What do you think constitutes a good disco song?

[RetroVirus]

I'm not new disco but I'm new to collecting. NO YMCA. I bought Donna Summer's Last Dance the other day and to me that contituted the ultimate disco tune, good build up, fast, funky bass line, good brass, escellent vocals. What do you think?

[SandraDee]

There are so many different styles of disco but I like the 'pure' disco sound with a 4/4 beat, orchestration, cooing girly vocals, imaginative & possibly lavish production & a bit of sex/ raunch.

[paul]

Me, I like string arrangement, horns, a solid bass line, all coordinated in a syncopated rhythm. The one song that truly seems to get all of that right for me is "Loving Is Really My Game" by Brainstorm. That song is always in my top 5 and depending on when Bernie throws the hammer down on the vote, may end up as my #1 pick.

[DanceMan]

On 2002-09-12 15:50, paul wrote:
Me, I like string arrangement, horns, a solid bass line, all coordinated in a syncopated rhythm. The one song that truly seems to get all of that right for me is "Loving Is Really My Game" by Brainstorm. That song is always in my top 5 and depending on when Bernie throws the hammer down on the vote, may end up as my #1 pick.

That has been my #1 since it came out every year since 1977, although in 1984 - my fave 80s year - it was High Energy by Evelyn Thomas for most of that year.....The Boss, Voyage I and II and anything with melody, lyrics, lots of strings, and an arrangement that swings, gets my vote.

[SandraDee]

Yes guyz, I agree that Brainstorm's L.I.R.M.G. sums up all that is fabulous about that late 70's era disco. The energy this track has is amazing.

[markydefad]

I too love "Lovin' Is Really My Game"--talk about some great hooks!!!! BUT, let's not forget that a lot the "amazing energy" stems from the fact that it's REALLY FAST!!!!

It has a varying BPM somewhere in the early 140's ( I get anwhere from 140-143)--this was really rare for Disco in 1977. Later when the New Wavish/Hi-NRG stuff came out more songs veered into this BPM range---but it's almost like aerobicising. In fact--these were the songs we sold to the aerobics instructors at Aloha 140+ BPMers--so they could "work those bodies".

Strangely, now all I ever hear played at aerobics classes are somewhat normal range BPM records pitched-up to "chipmunk" sound speed. Sounds horrible--BUT STILL THEY COME!!!!

[DanceMan]

I agree that the songs in Dancersize and Jazz aerobics classes are always speeded up beyond what they should be...(not when I taught them tho)

The biggest song everywhere I went that was the one tune that worked everyone into a frenzy was always, "Bit By Bit," by Stephanie Mills....from the Foul Play soundtrack....that and "I'm So Excited," Pointers...(I guess you know what era I was shaking loose the fat in)....

[Paulo]

The best elemets in disco emerged around 1977: long suites full of breaks, different parts (inside the same song), great use of keyboards + orchestra + horns. That's what better qualifies disco to me.

Today I even accept electronic disco (HI-NRG & DANCE) but i didn't way back in the 80's (since then I am a great fan of the pet shop boys).