This auction is for a CD of More More More: Smooth Jazz Plays the Disco Hits (CD, 1999, Instinct Jazz). The CD is in good condition. The jewel case and inserts are complete and in ok condition. 

I am always surprised at nostalgia. I lived through the disco years. I remember my girlfriend badgering me about getting disco dancing lessons and rehashing my wardrobe to be more travolta-like. I wanted to dance like David Bryne or Bryan Ferry. She wanted me to dance like Travolta or Barry Gibb (thank God she did not insist on Robin Gibb). I wanted to pogo. It was too much for my punk-leaning heart to bear.Then I had to live through the whole soft jazz thing....

This CD kind of meshes the two genres - though there was a lot of Grover Washington, Jr. flying around the airwaves back then. But, I was stranded during the Blizzard of 1978. The only thing close enough to get to was the Chinese Restaurant across the street, an Aldis grocery store where the employees were stranded and the AMC theatre. Of course, they were playing Saturday Night Fever and Star Wars (it's 2nd run). It is hard for me to admit, but How Deep Is Your Love kills me. My girlfriend was kind of like Stephanie Mangano - in a town too small for much snootery - most social climbing is more of a crawl. She liked what was popular back then - crepes. I liked Burger Chef.

But when I hear How Deep Is Your Love or More Than A Woman, I am back in that theater with the stranded staff and all the popcorn I could eat. Funny how the movie made me contrast my love life with John's, but I was kind of relieved travel was restricted and I had a perfect excuse not to see my Stephanie. 

Much of this CD reminds me of that time - sans polyester and amyl nitrate (well, except maybe to resuscitate me).

Instinct Records was one of smooth jazz's most aggressively growing indie labels, extremely committed to the funky side of the street with artists like guitarist Chris Standring, veteran vocal/instrumental ensemble Shakatak, and Soundscape UK. Since it's obviously difficult launching new artists, the marketing folks at the label came up with an idea here that is either genius or will induce eye-rolling, depending on whether you love disco or not. If you do, this is a treasure trove, with perfectly rendered takes on dancefloor hits like Rod Temperton's "The Groove Line" (Soundscape UK), "Got to Be Real" (keyboardist Chris Ingram), "Boogie Oogie Oogie" (guitarist Joe Fuentes), and "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Nite Flyte). Andrea True's "More More More" is given a more offbeat, unusual, rhythm-based treatment by Exodus Quartet. 

Mostly, though, it's all synth, horn, and thump-thump-thump, and sometimes too close to the original to be unique, as on Shakatak's cover of Earth, Wind & Fire's "Boogie Wonderland," on which they play Maurice White's vocal part on electric piano and sax but have vocalist Jill Saward imitate Philip Bailey a little too perfectly to sound spontaneous. The most unique take here is Standring's muted, guitar-led twist on the one Bee Gees disco-era song that could please even the "Disco Sucks" people. He caresses "How Deep Is Your Love" with a shuffling groove and beautifully doubles the melody with an uncredited flügelhornist. For adult smooth jazz listeners trying to forget the disco era, this may not be the best way to meet some great new artists. But if you're open-minded, it's a hell of a lot of fun.

1      Soundscape UK–    Got To Be Real
2      Chris Ingram–    The Groove Line
3      Joe Fuentes–    Boogie Oogie Oogie
4      Shakatak–    Boogie Wonderland
5      Soft Sugar–    Let's Get It Together
6      Nite Flyte  –    Don't Leave Me This Way
7      Exodus Quartet–    More More More
8      Chris Standring–    How Deep Is Your Love
9      Duncan Millar–    Upside Down
10    The Jazz Steppers–    Give Me The Night

Shipping will be $4.50.