Rank The Disco Books!!!!

[starsky]

Good review Jeff H...
I am 3/4 of the way thro' this book and whilst he tells us a lot of info. and background- I too found that when he starts giving his views on records/producers etc.. it is total B*llocks...
I am unsure at the moment if he actually likes disco or not, what with the Pinball machine and the Disco Sucks badges as end covers (surely he could have portrayed REAL disco in a more positive light) ... that said it is a good read, even if it is all over the place chronologically and editorally (is that a word?)
As far as books on disco go this IS a very good book with nuggets of info. but wish he could have spent more effort on concentrating on what he meant to do (rather than he/they editing to meet publisher targets ??)

[Giovanni]

just finished the Shapiro book.....

well, I most agree with other reviewers here. Sometimes boring when trying to discover secret philosophies, but probably the only one in the list trying to define disco as a musical genre. The birth of the disco beat, the bassline etc are well described in the book (I found a better definition of the disco beat only at the Disco Show held last year at the Lincoln Center in NY)

I would also suggest you EVERYBODY DANCE. CHIC & THE POLITICS OF DISCO by Daryl Easley

[WolverSyr]

Nice suggestions.

I have Saturday Night Forever, which was alright. I thought it was a good intro for someone who had a little knowledge of the genre but wanted something a little deeper.

I really liked The Last Party, although it's been quite a while since I've read it. I never paid attention to Studio 54 after the big fall. I didn't realize so much happened afterwards.

I also have something called Studio 54: The Legend, which is essentially a book of photos. Not really worth the time.

[Salsoul1975]

I'm wont to read any current-day books about disco's heyday. Finding articles published during that period offers a much different perspective.

As for Shapiro's views on Summer and Moroder, I'm not surprised. Actually, prior to "Love To Love You Baby", Summer sang in her regular voice (listen to "The Hostage" and "Lady Of The Night"). It was only when "Love To Love You" became a hit that in order for her to stay fresh, she had to be sex kitten until she could get the green light to revert to her regular voice once she had established herself (Think "Once Upon A Time").

[neonlights]

Haven't read the others yet, but I realised a little while ago that the public library here recently put Shapiro's book in circulation.. I'll probably just be echoing previous sentiments, but so far I'm almost finished it and for the most part it's been a great read.. Even though I caught some of those factual errors and I definitely didn't agree with some of his opinions (his bias against Eurodisco particularly stands out), overall it was very interesting.. For one thing, I really appreciated how he explored the sociological context of disco. So far, I have yet to read a more detailed history and analysis anywhere else..

Originally Posted by Jeff H

Speaking of Donna, I was HIGHLY annoyed :evil: :evil: :evil: by Shapiro's assertion that she could not sing, and citing her vocals on "Could It be Magic" as proof! (He even suggests that Grace Jones is a better singer!!!) We all know that at this early point in Donna's career, Giorgio was pulling the strings and didn't want her to use her full vocal range. He also is pretty critical of the "big strings" sound that so many of us here enjoy (Constandinos and such) and has a clear bias toward the early Philly Soul sound (pre-emasculation ).I spotted a few factual errors; one that I recall now is that the author states that Jacques Morali (whom Shaprio has nothing good to say about!) produced Gloria Gaynor's "I am What I Am."

I couldn't believe he said that either.. He obviously wasn't too familiar with her body of work, unless (to paraphrase Sylvester) his ear must have been in his foot for him to say that.. I can understand him not caring for her voice, but to say she couldn't sing was a little much..

I thought he was a bit too hard on Jacques Morali too, though I did get a few chuckles out of that section.. The lyrics to "I Love America" are particularly ridiculous, even if that is part of it's charm, I guess. :lol:

[EricHG23]

I have read and loved Saturday Night Forever (didn't know the authors were here--awesome ) but though I also wish it went a bit deeper, but it's mor eof an intro. It helps that my love is for, basically, Eurodisco first so I think my tastes correspond to the authors' (now knowing that the one author claimed Summer couldn't sing in Could it Be Magic, a fave of mine, I think I won't even bother reading that haha)

Here's a question--howabout novels that get a good feel for the scene? I just finished Dancer from the Dance and wasn't sure if the disco songs (which were grante dmeant to be obscure) mentioned were legit or not as I didn't know any of them I'm ashamed to admit...

[pipecock]

im currently re-reading "love saves the day", and its really an awesome book. if anything, its TOO detail oriented at times. which is really a good thing, IMO.

"last night a deejay saved my life" should be read 5 times by anyone who wants to "be a deejay". it should be read 10 times by anyone who IS a deejay.

i havent read the others, but the mel cheren book had really amateur writing when i leafed through it once.

also reccomended for those into it: Techno Rebels by Dan Sicko which chronicles the birth of detroit techno.....

[all*that*glitters*]

[quote=markydefad;83975]I'm curious as to how you kidz would rank these 5 Disco books, in terms of 1) readabilty; 2) overall importance; 3) packed with valuable information.......

***** the revised and updated version of LAST NIGHT A DJ SAVED MY LIFE: THE HISTORY OF THE DISC JOCKEY by Bill Brewster & Frank Broughton (1999/2006) just came out. With new chapters on Acid House, UK garage, d&b, Techno,Balearic, Belgian Popcorn and the European scene plus 100 new interviews and charts. This book is essential reading for anybody interested in the history of dancemusic and the DJ in general. The only minor point is that some styles are underexposed while others like NY Disco or Chicago House are well researched and extremely well documented. My favourite one

*****LOVE DAVES THE DAY: A HISTORY OF AMERICAN DANCE MUSIC CULTURE, 1970-1979 by Tim Lawrence (2003)
is an unique document that shows a deep insight and great love for the subject and absolutely one of the best books ever written

***SATURDAY NIGHT FOREVER : THE STORY OF DISCO - Alan Jones & Jussi Kantonen (1999/2000)

***MY LIFE AND THE PARADISE GARAGE : KEEP ON DANCIN' - Mel Cheren (1999/2000)

**TURN THE BEAT AROUND: THE SECRET HISTORY OF DISCO - Peter Shapiro (2005)

I'd like to add a few more that are essential IMO *****

YOU BETTER WORK!; underground dance music in NYC by Kai Fikentscher (2000) - Amazon-U.S. | Amazon-U.K.
not an easy task to read as the author delves deep into the matter but the contemporary underground dance scene of NYC and the art of mixing and techniques of DJ-ing have never been portrayed better than in this book.

THE FABULOUS SYLVESTER; the legend, the music, the seventies in San Fransisco by Joshua Gamson (2005) - Amazon-U.S. | Amazon-U.K.

[jj6ms]

last night a dj saved my life - best book i've read about dance music. really enjoyed it from start to finish. my only small criticism is that it was a bit dismissive of the london scene during the disco era, like it was all shouty personality DJs, fancy dress and silly dances. Not strictly true, especially in the 74 to 78 period. If the record lists in this book (and love saves the day) are anything to go by, the London clubs had a blacker and funkier take on disco than their US equivalents.

love saves the day - really enjoyed some parts of it, but got a bit bored with others.

saturday night forever - good fun. I really enjoyed the intro bits which left you in no doubt the authors were passionate about their disco. I could obviously identify more with the London references in this book as well, but i often found myself thinking 'No! surely you don't like that!'... and 'Beguine the bloody Beguine' instead of 'Gone Gone Gone'! Never!! :D

Haven't read the others mentioned, but hope to.

It's brilliant that these days we can actually have the likes of Bill and Jussi on here talking to us all about their books and other stuff.

JJ

[Nano]

Hi fellas... I've just spent ten days in Vienna (my first trip to Europe!) and of course visited some record and book stores in the city. I was looking for Jussi's book but all I could find was a pocket edition of LAST NIGHT A DJ SAVED MY LIFE (the one with the new chapters), it looks massive at around 600 pages. Hope I will find some time to read it. Be sure I will share my thoughts when I do.

I saw many rock and jazz books but very few ones about the black/dance scene, basically the same as always: James Brown's and Aretha's self-biographies, the Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye biographies... However I noticed some Viennese bookstores order the 'hip' material (beat poetry, comics, Henry Rollins books, etc.) under the name 'Funky' (?).

BTW, the book FUNK by Rickey Vincent has a whole chapter on disco, covering KC, Chic and everything in between. Of course for Vincent disco is guilty of putting funk outta business, but still it has some good info.

[starsky]

A book I would like to read is the the disco book by Radcliffe Joe....
Anyone read it ?? (apart from Bernie's comments )

[the disco kid]

i have read and re-read LOVE SAVES THE DAYS Amazon-U.S. | Amazon-U.K.
countless times and have bought numerous copies for friends,

SATURDAY NIGHT FOREVER Amazon-U.S. | Amazon-U.K.
is the other must have in your collection, i was turned on to so many new records especially from the lists in the back of SNF. and i love the photos of all the sexy LP cover art, could you get away with that nowadays?

[SandraDee]

Originally Posted by EricHG23

Here's a question-- I just finished Dancer from the Dance and wasn't sure if the disco songs (which were grante dmeant to be obscure) mentioned were legit or not as I didn't know any of them I'm ashamed to admit...

Yes they are legit i.e. Patti Jo, Zulema & Temptations.

[starsky]

I don't think anyone has mentioned THE LAST PARTY...I am struggling to get through this...it is really about Studio 54 and the guys behind this and other SPECIFIC clubs following on from Studio's demise...BUT to an Englishman a lot of it seems to be in Hieroglyphics (Sorry for the misspelling I am NOT Egyptian ).
Anyway, it has some interesting snippets about Nightworld and to an American the names and places might ring some bells, but I am REALLY struggling to get the whole picture.
Enjoyable in it's own way BUT...** is my rating.
Would love to hear other people's perceptions of it tho'

[Giovanni]

THE LAST PARTY is an intersting reading but it's not about the music! Only a few pages are devoted to the music, the djs etc... it's all about the movement, the fashion, the people's stories (most of those people are not into the music), the feel of those years.