How did DISCO RADIO STATIONS all fizzle by fall of 79 (couldnt all be Steve Dahl)?!

[discophil]

Originally Posted by Billy72

I remember when The Britsh New Wave sound hit radio around April 1982. The Human League's hit "Don't you want me" attributed alot to that. Before radio stations were either album rock, adult contemporary, or pop top 40 (which was Olivia Newton John, Air Supply, Journey etc). In april 1982 a new station started playing Devo, Human League, Asia (all the MTV material); and later in 82 came Duran Duran, Men at Work, ABC, Thompson Twins etc.

.

That reminds me....

You know the group La Flavour? The folks who brought us that fantastic tune "Mandolay"? They had another song on that album titled, "Can't Kill The Beat." It was a GREAT tune regarding the supposed "death" of disco. One of the lyrics says (from memory so I might not get it exactly right!),

They say that Disco is dead.
They say it's bad for your head.
They say we've all gone New Wave
Music is saved.

Man, that's exactly what it was like, wasn't it?

[Billy72]

The name La Flavour sound kinda familiar, but I don't know the song. I may have heard one of their tunes on XM and seen the name or something.

Yeah it sounds like the times alight. You know whats really funny, when 'punk rockers' said Disco Sucks; man, its hard to find a punk rock song where more than three chords are played lol. I can't stand punk rock it's way too repetitive. Same goes for lots of modern dance music imo, and I never dug 'high energy' dance for the same reasons. Like 'Lime' for example; the tunes start out with a cool groove but after a minute or so, I'm thinking damnit; couldnt they change the rhythm up a bit! No offense to anyone lol, just my opinion.

GARY, you mention "I can't go for that" by Hall and Oats; I love Hall and Oats, and this song is one my favs. Awesome rhythmic quality (which they had in so many). ACTUALLY, this is one of the few bands that I PREFER their early 80s music over their 70s stuff. I LOVE their 70s music; but their early 80s stuff is IMMACULATE. Other hit favorites; "Maneater"; "Method of Modern Love"; " I can't go for that"; "Kiss on my List"; "One on One"; and "Out of Touch" (man this one really jams)!

Yeah its too bad The New Wave scene had to bash Disco. However, there was alot of talent in the new wave scene (as you may agree Discophil); like Gary Nueman, The Cars, Joe Jackson etc. Then came the 'catchy new wave radio tunes' from Duran Duran, Men at Work (Fav. "Overkill"), Big Country, Toto (my fav. was "Africa"), ABC, Talk Talk, Thompson Twins; all the stuff I grew up with in Junior High. I have always loved the early 80s, and must mention 'Quarterflash' and 'The Motels' (awesome early 80s bands with female vocals). One of the BEST DANCE artists IMO (83-85 era) was Madonna. Damn, she had some good dance numbers in her first few years. "Everybody"; "Physical Attraction"; "Im Burning Up for you Love"; "Lucky Star"; "Borderline"; "Get into the Groove"; "angel"; and I LOVE the 12 inch version of "Pappa Don't Preach" (you heard it?)
After her 85 LP I really didnt get into her music; her earlier stuff was SOOO SEXY and IT SEEMS SO DISCOTECH (or post-disco sound). Which makes me wonder; I bet Madonna was a Disco lovin chic; who never really downed Disco in the 80s (so it seems to me). WHERE YOU OR ANYONE OUT THERE A BIG FAN OF HER EARLIER STUFF?

BTW, I HAD A MAJOR CRUSH on Madonna in Junior High School. Then she cut her hair in the Pappa Don't Preach/Live to Tell (sean Penn era 85-86); and I was crushed. I still loved those tunes, but missed her hair, black rubber bracelets lol (her whole basic look I mean). She looked older; outta my 'school age' league lol. Plus I dont like short hair on women lol. I'LL NEVER, EVER FORGET when I FINALLY saw her in PENTHOUSE (which I had been waiting months for); it was the summer of 85, a HIGH (or hot) POINT of the summer lol.

[discophil]

Originally Posted by Billy72

The name La Flavour sound kinda familiar, but I don't know the song. I may have heard one of their tunes on XM and seen the name or something.

Yeah it sounds like the times alight. You know whats really funny, when 'punk rockers' said Disco Sucks; man, its hard to find a punk rock song where more than three chords are played lol. I can't stand punk rock it's way too repetitive. Same goes for lots of modern dance music imo, and I never dug 'high energy' dance for the same reasons. Like 'Lime' for example; the tunes start out with a cool groove but after a minute or so, I'm thinking damnit; couldnt they change the rhythm up a bit! No offense to anyone lol, just my opinion.

Ha ha! I couldn't agree more! I remember starving for good Disco music after 1981. I would search everywhere I could and you're right, the HiNRG stuff was just too repetatve for my tastes. It wasn't bad, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't the pure disco that I loved. No symphony. No strings. No sweeping vocals. There was one song, however, from that era that I really liked: Cinema's "I Love Men." Do you know how hard it was to like that song and play it being a heterosexual young male (late teens, early 20s) chasing girls but living near San Fransisco! LOL!!!

