonderful – and if you've ever heard the Clark Sisters club classic "You Brought The Sunshine", then you'll definitely know the spirit of these tunes! If you're worried about the message being one that you're not into, don't – because there's sort of a universal spirit going on here – one that gets past conventions of the church, and which really goes for a general uplifting message that's totally great – almost a precursor to some of the positive house in more recent decades. And speaking of house, there's less of that here than you'd expect – as most of the instrumentation and production are strongly in the best New York underground modes from the disco years – with less of any 80s or electro soul elements. Titles include "I Believe" by Calvin B Rhone, "Imitations" by Johnson Family Gospel Singers, "Change" by Wisdom, "On That Other Shore" by Harrison Jones & The Voices Of Harmony, "I've Been Converted" by The Converters, "Ain't No Way To Do Wrong" by New Creation, "Take It To The Streets" by Prophecy, "Let The Lord Come In Your Life" by Wisdom, "Keep The Fire" by Paradise, and "Jesus Is On The Mainline" by Mr Jesse R McGuire. LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Greg Belson's Divine Disco Vol 2 – Obscure Gospel Disco 1979 to 1987 ... CD 14.997
Baby Grand/
A sweet little record that's way better than you might ever guess from the title – almost more of a jazz funk effort overall, with excellent work on guitar, trumpet, saxes, and keyboards! There's vocals on the album, but maybe more in a backup sort of way – and although the cuts could work on a dancefloor, they've often got the mix of jazz and groove that you'd find in some of the funkier Kudu Records material of the time – which might have been an inspiration for these guys! The album was recorded on the Atlanta scene of the late 70s, with lead guitar from Gary Ruffin – and titles include "Get Up & Get Down", "Summer Love", "Randy's Nap", "Simple Song", and "Journey Through The Night". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Journey Through The Night ... CD 14.998
Baby Grand/
These disco ladies are pretty darn great – a lot more deep-voice than some of their club contemporaries – at a level that makes the record way stronger than just another album of grooves! The girls work in trio format – but the record has an approach that puts the vocals first, rather than use them to augment the usual studio work in a funky style – so that there's a rich feel to the record that really knocks it out of the park – almost in an earlier female group mode! The set was recorded in California, and we don't know much else about it – but we can say that tracks include "Woman", "Our Love Is Special", "Better Than Walking Out", "Lovin You Is So Easy", and "I Second That Emotion". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Three's Company ... CD 14.999
RCA, 1976. Very Good ... $6.99
Not really disco at all, but New Birth funk, with the presence of the Nite-Liters on some tracks. Includes "Got to Get a Knutt" and "K-Jee", two of their best groovers, and both monster slices of funky stuff. Also includes "Money Runner", "I Wash My Hands Of The Whole Damn Deal", and "Comin From All Ends". Kind of a compilation of tunes lifted from other albums – making for a nice batch of funk overall! LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has some wear, creasing, and a promo stamp.)
10
Z Records (UK), Late 70s/
... LP, Vinyl record album
11
Million Dollar Disco/
The dancefloor just got a whole lot funkier – thanks to an incredible selection of rare disco and club tracks from the best years of the genre! The set list here is really amazing – the kind of tunes that rarely turn up this easily, and never in such a cohesive package – and our hats are off to compiler Al Kent for putting together such a wonderfully tasty set! Most numbers here are from the mid to late 70s – and showcase a soulfully grooving approach to disco – one that's free from the cliches of the mainstream side of the genre, and which features plenty of real soul vocals alongside uptempo funky instrumentation that usually features a few odd twists and turns! Most numbers are edited by Al Kent, sometimes in very subtle ways, and include "cover ups" billed to other artists – and the package essentially brings together material from Kent's previous CD series of the same name – but with revised track order, wonderful packaging, and a bonus poster! Limited vinyl 1 features the tracks – "Love Is All Around" by Sizzle, "I've Been Searching" by Arts & Crafts, "Get Ready" by Allan Harris & Perpetual Motion, "Sweet Jazz Music" by Panache, "To Be With You" by Jimmy Sabater, "Funkathone" by The People's Workshop, "Just Friends" by Silver Platinum & Gold, and "Why In The World Do They Keep On" by Executive Suite. LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Best Of Disco Demands Vol 2 – A Special Collection Of Rare 1970s Dance Music ... LP 24.9912
BBE (UK), Late 70s/
Beat digging heroes Kon & Amir return with a diverse, funky treasure trove of rare dancefloor anthems, rarer disco soul and African boogie cuts – possibly the best yet in their Off Track series for BBE! The east coast duo have dedicated each title in the series to an NYC borough, and Brooklyn is honored this time out – but there's a world of rare and underground club funk & soul presented here! Includes African disco & soul records with all regions dancefloor appeal, raw percussion and bass accented numbers that are tight and punchy and others with a more soaring approach, all of it totally wonderful and hard-to-find – including some we've seen or heard before! The vinyl version features 2LPs with unmixed tracks, with Kon's selections on 2 sides and Amir's on 2 sides – some featured on the mixed 2CD versions plus alternate tracks! Kon's selections include "Burnin Up" (Kon's edit) by SFB, "From The Heart" (Kon's Multi rmx) by Donny McCuillough, "Rock Don't Stop" by Taxie, "More Power To You" by Mazyck Project, "Lost In Space" by Shake and "EOD" by Edge Of Daybreak. Kon's selections include "Enjoy Your Life" by Oby Onyioha, "Disco Power" by Bomp, "You Can't Change A Man" by Christy Essien Igbokwe, "Sexy Dancer" by Harry Mosco and "Don't Ask Me" by Goddy Oku. LP, Vinyl record album
13
Strange Disc, 1979. New Copy (reissue)... $26.99
One of the rarest albums of the 70s to bear the name of Rudy Ray Moore – even though the raunchy comedian only starred in the film, and didn't create the music! Instead, the grooves here were handled by the obscure Juice People Unlimited – a clubby combo who've got just the right talents for the setting in the title – and whose lineup includes drums from the great James Gadson, and guitar by Paul Jackson Jr! These guys are top-level studio cats, working in a slightly looser setting – which has them spinning out four long funk tracks, all at a length that must have been cut down and edited to heck in the film. Most vocals have a funk-styled chorus mode – but the set does include one straighter funky soul cut, "I Never Wanted To Say Goodbye" – alongside "Spaced Out", "Disco Godfather", and "Shermanizing/
(2019 Record Store Day UK/EU release! Limited edition of 1000.)
14
Various —
Mickey Mouse Disco (2019 Record Store Day Release) ... LP Disney, 1979. New Copy ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
... LP, Vinyl record album
(40th Anniversary pressing!)
15
Various —
Jazz Dispensary – Moon Rocks – Extraplanetary Funk, Space Disco, & Galactic Boogie (180 gram pressing) (2017 Black Friday Release) ... LP Fantasy, Late 70s. New Copy Gatefold ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
A cool collection of funky tracks from the Fantasy Records catalog of the 70s – the kind of hip cuts that were often better than mainstream disco – and which sometimes used a bit of jazz in the instrumentation as well! There's a few spacey themes here, but maybe not as much as you'd guess from the cover and title – but that's OK with us, because we can totally dig these down to earth grooves! Titles include "Let's Get Crackin" by Shock, "I Like It" by Players Association, "Funky Force" by Larry Williams, "Space Is The Place" by Pleasure, "Close Encounters Of A Funky Kind" by Fat Larry's Band, "Space Bass" by Slick, "Messages From The Stars (long wave mix)" by Rah Band, "Do It 4 U" by Starship Connection, and "Sparkle (single edit)" by Fat Larry's Band. LP, Vinyl record album
(Limited edition – on clear vinyl!)
16
Byron Lee & The Dragonaires —
Disco Reggae ... LP Mercury, 1975. Near Mint- ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Lee, ever the entrepreneur, looks to capitalize on the huge stateside disco trend with this album, though there's little disco here, and mostly workman like reggae, that's not particularly outstanding. The sole disco effort is a take on "The Hustle", and the rest of set includes "Rockers", "Reggae Stomp", "No Woman No Cry" and "No Jestering", plus 7 more. LP, Vinyl record album
17
Sauce/
Sweet sexy sounds from Spanish singer Susana Estrada – a performer known for her famous erotic work of the 70s, stepping out here in a set of clubby tracks for the disco generation! The early 80s date of these tracks mark Susana as maybe being a bit later than some of the porn stars turned disco divas of the late 70s – but Estrada's overall approach is a bit different too – maybe a bit wittier, and following in the mode of the liberated sensuality she presented in her writings and theatrical work. Of course, the end result is still some wonderfully breathy female vocals over disco grooves – on tracks sung entirely in Spanish – with titles that include "Machos", "Voy Desnunda", "Espacial", "Hagamoslo Juntos", "Gozame Ya", "Quitate El Sosten", and "Mi Chico Favorito". LP, Vinyl record album
18
Bunny Lee & The Aggrovators —
Super Dub Disco Style ... LP Pressure Sounds (UK), Late 70s. New Copy ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Don't think "disco" as in the New York scene at Studio 54 – as these cuts are much deeper and dubbier – served up under the supervision of Bunny Lee by studio maestros Barnabas and Pat Kelly! Instrumentation is by the Aggrovators, but the magic comes equally from the production effects as it does from the massive rhythms by the group – as all the elements are filtered out in space, and criss-cross back and forth in this wonderful way – never too sloppy or experimental, but definitely tripping out with the groove! Vocals are muted when they do make an appearance – and titles include "The Aggrovators Special Dub", "Money In My Pocket Dub", "Portobello Special Dub", "Super Rockers Dub", "The Bomb Dub", "The Killer Dub", and "The Dub Specialist". LP, Vinyl record album
19
Soul Jazz (UK), Late 70s/
The Nigerian groove of the 70s – way past the familiar modes of Fela Kuti, and served up here in a range of artists who followed on a huge second wave of soul that soared from Lagos and beyond in the second half of the decade! The music here opens up in a sweet range of different styles – including bits of club and boogie that have come into the scene to open up Nigerian funk in more global modes for the dancefloor – blending African roots with American currents, in a sound that's completely unique – and which is way better than some of the Afro-disco modes that were coming from Europe a the time! As usual with the folks at Soul Jazz, the set's an ear-opening work of genius – from the superb track selection, to the very thorough notes and research – which really do a great job of presenting this side of Nigerian funk that's always been a bit eclipsed by some of the bigger names on the scene. Liner notes are by dancefloor historian Bill Brewster – and titles include "Do The Funkro" by Joni Haastrup, "You Can't Change A Man" by Christy Essien, "Afrikana Disco" by Akin Richards & The Executives, "Ocheche" by Don Bruce & The Anges, "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo" by Tee Mac, "Get Up & Dance" by Benis Cletin, "Enoviyin" by Colomach, "Nwaeze" by Jimmy Sherry & The Musik Agents, "Wake Up Your Mind" by Joni Haastrup, "Disco Dancing" by Angela Starr, "Mr Been To" by Arakatula, "Living Every Day" by Tee Mac with Marjorie Barnes, "Wake Up Africa" by Arakatula, and "Soul Fever" by Benis Cletin. LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes download!)
