Do You Buy Disco Based On Producers, Label, Year?

[Disco Funk]

If you come across a collection of disco records you've never heard (of) before, what criteria do you guys use to decide to buy or not buy, besides the price?

Personally, I first go by producer. Anything produced or recorded in Philadelphia for example is an automatic buy. So that would include names like Bunny Sigler, Norman Harris, Vince Montana, Gamble & Huff, Van McCoy, etc... I also dig stuff by Warren Schatz, who produced awesome funky disco for artists like Vicki Sue Robinson, Gordon Grody, The Brothers, etc... And Norman Whitfield's late 70's output is all work checking out, even if all the cuts don't sound like Which Way Is Up.

Then I go by musicians, so if it's got those philly session guys who make up like Instant Funk, MFSB, Salsoul Orchestra, I'll buy it. Or if it's a West Coast production with people like James Gadson on drums and Wah Wah Ragin on guitar, I'll get it.

Artist is next. Not all artists' albums have the same production sounds or quality, like vocal groups who went from producer to producer, for example. Heck, I've avoided certain LPs by artists like The Trammps (I've got everything up until that 1980 LP) and Donna Summer who had many consistently good songs. Then there are arists like People's Choice and Archie Bell who have stuff I've liked from the mid 70's all the way into the early 80's.

Then, I base my purchase on the year. I find that stuff from '77 and onward can be really really cheesy or too formulaic, so '76 and earlier is cool. There are lots of records during that early period that may or may not be true disco, but they're at least fresher sounding than the later stuff.

After that it's a toss up between the name of the song (if it 'sounds' funky or danceable), the name of the artist (if they sound funky or hardcore), if it's got an instrumental flipside, and or if its got a 'special remix' on the flip.

Disco Funk

[BrunoRepublic]

Producer, year, label, musicians, and sleeve are all factors :)

[Videoskooter]

I never buy a record I don't know. Artist, producer, composer can draw my interest but then I always have a quick listen in the DJ booth.

And since a very long period I'm particulary suspicious with sleeves or CD's that have titles as The Ultimate Disco Compilation on them, certainly when the firm is Dutch company DISKY, who have released some great stuff (like Disco X-plosion) but have tricked me many times with their versions of old classics like "Hit 'n run lover" by Carol Jiani which is awful. Even when I see the name Costandinos mentioned I will have a listen. So, what you see is not always what you get or what you are searching for.

A very good advice to you is to follow the topics here, ask as many questions you like and above all, study this site's wonderful database.

http://www.discomusic.com/records-index
http://www.discomusic.com/cds-index

[JussiK]

If there's a group of "singers" posing on the cover wearing jungle-style leopard skin outfits, winged space overalls, lots of makeup, and if they're showing a lot of flesh, it's worth buying whether the track inside is good or bad, just for the sleeve. Changes are there's at least violins in there and great accents, too, so just get it. If the label is Ariola or Carrere or Ibach or Hansa or Vogue, it's going to be interesting. If it's from an obscure Spanish or Italian label, don't hesitate. If it's Dutch and by Kluger/Vangaarde or even Jaanschen&Jaanschens, buy it. Should there be a mention of Jacky Giordano somewhere, hand out any amount opf cash because everything that man ever touched was unusual and very groovy in a jazzy, spaced out kind of way, like the Disconnected track I recently discovered. Malligator records, must buy every one. Same goes for anything by Asha Puthli. Bulgarian disco, or Turkish stuff, you can count on those. Ze label, brilliant. Can't buy too much music.

[Videoskooter]

If it's Dutch and by Kluger/Vangaarde or even Jaanschen&Jaanschens, buy it.

Jussik, oops, Jean Klüger is Belgian (he lived in France because he was married to the producer of Michel Polnareff) and Daniël Vangarde is French. So, not at all Dutchies

[paul]

99.9% of the time, I bought based on listening. Artist, producer, etc. wasn't enough for me to just go and buy the music.

[SandraDee]

If there's a group of "singers" posing on the cover wearing jungle-style leopard skin outfits, winged space overalls, lots of makeup, and if they're showing a lot of flesh, it's worth buying whether the track inside is good or bad

:lol: :lol: :lol: Oh Jussi, we're such kindred spirits.

[neonlights]

I usually go by label, producer, artist and cover.. Stuff from Salsoul, Prelude (and to a lesser extend West End), Motown, Atlantic, Unidisc/Uniwave/Matra and Quality usually catch my eye. For producers: Moroder, Korduletsch, Costandinos, Sabu, Dillard/Boyce, Patrick Adams, Holland Bros., Norman Whitfield etc.. A lot of times I just go by whatever looks interesting and a little obscure (amen to the scantily-clad "singers" :P).

[Disco Funk]

amen to the scantily-clad "singers" :P).

Yes. That's certainly why I bought that Penthouse disco LP, not to mention all those Love & Kisses LPs.

Disco Funk