Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, & Disco

[Xaphan3015]

I was sitting here, just like any other night, listening to my tunes, and I on a whim decided to listen to some divas.

I got out Dionne Warwick's 1979 comeback album "Dionne" and I heard two songs of hers that I haven't heard in a while: "Out of My Hands" and "Who, What, When, Where, Why?". It almost seems like a contradiction in terms, but these songs are Dionne Warwick doing disco.

Also, when I made the rounds at my favorite club a couple days ago (on Disco/Dance Pop night), I noticed that the DJ (an ex boyfriend of mine) was playing Aretha Franklin. Jump to It, Who's Zoomin' Who, Freeway of Love, and Rock Steady (even though it's characterized as funk) were all played.

I went home and dug out my "Aretha's Best" CD and remembered how much I love her voice, especially singing upbeat songs.

Does anyone besides me think that Dionne and Aretha should have done more dance songs? They do them well, in my opinion -- Dionne also had a forgotten single, "I Think You Need Love", from her ultra-rare "Just Being Myself" that is great. And also "Keepin' My Head Above Water" from her 1977 album "Love at First Sight".

Dionne Warwick, on A&E's "Biography" show, stated that she didn't choose to be a disco artist because: "I thought it was being done well enough by Donna Summer." (her quote)

Fair enough, I suppose. It's kinda disappointing though.

Aretha is just thought of as a soul singer, and disco has the stigma of being shallow. So naturally that doesn't fit well.

Ah well, I suppose I'm just rambling. Wish I had more dance tunes by two of my fav divas, though -- love ya Dionne & Aretha.

[DJ Jimmy M]

WOW,
Someone actually mentioned "Out Of My Hands" which is a great true disco track. There should have been a 12" for that one. Also, "Deja Veu" is a disco ballad. Dionne also did a track called "Its The Falling In Love" in 1980 that was disco. Im used to Michael Jackson/Patti Auston's version of that one from 1979 which is also disco.


DJ Jimmy M

[DJ Jimmy M]

Oh, forgot to add one thing... the producer on "Out Of My Hands" was Barry Manilow. You would never even think him if just listening to the track. You'd have to see the LP credits and the nice pic of him and Dionne on the back cover. If he could create something as hard hitting as that, I wonder why he never did anything like that for himself, hmmmmmmmm.

DJ Jimmy M

[totoman]

I used to hear a song by Dionne from around 1983 called "Got A Date" which is a great song produced by Luther Vandross and I always loved "Another Night" by Aretha.

They may have missed the boat in the seventies but made up for it in the eighties

toto

[california mike]

i think "who, what. when, where, why" is a rupert holmes song(escape, the pina colada song). i mentioned him recently as being the producer arranger of barbra streisand's "lazy afternoon" album when we discussed "shake me, wake me".
until i can listen to dionne's albums again, i have always enjoyed the "track of the cat" album, wasn't this a thom bell production?
and from i think the next album, have always liked "do you believe in love at first sight". this song should have been included in the recent discussion of songs where the artist sounds so happy and full of life and glad to be alive! also on this album is isaac hayes "don't ever take your love from me", an excellent ballad.
dionne can sound a little icy at times but not during this mid 70's period.being happy with the hit "then came you" with the spinners.

[markydefad]

CA Mike,

Keefe and I are both big fans of Dionne's "Track Of The Cat" LP, recently released on CD and produced, written and arranged by the magnificent Thom Bell.

My two fave tracks that have a light disco feel are the title cut and "Once You Hit The Road". Both had some disco play...I think I've seen the latter on the Billboard chart for either retail sales or Disco play...BUT I don't remember ever dancing to them.

[zeca azevedo]

Hey fellas,

anyone here remember Aretha's DISCO album, LA DIVA? It was released in 1979 by Atlantic Records and it was produced by Van McCoy. It contains a song called ONLY STAR that is totally Disco. This album is not one of Aretha's best, but it has its moments, 2 beautiful ballads. A forgotten album, indeed.

Does anyone here remember another forgotten DISCO album or song by a great rock or soul music star? I remember VICTIM OF LOVE by Elton John (produced by Pete Belotte) and a Disco album by Wilson Pickett (can't remember the name of the album right now). Ah, and what about POPS, WE LOVE YOU?

Peace,

zeca azevedo

[QUINNY]

Marky: I used to love 'Track of the Cat' and played it quite a lot in Mallorca. I used to play it as a track to come out of the slowies to get people used to moving once again. Occasionally, the real show offs (were they high/drunk or did they have some taste?) would gyrate to it. I always regarded it as too good in many ways. real class and sophistication.

[NickNack]

On 2002-09-19 12:51, markydefad wrote:
CA Mike,

Keefe and I are both big fans of Dionne's "Track Of The Cat" LP, recently released on CD and produced, written and arranged by the magnificent Thom Bell.

My two fave tracks that have a light disco feel are the title cut and "Once You Hit The Road". Both had some disco play...I think I've seen the latter on the Billboard chart for either retail sales or Disco play...BUT I don't remember ever dancing to them.

