The Early Years

[Disc0tek]

I was remembering (1973) when going to a club was a cult-like thing. The girls all wore quiana dresses and Mary Quant perfume. All the guys wore suits, Arimis or Paco cologne and acted like Fred Astair. Everyone danced the Hustle and took lessons at Dale Dance Studio (The hand up in the air people!) Once a week was latin night with Tito Puente.

The other night I put together a CD of some of my favorite songs from that time.

I'll Bake Me a Man - Barbara Aklin
Black Skinned Blue Eyed Boys - The Equals
Party Freaks - Miami
La La Peace Song - O.C. Smith
Date with the Rain - Eddie Kendricks
Sugar Pie Guy - The Joneses
Woman - Barrabas
War - Galaxy
the temptations - happy people
spinners - mighty love
the o'jays - Love Train
south shore commission - We're On The Right Track
south shore commission - Free Man
Sons Of Robin Stone - got to get you back
The Trammps - stop & think
roberta kelly - zodiacs
Jakki - Sun sun sun
johnny bristol - hang on in there baby

I can go on and on! When I listen to this music I get that "Once in a Lifetime Feeling that Happens every week"! Those were the Days! Must be Pavlov conditioning...Ring that bell and I start to drool! )

_________________
Keep em dancin'

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Disc0tek on 2002-04-30 22:13 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Disc0tek on 2002-04-30 22:15 ]</font>

[Disc0tek]

Here's a few more for a new CD I'm putting together:
Buffalo Smoke - Stubborn Kind of Fella
bt express - peace pipe
bt express - Express
bruce johnston - Pipeline
Don Downing - dream world
domenic troiano - We All Need Love
Ecstasy Passion Pain - I wouldn't give you up
esther phillips - what a difference a day makes
faith hope & charity - To Each His Own
Fred Westley - Doing it to death
glitter band - Makes You Blind

[Jeff H]

Wow, Disc0tek--I put "Stubborn Kind of fella" on a CD just this past weekend!

And your descriptions of dance floors back in the day really jogged some smelly memories: Paco and Polo and Lagerfeld, oh my!

[Robbie]

DiscOtek--

I am familiar with many of the songs you listed and some of them I love very much!! "Hang On In There Baby", "Sugar Pie Guy", "Dream World". I love disco music from all genres, but the early years (?-1975) had a distinct sound that could never be duplicated again. Many of the tracks you listed came from a 2-volume CD set called "Super Rare Disco".

[Disc0tek]

YES! Once the european sound was introduced Disco evolved to a new level. The Motown sound died a slow death!

[Disc0tek]

I also think that the sound of early disco originated in its 50's and 60's roots. Groups like the Spinners, Temptations, Trammps all had their roots in a different style. Around 1976 new Disco Bands sprang up overnight. I honestly think The Village People had a lot to do in helping create a new Disco era. People started dancing freestyle again and the emphasis was in sweating it out on the dancefloor:-)

[Robbie]

DiscOtek--

I think 1975 was an important year for disco music. Although our first experiences with Eurodisco started with Silver Convention's "Fly, Robin, Fly" and later Donna Summer's "Love To Love You Baby" (early 1976), the prevalent sound of disco was the R&B/Philly sound that was very popular in the early/mid 70s.

I also think the music from 1975, compared to the later years was more "hardcore". I'll try to explain this: Tavares' "It Only Takes A Minute" had a "serious" sound to it, with the music and lyrics. Fast-forward to 1976, a year later. "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel" was bubblegum-sounding, with lighthearted lyrics. Crown Heights Affair's "Dreaming A Dream" also had a "serious" sound; two years later, "Dancin'" is a real feel-good track. I also see this in terms of the Salsoul Orchestra. "Salsoul Hustle", "Salsoul Rainbow", "You're Just The Right Size", "Tale of Two Cities" have that "attitude" sound to it. "Nice and Naasty", released in 1976, is more upbeat. Even a hard-edged sounding track like "Don't Beat Around The Bush" has a smiley-face. Many records from 1975 epitomize the "serious" sound:

Faith, Hope, and Charity: "To Each His Own"
Retta Young: "Sending Out An S.O.S."
Fatback Band: "Spanish Hustle"
Ritchie Family: "Peanut Vendor/Frenesi/Brazil"
Bee Gees: "Nights On Broadway"
K.C. and the Sunshine Band: "That's The Way (I Like It)"
Donna Summer: "Love To Love You Baby" (LP)

I think music in general changed as 1976 wore on. The music became much more optimistic-sounding, lyrically and musically.