Back in 1988, disco rap aficionado and collector Dave Lee put together acompilation titled “Back To The Old School,” showcasing some of the best of the genre, most of which had never been issued before in the UK.
Fast forward to 2025 and Dave’s label Z Records has managed to procure the rights to a few choice old school cuts for a (sort of) follow up. The difference is this time Mr. Lee has remixed and re-worked the songs for today’s dancefloors while preserving their original flavor and integrity. In this first part of the series we have TJ Swann’s 1981 jam “Get Fly” re-tracked and taken into lo-slung yacht rock funk territory with a sizzling synth solo for good measure, a perfect compliment to TJ’s smooth NYC flow. Terry Lewis & Wild Flower are up next on the A-side, with a boogie rich, mid-tempo stomper with a heavy funk bottom end and a message that still rings true in this day and age. Mike T’s “Do It Anyway You Wanna” finishes things up with a compulsive dose of jazz-tinged disco rap that goes straight for the jugular, super charged slap bass underpinning sharp sax and flute motifs while the rich tones of Mike T slide over the top.
Dave Lee yet again provides a masterclass in production.
Stream it here.
