CD Longbox #18

The Disco Years, Vol. 4: Lost in Music

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Exclusive photo courtesy of Dirk Digglinator of the Hambonian Archives.

For more information on the brief life of the CD longbox, go visit The Legend of the Longbox.

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Track listing:
Title	Artist	Length	Year
Good Times	Chic	3:45	1979
High Society	Norma Jean	3:41	1979
He's the Greatest Dancer	Sister Sledge	3:36	1978
Spacer	Sheila & B. Devotion	3:50	1979
I'm Coming Out	Diana Ross	3:59	1980
I Like Love	Norma Jean	5:45	1978
I Love You More	René & Angela	3:39	1981
Keep It Comin' Love	KC & The Sunshine Band	3:54	1976
Fresh	Kool & The Gang	4:07	1983
In the Bush	Musique	4:04	1978
I'm Caught Up (In a One Night Love Affair)	Inner Life	4:25	1979
A Lover's Holiday	Change	4:02	1980
Don't Make Me Wait	Peech Boys	4:14	1982
One More Shot	C-Bank feat. Jenny Burton	8:34	1982
I.O.U.	Freeez	3:51	1983
Hot Stuff	Donna Summer	4:31	1979
Paradise	Change	3:59	1981
Lost in Music	Sister Sledge	3:23	1979

CD Longbox #8

The Disco Years, Vol. 3: Boogie Fever

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Exclusive photo courtesy of the Hambonian Archives.

Disco hits of Marlena Shaw 1976-1985

Marlena Shaw started her recording career as a sassy soul singer on jazz's famous Blue Note label. As disco hit the mainstream, she transitioned to that genre.  She switched to the Columbia label in 1977 and that greatly helped her sales.  Shaw inexplicably never hit the Billboard Top 40, but did place two singles in the R&B Top 40 and the following three hits on the Disco chart.  Oddly missing from all charts is Shaw's disco cover of "Touch Me In The Morning," a fan favorite which includes a scorching trumpet solo from Bobby Bryant.

My favorite track of these three is "Love Dancin'" but you can't go wrong with a voice and attitude like Marlena's.  Now a septuagenarian, she's still performing.  And I'd bet she's still fantastic.

Year	Peak	Weeks	Title
1977	24	7	Pictures and Memories
1979	49	13	Love Dancin'
1983	48	7	Never Give Up On You

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It wasn't recorded and released during the decade 1976-1985, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my all-time favorite Shaw recording, 1969's simmering cover of "California Soul."

Disco hits of The Human League, 1976-1985

During the years 1976-1985, English technopop group The Human League charted 6 times on Billboard's Disco Chart. Here's a breakdown table, including year, peak chart position, and number of weeks on the disco charts.

"Hard Times/Love Action" charted twice, first as an import then again a year later as a domestic release. The group's megahit "Don't You Want Me" is present and accounted for - it spent a remarkable 40 weeks on the chart (very few songs reach even the 20 week mark). For my money, the playlist gets better as it goes on, ending with two of the group's best songs. For more of my thoughts on The Human League and their music, click here.

Year	Peak	Weeks	Title
1981	27	14	The Sound of the Crowd
1981	37	12	Hard Times/Love Action
1981	3	40	Don't You Want Me
1982	57	7	Hard Times/Love Action
1983	1	18	(Keep Feeling) Fascination
1984	19	11	The Lebanon

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Philip Oakey, the leader/singer of The Human League, also had two dance hits with disco savant Giorgio Moroder. "Good-Bye Bad Times" reached #20 in 1985, but the song I remember is "Together in Electric Dreams" which reached #20 in 1984.

Disco hits of Stevie Wonder 1976-1985

During the years 1976-1985, the Musician Laureate of the United States scored 7 hits on Billboard's Disco Chart, including 3 chart toppers.  Here's a breakdown table, including year, peak chart position, and number of weeks on the disco charts. I've included the 10+ minute version of Do I Do with the Dizzy Gillespie solo because that song simply should never be heard in its truncated single version.

All tracks are awesome because Stevie Wonder.

Year	Peak	Weeks	Title
1976	2	19	Another Star/I Wish/Sire Duke/Isn't She Lovely
1980	10	26	Master Blaster (Jammin')
1982	27	13	That Girl
1982	1	17	Do I Do
1985	6	10	Love Light In Flight
1985	1	10	Part-Time Lover
1985	1	10	Go Home

Disco hits of Don Henley 1976-1985

Yeah, you read that right.  During the years 1976-1985, Eagles drummer Don Henley placed 2 hits on Billboard's Disco Chart.  Here's a breakdown table, including year, peak chart position, and number of weeks on the disco charts.

Don't get me wrong, I like both songs, but disco?  IMO, they're both kinda slow for dancing.  However, I will admit to dancing to both of them back in the '80s.  Then again, I'd dance to just about anything in the '80s if it meant I could get close to a girl. 

Year	Peak	Weeks	Title
1982	47	13	Dirty Laundry
1985	10	8	All She Wants To Do Is Dance

Disco hits of Nightlife Unlimited 1976-1985

During the years 1976-1985, a Canadian studio group named Nightlife Unlimited scored 3 hits on Billboard's Disco Chart.  Here's a breakdown table, including year, peak chart position, and number of weeks on the disco charts. 

Nightlife Unlimited only placed on the disco chart; they never appeared on Billboard's pop or album charts. Like many disco studio groups, a group of producers and writers put together studio musicians to perform the songs.  This was not a touring ensemble, not that it matters - I just can't resist that beat, Latin percussion, hand claps, and silly lyrics.  The earlier stuff is better than the latter stuff; my favorite of these tracks is "Love is in You."

Year	Peak	Weeks	Title
1979	18	12	Disco Choo Choo
1979	33	16	Love is in You/Dance, Freak and Boogie
1981	42	15	Just Be Yourself/Tell Me