Best disco albums

**Nano** · September 5th, 2002, 05:35 PM

I was thinking about this and now came the ocassion. Many of us like disco but mostly have/had singles (7" or 12") or CD compilations. What disco LPs would you recommend? I mean, with all or mostly all songs good/listenable, even if they're not hits.
These couple I name from the few I really listened from beginning to end:
-"Victory" (Narada Michael Walden, 1980): very good funky album with almost no hits. A nice slow song ("Alone without you"), very good disco numbers ("Lucky fella", "Take it to the bossman") and ends with a 3-part suite in the jazz-rock vein (Narada had previously worked as drummer in the Mahavishnu Orchestra).
-"II" (The Gap Band, 1979): here they do different styles in every song, from Earth, Wind & Fire (the slow "No hiding place") to Parliament-like funk ("Oops upside the head") and even plain R&B ("The boys are back in town"). No filler in this one.

Obviously there's tons of E,W&F and Parliament albums to name here, but I'm interested in the less-known artists, at least from a rock fan point of view, that is. Feel free to add comments. Most of the stuff is not in CD form but hey, there's still some used-vinyl outlets out there...

**markydefad** · September 5th, 2002, 06:16 PM

Without even thinking...

"Where The Happy People Go" - The Trammps
(Every cut is wonderful--"Disco Party", "Hooked For Life", etc.)

Donna Summer's:
"A Love Trilogy" (Come With Me/Could It Be Magic)

"Four Seasons Of Love" (Spring affair/Summer Fever/Autumn Changes/Winter Melody)

"I Remember Yesterday" (I Feel Love/Love's Unkind/Back In Love Again/Can't We Just Sit Down & Talk It Over)

"Bad Girls"(Our Love/On My Honor/There will Always Be A You/Walk Away/Sunset People)

AND ESPECIALLY the excellent "Once upon A Time"(Fairy Tale High/Queen For A Day/Working The Midnight Shift/I Love You/Rumour Has It/Now I Need You)

Those are my first thoughts. I'm sure more will occur to me later.

_________________
Make My Feet Wanna Dance!

Markydefad

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: markydefad on 2002-09-05 19:22 ]</font>

**BrunoRepublic** · September 5th, 2002, 06:35 PM

Again, without thinking too hard...

Musique: Keep On Jumpin'
Ultimate: (self-titled)
Love And Kisses: (self-titled)
Cerrone: Love In C Minor
Cerrone: Cerrone's Paradise
Constellation Orchestra: Perfect Love Affair
Macho: I'm A Man
El Coco: Dancing In Paradise
Village People: (self-titled)
Bionic Boogie: Hot Butterfly
Gregg Diamond: Starcruiser
Milton Hamilton and Crystallized: Disco Madness
Rinder & Lewis: Warriors

There are loads more...

**DanceMan** · September 5th, 2002, 09:47 PM

Every album mentioned above....as well as both Voyage LPs....From East to West and Fly Away (Souvenirs)...also, We Are Family, Sister Sledge....Gloria Gaynor's Experience and I've Got You LPs as well as her debut with Honey Bee, Never Can Say Good-bye and Reach Out...skip Glorious, if you are unlucky enough to come across it....Midnite Rhythm, Peter Jacques Band, Theo Vaness I and II and most all Ritchie Family LP before they changed into the skinny athletic girls..then they were cut by cut....

**markydefad** · September 6th, 2002, 12:24 AM

Yeah, I have to concur Danceman's nomination of that first Gloria Gaynor LP.

Most of the praise goes to the historical first side Tom Moulton segued trio: "Honey Bee/Never Can Say Goodbye/Reach Out" BUT the second side has a bunch of 3 & 1/2 minute gems that were almost ALL played in SF : "Searchin'" "False Alarm", "Real Good People", All I need Is Your Good Lovin" and one other that escapes me. Worth looking for if you don't have it.

**Blaxman** · September 6th, 2002, 08:07 AM

Nano, you could try too:

Bobby Thurston - There is a CD with his first two albums on Prelude (1980/81) - it's a real masterpiece!!

Love Committee - Law And Order

Saturday Night Band - There is (also) a CD with their two first albums on Prelude (79/80) - Good disco albums - They are the same crowd from Constelation Orchestra.

