Customer Reviews

54: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture, Volume 2

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While Volume II of the 54 soundtrack falls within the 1977-1979 era, there are two tunes that go outside that boundary, plus the new song that starts off the blue disc, a neo-disco cover of Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind" sung by Ultra Nate, Amber, and Jocelyn Enriquez, played at the end of the movie. The rest of the CD is vintage disco not found on Pure Disco, save maybe two.

Gonzalez's "Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet" follows, and it's one of the most engaging selections here. There is a midsection featuring only congas, whistles, and vocals, but afterwards, it goes back to overdrive.

The inspirational Bonnie Pointer's "Heaven Must Have Sent You", penned by the Holland/Dozier/Holland team, comes next, being one of her best solo numbers after leaving the Pointer Sisters. Those bells and Bonnie's little sighs really do it for me here.

Brainstorm's "Loving Is Really My Game" has an intense galloping rhythm. Another overdrive disco classic!

The slower tempo "Disco Nights (Rock-Freak) by GQ relies more on sounds and bass. Listening to some elements here makes me realize where Prince got "Let's Work", particularly the "Rock-Freak" chant.

With "Found A Cure" I bet the husband-and-wife team of Ashford and Simpson were glad to have a hit for themselves instead of giving hits to the likes of Ronnie Milsap, the Shirelles, and Ray Charles. Ashford's falsetto and Simpson's bright and smooth vocals work wonders together. Their composition "The Boss" for Diana Ross is on 54, Volume I, BTW.

Thelma Houston's rework of "Don't Leave Me This Way" is another necessary disco classic, and is the earliest track on this volume (1976). This song was later taken to the UK #1 in the 80's by the Communards.

Weird, heavy, and insistent electronic funk provides the backbeat for the S.O.S. Band's late entry (1980) "Take Your Time (Do It Right)."

Then comes the Latin-tinged "Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", by Santa Esmeralda, with the well-known refrain, "I'm just a poor boy who's intentions are good/se, please don't let me be misunderstood." Alabina later did this on their Alabina II album.

"SPANK...ooh ooh ooh ooh", huh? Kind of in the same vein as Bowie's "Fame" but Jimmy "Bo" Horne's "Spank", complete with handclaps, humming bassline, and sax refrains isn't as jam-packed as the other tunes.
Shimmering space age sounds dot War's funky "Galaxy" and is a wish to get away from the rat race and hit the stars.

Three songs need no introduction here. They are Grace Jones' "I Need A Man", Blondie's "Heart Of Glass" (disco remix clocking in at 3:19), and Silver Convention's "Fly Robin Fly."

Not a bad compilation of material, as good as its companion red disc.

I am a dee jay and found that both cd's are excellent. it is very hard to find these songs on cd or record. This is a great party cd or dance cd. I have played the songs on here many times on the air and have used them in commercials and production spots. Definately own both volumes.

Far better than "54 part 1", this disc reminds one of happier---and...ok younger times. "If You Could Read my Mind" starts the party, and along the way you find Grace Jones ( " I Need A Man") France Joli (" Come To Me") along with many others---all good.Studio 54 was, for better or worse, a happy place---you felt special when you were there---no rules, great crowd and music that made everyone go wild---Let'sdo it again!. Give this disc a try---you should like it- sit down with a cocktail and remember Halston, Andy, Liza, Bianca, and Calvin in their prime! ...and no red velvet rope either! Enjoy!

I`ve been addicted to the disco music of the late 70`s early 80`s for a few years now. (I`m 18 by the way) I continue to be surprised by the beauty of disco, and boy did song #4 on this cd surprise me! "Loving Is Really My Game" has become one of my all time favorites. It`s a disco diamond from `77.
The other songs on the CD aren`t too shabby either. Classy disco, funky disco, it`s all here.

If you must have one of the soundtracks to "54" then consider the second of the CD's. Not that that is saying much. The music must have played at the straight, leisure suited discos of the 70's because the heat generating, pulse pounding music I remember is mostly missing from this lukewarm retrospective.

With the exception of the wonderful, "Don't Leave Me This Way" there will be no flashbacks to the energetic nights spent dancing under the disco ball crammed sweaty body to sweaty body just waiting for the next beat to grab the crowd and push you higher and higher.

Studio 54? I don't think so. More like TGIFridays Happy Hour. Trust me, I was there!

Takes me back to the disco years, when I was in college. Good memories. Love it! A must for all of us who spent many a nights at the local disco!

You will not be disapointed! "Heaven must have sent you" is a FANTASTIC song...what beats, and what a voice on Bonnie Pointer! Other highlights are:

If You Could Read My Mind
Disco Nights
Heart of Glass
Take Your Time (do it right)
Fly Robin Fly

it took me back to a time in my life when life was like take life by the horns and dance like no tomorrow

if you like disco music then youll love this cd... all great songs from back in the day....

ok...what happened to MY favorite song in the movie "54", the soundtrack version of Hang On In There Baby by Johnny Bristol?!?!?! :(