Customer Reviews

Billboard Top Dance: 1977

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This is the second CD in the Billboard Top Dance Hits series that I have reviewed, the first being the 1976 volume. If you look at my reviews, you may notice that I am a big fan of disco music. I particulary like finding rare gems and songs that I never knew existed. In the 70's, I was in my pre-teens and too young to go to discos. The only disco songs I knew at them time were the crossover hits by the likes of Donna Summer, The Bee Gees, and KC & the Sunshine Band. I enjoy hearing the club hits that did not crossover. Too me it is like brand new music even though it may be 25 years old. I love this CD and have listened to it many times over the years. Here is a track by track review:

1. Overture by DC LaRue: Mostly an instrumental with a prominent horn section that is reminiscent of KC & the Sunshine Band. Has a bit of a disco/jazz/funk fusion to it.

2. Quiet Village by the Ritche Family: Another song that is almost an instrumental. Has a very dated mid-70's sound. Almost sounds like generic music that they would play on TV shows in the 70's when a scene would be set in a disco.

3. Rumour Has It by Donna Summer: Another Donna classic that is best heard when you listen to the entire "Once Upon a Time" album from which it came. Back in the day, Donna released some great concept albums that had a unifying theme, as opposed to other albums that maybe had 1 or 2 hits and lots of filler.

4. Girl Don't Make me Wait by Pattie Brooks: Sort of a Donna Summer immitator who did not enjoy the crossover success of Donna.

5. San Francisco (You've Got Me) by The Village People: This was not a Pop hit as later Village People songs were, but I first heard this song in 1979 when Casey Kasem did a special Top 40 Countdown of the Top 40 Disco Songs. If I remember, this song was ranked as #1 (or at least in the Top 3), and I loved it the minute I heard it. The boys have been much maligned over the years, but they had some fun, catchy tunes.

6. Slowdown by John Miles: A Pop and Disco hit. John Miles was somewhat revolutionary in fusing a "rock" vocal to a disco beat.

7. I Feel Love by Donna Summer: A song that has been cited as an influence by a variety of artists ranging from The Rolling Stones to The Human League. A classic.

8. Hold Tight by Vickie Sue Robinson: The late, great Vickie Sue. She never duplicated the crossover success that she experienced with "Turn the Beat Around", which is a shame because she had such rich vocals. Listen to this song and hear what the world missed.

9. Got to Give it Up - Pt 1 by Marvin Gaye: I am not sure Marvin was trying to have a disco hit with this song, I think it was meant to be a funky number that just happened to click with the disco crowd.

10. Do What You Wanna Do by T-Connection: A great song that deserved to do much better at Pop radio than it did.

All of these songs reached either #1 or #2 on the Disco chart and certainly deserve inclusion on a disco compilation circa 1977. Great liner notes also.

With so many used copies available cheaply, it's well worth it for the oddity of the Pattie Brooks track which is over 10 minutes long and much different from the version that's on the original vinyl album "Love Shook." The version here is definitely the same studio take but mixed busier with more echoed effects. Interesting.