23rd November 1985, with Luke Una

23rd November 1985, with Luke Una

Author: Mike Atkinson July 30, 2026 Duration: 2:20:24

By late 1985, Luke Una had started to immerse himself in dance music and club culture – initially in his native Sheffield, just ahead of a move to Manchester – and so many of the tunes in this chart served to lay the foundations for his pioneering and influential DJ career.

At the end of a year largely dominated by glossy, polished, but still fairly orthodox soul/funk productions (some of which appear here), new shoots were emerging that would grow into street soul, garage and house, while hip hop was on the brink of a commercial rebirth, and Washington DC go go influences were seeping into other areas. Social commentary “message songs” were popular with some, while others were seeking out a more elemental, stripped-down sound, via fully instrumental tracks and dub remixes.

To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of snippets.

Further listening: 

* other tracks mentioned in this episode (YouTube)

* random monthly megamixes, 1975-1989

Further reading:

* James Hamilton's Dance Pages 1983-1989 (800 page hardback book)

* James Hamilton's Disco Pages 1975-1982 (550 page hardback book)

Record Mirror Disco Charts mugs and T-shirts are available from our merchandise store.

Mike also hosts the podcast Which Decade Is Tops For Pops?



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Each episode of Record Mirror Disco Charts is a deep, conversational dive into a specific week's dance music history, hosted by Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson alongside a rotating guest. The format is elegantly simple yet rich with detail: a random Disco Top 20 chart from the UK's Record Mirror publication, dated anywhere from 1975 to 1982, is selected as the starting point. These weren't just sales lists; they were a unique snapshot of the nation's dancefloors, compiled from reaction reports sent in by DJs across the country. The discussion naturally flows through the tracks on that list, unpacking the stories behind the music, the artists, and the era's shifting sounds. Crucially, the conversation is framed by the witty and authoritative contemporary reviews of Record Mirror's legendary columnist, James Hamilton, whose writings from those years have been collected in the book *James Hamilton’s Disco Pages 1975-1982*. Listening to this podcast feels like opening a time capsule, where every forgotten B-side or chart-topper sparks memories, analysis, and a genuine sense of discovery about how disco and early electronic dance music evolved in the clubs of Britain. It’s a specific, lovingly researched journey for anyone fascinated by the roots of club culture, driven by hosts and guests who share a deep knowledge and passion for the subject.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 20

Record Mirror Disco Charts
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