Customer Reviews

Mutant Disco

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

 

 

Ze Records made a significant contribution in the late 1970s and early 1980s with their artists like Cristina Monet, Material, Was (Not Was) and Don Armando's 2nd Avenue Rumba Band. The original vinyl album had only six tracks so this expanded 2-disc CD is a massive improvement revealing much more of the glory of Ze.

In general, the music is a successful blend of dance and new wave. Wheel Me Out by Was (Not Was) is a sinister track with spoken vocals and an insistent chanting chorus over a nervous, funky rhythm. Busting Out has powerful vocals by Nona Hendryx over Eurodisco synths and electric guitars.

Cristina's two tracks include her interpretation of Drive My Car and her tongue-in-chic disco songs Blame It On Disco and Disco Clone. It is high time her legendary album Sleep It Off be re-released as it contains timeless masterpieces like He Dines Out On Death, The Lie Of Love and Van Morrison's Blue Money.

There is a strong mix of Latin, Big Band swing and mid-century pop in the tracks by Don Armando's 2nd Avenue Rumba Band, Gichy Dan and Coati Mundi - my favorite is Deputy Of Love with Fonda Rae on lead vocal. Ze's most successful act, Kid Creole And The Coconuts, contribute their huge hits, the tuneful Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy and I'm A Wonderful Thing Baby, whilst James White And The Blacks offer the sax-heavy Contort Yourself.

The other two tracks by Was (Not Was) are also minor classics and count amongst my favourites on this marvellous album of innovative music. It's a pity about the omissions though: Cristina's poignant Things Fall Apart and Christmas Rapping by The Waitresses, two great singles from the early 1980s. This CD contains a classy booklet with many photographs and informative liner notes on the artists and the Ze label.

ZE records assembles all its own underground dance stuff, in mostly full length versions, on one strong compilation. Mostly disco, and euro energy type dance tracks, the label throws in the odd track that doesn't quite fit the format, like the Waitresses classic "I Know What boys Like." A number of these songs, while not mainstream hits, were big billboard dance chart hits. Track times:

CD1
1 . wheel me out (7:08)
2. Bustin out (6:40)
3. Drive my car (3:21)
4. Annie I'm not your daddy (6:30)
5. Emile (6:48)
6. Contort yourself (6:18)
7. Funky stuff (4:12)
8. French boy (3:08)
9. Deputy of love (5:29)
10. Cowboys & gangsters (7:28)
11. Blame it on the disco (7:57)
12. Encore l'amore (8:55)

CD2
1. disco clone (4:10)
2. Que pasa (6:23)
3. I'm a wonderful thing baby (6:15)
4. Out come the freaks (7:11)
5. Fire (5:16)
6. Spooks in space (5:44)
7. Tell me that I'm dreaming (5:03)
8. Narcissique (3:36)
9. I know what boys like (3:16)
10. Re bop electronic (2:55)
11. French boy disco edit (5:10)
12. Faites le proton (5:18)

I heard about the Fact that ZE records was coming back & kept my Eyes & ears open. Well They are & This is one of the New reissue collections. A Great Double CD of Great tracks from an underappreciated Time in NYC music history. Were these artists So far ahead of their times? Were people just lazy & stupid? Can Music be Great & Not Commericial! Yes, Yes & Yes!
Great selections & great Versions of some of the best known Songs of the roster. Only one complaint: Picking The Waitresses' "I know what Boys like" as their selection showed either uninspired commercialism or just laziness. Its on So many Other collections. This Group Has So many songs that would have fit nicer within the other artist's great songs. Oh well, Pick up this Wonderful 2 CD set, Fans of trully Great music Won't be disappointed!

This is a winner! Brings all that wonderful, slightly sleazy "underground" late 70's/early 80's disco-but-not-disco sound back in a slam-bam-thank-you-mam 2-disc set. Things like Was(not was), Kid Creole & the Coconuts, Garcons, and Casino Music. This stuff is so much better than the "commercial" do-the-hustle fluff playing on the radio during the same period in time. Worth the $$$!

What a great collection of rare, out of print and underground dance and disco with a little bit of the classics you have heard of before like I Know What Boy's Like by the Waitresses. Soft voiced Christina's Drive My Car is a classic gem on here. I especially love her laughing in the track. Or take French Boys by Garçons. Another upbeat and energetic early 80's disco track perfect for a fun party. Fire is another fun track by the lovely Lizzy Mercier Descloux. Very 80's, very groovy. Overall a fun collection of tunes I had heard of before but never knew who it was or knew who it was but didn't own. Definitely worth owning.