20
Afrodisia/
Long live disco, but not the sort that was big on the American scene of the 70s – as Tunde Mabadu serves up a nicely lean version of the music here – filled with Nigerian funk elements, and plenty of his own great work on tenor and alto sax! The tunes are jumpy, jaunty, and plenty darn catchy – maybe more Afro Funk overall, but speeded up a bit from a few years before - with Tunde at the head of a group that features lots of percussion at the bottom, plenty of riffing guitar and bass, sweet keyboard lines, and two trumpets to punctuate his own work in the lead! Tunde sings a bit, too – which response from two lovely female singers – and titles include "Disco Press Funk", "Angelina Sugar Daddy", "African Parowo", "Amupara Ko Ma Dara", and "Alabosi". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Viva Disco ... CD 10.9921
Ace/
Disco grooves from a source you might not expect – the Japanese scene of the 70s, which was home to a surprisingly strong array of records that were perfect for the clubs! In retrospect, maybe the music's not such a surprise – given that 70s Japan was also a hotbed of electric fusion, and the kind of sharp instrumentation that provides the core to most of these tunes – wicked basslines, sweet keyboards, and funky drums that propel these tracks along in a wonderful way – even if you can't understand some of the Japanese lyrics over the top! In fact, many of these numbers are even more in the fusion or funk-inspired side of disco – less the crossover cuts with strings and big production, and more like the kind of American club tracks you might hear from Kudu Records or some of the other fusion labels. The package is proof that great sounds can be truly universal – and comes with detailed notes on the artists and scene at the time. Titles include "By By Session Band" by Lily, "Summer Champion" by Yuko Asano, "Dancin" by Junko Ohashi, "Rainbow Parade" by Masayoshi Takanaka, "Uragiri" by Mari Natuski, "Maboroshi No Hito" by Miyako Chaki, "Banana" by Kay Ishiguro, "Yashow Macashow" by Ebonee Webb, "Lovin Mighty Fire" by Nayoya Matsuko & Minako Yoshida, "Sentimental Hotel" by Rie Nkahara, and "Barato Yajuu" by Haruomi Hosono. LP, Vinyl record album
22
Salsoul, 1978. Very Good 2LP ... $6.99
A pretty great little album – a 2LP set that features 4 sides of Salsoul classics, mixed together! The "non-stop dancing" holds out for the course of each side – as as many as 6 tracks are mixed back to back, in classic 70s disco mode. Titles include "Moon Boots" by ORS, "West Side Encounter" by Salsoul Orchestra, "Black Party/
(Cover has heavy edge wear.)
23
Cultures Of Soul, 1980s. Sealed 2LP Gatefold ... $19.99
Bombay grooves, but not just the disco promised in the title – as these cuts come mostly from the 80s years of Bollywood, and show Indian funk moving into a great new realm of styles! There's definitely a disco vibe at the core – and as in other scenes, the style stayed current a lot longer in India than it did in the US – but there's also some other great 80s elements at play, including some electro touches, bits of house, and even some bits that feel more like indie boogie material than the usual Bollywood groove! Together, the tracks are a real revelation – and push our understanding of Indian film grooves way past any simple cliches – and also have inspired us to start digging for these overlooked gems from later years too. The package comes with notes and images of the records – and titles include "Tadeer Ka Bashah" by Bappi Lahiri, "Aaya Sanam Aaya Deewana Tera" by Kishore Humar, "Pass Ao Na" by Asha Bhosle, "Saat Samundar Paar" by Sadhana Sargam, "Hotel Mein Bottle" by Sharda, "Dance Music" by Hridaynath Mageshkar, "Jab Chaye" by Asha Bhosle, "Main Jaadugar" by Kumar Sanu & Jolly Mukherjee, and "Disco Music" by RD Burman. LP, Vinyl record album
24
BBE (UK), Late 70s/
Deep, deep disco selected by Johnny "D" DeMairo – one of the more pivotal underground club music figures of the past couple decades, via his role in setting up the Henry Street imprint – here putting together an incredible set of the rare disco greatness! This the the expansive, floor-shaking, genre-straddling stuff that inspired the house and clubby soul scenes to come – and it's one of the best compilations of harder-to-find disco that's we've gotten our hands in years. The setlist features a divers mix of famous and lesser-remembered names – with styles ranging from straight forward disco stormers to strains of earlyish electro and 80s grooves – benchmark singles and inventive productions that bridge the eras! Tracks by Cerrone, Kasso, Skyy, The System, The O'Jays and more! 8 representative Disco Jamms that comfortably stretch out over 2LPs: "Spank (Instrumental Remix)" by Jimmy Bo Horne, "Key West (Jellybean Edit)" by Kasso, "Dub Till We Drop (Ben Liebrand Mix)" by Lafleur, "Dance Forever (DJ Verison)" by Gaucho, "Dirty Talk (Moplen Edit) Re-Edited by Luca Locatelli, "This Time Baby (LP Version)" by The O'Jays, "Think Fast (Instrumental)" by Pamela Joy, and "It's Passion (Dub)" by The System. LP, Vinyl record album
25
Million Dollar Disco/
The dancefloor just got a whole lot funkier – thanks to an incredible selection of rare disco and club tracks from the best years of the genre! The set list here is really amazing – the kind of tunes that rarely turn up this easily, and never in such a cohesive package – and our hats are off to compiler Al Kent for putting together such a wonderfully tasty set! Most numbers here are from the mid to late 70s – and showcase a soulfully grooving approach to disco – one that's free from the cliches of the mainstream side of the genre, and which features plenty of real soul vocals alongside uptempo funky instrumentation that usually features a few odd twists and turns! Most numbers are edited by Al Kent, sometimes in very subtle ways, and include "cover ups" billed to other artists – and the package essentially brings together material from Kent's previous CD series of the same name – but with revised track order, wonderful packaging, and a bonus poster! Limited vinyl 2 features the tracks "Dancing Free" by Hot Ice, "Doing Our Own Thang" by Al Tanner, "Fear" by Arthur King, "Party Together" by Superbs, "How Can I Tell Her" by Curtis, "Giving It All To You" by Cheryl Berdell, "We've Got It" by Sylvano Santorio, and "Sound Of Disco Rock" by Stringfield Family. LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Best Of Disco Demands Vol 1 – A Special Collection Of Rare 1970s Dance Music ... LP 24.99(Limited edition.)
26
BBE (UK), New Copy 2LP Gatefold ... $24.99 28.99
Funky disco and rare soul compiled by Al Kent – Disco Love 2 on BBE – once again going a lot deeper into the soulful underground of the late 70s and coming back up with some incredibly fresh rarities! Al Kent hails from Glasgow, but we honestly couldn't tell you where most of the singers and groups on the set are from – but we can tell you it's a great batch of underground tunes, some soaring and straight up disco, others with a more thumping, rawer or funkier groove – all of it perfectly pitched to the dancefloor. Includes "Joey's Tune" by Plazza Suite", "I Think I'll Do Some Stepping On My Own" by Sandy Barber, "I've Got The Need" by Spooky & Sue, "I Can Make It On My Own" by Vessie Simmons, "Make Love To You" by Scarbrough, "When Did You Stop" by The J's and more. 8 long unmixed numbers on the 2LP version. LP, Vinyl record album
(2LP vinyl version is limited edition.)
27
BBE (UK), Early 80s. New Copy 3LP ... $24.99 27.99
An incredible compilation of dancefloor soul & disco from the early 80s – rare, extended and previously unreleased mixes by NYC legend John Morales – featuring essential material from Logg, Universal Robot Band, Tony Adderly, Class Action, Inner Life and more! Morales was a part of the DJ remix scene that made club ready soul gems out of a bunch of the pop and soul hits of the day, but this compilation on BBE goes deeper than that for the cream of the crop of the post disco grooves of the day, most running on the long side for that unstoppable dancefloor approach, while keeping the song based soul sound fully in place. Essential! 3LP version includes 9 long tracks, with a couple versions extended and longer or otherwise alternate versions than the CD mixes, including the 17+ minute A-side opener "Ain't No Mountain High Enough Parts I & II" (JM extended 4AM mix), "Breaking Down (Sugar Samba)" (JM extended After-Session M&M mix) by Julia & Company, "Barely Breaking Even" (demo version) by Universal Robot Band, "I Ain't Mad At You" (JM extended After-Session M&M mix) by Tony Adderly, "Never Can Say Goodbye" (demo version) by La-Rita Gaskin, "Move To The Groove" (JM After-Session M&M mix) by Margie Joseph, "You Got (That Something)" (JM After-Session M&M mix) by Logg and more. LP, Vinyl record album
28
Take It Acid Is (Italy), New Copy ... About May 10, 2019
... LP, Vinyl record album
29
Z Records (UK), Late 70s/
... LP, Vinyl record album
30
How Do You Are (Germany), New Copy ... About May 10, 2019
... LP, Vinyl record album
31
Favorite (France), Late 70s/
That's a mighty sexy cover on the front – and the grooves inside definitely have the flavor to match! The work here is from the obscure French disco underground – a European scene that never got the same exposure as German or Italian work for clubs – which makes the whole package a really great discovery in sound! The music is surprisingly fresh, and often quite funky too – and done in modes that are arguably warmer and more soulful than most other European disco – and often a lot like the best American underground club of the period. Some tracks have breathy female vocals, while others have bolder lyrics that almost echo some of the global musical crossovers happing in 70s Paris and a few of the later tracks bring in electro elements, but in a subtle way we totally love. The collection's a follow-up to the Brazilian Disco Boogie Sounds compilation – and like that one, it's really a cut above the usual! Titles include "Super Star" by Contessa, "Lady Jones" by Over Drive, "Music Madness (ext Charles Maurice version)" by Beckie Bell, "Y'A Du Blues" by Marche Noire, "Un Fait Divers & Rien De Plus (re-remix)" by Le Club, "Pour Moi Ca Va (Charles Maurice version)" by France Lise, "Polar (Charles Maurice version)" by Bernard Guyvan, and "Minuit L'Heure Du Swing" by Didier Makaga. LP, Vinyl record album
32
Rupa Biswas —
Disco Jazz ... LP Numero, 1982. New Copy (reissue)... Out Of Stock
A record that's got to be one of the coolest recorded in Calgary during the early 80s – as it offers up a really unusual blend of modes that definitely lives up to its title, and which also borrows a bit from Indian music as well! Singer Rupa Biswas fronts a group that's equally strong on the instrumental tip, and which allow for plenty of room in the tracks to let the players stretch out and solo – in a blend of keyboards and guitar with more traditional sarod and tablas! Rhythms are mostly upbeat, but in ways that are more interesting than the "disco" title implies – especially in 1982 – and the whole thing's maybe first a funky fusion record, which then borrows a bit from Indian percussion, then adds in Rupa's vocals in the lead. Titles include "Aaj Shanibar", "Moja Bhari Moja", "East West Shuffle", and the side-long jam "Ayee Morshume/
33
Various —
Steppin Out – Disco's Greatest Hits ... LP Polydor, Late 70s. Very Good 2LP Gatefold ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Way more than just a throwaway disco compilation, this is a seriously heavy batch of tracks that's way better selected than any other major label compilation from the time. Nearly every one of these cuts is a great rare groover – and titles include "Jungle Fever" by Chakachas, "Running Away" by Roy Ayers, "Spanish Hustle" by Fatback Band, "Crystal World" by Crystal Grass, "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Casanova Brown" by Gloria Gaynor, "Moonlight Lovin/
(Cover has some wear and a cutout notch.)
