Welcome to Disco Internet Station RadioioDisco

[sfbeary]

Hello friends,

This is Barry Walters. Some of you may already know that this year I began hosting and programming my own disco internet radio station, RadioioDisco:

radioioDisco. your world. your station. no boundaries.

RadioioDisco is one of several stations owned by Radioio, an internet radio provider much less corporate than the familiar internet radio brands, and I'm paid to program the station exactly as I see fit. My voice is now on the station and pops up every 20 minutes or so. I spend hours each day, day after day uniquely sequencing mini-sets between station IDs so that the segues make lyrical and musical sense. These qualities distinguish Radioiodisco from the computerized jukeboxes of more corporate, less personal stations. Those of you who know me as a rock and pop critic at Rolling Stone, Spin, and other publications may not know that i've spent much of my life researching, collecting, dancing to, and deeply loving this music. Obviously, I have no control over the first song you hear when you first tune in, but I hope that if you spend a little time with the station you'll understand and enjoy my presentation. It's a logical progression from the consulting and music programming work I did for Disco: A Decade of Saturday Nights, a museum exhibit that originated at the Experience Music Project museum in Seattle that also appeared at the New York Performing Arts Library.

You'll hear plenty of my personal favorites, but more importantly you'll hear records I believe to be historically significant — hits and cult anthems, as well as many should-have-been hits that stand the test of time. My station motto is to give listeners "every shade of the disco rainbow." There's underground disco, Top 40 disco, proto-disco from the late '60s and early '70s, post-disco from the early '80s, funky disco, gay disco, electronic disco, symphonic disco, New Wave disco, jazz disco, rock disco, soulful disco, Paradise Garage disco — just about everything that people danced to during disco's formative, peak, and post-peak years up to and including 1982. Right now, there are no commercials, although this will eventually change.

To hear RadioioDisco, go directly to radioioDisco. your world. your station. no boundaries. and choose a media player. This page will give you more background on the station. Those of you with DSL can chose the higher quality streams. Those with dial-up should chose the low-quality streams. All of them sound pretty good, I think.

If you already have iTunes installed on your computer, you can listen this way: Click on Radio on the left column. This will bring up a menu of station formats. Click on the '70s/'80s arrow. This will bring up an alphabetical list of stations. Scroll down until you hit radioioDisco. For DSL, select the 128 kbps stream. Dial-up is best served by the 32kbps stream. If you don't already have iTunes, PC users and Mac users alike can get it for free at http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

I've already received lots of very supportive emails from listeners all over the world, but I care more about what you think. Please let me know if there's a particular track you'd like to hear — I currently have over 3,000 songs in my RadioioDisco library and I'm constantly working to accumulate more.

Thanks in advance for listening!
Barry

[JussiK]

We have a policy here in the office not to play any cds, only radio is allowed. Usually I tune to radio Groove for soul, jazz, bossa, latin and sometimes even a couple of mainstream disco classics like "The Hustle", and everybody is happy. But this Friday afternoon I introduced RadioIoDisco and behold, they're all smiling now and wriggling their shoulders to Orlando Riva, Bruni Pagan, Queen Samantha and Sylvester! This is the perfect radio station, especially as it's Friday. We're going to be regulars.

[Bernie]

Hi Barry,

I had a chance to listen to your Disco show for about an hour earlier today and it was most enjoyable. Where else can one hear Stephanie Mills followed by Tangueré, Carrie LaPorte, Andre Gagnon, Visage and others? It's like going through my own records. I love it! Continued success.

[markydefad]

Hi Barry,

I received an e-mail from you this morning regarding your radio show and then clicked on the link provided. Great fun!!! Now I have Al Franken on Air America on the radio and Chicago's "I'm A Man" quietly coming outta my speakers!!! And I'm supposed to be working!!! Decisions, decisions!!!!....what are your hours for programming??? 24/7??? Is it pre-taped? Are you doing this from SF???


I'll have more fun with this tomorrow---Saturday will be "DISCO HEAVEN" in my office...:D

[keefelc]

THANK GOODNESS Barry finally announced his station to all of you!!! :razz: :razz: :razz: :razz: A few of us have known about this treasure for a little while - as Barry & Radioio have been working out the bugs. Wait until you hear some of the rare treats he'll be playing.

Mark, the station is indeed available 24/7! Plus, you can see what's been played by visiting the website. There's a link you can click on for the tracks that have been played for the last couple of days.

Believe me, this station is addicting, but what a drug!

[Videoskooter]

Barry, I listened to your station last night (4 hours and only logged out coz' it was time to go to sleep) and you have a great show. Very good mix of records and also an excellent soundquality.

Keep the vibe alive!!!!

[markydefad]

Barry,

Having listened to your show for a couple days, I must praise it as a

"DISCO" DISCOPHILES DREAM RADIO STATION!!!!!! :D:D:D

You've dug really DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP into your fabulous record collection to program a whole lotta wonderful records. I love the fact that I don't know them all; I love that you PLAY IT ALL--BIG Hits, minor hits, Euro-centric hits, rare obscurities.... Cheesey camp stuff (PINK LADY!!! and more esoteric underground grooves....wondered if, in the future, you might consider writing little blurbs about the records as they play...year of release, label, producer/writers, what's interesting about this record to you...where it fits in the whole scheme of disco....A Loft or a Gallery or a Paradise Garage or a Saint or a Trocadero classic...just add your insiders knowledge to help us understand more about where some of these records were played...



Bottom-line:
ooh-ooh, I'm Lovin it!!!! :D:D:D :D:D:D :D:D:D :D:D:D

[remicks]

*****

Within three songs of listening ...........

SHAKE ME WAKE ME WHEN IT'S OVER
Barbra Streisand
8)8)8)8)8)8)8)8)

and now....
Paul Jabara's
PLEASURE ISLAND........................................8)8)8)


*****

[FunkyChris]

Hello barry,

yesterday I listened to your station and I went :-o! The music is absolutely perfect!!!

Can we expect some Christmas-Disco-Tunes in December (like Disco Noel by Mirror Image ;))?

[sfbeary]

hello jussik, bernie, marky, keefe, videoskooter, remicks, and funkychris!

wow, thanks for the compliments! i've been working on this station for the greater part of this year and you've already made me feel as though that work has paid off.

jussik: i'm so glad your office appreciates queen samantha, etc.! it seems that most people listen to the radioio stations when they're at work. i'm thrilled to know that i'm helping to change offices into discos.

bernie: yes, i do want the station to suggest the depth and diversity of our record collections. that is a great compliment!

keefe: you've been so helpful with your feedback. the station has been public for months, but i didn't feel until recently that it was ready to face the more discriminating ears of the people who read this forum. maybe i was worrying needlessly, but i do feel better about the forum now that bernie has stepped in to discourage the needlessly negative comments.

videoskooter: during the station-tweaking process, i've been relaxing by taking breaks with your youtube selections. you've been pointing out how broadly disco's influence had grown through the '70s and early '80s, and i hope that some of my radioiodisco selections do the same thing.

marky: yeah, i try to look at and present disco from many different viewpoints. one thing this forum has made clear is that disco means soooo many different things to different people. i have my own perspective, but i do try to accomodate others and have a little fun in the process. unfortunately, the technology is not in place for me to post running commentaries of songs as they're playing. with over 3,000 songs in my library, that would be too much for one person to do even if it was possible. my writing is the focus of my work elsewhere. here i want to emphasize the music. i can't tell you how much work it is to generate unique playlists each day and to have the songs relate to each other. i know i'm presenting a lot of music that will be unfamiliar to a lot of people, and i want to do that in the best way i can. if you use the searchplayer that pops up when you listen through the web page, it should link you to more information on each song via the web. i have just updated the page, though, and this week's featured release is the larry levan *journey into paradise* compilation.

remicks: glad you heard babs' "shake me" right away. i'm playing the promo 12" that doesn't have remixer credits. does anyone have the promo remix 7"? i have a vague memory of seeing remix credits on that pressing, but not the conventional 7".

funkychris: right now i'm focusing on halloween. i've thrown in a couple of halloween-themed segues and selections. has anyone caught them yet?

everyone, thanks again and stay tuned to http://www.radioio.com/radioiodisco.php

with much love,
barry

[remicks]

*****

Barry
I continue to listen and enjoy :-D. OUTTA SPACE Billy Preston .... SWEET CHARLIE BABY Jackie Moore ......:)8-)8-)

and thought I'd comment on something that occurs to me after this particular set :

Janis Ian - FLY TOO HIGH ----sweet and full-bodied
Bar-Kays - SONG AND DANCE ----rough and James Brown
Life Usa - FOXY TROT ---- horns a hustling

I thiink contrasting sounds like this works well .... and serves as a reminder that 'disco' is not one sound and helps to educate novice ears that think all disco sounds the same ( i.e. The Theme from Loveboat ) . Plus it's just more interesting than everything blending a la monotone ..... afterall this is a different appproach than when trying to keep people on a dance floor ...

I think it's an inventive presentation of disco .... and maybe more reminiscent of how disco was earlier on .... when the goal wasn't only about matching BPMS .
Also how fun to hear the earlier and later stuff bouncing off each other .

On thing I'm noticing ..... Motown seems to be lightly represented .... my imagination ????


*****

[sfbeary]

hey remicks,

thanks for your comments. i used to be a drummer and i've been in the dj booths of david morales, louie vega, jerry bonham, and others. from watching them and already knowing how to count beats and measures, i taught myself how to mix and made some tapes that were quite smooth, but i had to rehearse each mix ahead of time to get that effect. i soon realized that the only way i could meet the standards to which i'd grown accustomed was to give up writing completely, and san francisco quite frankly didn't need another full-time DJ!

because it would be impractical and indeed impossible to beat mix 24/7, i try to make the songs between the IDs make some kind of musical or lyrical connection, and i'm happiest when i manage to do both. i'm sure there was an ID between janice ian and the bar-kays to signal a mood-shift. i try to make a mood or stylistic shift every time there's a station ID so that people with different tastes won't need to wait hours to hear their favorite disco style represented.

and yes, i do endeavor to go back to the early approach to dj-ing that favors song programing and lyrical impact over bpms and maintaining a particular mood or style all night long. i like smoothness and precision as well, but because i can't get that with the technology i'm using, i'm aiming to make the best connections between songs that i can. obviously, because i'm programming 24-hour sets day after day, not every one is perfect, but i'm hoping some will make people smile.

motown lightly represented? well, off the top of my head, i probably play two or three diana ross songs every day, as well as regular doses of post-diana supremes, teena marie, a little marvin, "down to love town," some tata vega, carl bean, the commodores, the dynamic superiors, thelma houston, and others. i don't play much '60s motown because i do want the focus to be on disco and the familiar '60s motown hits belong more to the classic soul world than they do to the '70s and early '80s disco world i want to present BUT i do occasionally play a handful of cult '60s motown that was played not on the radio but in the '70s clubs. listen for them!

because i have such a huge library, it takes time for everything to surface. if i played every song in my library back to back just once, it would take nearly three weeks of continuous listening without sleeping to hear it all!

give it some time and stay tuned!

thanks,
barry

http://www.radioio.com/radioiodisco.php

[keefelc]

Originally Posted by sfbeary

keefe: you've been so helpful with your feedback. the station has been public for months, but i didn't feel until recently that it was ready to face the more discriminating ears of the people who read this forum. maybe i was worrying needlessly, but i do feel better about the forum now that bernie has stepped in to discourage the needlessly negative comments.

i'm playing the promo 12" that doesn't have remixer credits. does anyone have the promo remix 7"? i have a vague memory of seeing remix credits on that pressing, but not the conventional 7".

Barry, I'm flattered that you asked for my feedback! It's been interesting watching your station evolve into it's current, and quite wonderful, state.

As for the 7" of Babs, after you told me the full 12" remix is also on the easily found promo 7", I bought one (of course I was able to get the 12 right after purchasing the 7). Unfortunately, the label does not list the remixer. :-?

[remicks]

Originally Posted by sfbeary

hey remicks,

thanks for your comments. i used to be a drummer and i've been in the dj booths of david morales, louie vega, jerry bonham, and others.

8-) Lucky you !! 8)

motown lightly represented? well, off the top of my head, i probably play two or three diana ross songs every day, as well as regular doses of post-diana supremes, teena marie, a little marvin, "down to love town," some tata vega, carl bean, the commodores, the dynamic superiors, thelma houston, and others. i don't play much '60s motown because i do want the focus to be on disco and the familiar '60s motown hits belong more to the classic soul world than they do to the '70s and early '80s disco world i want to present BUT i do occasionally play a handful of cult '60s motown that was played not on the radio but in the '70s clubs. listen for them!

I was asking mainly because I was wondering if permission to use them was more difficult than others ... do you have equal access to anything you want to put on there Barry ??? Are you not able to play anything ??

I personally hope you continue to not use the 60's Motown stuff except as described ......but as you well know .. there is lots to be found from the mid-seventies ...... lots of album cuts Motown failed to promote .......
Will Stephanie Mills THIS EMPTY PLACE pop up ??

Your master list Barry .... will it ever be placed somewhere to be reviewed ???


Babs SHAKE ME : I think the only thing that prevented it from being much bigger .... it's recorded so hot ... the distortion is just too glaring ... too bad
*****

[sfbeary]

as long as a radio station pays royalties (and the people in the radioio offices do that for radioiodisco), it can play anything. permission is not an issue. i'm not an expert on radio yet, but from what i understand it follows vastly different rules than those of music licensing and cd issuing. i can and do play LOTS of stuff that hasn't and probably never will been issued on cd (like that babs remix.)

will my master list ever be placed somewhere to be reviewed? wow. i'm sure the folks at sirius and aol would love for me to email them the entire thing!

i'm a generous guy, but in this instance i'll follow the advice of the wisened philosopher linda clifford: i'm gonna keep what i got while it's hot and not give it up for nobody.

http://www.radioio.com/radioiodisco.php