Masterpiece Vol.7 - The Ultimate Disco Funk Collection

Nearly seven years after it was first recorded, Cathy Dennis covered "Touch Me (All Night Long)" and took the song, originally voiced by Fonda Rae and credited to Wish -- one of the many guises of disco gods Patrick Adams and Greg Carmichael -- to the top of several charts worldwide, including the U.S. club chart. The original was no rarity either; it peaked at number five on the U.S. club chart and gave Rae some more of the attention she so justly deserved. (Hear also her solo singles "Over Like a Fat Rat" and "Heobah," as well as Don Armando's Second Avenue Rhumba Band's "Deputy of Love" and Kurtis Blow's "If I Ruled the World.") The original "Touch Me" leads off the seventh volume of Masterpiece, which includes another handful of excellent post-disco R&B singles amidst material that has justifiably remained obscure. The Whispers' "Tonight," written by Jerry Knight (Raydio, "Overnight Sensation," Ollie & Jerry) and produced by Solar studio don Leon Sylvers, has some of the thickest, most propulsive synthesizer lines this side of the O'Jays' "Put Our Heads Together." As a nice change of pace, PTG includes one of the excellently slinky singles off Mtume's underrated You, Me and He, "Prime Time." (Someone in Epic's promo department evidently dropped the ball; it failed to chart.) Other notables include Michael Wycoff's typically sophisticated "Tell Me Love," Brandi Wells' "Watch Out" (a WMOT release arranged by Dexter Wansel and co-produced by Nick Martinelli), and Toshiki Kadomatsu's oddly charming "Step into the Light," which sounds a bit like a goofy outtake from Bernard Wright's Funky Beat sessions. ~ Andy Kellman|

Nearly seven years after it was first recorded, Cathy Dennis covered "Touch Me (All Night Long)" and took the song, originally voiced by Fonda Rae and credited to Wish -- one of the many guises of disco gods Patrick Adams and Greg Carmichael -- to the top of several charts worldwide, including the U.S. club chart. The original was no rarity either; it peaked at number five on the U.S. club chart and gave Rae some more of the attention she so justly deserved. (Hear also her solo singles "Over Like a Fat Rat" and "Heobah," as well as Don Armando's Second Avenue Rhumba Band's "Deputy of Love" and Kurtis Blow's "If I Ruled the World.") The original "Touch Me" leads off the seventh volume of Masterpiece, which includes another handful of excellent post-disco R&B singles amidst material that has justifiably remained obscure. The Whispers' "Tonight," written by Jerry Knight (Raydio, "Overnight Sensation," Ollie & Jerry) and produced by Solar studio don Leon Sylvers, has some of the thickest, most propulsive synthesizer lines this side of the O'Jays' "Put Our Heads Together." As a nice change of pace, PTG includes one of the excellently slinky singles off Mtume's underrated You, Me and He, "Prime Time." (Someone in Epic's promo department evidently dropped the ball; it failed to chart.) Other notables include Michael Wycoff's typically sophisticated "Tell Me Love," Brandi Wells' "Watch Out" (a WMOT release arranged by Dexter Wansel and co-produced by Nick Martinelli), and Toshiki Kadomatsu's oddly charming "Step into the Light," which sounds a bit like a goofy outtake from Bernard Wright's Funky Beat sessions. ~ Andy Kellman