Popular

Here are a few popular tracks in cased you missed them the first time around:

Roni Griffith - Spys
Jean Wells - I Just Can't Stop Dancing
That Thing - That Thing
Billy Paul - False Faces

Visual - The Music Got Me

This track is one of my favorites. Synth bass lines don't get much better than this.

Visual was Boyd Jarvis and Timmy Regisford. They put out a handful of songs under that name and this one was on Prelude records in 1983. Mr. Jarvis still puts out some great music from time to time. Mr. Regisford is the dj and owner at Club Shelter in New York and can't seem to stop putting out great music on his Restricted Access label.

This is the instrumental version mixed by Tony Humphries.


The Music Got Me

Viola Wills - Gonna Get Along Without You Now

This is one for the prance-theon. Sugar Hill Records from 1979. I had this 12" for a long time before I realized how brilliant it is. Check out the cheap effects during the break.

Gonna Get ALong Without You Now

Evelyn "Champagne" King - I Don't Know If It's Right

Evelyn "Champagne" King had a monster hit with Shame. A few of her other tracks are quite good, too. I Don't Know If It's Right is from 1977 on RCA. This is a re-edit I did of the "Disco Mix."

I Don't Know If It's Right (SMD Re-Edit)

Hi-Tension - Hi-Tension

This is Hi-Tension by Hi-Tension from their debut LP Hi-Tension. Ha!

The lead vocalist here is David Joseph who is responsible for one of the finer dancefloor tracks I know: You Can't Hide (Your Love From Me).

This is a fun track with a nice, psychedelic break.

Hi-Tension

Cloud One - Charleston Hopscotch

Absolute Mini-Moog insanity from Patrick Adams and Peter Brown, the brains behind P&P Records. Brilliant music and a great label design (above).

Charleston Hopscotch

Empire - Freakman

Back from a small hiatus. In addition to being a good song, this 12" was pressed on white vinyl which is cool. I don't think "Empire" actually released anything else. Someone named Penny is the signer. She wants a Freakman.

This came out in 1981 on Quality Records. It's a "Levi Jack Bogie Mix." Nuff said.

Freakman

Venus Dodson - Where Are We Headed

Venus Dodson appeared frequently as a vocalist on Patrick Adams-led records. This track is the b-side of the Night Rider 12" from her LP of the same name. It was released in 1979.

Where Are We Headed was written and produced by Leroy Burgess and you can hear him singing in the background. LB was part of Black Ivory, Phreek, The Fantastic Aleems, Convertion, and had many great solo projects. Google him.

Watch out - this one's catchy.

Where Are We Headed

Inner Life - (Knock Out) Let's Go Another Round

Yet another Tee Scott mix - this time he stretches a seven and a half minute track to a whopping eleven and a half minutes. This track has a wicked bass sound and some good moog effects which I'm going to guess are care of co-producer Greg Carmichael of Bumblebee Unlimited fame.

Released in 1981 on Salsoul Records.

Towards the end, Jocelyn Brown lets you have it.

(Knock Out) Let's Go Another Round

First Choice - Breakaway

This is another Tee Scott mix, this time for the ladies of First Choice. His mix of FC's Love Thang is one of the finer disco tracks around. This one really starts to cook towards the end.

Released in 1980 on Salsoul Records.

Breakaway

Columbus Circle - If You Read My Mind

As far as I can tell, this 12" was Columbus Circle's only release. The song is mixed by Tee Scott (above) who was a New York DJ and producer. He did a lot of great remixes which are well worth seeking out. He tended to stretch songs out in his mixes -- this one clocks in at about eight and half minutes. For you short attention-span listeners, I'm also inlcuding the Suck My Disco Re-Edit.

This track has one heck of a bassline which comes in after the break (about 4 minutes in). It was released in 1982 on Elektra Records.

If You Read My Mind

Suck My Disco Re-edit

Cookie Watkins - I'm Attracted To You

Some thumpin' early 90's house for you. I have this as a bootleg, so I don't know if this is the original or a remix. The original is from 1991 on Smash Records.

Apparently, Mme. Watkins had a Broadway career.
I'm Attracted To You

Disco Dub Band - For The Love of Money

This song friggin' kills me its so good. This is a Danny Krivit re-edit of a 1975 cover of an O'Jays song (penned by the inexhaustible Gamble & Huff). Who are the Disco Dub Band? I have no clue.

Until recently this song topped my "I heard it at a club but I don't what it's called" list. It took me a few years to figure out what it was. On the bootleg release I have it's simply called Disco Dub. Not to be confused with a disco dump.

