Interesting find, but did not buy. Should I have?

[Leanmean]

Because of all you vinylphiles, I actually sorted through a couple of boxes of albums in a thrift store last week. You know -- just checking!



After all the soundtrack albums, right in the middle of the country and gospel stuff, I found a double album that was for disco dances. It named every one including two types of "the bump" and I think it had pictures of the steps inside the sleeves, but I'm not sure. I checked to see what the songs were but it was just music for each type of dance, not labeled with any particular song.



Because I did not know what the songs would be, because I do not have a turn table, and because I do not normally buy vinyl, I did not buy this. Should I have, and why?

[BrunoRepublic]

On 2001-11-15 08:25, Leanmean wrote:



Because I did not know what the songs would be, because I do not have a turn table, and because I do not normally buy vinyl, I did not buy this. Should I have, and why?

I don't think you missed out on anything. I've come across a lot of these in my travels... There were boatloads of different "how to disco dance" records put out in the 70s by folks looking to make a fast buck. There are two kinds: "continuous dance music" where they have 2-minute edits of all the overplayed tracks faded (not mixed) into each other -- think cheesy Ronco or K-Tel compilations. The other kind is where they have some generic studio outfit performing second-rate covers of said songs. The fact that the one you saw didn't mention what songs were on it would indicate to me that it belongs to the latter category -- or worse.



Some people are interested in these soley for the kitsch/camp/souvenir factor, but I don't know of any that are worthy for the music. It is immediately obvious upon hearing these that whoever put them together had never set foot in a disco.

[JussiK]

Keep an eye, though, for the track listings. If you come across, say, a copy of a "Hustle Hits - How To Hustle" album grab it as it has tracks by Zachariah (The Girl From Ipanema - a very cool acidjazzy hi-hat&organ version), among other surprising cuts that must have bewildered the curious who bought the thing in hopes of a quick ticket to the disco thrill late in 1975. But as Graham wrote, many of us - me included - buy just for the sake of kitch value or because vinyl has become a habit too hard to kick. Personally I still think a good/tasteless/colorful/sleazy cover image alone is always worth a few euros/pounds/dollars/yens.

[Masdefi]

I think leanmean, you did not miss anything, and that for two main reasons:

1. you are a full length lover, isn't it? I think all the tracks in the Lps are shorted.

2. often, tracks on such albums are different from 12" version (radio versions)



BTW, how are you doing? I notice you are missing sometimes!!

[Leanmean]

Thanks for the replies! I think I'll start searching the dusty bins now just for the heck of it and then ask you folks if I should purchase something. Who knows, I might find something one of you wants and I can pick it up for a pittance!



Masdefi, just check my posts on the Non-music related page! When I run out of things to say about disco, you can catch me there! Thank you Bernie for allowing us that forum. We are more dimensional than our love for disco.

[kelvy]

Leanie, from your description of the album, it sounds like it's on the cheezed-up side. But i would not discredit these type of albums just yet. Once in a while, some of these vintage "learn to disco dance" albums have a studio group doing covers of disco cuts that aren't all that bad. Avoid the K-Tel/Ronco compilations as they are usually full with the poppy stuff.



Something you may want to take with you when vinyl-hunting for old disco comps is that the music done by studio groups on these "learn to disco dance" compilations tend to be a bit better if it's from 1977 or before. i guess because since they were done before the "saturday night fever" craze, the disco cuts tend to be a bit funkier. To sum it up, if it's a disco compilation with studio group covers of cuts done before 1978, i would definetly take a risk especially if the record is on sale for a dollar or less:)



When i get a chance, i'm going to go through my vinyl and post a couple of recommendations since i am currently at work and do not remember the exact names of the comps.



with good tidings and kind regards,

kelvy

[kelvy]

ok, here are two "learn disco dancing" compilations i recommend.



"Learn Disco Dancing" (Groove Sound: 1976) -- Groove Sound was manufactured under license from RCA. It has instructions by Jeff & Jack Shelley and has a picture of a couple dancing. The woman is wearning a red dress while the guy is decked in full polyester regalia in a red shirt, white pants, and white shoes. On the flip side where the songs reside, there's one quite good hustle tune called "Can You Dig It". Groove Sound is on a pink label.



Do The Hustle (1976): i forgot the label on it, but it has the words "Do The Hustle" in large neon lettering. No more text is on the front cover and you see a couple dancing, the guy is wearning a blue suite while there is a band playing in the background. there is one tune called something to the order of

"same way every day<???>" that i recommend. it's on a brown label. this one should be relatively easy to find; it often crops up in flea markets and thrift shops.



One album i do suggest to get your hands on if you see it is "Cornell Dupree's Saturday Night Fever" from 1977 on the Versatile label. It has a red and yellow cover with a fuzzy image of a woman with her head tilted back. It contains a rip-roaring jazz-funk rendition of "staying alive" that should have been the way it was done.



with kind regards and well tidings,

kelvy