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

[Billy72]

I don't know how many metropolitan cities had Disco radio, but I'D LOVE TO HEAR from you if there were anymore cities besides Chicago and NYC that had em in the late 70s. HOWEVER, my QUESTION regards how in the world did Dahl's Baseball event (in July 79) destroy a whole friggin empire with corporate earnings out the wazoo.

I read that NYC's Disco station ended around Sept. 79. I know there were plenty of club hopping, party people in NYC past 1979 who still loved Disco. Also, the Disco charts morphed into a more R & B sound in 80, 81, 82, and even 83 with PLENTY of songs to groove too; AND continue a radio station.

Any possible theories would be appreciated. I always come back and read them, if you can't already tell the subject really interests me :)

[Bernie]

Welcome to the DiscoMusic.com forums!

Regarding Disco radio stations, there were many of them outside of the major cities. I recall a "Disco 95" out of Springfield, MA while traveling and several college radio stations playing Disco the most notable being Seton Hall University's WSOU 89.5 out of New Jersey. I'm sure there were others.

I lived in the New York City area and Disco radio via WKTU's "Disco 92" was alive and well into the mid 1980s, although they dropped the "Disco 92" name around 1980.

Why did many Disco radio stations disappear? Over-saturation really and the changing tastes of listeners.

Now on to an area that drives me nuts: Steve Dahl did NOT kill Disco or Disco radio anywhere!!! I was around during the time and on NYC TV it was barely mentioned and when it was, it was treated like the absurdity that it was and for only a few moments during the sports portion of the newscast. No one paid any attention to this event. It's only been in recent years that someone on the internet (who probably wasn't around back then) has taken liberties with the truth and revised this nonsense to be something bigger than what it really was.

[garrybcoston]

Originally Posted by Billy72

I don't know how many metropolitan cities had Disco radio, but I'D LOVE TO HEAR from you if there were anymore cities besides Chicago and NYC that had em in the late 70s. HOWEVER, my QUESTION regards how in the world did Dahl's Baseball event (in July 79) destroy a whole friggin empire with corporate earnings out the wazoo.

I read that NYC's Disco station ended around Sept. 79. I know there were plenty of club hopping, party people in NYC past 1979 who still loved Disco. Also, the Disco charts morphed into a more R & B sound in 80, 81, 82, and even 83 with PLENTY of songs to groove too; AND continue a radio station.

Any possible theories would be appreciated. I always come back and read them, if you can't already tell the subject really interests me :)

Hi Billy, Garry here.

I will give you my take and this is fact, not theory; I and others in this forum were there in the flesh.

We have covered a portion of this subject in other threads relative to the death of disco and how it died. In early 1979 the whole disco "thing" kind of got rediculous, especially on the music side as record labels, producers, etc. began to crank out any and all types of disco similar to a commercial assembly line; and some of it was just totally silly. You would have had to be there to really understand. Disco totally reigned supreme, not just the music, but in all disco was it consumed the whole world culture. Disco was so all consuming, and I don't care what anyone says, it almost killed off other music genres like rock, funk, R&B, and even the jazz and classical music labels and stations suffered. Everything during that time, from about 1974 until the end of 1979 was disco and disco consumed anything and everything such as clothing, fashion, hairdo's, music, commercials, theater, radio stations, it even affected the overall sound of all types of music during the period and the other music genres had no choice but to sound like disco; to not do so was suicide. In fact the whole world, not just America, ate, slept, breathed and crapped disco; so there was a lot of sour grapes out there amongst the fans and "powers that be" of the other music genres; but the rock and rollers probably took it more hard than anyone else. I remember friends of mine who loved rock and roll (and so did I but I jumped totally over to disco) and I tried to get them to go to the clubs and listen to disco music and they would absolutely refuse and hated it, most of them for no valid or sane reason whatsoever, they would just say they hated it, it was silly, too repetitious (which was the first and most popular reason for hating it), and another reason was that it was gay or faggoty. Anyway, I suspect sour grapes played a large part, and the rock and roll powers that be, who possibly lost quite a lot of money to disco, jumped on the bandwagon with Dahl when Dahl entertained the thought and opportunity of staging a "disco sucks" rally in Chicago.

I was living in Jacksonville Florida, which was a mid-sized market at the time and they had one disco radio station. I had numerous friends (I was in the Navy then) who were from different parts of the country and each of them stated that the major cities in their state had a disco radio station or two or more. All in all the majority of the major cities had disco radio stations (i.e. Miami, Atlanta, New Orleans, New York (of course), Philadelphia, Washington DC, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, and I could go on and on).

The disco radio stations held up pretty good up until the Steve Dahl Debacle in Chicago (I think July of 1979); then it was a major disco market crash immediately after that. Disco was already on the decline but if I remember correctly, the producers and labels were devising ways to prop it up. Media and market blitzes against disco raged across the country; everything was against disco and it got to the point where you were either afraid or ashamed to love disco. The disco radio station in Jacksonville, and I can't remember the call letters, folded in mid September 1979. There was no indication that it was even changing until about a week before. They kept stating "stay tuned for the big change." We all thought it was something better or a new kind of disco; they changed to a heavy metal format (which was totally opposite from disco at the time). I later found out that this was the norm all across the country. Most of the disco radio stations around the country changed to either a rock or heavy metal format after their change.

The advertisements for discos and nightclubs on the disco radio station in Jacksonville continued about a month or more after "the change," and I guess this had to be in order for the station to complete its contractural agreements and commitments.

All in all, it just was an extremely sad screwed up time for us all. It was a sucker punch in the face of disco and in our faces which knocked us out for quite a long time, and disco was immediately killed and out for the count, that is, the disco that we all remember (fad, music, etc.). Many disco record producers, labels, writers, lyricists, entertainers, artists, and musicians suffered heavily beginning late 1979 and thereafter. I am sure they all recovered, held their head high, and moved on proudly, but Steve Dahl, and other parties and accomplices who helped to scheme this murder probably don't even have a clue as to what they really truly did in contributing to diminish or kill disco. I would imagine, as Bernie pointed out, that it took a much longer time for disco to disappear in the much larger cities like New York. However, many people (Record Producers, Musicians, Record Executives, and others who depended heavily on disco for their livelihood), lost their jobs, livelihood, homes, etc. because of the change in taste and style of music, and the "kill disco" and "disco sucks" anti disco marketing ploy (in my opinion, because everything still hummed along until after that rally).

Anyway, we've all moved on. The happy part is, though they may have contributed to killing the fad and everything else associated with the music, they were not successful in killing disco music; it (disco) evolved into another type of disco called dance, and later branched off into three or four different types of dance music genres (house, garage, trance, industrial). In addition the disco that we loved has begun to reappear, slowly but surely, and even old disco songs and albums from the 70's are also being played, puchased, etc. by the general public and clubs.

So this is my take. Sorry I was so long winded but didn't want to leave anything out (I know I did), and wanted you to get a good, vivid picture in your mind of how I viewed the whole thing. Hope this helped.

Garry

[Billy72]

Wow, awesome information guys! You both gave me alot of info I don't think I could have found anywhere on the net.

Bernie, you mentioned how disco had taken over all genres of music, and how the rock fans were especially upset by this. You know, this is something that I've read before and know; however, the way you explained it really broadened my awareness of how really big disco had become. You also mentioned that Dahl didnt kill Disco; that NYC disco station continued on, just calling itself something other than disco. Now, that sounds like what I thought would have happened in a city like NYC which thrives on club life. You mentioned Disco stations in smaller cities like Springfield, Mass. Damn, I would have never thought that a disco station (any dance station) could have been found outside a metropolitan area!

Gary, you werent too long winded, I loved all the info. You also mentioned Disco stations in smaller areas, like Jacksonville! Gaud, never would have thought it. I enjoyed hearing about 'the sucker punch' emotions you and others went through. Thats personal stuff you don't get from papers or reports. You also broadened my notion of how much disco really affected everything, fashions, hairdo's etc. The whole 'gay sound' that rock n roll buddies of mine cant get out of their head, I IDENTIFY. I see Disco as hot, romantic; and when I here Donna Summer or Diana sing about WHAT THEY WANT; it drives me wild. Ironically, from the summer of 79' I'm thinking of THE BOSS. Gaud, the vocals and sound of this one, so hot.

I'm gonna have to go back and re-read these posts, alot to glean from, thanks.

ONE QUESTION though: I've always wondered; with the way the 'disco machine' (record making) was putting out disco records up till mid 79, how come in the fall of 79' (looking back at the top 40 charts) you see a blatant attempt to 'cut off' the disco sound. Top 40 radio was even playing crappy songs by artists who were good in the 60s, but were now putting out absolutely horrible material (one example: Bob Dylan "gotta serve somebody"). HAVING SAID THIS; I've always wondered how many songs in late 79' were TOSSED ASIDE and we never got to here. IS THAT POSSIBLE? Could there be 50 awesome songs (or so) that were ready for market which got tossed aside, and we never heard? Or did the clubs pick em ALL up?

I've already mentioned that I love 1980 (as well as the late 70s). The light rock (so called) sound. Awesome duets: ANYBODY REMEMBER this rare one "Let me go, love" Michael Mcdonald/Nicolette Larson; OR "Suddenly" Olivia Newton J/Cliff Richard: Gaud, the hot, steamy romance of these kinda songs!

Country was in its slick and pop heyday, since the late 70s that is (like Crystal Gayle, Kenny Rogers, Ronny Milsap, Anne Murray), and it seemed that in 80' some of the BEST disco songs (IMO) were released. "Love Sensation", "On the Radio", "I never knew love like this before", "Take the time do it right", "the beat goes on", "Do you love what you feel", and ANDY GIBB's "Desire" (which charted well disspelling the notion that The Beegees sound wasnt tolerated on radio by this time).
So maybe these were some of the 79 leftovers, I dont know???

[garrybcoston]

Originally Posted by Billy72

Wow, awesome information guys! You both gave me alot of info I don't think I could have found anywhere on the net.

Bernie, you mentioned how disco had taken over all genres of music, and how the rock fans were especially upset by this. You know, this is something that I've read before and know; however, the way you explained it really broadened my awareness of how really big disco had become. You also mentioned that Dahl didnt kill Disco; that NYC disco station continued on, just calling itself something other than disco. Now, that sounds like what I thought would have happened in a city like NYC which thrives on club life. You mentioned Disco stations in smaller cities like Springfield, Mass. Damn, I would have never thought that a disco station (any dance station) could have been found outside a metropolitan area!

Gary, you werent too long winded, I loved all the info. You also mentioned Disco stations in smaller areas, like Jacksonville! Gaud, never would have thought it. I enjoyed hearing about 'the sucker punch' emotions you and others went through. Thats personal stuff you don't get from papers or reports. You also broadened my notion of how much disco really affected everything, fashions, hairdo's etc. The whole 'gay sound' that rock n roll buddies of mine cant get out of their head, I IDENTIFY. I see Disco as hot, romantic; and when I here Donna Summer or Diana sing about WHAT THEY WANT; it drives me wild. Ironically, from the summer of 79' I'm thinking of THE BOSS. Gaud, the vocals and sound of this one, so hot.

I'm gonna have to go back and re-read these posts, alot to glean from, thanks.

ONE QUESTION though: I've always wondered; with the way the 'disco machine' (record making) was putting out disco records up till mid 79, how come in the fall of 79' (looking back at the top 40 charts) you see a blatant attempt to 'cut off' the disco sound. Top 40 radio was even playing crappy songs by artists who were good in the 60s, but were now putting out absolutely horrible material (one example: Bob Dylan "gotta serve somebody"). HAVING SAID THIS; I've always wondered how many songs in late 79' were TOSSED ASIDE and we never got to here. IS THAT POSSIBLE? Could there be 50 awesome songs (or so) that were ready for market which got tossed aside, and we never heard? Or did the clubs pick em ALL up?

I've already mentioned that I love 1980 (as well as the late 70s). The light rock (so called) sound. Awesome duets: ANYBODY REMEMBER this rare one "Let me go, love" Michael Mcdonald/Nicolette Larson; OR "Suddenly" Olivia Newton J/Cliff Richard: Gaud, the hot, steamy romance of these kinda songs!

Country was in its slick and pop heyday, since the late 70s that is (like Crystal Gayle, Kenny Rogers, Ronny Milsap, Anne Murray), and it seemed that in 80' some of the BEST disco songs (IMO) were released. "Love Sensation", "On the Radio", "I never knew love like this before", "Take the time do it right", "the beat goes on", "Do you love what you feel", and ANDY GIBB's "Desire" (which charted well disspelling the notion that The Beegees sound wasnt tolerated on radio by this time).
So maybe these were some of the 79 leftovers, I dont know???

Thanks Billy. Hope you gained something from our posts and learned even more.

You are right; I'll bet there were songs and albums put on the shelf around mid to late 1979 that never got heard. I don't know if we can find this out, but I'll sniff around.

Yes, disco was larger than life. It consumed almost everything during that era. It was truly a magical time, and I am sure Bernie will agree that New York City "set the tone." You mentioned September of 1979 as a time when a lot of the clubs in New York and radio stations changed their names and formats. If New York does it, it's gotta be right; and the whole world followed suit for the exception maybe of the Europeans. They have always been so much more in tune with things than America.

The reason why the plug was basically pulled in late "79" was because of Dahl's marketing ploy (anti-disco campaign), and people, disco people that is, after seeing this, felt that the party was over and it was time to move on. A new decade (1980's) was dawning and many felt it was time for a change, and maybe Dahl was right. Many discoers went back to their original music they loved before disco, but would still frequent the clubs. Me, I was trying to find myself in 1980, music-wise that is. Everything musical changed, disco was phased out more and more in favor of a leaner sound, without the orchestrations and lush compositions. 1980 saw more disco records come out, but they were few and far between. By the spring of 1981 the sound of the British Invasion took the place of disco on the radio, and disco, by that time, was stuffed back in the closet, the name "disco" was even halted in Billboard and other music magazines.

Yeah it was a magical, romantic time, but 1979 and 1980 are years I would love to forget; I survived but we lost something that we knew we might never again gain or experience; at least not like it was.

Garry

[Billy72]

Thanks Gary. So what about the club scene in the early 80s (I'm talkin 80-81), you were there in the TOP U.S. place man, NYC. I've got another post on this, you know, wondering if all the great black R & B actually hit the 'mixed' or white clubs (so to speak). You know, all the R & B great stuff that was pumping out at the time, check the post.

Also, it's kinda trivial for some not so into exact time periods; but since you were there; in 80, 81, were there still re-plays (spins) of ANY hits from the 70s Disco era? If not, when do you remember that stopping?
Great to talk to someone who was there; maybe Bernie might pine in as well (or someone else).

BTW, I mentioned this on another post to someone; but the actual 'DISCO CHART' was called such until sometime in 1985.

[Mixmachine]

In Miami , Florida in the 80's Radio Stations still played Disco and Dance music, and the R&B Stations still played Funk ---which was still available by the way-- plus another type of music locally known as 'Miami Bass', which was heavily used in Black clubs and Teen Discos -- this music was related to early rap-- some of this genre's hit titles crossed over to other clubs.

As a matter of fact, it was in the 80's that local radio stations began to broadcast for the first time ever Live shows directly from the Discotheques, exposing the locals to current club music and mixing Djs.

One such Radio Station was bilingual station 'Super Q', their format included Latin dance music (Salsa) old school Disco, Italo-Disco and many current club hits, they were immensely popular and all the best clubs of the day advertised here in this station, their "Discoteca al aire" (Live Discotheque) show was very popular and influential, (helping to make huge hits of certain records including Imports) even making local club Djs a household name.

Another local Stations ---that also played Disco in the late 70's-- began to compete with Super Q in the early 80's, this was station Power 96, they went heavy into "Freestyle" (and some Bass) and their "Disco Lunch Mix" was a huge success, (They still used the word Disco!!) making local Stars of the (club) Djs that worked for the Stations creating this (edits) mixes, (many times the Djs spun Live at the station too), local clubs were always interested and eager to host Power 96's shows, --transmitted live from local Discos--, as they used to pack the place with their Radio fans.

There was plenty of great Club dance music in the 80-82 period, --- I certainly spent a fortune buying great records I didn't get at the Record pool --- before British techno and mid 80's "Freestyle" arrived, as a matter of fact this period's music is one of my favorites, I used to call it Lite-Funk, lots of small records labels cranking out nice groovy funky records that kept local dance floors packed.

Also in Miami during this time (early 80's) Italo-Disco was huge, and this music was not played on "regular" Radio (good thing), for club Djs this was an exiting time, you had to be on your toes to keep up with all the Imports, many of this records were great and still had enough of that sugary sound of the past that resembled "Disco".

As you can see, in my experience Steve Dahl’s BS campaign never put a dent in my style or anyone else down here!! I didn’t even know of him until the Net came along a few years back.( the only effect I recall was the change from ‘Disco’ to ‘Dance’ labeling on records and maybe a slowdown in product from major labels only)

In the 80’s Miami had more clubs of all kinds than ever, the music was not pure “Disco” as before, --that euro Disco beat was even getting tired for me by now anyways--- but we kept the party going with fresh music and new styles, nothing changed for us down here because of what some Hippie Rock head from Chicago did.

[garrybcoston]

I was in Jacksonville up until 1982 and they continued playing some of the old 70's disco records into about late 1980, after that it was over.

The dance music that was put out in 1980 and on were composed entirely by keyboards and synths, and this set the tone for the entire decade of the 1980's. A lot of new Funk and R&B danceable music suddenly came out of the closet and was mixed in with the regular dance music. Artists like Patrice Rushen, Rick James, Kool and the Gang, Gap Band, Anita Ward, etc. begin to be mixed in with the dance music.

In the smaller markets the spinning of old disco tunes stopped about early 1980 and was completely phased out by the end of that year; the Bigger markets, and the markets which actually produced disco like Miami, New York, Philadelphia, etc., probably continued on with the disco name and music into the early to mid 1980's. Bernie and Mixmachine might be able to expound more on this as they were in the bigger markets.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I remember the disco name going away much earlier than that, but you are probably right, unless it was not billboard.

Garry

[markydefad]

In San Francisco, as I remember it....in the fall of 1979--after "My Sharona" topped the Pop charts for numerous weeks....DISCO and ONLY DISCO stations changed their formats...some of these were relatively new to the genre...my beloved soft rock station [KCBS-I think] that I listened to religiously that played James Taylor/Joni Mitchell/Bonnie Raitt/Carole King/Jackson Browne/ Eagles/Linda Ronstadt/Fleetwood Mac/Joan Armatrading/Phoebe Snow...etc....but only the "mellow" tracks...changed to full on 24/7 DISCO in late 1978---by the fall of 1979, it dropped that format.

KSFX had always been the soul station and played the urban side of disco--I think they stayed with it..since the new music being released was exactly in their genre.

Then came New Wave.

But after 1980--you could only hear Pop & R&B disco on the radio in San Francisco...we still danced at Trocadero--but the music that was popular--Lime/Cut Glass/Vivien Vee/Sylvester/Patrick Cowley/Tantra did not cross over to radio--for the most part...it was now "underground" dance music--known only to people who went to clubs.

That's how I remember it in SF.

[Billy72]

What can I say; speechless...I love these posts; simply because yall actually 'tack' the time period down (like saying early 80 or late 80), thats puts such a picture in my mind.

Mixmachine, I am damn suprised, man. I NEVER knew there were any stations beyond like 80' (so I was supposing) that were still spinning some old school disco with the new. I'm not sure who it was (have to check) on another post (maybe you) talking to me about the Miami scene. I know Southbeach is hot now (and has been for years), but little did I know. I also know that Barry Gibb (my fav. song writer BTW) resides (or did) in Miami.
So you really like the 80-82 period too? I have another post, that didnt fair to well on responses about this topic. I love this R & B period, reminds me of watching Soul Train on Sat. afternoon; that is when I hear songs like "Somebody's Else's Guy", "Do You Love what you Feel" (Gaud, can't top Rufus & Chaka), oh gotta mention Chaka's 82' song "Aint Nobody" (damn, it grooves). The thing I like about this period was that it STILL RELATED somewhat to old school disco soundwize (without the strings), and GAUD the vocals! Enough said.

Hey Marky, I enjoyed those comments about Frisco, man. You know (I dont know how yall feel but) personally songs like My Sharona, Video Killed the Radio Star, B 52's stuff, and 'M' Pop Music (all from later part of 79') are some of the most annoying songs; don't see how they kicked Disco radio off the air; but I believe you, that New Wave sound did play a role didnt it. I'm not slamming all New Wave (in the least), I think Gary Numan, David Bowie, The Cars, etc. were some great New Wave, when I'm in the mood for it, I gotta be in that dark, introspective kinda mood lol; Well, not The Cars though, pretty light hearted cruisin stuff.

Great to hear from all yall, and again from Gary. THAT WAS good info man; I really was wondering when LOCAL radio stations stopped the old disco songs.