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• First soiree into the compilation market for Robinsongs.
• ‘The Greatest Soul / Funk & Disco 12” Inch Singles of The 70s & 80s’ is packed with some of the Greatest 12-inch versions from that era.
• A vivid snapshot of that golden era.
• With liner notes by journalist Charles Waring against every track in the booklet.
Like many crucial inventions, the 12” single was born out of necessity. Although it’s widely seen as an innovation born in the disco era to help DJs keep people dancing by stretching out songs much further than the conventional three-minute mark defined by the 7” single, the very first 12” single appeared in 1970. It was a novelty that didn’t catch on but a few years later in 1974, an innovative New York producer called Tom Moulton resurrected the 12” single format as a vehicle for making extended mixes of dance tracks.
It was an innovation that helped stoke the flames of the Disco Inferno and introduced the concept of instrumental breakdowns or “breaks”.
Initially, 12” pressings targeted DJs and were only used for promotional purposes but such was their desirability that it wasn’t long before record companies made them commercially available; the first one sold to the public was Double Exposure’s ‘Ten Percent’ in 1976, that is included in this package. Its success opened the floodgates and from that moment, the 12” single became the format that defined Disco’s glory years.
Tracklist
DISC ONE
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 TWO
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 THREE
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 FOUR
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