If you were a 70s person, chances are you would’ve grooved to the music of disco beats by Belle Époque. Belle Époque consisted of a female vocal trio based in Paris. The album ‘Black is Black’ which in India was released in late 1978, has both sides playing a nonstop mix medley.

Side A beginning with a Disco Sound medley, which moved over to the groups massive hit Black is Black. The group first rose to popularity during the mid to late 1970s with a disco remake of the song Black is Black originally a super hit in 1966 for the Spanish group Los Bravos. The band is comparable to the German disco bands like Boney M that came out around the same time.

Their funky discofied remake scored a major European hit in 1977 with their version released hitting the top ten charts in many European countries, including number 2 in the UK Singles Chart (the same chart position that Los Bravos' original had reached there eleven years earlier.) Every disco around the world blared the song and it literally became a rage. The song heard played even today is still a huge favorite and get your feet moving. This song truly is a disco classic.

The lyrics of the song... Black is black, I want my baby back, It's grey, It's grey, Since she went a-way o – o, What can I do, 'Cause I, I'm feeling blue, If I had my way, She'd be back today, But she don't intend, To see me a-gain o – o…. cannot get out of your head and is so infectious at the very first listen.

Belle Époque consisted of lead singer Evelyn Lenton, a French singer who began recording and performing in the early 1960s under the name Evy, as well as two backup singers Jusy Fortes (also known as Judy Lisboa and Marcia Briscoe (also known as Marcia Briscue). The ladies knew how to move and showed the world how to groove too. Several smaller hits followed until the band disbanded in 1981 and Lenton took on a solo career in 1982. Lenton is a solo singer today with the no information on the other members whereabouts.

Black is Black slides over another track Why don’t you lay down which also hit the high notes. The Side A ends with a reprise of Black is Black.

Side B with an equally good melody in Miss Broadway, which charted at number 26 on the U.S. R & B charts and at number 92 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978. The album ends with Me and You, and Losing you, both tracks having a similar pace and disco effect.

Vinyl Release: 1976

Label: EMI

Country: Italy

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira