Reader's Digest Albums

The Ultimate Disco Collection

5 CD / Cassette Set
Released February 1997
Cat No.: RDCD1521-5 (RDC93191-5)
RD Code: UDC 398
Compiled by J K Hall
Produced by P Marchant
Booklet Notes by S Barnard

This was the first of my 'Ultimate' series of releases. It became the most popular collection during my time with RD, not so much in sales (although it did sell very well) but in kudos from other staff and external contacts. I was quite shocked when many of my contacts in other music companies were requesting copies for themselves. It was rarely that these people would ask for 'blagged' copies of RD releases - normally followed by the caveat: "It's for my mum" / "...grandmother" / "...grandfather" etc. This was the first time they asked "Can I have a copy?", and it showed me that, with the right releases, RD had the potential to grow their market into a much younger age group. Unfortunetely it was a growth that RD management never quite understood...
It was a difficult collection to compile, as most 'classic' disco tracks were owned by the one company we couldn't deal with at the time, Warners (although I did eventually broker a deal with the company in my last year of employment at RD). So there were a lot of spaces that I filled with lesser known recordings that, actually, gave the collection it's unique feel and a sense that it wasn't the same as any other 'disco' sets that had been released previously.

Compact Disc 1 The Classic Number Ones

1 - Village People - Y.M.C.A.

2 - Kelly Marie - Feels Like I'm In Love

3 - Jacksons - Show You the Way To Go

4 - Donna Summer - I Feel Love

5 - Tina Charles - I Love To Love (But My Baby Just Loves To Dance)

6 - Hot Chocolate - So You Win Again

7 - Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive

8 - Barry White - You're The First My Last My Everything

9 - Three Degrees - When Will I See You Again

10 - Real Thing - You To Me Are Everything

11 - Odyssey - Use It Up, Wear It Out

12 - Baccara - Yes Sir, I Can Boogie

13 - Boney M - Rivers Of Babylon

14 - Dr Hook - When You're In Love With A Beautiful Woman

15 - Stylistics - Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)

16 - George MacCrae - Rock Your Baby

17 - Tymes - Ms Grace

18 - Carl Douglas - Kung Fu Fighting

Compact Disc 2 Disco Daze, Disco Nights

1 - Gibson Brothers - Que Sera Mi Vida (If You Should Go)

2 - Alicia Bridges - I Love The Nightlife (Disco 'Round)

3 - Boney M - Sunny

4 - Bill Withers - Lovely Day

5 - Marshall Hain - Dancing In The City

6 - La Belle - Lady Marmalade (Voulez - Vous Coucher Avec Moi Ce Soir?)

7 - Sweet Sensation - Sad Sweet Dreamer

8 - Shakatak - Night Birds

9 - Barry White - Just The Way You Are

10 - The Trammps - Hold Back The Night

11 - Carol Douglas - Night Fever

12 - KC & The Sunshine Band - Get Down Tonight

13 - Brothers Johnson - Stomp

14 - Kool & The Gang - Ladies Night

15 - Osibisa - Sunshine Day

16 - Candido - Jingo

Compact Disc 3 Classic Hits

1 - Ottawan - D I S C O

2 - Village People - Can't Stop The Music

3 - Melba Moore - This Is It

4 - The Whispers - And The Beat Goes On

5 - Earth, Wind And Fire - Let's Groove

6 - Gibson Brothers - Mariana

7 - Ritchie Family - Brazil

8 - Light Of The World - I Shot The Sheriff

9 - Jean Carn - Let's Stay Together

10 - Tina Charles - Dr Love

11 - Candi Staton - Suspicious Minds

12 - Shirley & Company - Shame Shame Shame

13 - Ritchie Family - Best Disco In Town

14 - Edwin Starr - H.A.P.P.Y. Radio

15 - Donna Summer - Could It Be Magic

16 - A Taste Of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie

17 - Tina Charles - I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me

18 - Dan Hartman - Instant Replay

Compact Disc 4 Great Stars, Great Hits

1 - Eruption - I Can't Stand The Rain

2 - Jacksons - Blame It On The Boogie

3 - Blondie - Heart Of Glass

4 - Donna Summer - Love's Unkind

5 - Herbie Hancock - Rockit

6 - 5000 Volts - Dr Kiss Kiss

7 - Kool & The Gang - Get Down On It

8 - Gladys Knight & The Pips - Baby Don't Change Your Mind

9 - Three Degrees - My Simple Heart

10 - Gloria Gaynor - Never Can Say Goodbye

11 - Linda Lewis - It's In His Kiss

12 - Shalamar - There It Is

13 - Bonnie Tyler - Married Men

14 - The Whispers - My Girl

15 - Ottawan - Help Get Me Some Help

16 - Earth, Wind And Fire - Boogie Wonderland

17 - Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King - Love Come Down

18 - Village People - In The Navy

Compact Disc 5 Disco Memories

1 - Van MacCoy - The Hustle

2 - Disco Tex & The Sex O Lettes - I Wanna Dance Wit' Choo

3 - Tavares - Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel

4 - Tom Browne - Funkin' For Jamaica (NY)

