Customer Reviews

Disco Box

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Disco Box" is an excellent starting point for folks wanting a thorough retrospective of the top disco hits of the 70's and early 80's. With this set and the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack (or a good Bee Gees retrospective), the casual fan will have all they need for an entertaining listen.

Naturally, presenting these songs in their extended or 12" forms is beyond the scope or intent of this set, but, as usual, Rhino taints one of their "Various Artists" collections by including needlessly shortened versions of tracks, which makes it hard for collectors looking to get their hands on songs that could, in some respect, be construed as "full-length". For example, the very first song, "Love's Theme" is nearly 35 seconds shorter than the Love Unlimited Orchestra album version. It doesn't seem like it should have been too difficult to include this album-length version. Numerous other tracks suffer the same edit job. As a result of this pointless economizing, "Disco Box" get 3 stars.

Rhino's Disco Box set is a great collection of 80 songs spread over four discs with a nice booklet devoted not only to the artists but to the DJs and their place in disco's (and music's) history. However, if you're interested in more disco music than what's here (and don't mind spending a little more cash) I would recommend Rhino's seven volume The Disco Years series which has 122 songs and a more diverse selection of styles. Either way you go, if you have the Saturday Night Fever CD (of which from that collection only "Disco Inferno" appears on both the box set and the seven volume series) and Michael Jackson's Off The Wall CD you're primed up for some serious booty shaking!!

This is a nice sanitized set of top 40 songs and disco songs that made the top 40 and disco songs that never really did much.

I rate this CD according to my tastes, I'm sure it will please many.

People wonder why songs aren't on this set. That has a few reasons, some are:

1 - Not available to license for compiliations (some artists NEVER appear on comps for many reasons)

2 - The artists with the big big hits may want to much for the licensing of their track (either royalty or advance)

3 - The programmer's of the disc know only what they've been told and didn't live the era.

What I'm a fan of is the hardcore lost stuff. I played it then in the clubs and it lit up floors. Many people may remember them if they hit the clubs back then but the songs only were in the mixes or on DISCO stations, not the played out top 40 stuff

Examples: John Davis, Liquid Gold, Le Pamplemousse, France Joli, CJ & Company and others. This is nice but not deep.

This is probably the greatest collection of disco in one place. You get early hits like "Dancing Machine" and "Shame, Shame, Shame" and later stuff like "Disco Inferno" and "It's Raining Men." There are also some grea forgotten songs like Karen Young's "Hotshot" and Musique's "In the Bush." If you love disco, this is probably the only box set you will need, with the exception of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack and the greatest hits of Diana Ross and Donna Summer. They apparently couldn't get the rights to anything from the Bee Gees or Miss Ross, but they really should have got a hold of Taana Gardner's classic "Heartbeat." And how about a followup with the & and 12" remixes? Hmm?

Although this 4-disc, 80-song set was released a few years ago, there's good reason that The Disco Box is out front and center on the display shelf for all Christmas shoppers to admire. One look at the silver packaging, reminiscent of the original disco balls that used to hang in our favorite dance clubs, and you'll be pulled in like steel to a magnet. I was immediately impressed with the meticulous array of songs that are laid out in chronological order. The set begins with the birth of disco in 1974 with the Love Unlimited Orchestra's infectious and stunning instrumental "Love's Theme" and takes us all the way through to Kool & the Gangs' #1 smash "Fresh." Of the 78 other tracks, the ride through the 70's and early 80's gets even better with hits that include the original queen of disco Gloria Gaynor and her club anthem "Honeybee," to her successor Donna Summer and the dawn of electronic dance, the brilliant "I Feel Love." If you're looking for rarities, this isn't the set, but if it's radio and club hits such as Carol Douglas' "Doctor's Orders," Candi Staton's "Young Hearts Run Free," Karen Young's "Hot Shot," Sister Sledge's "He's The Greatest Dancer," McFadden & Whitehead's "Ain't No Stopping Us Now," Chic's "Good Times" and Patrice Rushen's "Forget Me Nots," you've come to the right place. And of course, there are the disco staples from Thelma Houston, The Weather Girls, Blondie, Sylvester, Village People, Cheryl Lynn and several more. Didn't see your favorite? Chances are it's on this set. But don't take my word for it, dance on down to the record store and feast your eyes and ears on this exquisite time capsule and the era that we all hold near and dear to our hearts...and feet! Trust me, it's "The Best Disco In Town." Yes, that song is also included. When's the last time you heard dance music this good? Artists are still delivering dance music, just check out Madonna's latest ode to disco, but can you honestly say it's as good as this golden era of music? Pass me a fan and a tambourine - this collection is worth its price in platform shoes.

Yes, there are dozens of major hits from mainstream disco included here. Yes, you recognize ALL the songs. Yes, it's great to have especially if you don't have these songs on CD. And yes, it is missing so much ESSENTIAL songs that I don't even know where to begin!

