Plato's Retreat..Love it or Hate it?

[remicks]

Originally Posted by STEPHEN L FREEMAN

Well... Sort of. But not really...

Brad Baker arranged Gloria Gaynor's "Most Of All" for Greg Diamond, as well as the "Bionic Boogie" LP with "Dance Little Dreamer". But he wasn't involved in the subsequent "Starcruiser", or "Hot Butterfly" releases. They were arranged by Godfrey Diamond. Also, though he did arrangements for Diamond, he didn't do any writing for him. He performed both duties for Thomas. So there wouldn't have been any Baker projects to "toss over" to Thomas, from Bionic Boogie.

From discogs :

Gregg Diamond - Star Cruiser


Label: Marlin Catalog#: MARLIN 2217
Format: Vinyl, LP

Country:US Released:1978 Genre: Funk / Soul Style: Disco Credits: Acoustic Guitar, Guitar [Electric] - Steve Love
Artwork By - Ernie Thormahlen
Artwork By [Sleeve Design] - Ernie Thormahlen , Mick Rock
Bass [Bass Guitar, Piccolo Bass] - Jim Gregory
Conductor [Strings, Horns], Other [Strings, Horns Orchestrated] - Brad Baker

Gregg Diamond Bionic Boogie* - Hot Butterfly

Catalog#: 2391 373 Format: Vinyl, LP
Country:France Released:1978 Genre: Electronic Style: Disco Credits: Arp Axe - Jerry Thomas
Arranged By [Strings, Horns] - Brad Baker

"The Freak" was a definite dance move as was "The Rock", shortly thereafter. (They were opposite physical movements from each other. The Freak being a alternating back-an-forth of the shoulders an hips. While the Rock was a side-to-side of the hips and arms, in unison.) And people danced however they wanted, to whatever they wanted. I never came a cross a dancefloor that was solely one style, or another. Particularly, due to any particular song. (At least, until New Wave came along.) For example: I remember doing the Freak to "Instant Replay", on Fire Island. And my b/f at the time, won a Hustle contest with his dance partner to the same song.

Oh yes .... of course people danced any which way they chose to whatever song ...although in the hustle's hey day .... when they took over a certain song all others pretty much had to make room and move aside ...and can we agree that certain songs had more appeal for particular types of dancing ..... What I'm saying about PLATO'S RETREAT is that its sound attempts to blend both dance styles ....and no couple is going to go on the floor and hustle then switch to freaking and then go back again to hustling in the course of a single song ....
Also doesn't the break in PLATO'S RETREAT sound like a club DJ has inserted a more freaky break from a totally different song and has lodged it in there to give the song a required break?? ? Another reason the song was an awkward one for the dance floor ....



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[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Originally Posted by remicks

From discogs :

I didn't look it up on a site. I read the actual record labels, on my copies of "Starcruiser" and "Hot Butterfly".

As for the theory of their attempt to blend both dance styles...
Sometimes "a song is just a song".

[remicks]

Originally Posted by STEPHEN L FREEMAN

I didn't look it up on a site. I read the actual record labels, on my copies of "Starcruiser" and "Hot Butterfly".

Well did the discogs contributer just make it up then ???

I notice the entry for STARCRUIZER is for the French pressing .....so maybe that pressing included the Brad Baker info.....

As for the theory of their attempt to blend both dance styles...
Sometimes "a song is just a song".

Well all songs are just a song .... But its interesting to me why some rise to the top while others ...like this one ... don't .... and it can be for many reasons . I just remember this release having a very dated sound at the time of its release ( The Joe Thomas flute parts with that older "hustle" sound particularly being the culprit ) and now umpteen years later giving it a more thorough listening ....those are my observations ....


*****

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Originally Posted by remicks

its interesting to me why some rise to the top while others ...like this one ... don't ....

It did just great for me at both the NY and NJ clubs I was working in, in '78. A big ol' hands-in-the-air track. Then again, I've no idea where you were spinning, at that time, that it received such a tepid response.

Originally Posted by remicks

Well did the discogs contributer just make it up then ???

Well, we all know if it's on the Internet, it must be true. My scans are below. And they're both definitive about the arrangers.

Originally Posted by remicks

I notice the entry for STARCRUIZER is for the French pressing .....so maybe that pressing included the Brad Baker info

Or, just maybe the American pressing, of the American Recording, got it right.

Either way, the desintigration of this thread, into a contest, has become tiresome. (Sorry, Dayna.) So, I'm outta here.

I leave you with possession of the last word. And my blessings.

[Dayna]

It's ok Stephen ..I feel you..
I don't know why threads turn into an I can one up you or My source is better than yours or a let me try and disprove you Fest~!!!
It's all so common and Tired.. why cant we all just take people for their word and respect their knowledge and give them props for the effort even if it might not be on spot perfect...I'm sure some members are scared to write anything for fear that someone will attack or try and disprove their post rather than trying to get out of it what the poster REALLY wanted to convey.. "myself not being one to give a flip" I write my opinion without fear of being attacked by a Forum Fossil or someone that needs attention so bad they have to always be right....
This isn't Romper Room or Sesame Street..
and I'm QUITE CERTAIN the moderators get tired of the mundane task of having to intervene in such childish Gibberish

[needlefingers]

Thank you Dayna and Stephen. I have to agree with your posts as I'm sure everyone knows by now.