34
Doctor Exx Band —
Superman & Other Disco Hits ... LP Pickwick, 1978. Very Good+ ... Out Of Stock
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a cutout hole.)
35
Gorgon (Jamaica), 1979. Very Good- ... $24.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Small logo Taxi pressing with orange print.)
36
AMC (Brazil), 1973. Near Mint- ... $23.99
Titles include "Oxum", "Xango", "Relaxamento", "Oxala", "Prece", and "Iansa". LP, Vinyl record album
37
Various —
Explosives (Best Of Rap, Funk & Disco) ... LP Teldec (Germany), 1983. Very Good- ... Out Of Stock
... LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has stuck-on cellophane.)
38
Various —
Can You Feel It – Modern Soul, Disco, & Boogie 1976 to 1986 (with bonus 7 inch single) ... LP Tramp (Germany), Late 70s/
The cover's a bit creepy, but the set's a great one – way more soulful than the image of a dummy might make you expect! The collection follows strongly in the same territory as the funk titles on the Tramp Records label – and like those, digs deep in the American underground to find a host of under-exposed gems from back in the day – tunes that start out in the fast funk years of disco, but also move into some great 80s grooves as well! There's a huge number of cuts here we've never heard before – but that's no surprise, given the way that Tramp puts a set like this together – and titles include "The Freeze" by Steven Toll, "SOS" by Tyree Glenn Jr, "Missing You" by Silky Vincent Group, "Sights & Sounds" by Jeffords Brothers, "Medicine Man" by Grayson Street, "Puss (part 1)" by Oakland Express, "A Fool No Longer" by Afrodisia, "Don't It Make You Feel Good" by Deep South Dance Band, "Touchdown Cleveland Browns" by Ray Jay Band, "Future" by Keither Florence & The Associates, "Anytime" by Empulse, "Beautiful Day" by Mel O Madnezz, and "Dig This Piece" by Progressive Sounds Band. LP, Vinyl record album
39
Alessandro Alessanadroni —
Background Disco EP ... LP Four Flies (Italy), 1976. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
Fantastic funk from Alessandro Alessanadroni – certainly not a household name to most folks, but one of the coolest composers on the Italian scene of the 60s and 70s! Alessandroni first rose to fame doing film score work in the 60s, but by the time of these cuts, he was very much up front as an artist able to take on just about any sort of style – working here in a cool groove that's not entirely the disco promised in the title, and more of an offbeat style of funk that's even groovier! Two tracks feature female lead vocals by Lorena, and I Cantori Moderni sing on all the cuts – titles that include "Baby Come Down" and "I Get You In My Mind", each in two different versions! LP, Vinyl record album
40
BBE (UK), Late 70s/
The kind of record that makes us mighty proud to live in the Windy City – and a long-overdue look at the wealth of rare club, disco, and soul cuts bubbling in the Chicago underground at the end of the 70s! During the early part of the decade, the city was widely known for some super-huge soul acts – and in the 80s, house would raise Chicago to international fame – but in the space between, the city kept on putting out some really wonderful music – wicked little cuts issued on small indie labels, most of which never got any circulation outside the midwest! The Mr Peabody crate-digging team's collected together the best of the best from these overlooked years – and also threw in a few of their own edits too – furthering the dancefloor potential of some of the best rare nuggets. 2LP version features 8 cuts – including "Never Gonna Fall In Love Again" by Carmen Amez – plus seven Mr Peabody edits – versions of "Too Far Gone" by LaJohn & Sheela, "The Challenge" by Billy Hinton, "The Composer" by Fantasie, "Running To A Disco" by Lonnie Givens, "Bass Come Back" by The Moore Brothers, "Disco Ball" by Brighter Side Of Darkness, and "Your Love Is In The Pocket" by Premonition. LP, Vinyl record album
41
EMI (Peru), 1970s. Very Good ... $14.99
... LP, Vinyl record album
42
Various —
Boston Goes Disco – Obscure Disco, Boogie, & Modern Soul From Boston Mass & The Surrounding Areas (3LP set & 7 inch single) ... LP BBE (UK), Late 70s/
A huge discovery in music – most of which we've never heard before, and which shows that the Boston scene was getting pretty busy during the classic club years – even if the city's grooves never reached the same fame as cuts from New York, Philly, and other points south! The package is definitely a labor of love – put together by DJ/
Also available Boston Goes Disco – Obscure Disco, Boogie, & Modern Soul From Boston Mass & The Surrounding Areas ... CD 16.9943
BBE (UK), Late 70s/
A killer set of rare club and underground disco – filled with lots of tracks we haven't seen on other collections! Andy Smith has given us many amazing compilations over the years – sets that have a special mix magic, made up of rocksteady, reggae, vintage funk, and even some rockabilly too! Yet as Andy says here in the notes, he first got hooked on music in the disco generation – and has always had a life-long love of unusual and underground grooves – which he definitely demonstrates here, in a stunning selection of cuts that focus on the funkier side of the disco generation – with a good number of tracks that have turned out to be sample cuts over the years. Titles include "For The Love Of Money" by Disco Dub Band, "Patty Duke" by Cloud One, "Times Are Tight" by Jimmy Young, "Share The Night" by World Premiere, "Is It In" by Jimmy Bo Horne, "Let It Flow" by Tamiko Jones, "Main Thing" by Shot with Kim Marsh, "Give It Up" by Neddy Smith, "Groove To Get Down" by T-Connection, "Holding You Tight (ext DJ mix)" by Sure Thing, "First True Love Affair (Andy Smith & Nick Halke reach up edit)" by Jimmy Ross, "Got To Have You (Whiskey Barons re-edit)" by Joanne Wilson, "I Wanna Be Myself" by Don Laka, "Get Up & Boogie" by Freedom, and "Take Me To The Top" by Advance. LP, Vinyl record album
44
Van McCoy —
Disco Baby ... LP Avco, 1975. Very Good ... Out Of Stock
This is it! The record that helped put disco over in a huge way, with a sound that would go on to be heavily imitated for years to come. Sweeping disco production from Hugo & Luigi arranged and conducted by Van McCoy, already a studio mainstay by this point, coupled with a set of accessible numbers paved the way towards huge mainstream appeal for tracks like "The Hustle". This album also includes the title track, "Get Dancin", "Spanish Boogie", "Turn This Mother Out" plus covers of the Ohio Players' "Fire" and AWB's "Pick Up The Pieces". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has some wear.)
45
Nucleus, 1976. Near Mint- ... $14.99
The second album by Made In Brasil – a great San Francisco combo from the 70s, with a flair for jazzy Brazilian tunes that's every bit as great as groups from Rio or Sao Paulo at the time! The group at this point features keyboardist Claudio Medeiros – who really adds a lot to their sound with his tight work on organ, clavinet, and electric piano! The tracks have a much more expansive sound than before – jazzily grooving in the Brazilian fusion mode of the 70s, touched with all the brightness of the west coast scene. Titles include "Circles", "A Briza", "Slick", "Madalena", "Salt Song", "Carinhoso", and "Ponteio/
(Original pressing.)
46
Various —
American Boogie Down – America's Lost Disco, Funk, & Boogie ... LP Past Due, Late 70s/
A massive batch of rare club tracks unearthed by Chicago's Past Due label, packaged together wonderfully as a document of a lost side of soul and disco! So far, Past Due's efforts have only surfaced as expensive 12" singles – so this collection is the first full length set to showcase the label's music – a treasure trove of under-discovered gems from the indie soul underground of the late 70s and early 80s! The music is to the far left of some of the better-known club work from the east coast of the time – including that of P&P Records – and most cuts here almost fall more in the upbeat funk mode than conventional disco grooves you'd find on bigger labels. Most numbers groove along in a wave of bumping bass, sweet keyboards, and other hip instrumental touches – and vocals are usually deep and soulful, much more so than in ordinary club. Titles include "Galaxy" by Visions Of Tomorrow, "Midnight Rhythm" by The Right Direction, "The Heat Is On" by Lonnie Givens, "Get Up Get Down & Let Your Body Pop" by Greyship Daviz, "Dance" by Destiny In Time Band, "Party" by Monofide, "Kiss You Everywhere" and "You Are Number One" by Devarne, "You Bring Out The Best In Me" by Destiny In Time, and "If You Like What We're Doing" by The Fabulous Kings. LP, Vinyl record album
47
Grace Jones —
Disco Years (Portfolio/Island (UK), Late 70s. New Copy 4LP ... Out Of Stock
Some of the biggest moments of Grace Jones' career – the records that really helped her cross over big as a singer, and find a great home on the dancefloors of the disco generation! First up is the album Portfolio – a landmark little record from Grace Jones – a set that started off as one of those "hey, let's see if this model can sing" sort of records – but which has gone onto become an enduring classic! Most of the tunes are older ones, but they're remade with a soaring Sigma Sound groove by the best in Philly – taking sometimes-cloying lyrics and pushing them into hipper disco territory for the 70s – all with that odd wink and subtle sense of irony that would emerge more clearly in Jones' later records. Tom Moulton produced and mixed, and titles include "I Need A Man", "La Vie En Rose", "Sorry", "Tomorrow", "What I Did For Love", and "Send In The Clowns". Fame is a classic disco stormer from Grace Jones – recorded at Sigma Sound with a real Philly groove, thanks to arrangements from John Monster Davis – and produced with a full, soaring sound from the legendary Tom Moulton! The set may well be Grace's true club classic from the late 70s – a record that works both on the quirky levels of her early rise to fame, and on the more soulful expectations mainstream clubgoers had at the time – a beautiful balance that owes plenty to the input from Davis and Moulton! Titles include "Do Or Die", "Pride", "Fame", "Below The Belt", and "Am I Ever Gonna Fall In Love In New York City". Muse has Grace Jones still riding high on a disco wave here, but also finding her own space and sound too! The mighty Tom Moulton produced, ensuring some great sound for the set – and arrangements are by Thor Baldursson and John Davis, both of whom bring in nice sense of fullness, but never smother Grace too much – a key factor, given that her vocal approach is often a bit more restrained than some of the other disco divas of the time. There's less covers here than before, and Grace herself even penned some of the tunes. Titles include "Suffer", "Sinning", "Saved", "Atlantic City Gambler", "On Your Knees", and "Don't Mess With The Messer". Box set also features a full bonus album of all the rare mixes from singles – including "Sorry (disco mix)", "That's The Trouble (disco mix)", "I Need A Man (disco mix)", "La Vie En Rose (7" mix)", "Do Or Die (12" disco)", "Comme Un Oiseau Qui S'Envole (12" disco)", "On Your Knees (12" disco)", and "Don't Mess With The Messer (12" version)". Also features a booklet of notes, new mastering, 180 gram vinyl, and a great box! LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes download!)
48
Boogie On The Mainline (Germany), 1980s. New Copy 2LP Gatefold ... $29.99
German grooves from the 70s got some pretty big global circulation – especially the huge wave of disco records from Munich in the second half of the decade! Yet in the following years, the nation continued a strong soul groove – but one that never fully got its due on this side of the Atlantic – quite possibly because the sounds here are a lot more soulful and subtle – cooler, classier, and with a much deeper vibe! The guys on the cover of the collection might look a bit goofy, but don't let that put you off – as there's a strength to these tunes that maybe reminds us of some of our favorite Bay Area funk of the 70s – a nice criss-crossing of influences from jazz, funk, and soul – but always trying to do something new as well. There's definite 80s elements in the mix – beats, basslines, and keyboards – but there's also a fair bit of live instrumentation that's extremely well-played, and mostly mixed with English language vocals. Titles include "Get Up" by Squish, "Backstreetboy" by Bernie L, "Funky Feeling" by Publicity, "Don't Stay For Breakfast" by Stroer, "You're Just Yourself" by Upstairs, "You Are Not The One For Me" by Peter Patzer, "Strawberry Wine" by Imagination, "Dancing Shoes" by JD Lewis, "Keep On Lovin" by The Poptown Syndicate, and "It's Not Over" by Trust. LP, Vinyl record album
49
Soul Jazz (UK), Late 70s/
A mighty tribute to the days before iPods and headphones – when the only option for portable music was the boombox – a sonic powerhouse that ruled the streets and the subways, and seemed to create an instant party whenever it arrived! The tracks here are underground gems from back in the day of the boombox – the kind of cuts that should never, ever be played on earbods – and instead need to be rocked out of speakers that are as big as you could hope to find – preferably with the bass turned up as high as it will go! Music is mostly old school hip hop, but also has that mix of rhymes and vocals that was coming into play as the parties moved from the streets and parks into the recording studio – all to create the kind of cuts that would always sound best on the boombox! Titles include "Another One Bites The Dust" by Sugar Daddy, "Thumpin" by Brothers Disco, "Class A" by Majestics, "On The Move" by Mifflin Ensemble, "Get Fly" by TJ Swann & Company, "Low Rider Rap" by Poor Boy Rappers, "Teen Machine Rap" by Teen Machine, "Ms DJ Rap It Up" by She, "Rhythm Rock (part 1)" by The Caution Crew, "Smooth Talk" by Mr Fox, "Gigolo Rapp" by Disco Daddy & Capt Rapp, "Wack Rap" by Solid C Bobby D & Kool Drop, and "Rhapazooty In Blue" by Sicle Cell & Rhapazooty. LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Boombox 3 – Early Independent Hip Hop, Electro, & Disco Rap – 1979 to 1983 ... CD 18.99(Includes download!)
50
Various —
Discophilia Belgica – Next Door Disco & Local Spacemusic From Belgium 1975 to 1987 – Part 1/Sdban (Belgium), Late 70s/
A European disco world that's ripe for rediscovery – one that's much more obscure than better-known club work from Germany, France, and Italy – but which may well be even groovier than the work from those three scenes! The package is a great complement to some of the funk and jazz sets on the Sdban label – and like those, it really digs deep – to uncover a vast array of music from the small nation – which was clearly a hotbed of groovy activity in the 70s, at a level that none of us realized at the time! The tunes here mix together funk and pop, soul and disco – all in ways that criss-cross strongly with more familiar modes of the period – but often have an offbeat quality, and sometimes a surprising sense of humor that comes through in the mostly English lyrics in the lead. Part 1 of the vinyl series features 16 tracks – and titles include "Ethereo Disco" by R Roland, "King Kong" by Carl Watson, "Baby Won't You Turn Me On" by Charles Watson, "Sexy" by Lovedream, "La Gomme" by L2, "Cool & Get Up" by Quartz, "I'm Free" by Steve, "Groovin To The Music" by Flame, "Queen To The Pharoah" by Marianne, "Feel So Glad" by Dan Davis, "Ivro De Vie" by Kevin Moraine, "Be My Love Tonight" by CC Band, "Strange How You Move" by Venus, and "Bubblegum" by Bubble. LP, Vinyl record album
51
Various —
Too Slow To Disco Brasil – Compiled By Ed Motta (180 gram pressing) ... LP How Do You Are (Germany), Late 70s/
This very hip series just got a whole lot hipper – thanks to the selection talents of Brazilian soul legend Ed Motta – who serves up a huge host of rare tracks from Brazil! Ed's always had a deep love of the AOR sound of the 70s – and he's not only a great soul singer on his own records, but also a hell of a record collector too – one whose knowledge of rare grooves goes way beyond most other folks we've ever met! This set opens up a huge amount of Brazilian soul we'd never heard before – music that takes off from the late 70s territory of Azimuth and Banda Black Rio, and soars with sweet jazzy grooves that are completely sublime – most from the 80s, and most by artists who've never gotten their due on the reissue market. Killer all the way through – with titles that include "Pra Voce" by Carlinhos & Soninha Querioz, "Acordes E Sementes" by Gelso Oliveira & Luiz Ewerling, "Joia Rara" by Brylho, "Rota Mar" by Zeca Do Trombone, "Clarear" by Roupa Nova, "Quero Pouco Quero Muito" by Filo Machado, "Guarde Minha Voz" by Sandra Sa, "Debora" by Altay Veloso, "Copacabana Suite" by Junior Mendes, "Renascendo En Mim"b y Don Beto, "Toda Manha Brilha O Sol" by Lucinha Turnbull, "Coisas Do Brasil" by Guilerhmes Arantes, "Mare" by Carlos Bivar, "Leao Ferido" by Biafra, "Mais Uma Chance" by Santa Cruz, "Rio Best Seller" by Cassiano, and "Se Eu Te Pego De Jeito" by Jane Duboc. LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes download!)
52
Various —
Men In The Glass Booth – Groundbreaking Re-edits & Remixes By The Disco Era's Most Influential DJs – Part 1 (5LP set) ... LP BBE (UK), Late 70s. New Copy 5LP ... Out Of Stock
An incredible collection – and one that fills in a crucially under-documented side of the New York dancefloor generation – the wealth of special mixes and edits that were made for that city's important DJs for their own use in clubs! The package sorts through a mountain of never-issued acetates, and goes way past conventional disco or rare club collections – to showcase the special mixing talents these DJs brought to their re-presentation of the material – which was usually done on tape, then pressed onto acetate discs for their own private use! Those rare treasures are brought forth here – in a beautiful package that's also overflowing with fantastic notes that finally give this lost history its due – all handled by Al Kent – who's a hell of a mixer himself, as well as an underground club historian. Vinyl part 1 features five different records, all with lots of space for the tunes to stretch out – and titles include "I Just Wanna Say I Love You (John Luongo rmx)" by Leon Collins, "What About Love (Tony Gioe rmx)" by Marboo, "Ten Percent (Walter Gibbons Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by Double Exposure, "Inside America (Rick Gianatos disco queen acetate edit)" by Juggy Murray Jones, "Dancing Free (John Luongo rmx)" by Hot Ice, "Black Water Gold (Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by The Sunshine Band, "Magic Bird Of Fire (Francois Kevorkian Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by Salsoul Orchestra, "It's Good For The Soul (Jay Negron Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by Salsoul Orchestra, "My Love Is Free (Walter Gibbons disco madness rmx)" by Double Exposure, "Reaching Out For Happiness (Jonathan Fearing rmx)" by Fay Hauser, "Let Me Be Your Fantasy (Tom Savarese rmx)" by Love Symphony Orchestra, "The Beat Goes On & On (Jim Burgess rmx)" by Ripple, "I Wanna Be Near You (John Morales Sunshine Sound acetate edit)" by Ruby Andrews, "I've Been Looking For Somebody (Walter Gibbons rmx)" by TC James & The Fist O Funk Orchestra, "The Disco Scene (Rick Gianatos rmx)" by Lake Shore Drive, "Bumpsie's Whipping Cream (Tom Savarese rmx)" by TC James & The Fist O Funk Orchestra, and "Janice (Bobby DJ Guttadoro rmx)" by Skip Mahoney. LP, Vinyl record album
(Limited edition!)
