Norman Jay/Various

Norman Jay has been a long-time DJ, playing a variety of rare groove, soul, and R&B with occasional bits of house music since the 1970s. In addition to founding the now-above-board London pirate radio station KISS FM, he also threw warehouse parties in the early ’80s, long before anyone had heard the word "rave.” As a measure of his longevity and influence, he’s the first and only DJ to have been made a Member of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth. Here, he compiles 17 tracks into what I assume would be music he’d love to have if stuck on a desert island. Unless you are a serious trainspotter, there’s little chance you’ve heard all these tracks, which range from soul, disco and rare groove in the beginning, to a bit of house music near the end. The majority come from the ’70s and early ’80s. His selection is very good, like the disco of "Windy City Theme” by Carl Davis & Chi-Sound Orchestra, the piano-funk of Patti Jo’s "Make Me Believe In You,” and the gospel-soul of Voices of East Harlem’s "Little People.” The only clunker is a strange version Hall & Oates’ "Maneater.” Not really mixed until the house section, but well sequenced, the disc is a lot of fun, and has a very summery feel.