Sharon Brown – I Specialize In Love [1981] March 20, 2012

One of those tracks that clearly demonstrates why its such an unmitigated classic. Despite it being a cover, this track shines like the sun with Brown’s vocal talent clearly center stage, dominating the track. Its tracks like this that put paid to the fallacy that “Disco” is dead. Just go to the comments section on [...]

Shapeshifters – Lola’s Theme (Main Mix) [2004] February 29, 2012

Love it or loathe it you cant deny that Lola’s Theme is a master-stroke of house production. Its literally draws upon 20 years of experience to craft a track so damn slick it will be heard for years to come. It has enough disco-y house to please the bunnies, the bass line is chunky enough to satisfy even the most devoted Prog house fan. The four to the floor is crispy and interesting and the vocal is absolutely perfect for the tune, synthy guitar business keep the tech heads happy and wrapping it up is that cracking build up smack bang in the middle. Guaranteed to lay waste to any dancefloor it comes into contact with. What a release this is.

Sister Sledge – Lost In Music (Bernard Edwards & Nile Rogers Remix) [1984] January 12, 2012

Now thats a swing for the books. Echo and the Bunnymen to Sister Sledge! That said, looking at it objectively, its not that great a leap, both tracks are almost perfect representations of their genre.

The original Lost In Music was released in 1979 and I think my 1 year old mind heard this and latched on from that point since this is easily one of my top ten tracks of all time. I LOVE Lost In Music. The Edwards and Rogers remix done in 1984 encompasses what made the original so great and then beefed it up to make it DJ friendly. This is why you not only get an extra 40% of Sledge time thanks to the extended edit but you also get better build-ups and bridge sections to make it easier to mix in and out of. The end result is a master-stroke of re-editing.

There is not much that hasn’t already been said about Lost in Music, it was the Sisters biggest track by a long way, appealing to people that would have usually looked the other way at a “disco” track. I’ve heard this played everywhere from a club to Dave Lee Travis dropping it on a Sunday afternoon on Radio One back in the 80′s. A track that genuinely has mass appeal and for good reason, it reminds us all about those hedonistic times we have all had, wrapped up in a beat, a melody, a bassline, completely oblivious to whatever is going on around you, just you, the dance floor and the music. Simply amazing.

George Benson – Give Me The Night [1980] January 1, 2012

One of the smoothest disco funk tracks your ever likely to hear from one of the most gifted artists of the genre. I defy anyone not to tap their feet and nod their heads to this classic. Its been remixed a ton of times, some of them pretty good (I even up’d one on here way back in 08) but nothing beats the original. It was written by Rod Temperton, who’s other contributions to music include Thriller and Rock With You. Not bad for a pasty white Englishman!

Another milestone for 2012 is that last night we passed 8K unique views to “From The Cans”. Which is incredible since this site is just over 3 years old and I never thought anyone would read it other than Fiver! So thank you all very much and have a great 2012!

Grace Jones – Pull Up To The Bumper [1981] August 17, 2011

One of bigger disco tinged tracks from Jones’ seminal album, Nightclubbing. Its one of those tracks you know the chorus too, without ever owning the song. Its one of those tracks that will have your foot tapping, even if your not a fan of Grace Jones. Pure quality bassline licks, lots of groove, absolutely crackin’!

Ann Peebles – Somebodys On Your Case [1972] August 10, 2011

Absolutely faultless vocalist, Ann Peebles released tons of quality soul/funk tracks throughout the 70′s to huge critical acclaim. This is just one of those classics, funky as hell, conscious lyrics, buttery vocals. Perfection!

George Benson – Give Me The Night (Phats & Smalls White Label Rmx) [2003] August 2, 2011

Fantastic rework of Benson’s classic, Give Me The Night, pushing the disco funk-o-meter into overdrive. You want the original 12″ remix, which is a cleaner version of this white label. Its actually on the Adventures in Clubland – A Decade of Stress Records, which has sat in my car for about 3 years now. A perfect track for weaving through LA traffic when its 100F outside.

Colonel Abrams – Trapped 12′ inch version [1985] April 18, 2011

Time to show some respect to the Colonel. Its still incredible to think this was released in 1985, what could be considered a freestyle track in the vein of Sinnamon. However, the track has far more in common with the House sound that emerged a couple of years AFTER this was released. Incredibly, it was a huge track, well received across the globe and could be pretty much heard everywhere on release. Yet, with a fanastic vocal and the backing of a hit single Abrams effectively dropped off the face of the Earth after 1989, releasing sporadic, average tracks forever in the shadow of this incredible release. Regardless, from a vocal standpoint, Abrams cant be faulted, his voice is close to perfection on this coupled with the direction of the extremely talented Richard Burgess and its not hard to see why its a winner.

Black Box Feat. Loleatta Holloway – Ride On Time [1989] March 22, 2011

Hate on them as much as you like, they took the epic accapella and propelled it into an entire planets consciousness over the summer of 1989. The very definition of legendary.

Loleatta Holloway – Love Sensation (Extended Mix) [1980] March 22, 2011

One of the only tracks ever released that could need a repost. Absolutely epic. The Infamous Accapella Loleatta Holloway Singing Love Sensation Live Love Sensation (Freemasons Remix)