First disco song ever released

[galocha]

Hey guys, do you know which is the first disco song ever released? The oldest I found so far is "One night affair" by the O'jays (1969). You can listen to it at:

http://www.musicline.de/de/product/5099748975027

Anybody know about an older disco song?

[born2disco]

Define 'disco'.

[DJ Jimmy M]

This is a very argumentive topic actualy..and also a very interesting and good one. Technicly there is no real way to pin point the first actual disco track without as just said..explaining what you mean as "disco". In disco's very very early times (1970 - 75) alot of things that were not disco music were being classified as "disco". I have much valid proof of this in my vault of interesting things. One being an 8 Track tape released circa late 75/very early 1976 supposid "non stop disco mixed" album called "disco party",not to be confused with the true disco mix LP on TK in 1978. First off, only about 70% of the tracks on there are actualy disco of the time. Second off I wouldnt call this thing a mix, but more or less a cut and paste and very horrably done.

Come on..things like "Aint Seen Nothin Yet" by BTO, "Lady" by Styx, "The Night Chicago Died" by Paper Lace...just a few of the so called "disco" tracks on there. So as you see, rock and pop was just being called "disco" before the true music actualy formed 100% and took over. Disco was an unknown and undefined genre till sometime in 1976. So define exactly what you mean by "disco".

[QUINNY]

Aah! but there is the argument that Disco was any music played (almost) exclusively in clubs. So take your pick from c. 1920 onwards.

In my book, the first Disco records were the first extended mixes that started in '75, but I think it's the non-stop Gloria Gaynor LP from '74 that really changed things. That's when I felt a change was a happening and records were starting to be made solely for the dance floor.

[DJ Jimmy M]

Actualy I agree there, the Gloria Gaynor record was one of the first for extended mixes. Giorgio Moroder did the job though in making the first true mix with Donna Summer "Love To Love..". The Gaynor record was more or less just a medley with a tad bit of true extending using the instrumental tracks. But this kinda brings it to a new topic being..the first true mix lol. As for the sound of early disco id say it dates back to probably "Papa Was A Rolling Stone"..then kinda went away from the pure soul and funk as the technology and ideas progressed.

[MixMasterMax]

You all have very valid points. However, I have a very different recolection of what was being played in the clubs as early as 1974. In my oppinion the Discotheque club scene was thriving by 1974 and earlier (New York City). That is to say that the clubs would play continuously mixed music along with a light show and disco ball :P . I have listed a couple of songs below that were monster hits back then and can not be categorized as rock or other genre. Although these songs were released prior to 1974, the fact that they were adopted and used and the disco's tells me that they fit the mold. Christ, they were still being played long after 1974. True classic Discotheque.

Beggin' Timebox 1968
Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys Equals 1972
Woman Barrabas 1972
Date With the Rain Eddie Kendricks 1972
Love Epidemic The Trammps 1973
Soul Makossa Manu Dibango 1973
Zing Went the Strings of My Heart The Trammps 1973
Sultana Titanic 1973

[DiscoMan]

I don't know about the "first" Disco song, but Disco was in full swing here in Massachusetts in the summer of '74 at one of my hangouts; a club called Timothy's Too in Framingham. I don't remember that we called it Disco but all the trappings were there.

About the early music: MFSB, SalSoul Orchestra, Barry White, Gloria Gaynor and a variety of Soul and R&B artists whose music had a danceable beat was played. The Hustle was here that summer. I would think that the summer of '74 is the watershed year in the rise in popularity of Disco.

[MixMasterMax]

DiscoMan is right on the money. The East coast of the USA was in full disco bloom by 1974. I have listed several songs released in 74. Just look at the artist lineup. It's like the Allstar first game. So the first Disco song will remain an elusive quest and it will surely represent ones musical taste and geographical location. However, if I had to pick one which has stood the test of time..... Date With the Rain Eddie Kendricks 1972. What a fantastic song, played and played through the entire Disco era and continues to receive airplay in the New York radio market and clubs.


7-6-5-4-3-2-1 Blow Your Whistle Gary Tom's Empire 1974
A Hurricane is Coming Tonight Carol Douglas 1974
Ask Me Ecstasy, Passion and Pain 1974
Baby Don't Let This Good Love Die Carol Douglas 1974
Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me Gladys Knight and the Pips 1974
Can't Get Enough of Your Love Babe Barry White 1974
Dancin' Machine The Jackson 5 1974
Do it Till You're Satisfied B.T. Express 1974
Doctor's Orders Carol Douglas 1974
Don't Leave Me Lamont Dozier 1974
Drive My Car Gary Tom's Empire 1974
Everlasting Love Carl Carlton 1974
Good Things Don't Last Forever Ecstacy Passion and Pain 1974
Gut Level The Blackbyrds 1974
Happiness is Just Round the Bend Main Ingredient 1974
Happy People The Temptations 1974
Hey Girl Come and Get It The Stylistics 1974
Hollywood Swinging Kool and the Gang 1974
I'll Be Holding On Al Downing 1974
Lady Marmalade LaBelle 1974
Life and Death in G & A Abaco Dream 1974
Love Don't You Go Through No Changes Sister Sledge 1974
Love's Theme Love Unlimited Orchestra 1974
Main Line Ashford and Simpson 1974
Mirrors Of My Mind Jackson 5 1974
Move Me No Mountain Love Unlimited Orchestra 1974
Pull Yourself Together Buddy Miles 1974
Pursuit of the PimpMobile Isaac Hayes 1974
Put The Music Where Your Mouth Is Olympic Runners 1974
Rock the Boat The Hues Corporation 1974
Rock Your Baby George McRae 1974
Shame Shame Shame Shirley and Company 1974
Soon, Everything Is Gonna Be Alright Third Time Around 1974
Sugar Pie Guy The Joneses 1974
Sweet Charlie Babe Jackie Moore 1974
The Bottle Gil Scott-Heron 1974
The Bottle (La Botella) Joe Bataan 1974
The Player First Choice 1974
Time Jackie Moore 1974
TSOP MFSB 1974
Welcome to the Club Blue Magic 1974
Where Do We Go From Here The Trammps 1974
Who Is He Creative Source 1974
You Sure Know How To Love Your Man Willie Hutch 1974

[QUINNY]

MixmasterMax: Yeah, we could all list a lot of tracks that were being played in '74, BUT were they Disco as such. They were all soul or funk or R&B records that were danceable. I don't think any of those records were made with just the dance floor in mind. Black music had always been danceable and Disco just took all of that to an entirely different place.

As I said initially. If anyone wants to be silly about it, Disco's roots can be easily traced to waaaaay back. The original jazz was made specifically by bands that played to dancers in late night hangouts. It specifically took well known contemporary tunes and turned them into danceable ones for the black audience.

[MixMasterMax]

Quinny, it's a pleasure conversing with you. The songs I listed were not picked out of a hat. It is my first hand experience of songs played at clubs in that period. I undestand your point about tracing anything back far enough. However, The music of the artists I listed is clearly Disco and the artist themselves went on to define the era. They can not be confused with Jazz or Rock our soulful balads R&B. I don't beleive you need to wait until a song is made with Disco in mind. In theory, that would only happen after someone (artists) have defined it first and others simply want to copy or jump on the band wagon. I still stand behind 1974 as the year when Disco was fully developed (at least in NYC). :lol: