The first round of Disco Discharge releases proved far more successful than anybody at Harmless expected, it seems – but with another batch of four in this hugely enjoyable series, they’ve kept the quality threshold just as high. This is a DJ’s delight, with unmixed 12” versions of some real crackers, as well as a substantial amount of digging going on for those long lost rarities. The packaging is rather fine, too, from the artwork surrounding each release to the carefully prepared notes of Alan Jones.
Taking them in order, Disco Fever USA scores points for its inclusion of the rare but highly thought of Tom Moulton remix of Claudja Barry’s ‘Why Must A Girl Like Me’. With this in close proximity to Marlena Shaw’s ‘Love Dancing’ and Earth Wind & Fire’s ‘Boogie Wonderland’, you get an idea of how the series can appeal to collectors and newcomers alike. ‘Mondo Disco’ is perhaps the pick of the four releases though, with Patrick Juvet’s ‘Got A Feeling’ restored to disc as a totally uplifting opener. Who’s Who’s ‘Hypnodance’, Eruption’s ‘I Can’t Stand The Rain’ and Disco Circus’ ‘Over and Over’ are just three more reasons to acquire it. Rivalling this in five star quality is Cruising The Beats, with all nine and a half minutes of Dan Hartman’s ‘Vertigo/Relight My Fire’, as well as Boys Town Gang’s cover of Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’ and another Juvet cracker, the eleven minute version of The “Gay Paris” / French Pillow Talk’. Finally Euro Beats revives Sabrina’s ‘Boys’, alongside Meccano, Taffy and Kano’s ‘Can’t Hold Back’.
Each of these four releases has enough nuggets to entice even the most seasoned disco collector, while it’s clear plenty of love has been put into the package as a whole. Go forth and dance!
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Ben Hogwood