Disco | Boogie 42 Items

Returning for Volume 4 of the sought-after series, Glitterbox Jams is back with another red-hot delivery of dancefloor gems, ready to become a record box essential for all discerning disco DJs. The A-Side features two remixes of an early noughties dancefloor gem, as two esteemed disco editors Moplen and Dr Packer both take on ‘Love Will Be Our Guide’ from Mark Picchiotti presents Jersey Street. On the flip come two productions from Italian-Belgian producer Vito de Luca, donning his Aeroplane alias for a disco-infused remix of Marco Faraone & Greeko’s hip-house pumper ‘Armaghetton’, before swapping over to his Flush pseudonym to deliver the playful Balearic joy of ‘Come Back Baby’.

Unearthed by groove archeologist Betino Errera, this black gem was cut in Paris in 1980 by American vocalist Robert Helms. His French career being rather confidential with releases under his own name as well as Bobby Helms or simply Bobby, the Lay Down Girl album remained a well-kept secret for decades despite the fact that it contained two very strong disco-funk tunes.
Helms was backed by a seasoned studio band including Donny Donable (of Lafayette Afro Rock Band) on drums, Christophe Zadire (of Zulu Gang fame) on bass and Beckie Bell on backing vocals. The session was led by master musician Jacob Desvarieux on guitar, piano and synths, who was already at that time one of the founders of Kassav. These recordings were made under the supervision of Pierre Jaubert, who was a major player on the independent French production scene from the late 60s onward, operating his own studio, famous for also being a much appreciated meeting point for musicians. He is responsible for bringing forth works from legendary bluesmen like John Lee Hooker, Memphis Slim, Roosevelt Sykes and jazz greats including Mal Waldron, Archie Shepp and Charlie Mingus. But to funk lovers, Pierre Jaubert is mostly known for his involvement with the mythical Lafayette Afro Rock Band whose prominent breaks and riffs have been sampled by the most illustrious rappers including Public Enemy, De La Soul, Naughty by Nature, Digital Underground, Wu Tang Clan and Ice Cube to name just a few.
Today, Betino's Records reissues two very sought after tracks from the original album: "Feet On The Ground", cowritten by Desvarieux and Helms and "Sekele I Like It", written by Desvarieux and Pasteur Lappe, the latter hailing from Cameroon was the first one to record the song in 1979. In addition, both tunes get the contemporary rework treatment. Baptman and Betino editing the vocals out of "Sekele I Like It" then turning it into a very danceable Philly inspired dub. For his part, DJ Vas digs the Afrobeat seam on "Feet On The Ground", thickens the sauce with thumping bass lines and adds an "Earth Wind & Fire" feel by putting the emphasis on the horn section.
And last but not least, this 12inch pressing is limited to 700 copies worldwide.

This new 7” by Miqui Puig & ACP includes two tracks: a cover of ‘Occhi su di me', Italo disco via Roberto Sandrini via Billy Idol to end up in North Barcelona. The other track is ‘La del Galgo Viejo’, where house music is the background for this love song. Dancing is not an option.

Soundway Records re-issue the massively in-demand Soca cover-version of Sade’s classic cut “Sweetest Taboo” by Caribbean band Rebles from 1986.
In the late 80s, as electronic music permeated popular culture, Rebles helped define the soca genre outside of the Caribbean. Also known as D’ Rebel’s Band and led by St Vincentian band-leader and trombonist Denniston Young, the group were the 1980s house band for probably the largest Caribbean label, Strakers Records, based in Brooklyn, New York. Strakers released hundreds of Calypso and Soca releases over a thirty year period from 1970 to 2000.
Finally available again after becoming a big record with a number of open-minded contemporary DJs who play Soca, Zouk, Highlife and Soukous alongside Disco and House, the 12” has been officially licensed and re-mastered ready to hit the summer party season head-on.
This 12” paves the way for a big compilation album of Soca crossover sounds coming later this year on Soundway.

Batov Records‘ Middle Eastern Grooves 45s series welcomes the latest addition to its eclectic roster - a two-track EP from Eje Eje, the psych and funk inspired project from Satellites band leader and producer, Itamar Kluger.

