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Whilst this is the worst cover of the four double CD editions of Disco Discharge, following on from Disco Discharge: Euro Disco, Disco Discharge: Disco Classics and Disco Discharge: Disco Ladies, it’s my favourite of them all. Not that it’s because these tracks are anymore gay (or for that matter disco) than the other albums, it’s just that they didn’t crossover as the others like the others did; a true underground movement that was on the brink of coming out (in the UK at least).

Unsurprisingly then, the track titles represent this as anthems (following on from the punk movement if you like) like Kano’s ‘It’s A War’ that has more funk and electro-house to it than I remember, The Boys Town Gang’s ‘Disco Kicks’ is remixed with loads of percussion and who can not be impressed with the full length album version of Macho’s ‘I’m A Man’ (that’s 17.34 minutes to you of high speed disco-funk with strings and horns; that’s ‘jazz’ in my book its brilliant). And that’s just the first 3 tracks!

Talking of jazz, the legend that is Deodato is more associated with that genre than disco (gay or otherwise) but ‘S.O.S. Fire In The Sky’ is as dreadful as anything by Toto (even with the morse code to SOS beat) and ‘Love Trap’ is pure cringe. That said, CD1 finishes with Lisa Minelli’s ‘Losing My Mind’ preceded with ‘Don’t Pretend To Know What Love Is’; now don’t tell me that’s a coincidence - as an aside, full marks to David Gest as I spotted him in Universal Sounds a couple of years ago (admittedly boasting to the staff that he knew everyone at Motown rather than buying any vinyl) but there’s no mistaking that Pet Shop Boy production (as seen last Friday on BBC4’s Synth Britannia).

With sleeve notes by Alan Jones (author of Saturday Night Forever: The Story Of Disco), he gives you more in-depth detail and whilst Ian Levine has got a lot to answer for (ask Northern Soul fans or the Jazz-Funk room at Blackpool) but when he got Chicago’s Evelyn King to front ‘High Energy’, I don’t suppose he knew what he had hit upon; but as usual it was a big hit.

And on the subject of ladies, there’s lots of diva assertiveness in an 80s type of way like ‘Don’t Petend To Know’ and ‘Make It On My Own’ but there’s that pounding percussive beat that boogies hard on (the later is the Ben Liebrand remix, with a token short rap at the end).

Click into CD2 for ANTM fans who’ll funk to the Valerie Claire’s ‘I’m A Model’ (avoid her other hit ‘Shoot Me Gino’) but this highlight is the return of The Boy Town Gang with another long one called ‘Cruisin’ The Streets’ that’s more funk than disco again (current favourite band ever); but this time only 13 minutes long (but watch out for the sexually explicit role play spoken section which is like they’ve acted out a Tom of Finland comic).

‘Hey Hey Guy’ goes back to Italy for an early incorporation of sex call but in comparison, Eria Fachin slams the phone down on her man as she learns to move on and The Flirts’ ‘Passion’ is a mostly instrumental synth funker. Keep going though right to the end as Harlow’s ‘Take Off’ is a right mish mash that somehow manages to sound a classic for 10 minutes.
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As with previous releases in this series there’s a couple of stinkers that are more Radio classic 80s gold (see ‘Color My Love’ as the worst example of Italo-crossover closely followed by “unique voice” of Rose Laurens do an imitation American Gigolo theme). But it’s well worth overlooking these odd discretions (recommend the full set really as it’s opened my mind) but there is a heath warning on the cover and for good reason.

When I first listened to this CD on the headphones in an environment that was so totally not disco, gay or party at all but it was odd as whilst I was surrounded by loads of people, I was the only one with a smile on my face and having a good time.

On a retro tip, I remember going to Heaven (under the arches at Charing Cross) back in the height of Hi ERG day. And in truth, I wasn’t in love with the vibe at all which goes to show how uptight I was as a youth. I certainly didn’t have the balls to dress up like the guys on the cover (and still don’t) but ‘I’m A Man’ now and I’m proud to say I love this album. Compiled by the suitably named Mr. Pinks, there’s no doubting he’s a man for the disco and I’d love to get my hands on his Macho album.

Reviewed: V/A - Disco Discharge: Disco Ladies (Harmless) Cat. No. HURTCD087 Release date: 19th October 2009 Notes: Compilation by Mr. Pinks, Project co-ordinator: Gavin Fraiser, Design and layout: Paul Agar, Photography: Bruce Gilden
Tracklisting:
CD1
Disc: 1
1. Disco Kicks - Boys Town Gang (8:37)
2. It’s A War - Kano (6:52)
3. I’m A Man - Macho (17:36)
4. Make It On My Own - Free Enterprise (6:23)
5. Color My Love - Fun Fun (7:41)
6. S.O.S Fire In The Sky - Deodato (6:49)
7. Love Trap - Astaire (8:58)
8. Don’t Pretend To Know - Tapps (7:19)
9. Losing My Mind - Liza Minnelli (7:00)
Disc: 2
1. American Love - Rose Laurens (6:43)
2. I’m A Model - Valerie Claire (6:09)
3. Passion - Flirts (9:01)
4. Cruisin’ The Streets (Cruisin’ Rejected The Pick Up Busted Reprise) - Boys Town Gang (13.10)
5. Hey Hey Guy - Ken Laszlo (7:37)
6. Feel It - Gilles, Samantha (7:33)
7. Saving Myself - Eria Fachin (6:54)
8. Gloria - Laura Branigan (4:51)
9. Savin’ Myself (For The One That I Love) - Oh Romeo (6:17)
10. Take Off - Harlow (10:18)

Links:
www.harmlessrecordings.co.uk
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disco
Tim O’Brien and Mike Savage who are responsible for the book Naked Vinyl
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Gest