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These compilations can't be considered
definitive collections in the literal sense-both genres deserve
their own multi-CD box sets, which do exist. Still, the two sets
in the Gold series offer a great sampling of the two styles that
defined the wacky but musically adventurous'70s. Funk
blends the familiar material from the giants such as James Brown
(who has three songs here including "The Payback"),
Average White Band ("Pick Up the Pieces") Parliament
("Give Up the Funk"), Rick James ("Give It To
Me Baby"), and Barry White ("It's Ecstasy When You
Lay Down Next to Me"), and not so popular but just as good
stuff from Billy Preston ("Outa-Space"), the Bar Kays
("Too Hot to Stop"), and the Temptations ("Let
Your Hair Down"). It is a good representation of a style
that was feel good in both the music and attitude. The material
on Disco is somewhat rather predictable but packs in nearly
all the hits and the big stars of the genre (noticeably absent
are the Bee Gees, who brought disco to the mainstream with the
Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, and Chic-you can't license
everything, I guess). Disco contains the superstars such as Donna
Summer ("Last Dance"), Gloria Gaynor ("I Will
Survive"), the Village People ("YMCA"), Sister
Sledge ("We Are Family"), and Diana Ross ("Upside
Down") with the cast of memorable one-hit wonders (Alicia
Bridges's "I Love the Night Life," Thelma Houston's
"Don't Leave Me This Way," the Andrea True Connection's
"More, More, More," and Lipps Inc.'s "Funkytown").
The compilation brings Studio 54 to your living room; glitter
ball sold separately.
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