For The Love Of Money

Aretha Franklin - Love Me Right

This is a great song from Aretha's 1982 album Jump To It. The key ingredient here is the songwriting, production, and back-up vocals of Luther Vandross. The photo above is of Aretha singing at Luther's funeral. Thanks to my friends at Double Headed Disco for turning me on to this record.

This is the LP version from the 1982 Arista release.

"My friends can see that your shady, you don't treat me like a lady..."

Love Me Right

Barry White - Your Sweetness Is My Weakness

Like many people, I really only knew of Barry White as a Simpson's character until his death a few years ago when I started to pay attention to his music. The man's no joke.

Your Sweetness Is My Weakness is a prime example of his songwriting and producing prowess. Barry was not afraid of a full string and horn section and he makes use of them quite adeptly. And, yes, a whole lot of cowbell.

This was released in 1978 on 20th Century Fox Records.

(House music producer Quentin Harris extensively samples YSIMW here.)

Your Sweetness Is My Weakness

Lorraine Johnson - The More I Get, The More I Want

The more well-known version of this track is Teddy Pendergrass' smoking rendition from his self-titled solo debut on Philadelphia International Records. This version is from an unlabeled bootleg pressing, but I'm pretty sure
google and www.discogs.com have led me to the correct artist info. It seems Ms. Johnson released her version the same year as Teddy and she gives him a run for his money. The lyrics actually sound a lot dirtier coming from her. You go, Lorraine!

This is from 1977 on Prelude Records.

The More I Get, The More I Want

Chantal Curtis - Hit Man

This track has endured as a club staple in New York and it is really is a gift that keeps on giving. Hit Man was actually recorded in France in 1979 on Trema Records. According to my bootleg copy, this version is a Tom Moulton edit.

Watch out for some wicked harmonica playing.

Hit Man

Roundtree - Hit On You

This song is hot, hot, hot. Roundtree doesn't appear to have put out very much music which is a shame. This is a rare guitar-driven dance music track which - as my friend Shawn would say - pumps.

This a re-edit by the Idjust Boys of the original 1982 Tony Humphries mix. Mr. Humphries (pictured above) was the DJ at a club called Zanzibar in Newark. The Azuli Records "Choice" compilation of Zanzibar classics which he put together is fantastic.

This track originally came out on Brooklyn's own Aria Records. The Idjut Boys re-edit was relased in 2003 on Discfunction Records.

Listen to Tony Humphrie's "Choice" compilation here.

Hit On You (Version Idjut)

Satin Dream - Stay Away From My Lover

I don't know much about this one except that it's a fun little track. There's a nasty break about three minutes in that I quite enjoy. This is on Brunswick Records from 1981.

By the way, stay away from her lover.

Stay Away From My Lover

The It - Donnie (Hardy Mix)

The house music that was produced in Chicago in the early eighties is really unique. Sticking to a very limited set of sounds produced by an array of Roland drum machines and synths, a small group of producers created a completely unique style which still sounds remarkably fresh. A lot of the today's best hip hop production borrows heavily the Chicago house sound.

One of the main outlets for the music was a club called the Music Box where the DJ was Ron Hardy (pictured above). The song Donnie -- put together by Larry Heard, Robert Owens, and Chip E. (aka The It) -- came out in 1986 on DJ International Records. This version is the Ron Hardy mix.

This track blows my mind -- hopefully it gives a sense of how radical these guys were/are.

Donnie (Hardy Mix)

Inner City Jam Band - What I Did For Love (Moxie Re-edit)

Re-editing disco songs is nothing new. The version of MFSB's Love Is The Message that's been danced to in clubs for the last thirty years is a re-edit based on the instrumental coda of the somewhat cheesy original full-length version.

These days, anyone with ProTools and a dream can re-edit songs. As a practioner of that artform, I can attest that it's quite fun. That doesn't mean the results are always great, though. I've heard quite a few clunky edits in my years of record shopping.

Moxie is a record label that only releases re-edits and the results are usually pretty great. They don't provide the original song info, so it took a chance listen at record store for me to learn that this track was the Inner City Jam Band. The re-edit is fantastic and really just snips out the boring parts of the original.

What I Did For Love is originally from 1977 (on Bareback Records, ok) and was written by Marvin Hamlish!

Listen to more of the Moxie catalog here.

