WERE MOST DISCO RECORDS TOO LONG?

[KBallenger53]

The unabridged version of Manuel Göttsching's E2-E4 is just under an hour (the original LP edited out about ten minutes between sides 1 and 2, whereas the CD reissue that came a few years later plays the full track uninterrupted). However, it wasn't intended to be a dance track by any stretch of the imagination. The kick drum on the track is mixed so low that it would be hard to dance to it in its original form. It's really an hour-long improvised sequencer/guitar jam that Göttsching recorded direct to 2-track so he could have something to listen to on his walkman.

Now, the song was later sampled/re-edited/remixed into a dance hit under the name Sueno Latino, but that's another story.

Bruno you know your stuff. That's info I never knew. That unabridged version is a U.K. import that I bought a long time ago, I dozed off on it one time, and It was just getting to the middle....zzzzzzzz!!! And yes, Sueno Latino was a nice hit too!!!:icon_mrgreen:

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

The unabridged version of Manuel Göttsching's E2-E4 is just under an hour (the original LP edited out about ten minutes between sides 1 and 2, whereas the CD reissue that came a few years later plays the full track uninterrupted). However, it wasn't intended to be a dance track by any stretch of the imagination. The kick drum on the track is mixed so low that it would be hard to dance to it in its original form. It's really an hour-long improvised sequencer/guitar jam that Göttsching recorded direct to 2-track so he could have something to listen to on his walkman.

Now, the song was later sampled/re-edited/remixed into a dance hit under the name Sueno Latino, but that's another story.

WOW!:icon_eek:
I have too many mixes of Sueno Latino to count! (It was a BIG hit for me.) I had no idea there was any back-story to it.

[BrunoRepublic]

"Berlin School" electronic music is my other passion besides disco. It's very, very seldom that these two spheres overlap, but evidently this is one (Ashra's "Club Cannibal" is another, but that's really a stretch).

Göttsching recorded the piece in 1981 (I think) for his own use. In 1984, he put it out commercially on Klaus Schulze's short-lived Inteam label. When Inteam folded, it was picked up by Racket Records (an imprint or associated label of Innovative Communication, which Schulze also started but had left by that point), who eventually put the full version out on CD (early 90s, I think).

[kdavid13]

In 1984, he put it out commercially on Klaus Schulze's short-lived Inteam label. When Inteam folded, it was picked up by Racket Records (an imprint or associated label of Innovative Communication, which Schulze also started but had left by that point), who eventually put the full version out on CD (early 90s, I think).

Oh that's a blast from the past !!!
Before I switched over to disco - I was a young kid buying progressive rock and electronic music thanks to my older cousins who were knee-deep into Tangerine Dream,Brian Eno,Van Der Graaf Generator and early Vangelis.

I remember tracking down Klaus Schultze's Mirage as an import (loved the beautiful white jacket). Velvet Voyage was something like 25 minutes long...

In fact I only got into disco because of Kraftwerk...(There were many "It's disco...not it's NOT disco discussions going on around that time...).

One morning CHOM-FM a major radio station specializing in prog-rock & underground stuff at the time - played Trans Europe Express then Donna's Now I Need You back to back. Then I was hooked.

I came back from Christmas break and had started buying electronic disco.I've been into it ever since.

[BrunoRepublic]

Oh wow, someone else who likes both!

Mirage is probably my all-time favourite album (it's that or Vangelis' Soil Festivities, depends on what my mood is). Sheer brilliance from beginning to end, and the perfect soundtrack to solitary winter nights. How sad that the original mix of "Velvet Voyage" is no longer available.

[kdavid13]

I recently created a playlist on my iPod and a friend was going through the names & the titles and was surprised to soo Giorgio Moroder and Tangerine Dream co-exist on it.

But when you play TD's 1981 Network 23 or their recent One night in space (from the more recent Booster) they're not miles apart in terms of sounds.

And I find that fascinating...

[JussiK]

Talking of Berlin School's brief disco excursions, have you people checked out Galapagos by Cusco? Tell Quentin Tarantino he should be using this in his upcoming Inglorious Bastards remake. It's one part spaghetti western-era Ennio Morricone, one part Zamfir and three parts Moroderian disco. Went down very well with Dragon Power, JDK Band's tribute to Bruce Lee (with continuous kung fu sound effects and choice spoken dialoque like YOU HAVE OFFENDED MY FAMILY AND YOU HAVE OFFENDED THE SHAOLIN TEMPLE). For that same cool cinematic vibe check out Signori Della Galassia / Proxima Centauri. That's 8 minutes and not a second too long, judging by the dancefloor. Nowadays of course people are used to repetitive grooves, they'll bop merrily right thru something like the 15 minutes of Importe 12 version of Easy Going's Fear.

[Jim Colyer]

The tags on some disco songs seem to drag out too long. It becomes noticable when you sing them in karaoke bars.

[boogienights]

Hey folks. I am of the general consensus the longer the better. Of course if I like the song I will want it to go longer even if it does not add much more. Examples: Paradise Express Dance, Chic My Feet Keep Dancing, Four Below Zero My babys Got ESP, Ray Martinez Lady Of The night..all classics of course. Someone mentioned the Raes A Little lovin is exceptionally long without adding much, I love that song, I think the percussive breakdown that leads back into the song is great.It certainly gets me going. Love every minute of Macarthur Park from Donna Summer. Except for the synthesizer break halfway...theres a lot of dodgy keyboard sounds from the 70s, that makes it sound dated. Just my 2 cents worth!

[Old Disco DeeJay]

On a lighter note.... I remember, kissing a rather attractive young girl, under the mistletoe, at a School Disco in 1979, for the full length of Rappers Delight, which was almost 15 mins. It certainly didn't seem too long to me :icon_lol: