We've all read the comments about disco music, most seem to heavily weigh on the side of "it sucks". I cannot say how many times I've read that two word remark......yet, without any explanation. One thing for sure, that era defined our consciousness and is an important part of our musical history.
Frankly, I love listening to several artists from that era ... Bee Gees, Donna Summer, KC & The Sunshine Band...………..
I really can't understand how anyone can listen to these artists and not be moved to get up and dance. That IS an emotional connection. The exact connection most of us long for. So, what's the problem?
Why? Does the music you site take away from the music you love? What is the reason behind you're response? How does any music one dislikes, ruin music going forward? I've never understood that point of view.
I bet if Diana Ross & The Supremes came along a generation later, They'd be the queens of Disco.
Well you said "the worst thing to happen to music". A statement like that should have supporting evidence. "it was simply my opinion". An opinion has, by the very definition of the word, a thought process that one reaches by facts and history. Hopefully, it doesn’t come from a basic feeling, instead of thoroughly thought out reasoning. That would not be right, would it?
This goes to the main point of this thread. It may just be a macho thing, that has had time to fester without anyone being called upon to answer intelligently for those statements/feelings.
I have the Casablanca records anthology in my music library. Lots of fun on a good hifi! Its a library so I try to make it diverse. Then I stream it with random track play and discover I like a lot of music a lot more than I thought I would.
The Casablanca Records Anthology has a very good sampling of Giorgio Moroder productions in it. Part of music history....
If the above song is your only source for forming an opinion that covers the wide range of artists in the Disco era, I find that you are supporting my point of view. Rick Dees was a DJ that somehow found success with a song that by any measure was a parody. Just like Ray Stevens "The Streak". If I was a serious music afficianado , I would not write any of these artists as my basis for forming an opinion.
You're obvious dislike of a genre of music based on an emotional feeling would certainly preclude you going forward regarding a solid/realistic approach to evaluate music for others.
Problem with Disco was it followed on the heels of some very historic, groundbreaking musical trends from the 60's. It was an obvious money grab that corporate music completely embraced and basically shoved down the throat of the American public. And we ate it up! You have to understand, it wasn't just the music, it was a complete social overhaul. Picture the prototypical hippy from Woodstock, we went from THAT to John Travolta in Saturday Night fever! I hated the music, or so I thought, but went to the clubs for years and guess what? I found my universal truth ALSO applies to Disco, namely, there's only 2 types of music; good and bad. Nowadays, when certain, not all, disco tunes pop up they have the same effect as hearing a "golden oldie".
Frankly, in a lot of ways, I'd love to go back to the days of "pay-offs" When record company executives would travel around and pay djs to play their music with coke.
Good music is good music. Most popular music is completely disposable, but the best endures. For me, Donna Summer's "MacArthur Park Suite" is outstanding. Chic had a number of fine albums as did Dan Hartman and Madonna. Now the criticism of disco as dumbed down R&B for "white people" has much truth, but the same argument can be made about early rock. Disco eventually morphed into EDM which as a music form isn't really meant to be heard outside of a club environment.
I really can't understand how anyone can listen to these artists and not
be moved to get up and dance. That IS an emotional connection. The
exact connection most of us long for. So, what's the problem?
There is no problem, it's just that some of us still think that disco sucks. That doesn't invalidate your preference at all. There's no accounting for taste, whether it's yours, mine or that of someone else.
For me, a good tune is a good tune, no matter the style it is performed in. There were songs considered Disco that I loved ("Funkytown", "Disco Inferno", "Dancing Queen"---Bjorn & Benny were as good of Pop songwriters as were Lennon & McCartney and Brian Wilson), And I don't know if it's Disco, but "Would I Lie To You" by The Eurythmics is definitely a great (dance) song, and the 12" single of it has KILLER sound quality! So does the 12" of "Hip To Be Square" by Huey Lewis & The News. Subwoofers required!
Sometimes it just need to be said. Additionally, sometimes it’s best to explain by way of example. Slaw, you make discussions very difficult and unnecessarily contentious. You pose a question and solicit opinions. Then, when someone’s opinion differs from yours you get defensive and indignant. Worse, you personalize things way too much and make provocative comments about someone who took the time to answer your question. To quote you: “What’s the problem?” Chill! I do agree Chazro’s post is excellent.
