Disco Gets Refurbished
A follow up to Dimitri from Paris’ bestselling A Night at the Playboy Mansion, Return to the Playboy Mansion improves on the original. The two disc album consists of “Partytime” and “Sexytime” mixes which are both excellent at setting their titled moods. Every remix is well-executed, enhancing classics of the 70’s and proving that Dimitri hasn’t lost his passion or skill.Return to the Playboy Mansion’s “Partytime” disc begins with Jamiroquai’s “Cosmic Girl”. Dimitri adds a keyboard crescendo and pulsing electric organ that ebbs and flows through the song, turning a good song into a great one. “Partytime” contains favorites like Musique’s “Love Massage”, with funky electronic drumming that gives it a new house oriented veneer, and a version of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terell’s “Aint No Mountain High Enough” that is surprisingly danceable. Teddy Pendergrass’ “Come Go with Me” wraps up the party and leads into “Sexytime”.
The downtempo “Sexytime”, with its seductive saxophone notes, is jazzier. Dimitri from Paris keeps the album’s flow by opening with another Pendergrass track, “Close the Door”. With tracks from artists including Barry White and Marvin Gaye, “Sexytime” straddles the line between romantic and corny.
Listeners looking for innovation won’t find much here. Return to the Playboy Mansion is instead an excellent collection of remixes. Like stepping into a musical time machine with disco party vibes, anyone who enjoys 70’s hits will appreciate Return to the Playboy Mansion.