The Classic of Classics Has to be:

[jimpleasant]

I also have many favorites, but in reality the Classic of Classics has to be the full mix of: McArthur Park Suite by Donna Summer as this mix says it all in my book.

Jimi J or Jim Pleasant 55 year old mixing (Disco Junkie)

[DJ-Pir]

Jim,

You're probably right, no-one can listen to this epic track without moving around or at least tappin' their fingers or noddin' their head !
Sure to be in my top 10 of commercial disco tracks any time.

Grtz, Peter aka DJ Pir

[jimpleasant]

DJ Pir....thanks for the comment on this, glad you feel the same as myself on this.

Jimi J

[Blaxman]

Hi Jimi J,

I like Donna Summer's "McArthur Park" a lot, a classic indeed. But, my #1 (as classic) is T.S.O.P.

Anyway, you can bet! McArthur Park is Great!! :grin:

Peace

[Alvaro]

Jim,

I agree that it's an incredible track. However, I wouldn't consider it the top classic for one simple reason: it's not one song. It's a mix of 3 songs. Granted, it's an awesome mix, but it's still just that, a mix. I bet most of the DJs in this forum could have put it together.

In case you're interested, my top classic song is 'Souvenirs' by Voyage. It's got a memorable melody and vocals, as well as a great beat.

Regards,
Alvaro

[jimpleasant]

Souveniers is an awesome tune indeed.....but I gotta say Macarthur Park Suite.....is one complete song in my book all 17plus minutes of it...Donna...Georgio Moroder and Pete Bellote have a masterpiece here.
Disco Anthem of all time....in my book, never tire listening to this one.
Have other songs that are nearly as good.....but this one has to rule.:razz:


Jimi J

http://jimpleasant.podOmatic.com

www.jimpleasant.com

[all*that*glitters*]

Donna Summer's Mc Arthur's Park is a biggie amongst the Classics but imo
nothing beats Gloria Gaynor's album 'never can say goodbye', released in 1974!!!
This was also the very first time I ever heard three different songs to be mixed together into one continuous groove on one record! Wasn't Tom Moulton responsible for this??

In 1973, Gloria made history as Billboard gave birth to the Disco Action Charts. "Never Can Say Good-Bye" bowed at #1 on the charts and became the first Dance Song to reach #1 status in dance music
from http://www.gloriagaynor.com

And....she even looks better now than she did in 1974.
Donna Summer, eat your heart out!
http://www.discomusic.com/people-more/36_0_11_0_C76/

[eddie]

My classic of all classics would have to be Unlimited Touch "I hear music in the street."

[all*that*glitters*]

and of course when I mention Gloria Gaynor I cannot forget 'I will survive'...

[jimpleasant]

I will survive did escape my mind when posting before.....wow I guess their are other that could fit in that category......there were some awesome toons back in the day......sure their are many others that escape one's mind.

Peace, Love, and Soul!
Have a great 2007 everyone!

Jimi J (www.jimpleasant.com):icon_razz:

[Zef]

I do love the commercial Donna Summer/Glo Gaynor type stuff, but I would have to second 'I hear Music in the street' by Unlimited Touch which faired less well commercially but is an absolute stunner of a record. Classic in my opinion.

"I hear music in the street, when I hear the funky beat-I get down, I get down".


Seasons greetings
Z

[remicks]

Classic in my opinion.

"I hear music in the street, when I hear the funky beat-I get down, I get down".
Z

Hmmmm ... a somewhat lesser classic maybe ......but The classics of ALL classics !!!! :icon_confused: :icon_razz: :icon_razz: :icon_razz: :icon_rolleyes:
.

For one thing when a song is chanting :
I hear music in the streets ...
............ it ain't capturing the vibe of what was disco .

Disco was a music experienced where the happy people went ....within these special private little worlds all unto their own :icon_cool: .

While IHMITS got some decent club play .... it was a more highly regarded record on the outside .... a classic for the urban boom box crowd ......

*****

[Zef]

Hi Remicks I guess we all have opinions about classics, I also guess it depends where you are from too maybe with regards to what was heard. 'IHMITS' was a pretty big club/disco cut in the UK, I did visit the US in the 80's a bit and definitely heard this at the Garage.

For me in my world it is still an absolute classic. I do get what you were saying though.

If I had to choose Donna or somebody like that, 'I feel love' would eclipse 'MacArthur park' (which I also love) as a classic of classics.

[remicks]

*****


Hi Zef

The challenge here I think is a bit impossible to start with : naming that one song ......My focus was on the usage of a word like "classic" .... and then "the classic of classics " on top of that . That's a pretty tall order.

To me it's sort of asking this ......If someone had no idea what disco was ... and you wanted to play that one song to illustrate it .... what would it be ?
It just wouldn't occur to me to play I HEAR MUSIC IN THE STREET ....... but maybe yes on MacARTHUR PARK or I FEEL LOVE

oh well so be it .... IHMITS is a pretty good song and obviously a classic for some for reasons stated . :icon_smile:

remicks

*****

[Zef]

Remicks
That was really well put. I guess IHMITH would not be the ultimate tune to try and describe disco to somebody who did not know what it was.


I do love it though (unless nobody guessed)


Best wishes.
Z

[FranceJoliFan]

My vote is the Move On Up suite by Destination (or the Castles suite, depending on my whim.)

They're up-tempo. And sound glamorous with the string and horn sections. The singing soars. And the entire album conjures images of sophisticated nightclubs, and chic jet setters.

[jimpleasant]

I agree that it's an incredible track. However, I wouldn't consider it the top classic for one simple reason: it's not one song. It's a mix of 3 songs. Granted, it's an awesome mix, but it's still just that, a mix. I bet most of the DJs in this forum could have put it together.

<----whoever wrote this above has to be joking about most of the Djs here could have put this together....you have to be mentally scarred to post such a ridiculous post...never in 1 million years would that happen....even one person.... unless Giorgio Moroder & Pete Bellotte were members here...heh heh!

Let the music take you away!
Dj Jimi J
Jimi J's Music Blog
Jimi J's Steaming Club Mixes
http://jimpleasant.podomatic.com

[efunk_adelic]

I love all the attention that UNLIMITED TOUCH got with I HEAR MUSIC IN THE STREETS as I wouldn't disagree that it's right up there for an 80's disco classic, but because it was from the 80's... I wanted to focus on 74-79 era.

Sometimes I force myself to be different... if the majority had picked Souvenirs by Voyage... I'd choose From East To West. So I'm doing a similar thing on this thread...

Gino Soccio's Dancer is a bonified classic and has the chart action to back it up. I love it's mixing potential with a super long intro and build up.

p.s. my choice will probably be different next week... as i'll try to justify my reasons for it, lol.

[EarlyGirl]

If I had to pick just one, it would be Love Is The Message by MFSB. But there are so many other classics, like Turn The Beat Around (the original by Vickie Sue Robinson), Ain't No Stopping Us Now, Doctor's Orders, Bad Luck, Love in C Minor, and even Love Hangover, since Diana Ross got a whole bunch more people listening to disco. I could just go on and on.

[drlove]

EarlyGirl, I like your choices very much -- all classics! If I had to pick one classic though to, let's say . . . introduce the teens of today to what disco's all about, I'd probably go with the Trammps' "Where The Happy People Go", as pure joy develops when the slow orchestral opening of the song ignites into mucho horns & basslines & hi-hats. Lyrically, it just doesn't get any better (in my opinion) than this tune's timeless message of discos= relax and dance your troubles away.

[Salsoul1975]

This is one of those questions I try not to answer because it's sort of equivalent to asking "Which came first...the chicken or the egg". But, since someone already asked and there have been some responses, I'll be thinking of songs that really stand out for me:

"I Found Love (Now That I Found You)" by Love and Kisses
"Dance (Disco Heat)" and "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" by Sylvester
"Honey Bee/Never Can Say Goodbye/Reach Out, I'll Be There" by Gloria Gaynor
"Give Me Love/Love Is Here/Love Is The Answer" by Cerrone
"Mac Arthur Park Suite" and "I Feel Love" by Donna Summer
"Let's All Chant" by Michael Zager Band
"Feed The Flame" by Lorraine Johnson
"Take Me Home" by Cher
"Pick Me Up (I'll Dance)" by Melba Moore
"Come To Me" by France Joli
"The Break" by Katmandu

[EarlyGirl]

Omigod Dr. Love, I forgot "Where The Happy People Go" - that's a perfect choice! It totally captured the joy of dancing, and being out with friends who shared it, and just thinking about it brings me right back to the Meadowbrook and Cameo.
And speaking of Dr. Love - that song by First Choice is yet another classic! You must be close to my advanced age to pick that as your handle ...

[kdavid13]

So many classics to choose from but if I were to pick only one...I would have to go with...
Donna Summer I feel love.

Futuristic,hypnotic,refreshing,ground-greaking and so much more...

'Nuff said.
:icon_cool:

[drlove]

hee-hee, EarlyGirl . . . .my Dr Love handle came about as the First Choice classic happened to be playing while I was registering on the site. Have to confess that I didn't really know it back in the day, but it's become a favorite for sure. Rochelle Fleming is da bomb !!!

As for age . . .I'm crossing that fabulous threshold of 40 within the next 30 days, so "middle age" . . . here I come :icon_lol:

[HairInTheWind]

When you pose classic...I keep thinking what is the quintessential of that time...one that you could use to get the point across to someone that didn't live it....so here it goes:

There But For the Grace of God - Machine
Knock on Wood - Amy Stewart
Souvenirs - Voyage
Risky Changes - Bionic Boogie
Romeo & Juliet - Constandinos
How Much I Love You - Love and Kisses

You can throw Beautiful Bend in there and of course Donna's, I Feel Love, and Trammps - Happy People =]

IMHO!