54 - Volume 1 [Import, Soundtrack]

Diana Ross's "The Boss" was written by man-wife songwriters Ashford and Simpson, and this is typical of the material she did during her disco period, e.g. "Love Hangover" and the Diana album. However, the Michael Jackson style yelps are a bit much.

"Dance Dance Dance (Yowsah Yowsah Yowsah)" was one of Chic's first big hits from 1977, and introduced innovative instrumentation during a time that the disco genre was being maligned. With the way string-synths and funky beats are crafted into great hooks, I see yet another Prince influence that kind of made its way into LoveSexy.

Talented multiple instrumentalist and light tenor Dan Hartman's "Vertigo/Relight My Fire" is next, replete with vibes, synths, and other whooshy sounds, well worth its eight minute running time. I'm not sure how his version did but Take That took "Relight My Fire" to the #1 in the UK after his death from AIDS. A standout cut here, as long as no one relights the fire to burn more disco records.

Sylvester's "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" should be familiar, with that high-pitched falsetto of his.

"Move On Up" is the Curtis Mayfield song that its author pushed to #12 on the UK charts in 1971, but done by Destination in 1979. Not too much variation, as it maintains that jamming horn section.

"Eye to eye contact, you and me" sing the gravelly soulful Edwin Starr and his singers in "Contact." It shows how someone can do a fun upbeat song like this and do a politically serious song like "War", which he did the year before "Contact."

Spacey synths and disco synths with a slight bluesy riff on the chorus, and a gospel-tinged chorus that sways with the music, that's Mary Griffin's "Knock On Wood" for you.

"I got my mind made up, come on, you can get it, get it girl, anytime" raps Instant Funk, to which a woman goes "Say what?" incredulously and then "tonight is fine" as the response. Instant Funk, huh? So, how many cups of water do we add? There's already been some disco added, I can tell you.

Odyssey's "Native New Yorker" with its lush strings, is one of those romantic, dance by the fireplace numbers like "Love's Theme" from Love's Unlimited Orchestra, though not as gushy.
The Gibson Brothers' unison shout of "if you should go" in "Que Sera Mi Vida" and electric keyboards echoes the Village People. Strong soul vocals in the verses.

Rose Royce's lush ballad, the UK Top 3 "Wishing On A Star" is the sweetest song here and Yvonne Fair has the best voice of any of the artists on this collection. Clearly they were riding on the crest following the success of the Car Wash soundtrack.

What makes this worthwhile is that for the most part, it doesn't pick the well-tread disco standards found on the Pure Disco compilations but other merit-worthy selections from that era that people may have heard from somewhere but forgot who did them. A superlative collection.