What I Did For Love (Moxie Re-edit)

That Thing - That Thing

This song's a bit nutty. That Thing by That Thing. AVI Records from 1978. This is the "American Version" (the B-side is the European Version (?)). It's actually a pretty great use of synthesizers - very hypnotic and Patrick Cowley-esque. Might be tough to dance to though...

That Thing

Barbara Mason - Let Me Give You Love

I like everything I've heard by Barbara Mason. Her track Another Man on West End Records is a low-frequency classic.

This song is from 1981 and is written by Butch and James Ingram and produced by Butch. The production is great - there are lots of little fun tricks as the song progresses. Listen for the echo on the vocals at towards the end.

Let Me Give You Love

Wish - Nice and Soft

Nice and Soft is produced by Greg Carmichael who was a frequent collaborator of Patrick Adams. Together, they were the brains behind Bumblebee Unlimited (a completely insane group who sped up their voices and made buzzing noises on all their songs).

This track was mixed by John Morales, another frequent collaborator, and features vocals by LaRita Gaskin. It's from 1981 on Perspective Records. This is the "Uptown Version."

This one's for all the shady photographers out there...

Nice and Soft

Loleatta Holloway - Mama Don't, Papa Won't

Don't even think about messing with Loleatta Holloway. One of the signature voices of disco, Ms. Holloway has been around since the early days and continues to be active today. In my humble opinion, the Walter Gibbons remix of her track Hit and Run is one of the most ferocious vocal performances in pop music.

This track from 1978 gives a good sense of what Loleatta's capable of. The breakdown towards the end is some qintessential Loleatta testifying. Norman Harris is the producer on this Gold Mind release from 1978. This version is the "Special Remix For Discos."

Mama Don't, Papa Won't

Gwen Guthrie - Hopscotch

Gwen Guthrie had a knack for choosing good talent to produce her records. Hopscotch was produced by reggae artists Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare for the Portrait LP on Island Records. Someone had the swell idea to ask Larry Levan to remix a few tracks from Portait, including Hopscotch, and the result was an EP entitled Padlock. Both records came out in 1983.

In case you're new to this stuff, Larry Levan was one of the most influential djs in dance music. In addition, he was one of the finest remixers in the land. Below, you'll find the original LP and Larry Levan remix versions of Hopscotch. They're fun to compare.

All the Padlock remixes are fantastic, so get your hands on it if possible. Not surprisngly, the kids in Japan were smart enough to put out a CD of Padlock with bonus tracks.

Hopscotch
Hopscotch (Larry Levan Remix)

Pam Todd - Baisez-Moi [Kiss Me]

Break fetishists beware. There's a cowbell drenched breakdown about three and a half minutes in on this track that will leave you reeling. Pam Todd's more well known song is Let's Get Together and it's well worth seeking out.

Baisez-Moi is from 1978 and has some tres dramatic disco production. The mix is by Jimmy Simpson (who also mixed one of the Candi Staton tracks I posted).

Don't ask her why, don't ask her how, don't say a single word and kiss her right now. Okay?

Baisez-Moi [Kiss Me]

Hotluv - You Do It Right

This fun little ditty is on a Salsoul Records 12" released in 1984. As far as I can tell, the Hotluv organization produced no other music. The singer's name is Connie Harvey and she appears on quite a few house and disco projects.

Salsoul was probably the largest of the New York disco labels. Their catalogue has been given the most professional re-release treatment of all the disco labels. Check out the offerings at: http://www.sussd.com/salsoul.html

You Do It Right

Loose Change - Straight From The Heart

This one's a personal favorite.

Loose Change was a one-off Tom Moulton (above) project for Casablanca Records from 1979. Thor Baldursson is credited as arranger and conductor. Thor worked with Giorgio Moroder and Donna Summer.

I don't know who the ladies are doing the singing, but they're not messing around.

Straight From The Heart

Billy Paul - False Faces

Philadelphia International Records was that city's answer to Motown. The songwriting and producing team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff churned out a ridiculous amount of great music for the label, including this track sung by Billy Paul. This is the "Special Disco Version" from the 1979 LP First Class.

You can listen to more Gamble and Huff here.

False Faces

Crown Heights Affair

In addition to knowing how to dress, these cats knew how to produce a record. And, Crown Heights Affair is one of the best band-names ever.

These are two tracks from their LP Sure Shot. The entire record is great, so check it out if you like these. Crown Heights Affair were on De-Lite Records, the same label as Kool & The Gang. Kool and his boys may have stolen the limelight from these guys, but I prefer CHA.

If this doesn't get you groovin' in your cubicle, I don't know wat will...

