Do some people prefer female vocals as opposed to male vocals in disco songs ?

[Dayna]

I find that the magority of my favorite disco songs are sung by female artists.. "Diva Syndrome" I find that sometimes a male voice is too crass for the kind of disco I like the best..but there are exceptions of course like Sylvester but thats almost a woman .. hehe:icon_eek:Or if it's a male vocalist they have to have enough female background vocals to satisfy me..like for example"Got To Have Loving" Don Ray.. the female vocals make the record hot to me of course the arrangement is fabulous on that song...What is your take on this ?

[paul]

I'm a little partial to the women. I feel that they are singing to me, i.e. He's The Greatest Dancer :icon_biggrin:
Of course there are some exceptions to this rule. Teddy Pendergrass' machismo was appreciated.

[JussiK]

There are some good male vocals to be found in disco - Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass - but imho if it's got girls it's already half way good. Gimme gimme gimme a girl chorus anytime, sweetly chanting above the string section, and then a massive woman like Izora or Jocelyn. Pouting, lisping nymphettes and other non-singers with continental accents are fine too of course, that's entertainment. Girls and women rule. The only exceptions are Chake Khan whose voice somehow makes me think of an enraged cat being scraped along a chalk board, or that woman who ruined the Love Machine track on the Tempest Trio album.

[Simon White]

There are some good male vocals to be found in disco - Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass - but imho if it's got girls it's already half way good. Gimme gimme gimme a girl chorus anytime, sweetly chanting above the string section, and then a massive woman like Izora or Jocelyn. Pouting, lisping nymphettes and other non-singers with continental accents are fine too of course, that's entertainment. Girls and women rule. The only exceptions are Chake Khan whose voice somehow makes me think of an enraged cat being scraped along a chalk board, or that woman who ruined the Love Machine track on the Tempest Trio album.

"Pouting, lisping nymphettes"

LOVE IT !

I can think of one particular example who thankfully gets litle mention here !
For me there's nothing like a big, female gospel voice over a great dance rhythm. I saw the Two Tons of Fun backing Sylvester in London as a kid and it actually changed my life... I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
I would say though my collection of records is split roughly 65/35 in favour of the girls although if I had to name favourites, the girls would be on top

[SandraDee]

I'm not that bothered whether a lead singer is male or female but I really like unison singing which you used to get alot on disco records. I know Kathy Sledge is a great singer but I personally woulda preferred it if 'Hes The Greatest Dancer' was by Chic themselves featuring their unison singing on the verses as well as the choruses (by Diva Grey, Luther, Fonzi, Alfa, David Lasley etc.). I just think it sounds more classy.

[pepper1dancer]

It was said once that the top selling albums sold in the USA were by male singers and that may be true, Bruce, Lionel, Michael, but i have always found the female voices as my favorite style, from Barbara S., to Tina, Supremes, etc...........

[paul]

The only exceptions are Chake Khan whose voice somehow makes me think of an enraged cat being scraped along a chalk board, or that woman who ruined the Love Machine track on the Tempest Trio album.

Jussik, you're killing me :icon_sad: OK, so you're not into Chaka but do you feel the same when you hear her sing, I'm Every Woman?
I love Chaka's singing. In fact I put her in my top 5 exceptional vocalist.

[Dayna]

Jussik, you're killing me :icon_sad: OK, so not into Chaka but do you feel the same when you hear her sing, I'm Every Woman?
I love Chaka's singing. In fact I put her in my top 5 exceptional vocalist.

___________FLATLINE____

I so agree..Chaka is Divine.easily in my top 20.Sweet Thing,Once You Get Started I'm Every Woman,This is my night.and the list goes on..actually ON
"Get it up for Love" TaTa Vega sounds almost exactly like Chaka ..and I Live for Tata..

[paul]

I know Kathy Sledge is a great singer but I personally woulda preferred it if 'Hes The Greatest Dancer' was by Chic themselves featuring their unison singing on the verses as well as the choruses (by Diva Grey, Luther, Fonzi, Alfa, David Lasley etc.). I just think it sounds more classy.

Well allow me to be "Quinny" here and be contrarian
In my opinion, the reason He's The Greatest Dancer works so well especially over the ages is Kathy's voice. She has the kinda girl next door voice as opposed to that "polished" sound. Her style gives the song relatable authenticity that works for me.

[Simon White]

___________FLATLINE____

I so agree..Chaka is Divine.easily in my top 20.Sweet Thing,Once You Get Started I'm Every Woman,This is my night.and the list goes on..actually ON
"Get it up for Love" TaTa Vega sounds almost exactly like Chaka ..and I Live for Tata..

For me on Chaka it's 'Clouds' .. I nearly passed out the first time I heard that record..and 'Any Love'....awesome !

As for Tata ..dancing my tits off to 'Just Keep Thinking About You Baby' is a real 'memory' from the time.

[Videoskooter]

Dayna this is a difficult 1. I don't know, it depends on the track.

For instance, I always preferred Harold Melvin's version of "Don't leave me this way" over Thelma Houston's.

And suppose, just suppose that Isaac Hayes or Barry White would have done a cover of "Love To Love You Baby" :icon_eek: Mmmmmh LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUV TO LUUUUUUUUUUUUUV YA BEEEYBY.

Or if Disco Tex & The Sex-O-Lettes would have done Ethel Merman's Disco album :icon_eek:

Otherwise Pattie Brooks' "After Dark" can't be done by a man IMO.

And I cherish Linda Clifford's "Bridge Over Trouble Water" but I hate the Dork Brother's (S&G) original :icon_twisted:

So........

[Dayna]

For me on Chaka it's 'Clouds' .. I nearly passed out the first time I heard that record..and 'Any Love'....awesome !

