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Chapter 121: Funkytown

Disco hits

An absurdly fun set of disco’s biggest hits. If your first association with these songs is ‘bad wedding DJ,’ I can’t blame you, but just listen to the craftsmanship at play - this music is overflowing with rococo detail, drunk on pure sound. How lovingly rendered is the piccolo on “The Hustle,” or that collapsing pitched drum on “Ring My Bell”? “Stayin Alive” is an immaculate pop machine. And don’t give the lyrics short shrift either - chart pop rarely celebrates the working life the way "Car Wash" does.
1. McFadden & Whitehead

Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now

2. Bee Gees

Stayin' Alive

3. Rose Royce

Car Wash

4. Anita Ward

Ring My Bell

5. KC and the Sunshine Band

That's the Way (I Like It)

6. The Trammps

Disco Inferno

7. Lipps, Inc.

Funkytown

8. Van McCoy

The Hustle

9. Village People

Y.M.C.A.

10. Gloria Gaynor

I Will Survive