When it first started pressing vinyl Unidisc Canada released original material, but not for long. They went on later to specialize in re-editions, and re-presses. The Stranger by Shining Star was their 15th 12" single release back in 1979. Likely it was one of their best releases. Definitely one of their most coveted.
I absolutely love Unidisc's early sleeve graphic. It featured a woman in high heels with her panties dangling all the way down just above her ankles. The hole for the label was where her crotch would be. They also had another hot sleeve that was a graphic of a hot pink curvy naked female body behind open venetian blinds. This was used on many of their high NRG releases.
My The Stranger 12" had the dangling panties sleeve and I nearly didn't want to give it up for that reason alone. But back to the record itself. It was produced by Orlando Mazzoli an Italian who also worked on the classic Erotic Drum Band debut Action '78. Which incidentally had a sexy sleeve too. The Stranger is the perfect mix of carefree late 70's disco with a deep foreshadowing of what was to come with early Italo Disco, real heavy on the space theme. The deadpan vocals also kind of give off a Kraftwerky new wavey feeling. But the drums are really what give Shining Star it's umph. They carry on! It's one brooding, dark, psychedelic disco odyssey. Disco magic.
LISTEN TO THE STRANGER
WAVY
Apparently The Stranger was also released on a small Italian label but I have never seen that pressing and I'd imagine it's worth a mint. The Unidisc 12" is rather highly coveted itself.
