Was there a disco sound in ex-Yugoslavia? The beat, the bass, the big strings and outrageous outfits? Until this release, first of its kind to chart the unknown Non-Aligned disco territory, the American and European influenced dance tunes of the Saturday Night Fever era belonged only to most curious of the DJ’s and vinyl collectors. 

Leri Ahel (Mutant Disco Radio Show) and Zeljko Luketic (Electronic Jugoton, Ex Yu Electronica) curate this comprehensive anthology of lesser known seven inchers, B-sides and cassette only releases in Socialist Disco 2LP, a pioneering compilation that took 4 years to research, licence and finish in its final shape. Meticulous work included finding the best sounding original masters and clearing the rights for all featured songs.

18 tracks were chosen for the first instalment of the series that will put the completely different light on the movement that suffered the same destiny as Disco Demolition Night in America aggressively closed all doors to anything connected to the genre itself. In Yugoslavia it blended into dance pop and Italo Disco, but kept its peculiarity in the erotic innuendo of lyrics, inclusiveness on the dance-floor while loosening up the strict social rules of growing nightlife. This compilation features pin-up models and Miss Yugoslavia 1982 Ana Sasso trying to boogie, the famous soccer player Ivica Surjak doing strange excursions into music inferno and teen-stars skipping classes for USSR tours. On the more serious side, disco was also interesting to popular singers and musicians already selling hundreds of thousands of records and big orchestras and ensembles run by celebrated composers like Alfi KabiljoArsen Dedic and Nikica Kalogjera. Curators and the owners of the Fox & His Friends label Ahel and Luketic also included some unexpected cover versions of Kim WildeRigheira and, not to be missed, Yugoslavian take on Gloria Gaynor’s queer-disco classic ‘I Will Survive’.          

‘Socialist Disco. Dancing Behind Yugoslavia’s Velvet Curtain 1977-1987’ is released as gatefold 2 × LP limited edition. Contains rare disco tunes from KIM Band, Gabi Novak, Arian, Ljupka Dimitrovska, Ana Sasso, Moni Kovacic, Milka Lenac, Rok Hotel, Ivica Surjak, Grupa ST, Nano Prsa and many more. There will be no repress and is sold exclusively one copy per customer. Pre-orders are available at https://foxandhisfriends.bigcartel.com

Soundcloud preview available at https://soundcloud.com/foxandhisfriends/va-socialist-disco-dancing-behind-yugoslavias-velvet-curtain-1977-1987

Artist: Various Artists

Title: Socialist Disco – Dancing Behind Yugoslavia’s Velvet Curtain 1977-1987

Label: Fox & His Friends

Catalogue number: FOX003LP

Format: 2×Vinyl LP

File under: Disco, Italo Disco, Electronic

Compiled by: Leri Ahel & Zeljko Luketic

Release date: September 20th 2018

Full tracks and short info about every artist available on Youtube: