John Davis & The Monster Orch.- Monster?

[remicks]

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Let's see how much John Davis we can come up with 8) 8)

I can verify these 45's :

"KISS AND MAKE UP"
by William "diamond in the back" DeVaughn 1974


"BUST IT "
by Craig Snyder and Lix 1977

...... I just looked up William DeVaughn . and that entire album was co produced by John Davis ...... including : "BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU GOT " 8)

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[Disco Funk]

'Bust It' by Craig Snyder and Lix is a great track. Snyder was the main guitarist in the Monster Orchestra, at least during the early years.

I forgot that he also produced an album under the artist name Fantasia. He also produced half of the Brenda & The Tabulations album I Keep Coming Back For More (the one with 'Lets Go All The Way Down', but that track was produced by the other album producer Norman Harris). You can literally tell which tracks are Davis' and which ones are Harris'.

Also:

Charo - 'Ole Ole' (album)

Monday After - 'Merry Go Round' (no LP, just a single)

A Touch Of Class - 'I'm In Heaven' (album)

Philly Devotions - tracks like 'Hurts So Bad' and 'I Just Can't Say Goodbye', the latter of which I believe John Davis produced in '74. I don't understand why the Philly Devotions never had an LP. They certainly had enough singles.

I believe he also produced a John Travolta LP or two, the one with the track 'A Girl Like You'.

Disco Funk

[ol'skinflint]

also did wooooooooooooooooooooonderful horn and string arrangements for Ashford and Simpson ("Is It Still Good To Ya?") I don't know if he's still around (why is it that so many disco producers/songwriters/singers seem to vanish from the face of the Earth?) but the name "John Davis" is listed on the soundtrack to "Beverly Hills 90210" and that was released in 1991.

[JussiK]

Originally Posted by Disco Funk

I believe he also produced a John Travolta LP or two, the one with the track 'A Girl Like You'.
Disco Funk

And unfortunately, he also wrote tunes for John's even more useless brother, Joey. Under his own name, John Davis also realesed "The Theme From Kojack", and "The Theme From Dynasty", both so-so disco affaires, below his usual high standards. I only got the latter two on 7-inch, there must have been twelves as well.

[Disco Funk]

I know he did the Kojak Theme under the Monster Orchestra, which was on 12" but not on an LP, but are you saying he did another version under his own name (i.e. without the Monster Orchestra)? Theme from Dynasty must have been something he did in the 80's.

Disco Funk

[JussiK]

Ah yes, it's "Kojak" without the c. My 7-inch is indeed by The Monster Orchestra. The Dynasty thing is from the early 80's - will dig it out of the cellar sometime soon to check the exact year.

[remicks]

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Just relistened to the Ruth "Silky" Waters tune "NEVER GONNA BE THE SAME WITHOUT YOU" .... trying to remember why I didn't use it back then ....(did it do well? How did it chart ... ?) )

It's certainly not a bad song ... but for one thing ... in 1979 there were plenty of choices without playing them all .... I don't think any DJ did ... which was terrific ... Because there was so much being released, a DJ could be choosy ... could let some slip on by just because ....

Three reasons I think I wasn't drawn to this one ...

One is Miss Waters herself :( ( ..... sorry Silky ) but this song seems to be way too much for her .... she sounds very challenged ....too many up and downs ..... sometimes she can barely finish the last word in a line . I'm guessing they were trying for that Evelyn King / Grace Jones sound ... but I don't think Ruthy emits enough strength in her vocals to adequately deliver the sentiments of the song....

The second problem is the lyrics .... this is a very upbeat, feel good , high energy John Davis "Ain't That Enough For You " sounding arrangement ..... and these "sad " lyrics about never being the same without you just don't jive. Should've been exactly the opposite ....more like " Oh , I'll never regret the day I found you .... gonna dedicate my life around you ..... Never gonna be the same , now that I've got you ...." ....suppin' like that .... :roll: :P Then the sentiment of the oft repeated refrain of "never gonna be the same " becomes appropriately upbeat ....

The third reason ( and probably the main one ) might be that while it sounds good now .... at the time .... it may have seemed sort of dated to me .... that Gloria Gaynor-ish guitar work ...


Too bad the flip isn't an instrumental ... I think the music therein is superb ...... love the middle ... the boogie piano ... and the bongos ... .... tambourine .... sort of think now as I listen ... I should have played it .... :oops: ....


jes' me ponderin' a might on this one ...... :roll:

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more ponder ... I'm thinking it would have mixed well with this : Teri DeSario 's
Ain't Nothing Gonna Keep Me From You

[Disco Funk]

That Ruth Waters album is a good addition to one's collection if you're looking to get everything John Davis, but it doesn't stand out or anything, so I can see why you didn't give it play back in the day. The same can be said of that Fantasia album. I think the Ray Dahrouge record, which he produced the same year, had better music.

Disco Funk

[remicks]

Originally Posted by Disco Funk

That Ruth Waters album is a good addition to one's collection if you're looking to get everything John Davis, but it doesn't stand out or anything, so I can see why you didn't give it play back in the day.
Disco Funk

I'm really enjoying it now .... but at the time .... it just didn't have enough punch I guess .... still would like to know how it did overall then ...? ...

---------------

Another John Davis song
....although you'd never know it just by playing it .... main clue though ..... it was on Midsong where I guess Carol Douglas"s success gave Davis a lot of clout....


The Happenings
LET ME STAY

sort of Hamilton, Joe Frank , and Reynolds / B.J. Thomas sounding ......
arranged by John Davis
produced by Bob Miranda ..who wrote the song as well


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[Disco Funk]

Originally Posted by remicks

The Happenings
LET ME STAY

sort of Hamilton, Joe Frank , and Reynolds / B.J. Thomas sounding ......
arranged by John Davis

This wouldn't happen to be the same group that recorded that one hit wonder in the 60's 'See You In September'?

Disco Funk

[Disco Funk]

I just discovered a direct connection between John Davis and Gamble & Huff. It's the Intruders 1974 LP 'Energy of Love'. I didn't really read the description of the record on Allmusicguide, which does mention John Davis' contributions, so I was surprised to see his name as Producer and Arranger on two cuts - a remake of Be Thankful For What You Got, faster with a bouncing/flying hi hat (that's what I call the hi hat pattern, which is heard, for example, in the intro section of MFSB's 'TSOP'). The other cut on the album is Everyone's A Star and has the same, slow, tom tom-heavy arrangement that William Devaughan's Be Thankful and Touch of Class' I'm In Heaven had.

Disco Funk

[neonlights]

I hope I'm not digressing from the topic too much.. I like lot of John Davis' stuff, but listening to some of it I keep hearing this string "riff" that he seemed to have recycled on quite a bit of his stuff. Not sure exactly how to describe it.. It's a real "a-ha!" moment though everytime I hear it.. If you didn't know it was a John Davis production before then, you did once you heard that.. It's pretty prominent on:

John Davis & The Monster Orchestra - Ain't That Enough For You
Grace Jones - Pride
La Pregunta - Shangri La
Carol Douglas - Fell In Love For The First Time Today

anyone know what I mean? :P

[discodisco]

wow... what a blast from the past...and "Double Love By" CRACKIN..great stuff

[remicks]

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let's see if this one is a stumper for y'all :


1977 De-Lite Records 7"

both sides arranged by John Davis:

MIDNIGHT LADY / ROSES GROW BEYOND THE WALL ( THERE ARE OTHER WORLDS TO SING IN )
Frankie Avalon

( from the album YOU'RE MY LIFE ... all John Davis arranged ?? )

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[Disco Funk]

I came across another John Davis produced record. Impact's 'Pac Is Back' from 1977 was produced and arranged by John Davis, featuring most of his monster orchestra regulars like Charles Collins, Vince Fay, Michael Foreman and Craig Snyder.

Disco Funk