New Dimitri/Joey BBE Release - "The Kings Of Disco"

[Giovanni]

As a matter of fact, BBE releases the best disco compilations by far. Their comps are for people in the know, who appreciate a rare and obscure track instead of some mainstream stuff that every disco lover knows.
Both Dimitri and Dave are serious disco collectors, not just djs, and they are making a personal research in the disco field to discover obscure but valuable tracks. Their previous BBE (D Spectrum and D Forever) production are in the same vein of this one.
I don't like everything in this CD but I can assure that if someone wants to get the original vinyls of many tracks here he would need a lot of money (only the Mary Clark is worth $ 100).
I don't know if Dave and Dimitri are the kings of disco, but they are for sure two djs that still base their playlists on disco (not necessarily original versions)

Wellcome this compilation!

[neonlights]

It's been a long time coming, but I finally got the Kings Of Disco set as a Boxing Day purchase.. Just listening to it now, and so far I'm impressed. I'm always after those BBE compilations with rare tracks.. Admittedly, they can be hit and miss; there are are always some tracks that go under the "what were they thinking?" category and sound quality can be a bit lacking in places but there are also some genuinely great rarities to be found on them..

[FrontPage22]

This past year I actually had the opportunity to meet Dimitri when he spun at a local club. Dinner, drinks..etc. I won a freakin' contest. We had a great chat (started when I mentioned the Walter Gibbons remix of "It's A Better Than Good Time"...we both agreed Gibbons got a little to spacey on some of his disco mixes). he knows his stuff, but what else is apparent is his love of the music. Salsoul, Cerrone...etc, etc. He loves disco. That night he slotted in "Lovin is Really My Game" in between two current songs and you knew..!!! He also played a night of nothing BUT disco here at the Courthouse in March to promot TKOD and the crowd ate it up...everything from Gaz's "Sing Sing" to his closer..."Runaway". He may not be Larry Levan, but he is out there showing respect and affection for disco as a dance genre that is still fresh and soulful and fun.

As for how I won the contest, I haed to name check my fave Dimitri song/album. Mine was his re-edit of Goody Goody's "It looks Like Love" which is probably one of my top 3 disco tunes. That re-edit is amazing...and also on TKOD.

God bless BBE records...Disco Spectrum, Disco Forever and the new Strange Funky Games & Things (mainly cuz' it has "Come Into My Life" by The Supremes on it).

[neonlights]

wow, lucky bastard! :P
That must have been a thrill meeting and talking with him to say the least! I remember really being into the At the Playboy Mansion CD several years back. I'm definitely gonna have to catch him next time he comes around here (last time was in '02.. was a bit too young to get in then). He may not be Larry Levan, but then again there are some on this forum (not referring to myself, Live @ The Paradise Garage is a fave of mine) who never really took to his style.. Either way, it's just great to see someone spreading the love and be successful at it..

[TheLordOfFlatbush]

Yes, the Macho track is from the second album. I'm quite surprised to see this here, as this album was WEEEEAK. Perhaps there is some truth to Quinny's protests about people treating crap records as brilliant just because they're old and obscure.

Having said that, some of the titles are interesting, but it bothers me that so many of the tracks are re-edits. That and I saw no reason to include Yazoo, simply because they've been on hundreds of compilations already. "Situation" is one of the most ridiculously remixed and reissued tracks EVER. Not bad for a track which was originally a non-LP b-side, but how many more versions of this song does one need? They've cranked out dozens of versions of this song over the years, and still, the only one people want to hear is the USA LP/12" mix by Francois K.

I'll say this as a person who loved Disco Classics - The Macho Track was HOT!!!!! Period, end of story!

Basically speaking on re-edit purposes.....

As for the Francois K version of Situation re-edited by Joey Negro it was quite long (then again, I'm going to re-edit one for myself) and the original version on the B Side from the import was the best version. Honorable mention: The 1996 Version of Situation remixed by Francois K was good!

Both LP's A & B were good to have and I recommend both for collection purposes.

[neonlights]

I have to concur, can't speak for the album, but the Macho track is one of my favourites on TKOD. Not to mention that re-edit of "It Looks Like Love," definitely one of the best Dimitri re-edits I've heard..

For the most part, I have a slight preference for the Dimitri disc; Derrick Harriott, Goody Goody, Lime - Agent 406, Macho, Larry Wood - Pumping Iron 8), Cappuccino.. all fab! I also like Touche and Vinzerelli - Skate Dancer on the Joey Negro disc, that sax intro on the latter sounds like something right off of Marvin Gaye's Trouble Man! As I expected, the rest of it ranges from "pretty good" to "what the hell!?" but overall it's a pretty good listen..

[FrontPage22]

Since somone highlighted the Macho track, I'll comment.

If you listen to the Instant House song "Awade", which samples the Macho track, you may realize 2 things as I did.

1) The Macho track's synth line is very cool and works very well when updated. The break is sampled in it's entirety in "Awade"; the break before the guitars.
2) The Macho cut is hella' better. Punchy, thumping and fun. Really a gem.

I saw a Best of Goody Music CD out there on discogs.com, I'll try and post it later, but it has an unedited version of "Not Tonight" as well as some other rare Macho tracks.

[FrontPage22]

For any Toronto discophiles, Dimitri is back in town February 10th. More details to follow, but last time he played at Revival....cream! Dropped some Brainstorm, Gino Soccio, Loleatta and Shirley Lites ("Heat You Up (Melt You Down)")...

Be there or be square. :D