Motown Disco [Import, Original recording remastered]

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 8, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Universal UK
• ASIN: B0002W15B4
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #188,841 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Law of the Land [Original LP Version]

2. Keep on Truckin' [Original LP Version]

3. Love Hangover [Original LP/12" Version]

4. Down to Love Town [Original 12" Promo Version]

5. High Energy [Original 12" Mix]

6. Date with the Rain [Original LP Version]

7. Saturday Night, Sunday Morning [Extended Version]

8. Got to Give Up [Original LP Version]

9. You and I [Original LP/12" Version]

10. Standing on the Verge (Of Getting It On) [Original LP/12" Version]

See all 22 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Need to Know You (Better) [Original 12" Mix]

2. I Was Born This Way [Original 12" Mix] - Carl Bean

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Carl Bean, Tata Vega, Thelma Houston, Ms. Ross 12"s = PRICELESS!, November 12, 2005

By 

G. Mitchell "greggmitch" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Motown Disco (Audio CD)

While the market is facing a severe glut of disco, 80s, 70s flashback compilations as labels scramble to cash-in on their catalogs, THIS compilation is really something special - and, of course, it's a UK IMPORT, not a U.S. domestic release, which is very revealing. Why is that MOTOWN itself based in AMERICA cannot fathom the musical and historical value of these amazing disco/funk/soul cuts? Why must it take a nation overseas to finally cull, collect, and preserve for posterity these tracks? That said, this compilation is absolutely BRILLIANT - featuring several songs that are hard to find on CD, including one of my favorite songs ever: CARL BEAN's gospel-infused, uplifting pro-gay anthem "BORN THIS WAY" - it was remixed in the 80s by Pettibone & Forrest for Next Plateau (I prefer that mix, actually) and smapled for Jaques Lu Cont/Pour Homme's Born This Way a few years back on Wall of Sound in France, but this is the glorious original mix, raising the roof - and one of the earliest examples of anyone having the guts to sing the word "GAY" much less in such a soul-stirring, positive light - mucho props for Motown and Bean, and where is Carl NOW? (I know he's a Rev. and used to ran an AIDS hospice, but so far hasn't recorded since?!) - Also on hand are key cuts by the amazing TATA VEGA ("Get It Up for Love" - a Larry Levan favorite - why doesn't Motown re-issue any of TATA's OOP CDs on Tamla - hello?!), THELMA HOUSTON, DIANA ROSS, MARVIN GAYE, TEENA MARIE, and many, many more - buy it now, so that everyone can savor, cherish, and respect these important disco traxx. Disco never died, it just changed names, i.e. house, garage, etc. Final note: look for WEST END's upcoming CD-reissue of Carl Bean's BORN THIS WAY this/next month, featuring the stunning 1984 REMIXES by SHEP PETTIBONE and BRUCE FORREST that appeared on the ultra-rare but cherished Next Plateau 12"!! -

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a Motown Disco Compilation!, August 20, 2005

By 

John L. Hughes, Jr. "hughes_jr" (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Motown Disco (Audio CD)

MOTOWN DISCO finally pays tribute to Motown's contribution to the 70s disco movement. When it comes to disco, historians automatically think of TK or Casablanca as the ultimate disco labels while leaving out Motown. Some historians seem to forget that Motown was Billboard magazine's #1 disco label in 1974 and 1975.

Smash #1 pop hits "Love Hangover" (Diana Ross), "Got To Give It Up" (Marvin Gaye), "Keep On Truckin'" (Eddie Kendricks) and "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Thelma Houston) are here in their 12" version glory. However, the real treat is the rare cuts by such Motown disco acts as Tata Vega, The Dynamic Superiors, Finished Touch, Platinum Hook (with its take on the Funkadelc classic "Standing On The Verge Of Gettin' It On"), and Carl Bean ("I Was Born This Way", one of the first known gay pride disco anthems ever. Not bad for 1978).

Overall, this collection offers proof that Motown made great dancefloor stompers during the 70s, while retaining the soul that made the label special in the first place. Here's hoping there'll be a sequel.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant compilation, September 24, 2005

By 

Tom (Toronto) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Motown Disco (Audio CD)

Don't think that this is yet another disco compilation - this one is special. Motown rounds up some of its most popular disco/dance tracks from the 70's and early 80's including Diana Ross's "Love Hangover" and "The Boss"; Thelma Houston's euphoric "Don't Leave Me This Way"; Marvin Gaye's 11-minute epic, "Got to Give it Up", and Teena Marie's "Behind the Groove". It also features obscure classics such as Thelma Houston's "Saturday Evening, Sunday Morning" and Carl Bean's groundbreaking "I Was Born This Way", one of the first gay disco anthems, and in fact, one of the first gay anthems to even include the word "gay". There are also some early tracks from Rick James, making this a collection of classics and rarities.

What also sets this apart from other disco compilations is that Motown never fed into the cheesy aspects of disco (ie. Village People) so you won't find "Y.M.C.A" or "Disco Duck" here.

Motown may be better known for its classics from the 60's but in the 70's I think they became far more interesting. The music became edgier, and stars like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and even Diana Ross, strived for both artistic credibility and commercial success and frequently achieved both.

This compilation demonstrates that Motown could move with the times but they never lost their edge -- or their funk. A highly enjoyable collection