And all the albums above my post, they are all fantastic!!! :grin:

Peace

**Boogie Child** · September 6th, 2002, 09:50 AM

Besides the ones already listed:

France Joli “Come to Me” (Come to Me/Don’t Stop Dancing/Let Go/Playboy)
First Choice “Hold Your Horses”(Hold Your Horses/Great Expectations/Love Thang/Double Cross)
Grace Jones “Fame” (Do or Die/Pride/Fame/Summers Night/Am I Ever Gonna Fall in Love in NYC?)
Linda Clifford “If My Friends Could See Me Now”(If My Friends.../Runaway Love/Gypsy Lady)
Madleen Kane “Cheri”(Forbidden Love/Cheri/Secret Love Affair)
Madleen Kane “Rough Diamond” (Rough Diamond/Fever/Make Me Like It/Touch My Heart)

And to repeat a previous recommendation:
Donna Summer “Once Upon a Time” (Every single cut – the definitive DISCO album)

**DanceMan** · September 6th, 2002, 11:53 AM

I think that Once Upon A Time...is Donna's best overall album....it was by this time when she was fully entrenched and confident in her writing and singing and her advisors really knew what was working for her, muscially....strangely, as excellent as this LP was, it didn't feature any major pop hits...maybe because it was too 'thematic'?..By her next release, "Last Dance," is when the world got to really hear sing since "Love to Love You Baby." Too bad for them, but better for us as Donna probably woulda started to 'rock out' a couple years earlier if the world at large had known how good this album really was.

**Nano** · September 7th, 2002, 04:55 PM

Thank you guys, now I have a list!

Sometime in the future I will have to go buy a vinyl turntable again... The other day I was in an used-stuff store, and more than half it was vinyl... Lots of old funk & disco 12"s and LPs... And the store guy was playing them to the hilt! That obviously is a temptation...

**discohunter** · September 9th, 2002, 04:01 AM

I think Boystownn Gang's "Disc-Charge" is worth a mention. Also "Goin' Home For Love" by Jimmy "Bo" Horne and "Stars" by Sylvester.

discohunter

**zeca azevedo** · September 9th, 2002, 08:36 AM

Hey everybody:

here's a bunch of great DISCO albums just for you:

- SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER SOUNDTRACK: the ultimate DISCO album, it summarizes DISCO MUSIC like no other album before of after.

- C'EST CHIC, RISQUÉ, REAL PEOPLE, TAKE IT OFF, WE ARE FAMILY (Sister Sledge), DIANA (Diana Ross): the best CHIC albums, the greatest DISCO band ever

- DONNA SUMMER: I REMEMBER YESTERDAY, BAD GIRLS - the best albums by the real queen of DISCO

- ASHFORD & SIMPSON: IS IT STILL GOOD FOR YA - My favorite album by this dynamic soul duo

- CHAKA KHAN: CHAKA - Her first solo album is still her best. Who can argue with I'M EVERY WOMAN?

- STEPHANIE MILLS: SWEET SENSATION - her best albums, contains all time favorites like NEVER KNEW LIKE THIS BEFORE, DANCIN' and the title song

That's it for know. Peace,

zeca azevedo

**Jeff H** · September 9th, 2002, 11:48 AM

I hate to sound like a... uh, broken record, but without a doubt the best disco album ever is surely "Once Upon a Time."

You know that old question about "What one album would you want with you if you were stranded on an island?" "Once Upon a Time" is it.

**totoman** · September 10th, 2002, 06:03 AM

"I hate to sound like a... uh, broken record, but without a doubt the best disco album ever is surely "Once Upon a Time."

You know that old question about "What one album would you want with you if you were stranded on an island?" "Once Upon a Time" is it."

My sentiments exactly. It incorporates for me everything that makes disco fantastic. The synths, the strings, the percussion, the vocals.

toto

**markydefad** · September 10th, 2002, 11:31 AM

I agree guys that "Once Upon A Time" is the ultimate Disco Record (at least Euro-style)--this was the point where I finally realized how great a singer Miss Summer was and became a Giorgio fan, also. Previously I liked stuff--BUT was feeling that Miss Summer was a lesser DIVA--I WAS SOOOO WRONG. I then bought all the previous records--all of which are great--EXCEPT the "Love To Love You Baby"--never cared for side 2 of that one. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

**BrunoRepublic** · September 10th, 2002, 11:51 AM

Hmmm... well, I do like Once Upon A Time, and agree it is Donna's best overall LP, and also one of the few disco concept LPs that really, truly works. The story is completely believeable. But on a pure musical level, it seldom reaches serious heights of boogiedom for me the way, say, MacArthur Park Suite does. The main theme just doesn't resonate with me, and I'm indifferent to most of Act III. Having said that, I fully agree that this is the first album where Donna really got to explore a wide range of emotions, and pulls it off very well. The almost-entirely electronic Act II is brilliant. Both the instrumentation and lyrics of "Now I Need You" and "Midnight Shift" truly capture the desperation, isolation, and despair of being poor and friendless in a cold and unforgiving city. The sudden switch from electronic to conventional instrumentation in "Queen For A Day" is the most pivotal moment in the LP, IMHO.

My other issue with the album is that when it does reach the heights (such as in "I Love You"), it doesn't stay there for long enough...

BTW, I know there are several 12-inch promos of excerpts from the LP, but do any of them have different mixes on them?

**SandraDee** · September 11th, 2002, 03:14 AM

I so agree with everyone about 'O.U.A.T.' being Donna's best LP. U may have read a previous posting of mine on a different thread re 'Now I Need you/ Working the Midnight Shift'. The bit where she sings 'my body still carries on but I'm dying inside' is THE most poignant moment on a disco record ever IMO.

My other 'desert island' LP would be 'The Boss' by Ms.Ross. I think it's the best thing she's ever done & I also think it captured the Ashford & Simpson sound at its's best too. 'Once in The Morning' was so under-rated I think.

Donna & Diana- I was 12 & 14 respectively when I bought these LPs. I don't think my sexuality was ever in doubt!

**maldb** · September 11th, 2002, 06:13 AM

My 2 cents:

1) Alec R. Costandinos - Romeo & Juliet
2) Cerrone - Love in C Minor
3) Kebekelektrik
4) France Joli - Come To Me
5) Voyage - From East to West
6) Peter Jacques Band - Fire Night Dance
7) Sylvester - Step II

Tantra - The Double Album
9) Theo Vaness - Bad Bad Boy
10) Donna Summer - Once Upon A Time
11) Ultimate
12) Amant
13) USA/European Connection
14) Destination - From Beginning to End
15) Love and Kisses
16) Don Ray - The Garden of Love

This should you keep you humming for awhile.

**Jeff H** · September 11th, 2002, 07:58 AM

On 2002-09-11 04:14, Steely Dan wrote:
Donna & Diana- I was 12 & 14 respectively when I bought these LPs. I don't think my sexuality was ever in doubt!

I hear ya, Steely Dan!

When I was a young teenager, I would place my portable cassette recorder in front of the TV to record the Sonny & Cher show then play it back in my room all week! (Great sound quality, needless to say! :lol: )

While my friends were buying... I don't know, Led Zepplin LPs, I was buying the Pointer Sisters, Bette Midler and Barbra Streisand (a friend of my thought I was insane for liking "The Way We Were"!).

There was no apparent reason why I was drawn to these performers; I knew the Pointer Sisters only because I saw them on the Carol Burnett Show. I'm convinced there HAS to be a genetic reason for my taste in music!

**DanceMan** · September 11th, 2002, 08:00 AM

On 2002-09-11 04:14, Steely Dan wrote:
I so agree with everyone about 'O.U.A.T.' being Donna's best LP.

My other 'desert island' LP would be 'The Boss' by Ms.Ross. I think it's the best thing she's ever done & I also think it captured the Ashford & Simpson sound at its's best too. 'Once in The Morning' was so under-rated I think.

Donna & Diana- I was 12 & 14 respectively when I bought these LPs. I don't think my sexuality was ever in doubt!

Those two LPS are definitely both in my Top 10 of all time....especially the single, "The Boss." It is by far better than the redundancy of her follow-up, DIANA, which surpassed it only in sales but not in sheer musical and danceable enjoyment...

I agree with Graham that while ONCE UPON A TIME....(my favorite overall Donna LP)...two others were better for either dancing: Live and More: and her most singeable album: her "comeback" on Atlantic, Another Time and Place, produced by SAW...I must have played that one 500 times already.....there isn't one throwaway on it and each song could have been a single.....pure dance pop and one of the only highlights (along with Anita Baker) while I was in my late 80's musical coma.....

**zeca azevedo** · September 12th, 2002, 08:06 AM

Well babies,

I heard Donna's ONCE UPON A TIME, I REMEMBER YESTERDAY & BAD GIRLS back to back and I'm keeping my opinion here. I think ONCE UPON A TIME has some great moments (the best track is I LOVE YOU), but it is uneven, at least for me. Maybe I prefer I REMEMBER... and BAD GIRLS because these albums are a mix of Disco with other genres of pop music (I REMEMBER... is almost a soul album, and BAD GIRLS has its Rock'n'Roll overtones).

I was reading the edition of MOJO MAGAZINE from august 2001 and they included ONCE UPON A TIME on their list of top 100 soul albums of all-time. So, you are not alone, guys (just like jacko said, LOL!)

About THE BOSS and DIANA: I prefer the CHIC album. Groovy, tight, it's a wonderful example of how CHIC's sound can be improved when you add a great singer to it. There's nothing on the more conventional sounding THE BOSS that sounds exciting like that break beats on I'M COMING OUT. Don't misunderstand me here, I like THE BOSS, of course, but I prefer the album Ashford & Simpson produced for GLADYS KNIGHT & THE PIPS ("ALL ABOUT LOVE", which contains the stand out track TASTE OF BITTER LOVE).

Peace,

zeca azevedo

**SandraDee** · September 12th, 2002, 01:50 PM

[quote] Jeff H wrote:
There was no apparent reason why I was drawn to these performers; I'm convinced there HAS to be a genetic reason for my taste in music!

------------------------------------

I totally agree that its genetic. The other 200 kids in my year at school all liked punk or heavy metal while there was little old me buying Donna, Diana, Sheila B, Andrea True & Amii Stewart with my hard-earned pocket money!

**MikeVice** · September 24th, 2002, 02:30 PM

My all time two favorite disco albums (both fortunately available on CD):
--LOVE TRILOGY by Donna Summer (1976) The main song itself, a 17:58 dance marathon, is truly a masterpiece and would have been satisfying if this were the only song the the album: "Try Me, I Know We Can Make It," was Donna's followup to the near 17-minute "Love to Love You Baby," and it features lush, mock-symphonic orchestration, synthesized sound effects, cooing, senuous vocals, and is divided into three distinct sections--"Try Me," "I Know" and "We Can Make It"--that seamlessly merge into one perfect dance symphony, each with its own melody, like a movement in a piece of symphonic music. "Could It Be Magic," features the same characteristics, including a "Love to Love You Baby"-esque mock orgasm. "Wasted" is a spacey little synthesized tune that's about feeling empty and unloved, and the sound effects really capture these emotions. "Come With Me" is a passable end to the album.
--COME ON DANCE DANCE by Saturday Night Band. There's the thumping title track that is pure, undiluted discoey Eurodisco that would make discophobes everywhere stop dead in their tracks. Twelve minutes long, it features lush, violin-soaked mock-symphonic orchestration, chanting, cooing vocals, a pulsating 4/4 ball-drum beat with high hat, spacey synthesizer noises, a sensual, sensuous feel, and music that builds, peaks, and crescendoes orgasmically. "Touch Me (On My Hot Spot)" is also great, 11 minutes long with ther same features as the title track, but also including "Love to Love You Baby"-like mock-orgasmic sounds--"oooohs" and "ahhhhs" of pleasure. Truly a treat!
--MikeVice

**QUINNY** · September 24th, 2002, 05:02 PM

Now you see, that's why I generally hate albums. Give me a quick (3-4 minute) fix anytime.
"I need excitement, I need it bad, 'cos you're the best I ever had, I wanna love ya, wanna hold you tight, get teenage kicks right through the night, alright".

**totoman** · September 25th, 2002, 07:00 AM

[quote]
On 2002-09-12 14:50, Steely Dan wrote:

Jeff H wrote:
There was no apparent reason why I was drawn to these performers; I'm convinced there HAS to be a genetic reason for my taste in music!

------------------------------------

I totally agree that its genetic. The other 200 kids in my year at school all liked punk or heavy metal while there was little old me buying Donna, Diana, Sheila B, Andrea True & Amii Stewart with my hard-earned pocket money!

I was right with you on that one. We were allowed to take a record into class at the end of term one day and we sat and listened to all the punk etc stuff and I was sat there with my 12" of Last Dance!

I like the Boss album but for me the best track is "I Aint Been Licked". I love the lush orchestration and the backing vocals, which lift it above the other songs on this album (IMO).

toto

**Robbie** · September 25th, 2002, 12:37 PM

DanceMan--

I agree with you on Donna Summer's "Once Upon A Time" album. I think it was a really great album. It was not just wonderful because of the varied sounds that comprised the album, but also lyric-wise, Donna was putting out some good tunes. Side 2 with "Now I Need You/Working The Midnight Shift" fading out, and then starting with the electronic-to-symphonic "Queen For A Day" is just totally brilliant. Her ballad side also became refined, with "A Man Like You" and "Sweet Romance". I liked the "OUAT" interlude on this side because it never strayed from its premise. And to round it out, "Dance Into My Life" is a bouncy, catchy tune with the Peter Frampton-esque voice box singing "Dance with me".

I'll also add "Bad Girls" to the list of another great Donna album. I considered this to be the "sequel" to "OUAT", and by this time, the music and the lyrics had superseded everything else she had done. The ballad side is truly wonderful ("On My Honor"/"There Will Always Be A You"/"All Through The Night") and rounding it out with the power ballad "My Baby Understands". The dancier material was very tight by this time and wasn't as loose as previous songs. "Walk Away" was one of my faves off of the "Bad Girls" album. I think Donna always had a rocking side to her and had the voice to fulfill it. At least Neil Bogart had the heart to let her do it on this album because I believe he didn't think the fans and listening public would buy her harder-sounding material. It worked, and put out a really great album.

I think anyone who is only familiar with Donna's singles/greatest hits CD's should buy one of her studio albums from her Casablanca days. They will not be disappointed.