53
Black Disco —
Night Express ... LP Matsuli (UK), 1976. New Copy (reissue)... Out Of Stock
Don't think "disco", think "funky jazz" – because this sweet South African group from the 70s is filled with lots of groovy twists and turns – all in a mode that's quite different than any of the American or European jazz albums we know from the time! The lineup here includes reed heavyweight Basil Coetzee on both flute and tenor sax – working in a quartet with some sublime organ lines from Pops Mohamed – who plays in this snakey sort of way that's a bit like South African jazz piano, but maybe even more flowing and moody. The grooves are sometimes funky, sometimes more modal – but always forward moving in a really great way, but again with a very fresh approach to rhythm! Titles include "Super Natural Love", "Yasmeen's Blues", "Night Express", "Odd's On", and "Echo On The Delay". LP, Vinyl record album
54
Soul Jazz (UK), Late 70s/
Great cuts from the old school – pulled together from the earliest days of hip hop – at a time when the boundary lines in the music weren't so fully formed! These days, the difference between hip hop and club cuts is huge – but back in the South Bronx scene at the start, there was a lot more interplay between styles – as 70s funk served as the blueprint, disco singles expanded the format, soul vocals gave some structure, and live rhymes and DJ work provided all of the spontaneous elements that made the music so unique – coming together with amazing energy that really reflected the street-level sounds of the New York scene! This ultra-hip collection brings together all those amazing strands from the early years – in a set that's one of the best historically important Soul Jazz titles we've seen in years – from the excellent track selection right down to the very detailed notes. There's plenty of rare cuts here you're not likely to have in your collection – and titles include "Body Rock" by Neil B, "Positive Life" by Love Bug Starski & The Harlem World Crew, "At The Place To Be" by Mr Sweety G, "New Rap Language" by Spoonie G & The Treacherous Three, "We Are People Too" by Master Jay, "Equidity Funk" by Mistafide, "And You Know That" by TJ Swan, "Searching Rap" by Bon Rock & The Rhythm Rebellion, "Willie Rap" by Willie Wood & The Willie Wood Crew, "Rhythm Rap Rock" by Count Coolout, "On The Go" by Black Bird & Kevski, "Philosophy Rappin Spree" by Super 3, "Move Your Body" by Bramsam, and "One More Time" by Sugar Daddy. LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Boombox – Early Independent Hip Hop, Electro, & Disco Rap 1979 to 1982 ... CD 18.99(Includes download!)
55
Various —
Best Of Disco Spectrum – Presented By Joey Negro & Sean P (3LP set) ... LP BBE (UK), Late 70s/
A fantastic tribute to the legendary Disco Spectrum series of compilations – a run of records that first burst forth at the end of the 90s, and showed the world that there was a huge amount of underground music to discover from the mainstream disco years! Disco Spectrum cuts aren't the ones you'll know from Saturday Night Fever – or from K-Tel compilations of the time – and instead, they represent the much deeper current of groove that was still burning bright away from the limelight, even while the more commercial disco crumbled into dust – music that was sometimes cut by artists who disappeared quickly, sometimes by older masters, and sometimes by talents who never fully got the respect they deserved. Both Joey Negro and Sean P have given us some great sets before, but this one is right at the top of their talents – filled with gems that include "Let Me Down Easy" by Rare Pleasure, "Spread Love" by Al Hudson & The Soul Partners, "Can't Shake Your Love (Larry Levan 12" mix)" by Syreeta, "Trinidad (special disco mix)" by John Gibbs & US Steel Orchestra, "Isabelle & The Rain" by Jo Boyer, "Don't Let My Rainbow Pass Me By (club 12" mix)" by Cloud One with Margo Williams, "Could Heaven Ever Be Like This" by Idris Muhammad, "I Don't Want You Back" by Ramona Brooks, "Hot To Trot" by Alfredo De La Fe, "Out Of My Hands" by Omni, "Under The Skin" by The Brothers, "Let Me Love You" by Bunny Mack, "Can You Get Down" by Universe City, and "I Want You For Myself" by George Duke with Lynn Davis. LP, Vinyl record album
56
Nana Love —
Disco Documentary – Full Of Funk (with bonus CD) ... LP Nestor/
Rare funky soul from Ghanaian disco diva Nana Love – the rare, appropriately-titled Full Of Funk record from 1979 – with dynamite vocals by Nana and featuring Ghana legend Harry Mosco and other incredible players in the studio band! Nana's voice is uniquely amazing – with a sweet, girlish tone that builds to a lioness roar on occasion – which is incredibly compelling – and sung entirely in English. The band provides a wicked backdrop of funky dancefloor soul – propelled by fantastic guitarwork by Mosco, Paul Pryce and Les Forrest, killer basslines by Grek Haywood, sax and flute by Humphrey Okoh, percussion by Ayindi, drums by Tony Martin, synth and clavinet by Adrian Bennett and piano by Richard Reid. This great version from BBE includes 5 bonus tracks not on the original release – and the titles include "I'm in Love", "Whe Gonna Stay For The Party", "Talking About Music", "Disco Lover", "When The Heart Decides", "Reach Out My Hand", "Hang On Baby", "Loving Feeling (Dance Mix)" and "Loving Feeling (Instrumental)". LP, Vinyl record album
(Comes with the album on CD!)
57
Various —
French Disco Boogie Sounds Vol 3 – 1977 to 1987 – Selected By Charles Maurice ... LP Favorite (France), Late 70s/
A decade's worth of slinky sounds from the French scene – a good number of which were recorded after the big disco boom years in the US – at a time when the European clubs kept things going with some fresh flavors of their own! The style here isn't as overtly disco as you might think – as the grooves are nice and open – often a bit more midtempo than upbeat, with currents from modern soul and some of the global cultures that intersected through the wide musical world of Paris! In fact, the whole thing's more of a discovery of new grooves than a French take on familiar styles – as you'll discover amidst tracks that include "Lait De Coco (dub)" by Maya, "Segregation" by Nst Cophies, "Funky & Fire" by Janet N'Diaye Lokamba, "Money" by Kke, "Flash" by Zorgus, "Give Me Back My Song" by Wally & Shane, "Looking For You" by JEKYS, "Qu'Est-Ce Que Tu Fais Par Amour" by Joel Dayde, "Listen To The Music (12" mix)" by Judy Carter, "Un Peu D'Amour" by Silence, and "Funky Baby Love" by Paul Fathy. LP, Vinyl record album
58
Sun Ra —
Disco 3000 ... LP Saturn/
If this is disco, point us in the direction of Studio 54! The album's one of Ra's greatest from the 70s – recorded in Italy in 1978, and featuring some incredibly otherworldly keyboards that are some of his most enigmatic on record! The track "Disco 3000" is an incredible workout on synthesizer, with a tiny bit of drum machine, a little "Space Is The Place" breakdown, and all of the wild sound you'd expect from a Sun Ra album. The cut goes on for quite some time, and is really fantastic. Side two of the record features three more long tracks – the sweetly soulful "Friendly Galaxy", a great soul jazz number; "Dance Of The Cosmo Aliens", which has spooky organ, frenetic bass, and somber percussion; and the track "Third Planet". LP, Vinyl record album
(2018 repress.)
59
Various —
Salsoul Boogie – An Essential Collection Of Early 80s Post Disco Electronic Grooves From The Salsoul Vaults ... LP Salsoul (UK), Early 80s. New Copy 2LP ... Out Of Stock
A killer batch of classic Salsoul from the dawn of the 80s – leaner, tighter and more dancefloor geared club soul than the song the more string-laden and sing-a-long chorus style of the late 70s oeuvre, but way more lively than the synth-soaked and streamlined digital era boogie sound to come later on! 12" mixes of benchmark tracks by Skyy, Rafael Cameron, Aurra, Leroy Burgess, Edwin Birdsong, Funk Deluxe and more, including "First Time Around (Larry Levan Canadian 12" Mix)" by Skyy, "Boogie's Gonna Get Ya (Francois Kevorkian 12" Instrumental Mix)" by Rafael Cameron, "Checking You Out (Shep Pettibone Mix)", "Win Tonight (12" Mix)" by Edwin Birdsong, "Heavenly (12" Mix)" by Leroy Burgess, "This Time (12" Mix)" By Funk Deluxe, "Falling In Love (12" Mix)" by Surface and "On The Phone" by Civil Attack. LP, Vinyl record album
60
Various —
Hong Kong Disco ... LP Wan Chai (Hong Kong), Late 70s. New Copy Gatefold (reissue)... Out Of Stock
A mighty sweet little set – not just Hong Kong disco, but also a fair bit of soul and AOR tracks too – all of which we've never heard before! Much of the music here shows a strong American influence – right down to the English language lyrics that top almost all the tracks – and the instrumentation is often tight and funky, and put forward without the slicker production you'd find on US work of the time! In fact, a number of these groups were working big in HK clubs during the time – which was still a relatively small world – which almost makes some of the music feel like indie disco from the American underground, the kind of small label cuts that have been favorites for modern soul collectors over the years. You might want to consider this package to be an addition to that world, rather than a set of truly Chinese material from the 70s – and if you dig funky 70s soul as much as we do, you should find plenty here to love! Titles include "Hurt So Bad" by Tracy, "Take It To The Bossman" by The Reflection, "Swearin To God" by Charing Carpo, "This Is No Horse" by AJL Band, "Day Dreamin" by Julie Sue, "You're The Love" by Louie Castro, "Gotta Be The One" by The New Topnotes, "Lovin You" by Rita Kwong, and "Make Me Believe In You" by Oscar & His Orchestra. LP, Vinyl record album
61
Various —
Africa Airways 4 – Disco Funk Touchdown 1976 to 1983 (with bonus download) ... LP Africa Seven (UK), Late 70s/
We've had some great trips on Africa Airways in recent years – and this sweet fourth set proves once again that the fun lies in the journey, not the destination! As before, the cuts here share a lot more with American funk than you might think – especially the tight late 70s style with lots of basslines at the bottom, and some warmly jazzy currents in the instrumentation – which often serve to provide a superb setting for the vocals over the top – sometimes just sing-song chorus bits, but merged perfectly with the grooves! Tracks here come from French labels like Fiesta and Sonodisc, and there's definitely some of that criss-crossing between West African and Parisian modes going on – on titles that include "Sun Explosion" by Manu Dibango, "Nassa Nassa" by Uta Bella, "Nimele Bolo" by Charly Kingson, "Africain" by Momo Joseph, "Biram" by Kemayo & K-System, "Soul Magabe" by Pierre Didy Tchakounte, "Funny Saga" by The Monsters, and "Tinini Yanana" by Jake Sollo. LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes bonus download!)
62
Finders Keepers (UK), Late 70s/
Not the straight disco you might expect from the title – and instead a whole host of weird and wonderful grooves from the later years of the Lollywood film scene! These Pakistani tracks follow a bit of the style of Bollywood work of the time, but often have a tighter, more compressed approach – sharper electric instrumentation, especially keyboards, mixing with bold acoustic lines on horns and plenty of percussion – all in support of singers who soar out over the top with this really other-worldly style! Overall, there's a bit less of the sentiment you'd find in Indian film music, and instead this oddly angular, offbeat approach that really keeps things interesting – and more than trippy enough to match the slight psychedelic currents in the production. Titles include "Tere Saath Mulaqaat Ek Raat Ki" by Tafo Brothers & Nahid Akhtar, "Tere Mere Larr Gaye" by Kamal Ahmed & Mehnaz, "Oh My Darling" by Nisar Bazmi & Runa Laila, "Badal Aur Bijli" by Sohail Rana, "Happy New Year" by Tafo Brothers & Noor Jehan, and "Disco Dildaar Mera" by M Ashraf & Noor Jehan. Compiled by Andy Votel & Chris Menist too! LP, Vinyl record album
63
Various —
Westbound Disco ... LP Westbound (UK), Late 70s. New Copy 2LP ... Out Of Stock
Fantastic funky club from one of the hippest soul labels of the 70s – Detroit powerhouse Westbound Records – home to Funkadelic, The Counts, and some other very hip artists! Westbound disco isn't the same as the grooves you'd hear from Philly and New York – because the label started out in funk, and many of these tracks have an approach that's more fast funk than soaring strings – often recorded by groups who were hitting a funky 45 style in the earlier part of the 70s, then taking off with longer grooves with the rise of the club scene in the second half of the decade. As usual with Ace Records, the choice of cuts is great – and the package is as illuminating as it is groovy – with titles that include "Devil's Gun" by CJ & Co, "Wings Of Fire" by Dennis Coffey, "High On Mad Mountain" by Mike Theodore Orchestra, "You Brought The Sunshine (12" version)" by The Clark Sisters, "Beat Your Feet" by Eramus Hall, "Freaky People" by The Crowd Pleasers, "Feel The Need" by Detroit Emeralds, and "BYOF" by Fantastic Four. LP, Vinyl record album
64
Far Out Monster Disco Orchestra —
Black Sun ... LP Far Out (UK), 2018. New Copy 2LP ... Out Of Stock
Fantastic sounds from the Far Out Monster Disco Orchestra – a group with family ties to Azymuth and Incognito, and who work here in the best blend of Brazilian and soulful elements that might imply! The ensemble is a crowning achievement for the Far Out label – a summation of all the great work they've done from the London scene, including their reintroduction of key Brazilian musicians of the 70s – all soaring to the skies here, with a richly collaborative energy! The group features lots of keyboards from Jose Roberto Bertrami, guitars from Alex Malheiros, and keyboards and rhythms from Daniel Maunick – plus great contributions from many others, including some help from the legendary Arthur Verocai. Most tunes groove in a mighty nice way – not vintage disco, but a soaring, righteous 21st Century version of club – on tunes that include "Step Into My Life", "Flying High", "Black Sun", "The Two Of Us", "Walking Bass", "Give It To Me", and "Where Do We Go From Here". LP, Vinyl record album
65
Various —
Tani – Disco Rumba & Flamenco Boogie 1976 to 1979 ... LP Pharaway Sounds (Spain), Late 70s. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
Funky disco from 70s Spain – a wonderful collection of upbeat, hard-grooving titles that owe plenty to the sound of New York and Philly – but which also have their own sort of groove too! There's elements here that take off from the early 70s Spanish rumba mode of blending flamenco roots with more soulful elements – as many of these tunes have strong guitar flourishes, and these soaring vocals that are certainly inspired by the older modes – but also set to the kinds of rhythms, basslines, and strings that you'd hear from the American disco indies at the time – which makes for a fantastic blend of sounds that's completely unique! The only thing that might come close is Charo's record for Salsoul, but all this work is way better than that album – and titles include "Ahora Que" and "Ya Estoy Parao" by Rumba Tres, "Yo Me Siento Muy Feliz" and "Esta Noche Te Perdi" by Sangre Gitana, "Estrella" by Los Gachos, "Oye Chiquilla" by Tobago, "Puedes Buscarte Un Nuevo Amor" by Barracuda, and "Mala" by La Marelu. LP, Vinyl record album
66
De Lux —
More Disco Songs About Love ... LP Innovative Leisure, 2018. New Copy ... Out Of Stock
Well, they've definitely got the "disco" in the title right – but there's a lot more going on here too – including some nice post-punk touches that are augmented by guest work from Mark Stewart and Liquid Liquid! The album's tuneful, catchy, and nicely distilled – heavy on the keyboard and rhythm tip, but not in the smoother style of some of the retro 80s acts on the market – instead with a vibe that hearkens back more towards the DIY vibe of the wave of indie labels that sprung up in the years after punk – particularly some of the hipper British or Benelux imprints! These guys almost feel like that moment when Factory records started to go from darkness to warmth, but also have a special spirit that's all their own – as you'll quickly learn to love on tracks that include "Cause For Concern", "Smarter Harder Darker", "These Are Some Of The Things That I Think About", "875 Dollars", "Stratosphere Girl", and "Music Snob". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available More Disco Songs About Love ... CD 7.99Close matches: 2
67
Disco International, 1977. Sealed ... $14.99
Surprisingly nice album that has Tito Ramos and Tony Rojas reuniting in a crackling session of 70s salsa that mixes English and Spanish lyrics, both with the kind of soul that the band was famous for in the 60s. Tracks include "Hello My Love", "Los TNT", "La Mujer Latina", "Tu Pelo Blanco", and the heartbreaking "Land Of Broken Hearts". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover is a bit shopworn, cracked a bit at the opening, with stickers.)
68
Original Disco Culture (Italy), 2018. New Copy 2LP Gatefold ... $34.99
Wonderful new work from Change – the international soul combo who made some classic cuts back at the start of the 80s – still sounding great all these many years later, but in a slightly different way! The balance between all elements here is fantastic – as the music has all the best parts of the group's earlier music, but also updates the sound a bit – in the way that a combo like Incognito or Brand New Heavies were updating older soul music back in the 90s, by grabbing all the strongest parts of the past, and fusing them into a fresh lean groove. The songs are upbeat, positive, and full of the kind of catchy hooks that Change always did so well – and titles include "Friends", "Make Me Go Cray", "How Will We", "Too Late", "Living Monday", "Love 4 Love", "All My Life", and "Hit Or Miss". Also includes some remix versions of older tracks – "Searching (Figo Sound version)", "Oh What A Feeling (Figo Sound version)", "You'll Always Be A Part Of Me (Figo Sound version)", and "It's A Girl's Affair (Figo Sound version)". LP, Vinyl record album
Possible matches: 172
69
Don Downing —
Doctor Boogie ... LP Roadshow, 1979. Very Good+ ... $7.99
A killer classic from grooveman Don Downing – the kind of indie disco record that really broke big in the 70s – but which hardly ever got the longer-term fame it deserved! The grooves here are straight and simple – the best early east coast club modes of the mid 70s – more tight funk than commercial disco, especially when topped by some of the deeper soul moments of Don Downing – who can come across like Johnny Taylor on his Columbia cuts in a similar setting! Backings are great – handled by studio giants like Pat Rebillot on keyboards, Bad Bascomb on bass, and Jimmy Maelen on congas – and titles include "Dream World", "Sugar & Spice", "Doctor Boogie", "Love Doctor", and "Half Past Love". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Doctor Boogie (with bonus tracks) ... CD 9.99(Cover has some wear.)
70
Love Unlimited —
In Heat ... LP 20th Century, 1974. Very Good+ ... $6.99
Classic 70s female soul – and one of the best albums ever recorded by Love Unlimited – a trio of ladies recording with Barry White during his glory years! The album's got a really incredible approach – partly in the mode of older female group soul, but also done with a hipper, more righteous style – one that pushes the sound past older standards for the music, yet which falls into none of the disco cliches of the time. The album includes a great vocal version of "Love's Theme", plus the group's totally killer "Move Me No Mountain" – and the tracks "I Love You So, Never Gonna Let You Go", "Share A Little Love In Your Heart", and "I Needed Love – You Were There". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a cut corner, a split spine, and a split top seam.)
71
Variations —
Variations ... LP Amour, 1977. Very Good+ ... $9.99
An obscure group from Oakland, CA – with a tight jazz funk groove on the best cuts, courtesy of Perfect Circle, the group that comprised the band's rhythm section! The group features one female vocalist, Samaki – but the majority of the tracks have the three male singers working in a harmony style that's in kind of an east coast mode, but perhaps a bit looser. Uptempo funky cuts include "I Remember You" and "Sayin It & Doin It", which both sound like tracks from Perfect Circle's own album – plus the titles "Let's Take A Disco Ride" and "Put The Music On Funk". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has some wear.)
72
Young & Company —
I Like What You're Doing To Me! ... LP Brunswick, 1980. Very Good+ ... $11.99
The only full length album we've ever seen from this youthful combo – and a killer set that's gotten plenty of play over the years! Young & Company were an obscure New Jersey group who struck big momentarily with the single "I Like What You're Doing To Me", and got a brief chance to cut this one and only album for Brunswick as a follow-up. The album's an interesting one, because it came at a time when the last-gasping Brunswick was showing a real talent for cutting underground cuts – mostly issued on 12" singles, and rarely drawn out to a full LP like this – but at a level that really makes this album a lost gem! There's kind of a strong roller skating groove on the best cuts – moving along at a good midtempo pace with compressed instrumentation on guitar and keyboards, never too over the top, and definitely not disco. You can hear that to best effect on the big hit "I Like What You're Doing To Me", but the album's got plenty of other nice cuts, like "Strut Your Stuff", "Checking You Out", "Love Me All Night", and "Mellow Mood". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has light wear.)
73
Sun Ra —
Media Dream ... LP Saturn, 1978. Very Good ... $199.99
Incredible work from one of Sun Ra's most enigmatic periods! The album was recorded in Italy in 1978, right around the same time as "Disco 2000" (and not too far off from Languidity) – and it features Ra playing around with lots of cool spacey keyboards, in a spare cosmic style that's really out of this world! The overall sound is incredible – with an incredible sense of otherness that has Ra pushing the limits of the moog and organ to a level never heard before on record – and in a way, the set is everything you might have imagined when you first heard of Sun Ra as some strange jazz musician who claimed to be from outer space! The group is a quartet, with Michael Ray on trumpet, John Gilmore on tenor, and Luqman Ali on drums – and titles include "Saturn Research", "Media Dreams", "Year Of The Sun", "Constellation", and the haunting straight jazz piece "Twigs At Twilight". LP, Vinyl record album
(Hand-pasted yellow label – in a black sleeve with typewritten titles! Note: vinyl has light noise on side one from the pressing quality – side two is pretty great overall.)
