Disco | Boogie Vinyl 371 Items

We are proud to present the first ever vinyl release of “No Message” by Art P, a still lesser known and lost masterpiece from the P.A.P. archives. Art P (initially Art Programming) was an electronic music duo consisting of Jens-Markus Wegener and Frank Grotelüschen. On “No Message”, originally released in 1985, we hear the band’s most profound work, a detailed and unique mixture in between of Electro and the synth-laden edge of New Wave.

The two artists from Bremen, the second largest city in Northern Germany after Hamburg, initially met in early 1982 due to a small add in a local newspaper when Grotelüschen was selling his Roland 101 synthesizer. Wegener became the new owner of the machine, the two kept in touch and soon became friends. When Grotelüschen was on holiday for a while he was nice enough to borrow his TR 808 drum machine as well as his Jupiter 4 synth to Wegener. During those six weeks he composed about 6 to 7 tunes that amazed his newly found partner, so that they decided to work together. Art Programming was born and from then on the two electronic music enthusiasts combined forces and released music on various projects. On their first album, the self titled “Art Programming” (1983), they worked with instruments like the Korg Mono/Poly which they mainly used for their bass sounds, a Roland Tb-303 as well as a Fricke sequencer. Later, newer synths like the Yamaha Dx-9 came into play.

We initially discovered Art P on the tape compilation “berlincassette 2-85” a couple of years ago. Their contribution, the title track from their second and last album “No Message”, blew us right away: punchy drum machines, heavy synths and cool female vocals delivering a serious, yet slightly ironic view on the meaninglessness in pop music having “no message”. A couple of months later, when we finally were lucky to get hold of an original full length tape (which is pretty hard to come by!), we couldn’t ask for more: powerful apocalyptic Synth Wave on “A Place To Fear”, thrilling vocoder Electro Funk on “Polaroid”, uptempo New Wave Synth Pop on “Sounds of the City”, dreamy and melodic Electro on “Without Jackets”, and other well produced tracks. It was an absolute necessity for us to get in touch with Art P and ask for permission to re-release their music on vinyl.

“No Message” was remastered from the absolute best original tape source and sounds incredibly well. The release is limited to 300 copies and will be pressed on blue vinyl. It contains an insert with lyrics and additional art. We think it is save to say, that this should not be missed!

Following on from the runaway success of Soundway’s Kiki Gyan 24 Hours In A Disco, another Ghanaian legend looks to have his time to shine. One of the most well-known disco and burger highlife artists of the time, Charles Amoah originally began his career as a drummer. Playing with Alex Kunadu’s band, as well as the Precious Jewels and even Nana Tuffour, he then moved to Germany in the early 80s. His first album Sweet Vibration spawned several hits which went on to be released as separate singles, namely “Scratch My Back” and “Shake Your Body To The Beat”. From the irresistible funk hooks of these singles, to the Lionel Richie-esque instrumentation of “Life’s Like Being In A Boxing Ring”, or the kraut-rock stylings of “Jungle Rock” - there is little doubt that the blend of disco, funk and highlife that was unique to the Ghanaian-German scene can be experienced in its full splendour on Sweet Vibration.

Limited edition of 300 copies in vinyl reissue at 180 grams."Music Is My Sex" is to be inserted in the Italo-Disco trend of the early 80s, but also with a nod to Funk and Disco Music from overseas. The use of the Nile Rodgers-style guitar completes a rhythmic base in which the bass is played on the synthesizer, while the melodic lines are entrusted, in addition to the voice, to the electronic keyboards. Three members of Phono sang the various verses, while the bridge was entrusted to a carpet of keyboards. The keyboardist and arranger Paolo Biasich, a great fan of electronics, had built some synthesizers (also used by Giorgio Moroder) used in the song at his home. The piece, with the kick drums played in quarters and the sound dubbed with a synthetic sample, recorded in Sandy Dian's studio in Gambellara (close to Vicenza), was conceived to make people dance, while the text by the eclectic author and dee-jay Art De Rosa was a declaration of love for the music that goes around ("around and around") and that "gives us more", coming to compete with sex . The vocal version on the A side of the vinyl is joined by an instrumental version on the flip that ends with a piano solo. Limited edition of 300 copies in vinyl reissue at 180 grams.

Edition Hawara’s fifth release is a raw funk gem by a little-known Austrian pop band called Magic Sound. Edition Hawara’s second 7“release features one of the more obscure Austrian bands from the 1980s. Little is known about Magic Sound. The cover suggests that their label wanted them to be Austria’s Village People, though their sound is much rawer and funkier. One thing we know for sure is that the group included Andy Töfferl, who was also a member of the famous Austrian pop ensemble EAV (Erste Allgemeine Verunsicherung). And we know that they went to the studio to record a whole album after touring Sweden in 1980. Only these two songs survived, and they are worth listening to over and over again. Enjoy in fancy dress, or dressed down. With or without a moustache.

It comes as no surprise to discover we are massive fans of Marcos Valle here at Mr Bongo, but this forgotten and obscure gem from the Brazilian maestro has proven to remain elusive to us until very recently.

'Girassol' is a lost Brazilian-boogie stunner from 1983. It was originally released as an ultra-rare promo only 7”. Composed by Marcos Valle, Paulo Sérgio Valle and Ribeiro José Francisco, this all-too-short nugget (under 2 minutes) was recorded and pressed on the Valle, Ribeiro & Associados Ltda. imprint for Rede CB De Supermercados. It was a promotional item to be distributed to customers of a supermarket chain as a gift. Due to not having any conventional distribution channels this resulted in the 7" becoming a slippery customer to find.

It’s a smooth AOR / Brazilian boogie joint with an uplifting chorus. The vibe is reminiscent of the much loved ‘Estrelar' era of Marcos Valle’s glorious recording career, and certainly one for fans of the Lincoln Olivetti, Robson Jorge production sound.

One of the most sought-after italo-disco release, the combined effort of Giovanotti Mondani Meccanici and Alexander Robotnick saw the light of the day in 1986 on Fuzz Dance, Materiali Sonori sub-label ran by the wizard Giampiero Bigazzi. Florence born producer and musician Maurizio Dami, created a mysterious character, a so-called “modular structure born out of a soviet calculator and promptly runaway”. His classic “Problemes D’amour” was featured on the influential Strut compilation Disco Not Disco 2. GMM was an even more enigmatic character, one of the most unclassifiable audiovisual experiences to emerge from Italy in the 1980s. Maurizio Dami itself was responsible for the group’s music output, while the unit was founded in 1984 by Antonio Glessi and Andrea Zingoni as an art collective whose production represents the quintessential expression of postmodern transmedia hybridity.

"Worthy re-issue of obscure Trouble in Side, which is a one-off studio project entirely written, sung and arranged by Luigi Della Ragione. "Zulu Rap" represented a surprising alternative to the typical Italo-Disco sound perceived in Naples and around in the early 80s. This little-known production has some interesting arrangements, mostly in the short version, where the drum work out raised below, reminiscent of "Love Hangover" by Diana Ross. Actually at that time the Dance Music Report, in its 'Import' column wrote that the "intro" of the 'Alcoholic Version' was reminiscent of Madonna's "Holiday". while the 'Chinese Version' was inspired by a song from the Tears For Fears. Some of this news may pique the curiosity of DJs and collectors and provide enough motivation for the current reissue which faithfully reproduces the three 1984 versions as well as the original noteworthy cover artwork. If that wasn't enough: the B side of the original record had an extra track not listed, with the hand drums on a slower and unrelated "Zulu Rap" drum beat which is around 120 BPM, while the drums of the bonus track is about 113 BPM. A little more inside info... the beautiful Maria Chiara Perugini (aka Clio) is part of the choir vocals. She was part of the Airport label for the recording of her first solo song "Eyes". A historical re-release"

Cult South Asian New Wave! Naya Beat is proud to announce its second release, Tere Liye, the highly sought after and impossible to find New Wave album by the unsung pioneers of the British Asian music scene, Pinky Ann Rihal. Remastered for vinyl by multi Grammy-nominated Frank Merritt at The Carvery and available for the first time since its limited 1985 release, the album is as fresh and relevant today as it was 37 years ago. South Asian New Wave. Four words that you will rarely see together. Pinky Ann Rihal were the brainchild of two London-based Punjabi immigrants and progressive rock musicians – Harry Rihal and Jati Sodhi – at a time in the U.K. when progressive rock musicians were almost exclusively white and Punjabi musicians were almost exclusively making Bhangra. Encouraged by their friend and disco pioneer Biddu (yes, that Biddu!), they cut ‘Tere Liye’ – a one-off Hindi-language New Wave album with producer John Hamilton and vocalists Pinky Rihal (married to Harry) and Anne Barrett (married to John). It is an album that exemplifies the cultural collaboration and musical synthesis of the time. Complementing the rich, cosmic and layered synths and drum programming of Hamilton and the distorted guitars of Rihal and Sodhi are the Hindi lyrics of vocalists Pinky and Anne. The result is an amazing one-of-a-kind South Asian New Wave album. Nothing like it has come out before or since. Stymied on its original release by bungled distribution, poor marketing and plenty of bad luck, this incredible album seemed destined to be lost to history. With Asian electronic music in the U.K. seeing a rebirth and capturing imaginations around the world,‘Tere Liye’ can finally take its rightful place as one of the pioneering albums of the Asian underground. This is Naya Beat’s second release in a series of reissues, reworks and remixes, and compilations dedicated to uncovering electronic and dance music from the overlooked ‘80s and ‘90s South Asian music scene. Their first release Naya Beat Volume 1: South Asian Dance and Electronic Music 1983-1992 was named by the Vinyl Factory as the Number 1 reissue of 2021

The Emotional Rescue reissue series of Noel Williams aka King Sporty working with other artists and singers on the Konduko label's roster comes to completion with the deep funk disco of The Prolifics' Boy Child.

Formed in 1970 as part of "Senator" Nolan Jones' New Orleans soul and funk label Hep' Me Records, the bands early deep southern soul saw them release a series of 7"s for Hep' Me and Avco, plus an Xmas single for EMI and the minor hit A Place Called Home, recorded at the infamous Musle Shoals studios, backed by the Rhythm Section band who, from the early 60s, turned out hit after hit, from When A Man Loves A Women to Brown Sugar.

Landing on the newly inked Drive label, set up in '72 by Henry Stone as a sub label of his burgeoning T.K Records empire, their developing move in to funk saw them featured alongside Funky Nassau, Jimmy Castor and Peter Brown. It is here the connection with Noel Williams was formed. While putting together the "Konduko Six Pack" showcase album, the band were invited to the Miami Sound Studios for sessions that brought us both title cut Boy Child and the accompanying You Got Me.

All brass and claps, Boy Child is as funky as Williams got, backing the groups soul vocals, a story of first born's energetic path in life and a mothers love. The backing from Deep Rockers band bring the swing, the trippy keys and wide bottom end has made this a secret drop for many. You Got Me on the other hand is true King Sporty, a driving 9-minute disco boogie cut, where the warm harmonies lay down this uplifting, killer dance floor stop.

To close, the flip is again given over for reinterpretation, welcoming back Felix Dickinson to expertly cut, loop and dub. A special personal song for Dickinson, his subtle extension teases the intro for DJ play, before letting things fly - "the little show-off" as the song notes. With a near 30-year DJ and production career in place, his Discomix is a fitting way to complete this cycle of reissues of this benchmark label, for now.

Dark Entries presents a reissue of Shawn Pittman’s 1989 Dreams, an obscure and highly sought-after private press gem produced and written by Art Forest. An undersung figure in the development of the late 80’s Detroit techno sound, Forest collaborated with, produced, or penned material for many of the key players in the movement, including Inner City, Suburban Knight, and the Belleville Three themselves (on Kreem’s “Triangle of Love”). This reissue gives Forest’s own productions some shine while providing a thrill for both dancers and collectors. Dreams features two songs, both written and produced by Art Forest and featuring Shawn Pittman on vocals. The A-side contains two mixes of “Dreams”, a smooth R&B/modern soul number driven by Pittman’s vocal. While the song is undeniably radio-friendly, it contains some of the hallmarks of the Detroit techno sound – sparse arrangement, lush reverb, and booming bass. On the B-side, we are treated to two different versions of the clubbier “I’m Losing Control”. The original mix leans towards boogie/freestyle, with syncopated 909 beats and sassy synth vamps, and wouldn’t sound out of place next to Forest’s work with Inner City. The Extended-Bass-ment Club Mix strips things down and dubs them out, leaving us with shards of bass synth, brooding strings, and Pittman’s vocals eerily warped to the edge of recognition; a perfect late-night warehouse anthem.

Get ready to warp drive on the Disco Segreta spaceship ! This time we pay tribute to the overlooked work of italian musician Luciano Zanetti. Still relatively unknown to most, he was born in Lecco, where he graduated in violin and piano at the local Conservatorio, but then focused on acoustic and electric guitar, spending most of his life as a musician and teacher. The only recorded evidences ever published by Zanetti are incidentally just two disco-related 45s. The one presented here, “Volo Delta”, was a synth driven space disco track released in 1976 on Zanetti’s own private label Rot, before such niche subgenre found its way into disco productions. But we discovered that “Volo Delta” was just a part of a sort of “space suite” Zanetti had been working on: a wonderfully cinematic blend of downbeat electronica, chiptune, library music and mellow synth-work recorded in 1975, sounding way ahead of its time, perfectly rendering what was the concept of “future” and “space” back in the 1970s. The EP “Space” presents for the first time the original slightly extended version of “Volo Delta”, and three *previously unreleased* tracks: “Esplorazione”, “Incontri Ravvicinati” and “Verso Base Terra”. As usual with our extreme quality standards, all tracks are taken from the actual analog multitrack masters and respectfully remastered. Strictly limited edition on 180gr. audiophile vinyl.

Originally released by Lombardoni Publishing on 1986, this is probably one of the hidden gems from the label. ‘Indio’ contains all the elements of italo disco classic tune: Super energetic mood, male + female vocalist and different leads to complete a great tune.

Kenny Lynch was a popular singer, songwriter, actor and all-round entertainer. A self-styled “black cockney”, Kenny was one of the few people of Caribbean origin prominent in the British entertainment industry during the ‘60s and ‘70s.

During his musical career, Kenny released a number of Top 10 singles, including a version of ‘Up on the Roof’ (1962), competing with the original by the Drifters. He composed and co-wrote songs recorded by Dusty Springfield, Cilla Black, the Drifters and the Everly Brothers. He also worked briefly as a songwriter at the Brill Building in New York.

Whilst probably best known as a prolific Pop Crooner during the earlier part of his acting and musical career, we must not forget his stomping disco success of the early eighties, released under British-borne Satril Records. “Half The Day’s Gone, and We Haven’t Earne’d a Penny” was a milestone moment for British Disco. Produced by Kenny himself at Satril Studios, London 1983, this record still encompasses that organic late-70s disco sound, with true instrumentation and minimalist electronic synth elements.

This is the album’s first ever repress since 1983 and has been remastered in high-definition from the original analogue tapes. Pressed on heavyweight 180g vinyl, this is one not to be missed. Limited to 500 copies only.