First, the packaging gets an A+ because it's loaded with plenty of pictures along with exhaustive liner notes. The some of the notes you may have already have known, but there might be something you didn't. No complaints here.

Second, the Bee Gees is missing but the rest of the mainstream artists are here along with their well-known hits. No complaints here.

Third, let me start with this question: is this suppose to be a BOX SET or just a 4-CD GREATEST DISCO HIT COLLECTION? I think the answer is obvious. If this was truly a box set, it would have (at the very least) included some rarities or maybe even some unreleased tracks that the fan would find enjoyable. Just something different. Where is "I Love America" by Patrick Juvet, for example? I can think of dozens of other rare or hard to find songs that would have been a welcomed addition.

To sum this up, the only major problem is this is only half the story of disco, the mainstream tracks. My suggestion is this: get this box set if you don't have these songs on CD. If you have the disco years (vol. 1-7), you won't need this (unless you want the liner notes).

I was never a big fan of disco until I heard this boxed set, released by Rhino Records in 1999. Now, I have come to appreciate it as one of the leading genres in music. Disco was every bit as important as the swing bands of the late 1930s' and 1940s', the r & b and doo - wop of the 1950s', or the British Invasion and Motown soul of the 1960s'. Disco has grown from a style of music to a legend. And this 4 - disc set keeps that legacy alive and running with 80 tracks that defined an era forever.

Discs 1 and 2 have most (not all) the monster hits that got the disco craze alive and kicking. Songs like "Dancing Machine" by The Jackson 5, "Rock The Boat" by the Hughes Corporation, "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston, "Shame" by Evelyn Champagne King, "Get Down Tonight" by KC And The Sunshine Band", "Disco Inferno" by The Tramps and a host of others still sound as fresh and funky as they did 30 years ago. And I defy anyone who listens to The Miracles' "Love Machine (Pt.1)" and Hot Chocolate's "You Sexy Thing" without jumping out of their seat and moving their feet.

Discs 3 and 4 are from disco's declining years, which does not mean that they're terrible. Here is where you'll find defining classics like "Y.M.C.A." by The Village People, "I Want Your Love" by Chic, "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" by Sylvester, "Instant Replay" by Dan Hartman", "Celebration" by Kool And The Gang, "Give It Up" by K.C., "Le Freak" by Chic and, of course, "I Will Survive" by Gloria Gaynor, probably the perennial dsico anthem. And who can forget Sister Sledge's feel -good anthem, "We Are Family"? Nobody, that's who.

As with all compilations, it's very easy to complain about ommisions, and "The Disco Box is no exception. While the people who recorded them (Rod Stewart and The Rolling Stones) are more associated with rock than disco, I think that "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" and "Miss You" should've been included. Also, any of the 4 disco - orientated Diana Ross hits between 1976 and 1980 could've been included, namely "Love Hangover" and "The Boss", though "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out" are worthy of inclusion. Most tellingly, nothing by The Bee Gees or Barry White is included. These two artists took ordinary dance music and propelled it into the stratosphere. In other words, disco classics like "Stayin' Alive", "You're The First, The Last, My Everything", "Jive Talkin'", "You Should Be Dancing", "Your Sweetness Is My Weakness", "Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Babe", "Night Fever", "You See The Trouble With Me", "Love You Inside Out" and a host of others are gone. And not to be picky, but I would've liked to have seen "If I Can't Have You", "Disco Duck" and "Shadow Dancing" included as well.

Still, the disco box is great for any disco fan. Four discs filled with hours of great music that defined an era. If you aren't a completist, it's the best disco compilation $ can buy.

Some people have written that this four CD box is not thorough enough in terms of which songs are presented here-and they have a point. Nevertheless, this boxed set is not to be overlooked--I consider this four CD set with its huge 60 page book to be an absolute essential for lovers of disco music everywhere. The sound quality is excellent, even on a small portable CD player; and the packaging is really cool with its shimmering white/grey coloration!

The CDs themselves are labeled rather simply with stars and the number of the CD; the song sets are written on the reverse of the box and inside the book as well with credits and the rankings each song achieved on the charts. You get great color photos in the 60 page book, too: The Jackson 5, Gloria Gaynor, Silver Convention, KC & The Sunshine Band, and many, many more! The liner notes are by Vince Aletti; and there is an essay by Brian Chin, too.

The booklet also includes commentary by DJs who played the trendy New York City clubs and hot spots elsewhere during the great years of disco. A really great treat full of insight and an awesome walk down memory lane! A list of "50 essential disco album" is included, too! A disco EXPLOSION!

