Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Wheel Me Out [Remix Version] - Was (Not Was)
2. Bustin' Out - Nona Hendryx, Material
3. Drive My Car - Cristina
4. Annie I'm Not Your Daddy [Remix Version] - Coconuts, Kid Creole & the Coconuts
5. Emile (Night Rate) - Aural Exciters
6. Contort Yourself - James White, James White, James White
7. Funky Stuff - Lizzy Mercier Descloux
8. French Boy - Gar�ons
9. Deputy of Love - Don Armando, Fonda Rae
10. Cowboys & Gansters
11. Blame It on Disco - Cristina
12. Encore l'Amore [Italian Version][#] - Gar�ons

Disc 2:

1. Disco Clone - Cristina
2. Que Pasa/Me No Pop I - Coati Mundi
3. I'm a Wonderful Thing Baby [Remix Version] - Coconuts, Kid Creole & the Coconuts
4. Out Come the Freaks [Remix Version] - Was (Not Was)
5. Fire - Lizzy Mercier Descloux
6. Spooks in Space [Discomix] - Aural Exciters
7. Tell Me That I'm Dreaming - Was (Not Was)
8. Narcissique - Caroline Loeb
9. I Know What Boys Like - The Waitresses
10. Mission Impossible - Lizzy Mercier Descloux
11. Re Bop Electronic - Gar�ons
12. French Boy Disco Edit - Gar�ons
13. Faites le Proton - Casino Music

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #347320 in Music
• Released on: 2004-04-06
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Import

Album Details
Originally Released in 1981, the "Mutant Disco" Compilation was an Essential Purchase for Any Face - Reading, Wag Club - Dancing, Zoot Suit Wearing Hipster. Now Expanded from It's Original Six Tracks to a Mighty 25 Track Double CD Digipak of Delights, this is a Still Relevant, Stylish Snapshot of the Early 80's When Ze Put the Fun in Funky and the New in Nyc.

Customer Reviews

ZE MOST AMAZING MUSIC
Ze Records made a significant contribution in the late 1970s and early 1980s with their artists like Cristina Monet, Material, Was (Not Was) and Don Armando's 2nd Avenue Rumba Band. The original vinyl album had only six tracks so this expanded 2-disc CD is a massive improvement revealing much more of the glory of Ze.

In general, the music is a successful blend of dance and new wave. Wheel Me Out by Was (Not Was) is a sinister track with spoken vocals and an insistent chanting chorus over a nervous, funky rhythm. Busting Out has powerful vocals by Nona Hendryx over Eurodisco synths and electric guitars.

Cristina's two tracks include her interpretation of Drive My Car and her tongue-in-chic disco songs Blame It On Disco and Disco Clone. It is high time her legendary album Sleep It Off be re-released as it contains timeless masterpieces like He Dines Out On Death, The Lie Of Love and Van Morrison's Blue Money.

There is a strong mix of Latin, Big Band swing and mid-century pop in the tracks by Don Armando's 2nd Avenue Rumba Band, Gichy Dan and Coati Mundi - my favorite is Deputy Of Love with Fonda Rae on lead vocal. Ze's most successful act, Kid Creole And The Coconuts, contribute their huge hits, the tuneful Annie, I'm Not Your Daddy and I'm A Wonderful Thing Baby, whilst James White And The Blacks offer the sax-heavy Contort Yourself.

The other two tracks by Was (Not Was) are also minor classics and count amongst my favourites on this marvellous album of innovative music. It's a pity about the omissions though: Cristina's poignant Things Fall Apart and Christmas Rapping by The Waitresses, two great singles from the early 1980s. This CD contains a classy booklet with many photographs and informative liner notes on the artists and the Ze label.

Obscure stuff you might just be looking for
ZE records assembles all its own underground dance stuff, in mostly full length versions, on one strong compilation. Mostly disco, and euro energy type dance tracks, the label throws in the odd track that doesn't quite fit the format, like the Waitresses classic "I Know What boys Like." A number of these songs, while not mainstream hits, were big billboard dance chart hits. Track times:

CD1
1 . wheel me out (7:08)
2. Bustin out (6:40)
3. Drive my car (3:21)
4. Annie I'm not your daddy (6:30)
5. Emile (6:48)
6. Contort yourself (6:18)
7. Funky stuff (4:12)
8. French boy (3:08)
9. Deputy of love (5:29)
10. Cowboys & gangsters (7:28)
11. Blame it on the disco (7:57)
12. Encore l'amore (8:55)

CD2
1. disco clone (4:10)
2. Que pasa (6:23)
3. I'm a wonderful thing baby (6:15)
4. Out come the freaks (7:11)
5. Fire (5:16)
6. Spooks in space (5:44)
7. Tell me that I'm dreaming (5:03)
8. Narcissique (3:36)
9. I know what boys like (3:16)
10. Re bop electronic (2:55)
11. French boy disco edit (5:10)
12. Faites le proton (5:18)

Original Music from an Original Time!
I heard about the Fact that ZE records was coming back & kept my Eyes & ears open. Well They are & This is one of the New reissue collections. A Great Double CD of Great tracks from an underappreciated Time in NYC music history. Were these artists So far ahead of their times? Were people just lazy & stupid? Can Music be Great & Not Commericial! Yes, Yes & Yes!
Great selections & great Versions of some of the best known Songs of the roster. Only one complaint: Picking The Waitresses' "I know what Boys like" as their selection showed either uninspired commercialism or just laziness. Its on So many Other collections. This Group Has So many songs that would have fit nicer within the other artist's great songs. Oh well, Pick up this Wonderful 2 CD set, Fans of trully Great music Won't be disappointed!