Disco revival finally over?

[QUINNY]

Every time we log in here there's a huge list of Disco records being sold on Ebay.

One thing I've noticed in the past year or so is that prices seem to be level or falling for the vast majority of discs that are put up for sale. Many appear to be going for 'peanuts', which would suggest that there is less demand for the original old school vinyl, so the question has to be asked.

Is the Disco revival finally over (even though some reports suggest that a new mainstream revival is just around the corner or happening right now), or is it that dance music per se, is struggling (comparitively speaking) to find an audience?

Any thoughts?

Oh and another thing....why are most of the tunes that people need identifying on this site (via the ask others to identify... forum) soooo incredibly obscure (last port of call?) and in many cases such utter drek, so much so that I repeatedly ask myself "why do you want to know what this tune/song is???!!!

[Dayna]

Originally Posted by QUINNY

Every time we log in here there's a huge list of Disco records being sold on Ebay.

One thing I've noticed in the past year or so is that prices seem to be level or falling for the vast majority of discs that are put up for sale. Many appear to be going for 'peanuts', which would suggest that there is less demand for the original old school vinyl, so the question has to be asked.

Is the Disco revival finally over (even though some reports suggest that a new mainstream revival is just around the corner or happening right now), or is it that dance music per se, is struggling (comparitively speaking) to find an audience?

Any thoughts?

Oh and another thing....why are most of the tunes that people need identifying on this site (via the ask others to identify... forum) soooo incredibly obscure (last port of call?) and in many cases such utter drek, so much so that I repeatedly ask myself "why do you want to know what this tune/song is???!!!

As long as people have legs and a soul, Dance music will "never" stuggle to find an audience .
As for the obscure song requests, one persons'As you called it" utter drek is another persons utopia..

[Cdnbob]

I can't attest to a disco revival in clubs or in recorded music, but can only speak for myself. I've always liked all kinds of music and been of the thought that if I like the song, I don't care who its by. However, over the past 6 months to a year, I've been finding myself getting tired of current R&B/Dance music because it really is all starting to sound the same and so mechanical. During this time I've been turning my attentions back to the dance music of the 70's and early 80's. The real interesting thing about it is that I've been totally rediscovering the genre and realizing the music is even better than I remember it. I've totally fallen in love with disco all over again that I would love to see performers releasing new material in this style. The classic disco sounds of the time were much more uplifting and positive in sound, tone and style that I really think its time music swung back around to this.

I'm sorry but whole gangsta, b-boy look and attitude, the woman are nothin but ho's frame of mind, over the top sex antics etc is so over done its dull, boring. Even a lot of the tribal, trance, house, deep house, etc is just noise. As much as I like artists like Rihanna, or Maroon 5 or Beyonce, or dozens of other current artists, none of their music makes me want to jump up and dance or feel happy or just want to move to the beat like the original disco classics.

Maybe I'm just getting old.

[lennymonster]

To quote a song Ester Phillips - Disposable Society

I don’t think the disco revival is over. To be honest I don’t think it started, if unless you count acid jazz as disco. Like me in the mid 90s I think a lot of us got a taste for disco when a countless amount of people used samples in house, this taste lead to discovering that sorce more and more obscure 70s & 80s 12”s and finding where that sound came from. I think CDnBob is right. Music nowadays has a tendency to be so disposable, with every young hopeful acquiring sequencing software trying to improve on what is still a disco blue print.

I hope that one day that people will see you can make more with instruments than just rock. stepping out the box i can see that disco’s vast instrumentation is hardly economical for record company’s to fund unless your names Jay Kay, but I do agree something needs to be done. Dance music in the u.k. has really lost it’s audience and evan though labels like Defected release worthy disco infused tracks. They will never have the enigmatic musical charm of the 70’s and 80’s musicianship.

Which at the end of it all is why we collect disco. When we find a 12” record that rocks our boat… it’s our own. It hasn’t been peddled to us by media and it doesn’t need sex or violence to get our attention… it’s what it makes us feel inside. Inside our hearts


God that was a bit deep for me LOL!

