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Ritchie Family

Arabian Nights (LP)

Polydor Records (UK) / 1976 / 2383416
LP-album 33 ⅓ rpm vinyl record

Produced and arranged by Jacques Morali and Ritchie Rome for Can't Stop Production Inc., N.Y.C.

Side A
1. The Best Disco In Town (6:39) [J. Morali / R. Rome / H. Belolo / Ph. Hurtt]
2. Baby I'm On Fire (5:05) [J. Morali / H. Belolo]
3. Romantic Love (5:53) [J. Morali / R. Rome / H. Belolo / P. Whitehead]

Side B
Arabian Nights (Medley) (14:26)
1. Istanbul (Not Constantinople) (4:22) [J. Kennedy / N. Simon]
2. Lawrence of Arabia (More Than Yesterday, Less Than Tomorrow) (3:57) [M. Jarre]
3. In A Persian Market (Show Me How You Dance) (6:07) [A.W. Ketelbey]

The Ritchie Family's second LP, and the one which contained their biggest hit, "The Best Disco In Town" which hit the Top 10 of the UK pop chart.

This was the first LP to feature the classic line-up of Cheryl Mason Jacks, Cassandra Ann Wooten and Gwendolyn Oliver; they went on to record two more LPs (Life is music and African Queens).

"The best disco in town" is a song in its own right, but contains snatches of other popular disco songs at the time, such as "I love music", "Love to love you baby", "Lady bump", "Express" and many more.

The Arabian Nights medley on side 2 is excellent, full of lush strings and orchestration, with a middle-eastern theme.

Submitted by Darren S (109)