I Don't Want To Change You
You Gave Me Love

Indeep - The Night The Boy Learned How To Dance

As the above image clearly shows, Indeep straddled a very fine line between awful and hot. The Casio drum sounds, the monotone vocal delivery, the plodding bass lines -- it all just shouldn't add up.

But it does. I love Indeep. They probably all own islands in Greece now off of the royalties of their one hit, Last Night A DJ Saved My Life. This track follows a similar pattern with the female vocal followed by a goofy rap. It's from 1984 on Becket records.

For a giggle check out these Amazon customer reviews.

The Night The Boy Learned How To Dance

Serious Intention - Serious Dub

This track is more house than disco, but I don't foresee any complaints. Serious Intention's best known song is You Don't Know and if you don't know it - run and go find it.

Serious Dub is the b-side of the 12" for a song called Serious. It's from 1986 on Pow Wow Records. Paul Simpson is the brains behind this operation and he's done some fantastic mixes for other groups. I'll post another of his mixes soon.

When these guys say dub, they mean it. The intro vocal is pretty unfortunate, but trust me - keep listening.

Serious Dubr

Gayle Adams - Your Love Is A Life Saver

This track has a lot of elements that are pretty brilliant. Released on the mighty Prelude Records in 1980, this is the "Special Disco Mix by Francois K." The moment after the break when the horns and strings come back in always makes me want to wet myself. And the synth bass is just about perfect.

Gayle Adams has a few great songs including Love Fever which features a bowel-rattling bass line. Francois Kervorkian has had a remarkable career and you're pretty safe buying any track that has his name on it. He was one of three DJ's at New York's Body & Soul party. If you were lucky enough to be at the recent reunion party, you know why I dig him.

A music nerd observation: I noticed that this track suffered a lot in the transfer to mp3. I ripped this from a 12" which sounds great and the AIFF file (which is CD quality) sounds pretty darn good. I just sounds a bit squooshed as an mp3. I guess that's why they call it "compression."

Your Love Is A Life Saver

Jean Wells - I Just Can't Stop Dancing

I don't know much about Jean Wells, except that she has quite a set of pipes.

This "Disco Version" is from 1979 on a Philadelphia-based label called TEC Records. I think I bought this for a dollar and the sound quality's a bit rustic as a result.

Minutes 3 through 5 are pretty much just drums and vocals and it's a hot effect. I cannot be held responsible for any prancing that may result from listening to the background vocals.

I Just Can't Stop Dancing

Roni Griffith - Spys

This track just about knocked my knickers off the first time I heard it. It's a little bit Kraftwerk, a little bit Moroder, and a lot bit poorly spelled.

This version is the B-side of (The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up on Vanguard Records from 1982. Bobby Orlando, aka Bobby O, wrote and mixed it.

Get into the lyrics.

Spys

Tamiko Jones - Let It Flow

I only know one other Tamiko Jones track, Can't Live Without Your Love, which is included on The Loft, Vol.2 compilation (which is currently selling for $150 on amazon.com!). Let It Flow is completely different, but they're both really unique songs. Definitely late night jams.

Ms. Jones produced this track from 1976 for the T.K Disco label and it's "A Tom Moulton Mix." Tom Moulton, like Patrick Adams (discussed in previous post), is a giant in disco production. Many of his mixes were included on a recently-released compilation on Soul Jazz records entitled, aptly enough, A Tom Moulton Mix.

Oh, I know I said I really like the synth at the end of When You Wake Up Tomorrow - well, I REALLY like the synth part at the end of this one...

Let It Flow

Candi Staton - When You Wake Up Tomorrow

Candi Staton has experienced a resurgence in popularity in recent years thanks to a really good record produced by Will Oldham and re-issues of her soul music from the 60's and early 70's. This track is from 1979 and is produced and co-written by Patrick Adams. (The band is ingeniously credited as the PA Sound System.) Patrick Adams has also received his fair share of attention recently thanks to slew of reissues from his P&P Records label. The really cool kids have always liked him because he was the engineer on Eric B. and Rakim's Paid In Full.

This version of When You Wake Up Tomorrow is the "Disco Mix by Jimmy Simpson" (brother of Val) and it's really friggin' good. I especially like the synth part towards the end.

For those of you thinking: yeah, that's cute, but I know this track - I'm including a more obscure Staton track from 1982 on Sugarhill Records called Love And Be Free which (in addition to being great advice!) is a zippy little track with a wicked 80's guitar part.

When You Wake Up Tomorrow

Love And Be Free