60 acast.com Record Mirror Disco Charts https://shows.acast.com/record-mirror-disco-charts en Mike Atkinson disco, funk, soul, boogie,jazz-funk,pop,charts,djs,dance music,dance history Mike Atkinson Greg Wilson, Mike Atkinson and a special guest discuss a randomly selected Record Mirror Disco Top 20, from any week between 1975 and 1989. These charts were compiled by dancefloor reaction reports, sent in by DJs from across the UK. We'll also look at how they were reviewed at the time by Record Mirror's legendary James Hamilton, whose columns from this period have been published in book form as James Hamilton’s Disco Pages 1975-1982 and James Hamilton's Dance Pages 1983-1989. Each episode comes with its own playlist, so that you can listen to all the tracks continuously.

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]]> Greg Wilson, Mike Atkinson and a special guest discuss a randomly selected Record Mirror Disco Top 20, from any week between 1975 and 1989. These charts were compiled by dancefloor reaction reports, sent in by DJs from across the UK. We'll also look at how they were reviewed at the time by Record Mirror's legendary James Hamilton, whose columns from this period have been published in book form as James Hamilton’s Disco Pages 1975-1982 and James Hamilton's Dance Pages 1983-1989. Each episode comes with its own playlist, so that you can listen to all the tracks continuously.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> false Mike Atkinson info+679a1bb6a7ace681d8538c30@mg-eu.acast.com 679a1bb6a7ace681d8538c30 record-mirror-disco-charts episodic https://assets.pippa.io/shows/cover/1738152258646-fcdf7bf8-3914-448b-ac49-8769cfbcd0cd.jpeg https://shows.acast.com/record-mirror-disco-charts Record Mirror Disco Charts 8th January 1983, with Colin Curtis 8th January 1983, with Colin Curtis Tue, 31 Mar 2026 08:03:43 GMT 2:06:11 69caea4592d007a765244b5c false https://shows.acast.com/record-mirror-disco-charts/episodes/8th-january-1983-with-colin-curtis 69caea4592d007a765244b5c 679a1bb6a7ace681d8538c30 8th-january-1983-with-colin-curtis full 15 Colin Curtis joins Greg WIlson and Mike Atkinson for a countdown of the first Disco Top 20 of 1983: a time when electro-funk was in the ascendant, and even long-established soul/funk acts were incorporating electronic elements. Scratching was this month's new thing; jazz-funk was on the wane, club hits weren't always guaranteed pop crossover hits, a superstar's follow-up was briefly struggling, and a couple of formative underground classics from the 1970s were being repurposed to new audiences.

In the vanguard as ever, as he had been since starting his career in 1967, Colin was breaking new tunes at places like Manchester Ritz, Birmingham Powerhouse and Nottingham Rock Citty, and embracing the changes as eagerly as he had done at Blackpool Mecca with Ian Levine, before pivoting to jazz dance, electro and eventually early Chicago house. Always a tastemaker and never a follower, he casts an expert eye on a chart that reflects an ever-changing scene, at a particularly transitional time.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode (YouTube)

Further reading:

* James Hamilton's Dance Pages 1983-1989 (800 page hardback book)

* James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982 (550 page hardback book)

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Colin Curtis joins Greg WIlson and Mike Atkinson for a countdown of the first Disco Top 20 of 1983: a time when electro-funk was in the ascendant, and even long-established soul/funk acts were incorporating electronic elements. Scratching was this month's new thing; jazz-funk was on the wane, club hits weren't always guaranteed pop crossover hits, a superstar's follow-up was briefly struggling, and a couple of formative underground classics from the 1970s were being repurposed to new audiences.

In the vanguard as ever, as he had been since starting his career in 1967, Colin was breaking new tunes at places like Manchester Ritz, Birmingham Powerhouse and Nottingham Rock Citty, and embracing the changes as eagerly as he had done at Blackpool Mecca with Ian Levine, before pivoting to jazz dance, electro and eventually early Chicago house. Always a tastemaker and never a follower, he casts an expert eye on a chart that reflects an ever-changing scene, at a particularly transitional time.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode (YouTube)

Further reading:

* James Hamilton's Dance Pages 1983-1989 (800 page hardback book)

* James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982 (550 page hardback book)

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> 4th October 1986, with Graeme Park 4th October 1986, with Graeme Park Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:18:32 GMT 2:49:05 69a03a13fa55957722916d66 false https://shows.acast.com/record-mirror-disco-charts/episodes/4th-october-1986-with-graeme-park 69a03a13fa55957722916d66 679a1bb6a7ace681d8538c30 4th-october-1986-with-graeme-park full 14 Graeme Park joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a look at the dance music of October 1986: a time when Graeme was the resident weekend DJ at The Garage in Nottingham, blending Chicago house with hip hop, soul/funk and Washington DC go go. Listed in James Hamilton's columns as the first British DJ to routinely feature house music in his sets, Graeme provides us with expert guidance through this eclectic era, with stories to tell and memories to share.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode (YouTube)

Further reading:

* James Hamilton's Dance Pages 1983-1989 (800 page hardback book)

* James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982 (550 page hardback book)

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Graeme Park joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a look at the dance music of October 1986: a time when Graeme was the resident weekend DJ at The Garage in Nottingham, blending Chicago house with hip hop, soul/funk and Washington DC go go. Listed in James Hamilton's columns as the first British DJ to routinely feature house music in his sets, Graeme provides us with expert guidance through this eclectic era, with stories to tell and memories to share.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode (YouTube)

Further reading:

* James Hamilton's Dance Pages 1983-1989 (800 page hardback book)

* James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982 (550 page hardback book)

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> 10th September 1988, with Lisa Loud 10th September 1988, with Lisa Loud Thu, 29 Jan 2026 22:22:49 GMT 2:47:23 697bddb86594220953217865 false https://shows.acast.com/record-mirror-disco-charts/episodes/10th-september-1988-with-lisa-loud 697bddb86594220953217865 679a1bb6a7ace681d8538c30 10th-september-1988-with-lisa-loud full 13 Having spent all of summer 1987 in Ibiza, dancing to Alfredo at Amnesia and experiencing an epiphany, Lisa Loud returned to London with a new-found determination to break into the music industry. By the time of this chart, she was DJ-ing at major venues and working in promotions for Virgin Records, where she was responsible for breaking acts such as Neneh Cherry, Massive Attack, Soul II Soul, and the act at Number One on this particular Club Chart. While the first wave of acid house was reaching its peak, Lisa was also travelling around the UK, delivering acetates to tastemaker DJs and generally "having the time of my life".

Joining Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for our first episode based on the second volume of James Hamilton's columns, Lisa guides us through a pivotal time for UK club culture, where acid house, hip hop, soul, funk and Balearic beats intermingled, and sampling was rife, as yet unburdened by copyright concerns.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode (YouTube)

Further reading:

* James Hamilton's Dance Pages 1983-1989 (800 page hardback book)

* James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982 (550 page hardback book)

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Having spent all of summer 1987 in Ibiza, dancing to Alfredo at Amnesia and experiencing an epiphany, Lisa Loud returned to London with a new-found determination to break into the music industry. By the time of this chart, she was DJ-ing at major venues and working in promotions for Virgin Records, where she was responsible for breaking acts such as Neneh Cherry, Massive Attack, Soul II Soul, and the act at Number One on this particular Club Chart. While the first wave of acid house was reaching its peak, Lisa was also travelling around the UK, delivering acetates to tastemaker DJs and generally "having the time of my life".

Joining Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for our first episode based on the second volume of James Hamilton's columns, Lisa guides us through a pivotal time for UK club culture, where acid house, hip hop, soul, funk and Balearic beats intermingled, and sampling was rife, as yet unburdened by copyright concerns.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode (YouTube)

Further reading:

* James Hamilton's Dance Pages 1983-1989 (800 page hardback book)

* James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982 (550 page hardback book)

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> 26th May 1979, with Bill Brewster 26th May 1979, with Bill Brewster Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:05:31 GMT 1:37:24 6953174630165a956db248a2 false https://shows.acast.com/record-mirror-disco-charts/episodes/26th-may-1979-with-bill-brewster 6953174630165a956db248a2 679a1bb6a7ace681d8538c30 26th-may-1979-with-bill-brewster full 12 Bill Brewster – DJ, writer, music consultant and dance music historian – joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a look at the Record Mirror Disco Chart of 26th May 1979.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening:

* Other tracks mentioned in this episode (Spotify)

* James Hamilton at Gullivers, 18 August 1979

Further reading:

* James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982 (550 page hardback book)

* James Hamilton's Dance Pages 1983-1989 (800 page hardback book)

* Bill Brewster on Patreon

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Bill Brewster – DJ, writer, music consultant and dance music historian – joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a look at the Record Mirror Disco Chart of 26th May 1979.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening:

* Other tracks mentioned in this episode (Spotify)

* James Hamilton at Gullivers, 18 August 1979

Further reading:

* James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982 (550 page hardback book)

* James Hamilton's Dance Pages 1983-1989 (800 page hardback book)

* Bill Brewster on Patreon

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> 12th April 1980, with John Morales 12th April 1980, with John Morales Fri, 28 Nov 2025 11:57:04 GMT 2:25:43 69298e0d3c9ac4ded3717b36 false https://shows.acast.com/record-mirror-disco-charts/episodes/12th-april-1980-with-john-morales 69298e0d3c9ac4ded3717b36 679a1bb6a7ace681d8538c30 12th-april-1980-with-john-morales full 11 John Morales - remixer, producer, DJ, and best known in the 1980s for his M&M mixes with the late Sergio Munzibai - joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a look at the Record Mirror Disco Chart of 12th April 1980.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode.

Further reading:James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982 (550 page hardback book)

Coming soon: James Hamilton's Dance Pages 1983-1989 (800 page hardback book)

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> John Morales - remixer, producer, DJ, and best known in the 1980s for his M&M mixes with the late Sergio Munzibai - joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a look at the Record Mirror Disco Chart of 12th April 1980.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode.

Further reading:James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982 (550 page hardback book)

Coming soon: James Hamilton's Dance Pages 1983-1989 (800 page hardback book)

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> 17th July 1976, with Peter Hook 17th July 1976, with Peter Hook Fri, 31 Oct 2025 13:29:48 GMT 2:06:59 6904b9cc3906f8011ab8971b true https://shows.acast.com/record-mirror-disco-charts/episodes/17th-july-1976-with-peter-hook 6904b9cc3906f8011ab8971b 679a1bb6a7ace681d8538c30 17th-july-1976-with-peter-hook full 10 Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order, The Light) joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a countdown of a Record Mirror Disco Top 20 from the fabled long hot summer of 1976. As the country sweltered, Peter was finding his true path, having witnessed the Sex Pistols at Manchester’s Lesser Free Trade Hall a month earlier. Meanwhile, this chart mixes pop and rock crossover hits with disco classics, funk tracks, three slowies and a couple of obscurities. But can we persuade Greg to bring back the “erection section”? The campaign starts here…

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode.

Further reading:James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982 (550 page hardback book)

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Peter Hook (Joy Division, New Order, The Light) joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a countdown of a Record Mirror Disco Top 20 from the fabled long hot summer of 1976. As the country sweltered, Peter was finding his true path, having witnessed the Sex Pistols at Manchester’s Lesser Free Trade Hall a month earlier. Meanwhile, this chart mixes pop and rock crossover hits with disco classics, funk tracks, three slowies and a couple of obscurities. But can we persuade Greg to bring back the “erection section”? The campaign starts here…

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode.

Further reading:James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982 (550 page hardback book)

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> 8th May 1982, with Arthur Baker 8th May 1982, with Arthur Baker Mon, 29 Sep 2025 23:10:45 GMT 1:54:41 68db0739d5c8a1f9b39f9880 false https://shows.acast.com/record-mirror-disco-charts/episodes/8th-may-1982-with-arthur-baker 68db0739d5c8a1f9b39f9880 679a1bb6a7ace681d8538c30 8th-may-1982-with-arthur-baker full 9 For our second visit to 1982, Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson are joined by Arthur Baker: producer, remixer, songwriter, DJ, and one of the prime architects of electro-funk (Planet Rock, Walking On Sunshine, Play At Your Own Risk, Confusion, IOU etc). In this Top 20 countdown, we can see these electronic elements starting to emerge, with some well-established funk acts already embracing the changes. Elsewhere, jazz-funk and Britfunk rub shoulders with pop crossovers, in a typically diverse snapshot of the times. Along the way, Arthur shares memories of the Paradise Garage, Better Days, a pre-fame Madonna, and collaborations with Tee Scott, Leee John, New Order and many more key figures of the era.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode.

Further reading:

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> For our second visit to 1982, Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson are joined by Arthur Baker: producer, remixer, songwriter, DJ, and one of the prime architects of electro-funk (Planet Rock, Walking On Sunshine, Play At Your Own Risk, Confusion, IOU etc). In this Top 20 countdown, we can see these electronic elements starting to emerge, with some well-established funk acts already embracing the changes. Elsewhere, jazz-funk and Britfunk rub shoulders with pop crossovers, in a typically diverse snapshot of the times. Along the way, Arthur shares memories of the Paradise Garage, Better Days, a pre-fame Madonna, and collaborations with Tee Scott, Leee John, New Order and many more key figures of the era.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode.

Further reading:

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> 25th April 1981 Futurist/Electro-Disco, with DJ Paulette 25th April 1981 Futurist/Electro-Disco, with DJ Paulette Thu, 28 Aug 2025 14:01:25 GMT 2:24:33 68b061337620a68ee6b04323 false https://shows.acast.com/record-mirror-disco-charts/episodes/25th-april-1981-futuristelectro-disco-with-dj-paulette 68b061337620a68ee6b04323 679a1bb6a7ace681d8538c30 25th-april-1981-futuristelectro-disco-with-dj-paulette full 8 DJ Paulette joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a detailed look at the last of James Hamilton's short-lived Futurist/Electro-Disco charts, from April 1981. Not only an award-winning DJ, but also a writer and broadcaster, Paulette's earliest clubbing roots lie within the Futurist/New Romantic scene, in which she was an active and enthusiastic participant. This gives her a unique personal insight into an era when electronics, fashion and politics combined in radical new ways, and when our future fascinated us more than our past.

To accompany our discussion, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode.(Spotify)

Further reading 1) Welcome To the Club: The Life and Lessons of a Black Woman DJ (DJ Paulette, 2024)

Further reading 2) James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982.(550 page hardback book)

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> DJ Paulette joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a detailed look at the last of James Hamilton's short-lived Futurist/Electro-Disco charts, from April 1981. Not only an award-winning DJ, but also a writer and broadcaster, Paulette's earliest clubbing roots lie within the Futurist/New Romantic scene, in which she was an active and enthusiastic participant. This gives her a unique personal insight into an era when electronics, fashion and politics combined in radical new ways, and when our future fascinated us more than our past.

To accompany our discussion, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode.(Spotify)

Further reading 1) Welcome To the Club: The Life and Lessons of a Black Woman DJ (DJ Paulette, 2024)

Further reading 2) James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982.(550 page hardback book)

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> 2nd September 1978, with Irvine Welsh 2nd September 1978, with Irvine Welsh Thu, 31 Jul 2025 22:07:40 GMT 1:37:09 688be92cfc150bcf7f017134 false https://shows.acast.com/record-mirror-disco-charts/episodes/2nd-september-1978-with-irvine-welsh 688be92cfc150bcf7f017134 679a1bb6a7ace681d8538c30 2nd-september-1978-with-irvine-welsh full 1 7 Irvine Welsh joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson to take a look at a Disco Chart from September 1978: a time when, in the wake of Saturday Night Fever's enormous success, certain UK DJs were starting to plot a different way forwards, with jazz-funk in particular emerging as a significant new force. As we discover, many of these US tunes, although huge on British dancefloors, did not enjoy the same success in their home country.

Dividing his time between London punk clubs and Saturday night discos, Irvine straddled both worlds, at ease with their supposed cultural contradictions. To accompany his new book Men In Love - which picks up where Trainspotting left off, charting its central characters' progress through the late 1980s - Irvine has released a soundtrack album, accompanied by his Sci-Fi Soul Orchestra, which sets the characters' stories to lushly orchestrated soulful disco, inspired by the classic sound of Chic and Philadelphia International. During the episode, you'll also get to hear more about how this musical project came together.

To accompany our discussion, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode.(Spotify)

Further reading: James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982.(550 page hardback book)

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Irvine Welsh joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson to take a look at a Disco Chart from September 1978: a time when, in the wake of Saturday Night Fever's enormous success, certain UK DJs were starting to plot a different way forwards, with jazz-funk in particular emerging as a significant new force. As we discover, many of these US tunes, although huge on British dancefloors, did not enjoy the same success in their home country.

Dividing his time between London punk clubs and Saturday night discos, Irvine straddled both worlds, at ease with their supposed cultural contradictions. To accompany his new book Men In Love - which picks up where Trainspotting left off, charting its central characters' progress through the late 1980s - Irvine has released a soundtrack album, accompanied by his Sci-Fi Soul Orchestra, which sets the characters' stories to lushly orchestrated soulful disco, inspired by the classic sound of Chic and Philadelphia International. During the episode, you'll also get to hear more about how this musical project came together.

To accompany our discussion, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode.(Spotify)

Further reading: James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982.(550 page hardback book)

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> 28th June 1975, with Alexis Petridis 28th June 1975, with Alexis Petridis Wed, 25 Jun 2025 22:51:13 GMT 1:47:55 685c6d6c7cd58072a5a2d913 false https://shows.acast.com/record-mirror-disco-charts/episodes/28th-june-1975-with-alexis-petridis 685c6d6c7cd58072a5a2d913 679a1bb6a7ace681d8538c30 28th-june-1975-with-alexis-petridis full 1 6 To mark the 50th anniversary of James Hamilton's first Disco Page in Record Mirror, Alexis Petridis (head rock & pop critic for The Guardian) joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a countdown of the first ever Disco Chart that James compiled, based on DJ returns from around the UK.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode.(Spotify) // Bob Stanley's Hot Chocolate playlist (Spotify)

Further reading: James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982.(550 page hardback book) // Guardian feature on James Hamilton, by Alexis Petridis

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> To mark the 50th anniversary of James Hamilton's first Disco Page in Record Mirror, Alexis Petridis (head rock & pop critic for The Guardian) joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a countdown of the first ever Disco Chart that James compiled, based on DJ returns from around the UK.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode.(Spotify) // Bob Stanley's Hot Chocolate playlist (Spotify)

Further reading: James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982.(550 page hardback book) // Guardian feature on James Hamilton, by Alexis Petridis

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> 25th July 1981, with Leee John 25th July 1981, with Leee John Thu, 29 May 2025 10:07:22 GMT 1:53:17 683831d6998551779f04e83c false https://shows.acast.com/record-mirror-disco-charts/episodes/25th-july-1981-with-leee-john 683831d6998551779f04e83c 679a1bb6a7ace681d8538c30 25th-july-1981-with-leee-john full 1 5 Leee John joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a Disco Chart Top 20 countdown from July 1981. Already a committed clubber and an active member of the Britfunk community, Leee had just started to find success with his band Imagination, who had been signed to Morgan Khan’s R&B label, and so he has vivid memories of this particular period: a transitional time, when the disco era had ended, the electronic era had yet to emerge, but the beat went on, with a focus on skilled musicianship and carefully crafted production. And as always, you'll also get to hear what Record Mirror's James Hamilton thought of each track that we discuss.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode

Further reading: James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982 (550 page hardback book)

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Leee John joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a Disco Chart Top 20 countdown from July 1981. Already a committed clubber and an active member of the Britfunk community, Leee had just started to find success with his band Imagination, who had been signed to Morgan Khan’s R&B label, and so he has vivid memories of this particular period: a transitional time, when the disco era had ended, the electronic era had yet to emerge, but the beat went on, with a focus on skilled musicianship and carefully crafted production. And as always, you'll also get to hear what Record Mirror's James Hamilton thought of each track that we discuss.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode

Further reading: James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982 (550 page hardback book)

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> 8th December 1979, with Morgan Khan 8th December 1979, with Morgan Khan Wed, 23 Apr 2025 22:27:38 GMT 1:50:34 6809695962faec0e0ae0a28c false https://shows.acast.com/record-mirror-disco-charts/episodes/8th-december-1979-with-morgan-khan 6809695962faec0e0ae0a28c 679a1bb6a7ace681d8538c30 8th-december-1979-with-morgan-khan full 1 4 Morgan Khan joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a countdown of the biggest dance tracks of December 1979. As the disco backlash was taking hold in the USA, British dancefloors were experiencing a shift in styles, as dance music started to prepare itself tor the 1980s. Already a key figure in the UK music industry, well ahead of his success with the Street Sounds compilations that cemented his reputation, Morgan provides us with a unique first hand account of the era.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode; Street Sounds Radio.

Further reading: James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982; Greg Wilson interviews Morgan Khan.

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Morgan Khan joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a countdown of the biggest dance tracks of December 1979. As the disco backlash was taking hold in the USA, British dancefloors were experiencing a shift in styles, as dance music started to prepare itself tor the 1980s. Already a key figure in the UK music industry, well ahead of his success with the Street Sounds compilations that cemented his reputation, Morgan provides us with a unique first hand account of the era.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode; Street Sounds Radio.

Further reading: James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982; Greg Wilson interviews Morgan Khan.

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> 24th September 1977, with Jeff Young 24th September 1977, with Jeff Young Wed, 26 Mar 2025 23:57:56 GMT 1:22:38 67e4948312e371d6644aad5a false https://shows.acast.com/record-mirror-disco-charts/episodes/24th-september-1977-with-jeff-young 67e4948312e371d6644aad5a 679a1bb6a7ace681d8538c30 24th-september-1977-with-jeff-young full 1 3 Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson are joined by Jeff Young: "funk mafia" DJ, presenter of BBC Radio One's first ever specialist dance music show, remixer, studio owner and music industry professional.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode.

Further reading: James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982.

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson are joined by Jeff Young: "funk mafia" DJ, presenter of BBC Radio One's first ever specialist dance music show, remixer, studio owner and music industry professional.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode.

Further reading: James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982.

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> 20th September 1980, with Dave Lee 20th September 1980, with Dave Lee Thu, 27 Feb 2025 01:56:34 GMT 1:52:00 67bfc6523beb1d1463cc0fb7 false https://shows.acast.com/record-mirror-disco-charts/episodes/20th-september-1980-with-dave-lee 67bfc6523beb1d1463cc0fb7 679a1bb6a7ace681d8538c30 20th-september-1980-with-dave-lee full 1 2 Dave Lee joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson, for a look at the biggest UK dance tunes of September 1980.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode.

Further reading: James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982.

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Dave Lee joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson, for a look at the biggest UK dance tunes of September 1980.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: other tracks mentioned in this episode.

Further reading: James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982.

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> 28th August 1982, with Norman Cook 28th August 1982, with Norman Cook Wed, 29 Jan 2025 12:38:55 GMT 1:25:27 679a215d01388342ba94afa6 false https://shows.acast.com/record-mirror-disco-charts/episodes/28th-august-1982-with-norman-cook 679a215d01388342ba94afa6 679a1bb6a7ace681d8538c30 28th-august-1982-with-norman-cook full 1 1 Norman Cook joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson, as we take a detailed look at what was happening on UK dancefloors in August 1982: a time of significant change, as the dominant post-disco sounds (retrospectively known as "boogie") were starting to make way for groundbreaking - and divisive - electronic innovations. With underground import tracks rubbing shoulders with crossover pop hits, this particular Record Mirror Disco Top 20 offers a fascinating snapshot of the period.

Along the way, you'll also hear about Norman's beginnings as a DJ, and about the early influences that shaped his future career as Fatboy Slim. Meanwhile, as someone who was playing these tunes at the time, at major venues such as Wigan Pier and Legend in Manchester, Greg draws on his own experience and knowledge to place this music in its proper historical context. You'll also hear how these records were reviewed in Record Mirror at the time by Mike's stepfather, the legendary James Hamilton, whose columns from this period have recently been published in book form as James Hamilton’s Disco Pages 1975-1982. .

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]> Norman Cook joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson, as we take a detailed look at what was happening on UK dancefloors in August 1982: a time of significant change, as the dominant post-disco sounds (retrospectively known as "boogie") were starting to make way for groundbreaking - and divisive - electronic innovations. With underground import tracks rubbing shoulders with crossover pop hits, this particular Record Mirror Disco Top 20 offers a fascinating snapshot of the period.

Along the way, you'll also hear about Norman's beginnings as a DJ, and about the early influences that shaped his future career as Fatboy Slim. Meanwhile, as someone who was playing these tunes at the time, at major venues such as Wigan Pier and Legend in Manchester, Greg draws on his own experience and knowledge to place this music in its proper historical context. You'll also hear how these records were reviewed in Record Mirror at the time by Mike's stepfather, the legendary James Hamilton, whose columns from this period have recently been published in book form as James Hamilton’s Disco Pages 1975-1982. .

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

]]>