Some funky disco tracks that lead you through the gateway of seventies and eighties dance music, put together in an exclusive mix broadcasted on FM Brussel on the 3rd of August 2008.

Tracklist and linernotes:

Mascara (feat. Luther Vandross) – See You In L.A. [Eddy’s Edit]

Mascara were a studio only conceived band with their music produced in Munich, Germany and vocals laid down in New Jersey, USA. Their only album was produced by Jurgen S Korduletsch and Chris Hill. The vocals are unmistakably from soul singer Luther Vandross who was a very popular session singer thirty years ago. He was discovered by no one less than David Bowie in the mid 1970s. He sang on his ‘Young Americans’ album for instance.

Gary’s Gang – Do It At The Disco [Instrumental]

Dimitri From Paris, my favourite dj (and a very nice guy as well), brought out an album with cool Latin disco, called ‘Cocktail disco’, last year. This track by Gary’s Gang was not on it, but to me this is a perfect example of classy Latin disco.

Speedometer Feat. Rita Currie – Am I Your Woman?

Beyoncé borrowed some notes from Chi-Lites on her track ‘Crazy in love’. The song was originally called ‘Are you my woman?’. Speedometer changed the perspective of the song into a woman’s point of view.

Chagrin D’Amour – Au Paradis

This is a funky new wave track from France. I like the fresh and original sound of it.

Billy Butler – Sugar Candy Lady

Billy Butler is the younger brother of the more known soul singer Jerry Butler. He made a very good soul-disco album for Curtom Records (owned by Curtis Mayfield) in the 1970s, but it didn’t catch any attention at the time. ‘Sugar candy lady’ was the title track.

Joe Shamwell – I Wanna Be Your CB

Although his name is not very familiar Joe Shamwell wrote many songs for the famous Stax label in the 1960s. Janet Jackson did a version of his composition ‘What I’ll do for satisfaction’ on her hit album ‘Janet’ in 1993. His songs have been featured on TV series like ‘Matlock’, ‘21 Jump Street’, and ‘LA Law’. This particular track sounds a bit like Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson (‘A real mother for ya’). I don’t know who was first with this sung-spoken style of funk.

Señor Coconut & His Orchestra – La Vida Es Llena De Cables

Señor Coconut turns cold electro songs into warm Latin tracks. This is from his excellent new album ‘Around the world’

Creative Source – Corazon

Known for their Bill Withers cover ‘Who is he and what is he to you?’. This is a track with a more Latin feel. It mixes perfectly with Señor Coconut.

MFSB – Human Machine

B-side of their 1975 hit ‘Sexy. MFSB played on many tracks for the Philadelphia International label and was responsible for that typical ‘Philly’ sound.

John Davis & the Monster Orchestra – You Gotta Give It Up

Arranger and producer John Davis made some nice disco records with his Monster Orchestra in the 1970s, but when the interest for disco music faded by the end of the decade, his career did too. In 1992 he wrote, produced and performed the theme from ‘Beverly Hills 90210’.

Linda Clifford – Don’t Come Crying To Me

She is best known for ‘Runaway love’, a song she recorded for Curtom records, the label of soul singer Curtis Mayfield (the same label Billy Butler recorded his ‘Sugar candy lady’ for). In the early 1980s Linda Clifford recorded some strong soul-disco tracks, like this one.

Paul Haig – The Executioner

British new wave artist Paul Haig recorded this funky track in the 1980s as well. He is best known for his cover of ‘Running away’ (originally done by Sly & the Family Stone).

Shannon – My Heart’s Divided

‘Let the music play’ was her moment of fame in the mid 1980s. This track is from the same album. It has a big electro beat and good soulful vocals.

Firefly – Love’s Gonna Be On Your Side

Italian funky disco from 1981. It was a successful club hit on both sides of the Atlantic.

Quiet Village – Can’t Be Beat

This is from the album ‘Silent movie’. The style of these two British guys can be described as modern easy listening.

Love International – Dance On The Groove (And Do The Funk)

From France (I guess). A funny disco record.

Chaz Jankel – Glad To Know You [Todd Terje Edit]

This is first class funky disco from the UK. Chaz Jankel was a keyboard player in the band of new wave singer Ian Dury. He also wrote ‘Ai no corrida’. Norwegian Todd Terje made this perfect version of it.

Sharon Dee Clarke – Dance Your Way Out Of The Door

A soulful house track from the early 1990s., produced by Ian Levine. He was a popular club-dj in the 1980s and wrote several hits like ‘High energy’ for Evelyn Thomas.

Joey Negro & the Sunburst Band – Free Bass

A track from his neo-disco album ‘Moving with the shakers’ that came out recently. Joey Negro is a very successful club-dj / producer with many aliases, like Jakatta and Dave Lee (his real name).

Cool Notes – I Don’t Want To Stop

A sophisticated funky disco track from British act Cool Notes. They made only one album as far as I know, called ‘Spend the night’. The title track was a hit in their home country and in the rest of Europe as well.