Is disco always high tempo?

[heartbeatlover]

I was wondering if mid-tempo disco is a proper definition of a track, like The Salsoul Orchestra's 'Take Some Time Out For Love' or Phyllis Hyman's 'You Know How To Love Me.' Are these two tracks considered to be disco?

[KEN]

I was wondering if mid-tempo disco is a proper definition of a track, like The Salsoul Orchestra's 'Take Some Time Out For Love' or Phyllis Hyman's 'You Know How To Love Me.' Are these two tracks considered to be disco?

Yes, these songs can be classified as disco or dance music. Back in the 70's and 80's, many club DJs would either start out with very slow beat per minute records and work their way up to faster tunes. Some DJs would do the opposite, starting out with fast BPM songs and ending the evening with slower songs.

You have to also remember that during this era many songs crossed over from rock, pop, new wave and r&b, into disco or dance music. In the 1980's the term dance music replaced disco music even though it was technically the same thing. In general, r&b songs usually had lower BPM than Hi-Nrg songs. The terms "sleaze" music and "morning" music usually refer to down tempo songs.

Both of the songs you listed were issued as 12" promos to clubs DJs. Record company promoters were interested in getting out as many cuts (in the format of 12" promo singles) off of an LP to clubs as possible to get consumers to buy the LP. It didn't matter if the cut was fast or slow as long as it promoted the album and sold records. These promo 12" singles were also distributed to radio stations to further widen their appeal and listening audience.

[Disco Funk]

I thought those slower tempo tracks (or mid-tempo) were called 'dancefloor', at least not back then, but in recent years.

Disco Funk

[KEN]

I thought those slower tempo tracks (or mid-tempo) were called 'dancefloor', at least not back then, but in recent years.

Disco Funk

Records that were under 100 BPM were generally called sleaze or morning music back in the 70's and 80's. I don't know what they are called now. Actually, the BPM in today's club music are much faster than back in the 1970's and 1980's. It's rare to find dance music under 100 BPM today. Things started speeding up in the mid to late 1980's, especially with Euro Hi-Nrg records.