Masterpiece Vol.5 - The Ultimate Disco Funk Collection

While it's no "Seventh Heaven" and not quite on the level of "It Should Have Been You," Gwen Guthrie's self-produced "Outside in the Rain" is one of the sleekest, leanest tracks of its time and perfectly complements other 808-built singles like 52nd Street's "Tell Me (How It Feels)" and Loose Ends' immortal "Hangin' on a String (Contemplating)." It's probably the most known track on the fifth volume of PTG's Masterpiece, a series of mostly obscure post-disco R&B released during the '80s. And for the sake of this particular disc, we're often talking hyper-obscure, with several tracks known only by the most avid collectors and DJs: "Freak in Me" from Dante (with some Patrick Adams-like synthesizer squiggles), "Closet Freak" from Videeo (oddball neo-Cameo/Prince synth funk), "Velocity" from Kopper (who had one charting club hit, but not with this one). Here's where the series begins its allegiance with Chicago house vet Frankie Rodriguez, who provides the occasional mix and edit throughout the remaining volumes. As with all other tracks he handles for PTG, Dayton's "Out Tonight" and Mark Fisher's "Love Situation" (featuring Dotty Green, who shows up solo on Nighttime Lovers, Vol. 9) are given sensitive retouchings. Other notables: Roy Ayers' James Mtume-produced "Slip 'n Slide" (number 49 R&B, 1985), and Take Three's low-profile but rather dazzling "Tonight's the Night (All Right)," produced by Atmosfear and Light of the World keyboardist Peter Hinds. ~ Andy Kellman|

While it's no "Seventh Heaven" and not quite on the level of "It Should Have Been You," Gwen Guthrie's self-produced "Outside in the Rain" is one of the sleekest, leanest tracks of its time and perfectly complements other 808-built singles like 52nd Street's "Tell Me (How It Feels)" and Loose Ends' immortal "Hangin' on a String (Contemplating)." It's probably the most known track on the fifth volume of PTG's Masterpiece, a series of mostly obscure post-disco R&B released during the '80s. And for the sake of this particular disc, we're often talking hyper-obscure, with several tracks known only by the most avid collectors and DJs: "Freak in Me" from Dante (with some Patrick Adams-like synthesizer squiggles), "Closet Freak" from Videeo (oddball neo-Cameo/Prince synth funk), "Velocity" from Kopper (who had one charting club hit, but not with this one). Here's where the series begins its allegiance with Chicago house vet Frankie Rodriguez, who provides the occasional mix and edit throughout the remaining volumes. As with all other tracks he handles for PTG, Dayton's "Out Tonight" and Mark Fisher's "Love Situation" (featuring Dotty Green, who shows up solo on Nighttime Lovers, Vol. 9) are given sensitive retouchings. Other notables: Roy Ayers' James Mtume-produced "Slip 'n Slide" (number 49 R&B, 1985), and Take Three's low-profile but rather dazzling "Tonight's the Night (All Right)," produced by Atmosfear and Light of the World keyboardist Peter Hinds. ~ Andy Kellman