5 - Funkadelic - One Nation Under A Groove

6 - Herbie Hancock - I Thought It Was You

7 - Central Line - Nature Boy

8 - Lipps Inc. - Funky Town

9 - The Isley Brothers - That Lady

10 - Hot Chocolate - Put Your Love In Me

11 - Limmie And the Family Cookin' - A Walkin' Miracle

12 - Aretha Franklin - What A Fool Believes

13 - Gloria Gaynor - Reach Out I'll Be There

14 - The O'Jays - I Love Music

15 - Odyssey - Inside Out

16 - The Drifters - Can I Take You Home Little Girl?

17 - Stylistics - Can't Help Falling In Love

18 - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes - Don't Leave Me This Way

TIMELESS FAVOURITES - There Goes That Song Again - Jule Styne & Frank Loesser

Twelth issue in the “Timeless Favourites” series, which was to run for 13 editions.

3CD Set
Released February 1997
Cat No.: RDCD1501-3 (RDC93171-3)
RD Code: SNL 012
Series Code 58

In late 1996, thanks to the success of the three existing series, and a growth in sales and catalogue product, RDUK's output had increased ten-fold over the previous three years. The UK started to outsource some of their work and the Timeless Favourites series had been one of the first products to be partly compiled using external non-Digest companies. After the series had had an inititial shaky start anyway, it began to suffer in production delays which is why volume 12 was actually produced out of sequence using mostly RD recordings (unlike the previous issues). The noticeble difference in the style of performances showed, and sales began to drop off dramatically. It would soon became the first UK series to be axed due to poor sales.

CD 1 Timeless Favourites

1 - Wonderful Copenhagen #from 'Hans Christian Andersen' - Ken Barrie, with Orchestra and Chorus conducted by Roland Shaw (Loesser)

2 - I've Never Been In Love Before #from 'Guys and Dolls' - Jane Cussons and Ken Barrie, with Orchestra conducted by Gordon Langford (Loesser)

3 - Standing On The Corner #from 'The Most Happy Fella' - The Foursome, with Orchestra conducted by Roland Shaw (Loesser)

4 - If I Were A Bell #from 'Guys and Dolls' - Jane Cussons, with Orchestra conducted by Gordon Langford (Loesser)

5 - Anywhere I Wander #from 'Hans Christian Andersen' - Ed Ames, with Orchestra conducted by Ken Thorne (Loesser)

6 - I Wish I Didn't Love You So #from 'The Perils of Pauline' - The Mellowaires, with the Romantic Strings and Orchestra conducted by Donald Williams (Loesser)

7 - A Bushel And A Peck #from 'Guys and Dolls' - Miriam Wilkinson, with Orchestra conducted by James Walker (Loesser)

8 - Luck Be A Lady #from 'Guys and Dolls' - Fred Lucas, with Mike Sammes Male Chorus and Orchestra conducted by Alan Braden (Loesser)

9 - A Woman In Love #from 'Guys and Dolls' - Jane Cussons and Jim Smilie, with Orchestra conducted by Gordon Langford (Loesser)

10 - Brotherhood Of Man #from 'How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying' - Tom Saffery, with Mike Sammes Chorus and Orchestra conducted by Nick Ingman (Loesser)

11 - On A Slow Boat To China - The Mike Sammes Singers, with Orchestra conducted by Johnny Gibb (Loesser)

12 - Baby, It's Cold Outside #from 'Neptune's Daughter' - Roberta Starr and Denzel Grant, with Orchestra conducted by Ken Thorne (Loesser)

13 - Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat #from 'Guys and Dolls' - Orchestra and Chorus conducted by James Walker (Loesser)

14 - I Believe In You #from 'How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying' - Tom Saffery, with Mike Sammes Male Chorus and Orchestra conducted by Alan Braden (Loesser)

15 - Once In Love With Amy #from 'Where's Charley?' - Tony Mansell and the Foursome, with Orchestra conducted by Roland Shaw (Loesser)

16 - Small World #from 'Gypsy' - Lorna Dallas, with Orchestra conducted by Nick Ingman (Styne, Sondheim)

17 - Party's Over #from 'Bells Are Ringing'~The - Jo Stafford, Vocals, and Warren Covington, Trombone, with Orchestra conducted by Paul Weston (Styne, Comden, Green)

18 - I'll Walk Alone #from 'Follow the Boys' - Dennis Lors, with Orchestra conducted by Ken Thorne (Styne, Cahn)

19 - I've Heard That Song Before #from 'Youth on Parade' - Helen Forrest, with Orchestra conducted by Harry James (Styne, Cahn)

20 - People #from 'Funny Girl' - Rosemary Squires, with Orchestra conducted by Ken Thorne (Styne, Merrill)

21 - It's Been A Long, Long Time #from 'I'll Get By' - Tracy Miller, with Orchestra conducted by Ken Thorne (Styne, Cahn)

22 - Things We Did Last Summer~The - The Pete King Chorale (Styne, Cahn)

23 - Three Coins In The Fountain #from 'Three Coins in the Fountain' - RCA Symphony Orchestra conducted by Charles Gerhardt (Styne, Cahn)

CD 2 Moments To Remember

1 - Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend #from 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' - Rita Williams, with Orchestra conducted by Johnny Douglas (Styne, Robin)

2 - I Don't Want To Walk Without You #from 'Sweater Girl' - Danny Street and the Young World Singers (Styne, Loesser)

3 - Just In Time #from 'Bells Are Ringing' - Rosemary Squires, with Orchestra conducted by Johnny Gregory (Styne, Comden, Green)

4 - I Fall In Love Too Easily #from 'Anchors Aweigh' - The Mellowaires, with the Romantic Strings and Orchestra conducted by Donald Williams (Styne, Cahn)

5 - Papa, Won't You Dance With Me? #from 'High Button Shoes' - Rita Williams, with Orchestra conducted by Johnny Douglas (Styne, Cahn)

6 - Make Someone Happy #from 'Do Re Mi' - Lorna Dallas and James Smilie, with Orchestra conducted by Roland Shaw (Styne, Comden, Green)

7 - No Two People #from 'Hans Christian Andersen' - Rebecca Storm and Ian Lynn, with Ensemble directed by Ian Lynn (Loesser)

8 - I'm Hans Christian Andersen #from 'Hans Christian Andersen' - Ron Moody, with Orchestra conducted by Del Newman (Loesser)

9 - Guys And Dolls #from 'Guys and Dolls' - Gary Wilmot, Gary Williams and Andy Brown, with Orchestra conducted by Bruce Baxter (Loesser)

10 - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? - Sheryl Parker, Vocals, and Derek Watkins, Trumpet, with Ensemble directed by Ian Lynn (Loesser)

11 - Thumbelina #from 'Hans Christian Andersen' - Joe Fagin, with Ensemble directed by Ian Lynn (Loesser)

12 - Ugly Duckling #from 'Hans Christian Andersen'~The - Ron Moody, with Orchestra conducted by Del Newman (Loesser)

13 - Make A Miracle #from 'Where's Charlie?' - Fiona Hendley and Paul Jones, with Ensemble directed by Ian Lynn (Loesser)

14 - Adelaide's Lament #from 'Guys and Dolls' - Barbara Dickson, with Orchestra conducted by Del Newman (Loesser)

15 - King's New Clothes #from 'Hans Christian Andersen'~The - Denis Quilley, with Orchestra conducted by Bruce Baxter (Loesser)

16 - Happy To Make Your Acquaintance #from 'The Most Happy Fella' - Claire Moore, Denis Quilley and Sheryl Parker, with Orchestra conducted by Del Newman (Loesser)

17 - I'll Know #from 'Guys and Dolls' - Barbara Dickson and Gary Wilmot, with Orchestra conducted by Ian Lynn (Loesser)

18 - Now That I Need You #from 'Red, Hot, and Blue' - Mike D'Abo, Vocals, and Paul Jones, Harmonica, with Ensemble directed by Ian Lynn (Loesser)

19 - My Darling, My Darling #from 'Where's Charlie?' - Rebecca Storm and Gary Williams, with Orchestra conducted by Steve Gray (Loesser)

20 - Most Happy Fella #from 'The Most Happy Fella'~The - Denis Quilley and Andy Brown, with Chorus and Orchestra conducted by Del Newman (Loesser)

CD 3 Magical Moods And Memories

1 - Everything's Coming Up Roses #from 'Gypsy' - Robert Bentley and his Orchestra (Styne, Sondheim

2 - There Goes That Song Again #from 'Carolina Blues' - Barbara Dickson, with Orchestra conducted by Ian Lynn (Styne, Cahn)

3 - Saturday Night Is The Loneliest Night Of The Week - Gary Williams, Vocals, and Pete Zorn, Alto Saxophone, with Ensemble directed by Ian Lynn (Styne, Cahn)

4 - Don't Rain On My Parade #from 'Funny Girl' - Sheryl Parker, with Orchestra conducted by Del Newman (Styne, Merrill)

5 - Put 'Em In A Box #from 'Romance on the High Seas' - Annie Ross, with Orchestra conducted by Steve Gray (Styne, Cahn)

6 - I Still Get Jealous #from 'High Button Shoes' - Gary Williams, with Ensemble directed by Ian Lynn (Styne, Cahn)

7 - Five Minutes More #from 'Sweetheart of Sigma Chi' - The Flying Chorus, with Ensemble directed by Ian Lynn (Styne, Cahn)

8 - Time After Time #from 'It Happened in Brooklyn' - Petula Clark, with Orchestra conducted by Kenny Clayton (Styne, Cahn)

9 - You Are Woman, I Am Man #from 'Funny Girl' - Fiona Hendley and Paul Jones, with Ensemble directed by Ian Lynn (Styne, Merrill)

10 - Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry #from 'Glad To See You' - Barbara Dickson, Vocals, and Don Lusher, Trombone, with Ensemble directed by Ian Lynn (Styne, Cahn)

11 - Together Wherever We Go #from 'Gypsy' - Sheryl Parker, Sheila Parker and Ian Lynn, with Orchestra conducted by Bruce Baxter (Styne, Sondheim)

12 - It's Magic #from 'Romance on the High Seas' - Petula Clark, with Orchestra conducted by Kenny Clayton (Styne, Cahn)

13 - Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are #from 'Step Lively' - Gary Wilmot, with Orchestra conducted by Steve Gray (Styne, Cahn)

14 - Let Me Entertain You #from 'Gypsy' - Annie Ross, with Orchestra conducted by Steve Gray (Styne, Sondheim)

15 - Bye Bye Baby #from 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' - Barbara Dickson, Vocals, and Pete Zorn, Soprano Saxophone, with Ensemble directed Ian Lynn (Styne, Robin)

16 - Some People #from 'Gypsy' - Claire Moore, with Orchestra conducted by Del Newman (Styne, Sondheim)

17 - Ev'ry Street's A Boulevard In Old New York#from 'Hazel Flagg' - Gary Wilmot, with Orchestra conducted by Ian Lynn (Styne, Hilliard)

18 - Funny Girl #from 'Funny Girl' - Sheryl Parker, with Orchestra conducted by Bruce Baxter (Styne, Merrill)

19 - Long Before I Knew You #from 'Bells Are Ringing' - Denis Quilley and Barbara Dickson, with Orchestra conducted by Ian Lynn (Styne, Comden, Green)

20 - Money Burns A Hole In My Pocket #from 'Living It Up' - Gary Williams, with Ensemble directed by Ian Lynn (Styne, Hilliard)

21 - Song's Gotta Come From The Heart #from 'It Happened in Brooklyn'~The - Joe Fagin, with Ensemble directed by Ian Lynn (Styne, Cahn)

FAVOURITES FROM THE CLASSICS (Series)

In 1990, RD UK looked at the 1989 German success with the “Klassische Kostbarkeiten” series of classical releases. Originally released on vinyl in ‘87, the collections were now 3CD sets and issued at regular intervals to subscribing customers, each set featuring a leading classical composer, and presenting sometimes complete works, rather than the edited highlights for which RD had recently become more popular with their audience.

After the inevitable elongated period of market research, in 1991 the British RD decided to release their own “Favourites From The Classics” series, which was to run for 25 editions making it the longest running series released by RD. Taking a softer approach to their German counterparts, they lost the image of the composer and the ‘high-brow’ classical look that the Germans had used, and went with a simple silk background underneath a bold composer name check. The colour of the silk changed with each edition. Johann Strauss was the most popular composer to UK markets in research, and so it was this that was to launch the first of several series in the UK.

The series was subsequently picked up by the USA who went even further with ‘softening’ the concept by adding several volumes of multiple composers to replace the less ‘well known’ composers of the UK series.

Other editions were released throughout the world based on either the UK or German concepts including France, South Africa, Australia, Poland & Canada.

Many countries also reissued the collections with different designs and different configurations, to capitalise on the original success of the series.

ORIGINAL GERMAN SERIES ‘Klassische Kostbarkeiten’ (1987)