Back catalogue: All genres

Review: Arther Baker's Dance Masters series continues, as the spotlight turns to another remix legend: one of the originators of the form, John Luongo. Regarded as one of the most influential DJs and mixers of his day, Luongo's many credits include remixes of Jackie Moore's 'This Time Baby', 'Vertigo / Relight My Fire' by Dan Hartman and Patti Labelle's 'Music Is My Way Of Life'. Luongo also went on to establish a production career in his own right, and his legacy is more than cemented here on this retrospective comp from Demon. This box set compiles his most striking tracks in a sixc LP compilation, as well as: a 16-page booklet; an in-depth essay from Alexis Petridis; a foreword by Arthur Baker and a rare photo album from Luongo's personal collection.

Review: Arthur Baker is the perfect host for this new series from Demon Music which focuses on the famous extended remixes of the 80s. Each series will be a multi-disc, various artist collection that is united by one remixer, and there can be few better to kick it off than the legend that is Shep Pettibone. He was a hugely in demand studio hand who reworked multiple genres and everyone from Pet Shop Boys to Duran Duran, New Order to Level 42, George Michael to Erasure. This ambitious, widescreen collection takes in all manner of golden remixes from the world of soul, pop, synth and more.

Review: The art of the remix is no doubt indebted to NYC legends such as Shep Pettibone and Arthur Baker. It's quite fitting then that the latter should curate some of the greatest moments of the former on part two of The Classic 12 Inch Master Mixes Volume One. Pettibone's innovative approach to remixing throughout the '80s and early '90s has had a lasting impact on dance music. Featured on here are his renditions of B B & Q's '(I'm A) Dreamer' where he gets that perfect late night boogie-down vibe in effect, as well as Lionel Richie's classic 'Love Will Conquer All', perfectly streamlining the groove of The Salsoul Orchestra's 'Ooh, I Love It (Love Break)' and lending his deft hand to First Choice's anthemic 'Let No Man Put Asunder' among many others.

Review: Eddie Piller's first volume of British Mod Sounds of The 1960s went down a real storm so it's great that he has been commissioned to do another one. This second edition is another doozy with the Acid Jazz Records and Modcast founder digging deep and turning out plenty of knowledge. Early on, British Mod bands were prone to knocking out American r&b sounds but they later evolved and took in influences from jazz-rock, prog, psychedelic soul and eastern melodies. This collection charts that musical evolution across four sides of vinyl including tunes by the OGs well as plenty of newly emerging stars from Bowie to Bolan.

Review: Eddie Piller Presents The Mod Top 40 revives the essence of '60s Mod music with a fresh twist. While many fans are familiar with the tracks, the story behind them is new and intriguing. Inspired by the Mod revival of the late 70s, Eddie delved into the original scene, guided by Randy Cozens, whose letters to music magazines in the pre-internet era led to the creation of the original Mod Top 100. Eddie's double vinyl set includes 40 essential r&b, soul, jazz and beat tracks plus personal picks for unavailable originals. This release honours Cozens' influence and offers a stylish, informative introduction to classic Mod sounds complete with new sleeve notes and track details.

Review: Katie Puckrik's well-curated A Yacht Rock Odyssey is a four-part musical journey showcasing the smoothest sounds of the genre. This collection features gently funky grooves polished by top session musicians and producers and the set includes classics from Michael McDonald, Toto and Average White Band, alongside Carly Simon, Robert Palmer and the Pointer Sisters, plus gems from Olivia Newton-John and Christopher Cross. Puckrik's introduction and track-by-track annotations offer insights tray draw from her acclaimed BBC TV series, I Can Go for That: The Smooth World of Yacht Rock. With 24 meticulously chosen tracks, this compilation highlights the era's sleek, mellow vibe and musical kinship.

Review: Demon's Disco Discharge compilations first appeared on CD around the turn of the last decade, offering on-point, themed selections from the mysterious 'MrPinky' and authoritative liner notes by disco historian Alan Jones. Now some of the sets are appearing on vinyl for the first time. As the name suggests, this edition celebrates the contribution of the USA - the original home of disco culture - to the sound's evolution. What's on offer is a mix of well-known hits (Teddy Pendergrass' Philly Soul special 'Life Is A Song Worth Singing'), Earth, Wind & Fire's 'Boogie Wonderland', featuring in the lesser-known instrumental mix form), crossover classics (Slick's 'Space Bass', Karen Young's 'Hot Shot', Fern Kinney's slow motion reggae-disco gem 'Baby, Let Me Kiss You') and cult favourites (Dennis Parker's 'Like An Eagle', Paradise Express's 'Dance').

Review: John Hughes' films are a genre all to themselves - sentimental coming of age flicks that embody 1980s small town America like few others managed. Hughes also knew how to use great pop music of the time to capture a moment in his movies, and so the concept of The John Hughes Mixtapes is an inspired one if you want to feels a sweeping sense of nostalgia for a bygone era. This lavish six-LP boxset features classic tracks from movies such as Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Pretty In Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Some Kind Of Wonderful, Planes, Trains And Automobiles, She's Having A Baby, The Great Outdoors and Uncle Buck.

Review: Rusty Egan Presents Blitzed! offers a vivid sonic journey back to London's Blitz Club circa 1980, capturing the essence of the New Romantic movement with meticulous detail. As the resident DJ at the epicenter of this cultural phenomenon, Rusty Egan curated a soundtrack that defined an era and shaped the future of British pop music. This compilation meticulously captures the eclectic mix of influences that fueled the Blitz Club's electric atmosphere. From Bowie and Roxy Music to Kraftwerk and European electronic pioneers, Egan's sets seamlessly blended diverse musical styles, creating a sonic tapestry that transcended genres. The tracks on Blitzed! reflect the club's diverse clientele, from fashion designers to art school kids, post boys to pop stars in the making. The compilation's contemporary photography by Sheila Rock, Peter Ashworth, and Terry Smith, along with insightful sleeve notes by Alexis Petridis and Rusty Egan himself, provide a comprehensive look into the era and its cultural impact. Blitzed! not only celebrates the music of the time but also serves as a historical document of a revolutionary moment in British pop culture. It's a must-have for anyone interested in the New Romantic movement and the influential role of clubs like The Blitz in shaping music history.

Review: Demon Music's 'Disco Discharge' series was originally issued in a series of 2xCD collections between 2009 and 2012. The themed compilations of full-length, extended disco originals, lovingly curated by the mysterious Mr Pinks and with detailed sleeve notes by author and disco aficionado Alan Jones, have long remained in demand among collectors and the club Cognoscenti. Now recompiled and reissued on a striking orange double 140g LP, we're once more transported back to the golden era of the likes of Change, Manhattan Transfer and Cheryl Lynn.

Review: Jazz and cosy winter nights by the fire seem to go hand in hand. This bumper collection across four sides of vinyl taps into that association with a splendid compilation, that's sure to become a favourite around your house during this year's festivities, with all the classics such as 'White Christmas' by Bing Crosby, the Home Alone classics 'Winter Wonderland' by Connie Francis and 'Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree' from Brenda Lee, plus many more. Lovely stuff.

Review: This heft triple vinyl album from Demon Records finds the label served up a narrated TV soundtrack from the very first series of Doctor Who. Back then it was William Hartnell who took the role of the Doctor with a supporting cast featuring Jacqueline Hill as Barbara and Carole Ann Ford as Susan, with Stephen Dartnell, Ilona Rodgers and Lorne Cossette. Norma Kay made all the instrumental music the features underneath the dialogue while the famous theme music was of course the work of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.