The idea for the Shifty Disco came in the wake of the 1996 release of 'OXCD', a compilation album featuring the cream of Oxford's musical talent. The Shifty came from Nightshift (Oxford's music magazine, run by Ronan Munro and Dave Newton), the Disco from Rotator Discs Records, run by Candyskins manager Richard Cotton), all three of whom along with Oxford Gig Promoter Mac had released the original 'OXCD'.
The label have released tracks by ex-Ride lead singer Mark Gardener, Beulah, Murry The Hump, Frigid Vinegar, Eeebleee, Monkey Steals The Drum, AM60, Jack Drag, Dustball, Elf Power, The Dolt interview, ATL v Spunkle and Nought, as well as a version of Teenage Kicks by DJ Remould.
To celebrate Shifty Disco's 5th anniversary two of their top bands AM60 and Dustball will be playing as part of the John Peel Show live from Maida Vale on 30th January. Dustball will be playing the top five singles club tracks as voted by subscribers and visitors to the label's website.
(Adapted from BBC Radio 1 website (updated 23 Jan 2002): John Peel: Featured Label: Shifty Disco (archived).)
Links To Peel[]
Oxford-based label Shifty Disco were firm Peel favourites around the turn of the new century, after the DJ visited the university city for shows co-hosted with Steve Lamacq from Radio One Sound City in October 1997, with live sets including from label artists Beaker, Dustball, Unbelievable Truth and Egg.
On his 30 January 2002 show, as well as live session sets from AM60 and Dustball, the indie operation’s fifth birthday event at Maida Vale also featured selections from the recently released '0-60 In Five Years: Complete Shifty Disco Singles Club Collection' box set and a related competition.
DJ Remould - Teenage Kicks
In early 1999, the label had released a double-CD set of music from the Sounds Of The Suburbs TV documentary series presented by Peel, with Shifty Disco band Samurai Seven performing the Members cover used as the programme's theme music. Both Samurai Seven and label-mates Dustball appeared in the Oxford episode of the series, playing live and being interviewed by the DJ.[1]
The many Shifty Disco releases given airtime by Peel included an electronic music cover of his favourite song, Teenage Kicks, by DJ Remould, although his verdict was balanced:
"A blot and a blasphemy, but none the less enjoyable for all that." [2]
Sessions[]
(Sessions by artists released by Shifty Disco, including when not on the label, excluding artists who appeared on the label only on compilation releases. Please add more information if known.)
- AM60 (2 sessions, 2002)
- Beulah: (1 session, 1999)
- Dustball: (4 sessions, 1997-2002)
- Jack Drag: (1 session, 2001)
- Me Against Them: (2 sessions, 2002-2004)
- Monkey Steals The Drum: (2 sessions, 1999-2000)
- Murry The Hump: (2 sessions, 1999-2000)
- Nøught: (2 sessions, 1997-2000)
- Persil: (3 sessions, 2000-2004)
- Pluto Monkey: (I session, 2000)
- Samurai Seven: (5 sessions, 1998-2002)
Compilations[]
(Peel radio plays of various artist (v/a) compilations on Shifty Disco and related releases.)
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(CD- OXCD) Rotator OXCD 2000
- 04 May 1996: Candyskins: 24 Hours (U.S.E.D.)
(CD - It's A Shifty Disco Thing Volume One) Shifty Disco
- 03 February 1998: Nought: Cough Cap Kitty Cat
- 05 February 1998: Impossible Music Force: Blah Na Na
- 12 February 1998: Dustball: Senor Nachos
(2xCD - John Peel's Sounds Of The Suburbs) Shifty Disco
- 10 February 1999: Samurai Seven: The Sound Of The Suburbs
- 18 February 1999: Comatose: Turtle's Head
- 20 February 1999 (BFBS): Samurai Seven: The Sound Of The Suburbs
- 20 February 1999 (BFBS): Comatose: Turtle's Head
- 23 February 1999: Nøught: Cough Cap Kitty Cat
- 24 February 1999: Back To Base: Electric Eye
- 25 February 1999: Samurai Seven: Sound Of The Suburbs
- 03 March 1999: Reviver Gene: Strap Me Up
- 04 March 1999 (Radio Eins): Samurai Seven: The Sound Of The Suburbs
- 04 March 1999 (Radio Eins): Reviver Gene: Strap Me Up
- 09 March 1999: Blew: In C
- 10 March 1999: Radio Sweethearts: Real Ghost Town
- 11 March 1999: Lab 4: Reformation II
- 11 March 1999 (Radio Eins): Lianne Hall: Cosy
- 18 March 1999 (Radio Eins): Samurai Seven: The Sound Of The Suburbs
- 18 March 1999 (Radio Eins): Blew: In C
- 31 March 1999: Exploding Thumbs: Desert Song
- 21 April 1999: Blew: In C
(CD - It's A Shifty Disco Thing - Volume Two) Shifty Disco
- 16 March 1999: Samurai 7: Xeroxy Music
- 15 November 2000: Samurai Seven: Xeroxy Music
(CD - PersonsNonGrata Proudly Present Shifty Disco (A Shifty One)) Shifty Disco
- 10 August 2000: Nøught: Nought II
(5xCD - 0-60 In Five Years - The Complete Shifty Disco Singles Club Collection) Shifty Disco
- 30 January 2002: Nought: Cough Cap Kitty Cat
- 30 January 2002: Persil: Agony Aunt
- 30 January 2002: Samurai Seven: Xeroxy Music
- 28 February 2002 (Radio Eins): Samurai 7: Xeroxy Music
See Also[]
- Sounds Of The Suburbs
- Sounds Of The Suburbs: Oxford
- Label Of The Month
- Label Specials
- Maida Vale: Live Sessions
- Teenage Kicks
- Peel Compilations
- Peel's Record Box: Compilations
- Cover Versions