Add me to that "big fan" list. When I heard that CD was being released I was like a kid looking for the next Harry Potter. The title song is mesmerizing and "Once...Road" should have been 12"d!

[markydefad]

Nicky,

I've also seen another Dionne title that I don't remember.. on the Billboard Disco charts from around 1975, I think...am not at home, so I can't check...but it was something like "Don't Want No Trouble" or something..it seems like "Trouble" was in the title. Maybe that's incorrect...ring any bells????

I've been curious about that title ever since I saw it--cause I always thought Dionne DID NOT do much of anything in the Dance vein except for those 2 "Track Of The Cat" cuts and the duet with the Spinners "Then Came You".

[Bernie]

On 2002-09-19 13:04, zeca azevedo wrote:

Does anyone here remember another forgotten DISCO album or song by a great rock or soul music star? I remember VICTIM OF LOVE by Elton John (produced by Pete Belotte)

Yes, I have the LP and 12" and "Victim" was good, but the whole album-ehhhh. He had an earlier Disco 12" on Rocket Records in '76 called "Bite your Lip (Get up and Dance)" which was remixed by Tom Moulton. Heavy emphasis on piano and heavily orchestrated to the point were one couldn't make out the instruments-hard to believe it was a Tom Moulton mix.

and a Disco album by Wilson Pickett (can't remember the name of the album right now).

The Wilson Pickett 12" on Atlantic has "She's So Tight" b/w "Funky Situation." It's not really anything to write home about, but it's okay as well.

[NickNack]

On 2002-09-19 14:21, markydefad wrote:
Nicky,

I've also seen another Dionne title that I don't remember.. on the Billboard Disco charts from around 1975, I think...am not at home, so I can't check...but it was something like "Don't Want No Trouble" or something..it seems like "Trouble" was in the title. Maybe that's incorrect...ring any bells????

I've been curious about that title ever since I saw it--cause I always thought Dionne DID NOT do much of anything in the Dance vein except for those 2 "Track Of The Cat" cuts and the duet with the Spinners "Then Came You".

The title isn't doing anything for me (and I looked through my Dionne collection) but there is another cut from 1975: "Take It From Me", first track on the THEN CAME YOU album. This cut went over better at The Gallery then "Then Came You". It even has a 32-beat 4/4 intro. Go figure... Short in time as most songs were, 3:41, but Nicky Siano worked the hell out of it. I can still hear the segue intro "Free Man" at the end.

TURN THIS MOTHERF*&%$R OUT!! :grin:

_________________
If It Don't Mean a Thing, Would You Dance to My Music
Nicky

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: NickNack on 2002-09-19 16:10 ]</font>

[DanceMan]

I think that "Take It From Me," is exactly the song Marky is looking for, Nick....BTW, I remember hearing that also at The Gallery, as well as The Loft and The Alley (Jackson Heights, Queens)....I believe these songs were released in Dionne's Warner Bros. years which she has trashed as her worst musical period....Nothing wrong with the music, honey, take WB to task for not doing their job...it was the disco era and they were still seeing you as a 60's relic...same with Aretha.....Everyone I knew at WB Records was glad to see her leave and go to Arista in 1979....actaully, that is not where they wished she would go...yuck, yuck. I guess if she was with the Psychic Network back then, she would have demanded some remixes on the good material instead of blaming Thom Bell and the songs.

[DanceMan]

On 2002-09-19 09:56, california mike wrote:
i think "who, what. when, where, why" is a rupert holmes song(escape, the pina colada song)......

Didn't Carol Douglas also do that "Who, What, When, Where, Why" as part of a Midnight Love Affair medley in 1977?

[keefelc]

On 2002-09-19 16:07, NickNack wrote:

The title isn't doing anything for me (and I looked through my Dionne collection) but there is another cut from 1975: "Take It From Me", first track on the THEN CAME YOU album. This cut went over better at The Gallery then "Then Came You". It even has a 32-beat 4/4 intro. Go figure... Short in time as most songs were, 3:41, but Nicky Siano worked the hell out of it. I can still hear the segue intro "Free Man" at the end.

TURN THIS MOTHERF*&%$R OUT!! :grin:

Nicky, you'll be happy to know that Ambassador Soul Classics is releasing the "Then Came You" album on CD on Oct. 22, 2002 (if you order from their website at http://www.soulmusic.com/ambsoulclassics.htm)! I love this mostly Jerry Ragovoy produced album almost as much as "Track Of The Cat". Why Warner Bros. didn't promote these albums better is beyond me. I thought they had the potential to be big hits.

By the way, On the same date, Ambassador Soul is also releasing Candi Staton's "Young Hearts Run Free" & "House of Love" (both albums on the same CD), Debra Laws's "Very Special," Brenda Russell's "Two Eyes" and Change's "Miracles" and "Change Of Heart" (both albums on one CD). I can't wait!