"The Disco Box" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Single Tracks from 1973 to 1985 featuring Love Unlimited Orchestra (with Barry White), The Jackson 5 (with Michael Jackson), The Hues Corporation, Gloria Gaynor, KC & The Sunshine Band, Van McCoy, Tavares, Silver Connection, 5000 Volts, The Miracles, Hot Chocolate, The Sylvers, Candi Staton, Vicki Sue Robinson, Wild Cherry, Rose Royce, The Trammps, Donna Summer, Chic, Evelyn "Champagne" King, A Taste Of Honey, Musique, Cheryl Lynn, Peaches & Herb, Dan Hartman, Sylvester, Heatwave, Amii Stewart, Anita Ward, Patrick Hernandez, Sister Sledge, Change and more (February 1999 US Rhino Compilation - 4CD 80-Track Glitter-Ball Coloured Digibook Set (with Attached 60-Page Booklet) Remastered in RhinOphonic Authentic Sound Covering 1973 to 1985 – Dan Hersch, Ken Perry, Stewart Whitmore and Geoff Sykes Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Good Times... "

Well hustle my Evelyn Champagne King shameful elephant flares and Love Machine my Miraculous dangling glitterball – if it isn't that dread musical genre devoid of Cannibalistic Morlocks, Salem Witches and Dirty Dank Druid Solstice Rituals (and other sensible things like that) – DISCO! 

For most of us hirsute male Rock-reared types of a certain age - Seventies and Eighties Disco started with The Hues Corporation Rocking The Boat in early 1974 and ended in late 1982 with The Weather Girls somehow raining men instead of atmospheric teardrops from cumulous-nimbus clouds. In-between, we beard-stroking Progtastic mannish boys would occasionally (and usually under severe influence) give a warm nod to the stunning Funk of Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers in all their Chic incarnations (how good is Sister Sledge's "We Are Family" and absolutely everything on the Chic "Risqué" album) - whilst getting down on it and being fresh with Kool and The Gang. And in a nightclub at about half past desperation - Disco didn't seem like such a bad idea either - especially if the girly you were boogieing with was wearing hot pants and a boob tube and was happy to see you get in touch with your feminine side (somebody needs to get in touch with something in this scenario). But I digress - to the American glitter-digibook-pack in hand... 

An 80-track haul like this allowed compilers DAVID McLEES and BRIAN CHIN to stretch out. For sure all the huge touchstone artists that lifted the genre into a global phenomenon are here – Gloria Gaynor, Donna Summer, KC & The Sunshine Band, Hot Chocolate, Wild Cherry, Sylvester, Anita Ward, Rose Royce, G.Q., Patrick Hernandez, A Taste Of Honey and so on - right up to Cheryl Lynn, Change, Heatwave, Lipps, Inc., Indeep, Freeze and Patrice Rushen. There are, however, absences. So while The Trammps see their 1977 monster "Disco Inferno" from "Saturday Night Fever" represented on CD2 – fairly obvious licensing-problem absentees include Barry White, The Bee Gees, Michael Jackson and Grace Jones (White and Jackson sneak in via Love Unlimited Orchestra and The Jackson 5). And most shocking of all, there isn't a '12" Single Mix' in sight on any of the 4CDs – the 12" being a Vinyl-spinning format that was essential to DJs and one that made Disco and dancing in general in a nightclub such a global stormtrooper. 

Still, those niggles aside – what you do get here is a properly well-delivered blast from the past with way more good that bad – a typically cool and cleverly compiled RhinOphonic set of quality 45-single Remasters you actually want to hear and own. Lost in Music indeed – let's return to Funky Town...

US released 16 February 1999 - "The Disco Box" by VARIOUS ARISTS on Rhino R2 75595 (Barcode 081227559526) is an 80-Track 4CD Glitter-Ball Coloured Digibook Set with attached 60-page booklet Remastered in RhinOphonic Authentic Sound. It covers the years 1973 to 1985 and plays out as follows (all tracks US 45-single A-sides unless otherwise stated):

