[.ca] Armed & Extremely Dangerous

Early disco music doesn't get any better than this:
This album was originally released in 1973. There is something about early 70's disco music that makes it special. Perhaps it is the very fact that the term "disco" wasn't being widely used yet. This was still a danceable and enjoyable brand of soul music, but without the cliches that eventually made it all sound alike. First Choice is best remembered for upbeat numbers like "Smarty Pants", "Newsy Neighbors" and the title track. But you should also check the lovely ballads "A Boy Named Junior" and "Wake Up To Me". This is a beautiful album as a whole. In a way, First Choice reminds me of the Hues Corporation (check my reviews for their albums), another band in a similar style that also released its debut album in 1973 and had far more good songs than it is remembered for.

"Choice" First Choice:
Although I disagree with Mr. Pacheco's comparison of First Choice to The Hues Corporation, this CD is very nice. This is the entire "Armed & Extremely Dangerous" lp (although not sequenced the same) as it was released in 1973 with some extras. First Choice fans will know the obvious extra is the inclusion of "The Player", from their 1974 lp of the same name. What isn't obvious is that Unidisc has the two early hits, "Smarty Pants" and "Armed & Extremely Dangerous", presented in the 'extended' versions, not the original lp lengths. Nice surprise, letting you hear that young 'Philly Machine' in action before it's later, almost universal disco presence. TRACK LIST: 1. LOVE & HAPPINESS 6:58 2. SMARTY PANTS 5:17 3. NEWSEY NEIGHBORS 6:08 4. ARMED & EXTREMELY DANGEROUS 4:58 5. ONE STEP AWAY 3:12 6. THE PLAYER 7:15 7. RUNNIN' OUT OF FOOLS 3:34 8. THIS IS THE HOUSE 3:00 9. A BOY NAMED JUNIOR 3:44 10. WAKE UP TO ME 3:48 11. THIS LITTLE WOMAN 3:51 My reason for only 4 Stars: "Guilty", in it's vocal and instrumental versions should have, could have been included in this pre-Salsoul label compilation. Why are we always short-changed?

• Love & Happiness
• Smarty Pants
• Newsy Neighbors
• Armed & Extremely Dangero
• One Step Away
• Player
• Runnin Out Of Fools
• This Is The House Where L
• Boy Named Junior
• Wake Up To Me
• This Little Woman