Here’s a four-CD/ forty-two track compilation bringing together soul, funk, and disco 12” from the 1970s & 1980s. It features more known fare from the likes of Chic,  The Tramps, and Earth, Wind & Fire, with lesser heard-off/ more obscure tracks from People’s Choice, Midnight Star, Double Exposer,  and Freeze. All making for an enjoyable, and fairly varied sonic trip back to the discos of the past.

The release appears on Robinsongs, which is the soul, funk, disco, and related label of Cherry Red. The discs, each come in their glossy dark blue, through to red, and purple slips. These are presented in glossy blue flip-side card case- which features a simple yet effective gold disc design. The set comes with a sixteen-page colour booklet- taking in a short write-up about each of the forty-two tracks, as well as twelve-inch label reproductions.
 
Instead of a strictly chronological track layout, each disc darts about both the 70s & early 80s- so one does get the feeling of a series of four disco sets, or maybe a night-long playlist.  I won’t go and detail/ discuss the more known/ famous tracks here- because hell, we’re all familiar with those, and while the additional elements blended into some of these tracks are effective/ worthy of comment- I think it’s better to talk about some the lesser heard, but still great moments here.

So on disc one, we have T-Connection “Do What You Wanna Do” an upbeat funk track, which rather sounds like one of the key influences/ templates to Jamiroquai sounds- with even the singer having very Jay Kay like vocals. In the track's breakdown we get some nice & detailed tropical rhythmic percussive fills, building & jiving organ loops, tinkling vibe hits, and moody synth climbs. There’s Lonnie Liston Smith & The Cosmic Echoes “ Expansion” featuring an upfront double bass bound, snake-hipped percussion blend, moody simmering keys,  wow guitar tones, groovy flute trails, and subtle male soul vocals 

Moving onto disc two and we kick off with Bass Constructions “Movin’” which finds joint horn swings,  grooving keyboard lines, tight strutting guitars, and occasional chanted male soul vocals. With the breakdown features deeper & tight funk jams between the keys & horns- with some great pulsing/ spacing synth lines also appearing. There’s the 
guitar chug, bass line bobs, meets grooving synth trails, and vocal ohh’s/ husky male sexual talk of Aquarian Dream’s “You’re A Star”. Or the electro hand claps, taut bass groove, and simmer synth guitar to more open key organ work of  Maze/ Frankie Beverly’s “Twilight”.
 
Onto disc three we have ethnic percussive, electro hand claps, grooving disco keys,  and searing synth tones of Edwin Star’s “Contact”. We have the wow-wow guitared, bright vibe like key runs, jaunting horn work, and occasional swooning female chorusing of Voyage’s “From East To West”. Or C.J. & Co’s “Devil’s Guns” which is all tight & moody piano key climbs, horn & string swoons, with a blend of deep to mid-ranged male vocals, and soulful swirling female choruses.
 
Finally, on disc number three, we have the locked wiry funk guitar, tip-tap percussion, and layered vocal chorus of  Hi-Tension- “Hi-Tension” with its breakdown taking in vibe hit detail & single horn solo. There’s the darting bass groove & swinging horn disco of Ultrafunk’s “Gotham City Boogie”. Or the clicking tone-meets-cymbal heavy percussion of Atomsfear’s “ Dancing In Outer Space” which shifts through layers of stabbing vibe keys,  squelchy electro tone, dubby guitar tones, and organ climbs.

The title of this four-disc set is somewhat misleading, as we get a blend of the known/lesser-known- and this is in no way just another bland disco compilation. Instead, it’s a consistent and largely  rewarding sonic trip back to the discotheques of the past highlighting both the grooving joy and skill of an effective 12”’s