CD1 (68:41 minutes):
1. Love's Theme - LOVE UNLIMITED ORCHESTRA (November 1973, 20th Century 2609, featuring Barry White)
2. Dancing Machine - THE JACKSON 5 (February 1974, Motown 1286, featuring Michael Jackson)  
3. Rock The Boat - THE HUES CORPORATION (April 1974, RCA Victor 0232)
4. Honeybee - GLORIA GAYNOR (March 1974, Columbia 45909)
5. Doctor's Orders - CAROL DOUGLAS (November 1974, Midland International 10113)
6. Get Dancin' - DISCO-TEX & THE SEX-O-LETTES featuring Sir Monti Rock III (November 1974, Chelsea 3004)
7. Shame, Shame, Shame - SHIRLEY & COMPANY (December 1974, Vibration 532)
8. Never Can Say Goodbye - GLORIA GAYNOR (October 1974, MGM 14748)
9. Get Down Tonight - KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND (March 1975, T.K Records 1009)
10. The Hustle - VAN McCOY & THE SOUL CITY SYMPHONY (April 1975, Avco 4653)
11. It Only Takes A Minute - TAVARES (July 1975, Capitol 4111)
12. Fly, Robin, Fly - SILVER CONNECTION (September 1975, Midland International 10339)
13. I'm On Fire - 5000 VOLTS (September 1975, Philips 40801)
14. Love Machine (Pt. 1) - THE MIRACLES (October 1975, Tamla 54262)
15. You Sexy Thing - HOT CHOCOLATE (October 1975, Big Tree 16047)
16. Boogie Fever - THE SYLVERS (November 1975, Capitol 4179)
17. That's The Way (I Like It) - KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND (October 1975, T.K. Records 1015)
18. More, More, More (Part 1) - ANDREA TRUE CONNECTION (February 1976, Buddah 515, a Tom Moulton Mix)
19. Young Hearts Run Free - CANDI STATON (March 1976, Warner Brothers 8181)
20. Turn The Beat Around - VICKI SUE ROBINSON (March 1976, RCA Victor 10562)

CD2 (71:19 minutes):
1. (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty - KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND (June 1976, T.K. Records 1019)
2. Get Up And Boogie - SILVER CONVENTION (March 1976, Midland International 10571)
3. A Fifth Of Beethoven - WALTER MURPHY & THE BIG APPLE BAND (May 1976, Private Stock 45073)
4. Play That Funky Music - WILD CHERRY (June 1976, Epic 50225)
5. Car Wash - ROSE ROYCE (September 1976, MCA 40615)
6. Don't Leave Me This Way - THELMA HOUSTON (December 1976, Tamla 54278)
7. The Best Disco In Town - THE RITCHIE FAMILY (August 1976, Marlin 3306)
8. Disco Inferno - THE TRAMMPS (February 1977, Atlantic 3389, a Tom Moulton Mix)
9. Boogie Nights - HEATWAVE (June 1977, Epic 50370)
10. I Feel Love - DONNA SUMMER (July 1977, Casablanca 884)
11. Keep It Comin' Love - KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND (July 1977, T.K. Records 1023)
12. Dance With Me - PETER BROWN (January 1978, Drive 6269, special background vocals by Betty Wright)
13. Everybody Dance - CHIC (March 1978, Atlantic 3469)
14. Shame - EVELYN "Champagne" KING (April 1978, RCA Victor 11122)
15. Boogie Oogie Oogie - A TASTE OF HONEY (May 1978, Capitol 4565)
16. Get Off - FOXY (June 1978, Dash 5046)
17. I Love The Nightlife (Disco 'Round) - ALICIA BRIDGES (June 1978, Polydor 14483)
18. In The Bush - MUSIQUE (September 1978, Prelude 71110)
19. Hot Shot - KAREN YOUNG (July 1978, West End 1211)
20. Got To Be Real - CHERYL LYNN (August 1978, Columbia 10808) 

CD3 (77:02 minutes):
1. Shake Your Groove Thing - PEACHES & HERB (October 1978, Polydor/MVP 14514)
2. Village People - Y.M.C.A. (October 1978, Casablanca 945)
3. Le Freak - CHIC (October 1978, Atlantic 3519)
4. I Will Survive - GLORIA GAYNOR (December 1978, Polydor 14508)
5. Livin' It Up (Friday Night) - BELL & JAMES (October 1978, A&M Records 2069)
6. Instant Replay - DAN HARTMAN (September 1978, Blue Sky 2772)
7. You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) - SYLVESTER (December 1978, Fantasy 846)
8. I Want Your Love - CHIC (January 1979, Atlantic 3557)
9. Knock On Wood - AMII STEWART (January 1979, Hansa/Ariola America 7736)
10. Disco Nights (Rock-Freak) - G. Q. (January 1979, Arista 0388)
11. Love And Desire (Part 1) - ARPEGGIO (February 1979, Polydor 14535)
12. He's The Greatest Dancer - SISTER SLEDGE (January 1979, Cotillion 44245)
13. Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now - McFADDEN & WHITEHEAD (March 1979, Philadelphia International 3681)
14. Ring My Bell - ANITA WARD (April 1979, Juana 3422)
15. Bad Girls - DONA SUMMER (May 1979, Casablanca 988)
16. Born To Be Alive - PATRICK HERNANDEZ (May 1979, Columbia 10986)
17. Good Times - CHIC (June 1979, Atlantic 3584)
18. Don't You Want My Love - DEBBIE JACOBS (August 1979, MCA 41102)
19. H.A.P.P.Y. Radio - EDWIN STARR (May 1979, 20th Century 2408)
20. I Shoulda Loved Ya - NARADA MICHAEL WALDEN (November 1979, Atlantic 3631)
21. We Are Family - SISTER SLEDGE (April 1979, Cotillion 44251)  

