Eddy "Slow Disco"
The soulful side of the disco years. Everyone knows disco classics like 'Y.M.C.A.' and 'Relight My Fire', but during the disco period (early seventies - mid eighties) soul music never totally disappeared. In this mix, Eddy looks at some soul/disco gems that are not well known, but too good to be forgotten.Michael Jackson - People Make The World Go Round (1972)
Very powerful track from his first solo album, 'Ben'. The song is about the social problems of the early seventies.The original is done the Stylistics.
Wornell Jones - It Must Have Been Love (1979)
Don't know much about him. It's from his self-titled album. I like the jazzy vibe and the sensual female vocals of the track.Johnny Mathis - How Deep Is Your Love (1978)
The original is of course by the Bee Gees and used in 'Saturday Night Fever'. Johnny Mathis turns this pop song into a real soul gem!It's from his 'You Light Up My Life' album.
Deodato - Whistle Bump (1978)
Brazilian Eumir Deodato is best known for his track 'Also Sprach Zarathurstra' and his work as a producer for Kool & the Gang.This is a jazzy disco instrumental from his album 'Love Island'.
Billy Paul - Let 'Em In (1976)
Billy Paul had a worldwide hit with 'Me And Mrs. Jones' in 1973. This is a cover of a Paul McCartney song, but the lyrics have been changed. It's now about the social struggles of the late sixties / early seventies. There are snippets of the famous Martin Luther King speech in it.Donna Washington - Save Your Love For Me (1980)
From her album 'For The Sake Of Love'. She's a great singer with a powerful voice. Later on she appeared on some gospel house tracks.Johnny Bristol - You And I (1974)
Johnny Bristol was a Motown songwriter and background singer before he became worldwide known with 'Hang On In There'.This is from the same album and at least as good as his Billboard top ten hit. He sadly passed away in March of 2004 at the age of 65.
Lisa Danielle - You're All I Need (1985)
Don't know anything about her. Her voice sounds a bit like Deniece Williams.This song came out on the Sugarhill label, best known for the Sugar Hill Gang of course.
The Jones Girls - Won't Let It Take You Back (1984)
How I love those voices! This song came out on the famous Philadelphia International label, but they already had left the company by then.They never reached commercial success unfortunately.
Ron Matlock - Feeling Something (1979)
This man sounds like the brother of Isaac Hayes (Chef from 'South Park' and known for his classic 'Shaft'). Great baritone voice!Silver Convention - San Francisco Hustle (1976)
This German based female vocal group is best remembered for their disco smash 'Fly Robin Fly'. It reached the number one position in the American pop charts in 1975. They made a few really nice disco tunes, with some great string arrangements in it, like this one. The highest position of 'San Francisco Hustle' was number 8 in the Billboard disco charts.Fat Larry's Band - Act Like You Know [12"] (1982)
From their album 'Breakin' Out' which includes their well-known ballad 'Zoom'.This type of dance music from the early eighties is often called 'club soul' in stead of 'disco'.
Hot Chocolate - You'll Never Be So Wrong (1981)
Originally an album track for pop singer Kim Wilde. Hot Chocolate frontman Errol Brown turns it into a dramatic soul song.The (electronic) bass sounds really funky!
Chic - Sao Paolo (1977)
A smooth instrumental track from Bernard Edwards en Nile Rodgers.The Four Tops - When She Was My Girl (1981)
Singer Levi Stubbs and his men made numerous classics, like 'Reach Out, I'll Be There' and 'Same Old Song' in the sixties. When they left Motown in the early seventies their fame began to fade rapidly. By the beginning of the eighties they made a comeback with hits like 'Indestructible', 'Loco At Acapulco' and this one. Always good to hear Levi sing.Ray Barretto - Here We Go Again (1977)
Percussionist Ray Barretto is best known for 'Deeper Shade Of Soul' (later used by the Urban Dance Squad).This is a smooth Latin track with subtle disco and funk influences in it.
Johnny Hammond - Fantasy (1975)
The real inventors of disco music are the Mizell Brothers. In the mid seventies Larry and Alphonzo made an unique combination of soul, funk and jazz. This multi-layered production played by organist Johnny Hammond still sounds amazing after more than 30 years!Marvin Gaye - The World Is Rated X (1972)
The song is about the same social issues that Michael Jackson and Billy Paul sang about earlier on.Dark soul songs like these disappeared in the mid seventies and joyful disco songs began to dominate the market.