Bob Crewe Generation?

[mixtape]

Just saw this record in the store and picked it up. The artist is The Bob Crewe Generation and the LP title is Street Talk from 1976 on Elektra. It's a white album and says "advance pressing for disco djs only". Does anyone know anything about this album. Is this one worth money? I bought it for 10 bucks.

[BrunoRepublic]

Just saw this record in the store and picked it up. The artist is The Bob Crewe Generation and the LP title is Street Talk from 1976 on Elektra. It's a white album and says "advance pressing for disco djs only". Does anyone know anything about this album. Is this one worth money? I bought it for 10 bucks.

I quite like it. I have two copies, and I discovered that it was even issued on CD in Japan. It's old school disco with some rather surprising lyrics, especially coming from Bob Crewe. He previously was a master of MOR stuff and did an album called "music to watch girls to", so it's quite an about-face to hear lyrics about male prostitution.

This album contains the immortal lyric "your ass is your ticket to paradise". I mean, really, that pretty much says it all.

[efunk_adelic]

STREET TALK


i play this song frequently.... i just dig the string arrangements on this cut.

[JussiK]

BCG also contributed to the score of the cultissimo film Barbarella, and the reason I'm mentioning this is the uncanny fact that several orchestral passages/tunes therein would not have been out of sync in discos of say 1976, or a cool club playing ecletic grooves today. In fact the 1967 soundtrack album was re-realesed on dj-friendly vinyl some years ago due to dj demand. Roots of disco go deep. Check it out.

[thommy2458]

BCG also contributed to the score of the cultissimo film Barbarella, and the reason I'm mentioning this is the uncanny fact that several orchestral passages/tunes therein would not have been out of sync in discos of say 1976, or a cool club playing ecletic grooves today. In fact the 1967 soundtrack album was re-realesed on dj-friendly vinyl some years ago due to dj demand. Roots of disco go deep. Check it out.

Thanks for this tip jussiK-
I have to search this out.
I love BCG,and I saw that
import cd but didn't buy
it because I wasn't sure
if it had the full 12"
mix which is over 9 minutes.I also wish I could find his prior effort on a cd release-The
Eleventh Hour lp(with
Hollywood Hot)
Thom

[markydefad]

Bob Crewe is sorta fascinating to me. He was a mainstream Pop producer/songwriter (mostly for Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons) throughout the Sixties...then he suddenly got into DISCO real heavily in 1974-1975 (Disco Tex & His Sex-O-Lettes, "Lady Marmalade," "Swearin' To God, "Hollywood Hot," Gerri Granger's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You"...then his own ""Street Talk" LP......then sorta dropped out.

Also, I'm "curious" about the GAY content of his work with Disco Tex, "Hollywood Hot" and "Street Talk" (the latter two obsessed wtih "pickin' up chicken" prostitution). Where did that come from? And what ended it so abruptly? :-? :o :-? :o

[remicks]

*****

But then you've already confessed to being a tad smitten about ol' Bobs looks , Mark :) ... ... are you sure you're not reading more into these lyrics ??? What do they say in "Hollywood Hot" and "Street Talk" ??? .... What's this about chicken prostitution???

And of course Disco Tex featuring Bob as a sex-o-lette !!! :D :D speaks for itself .... one of my all-time favorites .... the cover art ... the music ..... the upbeat vibe ... everything about it suggests it was a blast to make ...... you want "fun ' in your music ? ....this is one of those ....


*****

*****

[markydefad]

Hey remix.... :P

The "pickin" up chicken/Hollywood & Vine" is a line from "Hollywood Hot" which I've come to realize has a great funky groove, an incredibly catchy chorus and lousy verses--seems like they made them up as the record was being recorded. "pickin' up chicken" indeed!!!! :P :P :P

So you think Bob Crewe was "one of us" (along with Kenny Nolan) as a member of the "Sex-O-Lettes"???? He sure was a handsome dude, eh? Check out his photo at AMG. It's Tab Hunter-time!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

[remicks]

*****
I've got to relisten to that ..... and what is said on "Street Talk"....?
I don't know .. but I think it is time to sort through this ..... who was who ??? :P 8) It does seem like there was something going on 'tween Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan ... funny this period when they were together .. their music was so energetic , so happy and ......gay .....then after that ..... they parted and both fizzled ..... and Kenny was left melancholy - ly dreamin' :( ......
Also recently I was reading something about "FOXY" and they were referred to matter of factly as "a gay euro disco group " ..

I know they were based out of Miami and were a part of the TK family ..... so already the Euro description is screwy ....... but does anyone know more about them??

****

[thommy2458]

"FOXY"[/b] and they were referred to matter of factly as "a gay euro disco group " ..

I know they were based out of Miami and were a part of the TK family ..... so already the Euro description is screwy ....... but does anyone know more about them??

The only thing I remember
about the gay link with
Foxy was that in the mid break section of "party
boys" they used various
chatter supposedly recorded at a gay LA
leather bar(maybe "the Spike"?)but this was
only on the 10 min plus
Disconet version.Maybe
founder Ish was gay-I'm
not sure.Marky?
Thom

[swerzer]

"FOXY"[/b] and they were referred to matter of factly as "a gay euro disco group " ..

I know they were based out of Miami and were a part of the TK family ..... so already the Euro description is screwy ....... but does anyone know more about them??

The only thing I remember
about the gay link with
Foxy was that in the mid break section of "party
boys" they used various
chatter supposedly recorded at a gay LA
leather bar(maybe "the Spike"?)but this was
only on the 10 min plus
Disconet version.Maybe
founder Ish was gay-I'm
not sure.Marky?
Thom

I think the group was very gay friendly as they performed in every gay club in South Florida. Also regarding the DISCONET version, you are correct in that all those lyrics were added by the DISCONET staff. Does anyone remember the contest DISCONET had when this was released??? Whoever correctly identified all the lyrics won a prize!

swerzer

[Svend]

I've got the Japanese CD of "Street Talk," which includes a lyric sheet and a dedication from Bob to "Russ, Eternally." I also have a vinyl "Music To Watch Girls By" LP showing Bob with the "band," all of whom are very good-looking California surfer types. Case closed?

And another thing...Bob Crewe is one of the interviewees in the DVD "Spinning the Story" (if you wanna see what he looks like now, Marky)!

[Mixmachine]

Also recently I was reading something about "FOXY" and they were referred to matter of factly as "a gay euro disco group " ..

I know they were based out of Miami and were a part of the TK family ..... so already the Euro description is screwy ....... but does anyone know more about them??

Foxy was a local Miami band led by cuban Ish Ledesma with Richie Puente (tito's son) among the members playing percussion, they did lots of local clubs and parties, but were regular at a local straight club called "the 747" near the airport with a DJ booth in the shape of a 747 cotpit(sp) :P that later became Level III, Ish used to dress in weird skin tight outfits and makeup similar to David Bowie unisex period, they used to put a good show and were very popular, the first album AFAIK called Foxy (1976) was produced by Ray Martinez of Amant released on TK's 'Dash" sub and yielded the club hit "Get off your ahhh and dance" written by Ish and Ray,not as polished or complex as later Martinez productions but still this cut was huge locally, (don't remember if on 12") mainly instrumental with a wicked flute over blasting bongos to a disco beat, other songs here are nice blend of latin soul/jazz and disco. and then they did "Get off" and the rest is history :P

[markydefad]

I've got the Japanese CD of "Street Talk," which includes a lyric sheet and a dedication from Bob to "Russ, Eternally." I also have a vinyl "Music To Watch Girls By" LP showing Bob with the "band," all of whom are very good-looking California surfer types. Case closed?

And another thing...Bob Crewe is one of the interviewees in the DVD "Spinning the Story" (if you wanna see what he looks like now, Marky)!

ah svend....

I shoulda known you'd have the 411 on Bob's "crew." Rollin' wit the surfer dudes, eh? Circa Tab Hunter & Troy Donahue....who knew? It just seemed a streeeeeeeeeeeeeeetch from "Big Girls Don't Cry/Walk Like a Man" to "pickin' up chicken at Hollywood & Vine". Or is it? Wait a minute...I think I see a hidden pattern..... :P :lol: :P :lol: Hmmmmmm...... :P :lol:

[remicks]

*****

Marky ! :D I am listening to Hollywood Hot right now .... sho nuff ... Says : "Action! Hollywood & and Vine...piggin' out ...anytime ....pick-up ....pick up chicken ..getcha' to go chicken....if you want ..... tweety puffs?? :-? ? ... wanna go ? ....sho nuff ..... soak up, sweet stuff.....uh huh ....Senor (?) ..... "
I enjoy these records that get better the more you listen ...... It is a fun tune .... You can tell its reflecting the Hollywood good times going on then ....

****

[remicks]

*****


Mixmachine ...good info ..It's interesting that besides all the producer oriented disco there were also these " real" bands that got into disco as well ...

... funny how things go 'round and 'round in this disco scene ...... I just saw KC & the Sunshine Band in concert and one of his jump around girls turned out to be the singer from Company B ( her name ?) .... KC had her do a few bars of "Fascinated (By Your Love Boy) "

written and produced by ..............Ish Ledesma :D !!



****

[efunk_adelic]

*****


Mixmachine ...good info ..It's interesting that besides all the producer oriented disco there were also these " real" bands that got into disco as well ...

... funny how things go 'round and 'round in this disco scene ...... I just saw KC & the Sunshine Band in concert and one of his jump around girls turned out to be the singer from Company B ( her name ?) .... KC had her do a few bars of "Fascinated (By Your Love Boy) "

written and produced by ..............Ish Ledesma :D !!



****

Lori L
Lezlee Livrano
Susan Johnson


has to be one of them

[remicks]

****

efunk ----yes it was !!!! :lol: :lol: .....

(btw ... where you been?)

remicks


*****

[efunk_adelic]

****

efunk ----yes it was !!!! :lol: :lol: .....

(btw ... where you been?)

remicks


*****

it's football season... and i'm posting like crazy in nfl forums... focused on fantasy leagues, etc. 8)

[Mixmachine]

Bob Crewe is sorta fascinating to me. He was a mainstream Pop producer/songwriter (mostly for Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons) throughout the Sixties...then he suddenly got into DISCO real heavily in 1974-1975 (Disco Tex & His Sex-O-Lettes, "Lady Marmalade," "Swearin' To God, "Hollywood Hot," Gerri Granger's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You"...then his own ""Street Talk" LP......then sorta dropped out.

Ahhh, just found this Gerri Granger's "Can't take my eyes off you" sleazy and Sweeeeeeet 8) :P

[Disco Funk]

Bob Crewe is sorta fascinating to me. He was a mainstream Pop producer/songwriter (mostly for Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons) throughout the Sixties...then he suddenly got into DISCO real heavily in 1974-1975 (Disco Tex & His Sex-O-Lettes, "Lady Marmalade," "Swearin' To God, "Hollywood Hot," Gerri Granger's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You"...then his own ""Street Talk" LP......then sorta dropped out.

Ahhh, just found this Gerri Granger's "Can't take my eyes off you" sleazy and Sweeeeeeet 8) :P

I think Bob Crewe, or maybe it was Bob Gaudio, produced Jay Black's 'One Night Affair' (not a cover of the Gamble & Huff tune). It definitely sounds like it was done by the same people who produced Swearin To God.

Disco Funk

[the disco kid]

The only thing I remember
about the gay link with
Foxy was that in the mid break section of "party
boys" they used various
chatter supposedly recorded at a gay LA
leather bar(maybe "the Spike"?)but this was
only on the 10 min plus
Disconet version.Maybe
founder Ish was gay-I'm
not sure.Marky?
Thom

the chatter is actually Mike Lewis, Craig Morey, and Trip Ringwald apparently on an acid trip, and they had a tapre recoder on and just recording whatever happened. if you listen closely you can hear one of them say "where's Craig, I think he went back downstairs..."

and getting back to Bob Crewe "street talk" is an absolutely gorgeous song! the whole LP really stands the test of time.

[markydefad]

I posted this in a trivia question before...but anyone know why Bob Crewe changed labels in midstream on Street Talk???? The single was released on 20th Century in early 1976--but the LP surfaces on Elektra in later 1976. I know 20th Century folded at some point--but it was still releasing Barry White records at this time. Just curious.

(Bob released a singer/songwriter pop LP on Elektra after "Street Talk"...not in the disco vein...don't know what turned him off to the dance music since he'd had a whole lotta success in a brief period of time.)

[remicks]

*****

I sure wish some folks who were associated with some of these labels back then and know some of the inside stories would gravitate to this site.

As far as the Bob Crewe album .... maybe Crewe was enough of a name and knew his way around enough that he was able to shop his LP around .... and went with Elektra over 20th Century . Too bad ... because they sure didn't do enough with it for him .

But what did happen to Bob Crewe? He was really on a roll alright and seemed to be really embracing disco....

Check this out
.... in a full page ad in Billboard announcing their FIRST INTERNATIONAL DISCO FORUM at The Roosevelt Hotel in NYC ....

listed under THE DISCO '76 ADVISORY COMMITTEE:

Producers :
Bob Crewe , Los Angeles

as well as part of the forum's agenda, a session called :

" HOW TO PRODUCE A DISCO HIT "

the panel:
Tom Moulton, Kenny Cayre ( Salsoul Records) , and Bob Crewe


he seemed most interested at this point .......

??????

*****

[discorecordplayer]

I have a copy of the album you are mentioning and must tell you that it is a TOTALLY AWESOME ALBUM! Its one of my favorites. I have to restrict myself from playing it too much before I wear it out!

It has a great smooth sound and just sounds great!!!!