VA - Joey Negro Presents The Soul Of Disco Vol.3 (2011)

Unashamed musical trainspotter Dave Lee (aka Joey Negro) brings us a new selection of disco-digging gems. "The Soul Of Disco" albums are about showcasing the blacker, funkier end of the disco spectrum where the 4/4 groove collided with the musical sensibility of Philly and Motown. Many of these tracks (on small indie labels) didn't get played outside underground clubs.

Whatever bad things its done for the music business in general, the Internet has aided in the discovery of many obscure records that never made it outside their State, with stories of distribution or pressing problems that prevented the release reaching the general public. Another factor is late arrivals from the early 80s, songs that still had that up-tempo disco sound suddenly sounded very dated and didn't fair too well once house music began to rule the roost.

Musically this collection offers a wide variety of styles within the parameters of soulful disco. The up-tempo heavily orchestrated sounds of the soaring "Invisible Wind" or the J's anthemic northern soul style on "When Did You Stop" are maybe what you'd expect from the title of the album, whereas things get jazzier for the Board Of Directors instrumental "Hanging Tough". A tougher, funked-out sound is present on Evans Pyramid's driving "The Dip Drop" while we go to church for some disco gospel courtesy of Gloster Williams' rousing "No Cross, No Crown". There is even a bit of reggae tinged 4/4 courtesy of Loi's "Body Contact". So basically if you dig disco there should be something here for you.

Tracklist:
CD1
1. Jackie Stoudemire – Invisible Wind
2. Full Body - You Got Me Dancing (Joey Negro Edit)
3. The J’s – When Did You Stop
4. Loi – Body Contact
5. Sanctuary – Disco Discouraged (Joey Negro Edit)
6. Board Of Directors – Hanging Tough
7. Project – Love Rescue
8. Truth - International Dancing
9. Park Avenue – Looking Ahead
10. Kocky - Just Keep On Dancing
11. Gloster Williams & Master Control – No Cross, No Crown

CD 2
1. Sir James Randolph – Sho’ Is Good (Joey Negro Edit)
2. The Hippolytes – Blow You Out Tonight
3. Larry Hart – Goin’ Up In Smoke
4. Hot Ice – Dancing Free (Joey Negro Edit)
5. Ronnie Barron – I Can Give It To You
6. Phenomenal – One Two Three (Come See About Me)
7. Steven Abdul Kahn – Gotta Have Your Loving
8. Evans Pyramid – The Dip Drop
9. Chailo – Lets Skate
10. Loveman Ronnie Stokes – Touch You Again
11. The Softones & First Class – Candy