re: I need your help andComments

[carjam170]

New York,Usa was the Club Capital of the world.Now that is not the case. That title now belongs to London, England.

I want to know what went wrong?

Alot of people put it down to Mayor Giuliani alone. But I don't think it was all his doing.

Many learned reseachers have stated that New York City is down to 296 venues/clubs with cabaret licenses in all five boroughs, down from 12,000 in 1961.

The Disco boom of the 1970's changed everything...but eventually it was to fall.

I get the feeling that New Yorks problems via its Nightlife was to happen when the Disco backlash crept and eventually led to the authorites vowing for the culture to perish.

The Powers that be, I believe, are never ever going to allow that culture to florish again.

Since Disco music has mutated in House and Garage music they have failed in some respects because the music is big in England and getting so in Europe.

But what of the City that helped to create the music?

Why isn't the peoples of New York City being able to dance?

Please can you give me your views.

I am wrting a piece on this, and maybe some people who used to party during the Disco boom can tell me of their experiences. Or just about anyone? Maybe people on this website that are from New York City themsleves.

What do feel about not being able to dance in your own city?

Please get back to me

Carl Brown


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Bernie on 2002-08-17 17:34 ]</font>

[AnthonyA1971]

I certainly cannot speak on England's behalf...as to why it's such a "hit" over there in today's world. As for New York goes, the music just plain sucks! lol I've had very little interest in frequenting clubs as of the last 5+ years. My friends agree with me on this. Maybe you guys are less critical of the music being played now a days, but not us here in NY. Just my opinion of course.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: AnthonyA1971 on 2002-08-12 17:34 ]</font>

[HustleBaby]

On 2002-08-12 14:47, carjam170 wrote:
New York,Usa was the Club Capital of the world.Now that is not the case. That title now belongs to London, England.

I want to know what went wrong?

Alot of people put it down to Mayor Giuliani alone. But I don't think it was all his doing.

Many learned reseachers have stated that New York City is down to 296 venues/clubs with cabaret licenses in all five boroughs, down from 12,000 in 1961.

The Disco boom of the 1970's changed everything...but eventually it was to fall.

I get the feeling that New Yorks problems via its Nightlife was to happen when the Disco backlash crept and eventually led to the authorites vowing for the culture to perish.

The Powers that be, I believe, are never ever going to allow that culture to florish again.

Since Disco music has mutated in House and Garage music they have failed in some respects because the music is big in England and getting so in Europe.

But what of the City that helped to create the music?

Why isn't the peoples of New York City being able to dance?

Please can you give me your views.

I am wrting a piece on this, and maybe some people who used to party during the Disco boom can tell me of their experiences. Or just about anyone? Maybe people on this website that are from New York City themsleves.

What do feel about not being able to dance in your own city?

Please get back to me

Carl Brown

When you asked what went wrong, you somewhat explain the answers above. The problem with NYC nightclubs is THE MUSIC! The only things to dance to today is trance/techno or rap music. Unfortunately disco still has a bad taste in the general public's mouth so when its mentioned, people make a face filled with disgust. Believe it or not, there are many people like me who want want disco back! But these nightclub owners ONLY cater to the teeny boppers nowadays therefore, DISCO is out of the question.

Roseland Ballroom has a disco/funk "UPTOWN SATURDAY NIGHT" dance once a month so that is my stomping ground. Occasionally I may go to The SoundFactory or Vinyls but it has NOTHING on the old school. I wasn't old enough to party at the discotheques back in the day but I'm old enough to see the difference and what todays music LACKS!Todays music tends to sound the same unlike disco/funk which was more original and better to dance to. Also the youth today is much more dangerous which leads to nightclubs closing after a year or two due to slashings, stabbings and shootings.

When you asked "How does it feel not being able to dance in your own city?....it reminds me of the movie FOOTLOOSE (the town in that movie prohibited dancing). We are not banned from dancing, its very very hard to find nightclubs that we would enjoy and cater to our taste.

Also the powers that be as you mentioned labeled disco music as "black music" or "gay music" which was negative in their eyes and ears. But that is another story. I hope this bit helps.

