Customer Reviews

Disco Years 1

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

 

 

Rhino has assembled a good collection of commercially popular disco tunes, but the real reason for disco's popularity - the extended mixes that created the backbone of club culture and enabled people to dance for hours - has eluded them. All the tracks featured in this collection are radio edits. Consequently, the listener is faced with a collection of dated ditties rather than hearing the tunes as they were meant to be heard: dancefloor epics that sweep you up. Significant misdemeanours include Love Hangover, Don't Leave Me This Way, and You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real), all of which rely on extended intros and breaks for the desired impact. If you have fond memories of these tracks as radio highlights then you'll enjoy this collection; If, however, you want to groove to the roots of today's dance music culture, look elsewhere.

Rhino Records started out as a company that reissued classic music from the 50's and 60's. Later, they branched out into the 1970's. As they progressed into the 70's, they made a decision to start reissuing disco music. This was somewhat of a controversy at the time. I mean, these people were hardcore 60's rockers. These were the kind of people who hated disco music. However, some of the people at Rhino must have realized there was money to be made in reissuing disco music that had basically vanished off of the face of the earth for much of the 80's. They started off by issuing greatest hits compilations by artists like KC & the Sunshine Band and the Village People. With the success of those CD, Rhino decided to issue "The Disco Years Vol 1" and "The Disco Years Vol 2" in 1990. Volume 1 was mostly early disco music and Volume 2 was mostly later disco music. These 2 volumes contain some of the best disco music from that era. The success of these 2 volumes resulted in more volumes being released by Rhino in 1992. Those later volumes contain some very rare and obscure disco songs. This volume contains the most hits. All of the songs included here were not only disco hits, but they were also Top 40 Pop hits, except for one. The only oddball song on this CD is "Miss Broadway" by Belle Epoque. I bought this CD when it came out in 1990, so I have listened to it many times and have gotten used to "Miss Broadway" over the years. But for most people just wanting hits, this song will be the only non-hit that you will likely want to skip over. Otherwise, this CD is highly recommended.

This is an exceptional collection that most people would find enjoyable. I bought this album (along with the 6 other volumes) years ago, but I still play it a few times a year. The well-known hit songs during this time period are here: "The Hustle", "Disco Inferno", and "Love Hangover".

This is my suggestion: You must buy the other six volumes. Sure, even if you buy those there are still LOTS of notable songs missing. What Rhino tried to do was gather the well-known songs instead of "rare, hard-to-find". The packaging is superb: nice liner notes, pictures, and song credits.

The first and best of Rhino's "Disco Years" compilations. "Turn the Beat Around" offers 16 dance tracks ranging from Van McCoy's "The Hustle" to The Trammps' "Disco Inferno." Notable artists include KC & The Sunshine Band, Rose Royce and Thelma Houston. All that's missing are Donna Summer and Chic (both featured in later Rhino volumes). Though a memorable time capsule, you should look elsewhere for extended club mixes - preferably Rebound's excellent "Disco Nights" series.

Rhino has put together a classic collection of pure disco. All the songs were top radio and club hits. Sound quality is great. All songs are the radio edits, but that suits me just fine.

Yep, they're all here. Well, almost all of them. No Donna Summer, the queen of disco. But with the vast , even radio ready playlist available, especially on the always excellent Rhino Records, there are no problems. Try to get as many of these anthologies as possible, since one CD can't hold it all. You just don't hear this stuff on the radio much anymore.

I see your point Mr. NY Club DJ (I'm form PA) but I like dated ditties. Good easy on the ears, yet up beat, light and lively music one can hum along to and be happy is getting rarer and rarer, Along with classic Doo Wopp, There just ain't stuff like that any more.

Bring back the good old days. Yes, they were really that good.

I have heard the songs in this cd and hope others will like it as I did. It is a very good compilation af music that created an explosive era in dance music. Something to be heard to remember times when music was for dancing the night away.

This is a great collection of disco songs, covering 1974 to 1978. Almost all of the songs were big hits, with seven of the songs going all the way to #1. The one song that wasn't a hit is "Miss Broadway", which is a delightfully obscure example of what's known as Eurodisco. This is a very well chosen compilation album.

The popularity of this CD and its companion forced a reevaluation of disco music that has rescued it from the ashbin of music. .... The eighties gave us music and "culture" that was decidedly anti-disco: ....Generation X realized three things:
1.) Anything can be enjoyable with heavy doses of irony
2.) Anything yuppies didn't like can't be all bad.
3.) it's got a good beat and you can dance to it, what else do you need? Now let's get a beer and boogie!
This was great, well-produced music. Don't over analyze it! Just get down!

The Disco Years, Volume 1: Turn the Beat Around is 56 minutes and 49 seconds and was released on June 12, 1990. The are sixteen songs on this CD. The songs range from #1 all the way to #92 on the Billboard charts. There are at least ten #1 songs on this CD. Most of those #1's come from artist who were not one hit wonders like KC & The Sunshine Band. The disco music on this CD cover the years from 1974-1978. The Disco Years, Volume 1: Turn the Beat Around gets an AAA+++.

The Hustle-Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony
#1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles
#1 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles
Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance-1976
Shame, Shame, Shame-Shirley & Company
#12 U.S. Billboard Pop Charts
Never Can Say Goodbye-Gloria Gaynor
#9 U.S. Billboard Pop Charts
#34 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles
#1 U.S. Billboard Disco\Dance Chart
That's The Way (I Like It)-KC & The Sunshine Band
#1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles
#1 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles
Car Wash-Rose Royce
#1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles
#1 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles
#3 U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
More, More, More (PT. 1)-Andrea True Connection
#4 U.S. Billboard Pop Singles
#23 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles
#1 U.S. Billboard Club Play Singles
#1 U.S. Billboard Disco Singles
Disco Inferno-The Trammps
#11 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles
(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty-KC & The Sunshine Band
#1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles
#1 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles
Love Hangover-Diana Ross
#1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles
#1 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles
#1 U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
Don't Leave Me This Way-Thelma Houston
#1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles
#1 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles
#1 U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
Turn the Beat Around-Vicki Sue Robinson
#10 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles
Boogie Oogie Oogie-A Taste of Honey
#1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles
#1 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles
#1 U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)-Sylvester
#36 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles
#1 U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play
Dance With Me-Peter Brown
#8 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles
#5 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles
Miss Broadway-Belle Epoque
#92 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles
Shake Your Groove Thing-Peaches & Herb
#5 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles