Record Mirror Disco Charts

Record Mirror Disco Charts

Author: Mike Atkinson Language: English Episodes: 17
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.
Episodes
2nd September 1978, with Irvine Welsh [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:09
Irvine Welsh joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson to take a look at a Disco Chart from September 1978: a time when, in the wake of Saturday Night Fever's enormous success, certain UK DJs were starting to plot a different…
28th June 1975, with Alexis Petridis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:47:55
To mark the 50th anniversary of James Hamilton's first Disco Page in Record Mirror, Alexis Petridis (head rock & pop critic for The Guardian) joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a countdown of the first ever Disco Ch…
25th July 1981, with Leee John [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:17
Leee John joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a Disco Chart Top 20 countdown from July 1981. Already a committed clubber and an active member of the Britfunk community, Leee had just started to find success with his…
8th December 1979, with Morgan Khan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:50:34
Morgan Khan joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson for a countdown of the biggest dance tracks of December 1979. As the disco backlash was taking hold in the USA, British dancefloors were experiencing a shift in styles, as…
24th September 1977, with Jeff Young [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:38
Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson are joined by Jeff Young: "funk mafia" DJ, presenter of BBC Radio One's first ever specialist dance music show, remixer, studio owner and music industry professional.To accompany this episod…
20th September 1980, with Dave Lee [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52:00
Dave Lee joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson, for a look at the biggest UK dance tunes of September 1980.To accompany this episode, you can listen to this entire Top 20 in full, or alternatively as a shorter medley of sn…
28th August 1982, with Norman Cook [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:27
Norman Cook joins Greg Wilson and Mike Atkinson, as we take a detailed look at what was happening on UK dancefloors in August 1982: a time of significant change, as the dominant post-disco sounds (retrospectively known a…