Search - Various Artists, Donna Summer, Chic :: Extended Seventies The Dawning of the 12-Inch Era

They've got to dig deeper for more rareties...

Daniel W. Kelly | Long Island, NY United States | 08/21/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"3 discs of extended versions seems like a great idea...unfortunately, dedicated collectors have most likely found MOST of these mixes on numerous other compilations or full length CDs by the original artists. There are still SO many 70s 12" rareties that have never made their way to CD yet, so this is just a rehash, and more likely to appeal to those who are just beginning their collection of long versions on CD. On the plus side, the collection doesn't shy away from the LONGEST versions--for instance, the full near 17 minute version of Donna Summer, and it also gives a good mix of disco, funk, r&b and early new wave dance tracks. Track times and some individual notes:



CD1



1. love to love you baby...donna summer (16:46)

2. everybody dance...chic (8:25)

3. love hangover...Diana ross (7:46)

4. boogie nights...heatwave (4:35)

5. boogie oogie oogie...taste of honey (5:36)

6. contact...Edwin starr (7:16)

7. got to be real...Cheryl lynn (5:07)

8. now that we've found love...third world (7:36) (this version does not have the acapella intro as does the version on compilation "Grand 12 inches 3")

9, ring my bell...anita ward (8:09)



CD2



1. vertigo/relight my fire...dan Hartman (9:34)

2. is it all over my face...loose joints (11:33)

3. supernature...cerrone (9:40)

4. take that to the bank...shalamar (6:06)

5. dancer...gino soccio (8:25)

6. tsop...mfsb (5:41)

7. more more more...andrea true connection (6:15)

8. let's start the dance...bohannon (7:58) (this is a REMIX from a 1980s "reissue" single)

9. rapper's delight...sugarhill gang (14:32)



CD3



1. beat the clock...sparks (6:42) (this is Sparks dance collaboration with GIORGIO MORODER)

2. hit me with your rhythm stick...ian dury (5:25) (original extended version)

3. pop muzik...M (4:53) (the 12" version ends cold, so you actually don't get a lot of the ad lib vocal at the end of the original faded version)

4. heart of glass...blondie (5:46)

5. la vie en rose...grace jones (7:26)

6. are friends electric...tubeway army (5:20) (this is actually Gary Numan, it's just that he recorded this song under that "band" name)

7. lucky number...lene lovich (4:29) (this is a hot rarety! Never came across this extended remix on CD before! Very new wave dance sounding)

8. warm leatherette...normal (3:20)

9. money...flying lizards (5:43)

10. airport...motors (4:30)

11. death disco...public image ltd (6:41) (BIG treat. Wasn't even aware there was a long version of this track!)"

Breaking down borders

Eric | Somerville, MA United States | 12/04/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This compilation offers a few unique features that make it a rare find: unlike many compilations that seperate the genre, the compilers realize that New Wave and Disco were about breaking down borders, not setting them up. So we have three discs here in one box: chart hits of the time; more dance-oriented club classics (some of them fairly obscure); and the New Wave music of the time that was also played in the clubs.



I won't list all the tracks, but here are the special finds I don't have on other CDs, or would need to buy artist box sets to get: Diana Ross's 7:46 version of "Love Hangover," Shalamar's 6:06 "Take that to the Bank," and all 14:32 of the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight."



The New Wave disc offers an unlikely treasure trove mix of artists such as Flying Lizards (very few offerings on CD), Lene Lovich (all but forgotten genius), Sparks (criminally under-appreciated West Coasters), and then the obvious but never boring choice of Blondie's "Heart of Glass."



If you're the sort of fan who bought the DgX versions of Diana Ross: Diana and Donna Summer: Bad Girls (to get the extra discs of remixes and alternative edits on the supplementary discs), then you are a serious dance fan and this set is right up your discoteque!



It reminds me of the Machine Soul compilation, which encompassed the 80s and 90s; in fact much of the music on this set, though not called "electronica" at the time, functions like a presage to that later style."