As for Tata ..dancing my tits off to 'Just Keep Thinking About You Baby' is a real 'memory' from the time.

Simon...I love "just keep thinkin about ya baby " but the only time our DJ played it was during the drag show because this one queen did that song almost every night.. "BITTER~!! and It was a great song to dance to...

[Dayna]

Dayna this is a difficult 1. I don't know, it depends on the track.

For instance, I always preferred Harold Melvin's version of "Don't leave me this way" over Thelma Houston's.

And suppose, just suppose that Isaac Hayes or Barry White would have done a cover of "Love To Love You Baby" :icon_eek: Mmmmmh LUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUV TO LUUUUUUUUUUUUUV YA BEEEYBY.

Or if Disco Tex & The Sex-O-Lettes would have done Ethel Merman's Disco album :icon_eek:

Otherwise Pattie Brooks' "After Dark" can't be done by a man IMO.

And I cherish Linda Clifford's "Bridge Over Trouble Water" but I hate the Dork Brother's (S&G) original :icon_twisted:

So........

I can see Barry doing love To Love you baby but to me it wouldnt have had the same elegance.. something about a great female vocal that makes me want to twirl.. maybe because I lipsinc when I dance and I dont lipsinc mens songs..go figure

[JussiK]

[quote=paul;122146]Jussik, you're killing me :icon_sad: OK, so you're not into Chaka but do you feel the same when you hear her sing, I'm Every Woman?
quote]
Well, you're right of course, I feel great when I hear it. But her voice on many other tracks, it's like she's suffering from a sore throat and just can't reach that high note without screaming with all her might, however painful it is. And when I saw her in a concert it was horribly disappointing. I yelled "I'm Every Woman" several times in vain, she paid no attention to us needing to get our groove going. We never got any of her dance stuff, all she sang was boring old ballads. I was in the mood for dancing, like the Nolan Sisters!

[paul]

Hey Jussik, back in the day Chaka was known to be too drunk or high at her concerts with Rufus. Sometimes she wouldn't even show up. That's really too bad because I really liked her singing.
So you liked I'm Every Woman :icon_biggrin:
How about Everlasting Love?

[Simon White]

We had Ashford & Simpson over here recently and Val sang the ***** out of "I'm Every Woman" and they boh sang the ****** **** ***** out of "The Boss" !

[QUINNY]

Well allow me to be "Quinny" here and be contrarian

Paul: I'm expecting it to be an entry into the Oxford Dictionary at any moment....:icon_biggrin::icon_biggrin::icon_biggri n:

As for Male versus Female.....how ridiculous to prefer one over the other per se. Certain songs are better with a bitch, others with a dawg.

[Videoskooter]

Certain songs are better with a bitch, others with a dawg.

:icon_eek: Quinny, you've become a gangstarapper :icon_eek: Do you already have a clip on Youtube, with you know....scantilly clad Bling Bling girls? :icon_eek:

[SandraDee]

Or if Disco Tex & The Sex-O-Lettes would have done Ethel Merman's Disco album :icon_eek:

Wow, that's a mind-blowing thought for the day!

[qdearl]

I have to agree with those who say it depends on the track.

Certain songs only sound right when sung a certain way, with a particular tone or attitude, in a particular key, etc.

I mean I don't think i'd like "The Night the Lights went Out" by the Trammps if it was sung by the women of Chic or Skyy.

Nor would "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" have anywhere near the same impact if it wasn't sung by Jocelyn Brown:icon_biggrin:

It's a complete package that makes a great Disco Song, whether it be male or female

[remicks]

*****

Interesting topic and replies.
Wondering, do more disco songs use female vocals than male ????


It needs to be a good blend .... and even at that I'd prefer the emphasis to be significantly on songs using male vocals . I've always been aware of this ...when making tapes ....DJing .....etc.....

For some reason it makes my head hurt to even imagine experiencing a night in a club in which only the ladies were heard one after another ... :icon_exclaim:



*****

[Simon White]

Wow, that's a mind-blowing thought for the day!

Hee hee.....it couldn't have been any camper thats for sure !

Footnote..The Sisters Love sing one Sexolettes album track, "Love Is A Killer'

[Dayna]

: As for Male versus Female.....how ridiculous to prefer one over the other per se. Certain songs are better with a bitch, others with a dawg.

Ridiculous ? It's a valid question ..
You do remember those ,dont you ?
I think the thing thats ridiculous is referring to a woman as a BITCH for general purposes~!!:icon_twisted::icon_rolleyes:

[QUINNY]

Ridiculous ? It's a valid question ..
You do remember those ,dont you ?
I think the thing thats ridiculous is referring to a woman as a BITCH for general purposes~!!:icon_twisted::icon_rolleyes:

Red for rage....very good, big letters too. :icon_razz::icon_razz::icon_razz:

And referring to men as dawgs is O.K.? :icon_rolleyes: :icon_rolleyes: I was just using the vernacular, that's all.

Missy, you do got attitude!!!!:icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol:

[Dayna]

Red for rage....very good, big letters too. :icon_razz::icon_razz::icon_razz:

And referring to men as dawgs is O.K.? :icon_rolleyes: :icon_rolleyes: I was just using the vernacular, that's all.

Missy, you do got attitude!!!!:icon_lol::icon_lol::icon_lol:

I write in alot of colors,I have no color code..and always in big letters as well.. It's a trademark of confidence not attitude. ..as for the Vernacular.. Bitch sounds much worse than dawg. IMO..I wasn't the one that called men dawgs Einstein,You did,and if that term offends the men let them defend the remark..Have a Lovely evening