The greatest contribution made by a country to Disco !

[Fantomas]

Some people have made references to contributions made to Disco by different countries, but the biggest contributor is/was the USA; it is after all where Disco was born.

As early as 1973 the term "Discotheque" was already in use, as far as I can remember---probably even before that. The term Disco music was applied to any song you could dance to on a dancefloor in a bar (Discotheque). Most of that music happened to be soul or Funky music. Before the European invasion and Donna Summer there were

the Ojays, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Edwin Starr, Gloria Gaynor, Creative Source, the Modulations, Jerry Butler, War, Earth Wind and Fire, Jimmy Castor Bunch, MFSB, the "old" Trammps, Bohannon, BT Express, and others.

[markydefad]

Discotheque is a combination of two French words which mean "a musical record" and "library". So a discotheque is really a music library which had its origin some sixty years ago in France, during it's occupation by the Germans in World War II. Germans prohibited dancing to recorded music, especially American-style jazz, so the jazz clubs went underground. A Parisian jazz club of this type became known as la discotheque.



In New York, in approximately 1960, the Peppermint Lounge became as close to a Paris discotheque that the U.S. had seen up to that time thanks to a dance craze called The Twist. Dance clubs seemed to flourish during the sixties all across the U.S. Bill Graham in San Francisco was one of the first to add a light show. A decline in the popularity of discos ensued due to prostitution and drug use as the sixties progressed.



However, in the mid-seventies the resurgence of dance oriented music had a revival and discos were reborn around the world.



So maybe the French deserve a little credit?

[Fantomas]

Just a little. next to the Americans, the Brittish and French were the 2nd biggest influence in the 70's Disco sound.

[kelvy]

Canada (especially Montreal) & Italy were also big on disco as well.

[Masdefi]

Hey, I just want to give my opinion on that!

As Italian I think we have given a GREAT contribution to discomusic. Just let's not forget all artists and hits during specially 81-83's: Gazebo, Gary Low (is there anybody remembering him out there?), Change, BBq&Band, One,two,three, Kano, Double You, Double Dee, all Italian disco. There's also a lot of garbage, but just avoid it. And I can affirm that I noticed a good success on italian disco on the board (Maarten, JussiK, where are you?)

[Disco77]

I know Gary Low had several hits in Italy, but the only one I know, loved and own is La Collegiala.

[Masdefi]

On 2001-12-14 19:25, Disco77 wrote:

I know Gary Low had several hits in Italy, but the only one I know, loved and own is La Collegiala.

The smash hit was "you are a danger", with it Gary Low reached the top in European disco scene, then he was missing until "La Collegiala". Then we did not hear about.

I got the 12" "You are a danger", try to find it, it's nice song. If you didn't, I can mp3 it for you. It clocks in at 8:37.

[kelvy]

On 2001-12-14 16:23, Masdefi wrote:

Hey, I just want to give my opinion on that!

As Italian I think we have given a GREAT contribution to discomusic. Just let's not forget all artists and hits during specially 81-83's: Gazebo, Gary Low (is there anybody remembering him out there?), Change, BBq&Band, One,two,three, Kano, Double You, Double Dee, all Italian disco. There's also a lot of garbage, but just avoid it. And I can affirm that I noticed a good success on italian disco on the board (Maarten, JussiK, where are you?)

Massimo, desidero tutto va bene. Non possono dimenticare Vivien Vee, Pino Di Angio, La Bionda, Azoto, Kasso, ed Alexander Robotinck. Ed parlando di BBQ Band, recentemente ho comprato una compilazione usato dell'inghlaterra chaimato "Capitol Classics Vol 2". Una delle canzone est "hard to get around" della BBQ Band della 1982; un buon, buon canzone lento.



Massimo, i hope all is well. We can not forget about Vivien Vee, Pino Di Angio, La Bionda, Azoto, Kasso, and Alexande Robotinck. And speaking of the BBQ band, i recently bought a used compilation from England called "Capitol Classics Vol 2". One of the songs is "hard to get around" from the BBQ band circa 1982; a very good slow song.



alla salute/to health,



kelvy

[Masdefi]

Alexander Robotinck

Hi Kelvy, of course there are a lot of italian disco artists, the ones you mentioned are famous. But there are also many "one-shot", as everywhere.

I think I know enough, but not this one. Who is he?

[Boodikka]

Alexander Robotnick (didn't know he was Italian!) did the outstanding Cerrone rip-off "Problems D'Amour", available on AudioGalaxy.

[JussiK]

What's the story of the guys behind all those wonderful DD Sound / La Bionda records? Are they still around?

[Henri]

Oh yes, do have several Italo Disco 12"-es.

My favorite is Koto (the first 5 songs, then ZYX bought the Koto name & things went wrong).

A friend of mine collects all 12"-es from Memory Records, another one is big on Time Records.

Albert One comes to mind... Ken Laslo, Vivien Vee... Oh boy, I really have to get this move going on so I can start playing again

1983 as well as 1986 were extremely good Italo Disco years.



Henri.

[Move2This]

Seems like Italy's coming out as quite a favourite here and, looking through my disco collection, I kind of agree. Most of the stuff I have seems to have been produced in Italy, France, UK, Germany or Canada, with only a minority of US productions. Of course this is as likely as not to be merely a reflection of personal taste, but I've always felt that while the US started the idea of disco (and also produced some great tracks), the countries above took the idea and moved it in more interesting directions.



Like all these things, though, unprovable either way, I guess!

[Fantomas]

You must be talking about post '75 Disco.

Most Disco music produced on or before '75 was American. I think you give the Europeans too much credit for something that is basically American----that's not to say that Europe didn't make any contibutions. As a matter of fact, my favorite group is Chocolat's from Europe (not the Tom Moulton mix, but the origiginal recordings).

[kelvy]

Fantomas, it is true that most of the non-stateside tunes were discussing are after 1975. and i wholeheartedly agree with you on disco being originally an American form (specifically an outgrowth on concurrent soul & funk).



But i guess the post should read "The greatest contributions other countries (besides the States) made to Disco"...especially since many countries have their variations on their interpretations. Speaking about Disco from other countries, has anyone has seen local Disco albums besides the countires we have mentioned? I have seen two Disco albums from Israel ("Disco Made In Israel" and another one whose title i forgot but it's an Israeli takeoff on the Saturday Night Fever album)...Never heard the music on them though (only seen the covers in stores and online).



with kind regards,



kelvy