Search results: Odyssey

Review: As the title makes clear, this three-disc, unmixed collection has one simple aim: to soundtrack kitchen discos, living room dances and long car journeys with a jam-packed selection of disco hits and disco-tinged pop favourites. It does a good job at that, even if some of the selections tend towards the lesser-known end of the commercial disco spectrum, with all three discs showcasing such disco must-haves and part-starting sing-alongs as Dan Hartman's soaring 'Relight My Fire' (famously covered by Take That in the 90s), Diana Ross's 'I'm Coming Out', Chaka Khan's inspired 'Young Hearts Run Free', Grace Jones' punk-funk Roxy Music cover 'Love Is The Drug', McFadden & Whitehead's epic 'Ain't No Stopping Us Now' and Cheryl Lynn's peerless 'Got To Be Real'.

Review: Having delivered a string of loosely themed collections of extended mixes and 12" versions from the 1980s, the long-running NOW compilation strand has launched a new series focusing on music released in specific years across the decade. 1980, the inaugural collection, is relatively light on pop, 'alternative' and new wave extended mixes (though OMD, Spandau Ballet, Sparks and UB40 all appear), but big on soaring disco hits, crossover club classics and chart-bothering dance numbers from the dawn of the decade of Thatcher and Reagan. That means outings for the likes of Tom Browne's 'Funkin' For Jamaica', Teena Marie's exceptional 'Behind The Groove', Grace Jones' low-slung cover of Roxy Music's 'Love is the Drug', Tom Moulton's peerless version of Loleatta Holloway's 'Love Sensation', an Odyssey's addictive 'Use It Up & Wear It Out'.

Review: Given that the concept of the 12" version was born during the mid-to-late 1970s, it seems fitting that this four-disc trawl through extended mixes of the era leans heavily on classic disco cuts. Of course, there are some genuine must-haves among the DJ-friendly disco extensions on offer, not least Elton John's Philly Soul anthem 'Are You Ready For Love', Cerrone's 'Supernature', Dan Hartman's 'Relight My Fire' and Diana Ross's epic 'Love Hangover'. Throw in a smattering of post-punk and new wave gems, plus arguably the greatest end-of-night anthem of all, Wings' 'Goodnight Tonight' (the extended version of which gets brilliantly dubbed-out in the middle and is far superior to the seven-inch mix) and you have a rock-solid collection of club-ready '70s sing-alongs.

Review: Legendary U.S jazz drummer and Black Panther Steve Reid and his band, The Legendary Master Brotherhood, are best known for their cult classic debut Nova from back in the late 70s. He also played in Sun Ra's Arkestra, was a Motown session drummer and backed James Brown at the Apollo. His other album Odyssey Of The Oblong Square is no slouch either though. It is a deep spiritual jazz classic from the master drummer and Vietnam conscientious objector. This special one-off reissue comes on lovely gold vinyl meaning those long and often fruitless searches for a hard to find original are no more.

Review: The legendary Now series was a gateway into so much new music for people of a certain generation, way before the internet came along and opened up the entire history of recorded music to everyone. It's great that it is still going, and this first outing for the New Year is a vast, unmixed and four-CD collection of some of the 80s' most cherished pop hits. This part focuses specifically on 12"s from 1982 and includes all the names you know and love from Gary Numan to Tears For Fears, Daryl Hall & John Oates to Siouxsie & The Banshees - a complete collection and then some.

Review: The Now series is legendary for any one of us over a certain age. Back during our early childhood years, they were the first and last word of what was hot when it came to popular music of the day. Every few months, a new numbered collection would drop and give you access to all the hits you knew as well as some you didn't. In later years they branched out into specialist genres from funk to soul to dance. This bumper four CD collection brings together the very best 12"s of 1981 and despite the small remit, there is plenty to go at, as the easy-to-love tracklist shows.