Edsel Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Scottish funk and r&b group The Average White Band had a fine series of disco and soul hits back in their heyday in the 1970s. As well as originals like their best known smash hit 'Pick Up the Pieces' they also served up superb covers like 'Let's Go Round Again.' AWB is their most successful album and it now turns a full half a centre old so gets a special reissue on Edsel across no fewer than 15 CDs. The album was number two for three weeks to Elton John's Greatest Hits upon release in 1974 and will no doubt do big numbers again all these years later.

Review: Although Salsoul Records and West End Records are more widely associated with the original New York Disco story, SAM Records - founded by Romania-born Sam Weiss in 1975 - also released a wealth of killer material during that era. This three-disc retrospective, which comes accompanied by detailed liner notes by the Guardian's Alexis Petridis, tells the story of the label via a mix of genuine disco anthems, early boogie gems, key 12" versions mixed by the likes of Shep Pettibone, John Jellybean' Benitez and Jonathan Fearing, and lesser-celebrated cult classics. All the label's key artists (think John Davis & The Monster Orchestra, K.I.D, Gary's Gang and Rhyze) are present, along with noted 'one-hit wonders' such as David McPherson, Mike & Brenda Sutton, Vicky D and Lucy Hawkins. A must-have for disco heads old and new!