Various Artists - Decades of Dance 60's 70's & 80's (CD)

All Music Guide

Decades of Dance: '60s, '70s '80s delivers just what the title promises, a collection of songs that spans dances like the Jerk and the Monkey to the Hustle to breakdancing. Bobby Freeman's "C'Mon and Swim," the Isley Brothers' "Twist Shout," the Miracles' "Mickey's Monkey," and the Capitols' "Cool Jerk" are among the best songs from the '60s, the golden era of dance tunes and trends. Unsurprisingly, the set's '70s-track selection focuses on disco hits like Anita Ward's "Ring My Bell," Van McCoy's "The Hustle," and Carl Douglas' "Kung Fu Fighting." Though the '80s lacked songs about dances like "The Jerk" or "The Hustle," tracks like Ollie Jerry's "Breakin' -- There's No Stoppin' Us," Kool the Gang's "Celebration," Buster Poindexter's "Hot Hot Hot," and Taco's wonderfully glitzy cover of "Puttin' on the Ritz" show that dances and dance songs became more diverse then. A fun and fairly thorough collection of vintage dance pop.

- Heather Phares, All Music Guide