Search - Various Artists :: Disco Nights 9: Motown Dance

Motown actually turned it out in the disco era!

Rachael Woodhouse | Saint Paul, MN United States | 09/17/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Typically when people think of the "disco era", Motown does not immediately pop into their minds. "Disco Nights Vol. 9: Motown Dance" aims to change all that by serving up the original 12" mixes of some of the label's greatest 70s disco/funk classics. The key word here is "extended"; many of the versions on this disc run at 6 to 8 minutes long! The obvious hits are all here. Diva Diana Ross is represented with her two biggest songs of the era, the sensuous "Love Hangover" and the still-kickin' "Upside Down". The Jackson 5 give us "Dancing Machine", and the post-Smokey Miracles' underappreciated Number One hit "Love Machine" smolders. Superstars the Commodores funk things up with the memorable and mightay mightay "Brick House". And for those who can't seem to remember if Motown even had any other female singers besides Ross on the label in the 70s, their memories will be jogged by the fourth Pointer, Bonnie and her 1979 Holland-Dozier-Holland Top 15 smash "Heaven Must Have Sent You", and Thelma Houston's masterpiece "Don't Leave Me This Way", featured in the recent film "54". This disc does an excellent job of spotlighting the work of Motown producer Hal Davis, who produced many of the aforementioned titles and is too often overlooked in the history of the company. Curiously, despite such strong 70s output, two 60s dance cuts are included: the perennially popular "Dancing In The Street" by Martha Reeves and The Vandellas", and "Going To A Go Go" by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles. These songs are great, but seem out of place next to the more modern dance music comprising the rest of this collection. The only drawback to the disc is the absence of two of Motown's greatest funk musicians: Rick James and Teena Marie. They definitely belong on this collection! At least the inclusion of the Dazz Band's "Let It Whip" assuages some of the pain. Ultimately however, dollar for dollar, this inexpensive collection of songs is a great buy; it will have many booties shaking for about 45 minutes of musical bliss!"

Disco Nights vol 9 : Motown Dance - Various Artists

A. J. Wilson | MANCHESTER United Kingdom | 10/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well worth the purchase price for the extended full length versions of the Miracles "Love Machine", Diana Ross "Love Hangover", Bonnie Pointer "Heaven must have sent you" and Thelma Houston "Don't leave me this way". These were the tracks that defined disco in the '70s. ...Kill for a copy!"

Motown does disco

Michael Patrick Boyd | Waukesha, WI | 02/06/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Motown Dance is Volume 9 of the Disco Nights Series. It is forty-six minutes and forty-one seconds and was released on July 26, 1995. Basically you are getting a combination of Motown music from the 60's and 70's. Though is don't believe that Going To A Go-Go and Dancing in the Street should not be included in this series because the were released before the Disco era and they sound nothing like a disco sound. The songs on Motown Dance in general are not that bad. Disco Nights, Volume 9: Motown Dance gets an A-.



Side 1

Twenty-four minutes and twenty seconds



Smokey Robinson & the Miracles-Going To A Go-Go

#11 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles

#2 U.S. Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles

The Dazz Band-Let It Whip

#5 U.S. Billboard Pop Singles

#2 U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play

#1 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles (five weeks at #1)

Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal in 1982

Jackson 5-Dancing Machine

#2 U.S. Billboard Pop Singles

#1 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles

#1 Cash Box Magazine Top Singles

Diana Ross-Love Hangover

#1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles (two weeks at #1)

#1 U.S. Billboard Disco Singles (two weeks at #1)

#1 U.S. Billboard Dance Music/Club Play Singles

#1 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles

#1 Cash Box Magazine Top Singles

Thelma Houston-Don't Leave Me This Way

#1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles

#1 U.S. Billboard Dance Club Play (six weeks at #1)

#1 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles

Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female in 1977



Side 2

Twenty-two minutes and twenty-one seconds



Commodores-Brick House

#5 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles

#34 U.S. Billboard Dance Club Play

#4 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles

The Miracles-Love Machine

#1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles

#5 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles

#1 Cash Box Magazine Top Singles

Bonnie Pointer-Heaven Must Have Sent You

#11 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles

#8 U.S. Billboard Dance Club Play

#52 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles

Diana Ross-Upside Down

#1 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Singles (five weeks at #1)

#1 U.S. Billboard Dance Club Play (five weeks at #1)

#1 U.S. Billboard Hot Soul Singles (four weeks at #1)

#1 U.S. Billboard ARC Weekly Top 40 (three weeks at #1)

#1 Cash Box Magazine Top Singles (three weeks at #1)

Martha Reeves & The Vandellas-Dancing in the Street

#2 U.S. Billboard Pop Singles"