Tags: Soul Disco

Review: This meticulously curated five CD collection captures the dazzling spectrum of dance music that thrived on queer club floors between 1980 and 1989. With 53 tracks spanning multiple dance genres, the set celebrates an era of bold experimentation and unbridled creativity. Eartha Kitt's magnetic 'Where Is My Man' and Donna Summer's electrifying 'Love Is in Control' set the tone for a journey through anthems and underground gems alike. Tracks like Sylvester's euphoric 'I Need You' and Gwen Guthrie's 'Peanut Butter' evoke the soulful exuberance that defined the dancefloor, while Divine's 'Native Love' and Bobby O"'s 'I'm So Hot for You' bring unabashed camp and energy. On the Europop side, Desireless' dreamy 'Voyage Voyage' and Modern Talking's sleek 'Brother Louie' deliver shimmering melodies, while New Order's 'Sub-Culture' and Siouxsie and the Banshees' 'Peek-A-Boo' infuse a post-punk edge. House and acid influences shine in Electribe 101's hypnotic 'Talking with Myself' and Wee Papa Girl Rappers' 'Heat It Up'. Grace Jones' avant-garde 'Love on Top of Love' and Malcolm McLaren's 'Deep in Vogue' epitomise boundary-pushing brilliance. This collection is a vivid celebration of a transformative decade, reflecting the resilience and creativity of a community that danced through joy, pain, and boundless innovation.

Review: Donna Summer of course rose to prominence in the disco heyday of the 1970s and was rightfully credited as a driving force behind the genre's global acclaim. Bestowed with the title "Queen of Disco," she emerged as one of the decade's most accomplished recording artists, with over 130 million units sold worldwide and countless big hits to her name, not least the club anthem 'I Feel Love' with its sensuous vocals and early use of synthesised sounds. Now, for the first time on vinyl thanks to this year's Record Store Day celebrations, this new vinyl serves up eight of her most popular remixes from the years 1982, 1990, and 1996. Each one is a great reminder as to why she enjoys such a fine legacy.

Review: This vibrant 4-LP collection is a love letter to the music that defined queer dancefloors from 1980 to 1989. It offers an eclectic mix of diva, high energy, Europop, house, alternative and pop classics that celebrate the diversity and innovation of an era when clubs were crucibles of creativity. The tracklist is a masterclass in curation, balancing iconic anthems with deeper cuts. Highlights include Eartha Kitt's sultry 'Where Is My Man', Sylvester's electrifying 'I Need You' and Jean Carne's soulful 'Was That All It Was'. Divine's campy 'Native Love' rubs shoulders with Ryan Paris' shimmering 'Dolce Vita' and Laura Branigan's enduring 'Self Control'. On the experimental edge, New Order's 'Sub-Culture' and Visage's 'The Anvil' bring post-punk energy, while Grace Jones' 'Love On Top Of Love' epitomises avant-garde sophistication. Production giants like Trevor Horn, Larry Levan and Stock, Aitken & Waterman leave their unmistakable mark, ensuring the music pulsates with the era's pioneering spirit. The collection also reflects the bittersweet reality of the time, a period of immense joy and boundless creativity shadowed by the AIDS crisis. This set is more than nostalgiaifull of artistry and the enduring influence of queer club culture during one of its most transformative decades.