Search - Dimitri From Paris & Joey Negro :: Kings of Disco

Compilers Compete With The Acts

disco75 | State College, PA United States | 12/08/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"First, be clear that the title of this set does not refer to male vocalists or producers; "Kings" refers-- with hubris-- to the two men compiling the selections. They not only chose the recordings for this two-disc set, they remixed them to some degree. Each track is separate-- but edited, altered to make uniform the tempo, or otherwise changed from its original vinyl condition. The bad news is that many times the CD version will sound different from the vinyl one, if the listener has any of the originals. The good news is that the "kings" stick to sounds consistent with the 70s and early 80s. Fortunately these tracks have not been remixed with drum machines and synthed-up effects.



This set is perhaps more varied than the BBE "Disco Spectrum" releases. There are a few overlooked gems but also some cheesy selections. There are more tracks on these CDs than the other BBE sets that cross the line from acoustic rhythm sections of the 70s into the more electro 80s sound. I hear less soulfulness on this collection, more emphasis on what would be a contemporary club sound.



BBE seems intent on ruining our eyes. These releases have extensive liner comments about the records, but often put in tiny print in color selections that make for interesting graphics but poor reading. The white type on light gray has here been replaced with white type on red that will have you seeing afterimages if you try to peruse the notes. This set has the worst-yet example of poor BBE writing-- is it really so hard to get a proofreader to review the writing so that the phrases make sense and the grammar is cleaned up? It would make the package more credible.



The theme of the project is this: a collaboration between two rabid collectors of rareties on the internet auctions. They get together to present their selection of valued finds and congratulate themselves on their persistence. There are some entertaining tracks on these discs. The focus of this BBE release, however, has moved more to the personality and tastes of the compilers and less on the acts. Perhaps this is a result of the rarity of the records, which have little information about production. One hopes that the BBE series is not petering out, for it has presented some great collections over the years."

The Kings of Disco

T. Snyder | AZ | 01/06/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Yes the Kings of Disco has a great album name going for it first and foremost.



Basically, this is a collection of hard-to-find disco records on the ever-solid K7 label. This double disc is compiled by two world-class DJ's with great musical taste.



The tracks are definitely obscure and most people have never heard of any of the songs or the groups (with the exception of Yazoo maybe).



The music is very grooving and upbeat. It's good music for fun times. Good party music to blow through your speakers.



(Find it at the k7 site for a lot cheaper)"

THIS is Disco...

AfterHrsDisco | New Jersey, USA | 07/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many people mistake the candy-corn, cheese-pop from the 70's that polluted the airwaves as Disco. They're wrong. Disco is the music that was actually played in the real clubs and Discotheques across America at the height of the genre. It was underground music by little-known bands for a select group of people that really understood it.



Dimitri and Joey Negro present an elegant and eclectic collection of Disco that is rare and precious. It's a true glimpse of how real Disco sounds. These are gritty, aggressive selections complete with edits by two of the best in the business. Anyone who's a true Disco fan or collector would jump at the chance to grab this title before it's gone.



EXCELLENT!"