American Athlete posted a track from this awhile ago, haven't seen or heard anything since. Looks like there's a trend starting with new disco groups enlisting proper musicians and trying to go for a 'classic disco' sound. Case in point; Escort. What you guys say about this and has anyone heard this Million Dollar Orchestra LP ?
Review from Turntable Lab:
Once in a blue, I sit down to review a CD or LP to that perks my ears within first four bars, and like I just downed a quad espresso, I get real charged and quickly start flipping through every track, and reading online to find out more. The Million Dollar Orchestra's "Better Days" has that effect. By the look of the cover, I thought it was another 70's rare disco groove band (which I also would've loved) but the music sounded so crisp and new. It just couldn't be old! I was immediately confused - aren't Escort and Chin Chin the only new disco bands? Alas, the liner notes explain it all. Turns out that the founder is Al Kent, who like so many producers, got tired of chopping disco loops for house tracks. Starting in 2005, the liners detail his 2 year journey of luck and destiny to form his band to finally make some disco that's authentic. So in 2007, with a full backing band 18 musicians deep, The Million Dollar Orchestra is hitting the block with first 8 track album. The chemistry is like super glue and the whole band is on fire with the timeless spirit of that good late '70's disco. I really can't pick my five favorites here, so here's a sampler: "Don'tcha Wanna Get Down(1)," "Get It Boy(2)," "Rock Freak Boogie(3)," "Feel The Music(4)," "Makin' Love(5)." Hats off for something I can enjoy all year. Highly recommended.
― oscar, Thursday, 27 March 2008 02:37 (eighteen years ago)
my friend/bandmate/dj night partner is going CRAZY for this lp. it sounds really good, but classic disco isn't as much my thing as it is his.
― htshell, Thursday, 27 March 2008 02:51 (eighteen years ago)
The clips do sound good. It's just that I was a little disappointed w Escort's release, and maybe I'm just not buying the whole 'i want to sound like it was made in 1977 revivalism'. It's like why buy some nu-funk 45 when I can just pick up an old JB's 7 inch ? Anyways, I'm still curious mainly cuz dudes who have it seem to be raving mad about the quality of this release.
― oscar, Thursday, 27 March 2008 03:09 (eighteen years ago)
I've been wanting to check this out, but haven't really seen it available stateside. i like the clips I've heard, but, like you oscar, i'm kinda on the fence with the revivalism stuff. Escort has totally grown on me though.
― Romeo Jones, Thursday, 27 March 2008 03:52 (eighteen years ago)
Al Kent's Million Dollar Disco comps are pretty good though. I didn't buy the "northern disco" one though.
― Michael F Gill, Friday, 28 March 2008 01:45 (eighteen years ago)
i get way too much of a similar vibe as dimitri from paris and joey negro from him. i find that rarer than thou disco comp kind of thing to be really boring.
― pipecock, Friday, 28 March 2008 02:16 (eighteen years ago)
Yeah, I wouldn't deny there is some elitist type things going on with all of them. Al Kent is actually the worst of the lot, releasing CDs with "cover-ups", and mentioning in the liner notes how he doesn't want anybody to know what the record is, because then it will be played out/everyone will be looking for it. But I'm also a bit selflishly happy that the Kent CDs have very good quality versions of stuff like "Loosen Up" by Frequency and Elijah's "Keep A Little Love To Yourself" without me having to spend $40 for the vinyl.
Negro/Dimitri do seem to have more musical range than Kent though, who seems to be strictly '70s non-synthesized disco/funk/soul.
― Michael F Gill, Friday, 28 March 2008 17:06 (eighteen years ago)