Hi all. Sorry about the lack of post action, have been a bit busy, with various siblings visiting and various Lovebox activities. As a way of apologising I am going to treat you all to a bumper(ish) post of assorted tunes that were meant to be posted last week. So expect a mix bag of miscellaneous delights!

VOYAGE – I LOVE YOU DANCER (ELECTROLA)

Apparently, original copies of this are worth a fair few bob so this reissue is rather handy for us skint people. Hailing from France, Voyage were formed from the ashes of kooky 70′s cosmic disco band Arpadys. An  easy going and cheery tune which fuses the best of ye olde disco and new wave. Guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

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MARTHA AND THE MUFFINS – DANSEPARC/THESE DANGEROUS MACHINES (RCA VICTOR)

Kinda carrying on with the new wave thing, Cherry Red are going to reissue Martha And The Muffins’ classic new wave album ‘Danseparc’. More than just that ‘Echo Beach’  band, ‘Danseparc’ was the band’s finest hour. Produced by Brian Eno’s best mate Daniel Lanois, it’s a ruddy good record with a weird post-punk wittiness mixed with challenging pop ideas. A bit too fast mind but there you go. I’ve selected the title track and the b-side which was released in 1983 for you. So go on give it a listen.

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 BARRABAS – BARRABAS (WILD SAFARI) (RCA VICTOR)

Cult disco record and a favourite of legendary DJs David Mancuso and Nicky Siano. Fernando Arbex’s Barrabas mixed funk-rock with hypnotic tribal percussion and this album spawned two massive singles ‘Woman’ and ‘Wild Safari’. Released in 1972 this record is absolutely essential for any disco fans and even for fans of insane 70s funky afro- psychedelic jazz rock. So something for everyone.

‘Woman’

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‘Wild Safari’

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RIZ ORTOLANI – DO IT TO ME (FROM THE FILM ‘HOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE PARK’)

I had no idea about this song until a friend recommended it to me and all i can say is that I’m glad that he did. Basically a rip-off of ‘Last House On The Left, ‘House On The Edge Of The Park’ was on the BBFC’s ‘video nasties ‘ list but we don’t care about that all we care about is Riz Ortolani’s fabulous if slightly disturbing sleazy Italian disco score. If you have seen the film, the refrain of ‘Do It To Me Once More..More And More’ you will know it’s just that little bit inappropriate with the film being a rape-revenge tale and all.  That’s kinda left this post a bit awkward so I’ll move on.

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SYLVESTER – YOU MAKE ME FEEL (MIGHTY REAL) – EPILOGUE

I went to Lovebox last weekend and spent most of my time at Horse Meat Disco’s NYC Downlow tent. All i can remember was that I danced to Sylvester’s ‘You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) like a ‘maniac’, so i thought in order to the keep the memory alive I’d post a different version this fabulous tune. This version is stripped back- almost gospel style with just Sylvester and a backing choir.  Unbelievably beautiful and uplifting, this proves that underneath the supposed empty and shiny veneer of disco that there was an underlying message of love, unity, belief and most importantly soul.

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DIANA ROSS – LOVIN’, LIVIN’ AND GIVIN’ (CASABLANCA/MOTOWN)

MISS ROSS IN KOOKY SPACE DISCO SHOCKER!! I KNOW! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT?! Anyway I reckon that this could be Diana’s finest moment, well thats my opinion you can decide later. Taken from the god-awful disco flick ‘Thank God It’s Friday’ (starring a young Jeff Goldblum, Debra Winger as well as some other bizarre casting decisions. It was filmed during disco’s ‘Fat Elvis’ cash in phase. So you get the idea. Sigh.I’ll stop now as I’m venturing into Alan’s territory). The soundtrack isn’t that bad as it features Love And Kisses, The Commodores, Paul Jabera, Donna Summer (which I’m sure if my ropey-verging on quite sad disco knowledge is anything to go by, that her song ‘Last Dance’ for this album won an Oscar for best song in 1979. I’ll check later- actually I won’t as I know I’m right). Anyway back to Diana. It reminds me of her best Motown choruses – sweet and irresistable but this has a warped edge and it also sounds like some dodgy 70s Bollywood disco soundtrack but that’s another post entirely.

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