What the hell... Here's my Top 25

[Jeff H]

A few of the songs on my Top 25 list have been discussed here recently, so I thought I'd share my list.

I know the funk fans (and the elitists) among us aren't going to get too excited over my list, but I'm just a punter who likes big string and horn sections, and I do love the divas. In other words, I'm gay. :grin:

So:

1. Rumour Has It—Donna Summer
2. Shame—Evelyn “Champagne” King
3. MacArthur Park—Donna Summer
4. In the Name of Love—Sharon Redd
5. San Francisco—Village People
6. The Boss—Diana Ross
7. Love Insurance—Front Page
8. Take Me Home—Cher
9. One More Minute—Saint Tropez
10. Ain’t That Enough for You—John Davis & the Monster Orchestra
11. Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)—The Jacksons
12. Dancer—Gino Soccio
13. Relight My Fire—Dan Hartman
14. The Heart to Break the Heart—France Joli
15. Don’t You Want My Love—Debbie Jacobs
16. Sinner Man—Sarah Dash
17. Great Expectations—First Choice
18. Don’t Leave Me This Way—Thelma Houston
19. Move on Up—Destination
20. Turn the Beat Around—Vicki Sue Robinson
21. Cuba—Gibson Brothers
22. Do or Die—Grace Jones
23. Keep on Jumpin’—Musique
24. This Time Baby—Jackie Moore
25. Beat of the Night—Fever

Thanks for reading!

[Blaxman]

You're quite wrong Jeff!! I'm a funk fan and I have 23 of your 25 tracks in my collection. And I like it!! Obviously our Top 25 are different but, it's all disco!!! :grin:

Peace

[jazz_pilgrim]

I'm a funk fan, too and I can relate to well over half of your tunes!! :grin:

My highlight from your excellent list - IMHO, gotta be "Shame"!!! :grin: :grin: Love it

You know, guys, all these discussions I read about Donna Summers means .... that I am now on the lookout for her Lps and I will buy them when I see them!!! The power of this Board!

[Nano]

The Jacksons? Gino Soccio? Well, there's always hope, Jeff. :lol:

[DanceMan]

Jeff....that was an excellent list, and overall, it reflects my Top 100...my Jackson 5 tune was "Forever Came Today," and Soccio's, "Dance To Dance" - sadly, always the stepchild to "Dancer"....

Many of them definitely in my Top 10....

Loved your words, too, and I was trying to figure out why strings and horns are akin to being Gay....please answer that for me...had I known that back in the 70s, I could have credited disco for who I am!!!

[Jeff H]

Thanks, DanceMan. I had a feeling you'd like a lot of my selections.

As for my comment equating being gay with liking big, fussy over-orchestrated numbers, I was being at least partly facetious. But I DO believe there's something about one's sexual orientation that influences the type of music you like; I made reference to this just this morning in a reply to Steely Dan in the "Best Disco Album" thread.

But relax all you straight guys--I'm not suggesting... :lol: :lol: :lol:

[zeca azevedo]

On 2002-09-11 09:14, Jeff H wrote:
A few of the songs on my Top 25 list have been discussed here recently, so I thought I'd share my list.

I know the funk fans (and the elitists) among us aren't going to get too excited over my list, but I'm just a punter who likes big string and horn sections, and I do love the divas. In other words, I'm gay. :grin:

So:

1. Rumour Has It—Donna Summer
2. Shame—Evelyn “Champagne” King
3. MacArthur Park—Donna Summer
4. In the Name of Love—Sharon Redd
5. San Francisco—Village People
6. The Boss—Diana Ross
7. Love Insurance—Front Page
8. Take Me Home—Cher
9. One More Minute—Saint Tropez
10. Ain’t That Enough for You—John Davis & the Monster Orchestra
11. Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)—The Jacksons
12. Dancer—Gino Soccio
13. Relight My Fire—Dan Hartman
14. The Heart to Break the Heart—France Joli
15. Don’t You Want My Love—Debbie Jacobs
16. Sinner Man—Sarah Dash
17. Great Expectations—First Choice
18. Don’t Leave Me This Way—Thelma Houston
19. Move on Up—Destination
20. Turn the Beat Around—Vicki Sue Robinson
21. Cuba—Gibson Brothers
22. Do or Die—Grace Jones
23. Keep on Jumpin’—Musique
24. This Time Baby—Jackie Moore
25. Beat of the Night—Fever

Thanks for reading!

Hi Jeff,

if you want an opinion by a funk fan and a music elitist (LOL), well, you list is fantastic, full of soulful disco songs. SHAME by Evelyn King, is one of the most beautiful and elegant songs ever (I forgot to include the song on my 25 list. Shame on me!).

Peace,

zeca azevedo

[sirius]

Dear JeffH!
A very nice list of DiscoClassics and thank
god I have all of them!!!
Cosmic Love & Kisses From SIRIUS & DARKTUNES

[markydefad]

Jeff, now this list looks like a Disco 500 list!!!!! I like ALL these songs, I have ALL of them--YET I think only 3 will appear on my list...just shows to go ya... HOW DAMN MANY GREAT RECORDS THERE ARE TO CHOOSE FROM!!!!

I still need at least a hundred to do justice to the genre--BUT all I get is 25!!!! What am I gonna do????

[Jeff H]

No one said this was going to be easy, Marky!

I started with a list of about 70 songs that I thought I MUST include, then looked at that list again and again to determine which of those songs maybe still didn't give me that "buzz" every time I heard it. Then I dropped songs that I felt certain would get votes from others ("Souvenirs," "Native New Yorker" and "Got to Have Loving" come to mind). My list went down to about 28 eventually; cutting those final few songs was almost impossible.

So there are LOTS of runners-up! Only TWO Donna Summer songs on my list? Which John Davis song to choose? What about "Never Can Say Goodbye," "Another Cha Cha" and "Victim"?! And it breaks my heart that I didn't have room for anything by Linda Clifford or Ethel Merman.

Just kidding about that last one... :lol:

[markydefad]

By gawd, I forgot you didn't include ANYTHING by MISS CLIFFORD...(Now you DO have her on speed dial, right???)

I woulda eliminated "Cuba" for a little "Runaway Love"...BUT that's just me...

[markydefad]

Oh and ..not to nitpick (what MEEEE??? ...but "DO OR DIE" instead of "I Need A Man"????

I'm just askin'???!!!! :razz:

_________________
Make My Feet Wanna Dance!

Markydefad

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: markydefad on 2002-09-11 15:14 ]</font>

[Jeff H]

Well, "Do or Die" because I just LOVE that medley of "Do or Die"/"Pride"/"Fame." But just as I used "Rumour Has It" to represent Once Upon a Time since we weren't permitted to vote for the whole work, that medley outweighed "I Need a Man" in my book.

Actually, my picks from Miz Clifford were narrowed down to "Don't Give It Up" and "Shoot Your Best Shot." And it's like comparing apples and coconuts (huh?!) but how can you beat the energy in "Cuba"?!

Let's face it: Making these lists is a nearly impossible and highly subjective project, and my list could probably change if you asked me again in a month.

[DanceMan]

Don't tell me that you have Linda Clifford on speed dial and NOT Cheryl Lynn? :lol: :lol: :lol:

By far.............................I love Linda big time, but "If My Friends Could See Me Now" is far and away DA BOMB!......(I heard some kid tell another kid that once and it stuck.)..where is Linda today and will she be making a Gloria GAYnor recording comeback? Like Marc Anthony, I Need To Know!

[SandraDee]

What can I say Jeff. That list is disco heaven on earth! Interested that u included Beat of the Night by Fever as I only recently became aware of this 1979 pure disco gem on a Fantasy compilation CD. I think it sounds like Poussez singing a Sylvester track; I bet this track sounded brilliant over a quality disco sound system.

[QUINNY]

Well, well, I played at least 15 of your 25 Jeff and have about 21 of them, so I don't know why you thought your 25 would be shunned. My own 25 was mostly well known (slightly more funky) tracks, 'cos like I've mentioned before, there's only so many records that stuck in my brain after 20 odd years. I found it impossible to grade the 25 though, so in many ways after the first 5, the positions are somewhat arbitary.

[Jeff H]

On 2002-09-12 15:08, Steely Dan wrote:
Beat of the Night by Fever as I only recently became aware of this 1979 pure disco gem on a Fantasy compilation CD.

You must be talking about that "Smokin' Disco" compilation, right, Steely Dan? I picked this up used (at Amoeba in Berkeley, Marky!) for a ridiculous price of $1.99 or so (and there must have been about a dozen of them; how sad), and I love it. Well, I should say that I play four of the tracks over and over: the Fever track, "Dance" by Paradise Express (their "Poinciana" doesn't do much for me) and the two Sylvester hits; that extra-long mix of "Dance (Disco Heat)" is great. Do you recommend any of the other tracks?

I returned the comment card that came with the CD to Fantasy Records and suggested that they release the entire Fever LP on CD, but I won't hold my breath waiting. All I got in response was the Fantasy jazz catalog. :roll:

[paul]

Well, I'm close to submission of my 25. So far I have no Chic and no Donna Summer just to name a few artist not on my list. The hardest part has been picking the last 5 songs. Anyway like it or not I'll share my completed list with you folks after I submit it. I'll do that tonight or tomorrow (like yall really care ).

[Nano]

Jeff, I read your theory on violins and big production numbers and seems interesting. Only that taking one step further, we could asess that the reason for this specific taste would be that most gay people are... melodramatic? sentimental? overacting? Just pick an adjective, if you think it fits. (But doesn't that phrase sound like the usual preconcept of heteros about gays?)
Now, before someone sues me, I want to cite another fact probably related to this: apparently many gay people love opera, which is certainly the most melodramatic, theatrical and cheesy of "classic" music formats. And the roots of the modern Broadway musical, isn't it?
Why is that? I wouldn't dare to say it's genetic, but certainly there must be some kind of connection... :roll:

[keefelc]

I picked this up used (at Amoeba in Berkeley, Marky!) for a ridiculous price of $1.99 or so

Well Jeff, on your upcoming trip, you won't have to go through the hideous, and I mean hideous, ordeal of driving on 80 to get to Amoeba in Berkeley! Amoeba is also in SF (you might already know). Only trouble with that location is the parking situation.

Also, Medium Rare still seems to be intact, although they close awfully early now.

[NickNack]

Before I beat up on Nano (just kidding ) I want to say that your list is great, Jeff. That remix of the Jacksons' hit still floors me and "Dancer" is my fave Gino number.

Now...

On 2002-09-13 20:47, Nano wrote:
Jeff, I read your theory on violins and big production numbers and seems interesting. Only that taking one step further, we could asess that the reason for this specific taste would be that most gay people are... melodramatic? sentimental? overacting? Just pick an adjective, if you think it fits.

I'll take all those adjectives. We THRIVE on drama. :lol:

(But doesn't that phrase sound like the usual preconcept of heteros about gays?)

Sure it does, but who gives a ****! :grin:

Now, before someone sues me, I want to cite another fact probably related to this: apparently many gay people love opera, which is certainly the most melodramatic, theatrical and cheesy of "classic" music formats. And the roots of the modern Broadway musical, isn't it?
Why is that? I wouldn't dare to say it's genetic, but certainly there must be some kind of connection... :roll:

All I can say is... Opera --- CAN'T STAND IT!! What does that make me... half-gay?

And Nano, I'm just fooling with you. Took my clue from Jeff and just felt like acting stupid.

[SandraDee]

Hi Jeff if youre still there! Yes, it was the 'Smokin Disco' CD that I referred to. The tracks u mentioned are probably my favourites too, but I also like 'Space Bass' by Slick. I recently managed to get hold of 'Sexy Cream' by Slick on 12" vinyl which was from the same 1979 LP & i'd been after this track for eons!
Cant say I'm overly keen on the Philly Cream tracks on 'Smokin Disco' but this is otherwise a wonderful CD. I too bought this in the San Francisco area when I was there 2 years ago at a mall-type shop in the financial 'downtown' area (I also got some brilliant stuff in the Castro & Haight areas) but I can't remember the name of it; I think the shopping area was called Divisidario or something like that.

BTW, there's a Fever track on the latest Disco Spectrum CD but its in a very different style to the 'Beat of the Night' track- slower & funkier; I think its from their follow-up LP from 1980 hence the move away from pure disco probably.

I sent that card back too but heard nothing, probably 'cos I sent it from the UK!

[california mike]

melodramatic? sentimental? overacting?
that must explain why i was, and still am, a huge fan of phil spector productions...with his "wall of sound" featuring a cast of thousands! i think he referred to his creations as "symphonies for the kids".

[california mike]

hi jeff h,
forgot to mention that i like your top 25. my own top 25 list features 6 of your songs, and we also selected many of the same artists, but different songs...grace jones...
and just by coincidence, we both picked "take me home" at #8!!

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: california mike on 2002-09-14 13:02 ]</font>

[paul]

Well, here are my choices. I made a subtle distinction in compiling this list as compared to the first 500. Bernie said to vote on your favorite which I did. The last time I voted, it was based on what I considered the best or most important songs.
Anyway, here they are:

1- Dance With You
2- Loving Is Really My Game
3- Souvenirs
4- In The Socket
5- He's The Greatest Dancer
6- Take That To The Bank
7- Come Let Me Love You
8- Risky Changes
9- There But For The Grace Of God
10- Take Me Home
11- What Can I Do For You
12- Far Out
13- Down To Love Town
14- Lookin' For Love
15- Get You Boom, Boom
16- Super Disco
17- Cocomotion
18- Keep On Jumpin'
19- I Love The Nightlife
20- Keep Your Body Workin'
21- Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)
22- Cuba
23- All Night Thing
24- Spank
25- Find My Way