CD4 (74:34 minutes):
1. Heart Of Glass - BLONDIE (January 1979, Chrysalis 2295)
2. Lost In Music - SISTER SLEDGE (July 1979, Cotillion 45001)
3. I'm Caught Up (In A One Night Love Affair) - INNER LIFE (November 1979, Prelude 8004)
4. Got To Love Somebody - SISTER SLEDGE (December 1979, Cotillion 45007)
5. Funkytown - LIPPS, INC. (March 1980, Casablanca 2233)
6. Celebration - KOOL & THE GANG (October 1980, De-Lite 807, produced in association with Eumir Deodato)
7. A Lover's Holiday - CHANGE (March 1980, Warner Brothers/RFC 49208)
8. I Like What You're Doin' To Me - YOUNG & COMPANY (October 1980, Brunswick 55544)
9. The Glow Of Love - CHANGE (October 1980, Warner Brothers/RFC 49587)
10. Cruisin' The Streets - THE BOYSTOWN GANG (May 1981, Moby Dick 233)
11. On The Beat - THE B.B. & Q BAND (July 1981, Capitol 4993)
12. Forget Me Nots - PATRICE RUSHEN (February 1982, Elektra 47427)
13. Get Down On It - KOOL & THE GANG (February 1982, De-Lite 818)
14. It's Raining Men - THE WEATHER GIRLS (November 1982, Columbia 03354)
15. Last Night A D.J. Saved My Life - INDEEP (December 1982, Sound Of New York 602)
16. I.O.U. - FREEZE (July 1983, StreetWise 1110)
17. Give It Up - KC (December 1983, Meca 1001)
18. Change Of Heart - CHANGE (March 1984, Atlantic/RFC 89684)
19. Fresh - KOOL & THE GANG (March 1985, De-Lite 880623-7)

The 60-page lengthy booklet attached to the inside of the hard digibook goes from two pages of Production Notes by BRIAN CHIN where he pleads for acceptance of what he clearly believes is musical genius to an Essay called "In The Beat Of The Night" where he catalogues the Soul-offshoot's trajectory from sweaty New York dancefloors to the Pop and R&B charts of the entire world. Classy black & white publicity photos of lesser-celebrated lady artists pepper the text – Carol Douglas, The Ritchie Family, Vicki Sue Robinson, Musique, Shirley Goodman of Shirley & Company and the multi-instrumentalist Patrice Rushen – while the big boys are there too – Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Amii Stewart, the gals of Sister Sledge and many more. Rod Temperton's brilliant gangsters of the groove Heatwave are featured as are the mighty, mighty Kool and The Gang and KC & The Sunshine Band. 

Interesting features include DJs discussing their beginners haunts like Uncle Charlie's in Manhattan or The Saloon in Minneapolis and on up to Classic Clubs like The Loft in New York and the Paradise Ballroom in Los Angeles. Chin puts up lists too – 50 Essential Disco Albums – 45 Pre-Disco Floors-Shaking 45s (1971 to 1973 mostly) – and each of the individual 80 entry credits gives US R&B and Pop chart numbers as well as crucial Discography info. Effort has gone into this, and it shows. 

From the German-produced Silver Connection and Donna Summer anthems to the Italian-American rhythms of Change on through to the dominance of the Chic Organization and Kool & The Gang (who would continue much further than this Disco Box permits) – it all sounds spiffing courtesy of Remasters from a team of four long-standing Audio Engineers – DAN HERSCH, KEN PERRY, STEWART WHITMORE and GEOFF SYKES. Whether grooving to the fabulous ooh-yeah Funk vs. Disco of "Love Machine (Pt. 1) " by The Miracles (a 45 I remember my sister Frances first hooked me into) or the sublime cool of "I Want Your Love" by Chic (what a hooky winner) – the power of these transfers is with you all the way. 

As you play through each CD – there are for sure moments when you want to hit the skip button – A Fifth Of Beethoven and Y.M.C.A. (yuck) – but more often than not – you find yourself rediscovering tunes that are way better than you remember them. "Get Down Tonight”, "Boogie Nights", "Shake Your Groove Thang”, "(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real", "I Shoulda Loved Ya", "A Lover’s Holiday" and so on. Even inclusions of overplayed anthems like Blondie's shimmering "Heart Of Glass", Candi Staton's exit-that-rut pleading "Young Hearts Run Free", Patrice Rushen's Men In Black-featured "Forget Me Nots" and the Sex and The City catwalk-hustle of Cheryl Lynn's "Got To Be Real" - bring a smile to your face. And it's not surprising that "Shame, Shame, Shame", "The Hustle", "Car Wash" and "Fresh" all hit the Number One slot on the R&B charts (often repeating the same in Pop). 

My only bugbear might be that in an ideal world, a Deluxe Edition CD5 of "The Disco Box" could have given us those rare and sought after twelve-inch mixes without duplicating what was on discs one to four. But outside of that, impressive...

For sure this long-deleted and frankly long-forgotten Digibook set has acquired a nasty price tag since its February 1999 US release more than two decades ago - but should you be able to nab one at a reasonable outlay - I'd say it's time to shake your booty, because that's the way I like it (uh huh uh huh). Oh stop it...