PROH MIC follows up releases on ALL NATURAL and CHERRIES RECORDS with this 7" on TUGBOAT EDITS featuring covers of ROBERT PALMER on the A-side and SADE's "NOTHING CAN COME BETWEEN US" on the flip. He's been performing at STAR CREATURE shows the past year and has a collaboration with E LIVE coming up.

The brand new Anorax Records label’s mantra is #eatsleepcollect - which makes its’ debut release right on point.

Drizabone’s anthemic “Pressure” has become a huge collectors want with appeal to Modern Soul fans, Northern Soul followers and House addicts via the much loved Roger Sanchez remix.

Drizabone burst on to a dazzling British Soul scene in the early 1990’s, following the footsteps of Soul II Soul and Loose Ends, rubbing shoulders with the likes of The Brand New Heavies as UK acts laid down their own distinctive Soul DNA.

After debuting with “Real Love” which went from a mystery white label to a chart smash, Drizabone went on to record the iconic “Conspiracy” album.

“Pressure” has endured like fine wine and is now hailed as an all time classic.

Anorax present the original and very in-demand original backed with Roger Sanchez’s Nu- Solution remix on limited edition 7 inch single.

Re-issue of this Italo disco rarity from the year 1986. Side A contains the two rare original versions and as a highlight we present on side B two new and exclusive remixes by the Italo Disco legends Flemming Dalum and George Hysteric

Hattrick Innovations takes dance music seriously, and therefore there's no wonder why they time-travel back to the early 80s in this third release from the label. Here Starcatcher blends the raw edge and all-around synthetic sound which became a popular spin amongst DJ's like Ron Hardy and Larry Levan in the NY and Chicago underground scenes. This release also showcases two unique styles of dance music from that era, one being italo and the other Hi-Nrg. "Across the Universe" has a stripped back, darker approach while "Space Talk" is more spiritual, uplifting and melodic.

A welcome return from Sanctuary on their dependable Life Classics label. Short-run edit fun to be had here, with another 4 track selection of 80's Soul & boogie jams.

Originally released in 1975, "Atmosphere Strut" became an instant underground hit, cementing what was to become the signature sound for Patrick Adams — or as many have refered to him since — “the master of the masterpiece.” This futuristic and ethereal disco cut released on Peter Brown’s P&P label quickly became championed by Club DJ’s throughout the Northeast after legendary radio personality Frankie Crocker broke the record on the New York Airwaves. Although Patrick Adams has had a string of hits in his career, "Atmosphere Strut" remains a cult Classic for Disco aficionados. A mixture of modern sounds via the minimoog to an urban vibe at the time when parties happenned in the streets of Harlem and parks in the Bronx. Add Sylvia Striplin’s melodic chorus and you have yourself the perfect Disco Song. This Extended Disco-Mix from 1979 (On Queen Constance) retains all the qualities that made "Atmosphere Strut" a classic, but optimizises it for the Club. More percussions and an uptempo beat to make you fly away from the streets and straight into the Disco.

Back in the day a very young Clyde Alexander went into the studio with Gary Davis and Sanction at the behest of Mr. Peter Brown. The cut they laid down that day has been sought after and filling dance floors ever since. Gary Davis and his neighbor Truck constructed what many believe to be the ultimate hook in "Gotta Get Your Love". Gary's lavish yet simple arrangement and Trucks lyrics are backed with one of the most solid bass lines you'll ever hear over a beat so steady it's like bedrock. This record is so tight it's hard to believe every player at this session was in their teens when this was laid down on tape. That is with the exception of Gary Davis who was the elder statesman of this outing at the advanced age of 24. Give this one a spin and you'll understand how Gary and his crew from Camden made history that afternoon in '79.

One of London’s most loved underground parties, Tangent, celebrates its 10th birthday this year with a new compilation on Mr Bongo. Its residents, John Gómez and Nick the Record, have curated a selection of prized, rare and dancefloor-ready tracks that have soundtracked the past decade of their parties. Alongside remastered reissues of these original cuts, the CD version of the compilation also houses three incredible edits from Nick, John and Dan Tyler of the Idjut Boys. These were too good not to press onto vinyl, so we’ve given them the standalone 12" they deserve.

Contextualising their edits Nick states, “Tangent was not only the place for us to play the music we love the most, it also became the testing ground for our edits. It was really helpful being able to see the effect each of these had on a dancefloor before the records were released and many of them also became firm Tangent classics.”

Up first, Nick is joined by Dan Tyler (Idjut Boys), who he runs the edit label Record Mission with, for a furiously feel-good re-edit of Leo Basel’s ‘Quelle Drôle De Vie’. Basing their edit on the 1987 ‘Special Remix’, it does what any great re-work does, dropping the sections from the original that don’t quite hit the mark, whilst focussing on the gold in amongst it all. The result is a slice of peak-time, French boogie joy, that will warm even the coldest hearts.

John then joins Dan at the dials for a cosmic revamp of Love Isaacs 'Surprise Surprise'. A serving of ‘80s electro-funk, dripping in swagger with a highlife tinge. John and Dan extended the grooves for maximum dancefloor power, space echoing it into the stratosphere at all the juiciest points.

Lastly, Nick takes on Rick Asikpo and Afro Fusion 'Let's Get High' from the super sought-after 1980 album, Got To Be Me. Celestial, gospel-infused soul from Nigeria, Nick homes in on the energetic last 2 minutes of the original as the building block of his 12-minute edit. A completely reworked, feverishly paced creation, Nick switches the sections around, saving the slow, soulful segment for a brilliant cosmic breakdown before the track erupts back into its full flow. Synthesised, jazz-funk elation from start to finish!

What's my return on love is a killer boogie track from 1983, produced by the great Donald Burnside. The B side features an inedit Tony Massera Dub Version of that song. The original release from 1983 exists only as 7" and it's extremely rare and pricy.

Remembering the Classic tune "Let Your Body Do The Talkin", Shock was an amazing Funk band run by Marlon McClain & Roger Sause. The Lies EP is an extended version of the mega rare and expensive 12" released in 2011 on Boogie Times Records. It features the songs Lies as a splendid Tony Massera re-edit Version, as well as the original version from 1984. Work Your Body is featured as well and new added on this version is now the song YOU GOT THE Love, which has never been released before on vinyl.

The latest release in the much loved Mr Bongo Record Club Series, Available on CD, 2LP Standard Vinyl & Special Edition 2LP Pink Translucent Vinyl. Curating the tracks for a Mr Bongo Record Club compilation is always such a pleasure. At a time when the expression "Music is My Sanctuary" has an even greater cathartic impact for many people, we set out to make this volume an extra special one - like an old favourite mixtape or playlist. For Volume 4 in this series we continue in the same mould as with previous editions, selecting current favorites and rare lost gems from the Brazilian, African, soul, funk, and disco genres. We present tracks from artists such as Azwon, Cindy & The Playmates, and Zé Roberto to name just a few. However, one main departure and progression to this edition is the first time inclusion of recordings by contemporary artists. These come from Matthew Tavares (of Badbadnotgood fame), Wax Machine, and DJ Format & The Simonsound, which were originally featured on either limited private press vinyl releases or were previously only available digitally. We felt their inclusion was important and wanted to share these wonderful discoveries with a wider audience. They also complement, enrich, and fit perfectly with the flow and journey of the compilation. Here at Mr Bongo we hope you will enjoy this selection of seventeen eclectic songs (in tempo and style) as much as we do, whether they make you move your feet, take you on a trip somewhere, or trigger a happy memory.

What A Funky Night! Now officially remastered from the original analogue master tapes and pressed onto wax in its full length as a super sound single with the original artwork and extensive liner notes. Right in time for the 40th anniversary of this killer boogie funk tune straight outta Vienna. On the flipside you got a previously unreleased version of Marihuana that surfaced during the reissue process. This earlier version was recorded during the 'Camera' LP sessions - slower than the familiar version on the 'Tight' LP.

It's a pleasure for us to present one of the most awaited albums of the MM Saturns saga, a record on which we have been working for almost 3 years, and it finally sees the light.

Corben introduces us to "Peachland," an introspective retro-futuristic journey where early electro and downtempo go hand in hand in order to create a cybernetic vision of the '80s subculture. It's like an inner spaceship that immerses you in infinite space, allowing you to reach unknown universes.

