Are There Any In the Forum Who Used to Hate Disco?

[garrybcoston]

Back in the day there were numerous hard rockers, in which the music is now called classic rock, who outright hated disco. I firmly believe there are some of those hard rockers, who years later found out that disco was not so bad, and are even in this forum lauding, celebrating and toasting disco.

Alright you ex-disco haters; come clean! Also if there are any discoers who loved hard rock, give us your mouth full as well!

Garry

[Disco Funk]

I was a kid when disco was at its peak, so I didn't hate or like it. I was just exposed to a lot of the music, especially the SNF soundtrack and the Village People albums. Then during the 80s I was part of the 'disco sucks' group. I mean, I wasn't burning records or nothing, but I didn't look to listening to the Bee Gees, etc... I was more into Michael Jackson, Human League, etc...whatever was Top 40. It wasn't until the late 80s that I became nostalgic when I came across some old tapes recorded in the 70s from various sources, like a medley of tunes from '73/'74 (from an LP), part of the SNF soundtrack (also from an LP) and some other stuff taped from the radio. At the same time I was discovering that rap music sampled from old funk songs by James Brown, etc... so it was a convergence of things coming together. My interest in drummers probably really pushed my appreciation of funk and disco, as I was totally into listening to John Bonham's and Ringo Starr's drumming during my hard rock/Beatles phase (I still like the Beatles).

I'm glad I rediscovered the disco stuff when I did. I kind of wish I had the financial means and interest to look into it in the mid 80s because I would have had a better chance of collecting vinyl at a cheap price that is now crazy expensive or rare.

Disco Funk

[ol'skinflint]

"hated" is far too strong a word, but when my friends and I started going to clubs, I found precious little to like in the mechanical, soulless sound of the Village People or the dumb lyrics and primitive "musicianship" of Kool and the Gang and KC and the Sunshine Band (and I still don't). But when the clubs started to blend in the far more funk-based American dance music and the refined Eurodisco, the magic took me over....I'm sure that must have been in late 1978 and now, in 2007, it's more precious to me than it has ever been in retrospect. And it's not just the music, it reminds me of a world that now seems to good to have ever been true. A world with a strong economy, no AIDS, no war, people getting along and enjoying a magical atmosphere, music and good friends AND strangers. Sure feel sorry for young people today...I'll BET they don't believe or understand that a world like that ever existed....sometimes it's even hard for ME to believe, and I was THERE....

[Paulo]

Back in the mid 70's, I was the regular middle class white boy... so we were much into progressive rock (Van Der Graaf Generator, Emerson Lake & Palmer, King Crimson, Genesis, Yes, Pink Floyd) which were very popular amogst white male students here in Brazil (I never liked hard rock: Deep Purple, Led Zep, Alice Cooper).

Progressive rock was too clever, too 'alien' and too hard to swallow for people who lived on the poorer places outside Rio de Janeiro. These people heard cheap brazilian cheesy romantic music, glitter-rock, american soul and philly soul. This music was despised by ''clever'' white boys as 'commercial pop radio music'. Philly Soul & Soul were ignored by the music press because it was ''commercial'' and supposedly needed no more exposure than that given by radio stations. Prog-rock was the intellectual alternative to that.

But opposed to my fellow student friends, I also loved radio music (Soul and Philly Soul) and as soon Disco exploded here in 1976, I loved its sound because it was like an interrupted succession to Philly Soul. I never had problems in admiting to myself that I liked Disco. But even today, my friends don't get it how a man with my progressive-rock background can even like Disco. Whenever I express my opinion saying that Disco is a better type of music than Prog, I always become a reason for their jokes.

[RetroRuss]

Personally no, however my son, Mr Local Punk Rock God, around these parts of North London, often sits with me while I record my shows. I was playing a promo of an unreleased compilation yesterday and there he was jigging around to AWB's Pick Up The Pieces - amazing! I've even heard him play the riff to Play That Funky Music on the guitar...

[keefelc]

I'm sure that must have been in late 1978 and now, in 2007, it's more precious to me than it has ever been in retrospect. And it's not just the music, it reminds me of a world that now seems to good to have ever been true. A world with a strong economy, no AIDS, no war, people getting along and enjoying a magical atmosphere, music and good friends AND strangers. Sure feel sorry for young people today...I'll BET they don't believe or understand that a world like that ever existed....sometimes it's even hard for ME to believe, and I was THERE....

I'll vouch for you, Skinflint! That truly was a magical era, especially in San Francisco - so difficult to describe. You really had to be there!:icon_biggrin:

[garrybcoston]

I'll vouch for you, Skinflint! That truly was a magical era, especially in San Francisco - so difficult to describe. You really had to be there!:icon_biggrin:

Magical is a good word along with innocent, carefree, and I could think of others to describe that period along with the music. The music sometimes bordered on raunchinest but didn't go too far, that is, not provocative, demeaning, abusive, etc. The album covers took care of that.

I can't believe I was there either, but hey, we're middle aged to old farts now and that was a time that we will never, ever see in this world again; the world has changed and will not return to that time or that era. The good side is, most of the young people nowadays are so injected with info, that they know exactly what disco is, and what disco was, they've been educated, but as I've always said, real life experience never takes the place of education.

There were numerous rock and roll groups I loved during the disco era like Journey, Alice Cooper, The Who, Pink Floyd, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and I still love rock and roll; I've never hated it. I did resent the rockers who outright hated disco and I could never understand why they couldn't be like me and like them both; but I also loved to dance and this was one way to get laid as well in addition to loving and worshipping the music. But when disco really took over, I put rock and roll on the back shelf and brought my disco music and albums to the forefront.

Garry

[Videoskooter]

Interesting topic Garry as it sums up my schooldays who happened to be in the Rock vs. Disco era.

As I have written many times before, I was hooked by Soul, Disco and Funk from the very beginning. I was also into Glam Rock, I adored bands like The Sweet, Glitter Band, T-Rex and above all Mud. Hard Rock never interested me but I didn't hated it coz' I could listen to Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, AC/DC without getting nervous.

What I did hate and in fact still can't stand is that softie-I-wanna-be-a-hippie junk like Simon and Garfunkel, Bawb Dylan, Joan Baez kinda stuff. It bores me, it annoys me and I fall asleep when listening to it.

And...I do remember the reaction of those long haired lazybums when Miss Linda Clifford released her Disco rendition of "Bridge over troubled water". The "so called peace-lovers" really hated that 1 and they suddenly weren't so peaceful at all when I put that record on the deck. Mmmmh, sweet revenge

[QUINNY]

Certain types of Disco I've always 'hated', as I'm sure you're all aware. I've been transferring one heck of a lot of 12" to digital lately, all types of Disco genres included and I'm liking more of it than I did BITD. It's really quite amazing what the need to transfer everything of a certain letter onto one format can do for one's listening pleasure. There have been the odd few that I've groaned at, but by and large, it's been a positive step. Must be getting old and seeing a more rose-tinted world through my spex, I s'pose.

For anyone who wants a rocker friend to get into Disco, I'd suggest you play 'em T Connection - Let Yourself Go for example. That's got one hell of a lotta balls, BUT has more than it's fair share of the joie de vivre associated with Disco and it'll make anyone with half a hip move and groove. I'd forgotten what a fawkin' great record it was, until I did the transfer of it the other day. Boy, did it give me problems though. The vinyl was incredibly scratchy at the beginning, even though the record looked in good nick. However, I solved the problem in a most remarkable way!!!

[garrybcoston]

Interesting topic Garry as it sums up my schooldays who happened to be in the Rock vs. Disco era.

As I have written many times before, I was hooked by Soul, Disco and Funk from the very beginning. I was also into Glam Rock, I adored bands like The Sweet, Glitter Band, T-Rex and above all Mud. Hard Rock never interested me but I didn't hated it coz' I could listen to Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, AC/DC without getting nervous.

What I did hate and in fact still can't stand is that softie-I-wanna-be-a-hippie junk like Simon and Garfunkel, Bawb Dylan, Joan Baez kinda stuff. It bores me, it annoys me and I fall asleep when listening to it.

And...I do remember the reaction of those long haired lazybums when Miss Linda Clifford released her Disco rendition of "Bridge over troubled water". The "so called peace-lovers" really hated that 1 and they suddenly weren't so peaceful at all when I put that record on the deck. Mmmmh, sweet revenge

LOL "Skooter" LOL; they hated disco because they all were "bridges over troubled waters!" They just couldn't and didn't know how to "loosen up" and "get a grip!"

Speaking of rock, some of the disco that came out covering rock songs I really enjoyed. I know that this is another thread that someone needs to start, but a disco group called the Wonder Band came out with their rendition of "Stairway to Heaven;" I fell in love with that song. If anyone finds a copy of that Wonder Band album, let me know.

Garry

[zeca azevedo]

In 1978 I was 16 years old. I always liked disco. For a short period of time in the 80's, I didn't listen to disco or any kind of "foreign" music, just brazilian music. I was kinda "crazy" at the time, LOL. Blame it on "politics", LOL. Anyway, I still listen to disco music (more today than in the 90's or the early 00's).

