A Fifth of Beethoven

Walter Murphy's "A Fifth of Beethoven" put classical disco on the map. It helped that Beethoven's symphony had a heavy percussion feel which Murphy cranked up a couple of notches with his amazing ingenuity. Other selections, while creatively different, are as good, but didn't burn a hole in the charts like "Fifth." "Suit Love Symphony," "Flight 76," "California Strutt," and "Russian Dressing," will expand your mind and quench your musical thirst at the same time. "Midnight Express" is fine European boogie, while the horn-laden "Get a Little" is a funky thing. This LP is out-of-print, but Hot Productions released a 17-song compilation of Walter Murphy's best in 1996.