the very first disco song???

[Paulo]

Everybody knows what disco is from 1975 to 1980, but when we reach the borders (1973 or 1982) things get blurred. What's disco, what's soul ??

It is difficult to classified, because DISCO was being born as a SOUL offshot.

Of course all songs mentioned in this topic were soul numbers. If disco had not happen, they would be classified today as SOUL.... But since DISCO existed, obviously there would be early 70's soul songs which already have disco elements.

That's why I love the idea of having a very elastic definition of what disco was in the very beggining (or in the end).

So all those songs mentioned are soul numbers, but they are also in the root of 70's disco music... they are disco.

[Nano]

My definition of "disco", at least in the beginnings, is soul/funk songs that were specially aimed to the dancefloor (longer, no solos, instrumental drum breaks to make the mix easier...) Certainly "TSOP" is one of the first to fit the bill. I guess MFSB was not a band conceived for touring: they were just too many.
The other leg are the machine-leaden beats that made things even easier for disco dee-jays: Silver Convention, Giorgio Moroder and, first and foremost, TK Records with Harry KC's productions.

The sequence could be like this:
1) Around 1972-73 Philly Sound has imposed his sophisti-soul and some indie labels begin to experiment with rhythm machines.
2) Both parties realize their more steady-beat driven songs ("TSOP", "Rock your baby", "Fly Robin Fly") become hits at discotheques, where people dance to the records in absence of the artists, and that dee-jays -the guys who put the records- tend to blend one song into another.
3) They begin to produce aiming to that market (Trammps, Tavares, KC & The Sunshine Band) and there comes the disco boom.
4) Some funk bands, seeing this market possibilities (or wanting to change with the times?) change slightly their sound to attract disco dancers.

Of course, all this is MHO.

[Outsider]

"Bad Luck" - Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes

:evil:

[peppertree5706]

Dance, Dance, Dance, by The Beach Boys from 1965 had the disco beat. Through the whole record. You can record a BPM on it and it would be a disco beat.

The Beach Boys... They just are not disco. No matter how good their song is, people will not put them in the disco class.

But check out, Dance, Dance, Dance and give it independent thought. It is a fine record.

[markydefad]

I've always said it was "Theme From Shaft" by Isaac Hayes (1971)--THE link between the downtown funky street sound of Sly Stone ("Family Affair") and the sleek uptown orchestral string sound of Barry White ("Loves Theme").

Granted, it doesn't have a drum beat until Isaac starts the vocal ( around 2:00 into the song)--BUT IT'S THE SOUND OF DISCO!!!! :D

First time I ever heard anything like it--VERY INFLUENTIAL on musicians and producers of the time. Witness Norman Whitfield's "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" from the following year.

If you can't hear it-- you must be deaf. :P

[NickNack]

Originally Posted by markydefad

I've always said it was "Theme From Shaft" by Isaac Hayes (1971)

IT'S THE SOUND OF DISCO!!!! :D

I think Jim Burgess might have agreed with you since he did the 10-minute mix on "Shaft II" in 1978. All the original touches, plus extras.

[originalbigm]

Originally Posted by markydefad

I've always said it was "Theme From Shaft" by Isaac Hayes (1971)--THE link between the downtown funky street sound of Sly Stone ("Family Affair") and the sleek uptown orchestral string sound of Barry White ("Loves Theme").

I will concede that Marky is correct in that this was the earliest record that represented the sound that disco eventually evolved into.

[efunk_adelic]

Isaac Hayes says: "Damn Right!" :D

[originalbigm]

Just another addition to the thread

"Some disco and soul historians argue that disco was born in Philadelphia when Jerry Butler recorded the extremely danceable and highly syncopated "One Night Affair" under Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff's direction in 1972. But whether or not disco was actually created in Philly, the city undeniably made many outstanding contributions to the genre."- AMG review

[NickNack]

I just re-read this thread and realized another touted "first disco" song is missing from our list. Eddie Kendrick's 1972 "Girl, You Need A Change Of Mind". Over 7 and 1/2 minutes of dancing joy and a club favorite.

[efunk_adelic]

Originally Posted by NickNack

I just re-read this thread and realized another touted "first disco" song is missing from our list. Eddie Kendrick's 1972 "Girl, You Need A Change Of Mind". Over 7 and 1/2 minutes of dancing joy and a club favorite.

Nick, is that song from the "People...Hold On" LP?

[Voyage]

I agree with the opinion of some that it's impossible to determine which song was the very FIRST Disco song, however I think what we can only do is like list some songs which were Disco pioneers.

I think the very first Disco songs were:

• Love's Theme
  TSOP
  Shaft
  Rock The Boat
  Rock Your Baby

Voyage :P

[discosavvy]

originalbigm: I agree that "One Night Affair" by Jerry Butler is disco (more precisely, disco-soul).

Outsider: "Bad Luck" by Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes is indeed one of the FIRST disco songs - it was recorded in 1972 even though it wasn't released till early 1975.

The other disco-soul entries of 1972 include: "(Win, Place or Show) She's a Winner" by the Intruders and "Love Train" by the O'Jays.

It would be interesting to know the recording schedules for each of these songs. Did the recording of "Bad Luck" come before "Love Train", for instance, or after? Earl Young may know because he drummed for the Intruders, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, MFSB, the Trammps, etc. You can find his recounting of how he developed the disco beat and how he started upping the tempo in 1970 on pages 120-121 of the forthcoming book by Tim Lawrence, "Love Saves the Day", which is being published in January 2004. Mr. Lawrence describes what happened during the "The Love I Lost" recording session and also how Young switched from the snare-heavy Motown beat to open up possibilities with different rhythms and cymbal patterns.

[Mixmachine]

Originally Posted by Nano

My definition of "disco", at least in the beginnings, is soul/funk songs that were specially aimed to the dancefloor .

Why such narrow definition? R&B by it's very nature was always associated with dancing and I don't buy into this theory concocted by later generations that early R&B music was especially tailored for "Dance Floor", IMO Artists of the day were just creating the best music they could, talent and quality sold their music all across the world making it’s way to early “Discos”, the “disco” remix was later created for the Dance floor and Deejays but the foundation for it’s success was rooted in the good music they were using, not necessary because of the “remix”.

According to an old departed friend’s recollections (and early DeeJay) one of his early club hits was “Don’t bring back Memories” (‘69) by the Four Tops later redone by Ray Martinez of Amant, other early “Dance Floor” hits not mention here are:

“It’s A Shame” (70) Spinners
“Sultana” –Titanic (71)
“Little bit of love” Brenda and the Tabulations (72)
“K-Jee- Nite Litters (71)
“Running Back and Forth” Edwin Starr ‘72
“Rain” Dorothy Morrison (71)

and many many more…….

[NickNack]

Originally Posted by efunk_adelic

Nick, is that song from the "People...Hold On" LP?

Yep, that's the one.