[canadiantire]

To me, It seems that there the proliferation of MP3s along with the massive song library exchanges could have an incidence on the demand for vinyl (and CDs by extension).

I wonder if the popularity of specialized channels on satellite TV and radio could also be the cause of the decline.

Let’s face it. How many disco lovers really sit down in front of their turntable for a listening session?

Collecting vinyl? Bah! …not practical and it takes too much space, they probably say.

Conclusion: It’s (almost) all there on CDs for the average loyal customer who has some money to spend.
And for the unscrupulous ones, there is always going to be the “loose buddy” who will duplicate his entire collection of DRM free MP3s which took years to build.

A while ago, few individuals did the hard work of transferring their stuff on MP3/WMA and some cherry pickers have built on it.

This last thought really leaves me with a bad taste…

BTW, I’ve been recently browsing for CD compilations of “extended” tracks on the net.
There is a sh.. load of it and more and more, you can find rare stuff never issued before.

Wanna be “à la page”?

“Get it cheap, use quick and dispose”



- Marcus

[lennymonster]

Originally Posted by canadiantire

To me, It seems that there the proliferation of MP3s along with the massive song library exchanges could have an incidence on the demand for vinyl (and CDs by extension).

I wonder if the popularity of specialized channels on satellite TV and radio could also be the cause of the decline.

Let’s face it. How many disco lovers really sit down in front of their turntable for a listening session?

Collecting vinyl? Bah! …not practical and it takes too much space, they probably say.

Conclusion: It’s (almost) all there on CDs for the average loyal customer who has some money to spend.
And for the unscrupulous ones, there is always going to be the “loose buddy” who will duplicate his entire collection of DRM free MP3s which took years to build.

A while ago, few individuals did the hard work of transferring their stuff on MP3/WMA and some cherry pickers have built on it.

This last thought really leaves me with a bad taste…

BTW, I’ve been recently browsing for CD compilations of “extended” tracks on the net.
There is a sh.. load of it and more and more, you can find rare stuff never issued before.

Wanna be “à la page”?

“Get it cheap, use quick and dispose”



- Marcus

Maybe this is why Costandinos has kept his music universally on vinyl? Method in his madness? To just keeping us spinning?

[RetroRuss]

I think that sales on Ebay are generally cyclical and at the moment it seems the 80's stuff is in demand as opposed to the 70's vinyl. I am still staggered at the prices are prepared to pay!

As for the Disco revival well there could be some truth in that. I am getting more 'enquiries' and offers to DJ live, people know the music I play so it seems there is more interest in it.

[wever]

sorry but i disagree with you ...i have to tell you that if it wasn't for mp3 and p2p programs i wouldn't be here for sure...
my first CDs were copied from the orginals and i don't feel embarrassed about it cause thanks to the "californication" i copied from a friend now i have the whole discography ORIGINAL (of course) in CD and went to many concerts and become a huge fan.
The same with disco music....if i didn't find some rare tracks that really made me recognise as a disco-addict .... and i still download music cause for me is the only way to get to this songs. Now it's been a long time since i buy a CD cause i spent a lot of money in my little vinyl collection (and i say little cause is really little!!!).

So for me its ok if the vinyl prices go down hehehe , its very hard to me to get the money! and now i think i should try to buy through internet which i've never done before.

to Cdnbob : i feel exactly like you but without RE-discovering it cause i never had the time to hear it before, and i'm 19, so it has nothin to do with the age, only with quality.

to lennymonster: Let’s face it. How many disco lovers really sit down in front of their turntable for a listening session?

me

....

[Cdnbob]

Wever, not to worry, I was there when it originally came out and you'd be surprised by the number of tracks I've heard recently that I'd never heard back then.

Headlamp, I find the prices on E-Bay to be generally over priced. The local used record store I frequent to buy my 12" singles and albums are generally priced at $6-12 which I think is quite reasonable.

As to downloading MP3's, well I don't personally have a problem with having songs in MP3's. If its the only version you're able to get of a song, or in addition to that 12" single or album track you already have, great. At least you have it to listen to and enjoy.

[Videoskooter]

I wanted to open a topic on this some days ago. Why?

Because, and I speak for TV-stations in Belgium, Germany and Holland, you can't watch a show or program these days without hearing some bonafide D in the background or as theme music and this strucks me.

And it ain't no Boney M or Bee Gees, they play Gino Soccio, Space, Costandinos (yes sir, he ain't forgotten) and even more club and underground.

Reason? I really don't know! Maybe the guys/girls responsible for the sound are into it. Maybe because a lot of people are finally Discovering that the R&B/Rap/House/Techno scene is getting boring and they realised that there was a time period with other Dance music!

Like Headlamp states, the 80's are back in full effect and are in vogue again which is great because I'm not looking for those records and hopefully the 70's stuff will get less pricey now!

And finally a note to Quinny: the records you call "utter drek" may be very pleasant for other people. It's about time you accept this fact.

[garrybcoston]

For years (from 1980-81 on), we heard very little disco, that is, disco that we were used to in the 70's. That type of disco was silenced up until around the mid to late 1990's. If you want to call that a revival, I guess it is and I guess you can, but to me it was a revival but also an awareness of the disco spirit, et. al., "hey, this disco music is not so bad after all," that purveyed the new crowd which in turn made us discoers, that is, those who really physically lived and breathed it, take notice resulting in us finally being able to come out of our locked "disco closet" after almost 20 years of being ashamed.

So now we hear old disco tracks and music in commericals, mixed in with some dance/techno radio station formats, used as themes for shows and some movies, some dance clubs having "disco nights" and some disco mixed in with dance and techno, and of course, great people like Bernie and others seeing all of this and opening up forums so us discoers can breathe again out of the closet, and for these forums to be used as an education medium for the younger people who love disco but never lived or breathed the experience, and who are not really aware of its birth and history.

In answering the topic question of this thread, in my opinion, what little has been let out of the box regarding disco's return, the answer is no; this time disco, to whatever extent it has grown and will grow, is here to stay. Us disco old timers must continue to educate people as to what disco was, is, and might be in the future. I see disco merging with its daughter(s), that is techo, dance, industrial, and other type(s) of dance genres, with all of it just being music to dance to, but with everyone finally being aware of that these formats came from disco and of course educating them regarding what disco music and the experience was; that is, it was more than just the music, it was a way of life, it ruled not only the airwaves but also every other medium and the whole "life" environment during that period of time (circa 1970's early 80's).

I think disco has revived itself. Not to the depth, breadth, and experience relative to the way it was in the 70's, but to an awareness type of phase telling people that it is alright to acknowledge that disco existed, it wasn't that bad as rockers and others made it out to be (in which some or most now actually like disco), and that disco never really left, it evolved into today's contemporary, modern dance/techno music and other danceable formats. We're all still dancin and prancin, just to a different type of disco with new names.

Let's drink and toast everybody to disco's revival! Long live disco!

Garry

[Disco Funk]

I think the disco revival initially was seen as a novelty, digging up the old music for nostalgia and kitsch. That was sometime in the early 90s. I think by now, it's considered a great alternative to today's formulaic, non-melodic dance music, which is ironic because the same could be said about disco back in the day!

The demand for certain records on vinyl probably has decreased because they can be found on CD, mp3, or there are just so many copies out there, people are having trouble selling them. Besides, I don't think everyone who likes disco wants to buy a record player and the original vinyl. Only the audiophiles, the DJs, and music geeks will want to do that.

Disco Funk

[garrybcoston]

Originally Posted by Disco Funk

I think the disco revival initially was seen as a novelty, digging up the old music for nostalgia and kitsch. That was sometime in the early 90s. I think by now, it's considered a great alternative to today's formulaic, non-melodic dance music, which is ironic because the same could be said about disco back in the day!

The demand for certain records on vinyl probably has decreased because they can be found on CD, mp3, or there are just so many copies out there, people are having trouble selling them. Besides, I don't think everyone who likes disco wants to buy a record player and the original vinyl. Only the audiophiles, the DJs, and music geeks will want to do that.

Disco Funk

I agree wholeheartedly "Disco Funk;" record players are hard to find anyhoo. Vinyl was o.k. back in the day because that is the technology that was available then; but now we have MP3's, CD's, etc., and this I prefer. Even if record players were available, I would probably still buy the CD's because that is the technology available now, not record players.

I wouldn't go as far to say that disco is an alternative yet; there are still people out there who don't really know what it was, is, and also people who love "real instruments" who haven't heard disco that will love it. It is quickly becoming an alternative as more people find out about it, the experience, the sound, etc.

Finally and lastly, I will go out on a limb and say once disco is once again discovered, people will start clamboring for it like it is something new; I'm talking about the younger crowd. Let's face it; most of the music out now is eerie, evil, foreboding, sad, nasty, lewd, lacivious, and outright provocative and aggressive. People are ready for something happy and in general pure (disco had its rough edges as well!); even if it's just the sound itself and not the lyrics.

Garry

[wever]

no .... it's not necessary to be a dj to enjoy playin lps on a turntable.... now this is gettin trendy and more people is buyin vynil! it's a new way to "look cool" .... now they sell vynils in the fnac shop!!!! ( for those who don't know, fnac is a chain store from france that you can find in many spanish cities too. They sell CDs books comics some technology and now you can find vinyls too!!!) this is not the best place to buy vinyls for sure! there'r no rarities only the most famous reeditions.... but enough for the beginners (what i am too hahahaha).


:)

[Disco Funk]

Originally Posted by garrybcoston

I agree wholeheartedly "Disco Funk;" record players are hard to find anyhoo. Vinyl was o.k. back in the day because that is the technology that was available then; but now we have MP3's, CD's, etc., and this I prefer. Even if record players were available, I would probably still buy the CD's because that is the technology available now, not record players.

I wouldn't go as far to say that disco is an alternative yet; there are still people out there who don't really know what it was, is, and also people who love "real instruments" who haven't heard disco that will love it. It is quickly becoming an alternative as more people find out about it, the experience, the sound, etc.

Finally and lastly, I will go out on a limb and say once disco is once again discovered, people will start clamboring for it like it is something new; I'm talking about the younger crowd. Let's face it; most of the music out now is eerie, evil, foreboding, sad, nasty, lewd, lacivious, and outright provocative and aggressive. People are ready for something happy and in general pure (disco had its rough edges as well!); even if it's just the sound itself and not the lyrics.

Garry

Re. your last paragraph: Disco - that's where the happy people go! :)

I actually try to find the CD versions of tracks. mp3 is the very very last resort when I've tried to find the tracks on CD or vinyl with no luck, or the only compilation one song I want is on is $40 because it's out of print or an import. I used to not mind spending the money to get a CD with just the one song, but CD prices are stupidly expensive even after being on the market for over 20 years now. Why can't they make them a better bang for your buck like DVDs are?!!

I sometimes find that the CD version is of an inferior quality. This may be due to the producer of the CD using vinyl sources that are dirty; poorly EQ'd; or the master tapes have degraded, leading to audio distortions and cutting out. That's when I start seeking out the original vinyl versions, when the music was still freshly taken from master tapes and transferred by people who knew the quality of how the music needed to sound. I also like to seek out 12"s because many times the audio is much richer than any CD or even LP version.

I think the appeal of disco music to people of today also is that we have really because a dance-music based society. But like you said, there is a backlash to the nasty and uninspiring music of today. When you hear disco, you hear blood sweat and tears put into the music. Not something programmed with algorithms that sounds like it could have been churned out automatically. Plus, the musical nature of today's dance music is so weak. Not too many great melodies, and the singers are horrendous.

Long live disco!!!!!

Disco Funk