Now, I have to say this, as I wrote above: This is not a completely thorough compilation of the disco era. There are few, if any, rarities. Sigh. You will not find the extended 12 inch forms of the songs, either--there's just not enough room for that here--even on a four CD set. Instead you get a lot of what were most likely the "AM radio" shorter versions of these songs. And, as Anthony Nasti (another Amazon reviewer) wrote, The Bee Gees and Diana Ross are not featured here. A big wagging finger of shame! That will cost this set one star.

So, you call this a tawdry period? No way! Disco produced a lot of great hits, good times in the disco clubs--and high profits for the artists, too. I give it four stars mostly because certain artists are not represented here. Therefore this is a superlative introduction to disco, or maybe part of a more comprehensive collection of disco hits for the more serious disco fans and collectors.

Whether you love it or hate it, you can't deny disco's appeal on the music community. For years, disco collections have been released numerous timea and all of them were basically trash. In 1999, Rhino Records tried to rectify that problem with the 4 - disc "Disco Box". White it comes close, it still isn't the definitve collection we're hoping for.

For starters, discs 1 and 2 contain little if any rarities. This one includes just the standard fare: "Dancing Machine" by the Jackson 5, "Shake Your Booty" by K.C. and the Sunshine Band (one of three songs by them on this disc alone), "Fly Robin Fly" by the Silver Convention", "Boogie Fever" by the Sylvers, and "Disco Inferno" by the Trammps, to name a few. Even if you are new to disco, it's highly unlikely that you haven't heard these songs on the radio or at a party. The only song here I consider a rarity is, unfortunately, the dreadful "I'm On Fire" by 5000 Volts.

Discs 3 and 4 get a little more adventurous by including a few disco rarities like "I Shoulda Loved Ya" by Narada Michael Walden (who later rose to fame by producing Whiteney Houston's biggest hits), "I'm Caught Up" (In A One Night Love Affair)" by Inner Life and two Sister Sledge masterworks, "Lost In Music" and "I Got To Love Somebody". But once again, standard fare like "We Ae Family", 'I Will Survive" (probably the perennial disco anthem), "Celebration" and "Heart Of Glass" outweigh any rarities.

Here are my major complaints. Several artists who were known for recording contemporary rock and pop music scored with one - time forays into disco. I'm talking about artists like Barry Manilow ("Copacabana"), The Rolling Stones ("Miss You")and Rod Stewart ("Da Ya Think I'm Sexy"). All these songs remain party staples today. More tellingly, three of discos biggest innovators, The Bee Gees, Barry White and Diana Ross (though the latter hardly if ever gets credit for it), are not featured at all. For The Bee Gees (called the Kings of Disco) created such rumpshakers as "Jive Talkin'" and "Stayin' Alive", to name two of the many.. White crafted songs like "You're The First, The Last, My Everything", "I'll Do For You Anything You Want Me To" and "Your Sweetness Is My Weakness". And what about Ms. Ross. Does anybody remeber "Love Hangover" (I would have also liked to have seen the original Fifth Dimension version included here), "The Boss", "Upside Down" and "I'm Coming Out"? Of course you do. Plus, Madonna gave us "Holiday" and "Like A Virgin", which could've easily been hits in 1979 as they were in 1983 and 1985, well after disco's so - called "death".

So, not essential. But if you want a good set of party songs that will get you on our feet, better this than the cheap, single - disc sets that I mentioned earlier.

When exploring the amazing genre of disco music, too many people limit themselves to the "hits". To be sure, radio stations during the late 70s and early 80s often limited their playlists to the hits alone, but this collection only barely scratches the surface of disco.

In my opinion, there are many excellent tracks in The Disco Box. Among the best are the songs by Sister Sledge and Chic, plus Ain't No Stopping Us Now, Turn The Beat Around, Disco Inferno, Never Can Say Goodbye, and Forget Me Nots. A lot of great singers are represented here, including Evelyn King, Thelma Houston, and Donna Summer. At the same time, a lot of the songs in this set are headache-inducing, like Disco Nights and Knock On Wood, and there's a lot of low-quality disco like Shake Your Booty, Get Dancin', and YMCA. Every genre has its high and low points. There are hundreds of much better disco songs than those. A complete disco set should have included excellent and timeless songs (many of them hits) like Give Me The Night by George Benson, Cocomotion by El Coco, Rock With You & Off The Wall by Michael Jackson, Spacer by Sheila & B. Devotion, The Love I Lost by Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes, I Like Love & High Society by Norma Jean Wright, and Never Knew Love Like This Before by Stephanie Mills. And what about super party songs like Stomp by the Brothers Johnson and Relight My Fire by Dan Hartman? They aren't here either. And it has already been pointed out that nothing by the Bee Gees is here. More recently there are superb disco songs by Jamiroquai like Cosmic Girl (1996) and Canned Heat (1999).

I hope that some people who buy The Disco Box will also check out other disco albums, especially the "Best Of" compilations of the great artists I mentioned above. Don't miss out on the hidden treasures!