DISCO/BOOGIE/NU-DISCO

Right, some people love disco, some people hate disco. I think I used to be a bit of a disco hater, purely because I’ve been torturously subjected to the same old commercial disco records, time and time again, at parties and weddings. Come on, you know what I mean… pissed up individuals that know nothing about music, can’t dance and “just want to hear something they know” (coz it makes them feel safe and secure in their own little comfort zones). It’s like a bad disco 'Groundhog Day' moment that never seems to go away. The main culprits are; The Jacksons – 'Blame It On The Boogie', Abba – 'Dancing Queen', The Bee Gees – 'Stayin’ Alive', The Village People – 'YMCA', Rose Royce – 'Car Wash', Gloria Gaynor - 'I Will Survive', Chaka Khan – 'I’m Every Woman'… need I go on. (If I’ve missed anything, please tell me).

Thus, I can partially understand why US shock jock, Steve Dahl, orchestrated a very public demonstration against disco in 1979 (now known as The Day Disco Died) – but clearly Dahl took it to extremes… an act more akin to something you’d expect to see in Nazi Germany in the late 1930’s and early 40’s Vs America in the 1970’s.

Steve Dahl’s Disco Demolition – The Day Disco Died



Now, I’ve been thinking about this a lot recently… was it that Dahl was demonstrating against the commercial marketing of shit disco (at the expense of other forms of music) or was it that Dahl just didn’t know any hot disco records? Whatever the story, as a Knight of The Round Tables, I aim to prove that there are some amazing disco records out there and hopefully convert a few of you non-believers. In fact, right now we’re in the middle of a Nu Disco explosion, with some really exciting music floating around (and a f*ck load of dance floor re-edits). Feel free to take a peek in the Disco/Boogie/Nu–Disco section.

Oh, and by the way… next time you hit the floor, please bring these moves to the party;

SUBWAY - 'Simplex' (Gatto Fritto Mix)

Boomp3.com
Artist: Subway
Track: Simplex (Gatto Fritto mix)
Label: Soul Jazz Records
Catalog#: SJR 182-12
Format: Vinyl, 12”
Released: 2008
Country: UK
Credits: Written and Produced by Alex James and Michael Kirkman.

Killer Nu Disco bomb fusing Ital/New York Disco with Detroit Techno and Krautrock in a DFA style! Gatto Fritto delivers a sublime mix, which undulates and moves all over the place. Catchy handclaps and top live guitars.

SLIGHT DELAY – ‘Sufi Surfer’

Boomp3.com
Artist: ?
Track: ?
Label: Rong Music
Catalog#: RPR 22
Format: Vinyl, 12” – 4 track
Country: US
Released: 2008
Credits:

Not sure who or what this track is an edit of... but it’s definitely in that Grace Jones meets Sly & Robbie vibe. If anyone has any information about this tune, please share it with me.

PUNKIN’ MACHINE – ‘I need You Tonight’

Boomp3.com
Artist: Punkin’ Machine
Track: I Need You Tonight (H-Track edit)
Label: H-Track
Catalog#: H-Track 1
Format: Vinyl, 12”
Country: US
Released: 2008
Credits: Hugh Herrera Edit.

Originally released on J.C. Records in 1981, this is a classy touching up of Punkin Machine's 'I Need You Tonight' (which was included on James Murphy and Pat Mahoney’s now-legendary Fabric compilation). Big, big tune.. just in case you missed it!

TONY ORLANDO – ‘Don’t Let Go’

Boomp3.com
Artist: Tony Orlando
Track: Don’t Let Go (Pete Herbert Edit)
Label: Disco Deviance
Catalog#: DD04
Format: Vinyl, 12”
Country: UK
Released: 2008
Credits: PH Edit (The original was written by Jesse Stone and Produced by Jerry Wexler & Barry Beckett)

Originally released on Elektra Records in 1978, this was Tony Orlando’s take on the disco sound and with its lush strings and mellow instrumentation is a top slab of lesser known Disco history. Check: www.tonyorlandoonline.com


I very rarely say this about re-edits, but Pete Herbert’s mix keeps ‘Don’t Let Go’ totally dancefloor for 2008 – and in my humble opinion – is stronger and deeper than the original as it’s slightly ‘de-cheesed’. For those who don’t know Pete Herbert, he’s a bit of a disco don who goes under the guises Reverso 68 and LSB and is one of the former owners of the legendary Atlas Records, Soho, London. Atlas was the friendliest and most-cutting edge record shop in the land, until the fuckers from Westminster City Council doubled the rent, forcing its closure.

CLOUD ONE – ‘Patty Duke’

Boomp3.com
Artist: Cloud One
Track: Patty Duke (instrumental)
Label: Sound of New York, USA
Catalog#: 703
Format: Vinyl, 12”
Country: US
Released: 2008 (reissue)
Credits: Written by Peter Brown

Nice spaced-out, slo-mo disco from the likes of Peter Brown and Patrick Adams, both producers in the late 1970’s disco scene that unwittingly (like so many) helped give birth to the rise of hip-hop. Back in the day, before the likes of Run DMC and The Beastie Boys, rappers would rock the mic over an instrumental track, usually the B-Side of a disco single (with an extended version). Cloud One by Patty Duke was a popular tracks to use, rapped on by the likes of Spoonie Gee, Scoopie and Family. Check it.

GRACE JONES - 'Private Life'

Boomp3.com
Artist: Grace Jones
Track: Private Life (Long Version)
Label: Island
Catalog#: 12W1P 6629
Format: Vinyl, 12”
Released: 1980
Country: US
Credits: Produced by Chris Blackwell and Alex Sadkin with legends Sly and Robbie on bass/drums.

‘Private Life’ was originally written by Chrissie Hynde and included on The Pretenders' self-titled 1979 debut album. The following year, the track was covered by Grace Jones on her first post-disco album, Warm Leatherette. In the liner notes to Island Records' 1998 compilation, Private Life: The Compass Point Sessions, Hynde is quoted as saying; “Like all the other London punks, I wanted to do reggae, and I wrote Private Life. When I first heard Grace's version I thought, now that's how it's supposed to sound!” Private Life marked a new era in Jones' career as she left her disco persona behind her and began exploring genres like reggae and rock, combined with an entirely different image. The original video for 'Private Life' presented the famous Grace Jones mask for the very first time.

GLASS CANDY - 'Miss Broadway'

Boomp3.com
Artist: Glass Candy
Track: Miss Broadway
Label: Italians Do It Better
Catalog#: TMU 190
Format: Vinyl, 12”
Released: 2007
Country: US
Credits:

Catchy slinky, disco slo-mo cover of the old Belle Epoque track. Great 1970’s-style production with seductive glitter ball vocals, big strings, all effortlessly propelled by a gentle italo synth pulse. Beautiful retro-looking disco bag. Clearly, Italians do ‘do it better’! Limited original edition of 500 copies. Limited repress edition of 1000 copies (released in January 2008). You need this record!

ANGELA - 'I Gotta Little Love'

Boomp3.com
Artist: Angela
Track: I gotta Little Love
Label: Disco Promozionale
Catalog#: DTA 123
Format: Vinyl, 12”, Unofficial Release
Released: 2008 (originally 1984)
Country: UK
Credits:

Wicked 12" featuring this highly sought after electronic disco obscurity, featuring catchy-sassy vocals from Angela Werner. Original copies go for big notes since David Mancuso played it at the Loft. Sounds so good, with top production, it could be mistaken for a contemporary release, trying to sound 80’s. "Dance, dance, dance behind me... dance, dance, dance inside me"... oooh.. saucy stuff!

GATTO FRITTO - 'Bursting The Bubble'

Boomp3.com
Artist: Gatto Fritto
Track: Bursting The Bubble
Label: Electric Minds
Catalog#: EMINDS003
Format: Vinyl, 12”
Released: 2008
Country: UK
Credits:

Top tronic-disco-boogie dance crasher that has all the hallmarks of the original disco sound, delivered for today’s dancefloors.