Many thanks to the Feel Up massive for once again inviting me to do a mix – I’m really grateful. I grew up throughout the 70s listening to Disco music – it was the soundtrack of my youth. This mix is a mixture of classics I grew up listening to and tunes I got in to via the rare groove scene. I’m dedicating this mix to the FAITH crew, seeing as they are celebrating their 10th year this weekend. They do love their disco and they do put on some of the best parties. Big love to Sir Terry Farley and the rest of the gang.
*Dayo At The Disco*
Ice “Scorpion Flower”
Shalamar “Right Here In The Pocket”
Sarr Band “Double Action”
Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express “Whenever You’re Ready”
Mandre “Solar Flight [Opus 1]”
Jackey Beavers “Mr Bump Man Give Me A Hand [Pt. 2].
Carl Bean “I Was Born This Way
Eastside Connection “You’re So Right Me”
Michael Jackson “Burn This Disco Out”
Patti Boulaye “Dirty Ol’ Man”
Damon Harris “It’s Music”
Hi Tension “There’s A Reason”
Dynasty “Here I Am”
The Bad Girls “Too Through”
The Four Tops “I’m In A Different World”
General Johnson “Don't Walk Away”
The Fatback Band “Groovy Kind Of Day”
Joey Negro “Love Hangover [Joey Negro Luv 2 Dub]”
T/L Comment an’ ting:
--
1. Ice “Scorpion Flower”
Thumpin’ LP | Label: RCA | Year: 1977
A Raregroove classic. I’ve been going through an ICE phase lately. They recorded some quality LPs in the 70s. I’m really into this one again. Original French Disco music. Ice, of course, morphed into The Lafayette Afro Rock Band if memory serves.
2. Shalamar “Right Here In The Pocket”
S.O.L.A.R 12” | Year: 1979
This track has always occupied a very special place in my musical heart. It always takes me back to the days [Circa ‘79] when my parents started allowing me to go the disco i.e. high school parties/teen House parties; and this track was massive back then. Jody Watley kills it on vocals. I also love the cosmic leftfield slant to the track – not forgetting the tribal drum solo in the middle as well. Big tune. I was gutted when Shalamar – the original line-up – split up in the mid 80s.
3. Sarr Band “Double Action”
Calender 7” | Year: 1978
Original leftfield UK Disco music and a fave with original disco heads. I’m really feeling this one again. “Magic Mandrake” on the flip is worth a spin as well.
4. Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express “Whenever You’re Ready”
Closer To It LP | Label: RCA | Year: 1973
And keeping the UK Disco flavour going, this is disco tinged with jazz funk. I really love this esp. the end bit with the cheeky interpolation of Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme”.
5. Mandre “Solar Flight [Opus 1]”
Motown 7” | Year: 1977
Yet more Leftfield Disco goodness and an ALL-OUT Classic. Futuristic disco music. This one is for my good friend Andrew6ms – another man I know that adores this track. The Original 12 is sometimes tricky to find.
6. Jackey Beavers “Mr Bump Man Give Me A Hand [Pt. 2].
Seventy-Seven Records 7” |Year: 1974
Proper Funky disco music. If this does not get you moving, nothing will! I was minded to pull this out again after hearing Theo Parish play it at Plastic People a few weeks back. This one is for Liam aka Feelmusic.
7. Carl Bean “I Was Born This Way”
Motown Promo 12” | Year: 1977
I first heard Norman Jay play this Gay Classic on Kiss FM many many years ago. I was really blown away by the vocal emotion and the salient message in the music. It’s remained a fave of mine ever since. A Big tune with the F.A.I.T.H crowd as well.
8. Eastside Connection “You’re So Right Me”
Creole Records 12” | Year: 1978
I’ve not rinsed this for ages!! Another rare groove classic from way back. Love it again.
9. Michael Jackson “Burn This Disco Out”
Epic 12” | Year: 1979/1982
Just thought to go back to my late 70s disco days again. This is off MJ’s eponymous Off The Wall LP and for me, one of his overlooked classics which is somewhat understandable seeing as every track on the LP is a winner. I used to mash this track to bits in 1979. Big track.
10. Patti Boulaye “Dirty Ol’ Man”
You Stepped Into My Life LP | Label: Polydor | Year: 1979
You can’t play disco without dropping a bit of cheese in my opinion. The whole disco movement and its popularity was built on cheese as far as I’m concerned. Would Disco have thrived in the 70s if groups like Abba, Boney M, The Bee gees etc didn’t embrace it? Anyway, I’ve always loved Nigerian version of The Three Degrees’ classic: it works for me lol. Patti’s version of Melba Moore’s “You Stepped Into My Life” is not bad either.
11. Damon Harris “It’s Music”
Fantasy/WMOT 12” | Year: 1978
A big big revive with me again. A TOTAL Disco classic, made popular by Larry Levan - in his hey day – and Paul ‘Trouble’ Anderson. This one is for Jim Lister because I know he loves it to bits. It’s MUSSSSSSSICCCCCCCCCC. lol
12. Hi Tension “There’s A Reason”
Island Records 12” | Year: 1979
I still love this. This was a party classic from day-one and still shakes a dance floor now. Original UK Boogie music.
13. Dynasty “Here I Am”
S.O.L.A.R 12” | Year: 1981
Disco didn’t die in the 80s; it was still there albeit in a watered down boogie form. This was massive with us in Lagos [Nigeria] in the early 80s. Along with The SOS Band’s “Take Your Time (Do It Right)”, it used to go offffffffff. A Leon Sylvers production (I’m back into all his early 80s work again).
14. The Bad Girls “Too Through”
BC Records 12” | Year: 1981
Some more quality disco-sounding boogie from the early 80s. The lead vocalist sounds suspiciously like Jocelyn Brown. An Underground Disco Classic. Bekan Cekic – legendary Disco producer - on the buttons.
15. The Four Tops “I’m In A Different World”
Tamla Motown 7” | Year: 1968
Thought to go back to the roots of disco – which can be found from all those 60s Motown/Northern Soul classics. This sounds so nice again. An Original Norman Jay classic.
16. General Johnson “Don't Walk Away”
S/T LP | Label: Arista | Year: 1976
Sweet soul disco music. Can’t get enough of this again. General Johnson, of course, formerly of the group – Chairmen Of The Board.
17. The Fatback Band “Groovy Kind Of Day”
Polydor 7” | Year: 1975
This one always sounds good in the summer on a very hot day. More Sweet soul disco music.
18. Joey Negro “Love Hangover [Joey Negro Luv 2 Dub]”
Z Records 12” | Year: 2009
Many thanks to everyone at Z Records – especially Simon Purnell – for being kind enough to send me this one. A Fantastic rework of Diana Ross’ disco classic of the same name. This just builds and builds. Lovely percussive work –out as well.
--
Thanks for checking out the mix. Much obliged.
Dayo
![[PLAY]](http://feelup.podOmatic.com/img/play_button.gif)
