Robinsongs are celebrating the art of the 12-inch single with their first foray into the compilation game, The Greatest Soul / Funk & Disco 12” Inch Singles of The 70s & 80s. Far from just a cobbled-together set of random songs, it’s apparent that a lot of care and consideration went into selecting the tracks for this 4 cd box set. The songs are truly representative of the disco and post-disco periods and showcase the brilliance of the 12-inch single format. Innovated by DJs as a way to keep club patrons longer on the dance floor, the first commercially available 12-inch single hit the market in 1970. The format didn’t initially catch on, largely being just the domain of DJs. But after a few years, 12-inch singles became a favorite among record buyers, clubgoers, and dance music enthusiasts who enjoyed having extended versions of their best-loved jams. They weren’t exclusively stretched-out mixes, the longer runtime also allowed DJs and producers to experiment and transform the songs. The introduction of the format added flames to the burgeoning Disco Inferno and the growth of the sound.
The Greatest Soul / Funk & Disco 12” Inch Singles of The 70s & 80s features tried and true classics like McFadden & Whitehead’s “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now,” The S.O.S. Band’s “Just Be Good To Me,” Chic’s “Good Times,” and Loleatta Holloway’s often sampled “Love Sensation.” Forget the three-minute versions that you’re used to hearing on the radio, these songs are all presented here in their full extended glory. Being a longtime fan of dance music, I was thrilled to see cuts such as Freeez’s “Southern Freeez,” Level 42’s “Love Games,” and Narada Michael Walden‘s “I Should’ve Loved Ya” getting some love. They even managed to squeeze “You’re My Occupation,” a great Chaz Jankel tune, in there. As an extra treat, acclaimed journalist Charles Waring wrote the liner notes for the collection, adding his own insights on each song. Whether you’ve got disco fever or if you’re just a casual listener, there’s something on this compilation for everyone.
The Greatest Soul/Funk & Disco 12″ Singles Of The 70s and 80s is due out on March 24, 2023. You can order it on Cherry Red here.
The Greatest Soul / Funk & Disco 12” Inch Singles of The 70s & 80s Tracklisting
Disc 1
1. The Undisputed Truth – “You + Me = Love”
2. McFadden & Whitehead – “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now”
3. Earth, Wind & Fire with The Emotions – “Boogie Wonderland (Special Disco Version)”
4. T-Connection – “Do What You Wanna Do”
5. People’s Choice – “Do It Any Way You Wanna (A Tom Moulton Mix)”
6. Instant Funk – “Got My Mind Made Up”
7. Crown Heights Affair – “You Gave Me Love”
8. Whispers – “And The Beat Goes On”
9. Arthur Adams – “You Got The Floor”
10. Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes – “Expansions”
11. Chaz Jankel Feat Brenda Jones – “You’re My Occupation (Extended)”
Disc 2
1. Brass Construction – “Movin’”
2. Skyy – “Call Me”
3. Parliament – “Flashlight”
4. Zapp – “More Bounce to the Ounce (Pts. I and II)”
5. Midnight Star – “No Parking On The Dance Floor”
6. S.O.S. Band – “Just Be Good To Me”
7. The Jimmy Castor Bunch – “Space Age”
8. Lakeside – “Fantastic Voyage”
9. Aquarian Dream – “You’re A Star”
10. Maze/Frankie Beverly – “Twilight (Instrumental)”
Disc 3
1. Chic – “Good Times”
2. Sister Sledge – “He’s the Greatest Dancer”
3. G.Q. – “Disco Nights (Rock Freak)”
4. Double Exposure – “Ten Percent”
5. Loleatta Holloway – “Love Sensation”
6. Edwin Starr – “Contact”
7. Narada Michael Walden – “I Should’ve Loved Ya”
8. Voyage – “From East To West”
9. C.J. & Co – “Devil’s Gun”
10. The Trammps – “Disco Inferno”
Disc 4
1. Change – “Searching”
2. Roy Ayers – “Running Away”
3. Valentine Brothers – “Money’s Too Tight (To Mention)”
4. Evelyn “Champagne” King – “Shame”
5. Rose Royce – “Is It Love You’re After”
6. Third World – “Now That We Found Love (Disco Mix)”
7. Hi-Tension – “Hi-Tension”
8. Freeez – “Southern Freeez”
9. Ultrafunk – “Gotham City Boogie”
10. Level 42 – “Love Games”
11. Atmosfear – “Dancing In Outer Space”