*DELIGHTFUL*

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Bernie on 2002-08-17 17:34 ]</font>

[AnthonyA1971]

^Exactly....as you said: "The only things to dance to today is trance/techno or rap music"

This is very true, so I'll pass on the clubs. It's in times like these that personal music collections come in very handy. lol

[JussiK]

Hustlebaby start something! I know you are able to add a bit of magic to that town or what? Just talk your way into a mid size venue and begin a disco night - not just the expected Gloria Gaynors or KC & Sunshine Bands. I'm thinking of popping over later this year and would certainly like to cut the rug in New York, not just stand around.

[maarten]

Hey, as a former New Yorker I knew a place that was part club, part restaurant, part bar downtown. They also had private rooms. There was a band playing there that did Chic covers better than Chic ever sounded. But the name...

And I have never been to, but heard great things about a place called Shelter at Body & Soul, where the likes of Timmy Regisford, Joe Claussell, Francois Kevorkian and apparently even David Mancuso spin their stuff. Can't be bad based on some of the track listings I have seen!

[Voyage]

Exactly clubs today only play teen pop/hip hop/techno/carppy music . I think the DJs should include more stuff like Disco and 70s and 80s music. I mean not all of the night play that but maybe combine it. :grin:

Also it's good to see that sometimes remixes of Disco and 80s songs are played but when they're played I see everyone just leave the dancefloor.:roll:

~Murder On The Dancefloor~ :evil:

[DanceMan]

All the parties that I now attend that play only disco music are in my Co-Op community where the DJ spins from the 70s to early 80's and, also, when I throw disco parties where everyone hears all the music from the only era that ever was and - i hate say - will probably never be again!....

[HustleBaby]

On 2002-08-13 00:51, JussiK wrote:
Hustlebaby start something! I know you are able to add a bit of magic to that town or what? Just talk your way into a mid size venue and begin a disco night - not just the expected Gloria Gaynors or KC & Sunshine Bands. I'm thinking of popping over later this year and would certainly like to cut the rug in New York, not just stand around.

Believe it or not Jussik, I've had several dreams where I owned a nightclub. I remember seeing those red candle jars on each table and the place was JUMPING while disco spun on the turntables!!!Presently, I'm trying to call various ballrooms to see if they can start a once-a-month 70's night for tryouts. Like I mentioned in my first post, ROSELAND's once per month 70's night is great BUT we need more venues like this! Unfortunately, I don't know anyone that owns a nightclub so its gonna take awhile but I'll keep trying. As far as celebrity performances goes, I don't have a clue as to how I can find or talk to the likes of "K.C, Gloria G, Evelyn Champagne etc...How much would you pay these people for a night's performance?????

*DELIGHTFUL*

[carjam170]

Hi..Carl here again.

I have to disggee with some of the comments that have been posted here.

I truly believe that New Yorks demise as being THE Former Number 1 city in the world for dance music and th music industry is due to your government, and for the people of New York for allowing it to happen.

When the Disco boom was in full Swing New York was the envy of the world. You had the clubs the labels, the dj's, the artists and the clubbers and ravers!!

Now London, is the new top dog, and rightly so, and has all of that.

Remember in London, every day of the week you can rave. Every day, if you want. And SEE Top artists /djs from every part of the globe - performing there!!

No. I'm not rying to rub it in. Thats not what its all about! Truly it is not. I want to see New York back up there competing with London.At the very least!!

I feel that the music policy of certain clubs in your city hasn't helped. I aggree! But I feel that it has more to do with out government intervention that has caused this.

There a song that was done by a Rap/Soul/Rnb group in the 1980's called - "The Freaks come out at night".

I truly feel that the various officials do not want New York to resemble the 1970's and 1980's again. They don't want the "Freeks" as in their voiew of things to come out at night!!

They want New York to be the model city that every one in the Usa looks up to.

There's nothing wrong in that but people also look to New York in Anemrica as the City thats leads in everything.

This is not the case anymore with the Night club culture.

I can sympathise with people trying to run events and things in the current climate.

But here in England, we've had it just as Hard. If not harder. Peopel wnet to prison, and fought tooth and nail to make sure that there communites could haer sounds that wer not being heard on National Radio - or the BBC...

What happened in England that led to the change OF people/S accepting dance music as a legitmate piece of music VIA conquering of Radio. Was by the use of Pirate Radio.

Yes ITS the old subject of Pirate Radio.
Since that revolution took place - the record companies and the legal radio stations have had to play ball.

These pirates Radio stations play what people want to hear from the Street. Not what the record companies dictate to a certain degree to what people in the Usa.

Its a fact that the most of latest HipHop, Rnb, Reggae artists (from Jamaica) House and Garage djs, etc play London....

With some Hiphop music and Rnb it is being released in London first - vinyl wise then the Usa!!

Why?

Because the pirates created an atmosphere for this to happen. In England, the customer dicates as to what they want to hear on the airwaves. Not the other way round. Clubs or Promoters hearing all of this on the airwaves pick on in this and then events and special nights are given up to these new sounds.

Pirates have become so powerful now that they provide National Radio with Djs that have made the Pirates so influencial.

Now these same Djs, and Pirate operatives have created clubbing holidays in areas around the world such as Ayia Napa and Ibiza!!

But all of this came at a cost. Many people/s went to jail, paid huge fines, took chances to make this happen.

And won!!

Can New York do the same as London...??








<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Bernie on 2002-08-17 17:35 ]</font>

[QUINNY]

HEY GUYS. LET'S GET REAL!!!!!
Disco will never return. It is yesterday's music for yesterday's (teeny boppers) market. It made some people rich for a while then something else began to make more bucks. It's the way of the world.
EVERYTHING MUST CHANGE. LIVE WITH IT.
As for London being the world capital for dance music- maybe so, but even that will end, especially because the DJ's think they're more important than the music.

[markydefad]

Quinny,

Sad BUT true. We ARE living in the past. BUT I think most of us realize that.

[QUINNY]

MARKYDEFAD,
SADLY I DON'T THINK SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO VISIT HERE DO REALISE THAT EVERYTHING DISCUSSED IS IN THE PAST. I GUESS WE COULD ALL DO SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE POSITIVE ABOUT THE SITUATION. I'M THINKING OF TAKING UP THE WHEELS OF STEEL AGAIN (AFTER A 15 YEAR BREAK) OR STARTING A LITTLE LOCAL RETRO DISCO. I THINK I PROBABLY COULD PLAY ALL THE HITS, NOW THAT I'VE MELLOWED WITH AGE , AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THERE IS NOTHING NEW. IT'S GREAT HAVING 20/20 HINDSIGHT!

[markydefad]

Well, that's all most of us want. One damn club in our city or a radio station that would play music from "OUR ERA". Nearly impossible to find, though.

There was a Club 1970's (Sunday nights at Probe) in LA for awhile. Even glamorous folks like Cher went there to dance. The music was mainstream radio disco and danceable rock--BUT it was good music. That closed or moved somewhere else. Now we have Disco Saturday Nights on K-BIG radio. It's KC, Bee Gees, Donna, and all the usual suspects--BUT pretty popular.

[carjam170]

I still have to disagree with you. Not just to cause arguments.

Maybe your right thinking about it. Disco undiluted may never come back - back with
"House and Garage" .. well!

Soulful House and Garage music is truley Disco revenge!!

Remember..House and Garage uses the same ethos of Disco together with other musical influences of the day.

Out of all the modern music's that are available to us today. House and Garage music has a direct linkage to Disco..Whether you like it or not...!!

The actual creation of the music resulted in Djs having a few electronic equiment, tape to tape reels and other such devices to make Disco sounding records without the use of session musicians and vocalists (*i.e the use of samplers and drum machines!!)

The Chicago House boom of the middle to late 1980's is a prime example of local dj/producers from Chicago using and stealing disco loops to make House records!!

Ask Frankie Knuckles,Chip E, Marshall Jefferson they will tell you what they were using to make early House records - Disco loops and samples!!

If you any of you went to the Warehouse in Chicago from 1979 to 1981..The songs that you would hear playing would be Nick Straker Band, "A little bit of Jazz", or "So Fine" by Howard Johnson or "Can't Fake the feeling" by Geraldine Hunt. Songs from the D-Train and the Peech Boys were also on the menu.

Audiences within Chicago went nuts for this, But Knuckles now resident of the Warehouse (*at the time) was faced with a problem - Disco had dried up and was soon about to..

In New York, the problems was solved by Djs experimenting with Hip and Electro..but in Chicago, Frankie looked at ways where he could still keep the Disco sound alive.

