Banzai - How Many Records Did They Make?

[Disco Funk]

I really love that Chinese Kung Fu track. That Tom Moulton remix on Disco Gold record is really cool. So far, I've seen the 45 of that cut, and another cut called Viva America by the same group. The B side of Viva America is an awesome percussion breakdown of the A side. Then last week, I discovered yet another single by the group - Rhythm Kung Fu, which turned out to be a drums only (with some bass) mix of Chinese Kung Fu! I almost wet myself when I discovered that version.

So what other singles did the group release? I figure it was more of a product of the producer than an actual band, so were there any other projects by the same producer with similar percussion oriented songs?

Disco Funk

[remicks]

*****

I really love that Chinese Kung Fu track

I do too DF! :)
Of the many songs I'd come to know last year from following Marky's 1975 charts, this is definitely oneof the ones I most enjoy having found .


It's early disco's innocence at its yummiest .....

Now I want to hear these other ones by Banzai you've found ---

There were so many acts like this that came on strong ....then as quickly ... poof ... vanished ...... The talent and creativity was obviously there ... why then the too sudden fizzle ?? :(

*****

[Disco Funk]

In the case of Banzai, I think they were an artist from Europe (France?), so they probably didn't have much North American backing. The singles I've seen are on a label called Nobel, which I think is Canadian.

If you compare Chinese Kung Fu to Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas, the Banzai track is almost a direct remake. It's got the same chord progression, but a different melody. I wonder if Biddu threatened to sue Banzai for that? :)

Disco Funk

[disco1999]

Kat Mandu also did "Chinese Kung Fu" and this version was definitely more popular over here.

Who did the original track initially ?

[Disco Funk]

Carl Douglas did Kung Fu Fighting in '74, and then the chords were reused by the Banzai producers to make Chinese Kung Fu in '75. I imagine the Kat Mandu version was later than those tracks.

Disco Funk

[disco1999]

Carl Douglas did Kung Fu Fighting in '74, and then the chords were reused by the Banzai producers to make Chinese Kung Fu in '75.

Besides the words in the song title, Kung Fu fighting and Chinese Kung Fu have just about nothing in common as far as I know, maybe a little inspiration for creativity, but that's about it.

Kung Fu fighting has more in common with "Dance the Kung Fu" still from Carl Douglas under Biddu Orchestra's production.

[Disco Funk]

Carl Douglas did Kung Fu Fighting in '74, and then the chords were reused by the Banzai producers to make Chinese Kung Fu in '75.

Besides the words in the song title, Kung Fu fighting and Chinese Kung Fu have just about nothing in common as far as I know, maybe a little inspiration for creativity, but that's about it.

Trust me, the Banzai version is a direct remake. They didn't use the same melody, but it you play them side by side, the chords (or at least the changes) are exactly the same. I wonder if anyone's attempted to mash the two tracks together?

Disco Funk

[disco1999]

this track of Bansai doesn't sound Carl Douglas to me

http://s58.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0...B32I6WR7PH406J

[Disco Funk]

this track of Bansai doesn't sound Carl Douglas to me

http://s58.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=0...B32I6WR7PH406J

Try singing the lyrics and melody to Kung Fu Fighting while playing Banzai's track. The chorus section is a little stretched in the Banzai version, but the verse ("they were chopping men up, they were chopping men down") fits perfectly.

Disco Funk

[remicks]

("they were chopping men up, they were chopping men down")

Disco Funk

:o ---- :P

Good grief !! What were those kung fuers fighting with ......
...... chopsticks !!! .,,,,,, :roll:

*****

[Disco Funk]

LOL! chopfu-ry.

Here are the real lyrics. I used 'men' instead of 'them':

Everybody was kung-fu fighting
Those cats were fast as lightning
In fact it was a little bit frightning
But they fought with expert timing

They were funky China men from funky Chinatown
They were chopping them up and they were chopping them down
It's an ancient Chineese art and everybody knew their part
From a fainting to a slip and kicking from the hip

Everybody was kung-fu fighting
Those cats were fast as lightning
In fact it was a little bit frightning
But they fought with expert timing

There was funky Billy Chin and little Sammy Chung
He said here comes the big boss, lets get it on
We took a bow and made a stand, started swinging with the hand
The sudden motion made me skip now we're into a brand knew trip

Everybody was kung-fu fighting
Those cats were fast as lightning
In fact it was a little bit frightning
But they did it with expert timing

(repeat)..make sure you have expert timing
Kung-fu fighting, had to be fast as lightning

Disco Funk

[Disco Funk]

I don't know if anyone checked out Rhythm Kung Fu after I mentioned it in this thread a couple of years ago. It's a breakdown mix of Chinese Kung Fu. After listening to it, I can't go back to Chinese Kung Fu, that synth just pierces my brain.

It's the second track on this clip. Just bass and drums, and some vocals. If it had been released in the 80s or later, it would have probably been called a 'breakdown mix' or 'dub mix' or something like that. But in '75, they just called it a new name.

[canadiantire]

I've just completed the A/D transfer of my 45 RPM version on Nobel and here is what I found out:

Side A: a 3'17" part I (subway version)
Side B: a 4'44" (discotheque version)

No release year (most probably post 1975).

In there, no dub version like the one posted above.

[Disco Funk]

I've just completed the A/D transfer of my 45 RPM version on Nobel and here is what I found out:

Side A: a 3'17" part I (subway version)
Side B: a 4'44" (discotheque version)

No release year (most probably post 1975).

In there, no dub version like the one posted above.

Are you referring to Chinese Kung Fu? There are about 3 or 4 versions floating around. The Tom Moulton mix was on Disco Gold Vol. 2 released in '75, so the song was probably released early 75 or late '74. There were various 45s, some with the short mix on one side, the 'disco' version on the flip; some with the short mix on one side, and the 'rhythm' breakdown mix on the flip (I have the french pressing, which has this); and then there was the Nobel 45 that was the rhythm mix presented by itself as Rhythm Kung Fu, with a short (same length as the French B side) mix on the A side, and an extended re-edit 'disco' version on the flip (they just did a repeat edit in the percussion-only sections).

I'm guessing that this track and Viva America were the only two recordings put out under the Banzai name. I don't know of any other projects by the same producer. I thought it might have been the same guys who did Pepper Box, because they have a similar synth sound, but I don't think it is.

Disco Funk

[canadiantire]

Here is the beast:



I like the dub version you posted from Youtube!

[MARK D.]

Yup,nobel is a canadian label based in montreal.