Masterpiece Vol.2 - The Ultimate Disco Funk Collection

The second volume of the Netherlands-based PTG label's Masterpiece series corrals more mostly obscure and neglected dancefloor R&B singles of the post-disco era, albeit with a slightly heavier emphasis on the middle and end part of the decade than volume one. That said, Nona Hendryx's "B-Boys," a Top 25 club hit from 1983, is the standout of the standouts, full-bodied boogie produced by the Material crew that skips and struts. Also from 1983, Shirley Lites' West End single "Heat You Up (Melt You Down)" -- predating "B-Boys" by a few months, it peaked at number five on the club chart -- could be mistaken for having Material's input but was co-produced by Nick Martinelli and David Todd, a pair of absolute giants when it comes to club music of the late '70s through the mid-'80s. The Flyte Tyme sound is duly represented: Cheryl Lynn's "Fidelity" not as tight as the much more popular "Encore" yet very similar, and still a Top 25 R&B single; Thelma Houston's "(I Guess) It Must Be Love," the uplifting counterpart to "You Used to Hold Me So Tight," laced by close Jam & Lewis associate Monte Moir; and a pretty stellar Flyte Tyme/Jam & Lewis soundalike, Millie Scott's "Automatic," produced by Detroit natives Bruce Nazarian and Duane Bradley (two of the gents responsible for Midway's "Set It Out"). As usual, the sound quality is about as good as it could be, even on the most obscure tracks, and the liners are sparse but informative enough, with songwriting credits, (usually accurate) years of release, and labels of release provided. ~ Andy Kellman|

The second volume of the Netherlands-based PTG label's Masterpiece series corrals more mostly obscure and neglected dancefloor R&B singles of the post-disco era, albeit with a slightly heavier emphasis on the middle and end part of the decade than volume one. That said, Nona Hendryx's "B-Boys," a Top 25 club hit from 1983, is the standout of the standouts, full-bodied boogie produced by the Material crew that skips and struts. Also from 1983, Shirley Lites' West End single "Heat You Up (Melt You Down)" -- predating "B-Boys" by a few months, it peaked at number five on the club chart -- could be mistaken for having Material's input but was co-produced by Nick Martinelli and David Todd, a pair of absolute giants when it comes to club music of the late '70s through the mid-'80s. The Flyte Tyme sound is duly represented: Cheryl Lynn's "Fidelity" not as tight as the much more popular "Encore" yet very similar, and still a Top 25 R&B single; Thelma Houston's "(I Guess) It Must Be Love," the uplifting counterpart to "You Used to Hold Me So Tight," laced by close Jam & Lewis associate Monte Moir; and a pretty stellar Flyte Tyme/Jam & Lewis soundalike, Millie Scott's "Automatic," produced by Detroit natives Bruce Nazarian and Duane Bradley (two of the gents responsible for Midway's "Set It Out"). As usual, the sound quality is about as good as it could be, even on the most obscure tracks, and the liners are sparse but informative enough, with songwriting credits, (usually accurate) years of release, and labels of release provided. ~ Andy Kellman