He started working on re-edits of old Disco favourites to be placed within his Dj sets.

Eventually his tapes edits would become full and complete mixes as he ran completely new rhythms, basslines and drum tracks under old Disco favourites of yester year to his Warehouse public...

This wasn't some thing new in New York, but it was in Chicago at the time..It was these experiments that led to the construction of House...

Disco has been re-packaged, and put out as new form of dance.

Its hard to beleive but its true!!

And thats why many people within the music industry does not want House and Garage music to dominate like it is doing in England

It remeinds them of the Disco era all over again...

Listen to Joey Nergo (London - aka Dave Lee!!) who makes House and Garage music - his influence and sound are Disco!!
Carl Brown

[paul]

Hey Carl.
I was going to run my mouth but I'm not sure if you have a question. If I'm reading your responses correctly, it seems you've already drawn certain conclusions for questtions you raised. Perhaps I'm way off base. Can you simplify your question(s) for lil' ole me?

[AnthonyA1971]

I say this: If Disco, or for that matter, any old school dance music was still "in" , there wouldn't even be a debate about it at all. Most people don't want to hear disco in it's purest form....not anymore than they'd like to hear my beloved freestyle music. Our stuff is old news. So what though?! lol....Again, that's what vinyls, cassettes and cds are for, right? Just because it's not dominating the airwaves or most clubs, doesn't mean we cannot enjoy our music still. I think the whole "comeback" thing is unrealistic and a waste of mental energy lol
I don't believe any music in it's purest form will ever comeback....BUT ISNT THAT PART OF IT'S UNIQUENESS??!! Just my opinon

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: AnthonyA1971 on 2002-08-13 21:24 ]</font>

[HustleBaby]

Let me make this PERFECTLY CLEAR I am not trying to turn back the clock to 1977. Secondly, I'm not trying to resurrect clubs like 54, Xenon, Garage, Regine's etc.... I SAID that it would be good if New Yorkers like myself can find a club or two maybe three that plays disco music - even if its twice a month. (Marky's post says it all!!) Even though all of us listen to cds and tapes in our homes, it would be a DELIGHT to find venues that cater to the disco generation.

Three weeks ago Nile Rodgers and Chic were to perform outdoors at Lincoln Center. Unfortunately it started to rain and the show was cancelled. My point is the amount of people that turned out for them was UNBELIEVABLE!!!! They even had $12.00 hustle lessons prior to the show and the floor was filled with eager beginners.

All of us know that we CANNOT bring back the 70's and we can't help it if were are stuck in the past. I feel that everyone in this forum is "nostalgic" as well as "realistic" so don't get it twisted! We are not so caught up in the past that "mental energy" is going to waste - that's obsurd! All we want is a nightclub or radio station to play our music once in awhile so if that's your definition of being "stuck in the past/unrealistic" than so be it.

*DISCO DELIGHT*

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: HustleBaby on 2002-08-13 22:19 ]</font>

[Robbie]

CarJam--

I don't think our government is the reason why New York no longer has a visible disco base in 2002. It's because the times have changed, as have the music. It's one thing to see a "revival" in front of your eyes, but how long does that even last??

Honestly, in Lehmann's terms, disco will always evoke images of things that the Media will continue to thrust among the public. For someone who was born in 1975, when disco was still in its early days, I would do ANYTHING to go back to that time again. There is a recent commercial for a cable company which shows a man on his computer at a site called "1978 Online" (I guess). All of a sudden, you see him putting on stereotypical "'70s" clothes (a la Tony Manero) and doing silly moves on the floor in his house. It is images like this that will forever give a bad name to disco, like it was all a big novelty, a joke.

Sorry if I'm starting to go into all different directions over this, but I feel strongly about this because I love disco music and I hate to see it being corrupted by the powers-that-be.

One of the things you have to understand is that the club culture today is not what it was in the '70s. Like HustleBaby said, there are shootings and violent acts that go on at these places at times. The music is usually rap, techno, house, etc. In order for the old disco music to be played, you have to go to a place that has specialty nights, so to speak. If you were a New Yorker, your best bet would be to listen to WKTU and hear the N.Y. Minute radio reports which tell you what's going on at local clubs.

