The Perfect Beats, Vol. 3

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More ass-shaking artifacts from the early-'80s dawn of electro, hip-hop, and freestyle. This might be the least distinct disc in the set, but in such great company, that's hardly a put-down. Of all the volumes, number 3 hews closest to the strictures of the compilation's subtitle, "New York Electro Hip-Hop + Underground Dance Classics, 1980-1985," though Heaven 17's "Let Me Go" came out of England and was in no sense underground. The excellent liner notes by Brian Chin don't mention it, but this also seems to be the diva disc of the bunch, with high-volume output from Shannon, Tina B, Carol Lynn Townes, Alisha, Seidah Garrett, and Xena (no, not that one!). --John Sanchez

Tracks:

Give Me Tonight - Shannon
If This Ain't Love - Jay Novell
On The Upside - Xena
99 1/2 - Carol Lynn Townes
Release Yourself - The Aleems
Din Daa Daa - George Kranz
Emotional Disguise - Peter Godwin
Let Me Go - Heaven 17
Renegades Of Funk - Afrika Bambaataa + Soulsonic Force
Al Naafiysh (The Soul) - Hashim
Remember What You Like - Jenny Burton
Honey To A Bee - Tina B
All Night Passion - Alisha
Do You Want It Right Now - Seidah Garrett

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More ass-shaking artifacts from the early-'80s dawn of electro, hip-hop, and freestyle. This might be the least distinct disc in the set, but in such great company, that's hardly a put-down. Of all the volumes, number 3 hews closest to the strictures of the compilation's subtitle, "New York Electro Hip-Hop + Underground Dance Classics, 1980-1985," though Heaven 17's "Let Me Go" came out of England and was in no sense underground. The excellent liner notes by Brian Chin don't mention it, but this also seems to be the diva disc of the bunch, with high-volume output from Shannon, Tina B, Carol Lynn Townes, Alisha, Seidah Garrett, and Xena (no, not that one!). --John Sanchez

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic collection.......2005-10-15

Volume 3 is part of a 4 CD collection put together by a subsiduary of Tommy Boy records. The four CDs are so awesome that they made up the sounds that myself and my colleagues listened to along with The Freestylers FSUK mix album and We Rock Hard when we launched and PR'ed a raft of dot.bombs in London.

Fresh.......2004-09-06

Spanning from 1980-1985 the releases on this compilation offer some of the best kept secrets of 80's dance/hip hop and freestyle.

Featuring Siedah Garrett's "Do you want it right now"? .Garrett was known for her work with Dennis Edwards, Quincy Jones, and Michael Jackson. This will be a pleasant suprise to catch her earlier work. The song is a great example of early 80's dance beats with a great vocalist.

Another suprise is Xena's "On the upside". Xena is actually grammy award winning vocalist Lisa Fischer who also is best known as a back up vocalist to Luther Vandross.

Other standouts are Shannon's addictive "Give me tonight", Carol Lynn Towne's "99 1/2" and Tina B.'S "Honey to a bee"

The other standout is the dance floor classic "Din Daa Daa" by producer George Kranz. The song also known as "The ha" by some of the younger generation is still popular and can be found in heavy rotation on remix cds and even clubs. Made popular by a dance scene in the movie "Breakin' 2:Electric Boogaloo" it has aged well.

Any fan of this genre will find an embarrasment of riches as the unknown songs are the just as good as the hits. Just imagine driving through the city at midnight or at the club jamming and dancing until the wee hours of the morning. This disc will take u back to that time or will make u wish u were alive to enjoy it!

total dance retro.......1999-06-04

One of the finest dance compilations that I have been able to listen to

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