Pure no-wave nostalgia filled with contagious vocoders and hypnotic synthesizers that shape a dreamlike and unsettling landscape, in which Corben shows us what could be the most sentimental and human side of an imaginary and futuristic artificial intelligence.

T.H.S (The Horne Section) is a brilliant Boogie band by Henry Horne, the writer of the song "Kinky Girl" by THE Creations. T.H.S also performed the memorable classic tune Lady Shine. "The Unreleased Album" is a compilation of previously unreleased boogie tracks, recorded during 1981-1984. For the first time issued as a CD on Boogie Times Records in 2010, first time on vinyl on Saph Records in 2016 (a sub-label of Boogie Times), reissued on vinyl in an extremely limited edition of 200 opies only in early 2024.

Unavailable for years, the reissue of Kassav' legendary first album released for the RSD. Founding album of the modernization of Guadeloupe music, it will give birth a few years later to the global zouk phenomenon. This version gathers for the first time the original version as the American version of the album (4 different tracks).

"Automatic Soul, like my previously compiled Late Night Tales Music For Pleasure, is based very much on a sound. It's a sound that I feel has been overlooked: 80s R&B-infused music, with drum machines, synths and invariably brilliant vocals. It’s formed the bedrock of my rare groove sets for all the years I’ve played. It’s not the most fashionable, but to me it’s the perfect marriage of technology and soul, hence the title for this album, Automatic Soul. There are plenty of songs I could have included, and no doubt some that I shouldn’t, but I’ve tried to represent what’s best to me from this era. It’s not a classic Late Night Tales. It’s a pretty personal journey, which I hope some of you might be willing to share." Tom Findlay Groove Armada September 2014.

Profondo Nero compiled by Cinema Royale Profondo Nero narrates a storyline that goes beyond the borders of Italy’s musical legacy. Cutting across the face of Italo disco’s leftfield musicians between the early and late ‘80s, Profondo Nero champions a multi-faceted sound that nods to the blueprint of Italo disco but tries to dig deeper. The music is unmistakably Italo disco but moves away from the familiar classic sound. Amsterdam based collector Cinema Royale stitches together eleven tracks from 1983 – 1989, celebrating a sound he fittingly describes as ‘leftfield Italo’. The compilation connects the dots between soulful disco (Louise Freeman – Mirage), synth-pop (Mark – Dreamland), electro-rap (Loukas Thanos – Jazzburger), breaks (Santoro – Lover Message), 80s dub disco (Jet Set – Love Break), Balearic (Isamar & Compañia - No Estas), boogie (Tom Hooker – Talk With Your Body) and proto-house (International Music System - An English ’93). Profondo Nero’s title salutes the legendary oeuvre of Italian horror director Dario Argento. His Profondo Rosso (1975) is a classic example of exquisite cinematic storytelling, boasting courageous colors, expressionist camera angles and an unforgettable Goblin score forming the ingredients for an intriguing piece of art. Profondo Rosso’s music, created the spark for a new Dekmantel Records endeavor led by Amsterdam based experimental film score connoisseur, record collector and DJ Cinema Royale. For those in the know of underground Amsterdam music culture, Arne Visser aka Cinema Royale is among the city’s longest standing record collectors. Born to an Italian mother and Dutch father, Arne was brought up on a diet of Italo disco in the 80s. Cinema Royale explains: ‘For Profondo Nero I took a plunge into the lesser known fringes of Italo disco. From there I tried to connect, among others, San Francisco boogie, Balearic, Japanese late era Italo-electro and synth-pop funk. I hope you can hear what I had in mind: an infectious showcase of my take on traditional Italo disco that will hopefully get a lot of listeners itching for a spin. It’s fair to say that lately this particular sound has seen a reappraisal and renewed interest. As a party-starting collection for entry-level connoisseurs or suave but lazy types, I hope Profondo Nero can be an education. I’m not claiming I’m the first DJ or collector to do so, but I did try do present something special by digging deep.’ It wasn’t my goal to unearth the most obscure tracks, instead I wanted to compose a compilation that takes you on a journey. ‘In my opinion the best DJs create something extraordinary out of illogical selections by combining music against all odds and showing different kind of moods along the way. There’s a certain amount of arrogance involved: you take the music out of its original context. But by doing so in a very conscious way, you might be able to enhance the power of the individual records. Hopefully each song on Profondo Nero provides an intimate and memorable experience.’

Archie Bell & The Drells, People's Choice, Teddy Pendergrass, Lou Rawls. The legendary partnership of NYC's Disco godfather Tom Moulton and Philadelphia International Records has long been documented. A truly explosive collaboration that yielded endless classic tracks for dancers and deep listeners alike, Moulton seemed to be totally in tune with the labels output and the direction it should go in. Luckily we've been enjoying the fruits of this labour for the last 30+ years with a lot of these PIR classics becoming ingrained in the psyche of the modern day music fan as the building blocks of House music.

The legendary partnership of NYC's Disco godfather Tom Moulton and Philadelphia International Records has long been documented. A truly explosive collaboration that yielded endless classic tracks for dancers and deep listeners alike, Moulton seemed to be totally in tune with the labels output and the direction it should go in. Luckily we've been enjoying the fruits of this labour for the last 30+ years with a lot of these PIR classics becoming ingrained in the psyche of the modern day music fan as the building blocks of House music.

The definitive survey of America’s independent 70s soul scene, and a companion piece to Now-Again’s long-running Soul Cal series. “(Soul Cal) captures the retro-utopian vision of a past where every smalltown record store or garage in the US might have hidden a virtuosic funk outfit; the thrill of knowing that jobbing musicians might be getting paid for the first time; plus the bittersweet knowledge that those that passed on are getting deserved recognition. And all that before you get the thrill of the music itself.” - Wire Magazine.

lost 80s groover from Bay Area Soulster Fats Gaines is stepping out here with vocalist Zorina London!

Fats Gaines was a jazz musician and orchestra leader born in Kansas, who had a significant presence in the San Francisco Bay music scene from the early 1950s to the first half of the 1980s. He experimented with various musical genres throughout his career, including Rhythm and Blues, Soul, Funk, and Disco, but he always maintained the guiding presence of jazz in his music.

His debut on record occurred in 1952, and although he had a prolific career as a live musician, his discography output was relatively limited and scattered. He recorded only half a dozen singles until 1983, which can be attributed to various reasons, including the volatile nature of the music industry and the difficulty in finding record labels willing to record jazz and other less popular musical genres.

Despite his lack of commercial recognition, Fats Gaines is remembered by many as a talented saxophonist and orchestra leader who significantly contributed to the San Francisco Bay music scene. His music and legacy continue to be appreciated by jazz fans worldwide.

Louisiana born and creed: Zorina spent her formative years in San San Francisco Hunter Point district. She aspired to be an all-around entertainer; though her parents couldn't afford dance lessons, she hung around dance schools until the opportunity arose to show her dancing ability. Soon thereafter, she began dancing with various troupes and graduated as a leading dancer-choreographer for Kemo channel 20's variety program. She also began modelling professionally and won the Top Bay Area Model Award and the Knights of Honor Beauty Pageant in 1972. Also, during this time, she began working at San Francisco's Playboy Club, hoping for more opportunities and exposure. Besides her dancing ability, she exhibited her singing and acting abilities as well, with notables Carol Channing, comedian Prof. Irwin Corey and songstress Randy Crawford.

Currently, Zorina continues her career as a singer, actress, and human rights activist in Taiwan.

Maximum Wattage White Vinyl! In the midst of the UK house rave-olution of the early-'90s, London's V4 Visions imprint documented the confluence of street soul, deep house, swingbeat, and jungle sounds emanating from the clubs and pirate radio signals. Over the course of half a decade, V4's unparalleled 12" output referenced every significant Black British music scene; from lovers rock to jazz-funk, sound system reggae to hip hop, new jack swing to garage, from artists Ashaye, Julie Stapleton, Maureen Mason, Rohan Delano, The Wades, and Endangered Species. This 18-track double LP is the first critical overview of the label, with extensive notes by Simon Reynolds, era-defining photographs, and fresh remasters, all housed in a glorious foil-stamped gatefold tip-on sleeve. Is this a dream?