THE JOY FACTOR

[QUINNY]

We all accept that generally speaking Disco(dance) music has the power to make the listener feel good, feel happy. This even applies to tracks that were probably made as 'just another day in the studio' by the musicians involved.
However, this thread is to be about those records with a certain something, whereby you just know that some, if not all the musicians were just having a ball when they laid the track down. Records that convey the absolute joy of music making. I'm going to limit my selection to three discs, so that everyone else can 'have a go'.

HERE'S MY THREE
THIS IS IT - MELBA MOORE
Melba's voice is just so pure and sweet and the whole track gives me the impression that she was really smiling when she sang this number.
MIGHTY HIGH - THE MIGHTY CLOUDS OF JOY
They were a Gospel group, so no wonder this track was such an uplifting experience. I don't know if it's the words, the arrangement or what, but every time I played this I felt mighty good by the end of it.
ROSE ROYCE EXPRESS - ROSE ROYCE
I've mentioned this before in another thread, but when I listen to the drumming on this disc especially, I just know that he? was feeling absolutely 100% and must have felt so good laying this track down. It's a track (sadly relatively unknown by the band's standards) on which the rest of the band all sound like it was one long party and a joy to make.

Well, there's my MINI selection, how about yours?

_________________
IT'S GOT TO BE REAL

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: QUINNY on 2002-09-01 13:19 ]</font>

[Masdefi]

....mmmmmhhhhhh...... difficult to limit to three... but:

- Of course "Ain't no stoppin' us now", that's my all the time favourite track and I take it as a drug when I feel sad... This track is always able to lift me up.

- Second, I would say Gloria's "Never can say goodbay", that's really a power injection... Even if is so famous and played to death is still good to me.

- Last (but not least) probably something from Undisputed Truth, maybe "Showtime".

At the moment, that's what I have on my mind, but I think another second I would surely add more...

[Marcio**]

"Stop the Music" by Bionic Boogie is dancing and happy, I love this one.

DO IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[QUINNY]

Masdefi and Marcio:
I think you've misunderstood. This is meant to be about records where you (as the listener) can tell that the musicians enjoyed making the record. NOT records that you enjoy. But, hell who cares? :lol:

[Nano]

Any Parliament record.

OK, I will think a little more. I think about records when the singer is really laughing, there are not many I guess. There's party in early Kool & The Gang tracks, but of the "let's put a party vibe" kind. Hey! Sly & The Family Stone seemed to be having a real good time in "Sing a simple song" and some others.
Other than disco, I remember Bob Dylan breaks up at the beginning of one track in "Bringing it all back home". Also Elis Regina in her duet with Antonio Carlos Jobim "Aguas de marzo" (Spanish title). Blax, do you remember the ending of that one?

[nrgbeat]

I often thought Sister Sledge sounded like they were having a good time when they recorded "We Are Family".

[markydefad]

On 2002-09-02 19:32, nrgbeat wrote:
I often thought Sister Sledge sounded like they were having a good time when they recorded "We Are Family".

Strangely, I read somewhere or saw on some TV program, that Kathy Sledge was being fed the lyrics of "We Are Family" through an earpiece by either Nile Rodgers or Bernard Edwards...AS SHE WAS RECORDING IT!!!!

Supposedly, they fed her the lines and she interpreted them, so it would seem she didn't really know the song!!!!! Doesn't exactly make sense...BUT I read that...or saw it on a TV program.

So, was it joy or just the thrill of the unknown????!!!! :lol:

[california mike]

quinny, it was such a great surprise to see melba moore's "this is it" mentioned. this is one of my all time favorites through the years. she sounds so joyful and happy to be alive. i'm glad someone else likes this...i thought i was the only one.

[QUINNY]

California Mike: Glad you agree. I don't think I've ever heard a happier sounding vocal. Almost as if she really was deeply in love and thinking as she was singing "this time I know it's the real thing".

[california mike]

we need to give credit to van mccoy on "this is it" too.

[NickNack]

I've mentioned this song before and to me it sounds as if Bonnie Bramlett and crew were having a good time recording "Crazy 'Bout My Baby". She's belting it out as they continue to play harder and faster. The ending belongs to the band as she stops singing and just lets them rip it.

"Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" by Barry White is another. The drummer has the first rush in the song with Barry as he goes from moaning to singing to cursing ("****, yeah") to laughing. That laugh at the end is followed with the drummer giving you a rapid fire 8-beat thrill complete with cymbals crashing. They just sound like they were in a "work this sucker to death" mood.

[DanceMan]

On 2002-09-02 19:44, markydefad wrote:

On 2002-09-02 19:32, nrgbeat wrote:
I often thought Sister Sledge sounded like they were having a good time when they recorded "We Are Family".

Strangely, I read somewhere or saw on some TV program, that Kathy Sledge was being fed the lyrics of "We Are Family" through an earpiece by either Nile Rodgers or Bernard Edwards...AS SHE WAS RECORDING IT!!!!

Supposedly, they fed her the lines and she interpreted them, so it would seem she didn't really know the song!!!!! Doesn't exactly make sense...BUT I read that...or saw it on a TV program.

So, was it joy or just the thrill of the unknown????!!!! :lol:

In actuality...the single that was supposed to be the SMASH side, and it was to a big extent, was "He's The Greatest Dancer." But the Club DJs, among them, NickNack, did the flip as was the trend those days, ("I Will Survive" in favor of "Substitute" - credit the late Richie "Studio 54" Kaczor for that one) and forced the radio to play "We Are Family." I never heard the Kathi story about being fed the lyrics, but until that songfest, the Sledge Sisters were just another faultering act on Cotillion Records about to be dropped....so it mighta beena shape up or ship out sorta deal....

[DanceMan]

In regard to Melba Moore....

according to Melba, she told me that she loved working with Van McCoy and would have continued but for his ill health and other ""problems" which forced her jump record labels and seek new producers...I, too, thought "This Is It," was one of the best singles of 1976 (thanks for getting me to dig it out and play it tonite for a few spins) and Melba did say she was in great spirits recording that album, the highlight of which was her soaring, original-styling on the (pre-"Whitney-Mariah-Kelly")ballad, "Lean On Me." which she loved so much, she recorded it again years later.

P.S. I am looking for the CD by Melba on Epic Records, 1980, on which she sings, "Everything So Good About You." Anyone?

[california mike]

talking about van mccoy, i think he was also involved with gladys knight's 1977 hit "baby don't change your mind", but not sure if it was songwriting or arranger. it also had a nice bubbly sound.