This was only the second hip-hop song to make the Billboard Pop Top 40. Sugarhill Gang were first with Rapper's Delight. And unless you count Blondie's "Rapture", it took over a year for hip-hop to break the Top 40 twice. (sorry, Kurtis Blow fans. As massive a seller as The Breaks was, it never entered Casey Kasem's radio radar.) I was in 6th grade when Double Dutch Bus crawled it's way up to #30 in the US (besting Rapper's Delight's peak of #36). And I couldn't get enough of it! Never mind how silly the lyrics are, the song is so fun and infectious you might find yourself rushing out to buy a couple jump ropes just so you can learn the Double Dutch. Unfortunately, Mr. Smith never had another big hit. But he deserves a prominent place in hip-hop history. For one thing, he invented the "iz/izzle" slang that later became Snoop Dogg's trademark. And Double Dutch Bus has been sampled countless times, most notably by Missy Elliott (Gossip Folks), Madonna, and Kylie Minogue. So though serious heads may dismiss this song as a novelty, it will always be 5 stars worth of fun for me.

This is not a great album but it's a very enjoyable one if you're in the mood for it. Mid 70's disco rarely sounded this joyful and ethereal. The hit single here was "The Hustle", as undeniable a slice of roller disco euphoria as the era ever produced. And if you like that one, you'll probably dig the rest of this set too. About half the tracks are covers of familiar soul/funk hits of the day, but that's not as annoying as you would think. In at least a couple cases, McCoy's team actually improves on the original. As Disco was a singles-driven genre not known for producing consistently strong albums, this is probably among the best.

This was the Gang's most hit-packed album. 4 of the 7 tracks were Top 20 hits in the US. Of course, it's very much a product of it's time. Everyone was trying to replicate the multi-platinum magic of Michael Jackson's Thriller. And while the Gang falls short of those lofty heights, this effort is good fun from start to finish. A great record to throw on at your next 80's theme party, there's plenty here to pop, lock, moonwalk, and breakdance to, with the infectious "Fresh" a clear highlight. And they were even courteous enough to throw in a couple slow dance numbers so you can get up close with that fly tenderoni you been trading glances with all night. Then they end it all with a bouncy 7-minute shout-out to JC that even an atheist like me can't hate. (since it sounds like it could have been on the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack, I just pretend it's about Axel Foley) Singles: Misled / Rollin' - #10 Pop / #3 R&B Fresh / In the Heart - #9 Pop / #1 R&B Cherish - #2 Pop / #1 R&B Emergency / You Are the One - #18 Pop / #7 R&B

This album was the beginning of a new sound and era for the Gang. With the addition of new lead singer James "J.T." Taylor's velvety croon, the band had transformed from hard funk to smooth pop-soul. And the move would prove hugely successful, with a string of hits lasting through the 1980's. But don't worry, booty shakers, the funky grooves are still here. While their later albums in this style may have been spotty, this one is near perfect. The six long tracks are all winners, and despite their lengths, they deftly avoid wearing out their welcome. The title track and "Too Hot" were smash hits, both famously sampled in the 90's (on Lil' Kim's Not Tonight (Remix) and Coolio's Too Hot respectively). Third single, "Hangin' Out" failed commercially, but is equally strong. And the remaining tracks are nearly as good. Fans of disco/funk from the late 70's are guaranteed a good time at this Ladies' Night.

A modern Japanese take on the American Primitivism of John Fahey, Robbie Basho, etc, this is enchanting stuff - hypnotic, meditative, ethereal. Deserves to be much better known than it is.