Sound Signature is proud to present a re-issue of the 7-inch single from Sundown titled "Spaced Outta Place". Composed by Amp Fiddler, Spaced Outta Place was originally released in 1981 on Parkside Records.

Swiss label Proxima is very pleased to present the reissue of italo disco classic "Love Me Too / The Dream" by Italian circus performer, singer and tv presenter Ambra Orfei. Originally released in 1986 on a 7inch, those two tracks are brought back to life for the first time on a 12inch record. No full description

Limited to 2800 copies.

Brian Bennett is one of instrumental music's true cult figures. Drummer for Cliff Richard & The Shadows, Bennett also is the composer of some of the most collectible production music albums ever made, and for over 40 years has been a sought-after composer for TV and film. But of all his projects, his 1978 release "Voyage (A Journey into Discoid Funk)" is probably his most beloved, a truly pioneering "space disco" recording inspired by Brian Eno but wielding a groove all its own. Despite its absolutely eye-popping Discogs stats, our release marks its first vinyl reissue outside of Australia, and its first-ever release on colored vinyl (blue with black swirl), complete with original gatefold jacket art.

Side ONE 1. Voyage 2. Solstice 3. Chain Reaction Side TWO 1. Pendulum Force 2. Air Quake 3. Ocean Glide

The much acclaimed city pop masterpiece with flavors of boogie-disco, funk and fusion and the soulful voice of Eri Ohno. Originally released in 1981 and repressed on vinyl for the very first time from the original master tapes.
Limited edition. Comes with insert.

An album deemed by many to be Chicago-native Cecil Lyde’s crowning achievement, Out Break was released in 1984 with his group Home Boy and the C.O.L. - the follow-up to 1982’s self-titled debut for the group. While many of Lyde’s earlier works redeem the charms of their lo-fi production qualities, the ambition of Out Break is plain to see as the band erupts into 8 minute opener “You Turn Me Out,” and deliver an 80s electro-funk record packed with hits. This album is a wholesome, luxurious listening experience, and reflective moments like the ballad “I Don’t Want To Be A Movie Star,” broadens the dynamic range by easing the pace and building tension via passionate vocal harmonies. P-vine is thrilled to be reissuing the album as a limited edition LP with an iconic Japanese obi strip attached.

We Want To Play was the second and final album from North Carolina vocal and instrumental group Brief Encounter. First released in 1981 on the Californian label Music Town Records, their take on modern soul and boogie has been popular with rare record collectors from all over with their large nine-member group creating a wall of sound with powerful vocal harmonies. P-vine is excited to be reissuing the album under its Groove-Diggers imprint on limited 180g vinyl with an iconic Japanese obi strip.

As disco legends Giorgio Moroder and Cerrone were pumping out disco hits in 1979 a lesser known Bernard Estardy was releasing leftfield disco under aliases like Estrak Lancios, L.E.B. Harmony, and Universal Energy. Limited reissue with pic sleeve. Mystery colored vinyl. Preorders suggested!

NEW A rare sought-after LP of French proto-disco from Bernard Estardy (aka Estrak Lancios) alongside Jean-pierre Bourtayre. Composed during 1977, the time when space was the place and cosmic DJ Daniele Baldelli was rocking the world at Italian discotheques. Mystery colored vinyl

We’re proud to announce the re-issue of this obscure Hi-NRG banger by Bobby Orlando! Comes with an additional DJ cut by Vanzetti & Sacco. 'You can watch them making love on video'

A re-issue of this timeless italo ballad produced by Italian percussionist Massimo Pacciani. The song was recorded in 1984 in Marzio Bennelli’s studio in Florence with an Oberheim Ob-x, Yamaha DX7, Marzio on guitar and the great vocals of Riccardo Galardini. They took inspiration from Flashdancers – Maniac (an italo cover of Michael Sembello’s ‘Maniac’) which they recorded the same day in Bennelli’s studio. Remastered from original master tapes.