Disco

DJ Andy Smith returns to BBE Music with a second stunning installment of his compilation series ‘Reach Up – Disco Wonderland’, released on triple vinyl, double CD and digital formats.

Disco compilation from Universal Music featuring Tavares, The Pointer Sisters, Rufus & Chaka Khan, Quincy Jones & others spread across 3 cds.

Al Kent, Scotland’s foremost Disco aficionado and founder of the Million Dollar Orchestra, returns to BBE Music with a 6th volume of his famed ‘Disco Demands’ compilation series.

Here at Athens of the North you know we love Disco, what you might not know is that my friend David Haffner (not only the deepest of disco heads but a great D.J as well) helped us license many of the rare Disco 45s on the label. It is about time David gets the shine he deserves so we asked him to compile some of the songs he helped licence for the label alongside new songs which we have here‘Disco With A Feeling’. So what is ‘Disco With A Feeling’? It’s hard to quantify a sound, but our definition would include 70s Soul or Modern Soul 45s that fit into the disco sound, soulful and magical. The whole LP is straight up dance-floor fire, no matter who you are or where you’re from - a soul boy, disco lady, or a house head you are going to feel the heat of these club smashers.

When Al Kent launched the Million Dollar Disco label back in the '90s "Disco House" was all the rage. A life spent hoarding rare soul and disco records, a keen ear for a sample and a few years of DJing already under his belt stood him in good stead when it came to making music. Inspired by labels like Azuli with their Chocolate Fudge and Disco Elements EPs he made a load of tracks by sticking house drums on top of disco samples and released somewhere in the region of twenty 12" singles, many of which found their way into top DJs' charts. Despite encouraging signs with tracks being signed to high profile labels like Z Records, Defected Hed Kandi and even his beloved Azuli, the Disco House formula soon ran its course and Al looked for a fresh challenge. So he recorded an orchestra instead. "Better Days" by the Million Dollar Orchestra was released as a double album by BBE in 2008, having taken the best part of two years to make. Not many producers would have the flair to go from cutting up samples to recording a 26 piece band, but Al did it with aplomb.

The album reached No. 12 on the Billboard Top LPs chart and topped the Billboard Soul LPs chart. The album features the single, "The Hustle", which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts.