2015年 Feb 24日 Tuesday, 17:28
Although there are many great disco albums (I compiled a list here) the true format of disco in it's many guises was the single. There are numerous singles that define the sounds of disco and I'll post a list of some of my favourite ones here. I will try to list singles that weren't released from a album. So here is my list of disco singles in no particular order, oh I kinda stretched the definition of disco a little so I can include some of the tracks here. Such as the sound of boogie which was one of the many underground disco sounds of the early eighties. Boogie is basically slower than disco with the emphasis on the bass, simple synth melodies and a more R&B flavour, some boogie crossed over into the electro side of post disco dance music and vice versa. Anyway here's the list.
Sinnamon - I Need You Now
Sinnamon were a project of producer Darryl Payne who worked with many great disco artists such as Sharon Redd and France Joli. The vocalist on this great track is Bernard Fowler who was part of the Peech Boys.
Man Friday - Love Honey, Love Heartache
Man Friday were formed by legendary DJ Larry Levan after the break-up of Peech Boys in 1985. “Love Honey, Love Heartache was on regular rotation at the Paradise Garage, where Larry Levan was the star DJ.
Barbara Fowler - Come And Get My Lovin'
This single features a great vocal performance from Ex Sinnamon vocalist Barbara Fowler who happens to be married to, yes you guessed it, the same Bernard Fowler from Sinnamon and Peech Boys. Barbara also wrote this and her next single "Knockin' On My Door", which is also great.
Barbara York - Tonight
Ivana Spagna is synonymous with big hair and big Italo hits but she had released a number of gems under various alias including Barbara York. It is a great track from 1982.
Raw Silk - Just In Time
Raw Silk were a studio group assembled by producer Ronald Dean Miller, it consisted of former Crown Heights Affair member Bert Reid and three female vocalists, Jessica Cleaves, Sybil Thomas, Tenita Jordan.
Kadenza - Let's Do It
This bit of British Synth-boogie proves it wasn't just the U.S. who could make smokin' disco funk tunes. One of the members of Kadneza, Errol Reid, was in the well regarded and long lasting British Afro-pop band Osibisa.
Vivien Vee - Americano
Vivien Vee is synonymous with italo-disco having been 'discovered' by Claudio Simonetti at the age of 18. As with most of Vivien Vee's records and italo-disco in general it's incredibly charming, cheesy and relentless.
Pamela Joy - Think Fast
All I know about this track is it was recorded & mixed at Sigma Sound in Philadelphia by Buddy Turner and was released on Pizzaz Records in 1984. Oh, it's also wonderful.
Purple Flash - We Can Make It
Purple Flash is Pierre Perpall a Canadian singer and producer who has been involved in music since 1965, releasing dozens of albums and singles.
Evans Pyramid – No I Won't
With the constant reissue of obscure and forgotten disco gems it's surprising so much good stuff is found, the work of Andre Evans is a case in point. Although a well known session player in Boston in the 70s Andre Evans released a slew of disco records on numerous indie labels. Now there is a compilation of his work as Evan Pyramid available, I'd recommend it.
Masurrati And Huey Harris – Super Duper (Lovin)
'Super Duper (Lovin) is real obscurity. All I know about them is the fact one member, Huey Harris, was in the disco band Forecast and that he recorded a single as Huey "Baby" Harris titled 'You've Got To Be A Winner' for Profile records. But the single with Masurrati is the one you should check out.
Golden Flamingo Orchestra feat. Margo Williams – The Guardian Angel Is Watching Over Us
Produced in 1979 by Peter Brown and Patrick Adams, founders of the New York based disco label P&P. Apparently this song is a tribute of sorts to the Guardian Angels who were vigilantes protecting commuters on the New York subways from various unsavory types.