Disco Record Rip-Offs or Bad Marketing Strategies

[Disco Funk]

What are some of the worst rip-offs or bad marketing ploys you've seen in your quest for disco records? Ones that I've come across that have really annoyed me include:

1. Those one-sided Casablanca 12"s. Sometimes with two songs on the same side! But even worse when only one song was on the record.

2. Double A sided 12"s with same mix on both sides. I guess that was in case you wore out one side, but wouldn't it be better just to have the instrumental or alternate mix on the flip?

3. TK records Part 1 and Part 2 12"s. I bought a few thinking they'd have alternate mixes or be a really long remix broken up into two parts. But many of them just have the same track on both sides! Examples include Disco Magic by T Connection, Theme From 77 by Sassy, At The Top of The Stairs by Wild Sugar.

4. 12"s where the song is called a 'Special Disco Version' but it's just the same mix and same length as the LP version. Why not just call it the LP version?!!

5. Any 12" with a song that's less than 4 minutes in length. I think the pop rock ones are the worst offenders. Examples include Nicolette Larson's Rhumba Girl and Dr John's Keep That Music Simple.

6. That horrible remix of The Doobie Brother's 'What A Fool Believes' with a four on the floor bass drum beat layered on top. I think it was Jim Burgess who remixed that one.

7. Coloured vinyl. Yeah, they look pretty and nifty, but you can barely see the grooves. And in many cases, it's almost impossible to tell if it's clean, dirty or really scratched up. At least with good old black vinyl you grade the vinyl almost by sight alone.

Disco Funk

[VINYLSTASH]

:o