A Short History Of Dance Music.....................

[marmite7]

According to .......................... Me ;)


I have the weirdest dreams (not those kinds Neil!) and the early hours of this morning, saw me "sorting out" records & genres in my head. Woke up at 7am and made a few notes and fully intend to purchase some blank cd's from Woolies (if it's open) so I can make a start.

What was, in your opinion the first dance music for young people? (Forget the Waltzes from Strauss and his kind, cos they were aimed at everyone).

I reckon:

Rock n Roll, followed by a slight detour into Doo Wop then Motown popped up with the whole spectrum of danceable soul, including stuff under the Northern tag.

The first disco record, has I believe always been stated as Rock Your Baby - George McRae, but what about Sly Stone's - Dance To The Music back in 1968?

My aim is to create a CD which follows the path (as best I can), to each natural conclusion.

IE:

1: A disc which ends with todays House music (obviously taking in Acid & old skool)

2: Another finishing with drum & bass / jungle / breakbeat

3: Techno / Trance / (perhaps Hard House too?)

natural progression ALL the way, although slightly stymied with where to place blue beat / ska / reggae / lovers rock / dance hall / ragga!! (But I'll get there.)


GOD I love music :)

[Energyguy]

I have weird dreams matey but not for discussion on here.... :lol: Maybe on msn sometime... :lol:

It is so great to know other guys who ADORE their music and take the time to read up on the disco/dance music history/legacy. I have a couple of good books on the subject and find it really interesting. Dance music can be traced back to forms of Rock n Roll and was also influenced by the music played in the Latin clubs.

[marmite7]

Hey matey :)

Finished CD One: The Evolution of "Youth Dance" - House

Although Jon threw a spanner in the works when he mentioned the Big Band Jazz sound from the early 40's!! Music for everyone, I know, but perhaps the first time "young people" embraced it more than their parents? Just look at any Second World War flick, with American Serviceman "cutting the rug" like loons ;)

But moving on..................

I've started the disk with a rock n roll number from 1951 and progress through to 2002 :)

Billy Love - Juiced (1951)
Barrett Strong - Let's Rock (1959) and changing styles....
Barrett Strong - Money (That's What I Want) (1959)
Marvin Gaye - You're A Wonderful One (1964)
Billy Preston - Billy's Bag (1964)
Sly & The Family Stone - Dance To The Music (1968)
George McCrae - Rock Your Baby (1974)
Immortals - Ultimate Warlord (1979)
Toney Lee - Reach Up (1982)
Tony Cook & The Party People - On The Floor (Rock It) (1984)
Lime - On The Grid (1984)
MK II - Used By DJ (1986)
S Express - Theme From S Express (1988)
Robin S - Show Me Love (1993)
Armand Van Helden - You Don't Know Me (1999)
Praised Cats - Shined On Me (2002)


Next up, when I get some more CD's will be my interpretation of Rock N roll progressing through to Techno / Trance.

Tunes I've already ear-marked include:



Tornadoes - Telstar
Booker T & The MG's - Green Onions
Love Unlimited Orchestra - Welcome Aboard
Ripple - The Beat Goes On
Space - Magic Fly
Giorgio Moroder - Chase
Patrick Cowley - Megatron Man
Donna Summer - I Feel Love (P Cowley Remix)
Yazoo - Situation
Mike Mareen - Dancing In The Dark
Marshall Jefferson - Move Your Body
Phuture - We Are Phuture
Tricky Disco - Tricky Disco
Joey Beltram - Energy Flash
Hardfloor - Acperience
Daft Punk - Da Funk
Goldfrapp - We Are Glitter (Remix)


I reckon the third CD will be the hardest! Drum & Bass / Break Beat :-?


Rock n Roll to start, obviously, then Tamla, 60's funk (Young Holt Trio perhaps - Wack Wack or The Meters), a smattering of Ska/bluebeat, through to Grandmaster Flash, Whodini, Rick James (Superfreak), with a couple of important tunes:

Charles Wright & The The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - Express Yourself AND

Michael Viner's Incredible Bongo Band - Apache (just for the "break")

old skool - Progidy? Sons Of A Loop De Loop Era?

somehow ending up with a a full-on Fatboy Slim type track.



Forget "The Joy Of Sex" - music's soooooo much better ;)

[Davicillo]

Afternoon Mark.

don't forget some of the early Atlantic releases;

Joe Turner 'Shake rattle & Roll'
Lavern Baker 'Jim Dandy'
Ruth Brown ' 5-10-15 hours'

to name but a few.

[marmite7]

Don't know any of them Dave! What genre?

Early rock n roll?

[Davicillo]

Of a type yes, but more RnB. Great tracks and the forerunners to rock n roll in my opinion.

[phrankie]

Any chance of The Broads classic dance tune "Sing Sing Sing" getting a mention here, lol??!!! :D Well come on, I haven't mentioned it for AGES!!!! :D

[Energyguy]

Originally Posted by phrankie

Any chance of The Broads classic dance tune "Sing Sing Sing" getting a mention here, lol??!!! :D Well come on, I haven't mentioned it for AGES!!!! :D

Never heard that but I have a track by THE BROADS from 1984 called I GOT RHYTHM....

[marmite7]

Neil - you've NEVER heard Sing Sing Sing?


Sorry Phrankie - but I think it's pants.

The campest thing, since camp was invented.

I've got a spare 12", or it's on one of the 12" of Pleasure compilation LP's.

[Energyguy]

Originally Posted by marmite7

Neil - you've NEVER heard Sing Sing Sing?


Sorry Phrankie - but I think it's pants.

The campest thing, since camp was invented.

I've got a spare 12", or it's on one of the 12" of Pleasure compilation LP's.

Well.. I ain`t heard it but it sounds crap anyway... :lol: :lol:

[phrankie]

THANKS VERY MUCH, FRIEND!!!! :(