Recommendations, if you could.

[popio]

Hi there,

I'm trying to find some disco records with dramatic/lush string parts in them, examples of tracks i like already are 'Havent you heard' by Patrice Rushen and 'High society' by Norma Jean Wright. I'd also like to find some gospel disco sounding records i.e 'Stand on the word' by the joubert Singers.

If anyone could recommend anything in a similar vain to these it would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

[eddie]

How about BT Express or Brass Construction. Try anything by MFSB or Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra.

Certain tracks in this vein are:
1) BT Express-Express
2) Brass Construction-Movin'
3) MFSB-Love is the Message
4) Love Unlimited Orchestra-My sweet summer suite, Love's theme
Also try Issac Hayes on Stax or Polydor.

[discodjinn]

Gospel tracks:
I Got It-- Gloria Spencer
Mighty High-- Mighty Clouds of Joy
I'll Keep My Light In My Window-- New York Community Choir
Sylvester, especially the Step II and Sell My Soul lps.

Strings:
You don't have to search far to find string sections in the disco genre, but finding the style you like can take some looking. It's all relative in disco-- on the lush side, there are plenty of examples, including Bourgie, Bourgie by Ashford & Simpson, Salsoul Hustle by Salsoul Orchestra, Spring Rain by Silvetti, and that bed of lushness itself, Love's Theme by Love Unlimited Orchestra. The examples you gave, though, seem more like spare, funky numbers with string flavoring in the choruses. For more dramatic, funky examples of strings, try
The Bull-- Mike Theodore Orchestra
Any Love-- Rufus & Chaka
Bad Company-- Ullanda McCullough
My Feet Keep Dancing-- Chic
Boys Will Be Boys-- Duncan Sisters
Stay Free-- Ashford & Simpson
Look Me Up-- Blue Magic

[Disco Funk]

Anything on the Philadelphia International label has lush strings. I also love the Frankie Crocker 'Disco Suite..' LP, which has lots of strings.

Speaking of strings, I wonder what it was about disco that made strings work so well? I mean, disco was borne out of funk, but they don't work on funk jams. And outside of slow songs, whether they be pop or soul, strings don't work too well. You don't hear strings on heavy metal or punk rock tunes, for example. And fairly uptempo songs with strings, like that easy listening/muzak stuff, just sounds too kitschy. I guess it was just one of those weird unexplanable great combinations, like chocolate and peanut butter. :)

Disco Funk

[eddie]

It's rooted in Isaac Hayes taking Dionne Warwick and Bacharach tunes and funking them up. Of course, he still used strings and embleshed the riffs and counter-melodies even further. To not do so would be a slap in the face to the original.
Thus, dance and soul producers picked up on Hayes trend which at the time was very unique.
If this did not happen, soul music would have probably ended up more blusey and would not have crossed over. Black radio later (mid 70's) favored these string oriented tunes and turned a deaf ear to southern soul like Al Green and Stax. This was called the Southern soul embargo.

[Disco Funk]

It's rooted in Isaac Hayes taking Dionne Warwick and Bacharach tunes and funking them up. Of course, he still used strings and embleshed the riffs and counter-melodies even further. To not do so would be a slap in the face to the original.
Thus, dance and soul producers picked up on Hayes trend which at the time was very unique.
If this did not happen, soul music would have probably ended up more blusey and would not have crossed over. Black radio later (mid 70's) favored these string oriented tunes and turned a deaf ear to southern soul like Al Green and Stax. This was called the Southern soul embargo.

Thanks for that history lesson. I guess that's why Philly dance music became the template of what would be considered 'disco'. Those Philly guys were using dance beats and lush strings as early as '72 on tracks like The Trammps 'Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart'.

Disco Funk

[Noman]

For Gospel feeling and a lot of great tunes explore the many productions from Glady's Knight and the Pips. From the early stuff to the great -81 album "Touch"

[Marcio**]

For strings:
CELI BEE Fly Me On The Wings Of Love (APA, 1978)
ULTIMATE Love Is The Ultimate Medley (Casablanca, 1979)

[popio]

Thanks very much people, i'll try and track down of much of that as i can. I should of been more specific and said i was after the late 70's full on disco stuff, but thanks again!!!

[Disco Funk]

Gospel disco:

I know this is pretty vague, but a lot of the Harold Melvin & Bluenotes tracks, both with and without Teddy P, are quite gospelly. Specifically, songs like Bad Luck and The Love I Lost had that gospel preacher thing going on in the outros.

In fact, a lot of Philly records had bible or gospel references. 'God Helps Those Who Help Themselves' by The Dells; 'Pray All You Sinners' by The Trammps.

Eddie Kendricks track 'He's A Friend' was I believe a reference to Jesus; his 'Goin Up In Smoke' was also had lots of biblical, gospel references. Oh yeah, they were Philly records too.

Then you've got the obvious gospel disco artists like Mighty Clouds of Joy (Time LP from '74; Kickin LP from '75 are my faves); and New York Community Choirs late 70's records produced by Warren Schatz.

Not a disco song, but on Graham Central Stations' Mirror LP, the last cut called Forever references Revelation. I think it was written in honor of Larry Graham's father who died during the making of the LP.

Disco Funk