Also keep in mind that we do not use vinyl as THE music medium of choice anymore, and that has not been so since the late 80's. One of the things that made disco special was the vinyl. In those days, you didn't have all of these remixes galore on a 12" single that were monotonous and uninspiring. Today, all you get at a record store is a CD, and if you want to be the now-called "maxi single", it's nothing but different mixes and dubs. It's a totally different story today.

Another thing that will continue to plague disco's condition in 2002 is the supposed "disco is dead" idea. This really shouldn't come as a surprise, as the pop culture movers-and-shakers decided to hop on the disco bandwagon, calling it the "next big thing", and decided right after the infamous "disco riot" at a Chicago ballpark that disco had to go and pushed new wave. I also think the Billboard pop charts took the cue from them. If you look at the Hot 100 from May 1979 and compare it with December you will see that disco was virtually non-existent by the end of the year. The only place to see it was on the disco charts.

Nothing can ever "come back", no matter how much we try. It was nice to see that disco music was able to gain some form of respectability in the 90's, but now that's no more. Once again, the pop culture trend-watchers decided they had enough of it, and have gone on to other things. Case in point: VH-1 dropped all of its 70's-themed programming about 4 years ago for good. Although they'll eventually do some "Disco One-Hit Wonders" special it's the same old stuff. They only show disco from the commercial side and with their own assessments, contrived as they are.

I'm with Hustle Baby; I'd love for the music to come back, but our culture today won't allow for it. We just have our memories and our disco collections to keep us going.

[Outsider]

People like us keep disco alive because we listen to it. But I know that it will never be a major force in music again.

[carjam170]

Hi all...

Maybe I haven't made myself clear enough here. It my fault becaue when I start going I lose it.

I put out a few question/s earlier on via the state of the New York nightlife and music scene at the moment.

I did this because I knew that there are many learned people on this website that was part of the Disco revolution during the 1970's...

New York as I have mentioned many times was the shining light across the world on how to run nightclubs and the music industry.

The question really was, what happened to it all? Why did the New York Scene crumble, and why did London take its place?

It has been stated that the music policies of various clubs have played a part in bringing down New Yorks former glory.

Also as well it has been mentioned that we now live in a much more violent society as against the 1970's. These things are true.

However, where I was getting at was that I believe that Usa government are more cleverer then I think we could imagine.

I am about to do a piece, review and report to hightlight this. I have nearly got the pieces together to put things in a clearer frame of things.

Another point that I hit on via my second or 3 post here, was that I feel that Disco music though it doesn't in its puriest form exsist anymore. It does under the banner of Soulful House and Garage. Its hard to explain but it does.

I've tried to explain in post 3 how the young local djs of Chicago, and one newly arrived Dj from New York called Frankie Knuckles was to carry on the Disco light in Chicago.

Knuckles first, then others from Chicago was to carry on the theme of Disco, that was about just about to evapourate, by adding new bass lines, and drum patterns to it so that they could make their Djs sets more exciting and yet continue the young black Chicagonians love of the Disco Classics.

Knuckles gained his knowledge on how to do this via being immersed in the New York Disco of the early to middle seventies. His love of Philly Soul also made a great impression on how his Dj/sets would sound

As we all know that took place at the Ware House - which the music was to take its name from - and House music was born.

The puriest will tell you that Disco is Disco is Disco and House is House.
And thats the end of it.

That is true, but Disco lives in House and Garage...

Remember the track that the Masters at Work did called "Those sounds keep making me..." did in 1995...

You might say that this is a one off. It isn't you know. There are many artists out there within House and Garage scene that make on a regular basis Disco tinged House music.

I still believe that House and Garage music scene and movement is a rehashed version of Disco movement. Yes as it has rightly been mentioned that times have moved on. And with that so had to Disco music. But for it to survive newly created Rhythms and basslines were made and added and a new music out of the ashes of Disco with other popular sounds of the day were created.

Please keep posting...

I await the backlash from you all.



<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Bernie on 2002-08-17 17:36 ]</font>

[jazz_pilgrim]

Hmmm, this all sounds a bit depressing to my ears.... Cheer up folks - it's not all that bad, you know!! :grin: :grin:

I don't go clubbing in London very much nowadays but I do keep in touch with what's going on, and I still hang out with some of my friends from "back in the day".

Because the club scene in the late Seventies in the south of England was heavily soul-, funk- and jazz- orientated with jocks like Chris Hill, Froggy, Robbie Vincent, Greg Edwards rather than just pure disco, it has managed to survive up until today.

In the mid-Eighties, when the disco thing had finally died down, there were plenty of good nights to be had, there was the "rare groove" revival with Norman Jay at the helm of course and loads of Seventies funk, there was the burgeoning salsa scene with clubs like Sol Y Sombre (which sadly burnt down) in Charlotte Street in London and also "A Night In Havana", there was the Indie soul scene (there was a regular club at Tooleys nr London Bridge), there was the Northern Soul scene (with The 100 Club All-nighters and The Alexandra at Clapham Common), there was a lot of African and World music played at clubs and there were still the mainstream funk and soul nights. I went to all these clubs, and from say 1984 - 1989 (my "single" days in London, and had a brilliant time).

Memories like being the only two white guys in a serious funk club in The Comedy Store on Leicester Square, and my pal droppimg a full pint of beer on the dance floor!! Not a good way to remain inconspicuous!! :grin: Very friendly club, though!

Looking at today's scene, there are still regular nights to be had in the London area playing those Seventies, soul, funk and jazz sounds. Whilst the Starsky and Hutch club nights may be no more, I hear that "The Lacey Lady" (one of the legendary clubs in the '70s) is up and running again. Then there is the "School Disco" themed night in Hammersmith playing commerical disco sounds whilst everybody dresses up in old school uniforms. A colleague from work went recently - you have to book FOUR WEEKS in advance as it is so popular!!

At least 2 of those '70's DJs are still presenting regular radio shows - one of them being my prime source of what's new in the soul and funk scene. And the other one with his mega Friday night soul, funk and disco revival show.

And there is still plenty of new music to get interested in these days. Despite what people say, there are some very interesting and intelligent fusions between Seventies disco/funk and today's garage sound (garage being the more soulful UK variety of house).
There is one stunning track on Hed Kandi's Disco Sushi 2 which is a prime example of this. I have the track on my MD at home ... and will get hold of the track tonight. It is a serious piece of music ....What about the brilliant acid jazz track from Swedish (I think) group Koop "In A Heartbeat" with Terry Callier on vocals. Check it out! A brilliant left-fielder - nice Seventies feel!! Totally hooked on it!! This track has been heavily played on the specialist music shows in the UK. ... What about Angie Stone, Alicia Keys, Angie Johnson on the mainstream soul side???

Yes, there is certainly lots of music to get interested in today (in London and anywhere else I am sure), whether it be the Seventies disco/funk/soul/jazz sound you're after or the new stuff!!

It's out there waiting for ya!!! :grin: :grin:

BTW Carjam - I tried to give you some names and places I went to in the post-disco era in London. Hope it is of use...



_________________
It's got to be about the music !!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: jazz_pilgrim on 2002-08-14 02:52 ]</font>

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: jazz_pilgrim on 2002-08-14 08:16 ]</font>

[discosavvy]

Not enough people are paying attention to my posts. This is really frustrating. You're believing what the media and the disco-haters tell you.

Quinny from England wrote "Disco will never return".
carjam170, also from England, wrote "Disco undiluted may never come back".

What about the undiluted disco song "Murder on the Dancefloor" by Sophie Ellis Bextor that reached #2 on the Pop chart in your own country in December 2001? And Jamiroquai's been pretty hot there, too, for many years. Robin Thicke's video "When I Get You Alone" was played this year on American television; it's got new vocals over the old disco track "A Fifth of Beethoven" by Walter Murphy. "Strong Enough" by Cher reached the top 40 in the States in May 1998. Barry Manilow, Britney Spears, and
Macy Gray made disco-styled songs in 2001.

Robbie said: "If you look at the Hot 100 from May 1979 and compare it with December you will see that disco was virtually non-existent by the end of the year. The only place to see it was on the disco charts."