Bros Johnson- Strawberry Letter #23 is xxxxing killer. I like their version of it better than the original Shuggie Otis. Must be that slap bass. I lived through that era- I had a friend who worked on a bunch of recordings from the late disco era. Serious production values on some of them, serious musicians. I was in a Chaka Khan mode for a little while, more funk than disco. You can find gems. Disco Inferno -- crazy story with the one dude in that band.
I love disco and classic dance/club music. I was too young to go to 'discos' in the late 70s but started going out to the new wave clubs in the early 80s. My vinyl consists of albums, 45s, EPs and 12" singles. I think part of disco's demise was several factors: stupid parodies (disco duck, Meco etc...), the rise of punk and synth from the UK and unfortunately, the association of disco with gay people. Remember, this is the late 70s, early 80s when AIDS was was about the enter the culture. That's my two cents, fwiw.
Disco is cool and so is funk. I like them both great dance music and bar music. I listen to more funk than disco at home but enjoy both. If you don't like a particular style of music fine but no need to denigrate it.
I understand that the distinction between funk and disco can sometimes be blurry but in general I see them as two very different things. I've heard lots of funk that I like very much. Less so with disco.
Sems to me there is some music that is a solitary experience. Much like reading a book. And there is some music that is a social/group experience, like dancing. Different music serves different purposes for different environments. There is just music. Good and bad has nothing to do with what someone likes, it has to do with how well it does what the artist making it set out to do. It either works the way it was intended to do, or it doesn't. Opinion is just that, an opinion. There is a big difference between " I don't like it, therefor it sucks" and "I don't like it because I'm not a fan of what that artist does, and, I think it is an unsuccessful execution of that genre"
Hate to see people put down disco--to each his own. I like reggae, jazz,both electronic and acoustic, c;assic rock, Beethoven, Tchaichovsky, Mozart and other classical and just about any other genre and oh yes, I have a blu-ray of Saturday Nite Fever and if that doesn't stir something up maybe you're dead.
In 1977 (maybe it was 1978), I had a Disco Sucks Tee-Shirt. Wish I still had it. Not necessarily because I dislike disco. But because I really did like 1977.......
@reubent, '77 WAS a great year musically. So much was happening, local music scenes exploding all over the country. The Progressive and "Singer-Songwriter" era was over! I put S-S in quotes because a lot of the new music was still being written and sung by a single person (Graham Parker, Costello, Nick Lowe, Tom Waits, Marshall Crenshaw, Tom Petty, etc.), but the music wasn't being performed in the laidback "West Coast" S-S style the genre is thought in terms of.
That year I discovered the burgeoning underground scene of Fanzines---small 'zines dedicated to the Power Pop and Garage Bands I had missed after I abandoned Rock music entirely in '71: Bomp Magazine (the first and the best, written mostly by Greg Shaw, manager of The Flamin' Groovies and owner of the highly-influential indi label Bomp Records), Trouser Press (which focused on UK bands), and dozens more. That year I was introduced to Dave Edmunds, Nick Lowe, The Dwight Twilley Band, The Ramones, Marshall Crenshaw, Tom Petty, Jonathan Richman, Moon Martin, ABBA (they might seem out of place here, but in fact aren't), AC/DC, Squeeze, Television, Willy DeVille, Cheap Trick, The Symptoms (out of Springfield, Missouri; a great band.), and a bunch more.
Oh God, I grew up in Brooklyn by the famous DISCO place. Being a guitar player in a band I had to suffer through playing little guitar strumming crap and a few notes here and there. I even wore a big fro with multiple colors in a Disco band. There were two benefits though, lots of girls and got paid well to do nothing on the guitar, just strum away.
while you are saying there is an emotional engagement, but the music was not meant to sit in your listening chair for hours to listen to. YUK!
The death of disco was still going strong in 1979 when they had a Disco Demolition Night at Comiskey Park in Chicago. I don't think any other type of music has been through anything like that. But disco morphed itself into Hi-NRG dance music throughout the 80s. Despite that, I think disco has earned it's right into music history. I believe Chic and Nile Rogers have been on the Rock-n-Roll Hale of fame ballot many times (and deserve it). Donna Summer/Giorgio Moroder's 'I feel love' changed dance music forever, IMO.
I enjoyed disco as a kid on AM radio. I did not listen to disco for maybe 30 years after the 70's but decided to buy some "mix tape" disco collections and I realized how much fun the tunes were. Especially for the weekend car rides I did along Hwy 1 from San Fran to LA. Nowadays I occasionally have some disco on the TIDAL playlist.
Same thing can be said for me about Rap/HipHop music. Love TIDAL and other streaming sources to expand my horizons.
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
