Various Artists Mainstream Disco Funk - The Finest Funky Sound of Mainstream Records 1974-76

In the mid-70s, Bob Shad’s cult New York Jazz label Mainstream Records turned to the burgeoning underground disco scene and released a handful of great singles produced by the likes of Tommy Stewart, Jimmy Roach or Bert DeCoteaux. Featuring artists from the early disco hotbed including South Side Coalition, Chocolate Syrup and Three Ounces of Love, these singles, proving Shad's great flair, accompanied the rise of the New York club and block party culture that was going to revolutionise the musical landscape a few years later. Most of the singles are officially reissued here on vinyl for the first time, with Three Ounces of Love's "Disco Man" full mix previously unissued on vinyl. Remastered by Colorsound Studio in Paris, with liner notes by Charles Waring and artwork by Thomas C. Bradley.

Funk and soul in the early 70s were mutating to a new sound spearheaded by such labels as Philadelphia International Records (PIR), Scepter and Salsoul: early disco was taking off and its sound was earthier and more urban, mixing the nascent disco beat with strong funk and soul elements. New York was at the epicentre of the phenomenon, thanks to its thriving club scene and also to a new wave of DJs from the Bronx who started playing the music at block parties along with James Brown and Mandrill. bubbling under was a cohort of small independent labels that released some great music on 7" singles to meet the growing demand. Industry veteran Bob Shad and his label Mainstream Records started investigating this new scene and asked his circle of independent producers to bring him their latest production for release. For the occasion, he set up two sub labels, IX Chains and Brown Dog. 

The style would keep getting more commercial over the years and reach overkill in the late 70s but the block party scene which more than embraced this breakbeat-filled genre would soon morph into hip hop in the second half of the 70s with the help of a few key industry figures such as Sylvia Robinson (Sugar Hill Records). By that time, Bob Shad had ceased releasing records and relocated in Los Angeles but he left behind a small treasure trove of superb obscure singles which are now making their LP debut on 'Mainstream Disco Funk' for the delight of all funk and disco lovers. 

1. The Grand Jury - Music Is Fun To Me (Inst) 2. The Grand Jury - Music Is Fun To Me (Voc) 3. South Side Coalition - (Don't You Wanna) Get Down 4. Chocolate Syrup - We've Got To Get Together 5. Three Ounces of Love - Disco Man Part 1 & 2 6. Crystal Image - Gonna Have A Good Time (inst) 7. Crystal Image - Gonna Have A Good Time (Voc) 8. Lenny Welch - A Hundred Pounds of Pain 9. Prophecy - What Ever's Your Sign Pt 1 10. Prophecy - What Ever's Your Sign Pt 2 11. The Dramatics - No Rebate On Love 12. The Electric Ladies - Nothing Between Us