How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Good
Value for Money
Advantages:
Great Tunes
Disadvantages:
A Few Weak Tracks
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Everyone who knows me well enough will know that music is very important to me. I have a very wide and varied taste in music stretching from Tracy Chapman and Nirvana to DJ Slipmatt and those banging hardcore house tunes ive written about before.
On April 24th this year, I will be going to SchoolDisco with various people that I grew up with on our annual get together. We all dress up in school uniforms and spend the night dancing to old classics.
The outfit consists of a white shirt, a short belt, sorry skirt (black) and blue and yellow striped tie, which I acquired in Cheshire from my friends dads shop (he owns a chain of men’s clothes shops and only fit men shop there!) before I went off to Kos with one of my best friends, stockings, suspenders, knee high boots and pigtails. Simple as that.
Shortly after my first visit to SchoolDisco a few years ago, a compilation album was produced with some of the best tracks around from my school days.
Titled 'The best days of your life" this CD consists of 40 Rock and Pop Disco Anthems and is never out of my CD player on the way to work and it contains over two hours of timeless classics and some songs which are better suited to wedding receptions!
(",) CD ONE = 1st Period (",)
1. Queen - Don’t stop me now (1978)
Im a huge Queen Fan, so much, so I own every CD they have ever released and absolutely love "We Will Rock You". This song is a superb way to kick off a CD.
2. Wham - Wake me up before you go-go (1984)
Well you need a bit of cheese to shake your booty to every now and then don’t you and what could be better than a wham classic! Personally, I hate George Michael and can’t stand his music, but Wham; well I can deal with this song.
3. Madness - Baggy Trousers (1980)
This is one of those tracks where people jump around a dance floor as if they are on a pogo stick, miming because they don’t know the words. A quality tune if you are drunk!
4.Toni Basil - Mickey (1981)
Quite frankly one of the most annoying songs there is. Well that is if you discount the Cheeky Girls, Gareth Gates, Craig David, The Fast Food Rockers, Atomic Kitten.... need I say more. Crap song sung by someone with an irritating voice.
*Presses skip button*
5.Ten Pole Tudor - Swords of a Thousand Men (1981)
6.The Weather Girls - It's Raining Men (1982)
Top tune guaranteed to have me straight on the dance floor. Anyone who thinks Geri Halliwell's version is 'good' deserves a slap!
7.Bangles - Walk Like an Egyptian (1985)
Now who hasn’t tried to do the Egyptian head thing whenever they hear this song! A Quality song to get you up on the dance floor.
8.Shakin Stevens -This Ole House (1980)
Hands up all those who remember Shakin Stevens! What a great guy and yes they do actually play this at SchoolDisco and it’s that time of night when it goes from being a meat market to grab a granny...
9.Chesney Hawkes - The One and Only (1991)
Remember the mole?
Another quality song, which is bound to have people going air guitar crazy and singing at the top of their voices (like me last night with Debbie). Ive actually met Chesney and he was really nice!
10. Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up (1987)
I think im the only person in the world who hates this song. It’s like being at someone's wedding when it comes on and you cant really dance to it at all...
11.Cyndi Lauper - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (1983)
I have to be drunk to actually move one iota to this song. Why people have to try to sing along to it, I will never know. However, it is a classic song at SchoolDisco and all the girls go crazy when it is on.
12.Tight Fit - The Lion Sleeps Tonight (1982)
Yes really! When I went to a Club 18-30 reunion, I danced to this with Tony Blackburn on a stage in front of 3000 people. Im not one of those shy types who likes to hide in the crowd, im up there on the stage dancing away. The moves that Tony taught me to this will stay with me forever, as cheesy as it sounds it was lots of fun and not something I will ever be repeating.... NOTE TO ALL THOSE WHO WILL TRY TO GET ME DRUNK!
13.Men at Work - Down Under (1981)
14.David Mindel - Jim'll Fix It (1988)
Yes, this is played and yes, all those people around my age (im 24!) get up and go crazy when this comes on as they do with track 20. It’s the inner child creeping out! I can hear you all humming the tune already....
15.The Monkees - Daydream Believer (1967)
Again, a song, which everyone will dance to, but it belongs at a relatives wedding reception.
