more than 5 stars for pepe luis soto and celi bee.thank you for giving us so good music.it s more than just disco music.

I know what some of you are thinking. Some of you readers probably assume that I'm a crazy fool for writing a 5-star review on a DISCO record. Well, the fact is I've grown to love the genre not because it was so insanely popular back in the 70's but because (like heavy metal and hardcore rap), disco bred such a universal backlash that it was almost shoved back underground for smaller cult audiences to enjoy. Also, when you think about it, disco is also the first ever DJ-oriented form of modern dance music to exist: it paved the way for other raving club styles like electronica, techno, house, and even early hip-hop. Now, as for the fully remastered release of "Dante's Inferno" by the Rice and Beans Orchestra, I can guarantee that it's one of the best disco albums ever made! Split into 2 15-minute acts, "Dante's Inferno" is an epic and vibrant concept album heavily inspired by Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy," an allegorical 14th century tale about one a man's journey through the afterlife. Without skipping a beat, a soulful choir tell the tale of Dante's search for Beatrice, his long-lost love, as he first descends towards the 9 circles of Hell and then climbs back up into the shining, angelic light of Paradise. For anyone who doesn't know, the R&B Orchestra was a special project assembled by Puerto Rican songwriter Pepe Luis Soto (who later on produced hits for Celi Bee, his wife at the time). Not surprisingly, the rhythms pulsing throughout the album are treated with a spicy and sultry Latin flavor. It also must be known that when "Dante's" originally came out, it was released by T.K. Disco, a legendary label run by Henry Stone. I really hope some of you savvy music fans will give this CD a chance. Other similar works I recommend are "Million Dollar Disco" by the Rare Gems Odyssey and "Disco Inferno" by the Trammps.