I’m a firm believer that disco and house are criminally underplayed at college parties. While I may love Drake as much as the next guy, I’d like to hear some more variety. If you’re feeling particularly confident (or particularly drunk) the next time you find yourself with an aux cord at a party, here are a couple disco & house tunes that will get people dancing. (If you find your aux cord privileges revoked after your drop one of these tunes, my bad.)
Jimmy “Bo” Horne – Let Me (Let Me Be Your Lover) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8HqZ6VKJeI
Released in ’78, this track manages to encapsulate so much of what I love about disco. Its crisp production, soaring vocals and an inescapable groove is something every disco tune should aspire tune.
Debbie Jacobs – Don’t You Want My Love – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mi-FqgtQHDo
Debbie Jacobs brings the heat with this disco track. The combination of handclaps and horns makes for an irresistible groove. I would recommend sticking with the shorter single version, the 12” is almost 8 minutes long which leads to it dragging in some places.
Hubie Davidson – Sanctified – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaWxrrJfS5I
The second release on Midland’s new disco-house label Regraded, Sanctified brings a combination of chopped up samples that culminate brilliantly.
Bileo – You Can Win – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoAATtUmvUs
Probably my favorite disco tune of all time. How can you not love those shuffling drums and swinging horns? Shout-out to the label Athens of the North to reissuing this and so many other Northern Soul classics.
Kiki Gyan – Disco Dancer – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uf5UCFw-HzM
In his prime Kiki Gyan was one of the most famous Ghanian musical artists and churned out one killer disco tune after another while hanging out with the likes of Elton John and Mick Jagger. While he would eventually die poor and alone due to an intensive drug addiction, tracks like this one remain a testament to his musical talent.
SAINT PEPSI – Better – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYvji5AXOfk
Sure, this is technically ‘nu-disco’ but I can’t help but put such a great tune on this list. With such an incredibly funky and driving bassline there’s no way you can’t start dancing when you hear this song.
KC & The Sunshine Band – Get Down Tonight – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHEsE9yN2CY
A classic. There’s a reason our parents (grandparents?) bought enough copies of this record to send it to the top of the charts all over the world.
Unknown Artist – Disco Duck I – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tj5RM5rt9oE
A rework of the 1977 Carolyne Bernier track “Hold Me, Touch Me,” this tune is an absolute pleasure to listen to.
Crystal Waters – She’s Homeless – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KztNIg4cvE
A 90s house anthem that I’m positive your parents have danced to at some point in their lives. The catchy and simple “la da dee la da da” chorus lets people who have never even heard this song before sing along.