AA.VV. - Disco Discharge: Disco Fever Usa
2011 (Harmless/ demon)
disco music, underground disco
6.5
The series of delightful compilations from Harmless, digging up hidden and underground gems of Seventies disco music, continues. A year after the excellent remix compilation by Tom Moulton, we take a look at two solid double collections released a couple of months ago, curated by Alan Jones, one of the world's foremost experts on disco and dance music (he's the author of the celebrated book "Saturday Night Forever: The Story Of Disco"), who also took the time to write detailed liner notes for every booklet in this series of compilations.
"Disco Fever Usa" brings together 22 tracks of American disco music spanning from 1978 to 1984, all drawn strictly from now-rare 12" versions. The overall quality is good (by disco standards), though rather uneven. The standout highlights across these two CDs are undoubtedly the hypnotic disco of "Baby Let Me Kiss You" by Fern Kinney, the powerful "Holler" by John Davis & The Monster Orchestra, the minimal dance sound of Slick ("Space Bass", packed with electronic effects), the surprising THP Orchestra ("Two Hot For Love" nonchalantly blends a Tchaikovsky melody with unbridled boogie-woogie), and Paradise Express ("Dance", in full Cerrone-style euro-disco mode). Also solid are the tracks by Whitney Houston's mother (Cissy Houston with "You're The Fire"), the one by jazz singer Marlena Shaw ("Love Dancing"), and the Isaac Hayes-style soul of Teddy Pendergrass ("Life Is A Song Worth Singing", which rather recalls the Starsky & Hutch theme tune). The icing on the cake is the presence of Gloria Gaynor with a rare track taken from the soundtrack to "Nocturna" ("Love Is Just A Heartbeat Away"), and of the excellent soul singer Linda Clifford ("My Friends Could See Me Now").
The other artists featured are blander and less memorable (Boys Town Gang, Double Discovery, Area Code (212), Ultimate). All of these double collections are sold at mid-price.
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10/06/2011
This article is an English translation of the original Italian text by Leonardo Di Maio, published on OndaRock.it. It was translated with the help of artificial intelligence, under the editorial responsibility of OndaRock's editor-in-chief, Claudio Fabretti.
Tracklist
- Cd1
- 1. Fern Kinney - Baby Let Me Kiss You (Original Album Version)
- 1. Dennis Parker - Like An Eagle (Original 12" Mix)
- 2. Richard T Bear - Sunshine Hotel (Original 12" Mix)
- 3. THP Orchestra - Two Hot For Love (Original 12" Mix)
- 5. Claudja Barry - Why Must A Girl Like Me (Tom Moulton Album Version)
- 6. Cissy Houston - You're The Fire (Original Album Version)
- 1. Marlena Shaw - Love Dancing (Original 12" Mix)
- 2. Earth Wind & Fire - Boogie Wonderland (Original 12" instrumental Mix)
- 9. John Davis & The Monster Orchestra - Holler (Original Album Version)
- 1. Slick - Space Bass (Original 12" Mix)
- 2. Chuck Cissel - Cisselin' Hot (Original 12" Mix)
- Cd2
- 1. Boys Town Gang - Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday (Original Album Version)
- 2. Teddy Pendergrass - Life Is A Song Worth Singing (Original Album Version)
- 3. Double Discovery - Step On Out (Original Album Version)
- 1. Celi Bee & The Buzzy Bunch - One Love (Original 12" Version)
- 2. Johnny Mathis - Begin The Beguine (Special Disco Version)
- 6. Area Code (212) - Duke's Train (Original Album Version)
- 1. Ultimate - Ritmo De Brazil (Original Album Version)
- 2. Paradise Express - Dance (Original 12" Mix)
- 3. Gloria Gaynor - Love Is Just A Heartbeat Away (Nocturna'a Theme) (Original Disco Mix from the soundtrack to Nocturna)
- 4. Linda Clifford - If My Friends Could See Me Now (Original 12" Mix)
- 5. Vicki Sue Robinson - Nighttime Fantasy (Original Disco Mix From the soundtrack to Nocturna)
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