Dozens upon dozens of
disco compilations -- some good, some bad -- have been released since Rhino dribbled out their seven-volume Disco Years series in the '90s. While several of the discs that have followed offer consistent track listings and more eye-pleasing packaging, this particular series remains one of the best available. Across seven discs, the
disco phenomenon is summarized with a near-perfect balance between the universally known and the not quite as popular. Some might want to stick strictly to the
pop-chart toppers, which is understandable for nostalgia's sake; however, one of the most important characteristics of this era is that the singles that failed to cross over into mainstream territory consistently rivaled -- and frequently trumped -- their gold and platinum counterparts. So, it doesn't matter whether you were a
Paradise Garage regular or an infrequent viewer of Dance Fever -- there's something for everyone on each of these volumes. The third volume of The Disco Years, subtitled "Boogie Fever," is dominated by mainstream hits, though tracks like
Manu Dibango's "Soul Makossa" (which would've floundered in obscurity if it hadn't been for the support of
the Loft's
David Mancuso) thankfully sneak through.
Amii Stewart's "Knock on Wood,"
the Hues Corporation's "Rock the Boat,"
Donna Summer's "Bad Girls,"
the Jackson 5's "Dancing Machine," and
Chic's "Le Freak" are also featured. The most problematic aspect of these discs is that they favor radio edits that often trim several minutes from the original versions. Hardcore
disco freaks will argue that a compromise of the extended groove defeats the purpose, but Rhino would have had to stretch this series out to an unwieldy size in order to accommodate each inclusion's most club-friendly mix. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide
