The Original British Mixes

Complete with snap, crackle, pop, and even the odd skip and jump, these are 7 seminal mix albums pressed onto vinyl during 1977-79, the latter Disco period. 3 of these were officially released, the other 4 being DJ promo only copies. All 7 have now been uploaded to Mixcloud and are available to stream. This is presented in conjunction with last month’s blog post ‘From Garrard To Technics – How British DJs Began To Mix’ – you can get the full lowdown here:
//blog.gregwilson.co.uk/2013/08/from-garrard-to-technics-how-british-djs-began-to-mix/

It’s great to be able to have documented this part of British DJ history, combining the piece with the accompanying album uploads, which, following the initial trio (made available together) continued as a weekly Mixcloud series, with one album presented at a time during the past 4 Fridays. Here they are in release order, all ripped from the original vinyl copies mailed out to me way back when I was a teenage DJ:

WEA DJ SAMPLER (SAM 78) 1977

The prototype British mix album. Compiled and edited by Fred Dove (WEA Records). DJ promo only – most tracks unreleased in the UK at the time of issue. Artists featured – Boney M, The Trammps, Cerrone, Slave, The Eagles and Television.

WEA DJ SAMPLER (SAM 81) 1977

Once again, compiled and edited by Fred Dove (WEA Records). DJ promo only – most tracks unreleased in UK at the time of issue. Artists featured – Lamont Dozier, Boney M, Mass Production, Dennis Coffey, Cerrone, C.J. & Co, George Benson and The Trammps.

CBS DISCO POOL ‘INSTANT REPLAYS’ 1978

Album co-ordinators – Greg Lynn and Malcolm Eade (CBS Records). Mixed in co-ordination with James Hamilton and Graham Canter (London DJ’s, Hamilton also Record Mirror Disco columnist). DJ promo only – most tracks unreleased in UK at the time of issue. Includes the first ‘running mix’ on a British recording. Artists featured – Dan Hartman, Musique, Joe Thomas, Teddy Pendergrass, Peter Brown, Timmy Thomas, K.C. & The Sunshine Band, Gregg Diamond’s Starcruiser and Wilbert Longmire.

‘STEPPIN’ OUT’ (POLYDOR RECORDS) 1978

Compilation by John Perou and Theo Loyla (Polydor Records). Disco Mix by Theo Loyla. This was the first officially released UK mix album. Artists featured – Roy Ayers, Bionic Boogie, Carol Douglas, Idris Muhammed, Fatback Band and Isaac Hayes.

CBS DISCO POOL ‘HOT NUMBERS’ 1979

Follow up to ‘Instant Replays’. Album co-ordinators – Greg Lynn and Malcolm Eade (CBS Records). DJ promo only – most tracks unreleased in UK at the time of issue. Artists featured – Gary’s Gang, Sarah Dash, Lemon, T-Connection, Keith Barrow, Lorraine Johnson, George Duke, Foxy and Sticky Fingers.

‘DISCO INFERNO’ (K-TEL RECORDS) 1979

Disco Mix and Sequencing by Rob Bayly (K-Tel Records). An official release geared towards more mainstream listeners (K-Tel a company known for their TV advertising campaigns), the album reaching #11 on the UK chart. Artists featured – The Trammps, Patrick Juvet, Richie Family, Village People, Boney M, Grace Jones, Sheila B. Devotion, Amii Stewart, Edwin Starr, Rose Royce, Chanson, Chaka Khan, Gene Chandler, Cerrone, Two Man Sound, John Davis & The Monster Orchestra, Leif Garrett and Karen Young.

‘BOOGIE BUS’ (POLYSTAR RECORDS) 1979

Compiled by Theo Loyla (Polydor Records) and John Waller (Phonogram), the album, an official release, was an amalgam of tracks issued in the UK via these 2 companies, released on the Polystar label. Segues and programming by Graham Canter (then DJ at London club ‘Gullivers’). The album would enjoy a chart run of 11 weeks, peaking at #23. Artists featured – Crown Heights Affair, Rahni Harris & F.L.O., Miquel Brown, Softones, Village People, Hamilton Bohannon, Gregg Diamond Bionic Boogie, Charles Earland, Gloria Gaynor, Alicia Bridges, Peaches & Herb, Olympic Runners, Isaac Hayes, Ronnie Jones, Roy Ayers & Wayne Henderson and Light Of The World.

Greg Wilson Presents The Original British Mixes 1977-79:
//www.mixcloud.com/gregwilson/playlists/greg-wilson-presents-the-original-british-mixes-1977-79/