16.The Boomtown Rats - I Don’t Like Mondays (1979)
How right is the title of this song? A great tune.
17.Elton John - Crocodile Rock (1972)
Another classic hit from Elton and its surprising how many people actually danced to this and could sing along with it (me included)!
18.Staus Quo - Rockin All Over the World (1977)
Well they had to appear somewhere didn’t they and how could you not to go a School Disco and not have Status Quo playing?
19.Spandau Ballet - True (1983)
Another great song to smooch along to and one of my favourite songs. I met Tony Hadley and Gary Kemp when I did the 18-30 Reunion at Butlins and it was great to hear them sing this.
20. Grange Hill (1976)
Yes, you've got it, the theme tune and everyone goes mental when this comes on, or the A-Team theme tune (which is great) and they all dance around the dance floor mentally.
So CD One has some pretty cool tunes on it to remind you of your school days, or in some cases your parents childhood!
(",) CD TWO - 2nd Period (",)
1. Abba - Dancing Queen (1976)
This group need no explanation as to why they feature on this CD. Classic song.
2.The Jackson Five - I want You Back (1969)
Another song which belongs at a relatives wedding reception (note to any future husband, these songs will NOT be played at my wedding reception) but it is a classic song.
3.Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - December 1963 (oh what a night) (1976)
I hate this song with a passion. It really grinds me on and when it’s on, I hit the bar!
4.Billy Joel - Uptown Girl (1983)
Classic song ruined by Westlife and again a wedding reception song.
Finally, something a bit more upto date and something I can dance to. A great tune, which reminds me of being, a teenager and my dad constantly banging on my door telling me to turn that crap down....
7.Herbie Hancock - Rock It (1983)
8.CCS - Whole Lotta Love (1970)
9.Primal Scream - Rocks (1994)
10. Beastie Boys - (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party) (1986)
Well the Beastie Boys are great and I grew up listening to my uncle Paul telling me how good this song was. Thankfully, he didn’t have a VW sign round his neck!
11.Slade - Cum on Feel The Noise (1973)
An absolute classic in my own personal opinion and a song I can listen to over and over again. As long as another 'band' haven’t tried to ruin it with there own cover version.
12.Alice Cooper - School's Out (1972)
I love this song, Dad was a big Alice Cooper fan and I used to go dancing from when I was 3 up until I was 16/17 and we did a production for the Mayor of the town and this was the song I got to lead the dance on and to this day whenever I hear it I can still do the routine.
13.The Jam - A Town Called Malice (1982)
Again, my Dad is a huge Jam fan and I love this song, another timeless classic.
14.Blue Oyster Cult - (Dont Fear) The Reaper (1976)
Absolutely shockingly awful.
15.Boys Town Gang - Can’t Take My Eyes Off You (1982)
Another smoocher of a song and not one you will see me dancing to.
19.Rock Steady Crew - Hey You (The Rock Steady Crew) (1984)
Awful!
20.Europe - The Final Countdown (1986)
What a song! One of my Dad's favourite songs and I love it as well. Its one of those songs where you just have to get up and dance and sing along loudly too and do the air guitar. Classic.
Out of both CDs im likely to be found listening to the first one, but the second CD does have some classic songs on it and I cant wait to get my School Uniform off and go relive my youthful school days intoxicated, under the influence and go crazy.... and if your really lucky I will do a review of my night out, although im not sure I will supply photo's!
This CD can be found in various music shops and on all of the online CD stockists. Prices vary but I bought this for a bargain price of £8.99 from HMV and two other CD compilations in the same range.
There are some weak links on this compilation as there is with most double CD sets, however the good songs out number the weak tracks.
If you have never ever been to a SchoolDisco event, then I would suggest giving it a try. It has become a phenomenon since 1999 when DJ Bobby Sanchez came up with the idea after being sacked for playing Shakin Steven’s – This Ole House at a club.
SchoolDisco now travels the width and breadth of the UK and feature in Leeds, Nottingham, Bristol, London and Dublin to name a few. If the club scene isn’t for you, then im sure the CD is!
For more information you can also visit www.schooldisco.com