At any rate, I still get pissed off when I recall that the reason so many of my peers in the late 70s, early 80s, hated disco is because it was "jungle" music, too repetative. And then I listen to music today and wonder, "What the hell? This junk is FAR more repetative and 'ethnic' than ANYTHING I listened to back in the day!" So glad for forums like this one, online radio stations (like Diva Radio) and my record collection!

[garrybcoston]

I know what you mean discophil; it was like going through a permanent drought with no food or water, especially your favorite food and clean cold water; YOU CAN'T FIND THEM ANYWHERE when there is a drought!

No strings, no congas, no percussion, no horn section, no guitar, no bass, no "real" drums, and the vocalists/singers singing with almost no emotion whatsoever, and just dead, bland keyboard or synthesizer keys. It got you dancing, but if your Mom or Dad died, wouldn't you miss them even though you got adopted?

I try to forget 1981 and on because those were lean years for dance music; but.......I played my disco vinyls up until I had them stolen in the early 1990's, played them in the closet and underground!

Anyhoo.......love this forum. Kudos to Bernie and the Moderators for a super job.

Garry

[Billy72]

Enjoyed the posts yall. You know its obvious after listening to the charts in early-mid 81 (on XM radio K.C. Kasum) that most of 81 was in a confused state musically. There were some great tunes in there (including pop country hits); but its funny to hear the WHOLE TOP 40 charts now from that era, because alot of the shit that hit the radio was sooo aweful! Its funny though, later part of 79 saw the same trend (hits by 60s folk stars etc. that were washed out nonsense). HOWEVER, 1980 (for whatever reason I cant explain) was a great year (IMO) for 'last minute' disco smashes; and LOADS of great light rock; pop country etc.

BY the later part of 81 I think things had 'shaped up'; Journey; Olivia' etc. It seems there was a 'VOID' in the music industry after JULY 79 (DAHL says it all; WHICH WAS QUESTION POST of mine). HOW THE HELL COULD THE MUSIC INDUSTRY BE SCARED OF thousands of ROCK FANS at a BASEBALL GAME burning DISCO records?! Alright, enough said lol!

[FranceJoliFan]

Here's my 2 cents:

Here in Seattle we had KFOX, which played soul/r&b. In '77/'78 you could hear disco crossovers like Dance, Dance, Dance and Boogie Oogie Oogie months before pop radio played them.

Around 1979, we had KPLZ (K-PLUS) which had an all disco format. Not just Kool & The Gang and Donna Summer. But a rotation that included One More Minute by St. Tropez, Haven't Stopped Dancing by Gonzales, Love Dancin' by Marlena Shaw. Ready For The 80's by The Village People even. I think the format lasted for about a year.

Why did it stop?

1. Disco was uncool to white teenagers by then.

It was considered unmanly to listen to it. And guys definitely made fun of it. Although at the teen discos I went to, blacks and asians still liked it. Although they played more of an r&b/disco mix. But my best friend and I would usually be the only white guys there (a handful of white girls, but overall it was 90% black and asian. And a lot of fun!)

2. Wasn't profitable.

Radio stations will play whatever brings in advertisers.

3. Disco music doesn't just depend on radio play to promote it.

Before MTV, discos were one of the few non-radio outlets to promote records. So even though the radio stations dwindled, you could still expose people to new disco. And maybe that was good enough. One of the things I always liked about the disco was that it was the "only" place you could hear a lot of this music. And that made it special.

4. Disco would have evolved no matter what.

In retrospect, disco quickly morphed into dance music. Synthesizers replaced orchestras. And the music either got funkier, or faster.

And I was happy when New Wave hit. It sounded great at the time. The Michael Zager Let's All Chant thing had run its course.

And I was happy when Italo Disco hit. And high energy. And house.

I don't like the current DJ culture. But disco and 12" singles and synthesizer/computers paved the way for it. And it will continue to evolve.

I just don't understand how rap/hip-hop has had such a long shelf life. Probably because it's cool and macho to teenage boys. Disco wasn't.

*I'll also add, Seattle has C89 FM, which claims to be the longest-running dance music station in the US (I think it started in 1981 or so, but don't quote me. I remember hearing I Ran by Flock Of Seagulls on it when it first came out. And Never Say Never by Romeo Void.) It's pretty good. But they don't play much classic dance music. I think the last time I heard non-techno on it was in 1996 when they played Touch by France Joli.

[garrybcoston]

France Joli Fan; what a great take on disco from late 70's to early 80's; in my opinion you are right on.

It seemed to be different over here in the East though; that is, the reason(s) why disco faded. It (Disco) remained cool amongst white teenagers until mid 1979 when the "disco sucks" thing in Chicago happened. I agree, Let's all Chant, and other songs did get old, but we still loved hearing them.

Thanks for the super post!

Garry

[FranceJoliFan]

Originally Posted by garrybcoston

France Joli Fan; what a great take on disco from late 70's to early 80's; in my opinion you are right on.

It seemed to be different over here in the East though.

Thanks, Garry.

The East Coast always has better R&B radio. I wish we had more non-Rap R&B radio here in the NW. I'll hear the occasional "Old School" program. But not enough classic late-70's "Soul" music. Thank goodness for Internet radio.

In the early 80's, Seattle had a great "New Wave" station called KJET (they played B-52's, Romantics, Pretenders, and some indie rock.) Lasted a few years until pop radio absorbed a lot of this music. And this format seemed to evolve into Alternative Rock (which included Grunge.) And for some reason, this format stuck. But why this, and not Disco?
Because teenage boys like this music and buy these records? (Can you imagine a 16 year old straight white boy from the suburbs buying the latest Kelly Marie album? An Eartha Kitt 12" single? A Limahl poster?)

The "Disco Sucks" thing created great peer pressure. And I think it influenced both radio DJs and listeners/buyers to avoid the disco stigma. If you still listened to disco then, other guys would call you a fag. So it took a bold stance (especially for a teenage boy) to consume disco in late 1979/80. Which made it forbidden. Which made it fun again.

Imagine if disco had quietly dwindled without the controversy. It wouldn't have the fiercely defended status that it enjoys today. Kind of like the Edsel.

: )

[garrybcoston]

Originally Posted by FranceJoliFan

Thanks, Garry.

The East Coast always has better R&B radio. I wish we had more non-Rap R&B radio here in the NW. I'll hear the occasional "Old School" program. But not enough classic late-70's "Soul" music. Thank goodness for Internet radio.

In the early 80's, Seattle had a great "New Wave" station called KJET (they played B-52's, Romantics, Pretenders, and some indie rock.) Lasted a few years until pop radio absorbed a lot of this music. And this format seemed to evolve into Alternative Rock (which included Grunge.) And for some reason, this format stuck. But why this, and not Disco?
Because teenage boys like this music and buy these records? (Can you imagine a 16 year old straight white boy from the suburbs buying the latest Kelly Marie album? An Eartha Kitt 12" single? A Limahl poster?)

The "Disco Sucks" thing created great peer pressure. And I think it influenced both radio DJs and listeners/buyers to avoid the disco stigma. If you still listened to disco then, other guys would call you a fag. So it took a bold stance (especially for a teenage boy) to consume disco in late 1979/80. Which made it forbidden. Which made it fun again.

Imagine if disco had quietly dwindled without the controversy. It wouldn't have the fiercely defended status that it enjoys today. Kind of like the Edsel.

: )

Disco is kind of like an antique or classic item that is outdated but still in vogue and people still buy it and enjoy it.

I was listening to Cerrone's "Cerrone's Paradise" the other day and it was like taking out my solid gold antique piece, shining it, enjoying the shine and the overall appearance of the piece but still thinking back to what it was like or what it must have been like during its "heyday."

Garry

[Jeff H]

We had a an all-disco radio station in Pittsburgh--well, actually in a suburb of Pittsburgh called Greensburg--for maybe a year in 1979. It was a little-known medium power station, so I'm sure they figured "what the hell... let's play disco." There were no live DJs; it was all automated, but on Saturday nights (I think) you could call in and make requests. It played all the obvious hits, but also plenty of records I wasn't hearing anywhere else.

I happened to be doing my internship at Pittsburgh magazine at the time, and we were instructed to come up with our own story ideas, so I interviewed the program director. My interview ended up being edited down to about two paragraphs.. and very shortly thereafter my clock radio went off one morning and instead of hearing Donna Summer I heard Dolly Parton: They had changed formats to a country station literally overnight with no warning.

[remicks]

*****

Disco's sudden assault on radio stations certainly didn't do our cause any favors.

Remember, new stations weren't created to become disco stations ... they simply displaced existing formats on existing stations. Imagine yourself in 1979, loving Supertramp and Aerosmith and all other rock and roll that was good and decent to your ears and your morning clock radio goes off and instead of Foreigner beginning your happy rock 'n roll day .... you get RING MY BELL instead.

Or another way of looking at it .....you go to your favorite disco in 1979 and overnight its become a venue for live rock bands only . How would you like it ????

This caused a lot of anger . Disco music hadn't just taken its own place in radio.... it wasn't just one more music to be found on the dial . As quickly as it had arrived ... it simultaneously just as quickly wiped out other formats loved by many for years. Gone! Eliminated !
Imagine that! NOT A GOOD PLAN for achieving universal love.

And those converted stations ... they were simply chasing ratings .... they weren't switching out if some new found love of disco. Again imagine yourself a DJ who probably loved playing rock ....going in for your shift and being told "From now on you're playing this" and being handed Chic!
The station staff and sales reps ...they probably worked at a given station at least in part because they liked the format there ....and now they had to swallow hard to go to their established accounts and say ..."your ads are no longer appearing within a rock/country/MOR format, your ads will be played amongst...gulp ....disco . You'll need to change them to fit accordingly. ... how's that grab you ?? "

In Hawaii we literally instantly had THREE disco radio stations all chasing that golden ratings ticket , each hoping to be #1 by featuring this new sound ... all three abandoning the formats they previous had and what their listeners were used to hearing.

This was all doomed for failure.


*****