Melba Moore - Dancin' With Melba Mp3

By the time "Dancin' With Melba" came out in late 1979, there was such a glut of disco material that was on the market, not to mention the release of her new album, the sub-standard "Burn", that this collection of remixes was basically ignored. The title and the cover image probably didn't help as they are rather uninspired. Mixed by the late dj Richie Rivera, it features five cuts in the original starting with the best: "Standing Right Here", a dreamy, yet funky number written by the late McFadden and also sadly late Whitehead. It chugs along with an insistent groove and a chant like quality...'you promised me lovin', you promised me lovin'..."Free" is up next and this is another favourite of mine from the album. It was produced by Van McCoy originally and it has his sound all over it: syrupy sweet strings, and a chorus that gets under your skin and sinks into your brain. "Play Boy Scout" is my least favourite cut on here; it has a melody that doesn't work for me and I find the song dull. "Promised Land" is better, and I imagine would sound more impressive on a big sound system. It has a haunting quality that is captivating. "Make Me Believe In You" which I think was a big underground hit for Patti Jo in the early 70's is terrific: moody, melodramatic and just the right combo between being great for dancing whilst also being serious soul. The two bonus tracks then follow (although only one is listed as so) and "Good Love Makes Everything Alright" is my second favourite song on the whole album. Another Van McCoy production which features all his trademarks: the swirling strings, positivity and the 'whoos' that made up so much of his work with Faith, Hope and Charity and his own disco albums in the mid 70's. Finally, the 12" version of her well known McCoy classic "This Is It" ,which to be honest sounds like it was clipped a bit at the start but it still a great song. I do feel there was a longer version though. The liner notes feature Melba's thoughts on the project, but they're not really all that insightful. I do praise Funkytown Grooves for reissuing this though as remixed albums like this were not as common in 1979 as they are today. A review from Blues and Soul magazine at the time lamented that he felt the 'cuts went on too long for his comfort', and that the album was not aimed at listeners, rather, dancers. At that point in time it seems that reviewer had had enough of disco, but thirty plus years later, this is a worthy part of any Melba fans or disco dancers catalogue.

That reviewer missed the point of this album, and dance music in general.