Deodato - Skyscrapers

[Funky Dude]

When I downloaded "Super Strut" by Deodato, I thought it was super and checked out some more Deodato tracks and downloaded them and one was "Skyscrapers" from 1973. When I listened to this track I thought WOW this song kicks arse. I swear this would have to be one of the best disco tracks of 1973 because it's full of percussion, synthesizers, funky rhythm etc... And I thought I'd let you guys know that this track is worth checking out.

[Giovanni]

Do you know the "Prelude" LP by Deodato? Listen to "Also spracht Zatathustra 2001" and "September 13". These are from 1972!!

Deodato did great disco tunes too, the best being "Whistle bump" & "Space dust" from 1978 and "Night cruser" from 1979.

[Funky Dude]

Hi Giovanni. Thanks for the info. I've definitely heard "Also Spracht Zatathustra 2001", it was a smash hit in Australia in the early 70's and I think it was one of those sci-fi movie themes, I've got it on a sci-fi movie theme CD, and the rest I'll download from Audio Galaxy.

[Fantomas]

Eumir Deodato is a class act. Most of his songs can be surely found on AudioGalaxy as Funky Dude said.

Funky Dude, your knowledge of old Disco music

(pre 1976) is amazing. To me, that was the essence of Disco, that old underground sound.

[markydefad]

On 2001-12-07 04:41, Funky Dude wrote:

Hi Giovanni. Thanks for the info. I've definitely heard "Also Spracht Zatathustra 2001", it was a smash hit in Australia in the early 70's and I think it was one of those sci-fi movie themes, I've got it on a sci-fi movie theme CD, and the rest I'll download from Audio Galaxy.

For the record, the piece of music is titled "Also Sprach Zarathustra" by classical composer Richard Strauss and that sci-fi movie was Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey".

[Bernie]

Daisy, Daisy, Daaaaaaaaaaissssseeeeeeyyyyyy..."

[dhwm]

You guys and gals; listen to Giovanni!!



Night Cruiser is the one!!!!! Listen to it, find it, etc.!!!!!!!!!!! ))))

[kelvy]

On 2002-01-04 16:43, dhwm wrote:

You guys and gals; listen to Giovanni!!



Night Cruiser is the one!!!!! Listen to it, find it, etc.!!!!!!!!!!! ))))

Night Cruiser is off the rocker:) it was re-rerelased back in 2000 on Frankie Knuckle's "Choice" compilation of classics on Azuli out of the United Kingdom...should not be hard to find.



with kind regards,



kelvy

[gvtaylor]

The original version of "Skyscrapers" (Arranha Ceu) was released by Deodato a year earlier in Brazil only! This version does not have as much wah wah guitar, tempo is a bit slower as well (makes up for it with killer bass & hammond organ running throughout the track.
Released on th LP Os Catedraticos 73 on Equipe Records (recorded in New York & Rio).

[Forrrce]

Originally Posted by gvtaylor

The original version of "Skyscrapers" (Arranha Ceu) was released by Deodato a year earlier in Brazil only! This version does not have as much wah wah guitar, tempo is a bit slower as well (makes up for it with killer bass & hammond organ running throughout the track.
Released on th LP Os Catedraticos 73 on Equipe Records (recorded in New York & Rio).

Came out in Japan in the '70s also, but I'll let you off!

[K-Bee]

Oh yeah – Deodato’s a great artist. We definetely don’t talk about him enough around here.
Fans of his early works outta check out ”The 2001 concert – Live At Felt Forum”. Recorded in 1973, it features versions of both ”Also Sprach Zaratustra” and ”Skyscraper” – both are well over 10 mins!!

The album was released on cd in 1989 as part of CBS remastering all the CTI classic jazz funk albums

[QUINNY]

From my own personal perspective I played both 'Theme from 2001; Thus sprach Zarathustra' and 'Super Strut' but never saw the aforementioned Skyscapers. From what I've heard, I'd say it was probably less danceable/commercial than the other two for an average disco crowd of the time (bearing in mind that both Super Strut and 2001 were fairly left field).

Super Strut was THE Deodato record for me in the early '70s. 2001 was a record that tore up soem rule books and screwed things up for many musicians that followed. How? Well, I can tell you that the Strauss family own the copyright to 'Thus Sprach Zarathustra' and were mightily peeved when that record by Deodato was such a huge international hit. So much so, that they forbade the use of it by any musicians who didn't give it what they considered a proper treatment. There's an absolutely fantastic big band arrangement of it and I had this turned down by the licensing authorities for a cassette release of a local big band. MCPS (the copyright people) told me that this one track was turned down more than any other, especially as the composer only died in the 1940s and so what sounds like a tune that should have been public domain was in fact still very much in copyright.
Can't say I really thought much of 'Whistle Bump' later on (too repetitive and goes nowhere musically so far as I'm concerned), Night Cruiser was a good 'un and Happy Hour was readily accepted (and then quickly forgotten).

How he ever went on to produce such commercial dance records with Kool & The gang is an unsolved mystery to me. Nothing, but nothing, pointed to that happening and being so commercially successful. I would never have thought he had it in him.

[Nano]

I wonder if you guys could give me some orientation? I knew and liked "Nightcruiser" back in the day, but didn't like Deodato's "Zaratustra" arrangement. I think I like him in a more "discofied" format. However, I see many Deodato albums from the 70s in record fairs and don't know which one to buy. Could you make me a reccomendation based on my taste on those two tracks from above?

P.S. Let's say that on top of producing Kool & The Gang's classic disco years, Eumir did some chord arrangements for Björk's first solo records in the early 90s.

[orangefunk]

For me the only Deodato records worth having are the CTI ones Prelude and Deodato 2. The rest are too formulaic even by disco standards... never could understand why Whiste Bump and Night Cruiser were classics as to me its pure standard lack of ideas fall asleep at the keyboards stuff and soloing by numbers... I'd rather hear some Azymuth..

The earlier Deodato LP with the original Skyscrapers is interesting, in fact I prefer it to the later CTI version, a bit more trippy and progressive.

[K-Bee]

Nano,
IMHO The best disco album by Deodato is still "Happy Hour". The title track is a classic and is guaranteed to fill every floor! Also worth mentioning is the cover of "Tears Of A Clown" featuring Candy Staton.
Deodato also did wonders for 80s soul duo Juicy..."Sugar Free" and "Private Party" comes to mind.