BORIS MIDNEY... THE FUNKY RUSSIAN...WHO KNEW?"FESTIVAL&

[Houseman]

Boris Midney was one of the BEST producers of his day. Creating a blend of classical scoring with electronic (primitive to modern electro standards) not only took guts, but creativity and do I dare say genius.
I don't believe Midney's music was made for extreme commercial crossovers. Some producers actually put their work before revenue and ratings.

I believe Midney was directing to the more open minded and art types that could appreciate a mellow vibe. Perhaps it was too sophisticated or "deep" for the mainstream, but nonetheless I could hardly imagine disco music without including the symphonic producers and Boris Midney.

I still remember when Come Into My Heart dropped on the floor and people instantly connected. But none was better than the break to I Found Love (Constadinos)... that used to drive 'em nuts.

Houseman

[UltimateBeeGeesFan]

Responding to Quinny earlier, about the fact that Boris Midney incorporated classical musical into his disco which made it un-disco, I would point out that two classic disco pieces, "Night on Disco Mountain" and "Fifth of Beethoven" adapted by David Shire and Walter Murphy respectively, which were in the epic and definitive disco movie Saturday Night Fever, which featured the music of the Bee Gees, are very much so disco despite being instrumental, lacking of "black credentials" and being full of strings in the then modern of the 70's.

[QUINNY]

Responding to Quinny earlier, about the fact that Boris Midney incorporated classical musical into his disco which made it un-disco, I would point out that two classic disco pieces, "Night on Disco Mountain" and "Fifth of Beethoven" adapted by David Shire and Walter Murphy respectively, which were in the epic and definitive disco movie Saturday Night Fever, which featured the music of the Bee Gees, are very much so disco despite being instrumental, lacking of "black credentials" and being full of strings in the then modern of the 70's.

AAARRRGGHHH!!!! Thank you for making my point for me. Possibly two of the worst attempts at Disco ever made IMO. I can still remember the sniggers that used to greet anyone who mentioned A Fifth Of Beethoven.

Granted, SNF was probably the definitive Disco era movie, BUT NOT for the music content. You're having a laugh.:icon_biggrin::icon_biggrin::icon_biggrin:

[JussiK]

get this: at the L'Etage in Paris, possibly the coolest rare groove establishment on earth where obscure funk, dance and world music 7-inchers are worshipped by a crowd seemingly made of Brazilian models, jazzdance instructors and full time vinyl dealers, the dj brings on Walter Murphy's version of 5th of Beethoven and behold, it fits right in. I was stunned and asked him why this particular tune. He says it's got a killer groove, totally manic, pure. So, shut up, kneel down and be in awe to recieve information from someone intelligent and non-geriatic like him who knows his stuff.

[QUINNY]

get this: at the L'Etage in Paris, possibly the coolest rare groove establishment on earth where obscure funk, dance and world music 7-inchers are worshipped by a crowd seemingly made of Brazilian models, jazzdance instructors and full time vinyl dealers, the dj brings on Walter Murphy's version of 5th of Beethoven and behold, it fits right in. I was stunned and asked him why this particular tune. He says it's got a killer groove, totally manic, pure. So, shut up, kneel down and be in awe to recieve information from someone intelligent and non-geriatic like him who knows his stuff.

AAARRRGGGHHH!!! Even French DJs playing to hip luvvies can have bad taste. In playing Walter Murphy he proved it. I don't think (nearly) 56 is anything like geriatric. If it is, you ain't got long to go yourself. :icon_biggrin::icon_biggrin::icon_biggrin:

[JussiK]

AAARRRGGGHHH!!! Even French DJs playing to hip luvvies can have bad taste. In playing Walter Murphy he proved it. I don't think (nearly) 56 is anything like geriatric. If it is, you ain't got long to go yourself. :icon_biggrin::icon_biggrin::icon_biggrin:

Age can be just a number, but a less than flattering body form and living in denial in the past tend to work against an already wrinkly package. Calling anyone not dressed in a tracksuit and not looking like a member of the Royle Family a hip luvvie may not necessarily yet be a sign of approaching altzheimer, but certainly, anyone saying L'Etage djs have bad taste is clearly posting his ideas in the wrong website. There must be a Prince Charles appreciation society or something else properly British out there that's aimed at crumpy old men.

[ashley]

"5th of Beethoven" by Walter Murphy must be one of the grooviest dance records of all time .. it reached number 1 on the U.S. Billboard singles chart .. quite an achievement for a 3 minute disco record .. surely a million record buyers can't be wrong?

[QUINNY]

"5th of Beethoven" by Walter Murphy must be one of the grooviest dance records of all time .. it reached number 1 on the U.S. Billboard singles chart .. quite an achievement for a 3 minute disco record .. surely a million record buyers can't be wrong?

It's really interesting to remember what the scene was like when the Walter Murphy track was released. Around the same time, there were lotsa other 'experiments' in what could be discofied, or could be accepted as Disco and especially which old tunes could be put to a Disco beat and score a quick buck (Disco Lucy, Baby Face et al). In that context A Fifth Of Beethoven was undoubtedly a huge commercial success and sold extremely well, BUT 30 years on, my overall feeling towards the track is one of even more distaste as well as one of poor taste (as exhibited by Walter Murphy for making it and sooo many people for buying it and/or dancing to it). It'll be forever lodged in my brain as being part of the Disco drawer marked **Crass/What The Hell Were They Thinking?**.

It's been mooted that AFOB in an unofficial 'national anthem' of Disco music (apparently by contributors of this site).....all I can say is :icon_redface::icon_redface::icon_redface:.