Disco? Get The Funk Out Of Here!

Side 2 of a C90 cassette that I recorded for Mrs. K on 21st March 2002.

I posted Side 1 in April 2023 and had thought that I'd get around to the follow up a little sooner!

Starting off in fine style with the mighty Barry White, there is no let up as Boney M. then Kool & The Gang get your boogie shoes working.

You wait ages for a bus (stop) then two come along at once! After the recent appearance of the album version of (Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop by The Fatback Band, here's the single, shorter but no less sweet.

Both Sly & The Family Stone and Curtis Mayfield appeared on Side 1, but it was impossible to limit them to one song each, so they pop up again on this side with a couple of stone cold classics.

As before, I swapped out the single edit of Curtis' contribution for the full length album version; the same with Barry White, for your extended pleasure. I've also replaced the single version  of Van McCoy's The Hustle for the 12" disco mix, to balance out the running times of both sides.

The compilation ends and it starts, with Garnett Mimms & Truckin' Company and What It Is. The vocal single version opened Side 1 and the closer here is the 12" flip side, mostly instrumental with a smattering of backing vocals and a huge dollop of disco glitter.

After two days of upbeat grooves, something a little calmer for Monday....?

1) Never, Never Gonna Give Ya Up (Album Version): Barry White (1973)

2) Sunny (Single Edit) (Cover of Bobby Hebb): Boney M. (1976)

3) Celebration (Album Version): Kool & The Gang (1980)

4) (Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop (Single Version): The Fatback Band (1975)

5) Fight The Power (Part 1 & 2) (Album Version): The Isley Brothers (1975)

6) Family Affair (Album Version): Sly & The Family Stone (1971)

7) Kung Fu (Album Version): Curtis Mayfield (1974)

8) Get Down Tonight (Single Version): KC & The Sunshine Band (1975)

9) The Hustle (Disco Mix): Van McCoy ft. The Soul City Symphony (1979)

10) Take Me To The River (Album Version): Al Green (1974)

11) Don't Let Love Get You Down (Album Version): Archie Bell & The Drells (1976)

12) What It Is (Part Il) (12" Version): Garnet Mimms & Truckin' Company (1977)

1971: There's A Riot Goin' On: 6

1973: Stone Gon': 1

1974: Explores Your Mind: 10

1974: Sweet Exorcist: 7

1975: (Are You Ready) Do The Bus Stop EP: 4

1975: Get Down Tonight EP: 8

1975: The Heat Is On: 5

1976: Sunny EP: 2

1976: Where Will You Go When The Party's Over: 11

1977: What It Is EP: 12

1979: THe Hustle EP: 9

1980: Celebrate!: 3

Side Two (55:54) (GD) (M)

Side One here

Someone Taught Me How To Dance Last Night

It's Friday, it's nearly the end of September, the nights are drawing in, so time to get the glitter ball out and boogie 'til we just can't boogie no more. 

An hour of disco classics and/or obscurities, all guaranteed to provide a hefty bass and beat and some funky guitar licks or soaring string sounds, or both. And some belting vocals, of course.

Today's cover star is the multi-talented Marsha Hunt who, amongst many achievements, released three albums in the 1970s, the last of which was a disco-inspired collection produced by Pete Bellote which she later dismissed as "a musical departure that had nothing to do with my own taste". I've left her off the selection.

 

1) Do You Wanna Go Party (Album Version By Harry Casey & Richard Finch): KC & The Sunshine Band (1979)

2) Lovin' Is Really My Game (Parts 1 & 2) (12" Version By Jerry Peters): Brainstorm (1977) 

3) Love Magic (Special Disco Version By John Davis): John Davis & The Monster Orchestra (1979)

4) Garden Of Love (Album Version By Jean-Marc Cerrone): Don Ray (1978)

5) Thunder In My Heart (Disco Version By Richard Perry): Leo Sayer (1977)

6) Open Sesame (Part 1) (Album Version): Kool & The Gang (1976)

7) Dance Little Lady Dance (Long Version By Biddu Appaiah): Tina Charles (1976)

8) Jealousy (Album Version By Barry Leng): Amii Stewart (1979)

9) Bourgie', Bourgie' (Special Album Version By Nickolas Ashford, Valerie Simpson & Jimmy Simpson) (Cover of Ashford & Simpson): Gladys Knight & The Pips (1980) 

10) How's Your Love Life Baby (Special 12" Version By John Luongo & Michael Barbiero): Jackie Moore (1979)

 

Someone Taught Me How To Dance Last Night (1:01:45) (KF) (Mega)

Hell For Leather On A Helter Skelter

Sometimes, only a poptastic playlist will do. Over 500 posts in and I'm surprised that this is the first appearance on this blog for a-ha, The Lover Speaks, Kool & The Gang, The Kane Gang, Split Enz and ABC (unless you count the latter's appearance in a mash-up mix by Go Home Productions last year).

 

I have a large sub-folder of music, which was my go-to when Lady K was very young. Very loosely labelled "Pop", it is better described as upbeat, uptempo songs without any sweary bits, although I came a cropper when this one popped up in the car. Fortunately, Mrs. K wasn't present and the F-word wasn't firmly embedded in Lady K's vocabulary from there on.

 

I'm a little bit more relaxed about the playlist these days, although you still won't find me playing either "Part 4" of this song by Alexei Sayle from the 12" vinyl or the current single by Julian Cope when Clan K are within earshot.

 

No parental advisory for this selection, 11 tunes for a (hopefully) sunny September Saturday, wherever you are.

 

1) Take On Me (Extended Version By Alan Tarney): a-ha (1985)

2) Every Lover's Sign (7" Remix By Andy Wallace & Bruce Forest): The Lover Speaks (1986)

3) Think Twice (Edit): Ralph Myerz & The Jack Herren Band ft. Christine Sandtorv (2003)

4) Take It To The Top (Album Version By Eumir Deodato): Kool & The Gang (1980)

5) Funky Kingston: Toots & The Maytals (1973)

6) Beat The Clock (Short Version By Giorgio Moroder): Sparks (1979)

7) Six Months In A Leaky Boat (Album Version): Split Enz (1982)

8) Respect Yourself (R & B Mix) (Cover of The Staple Singers): The Kane Gang (1984)

9) Mystify (Album Version): INXS (1987)

10) I Want You To Know (Album Version): Charlotte Hatherley (2007)

11) Viva Love (Album Version): ABC (2016)

Hell For Leather On A Helter Skelter (45:06)