I thought we were here to promote disco and share the fun we had and maybe hear a few songs that were missed. To keep it alive and reconnect.

Not to perform an autopsy or dissect it to death. Or suck the fun out of it.

What was the worst part of a night out at the disco? When the lights came on.

Last call! Last call!

[qdearl]

Originally Posted by SandraDee

Absolutely LOVE this track! It's got everything on it that makes a perfect pure 'disco' record IMO. Powerful yet classy female unison singing, killer break, catchy song, excellent percussion & keyboards, fab orchestration & horns all wrapped up in an energetic glossy production. Perfection. (Yes, I like it!) Oh & it has the saucy theme too which was essential on late 70s 'disco'.

....ummm yeah, what he said....

It's impossible to still be in a bad mood after listening to this song!

[SandraDee]

Originally Posted by qdearl

It's impossible to still be in a bad mood after listening to this song!

Absolutely! I often say that the only thing that keeps me sane is listening/dancing to my favourite music.

[Dansez!]

Originally Posted by Dayna

It's ok Stephen ..I feel you..
I don't know why threads turn into an I can one up you or My source is better than yours or a let me try and disprove you Fest~!!!
It's all so common and Tired.. why cant we all just take people for their word and respect their knowledge and give them props for the effort even if it might not be on spot perfect...I'm sure some members are scared to write anything for fear that someone will attack or try and disprove their post rather than trying to get out of it what the poster REALLY wanted to convey.. "myself not being one to give a flip" I write my opinion without fear of being attacked by a Forum Fossil or someone that needs attention so bad they have to always be right....
This isn't Romper Room or Sesame Street..
and I'm QUITE CERTAIN the moderators get tired of the mundane task of having to intervene in such childish Gibberish

I've said it in my own words (or in my "accented" English) before and I could not agree with you more. Thank you!

I always thought this was a forum for people to come together (I'm not going there! )... and not a place for us to fear that we will be attacked if someone may not agree with what we say. There are ways to express opinions without offending others. Some on this board are aware of this, others have a lot to learn.

I appreciate you (as I know so many here do).

[SandraDee]

Originally Posted by Dansez!

Some on this board are aware of this, others have a lot to learn.

It's all about social skills isn't it; some have them & some don't & never will.

[Dayna]

Originally Posted by SandraDee

Absolutely LOVE this track! It's got everything on it that makes a perfect pure 'disco' record IMO. Powerful yet classy female unison singing, killer break, catchy song, excellent percussion & keyboards, fab orchestration & horns all wrapped up in an energetic glossy production. Perfection. (Yes, I like it!) Oh & it has the saucy theme too which was essential on late 70s 'disco'.

Deliciously put..
Every aspect of the song you mentioned is why I Love it SO much..
It just reeks of hard Disco Flavor.........

[QUINNY]

No matter how much you guys might want it to be, the world isn't fluffy and made of marshmallows. It's a hard place, where hard opinions are frequently aired. It's a place where most of us have to pass muster on a daily basis just to survive.

It shows a certain smugness by those of you 'with' social skills, but worse still a huge amount of conceited arrogance, laced with a large spoonful of pure, unadulterated hypocrisy to berate those you deem 'not to have such qualities' by attempting to cast them in the mould of pariahs, whilst somehow taking the moral high ground and preaching Disco's 'supposed' message of peace, love and understanding (to all mankind) as your mantra.

You guys crack me up.

[Videoskooter]

Originally Posted by Dansez!

I always thought this was a forum for people to come together (I'm not going there! )... and not a place for us to fear that we will be attacked if someone may not agree with what we say. There are ways to express opinions without offending others. Some on this board are aware of this, others have a lot to learn

And that's the way it's going to be. This is a place celebrating DISCO! Not a place for personal fights!

People do come here to get informed, connect, to be entertained, simply TO FEEL GOOD and have some fun and nostalgia after a hard day's work! That's the way this community is conceived, those are the rules of the club. If somebody doesn't like what's served in the club, then he's free to leave! There are no contracts, no obligations here whatsoever! It's a FREE board where everybody should feel at ease, period. The world is a hard place but that's why communities like this one exist: TO ESCAPE FROM REALITY for some time.

This thread is about whether you like or don't like the track "Plato's Retreat" so please everybody go back to Dayna's original question.

THX!

[dancer5612004]

Originally Posted by QUINNY

Very few of the records we discuss on this site are top of anyone's list.

Why wasn't Jimmy Bo Horne more popular than he was? His grooves were infectious, generally happy sounding and could be wickedly funky. Maybe he was just the wrong side of commercial.

Plato's Retreat was simply something I actually barely remember, and was one of those tracks I only heard when another club DJ played it. I liked GROOVE ME by Fern Kinney 1000 times better, also on TK records.
Our club did play GET HAPPY quite abit, though, but I didnt hear SPANK until the movie 54. I like that one alot too.

[remicks]

*****

I agree VS .....

...but --- if posts that are an affront to a member are allowed to remain on the board ... Then that member needs to be given the opportunity to respond to it:




---- Must be the early summer like heat .....

Sorry you are dismissing our conversation midway Stephen , but thanks for offering me the final word.

First a reminder .... the title of this thread asks ... "PLATO'S RETREAT Love it or Hate it ??" followed by "What do you think of it?" Thus I simply responded Dayna to your invitation for an opinion ... I personally don't fall into either category.... don't hate it or love it.... but I do think the song has weaknesses ....

Originally Posted by STEPHEN L FREEMAN

It did just great for me at both the NY and NJ clubs I was working in, in '78. A big ol' hands-in-the-air track. Then again, I've no idea where you were spinning, at that time, that it received such a tepid response.

I'm trying to remember if I was spinning during this time ....But yes I'd expect a song about PLATO'S RETREAT .. a NYC club ..... to do better there. Can't remember for certain how it charted on Billboard's disco chart .....I thought rather low ....but if anyone wants to correct that ...trust me ...no big deal ....

Well, we all know if it's on the Internet, it must be true. My scans are below. And they're both definitive about the arrangers.

see below

Or, just maybe the American pressing, of the American Recording, got it right.

could be. see below

Either way, the desintigration of this thread, into a contest, has become tiresome. (Sorry, Dayna.) So, I'm outta here.

I leave you with possession of the last word. And my blessings.

most kind. . see below.

DAYNA :
I'm sure some members are scared to write anything for fear that someone will attack or try and disprove their post rather than trying to get out of it what the poster REALLY wanted to convey.. (HOW TRUE -remicks) "myself not being one to give a flip" I write my opinion without fear of being attacked by a Forum Fossil or someone that needs attention so bad they have to always be right....
This isn't Romper Room or Sesame Street..

You mean then it isn't time for us to play with our dolls ???? --- I'm Sorry - I'm SORRY -- just could not resist that !!!! Bad me !!


Anyway .... from one old fossil to the likewise others .... I'm sorry Stephen/Dayna that my posts have bothered you in this way ...THEY WERE NOT INTENDED TO . I had been under the impression Stephen that you enjoyed exploring deeper into the particulars of these various releases. Not a contest .... but a mutual exploration ...
I must point out it was you who discounted my initial input ....and that is why I responded by providing the source from which I'd developed my thinking . Being right isn't the goal .... finding out the correct information is.

If only I had all my albums carefully cataloged so that I could pull each out to review at will . But at times when I cant....like with STARCRUISER ... yes there are sites that are pretty reliable to look up details ...but even if they're wrong .... hey point it out ... let's get it right!!! ( Big deal??)


And now to put my 'possession of the final word' to better use than all this undesired sillyness :

Since discogs' information is in doubt .... how about an alternate Internet reference ....

Gregg Diamond




Posted by:
Bernie (3354)
on Dec 06, 03 | 9:25 am

Gregg Diamond's Star Cruiser (LP)

RECORD LABEL (COUNTRY) / YEAR / CATALOGUE # / FORMAT / SPEED:
Marlin Records (US) / 1978 / MARLIN 2217
LP 33 1/3 RPM Vinyl record
PRODUCTION / RECORDING / MIXER / STUDIO & BAND CREDITS:
Producer: Gregg Diamond and Godfrey Diamond

All songs written and arranged by Gregg Diamond

Engineered and mixed by Godfrey Diamond

Musicians:
Gregg Diamond - Keyboards, acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes
Jim Gregory - Piccolo bass
Steve Love - Electric and lead solo on Arista Vista

Strings and horns orchestrated and conducted by Brad Baker


TRACKLISTING:

Side A
1. Fancy Dancer (6:21) (Gregg Diamond)
2. Island Boogie (3:38) (Gregg Diamond)
3. Starcruisin' (6:19) (Gregg Diamond)
4. Bring Back Your Love (3:45) (Gregg Diamond)

Side B
1. Holding Back (5:08) (Gregg Diamond)
2. This Side Of Midnight (5:30) (Gregg Diamond)
3. Too Hot To (3:16) (Gregg Diamond)
4. Arista Vista (4:43) (Gregg Diamond)


Gregg Diamond's Star Cruiser was his only album on TK / Marlin Records. It yielded some great Disco singles notably "Star Cruisin'," "This Side of Midnight" with Jocelyn Brown on vocals and "Fancy Dancer."

from discomusic.com




And I agree with you Stephen that PLATOS RETREAT is "just a song" ....... and hardly one to draw swords over .....


I've pmd both you and Dayna


peace


remicks


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