74
Cloud One —
Spaced Out – The Best Of Cloud One ... LP P&P, Late 70s. New Copy 2LP ... $25.99 28.99
Classic work from the legendary P&P Records label – created by one of the "P" talents who gave them their name – studio genius Patrick Adams, who mostly works here on his own under the name of Cloud One! Adams already had great success working with east coast soul groups in the first half of the 70s – and as Cloud One, he really finds his way around the more cutting-edge styles of the time – mixing bits of funk with bits of disco, and often adding in these cool electronic elements that really helped define the P&P sound! Many cuts have cool moogy keyboards, and some spacey elements along the edges – done with a lot more soul than some of the Euro space disco recordings of the same time – with much more of a tie to the New York underground that was Adams' main milieu. Titles include the classics "Spaced Out" and "Atmosphere Strut" – plus "Jump Jump Jump", "Stomp Your Feet & Dance", "Disco Juice", "Don't Let My Rainbow Pass Me By", "Patty Duke", "Happy Music", "Doin It All Night", and "Flyin High". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Spaced Out – The Best Of Cloud One ... CD 14.9975
Who —
Who Are You ... LP MCA, 1978. Very Good ... $4.99
A classic comeback for the group – with renewed tightness, but still all the edge of the start of the 70s! Titles include "New Song", "Sister Disco", "Music Must Change", "Trick Of The Light", "Guitar & Pen", and the classic "Who Are You". LP, Vinyl record album
(Beige label pressing. Cover has light wear.)
76
Al Green —
Full Of Fire ... LP Hi Records, 1976. Near Mint- ... $14.99
Hi Records perfection from the mighty Al Green – slightly later than some of his key early hits, but a record that shows Green still taking fire on all burners! Production is by the team of Al and Willie Mitchell – in a mode that's slightly fuller and more updated than before, but still very much that original mode the pair pioneered during Green's first years at Hi – a smooth, rich sound that's never slick, never poppy, and never cloying – and a mode that never falls into disco or pop temptations other singers were trapped in at the time. Backings are by the Memphis Horns and Memphis Strings – with some occasional backup vocals from Rhodes Chalmers & Rhodes or The Duncan Sisters – and titles include "I'd Fly Away", "That's The Way It Is", "Glory Glory", "Always", "Full Of Fire", "Together Again", "Soon As I Get Home", and "Let It Shine". LP, Vinyl record album
(Original pressing. Cover has a cutout hole, light wear, and a small rip on the opening.)
77
Warner, 1982. New Copy (reissue)... $16.99 21.98
Quite possibly our favorite Gang Of Four album – and the one in which their funk approach really seems to work! The album's got a camp appeal that can't be denied – known famously for it's big post-disco hit "I Love A Man In Uniform" – but overall the whole thing actually seems pretty well thought out – taking the heady politics of earlier records, and putting them into catchy guitar-driven dancefloor tracks that clearly get the message out to a whole new audience of converts! Titles include "Call Me Up", "I Love A Man In Uniform", "Life It's A Shame", "I Will Be A Good Boy", "The History Of The World", "Muscle For Brains", "Of The Instant", and the sublime William Blake-inspired groover "We Live As We Dream, Alone". LP, Vinyl record album
78
Rolling Stones —
Some Girls ... LP Rolling Stones, 1978. Near Mint- ... $29.99
Way more than the disco cash-in some folks thought at the time – and a surprisingly classic set that perfectly sums up the late 70s Stones ethos – and, in a way, the vibe of a changing New York! Titles include "Miss You", "Beast Of Burden", "Shattered", "Imagination", "Lies", "Far Away Eyes" and "When The Whip Comes Down". LP, Vinyl record album
(US pressing with Sterling stamp, in the die-cut cover with the amended sleeve.)
79
Nu Guinea —
Nuova Napoli ... LP NG (France), 2018. New Copy ... $22.99
The last time around, Nu Guinea came on strong with a collaboration with drummer Tony Allen – but this time, they've got a very different groove – a lean, keyboard-heavy approach to funk that feels like it's lifted from some obscure sound library session of the 70s! There's still some grooves on a few tracks, and a few global elements too – but there's also a warmer sense of soul throughout, which sounds great next to the sweet keyboards and beats. About half the album has tenor sax solos, and there's vocals by a female singer on a few cuts too – and titles include "Stann Fore", "Disco Sole", "Ddoje Facce", "Je Vulesse", "Nuova Napoli", and "A Voce E Napule". LP, Vinyl record album
80
Ashford & Simpson —
Stay Free ... LP Warner, 1979. Very Good ... Just Sold Out!
Great stuff! From Motown songwriters to world-class superstars, the trip was a well-deserved one for Valerie Simpson and Nick Ashford – and this album's perhaps their crowning achievement in sophisticated club soul! The record's got a great groove that offers a more soulful version of disco than most of the competing albums on major labels at the time – a perfect summation of the care and craft that Ashford & Simpson had always put into their music right from the start! The pair handle all production on the record, and also contributed all the songs too – and the whole thing's so wonderfully tight, right, and on the money, the album soars to the top even before the vocals come into the mix. Titles include more than a few club classics, like "Found A Cure", "Stay Free", and "Nobody Knows" – plus the cuts "Dance Forever", "Crazy", "Follow Your Heart", and "Finally Got To Me". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve.)
81
Phyllis Hyman —
You Know How To Love Me ... LP Arista, 1979. Very Good ... $1.99
A classic 1979 album from Phyllis Hyman! Hyman was one of the few female singers who started in the pre-disco years and managed to move through the disco years with a good groove – but never get totally swamped by the production styles of the day. She stuck close to her roots as a jazzy soul singer, and produced great albums like this – which mixed pop club grooves with more sophisticated arrangements, handled very well here by the production team of Reggie Lucas and James Mtume. Titles include the stormer "You Know How To Love Me", plus "Some Way", "Under Your Spell", "But I Love You", and "Give A Little More". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available You Know How To Love Me (Japanese paper sleeve edition) ... CD 24.99(Includes the lyric sleeve.)
82
Dramatics —
Any Time Any Place ... LP ABC, 1979. Very Good ... Just Sold Out!
One of the excellent recordings made by The Dramatics at ABC – great group soul gems that are sometimes overlooked because they didn't yield as many hits as earlier sets – but which are stellar records nonetheless! This one's got all the right elements firmly in place – killer production by Don Davis, and smooth but real harmonies from LJ Reynolds, Ron Banks, and the rest of the group. There's a few tracks that hit a smooth sort of groove that might be tagged as "disco" – but which is really just an extension of the super-dope mode that the group used in earlier years – and which has a lot more to offer than just a cheap dancefloor cash in. Titles include "Life Is Just A Playground", "Love Birds", "A Marriage On Paper Only", "I'm Hooked On You", "That's My Favorite Song", "I Think About You", and "I Just Wanna Dance With You". LP, Vinyl record album
(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has some wear.)
83
Donna Summer —
Love To Love You Baby ... LP Casablanca, 1975. Very Good ... $5.99
One of the first great moments of the Munich disco scene of the 70s – an electric batch of soul served up in support of Donna Summer's landmark title hit! The set features the full 16 minute version of "Love To Love You Baby" – done as a monumental suite that dips, turns, slinks, and slides alongside Summer's sexy vocals beautifully. As with that track, Giorgio Moroder arranged the others on the set as well – along with tunes in more of a straightforward soul approach for the time. In retrospect, that was a totally brilliant approach – trailblazing on one hand, and saleable to the mainstream on the other! Other titles include "Need A Man Blues", "Full Of Emptiness", "Whispering Waves" and "Pandora's Box". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has moderate ring and edge wear.)
84
Bohannon —
Insides Out ... LP Dakar, 1974. Very Good ... Just Sold Out!
A wonderful early record from Bohannon – and with a very different feel than usual! Although most of Bohannon's work from the time is up-tempo and funky, side two of this album has some amazing slow spacey cuts – done with a drum sound that's still quite hard, but just slower than usual, in a style that creates some nice stepping grooves that are augmented by some wild off-beat, out-of-tune piano work! Sounds like it shouldn't work, but it does – and the ultimate moment on the album is the amazing "Thoughts And Wishes", a cool instrumental that's been a major steppers track in Chicago for years. Side one is more in the usual Bohannon funk mode – and tracks on the album include "Disco Stomp", "Foot Stompin Music", "Love Is Fading", and "Happy Feeling". LP, Vinyl record album
85
Santa Esmeralda 2 —
House Of The Rising Sun ... LP Casablanca, 1978. Near Mint- ... $4.99
A compelling mix of styles from Santa Esmeralda – a group not only known for their Latin-inflected disco rhythms, but also for their cool talent of reworking 60s oldies for a 70s dancefloor! Jimmy Goings served up some soulful vocals amidst the fuller backings of the tunes – which include not only some soaring string arrangements, but also some key use of acoustic guitar – bringing a bit of a Chicano soul feel into the cuts. Titles include "The House Of The Rising Sun", "Quasimoto Suite", "Dance You Down Tonight", and "Hey Gip". LP, Vinyl record album
(Promo. Cover has a promo stamp, some tape and peeling at the spine, and small sticker on back. Labels have a small sticker.)
86
Eddie Kendricks —
Vintage 78 ... LP Arista, 1978. Near Mint- ... $4.99
Eddie Kendricks, vintage 1978 – and still very much in the great grooving mode he brought to his earlier solo material for Motown! Even in this giant dancefloor generation, Eddie's got something very special and unique – a voice that can still sound as heartbreaking on a groover as it can on a ballad – and which has a way of linking an earlier generation of fragile male soul vocals with a new sense of 70s masculinity – of which Kendricks was one of the leading lights in soul! There's moments here that might well match some of the best late 70s work by artists like Marvin Gaye or Leroy Hutson – and the strong arrangements are by Andrew Louis Smith – a name we don't really know at all, but who should be thanked for helping the record avoid any disco cliches. Titles include "How's Your Love Life Baby", "One Of The Poorest People", "Love Love Love", "The Best Of Strangers Now", "Don't Underestimate The Power Of Love", "Ain't No Smoke Without A Fire" and "Maybe I'm A Fool To Love You". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Vintage 78 ... CD 13.99(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has a cut corner.)
87
Bohannon —
Summertime Groove ... LP Mercury, 1978. Very Good ... $5.99
One of the biggest and best albums ever for Hamilton Bohannon – filled with quirky rhythms and really unusual grooves! Bohannon was one of the key forces in setting the scene for disco invy 70s – and by the time the rest of the country was hitting the dancefloor in the middle part of decade, he was still moving forward, into a whole new realm of groove! The tracks on this set have some really mad rhythms – skittish and scattered, still with a dancefloor approach, but with lots of odd touches that set them apart from the rest of the pack. A key example of this is the great tune "Me & The Gang", which has this off-key piano loping out over chunky beats – but the whole thing's great, with a lot more of a sly edge than you'd expect from the cover. Titles include "Summertime Groove", "The Street Dance", "Let's Start The Dance", "Listen To The Children Play", and "I Wonder Why". LP, Vinyl record album
88
Carrie Lucas —
Portrait Of Carrie ... LP Solar, 1980. Very Good ... $1.99
Smooth disco grooving from Carrie Lucas – surprisingly soulful stuff, and handled with some wonderfully tight production by Dick Griffey, the genius behind the sound of Solar at the end of the 70s! Carrie's really moving past the cliches of earlier work here – stepping into a solid blend of pop, soul, and club. Titles include "Keep Smilin", "It's Not What You Got", "Lovin Is On My Mind", and "Use It Or Lose It" – plus "Just A Memory", which is a duet with the Whispers. LP, Vinyl record album
89
Brides Of Funkenstein —
Funk Or Walk ... LP Atlantic, 1978. Very Good ... $9.99
A funky female duo from the P-Funk empire – one of George Clinton's few girl-based projects of the 70s, and a group who are markedly more funk-based than Parlet! Vocals are by the duo of Lyn Mabry and Dawn Silva – but the main sound of the set comes from the tightly crafted rhythms served up by a cast of well-known P-Funk regulars – all hitting a spaciously snapping vibe that reminds us a lot of the best energy of late 70s Parliament albums on Casablanca! Tracks are longish, but nicely focused – with less of the disco that you might expect, and more of a slow-stepping groove overall! Titles include "Disco To Go", "Just Like You", "When You're Gone", "Nappy", and "Birdie". LP, Vinyl record album
90
Teddy Pendergrass —
Life Is A Song Worth Singing ... LP Philadelphia International, 1978. Very Good+ ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Sublime solo material from the great Teddy Pendergrass – the kind of record that instantly proves that his departure from Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes was a great idea, as the man alone is even more of a power to be reckoned with! The set's a cornerstone in that great second wave of Philly soul from Gamble & Huff – that point when the rest of the world was picking up on the disco grooves they forged earlier in the 70s, and they went for a more adult, more sophisticated style with singers like Teddy, Jean Carn, Phyllis Hyman, and others. The whole thing's perfect – and nicely balances between mellow moments and groovers – with gems that include the always-great "Close The Door", the massive "When Somebody Loves You Back", and other cuts that include "Get Up Get Down Get Funky Get Loose", "Life Is A Song Worth Singing", "Cold Cold World", and "It Don't Hurt Now". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Life Is A Song Worth Singing ... CD 13.99(Includes the printed inner sleeve.)
91
Bohannon —
Cut Loose ... LP Mercury, 1979. Very Good+ ... $3.99
A great set of clubby tunes from Bohannon – a bit discoey, to be sure, but still with plenty of the odd rhythms and odd touches of his earlier work! The tracks here are all long and chunky – made up of strutting drum bits that are far from conventional, often topped by oddly riffing guitar that percolates in the tunes with a rough-edged quality that's far from mainstream disco. A few cuts feature bits of keyboards too, and some weird processing on the vocals – but the main groove here is really from the interplay of beats, bass, and guitar! Titles include "Cut Loose", "The Beat (part 2)", "Mighty Groovy", "At Night Fall", and "That's The Way It Goes" – all tremendous work even for a major label effort! LP, Vinyl record album
92
Earth Wind & Fire —
Raise! ... LP Columbia, 1981. Very Good Gatefold ... $3.99
Earth Wind & Fire hits the 80s – and never misses a beat! Turns out that the group's older style of jazzy funk was a perfect fit for the boogie-styled rhythms of the post-disco era – heard here on the megahit "Let's Groove", and followed up by a beautiful batch of supporting numbers! There's styles here that other groups were starting to use at the time – keyboard flourishes and more electrified rhythms at the bottom – but throughout the whole set, Maurice White and the group handle themselves with trademark EWF class, and elevate even the simplest of tunes to a higher level. Another winner for the group, and the kind of record that most other groups could only hope to record once! Titles include "Kalimba Tree", "Evolution Orange", "Let's Groove", "The Changing Times", "Wanna Be With You", "I've Had Enough", and "Lady Sun". LP, Vinyl record album
Also available Raise! ... CD 1.99(Includes the printed inner sleeve. Cover has light wear.)
93
Enchantment —
Journey To The Land Of Enchantment ... LP Roadshow, 1979. Very Good ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Great grooves from Enchantment – a set that has the group very much in their dancefloor-oriented mode, but still singing with some incredibly warm harmonies throughout! The backings are a nice blend of late 70s disco elements and softer soul modes – just the right mix to let the group's nicely glowing quality come through strongly – that Enchantment style that was always a bit more subtle than some of the other late 70s soul groups, and which almost hearkened back at times to the earlier indie harmony scene of the start of the decade. Titles include "Love Melodies", "Oasis Of Love", "Journey", "Future Gonna Get You", "Magnetic Feel", "Anyway You Want It", and "Where Do We Go From Here". LP, Vinyl record album
(Canadian pressing.)
94
Montana —
Dance Fantasy Inspired By Close Encounters Of The Third Kind ... LP Atlantic, 1978. Very Good+ ... Temporarily Out Of Stock
Forget the hokey concept of this one, and dig the grooves! The record is a sublime batch of spacey disco cuts – played with more than a bit of funk in the mix, and some really solid Philly instrumentalizing, all directed by Vince Montana, who arranged, produced, and conducted the whole album! Titles include "Warp Factor II", "Love Star", "VM IV", and "It's Peaceful Out There" – plus the title track, which runs for all of side one! LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a cutout notch.)
95
Mike Theodore Orchestra —
Cosmic Wind ... LP Westbound/
Mike's come a long way from his early soul days with Dennis Coffey – working here to lay down a set of spacious disco tunes with a dreamy finish – really stretching out with the same sort of glide you'd find in the best Philly club at the time! The record's actually quite strong on the disco side of the spectrum – well-crafted work with a sound that's full and rich, but never cliched – definitely Theodore's moment to shine in the 70s, taking the torch from his old partner Coffey, who had his time in the sun a few years before! Titles include "Cosmic Wind", "The Bull", "Moon Trek", "Brazilian Lullaby", and "Belly Boogie". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a peeled spot on the spine, marker, and a cutout hole. Label has a sticker.)
96
Fantastic Four —
Got To Have Your Love ... LP Westbound, 1977. Very Good+ ... $5.99
Fantastic Four are a hell of a harmony group – and one who still hold strong through this second chapter of their career – by avoiding any of the cheaper cliches of some of the groups of the disco generation! Instead, the album focuses on their vocals first, and any sort of grooves second – which makes for some wonderful mellower cuts that really follow the spirit of some of the hippest 70s group soul from Chicago or the east coast – followed by a few upbeat tracks that get handling by Tom Moulton at Sigma Sound in Philly! The balance is great – almost more like some of the best group sides from a few years before, especially Blue Magic – and the ballads really take center stage, and blow us away with the group's deeper currents of soul. Titles include "Mixed Up Moods & Attitudes", "There's Fire Down Below", "I Got To Have Your Love", "She'll Be Right For Me", "Cash Money", and "Disco Pool Blues". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a gold promo stamp and a squiggle of marker in one corner.)
97
BT Express —
Non-Stop ... LP Roadshow, 1975. Very Good+ Gatefold ... $7.99
BT Express are speeding it up a bit from the first album – hitting more of a disco vein, as would be their due, since they were one of the key groups in inventing the genre! The core ensemble funk sound is still firmly in place, with loads of great horns arranged by the enigmatic Carlos Ward, a jazzy talent who always brought a nice edge to the group's albums. Includes the tasty funk cut "Devil's Workshop", which has a similar feel to "Express" – plus the massive "Peace Pipe", a very catchy number that's always been a favorite in Chicago. Also includes "Discotizer", "Give It What You Got", "Whatcha Think About That?", and "Close To You". LP, Vinyl record album
98
Southroad Connection —
Ain't No Time To Sit Down ... LP United Artists, 1979. Sealed ... $14.99
A heavy bit of boogie from Southroad Connection – a large ensemble funk outfit with a warm and clubby style! The tracks on the set burn along in a nice late disco mode – with plenty of real instrumentation and small band rhythms at the bottom, but a polished groove overall that nicely offsets the party funk approach. There's lots of bass popping away as the whole group jams over the top, taking time out only to chill down for two ballad numbers on the record – and titles include "Gotta Keep Dancin", "In The Morning", "I Need To Love You", "Best Boogie In Town", and "Take Me Back For More". LP, Vinyl record album
(Cover has a cutout hole.)
99
Saucy Lady —
Supanova (colored vinyl pressing) ... LP Star Creature, 2019. New Copy Gatefold ... $16.99
Cosmic club grooves on Star Creature from Saucy Lady! Supanova delivers on the space disco promised by the comic book style cover art, but goes beyond that too, with some nice nods to spacey 70s fusion, some great cosmic keyboards, b-boy funk beats courtesy of J-Zone, sax by Tomoki Sanders (the son of Pharoah Sanders) and other diverse touches. None of that overshadows Saucy Lady's voice though, as she gives this a soulful depth, even some jazzy passage when the mood calls for it. Titles include "Lift Off", "You're Special", "Orion-Tation", "Rocket Science", "Calling Jupiter", "Alien Nation", "Litter Of Moon Kittens", "Orbit" and "Universal Vision". LP, Vinyl record album
(Limited edition!)
100
Various —
Life & Death On The New York Dance Floor – 1980 to 1983 – Part 2 ... LP Reappearing, Early 80s. New Copy 2LP ... $28.99
A fantastic companion to the book of the same name by author Tim Lawrence – the excellent Life & Death On The New York Dance Floor – which explores all the cool strands of funky punk, avant rock, and arty grooves that exploded on the New York scene after the decline of disco! Some of this work might fall into the post-disco side of the spectrum, other cuts are maybe a bit more post-punk – and together, they represent a really fantastic wellspring of new creativity – at levels that were years ahead of their time! Titles on this second volume include "Vena Cava" by John Robie, "Contort Yourself (August Darnell mix)" by James White & The Blacks, "Love Tempo (Mark Kamins mix)" by Quando Quango, "Din Daa Daa (Trommeltanz)" by George Kranz, "Pop Your Funk (inst 7" b-side mix)" by Loose Joints, "Bustin Out (long version)" by Material, "Don't Make Me Wait (ext)" by Peech Boys, and "Rapper Dapper Snapper" by Edwin Birdsong. LP, Vinyl record album
