Disco 2:
Various Artists:
Soul Jazz Records:
2xCD/4xLP:
Out Now:
★★★★★★★½☆☆☆
Recent waves of disco compilations have concentrated mainly on corporate enterprises and major labels, as well as key producers and remixers. All very fascinating, but what of the smaller fry? Disco 2 (yes, the sequel to Disco) focuses on a 'further fine selection of independent disco, boogie' from the golden age of 1976 to 1980. I can't argue with that strap-line, chiefly because this is a selection of woefully rare 12" and album tracks from back in the day and is indeed rather fine.
Culled from the small and in some cases one-off catalogues of T.K. Disco, Free Spirit (a Salsoul sub-label), OTB Records and many more, Disco 2 explores the deeper recesses of backstreet boogaloo, downtown disco and sidewalk shuffle from American neighbourhoods and cities such as Atlanta, New York, New Jersey, Miami and the like by way of brassy funk (Stevo's Pay The Price), peppy boogie (High Frequency's Summertime) and string-driven disco (Dunn Pearson's dreamy Groove On Down).
Ambiguous names you've heard of and will never hear of again include Mad Dog Fire Department, Cream De Coco, Ripple (who delivered an album of fusion for GRP Records) and Anita Maldonado who stretches the simplest of song titles (What Can I Do To Make You Dance) across sixteen minutes-plus of frenetic boogie-oogie that wouldn't have sounded out of place soundtracking a disco scene in a Quinn Martin crime drama or Columbo at best. I Feel Love it isn't, 'game' though it is.
Percussive influences permeate much of disc 2 - African overtones abound on Timmy Thomas's seriously funky Africano as well as the slapbassgasm that is Freestyle from Montego Joe, both topped off with barrel-loads of bongos and chants. The former was surely a blueprint for early ACR, ESG and Allez Allez records.
Informative sleeve-notes give you something to ogle whilst resting those weary dancing feet. Another winner from Soul Jazz.
Various Artists:
Soul Jazz Records:
2xCD/4xLP:
Out Now:
★★★★★★★½☆☆☆
Culled from the small and in some cases one-off catalogues of T.K. Disco, Free Spirit (a Salsoul sub-label), OTB Records and many more, Disco 2 explores the deeper recesses of backstreet boogaloo, downtown disco and sidewalk shuffle from American neighbourhoods and cities such as Atlanta, New York, New Jersey, Miami and the like by way of brassy funk (Stevo's Pay The Price), peppy boogie (High Frequency's Summertime) and string-driven disco (Dunn Pearson's dreamy Groove On Down).
Ambiguous names you've heard of and will never hear of again include Mad Dog Fire Department, Cream De Coco, Ripple (who delivered an album of fusion for GRP Records) and Anita Maldonado who stretches the simplest of song titles (What Can I Do To Make You Dance) across sixteen minutes-plus of frenetic boogie-oogie that wouldn't have sounded out of place soundtracking a disco scene in a Quinn Martin crime drama or Columbo at best. I Feel Love it isn't, 'game' though it is.
Percussive influences permeate much of disc 2 - African overtones abound on Timmy Thomas's seriously funky Africano as well as the slapbassgasm that is Freestyle from Montego Joe, both topped off with barrel-loads of bongos and chants. The former was surely a blueprint for early ACR, ESG and Allez Allez records.
Informative sleeve-notes give you something to ogle whilst resting those weary dancing feet. Another winner from Soul Jazz.