Onda Sonora Picks Week 15.

This week we play before and after the UB40 gig at Ancienne Belgique where they’ll perform their first album “Signing Off”. We’ll be playing some of their music in our radio show this week as well. Next to that we suggest 3 tracks from ace disco compilation that have just been released. Firm recommendations.

UB40 – 25% – DEP International
It might not be the coolest thing to admit but we’re fans of (early) UB40. Our rule is, in general, the older the albums are, the more we love them and thus is the first one our favourite. It’s a quite dark and melancholic affair but with enough catchy bits to hint to the immense success that would follow later on in their career.

UB40 – Don’t Let It Pass You By – DEP International
From their equally enjoyable second album “Present Arms”.

Tomorrow’s People – Let’s Get Down With The Beat – Melodies
3rd release on Floating Points’ reissue label. Bringing back otherwise nearly impossible to find or pay killers from the past. This one is already a favourite or ours in the Al Kent re-edit which you can find on the first Disco Love compilation out on BBE.

Velvet Hammer – Party Down (Joey Negro Re-Edit) – Z Records
Like the “Disco Spectrum” series before them, Joey Negro and Sean P’s “The Soul Of Disco” series has been an invaluable source of discoveries for us. Until now only the third installment got a decent vinyl release so we’re happy to see Dave Lee straightening that out. Even though we’ve played this particular edit to death from the vinyl sampler that was released at the same time as the CD. Confusing to most, crystal clear to all collectors. Haha.

Gladys Knight And The Pips – It’s A Better Than Good Time (Walter Gibbons Remix) – BBE
An holy grail of sorts to all collectors of disco music now getting an official release through BBE and Al Kent’s exquisitely documented and massive double 2×5 12” boxset highlighting the history of the extended DJ-mix / re-edit. Essential even if you’re only partly as obsessed with disco as we are.