That's interesting, because I've looked at those same pop charts and conducted years of research, and I saw Michael Jackson's disco singles way up there in late 1979 and early 1980 (the top-selling CD "Off the Wall" was released in September 1979!), and "Funkytown" and "Never Knew Love Like This Before" in the top 10 for a long time, and even in 1981 there were a few big disco hits outside of the disco charts, in both the U.S. and U.K. Here are some hard stats for some hit American disco singles after mid-1979 (for those songs which I have stats for) (peak positions listed):

DISCO HITS ON THE POP CHARTS IN THE USA AFTER JULY 1979
"Rise" by Herb Alpert - #1 Pop - October 1979
"Dim All the Lights" by Donna Summer - #2 Pop - November 1979
"No More Tears" by Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer - #1 Pop - November 1979; #4 WABC MusicRadio 77 Survey - January 1980
...and others for which I don't have stats (yet).

DISCO HITS ON THE POP CHARTS IN THE USA IN 1980
"Rock With You" by Michael Jackson - #1 Pop - January 1980
"Ladies' Night" by Kool and the Gang - #9 Pop - January 1980
"And the Beat Goes On" by The Whispers - #4 WABC MusicRadio 77 Survey - February 1980
"The Second Time Around" by Shalamar - #9 WABC MusicRadio 77 Survey - February 1980
"Funkytown" by Lipps, Inc. - #1 Pop - May 1980
"Stomp!" by the Brothers Johnson - #7 Pop - May 1980
"Take Your Time (Do It Right)" by S.O.S. Band - #3 Pop - August 1980
"Give Me the Night" by George Benson - #4 Pop - September 1980
"Fame" by Irene Cara - #4 Pop - September 1980
"I'm Coming Out" by Diana Ross - #5 Pop - November 1980
"Never Knew Love Like This Before" by Stephanie Mills - #6 Pop - late-1980
"Celebration" by Kool and the Gang - #1 Pop - December 1980
"I Need Your Lovin'" by Teena Marie - #37 Pop
...and others for which I don't have stats (yet), like "Make That Move" by Shalamar and "Jump to the Beat" by Stacy Lattisaw.

DISCO HITS ON THE POP CHARTS IN THE USA IN 1981
"Lady (You Bring Me Up)" by the Commodores - #8 Pop
"Steppin' Out" by Kool and the Gang - #10 Pop
"Ai No Corrida" by Quincy Jones - #28 Pop - early 1981
...and others for which I don't have stats (yet).

AnthonyA1971 commented: "Most people don't want to hear disco in it's purest form".
How do you know? Some of them never got the chance to hear good pure disco music, others just moved on to other music but still liked disco at one time. And who cares what "most people" want? Niche audiences can be quite substantial. There are still millions of sometimes-latent disco fans alive today. Disco was artificially "killed" in the early '80s when rock fanatics forced disco fans to hide their musical interest, when radio stations drastically changed formats, when "trends" dictated by the "trendy" changed, when MTV refused to play black artists, when the number of new disco songs being recorded dropped quickly, when lifestyles changed, and when the economy and record industry continued to suffer.

As far as I am concerned, the future of disco remains unwritten. If you want disco to come back and don't think others are going to want the same, then it's up to you to buy the new disco songs by the artists that are still experimenting with that style, and spread the word, or write to your fave singers and encourage them to make disco songs, etc.

[AnthonyA1971]

@DiscoSavvy, nice points. I suppose I shouldn't have generalized so much by saying "most people". I was only judging by "most people" I know. I just simply believe we're living in a world that loves to dislike dance music (almost always have), no matter the form it's in. (I know, I'm generalizing again lol)

[JussiK]

Carjam is right. And - disco is timeless. Just look into the HIPPER dance clubs and you'll hear endless samples from disco vinyls, breaks edited and recycled, string sections here, bass lines there. And at the coolest clubs of course you'll hear whole disco records played, classics, obscurities, cult titles, First choice, cerrone, Patrick adams stuff, Brass Construction - check Madame jo jo's in London, The Queen in Paris etc. 20-somethings grooving to Disco with the capital D. If it's not happening in America a lot it's that country's loss. In continental Europe, the music is highly regarded and in Japan, even more so. And you doubtful Brit there, check the places I mentioned out and think again - Disco is not dead or yesterday's music! Loft Classics series is being sold in every dj store and the Vincent Montana re-realeses etc continue to sell very well. Walk around Rue Oberkampf in Paris and you'll hear it. In Rome, it's everywhere. Disco is the roots of dance music and...phew, I think you got the message!