#MyRecordBag – Check out Needwant label head Sean Brosnan’s top ten party-starting disco tracks

For more than a decade now, Needwant label owner Sean Brosnan has showcased the freshest sounds in the house and disco landscape through his Future Disco releases, a series of compilations backed by a string of parties in locations such as Ibiza, London, Dubai and Amsterdam.

The latest edition in the series, which lands on 23 September, is Future Disco: Mirrorball Motel. It features artists such as Roisín Murphy, Digitalism, Bondax, Daisybelle & Tasty Lopez, Italoconnection, Charlie Hepworth and more, and it’s set to be released as a 19-track CD as well as a 15-track vinyl edition.

“Whatever I do, I like to push myself,” Brosnan says of his approach to music. “I like to push the boundaries of where listeners will let me go, but it’s essential I leave them smiling and wanting to do it all over again.”

Given Brosnan’s encyclopaedic knowledge of disco, 909originals asked him to compile a playlist of his top ten surefire dancefloor classics – tunes for which ‘shaking yo’ rump to the funk’ isn’t just recommended, it’s downright obligatory.

Over to you, Sean.

Sylvester – You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)

What an innovative artist Sylvester was, and this record almost keeps getting better with time. It’s the forward-thinking nature of it, the electronic bassline, scattering of vocals and the FX all make it such a brilliant club track. I’ve been playing the Soulwax edit the past few months also, which adds another level for modern dancefloors.

Sister Sledge – You Fooled Around

I’m a big Sister Sledge fan. The production, emotion and vocals are so on point on this track. I love the original but also the Joey Negro edit. It’s a love song ultimately, but when given a bit more tempo it makes the dancefloor go wild. When you combine love and dancing, the rest is magic.

Indeep – Last Night A DJ Saved My Life

A groove that’s hard to beat. It almost can’t be outdone for how simple and effective this track is, with the bassline and guitar working in harmony to deliver a pure infectious groove. Timeless disco.

T-Connection – Do What You Wanna Do

One of my all-time favourite tracks, somewhere between funk and disco and such an inspired bassline. The switch up in the structure of the track makes it such a unique piece of music. Also, those drums! You could just loop them for four minutes and people would still be dancing.

Diana Ross – The Boss

A ‘big moment’ record that I’ve found new appreciation for all over again. For me the very best disco has that deep emotion but also combined with a dancefloor aesthetic. This has it all, from the queen, Diana Ross.

Goody Goody – It Looks Like Love

This record always get the dancefloor moving, I love the fact it’s just loopy and builds like a precursor to house music to come. It’s pure dancefloor disco.

Loose Joints – Is It All Over My Face

This has some crazy drums that make it so loose to try and mix as a DJ. I always liked the MAW remix – it kept the essence but just sharpened the edges to the record. This record really stands out in a set – it’s funk combined with almost a punk vocal.

Change – A Lover’s Holiday

I’ve been playing this record for years. It’s a real feel good numbers that always gets the dancefloor in the right mood. I also like the fact it has layers and builds and the vocal is used almost like an instrument. Again you can see how the journey into house music from this track has happened.

Patrice Rushen – Haven’t You Heard

I love many of Patrice Rushen’s songs, but this one maybe the most. It’s been sampled so many times over the years that most people will be familiar with the sounds. It’s the strings that work like magic to provide the continuous lift and movement alongside her beautiful and subtle vocal, for what is such a powerful piece of music.

Sharon Brown – I Specialise In Love

This is a little bit later – when disco moved into the 80s – than many others on this list. But I love the pace of the full 12-inch version of Sharon Brown’s records and this is no different, where the mood constantly switches up. It’s a perfect start- or end-of-the-night record.

Future Disco: Mirrorball Motel is released on 23 September on Needwant.

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