[wever]

well, i'm 19 so i can't give you that same point of view about how the world was then, because i've never lived that (but always wished to :icon_cry:). I NEVER hated disco but i always felt embarrassed to know i really liked it, always feeling the atraction for those tunes that without knowing were disco , funk or disco-funk. I was born in the late 80s but my childhood has been in the 90s, i'm one of those x generation kids when the most souful music was grunge i think. So naturaly i began to have some passion for music with rock, with bands like the chili peppers (which i'm still a huge fan!). This was the first time a looked for music by my own way but funk was the only i heard before at home (well and beatles and those kind of bands). I really like Led Zeppelin! and i think the drummin is so groovy! and many more bands that goe from classic rock to heavy metal, and some trash thing also punk rock (and i mean the clash or the ramones, not green day or those bands who make them call "punk" huh!)....

so how can i explain my goth-heavy-punk friends that disco music is what I like??? hahahahahah
one day i recognized it secretly what i knew i ALWAYS loved, and little by little i could know more people who shares the same feeling of incomprehension for loving this music... there's such a big ignorance here in Spain, a country of zero funkativity..... there are few funky people (luckily increasing little by little)...and the ones u know are James Brown puritans, hating disco thing!

:icon_rolleyes:

[SandraDee]

I always have & always will love most types of disco/dance but what surprises me now that I'm reaching middle age is how I quite like alot of rocky stuff that I used to hate when I was younger. I often buy CDs now by people such as Steve Miller Band or even really poppy stuff like Bucks Fizz when 20 or 30 years ago I wouldn't have been seen dead listening to 'em; I can't decide whether you get more broad-minded as you get old or whether you get less discerning?!:icon_confused:

[remicks]

one day i recognized it secretly what i knew i ALWAYS loved, and little by little i could know more people who shares the same feeling of incomprehension for loving this music... there's such a big ignorance here in Spain, a country of zero funkativity..... there are few funky people (luckily increasing little by little)...and the ones u know are James Brown puritans, hating disco thing!

:icon_rolleyes:

First , you can enlighten them by informing them that James Brown is the original disco man !! :icon_mrgreen: ........ :icon_lol:


Don't expect to achieve many converts though Wever. Even during the disco era those of us that dug the music were few and far between. Disco has always been a very special music for very special people. Congrats to you. :icon_cool:


*****


as to this topic ..... I've never met even one born again discoer ...... if they didn't/couldn't get it then ... how would they possibly get it later ??

[Videoskooter]

so how can i explain my goth-heavy-punk friends that disco music is what I like

Just buy one of these and wear it with proudness :icon_lol:

now that I'm reaching middle age

Ohhhhh, plzzzzzzzz, shaddap yo face! Middle age? Humbug! You're in your best years mon ami!

First , you can enlighten them by informing them that James Brown is the original disco man !!

Remmy, that's one of the worst albums the Godfather has ever recorded! You see, that's what happens when record companies wanted to jump on the Disco bandwagon! I've bought this CD a few years ago and I've played it twice!

Johann Strauss is the original Discoman! Period! So Disco comes from Austria!

Viel fahrvergnügen :icon_mrgreen:

Official Videoskooter Advice:: If people don't like Disco or if they don't understand why somebody digs Disco?

SCREW 'EM!

[nrgbeat]

I can't decide whether you get more broad-minded as you get old or whether you get less discerning?!:icon_confused:

Especially about pearl necklaces.

[nrgbeat]

I never hated disco, but never cared much for new wave, but have started listening to it in recent years.

[markydefad]

I always have & always will love most types of disco/dance but what surprises me now that I'm reaching middle age is how I quite like alot of rocky stuff that I used to hate when I was younger. I often buy CDs now by people such as Steve Miller Band or even really poppy stuff like Bucks Fizz when 20 or 30 years ago I wouldn't have been seen dead listening to 'em; I can't decide whether you get more broad-minded as you get old or whether you get less discerning?!:icon_confused:

Tell me about it....almost anything from the SEVENTIES that I didn't appreciate back then is becoming more attractive to me now...currently thinking about buying some of the better AC/DC, Kiss, Nazareth, James Gang, The Sweet, etc......stuff I didn't give much thought to back then...now I'm wondering if there might be good dance tracks on some of them!!!

[garrybcoston]

Just buy one of these and wear it with proudness :icon_lol:





Ohhhhh, plzzzzzzzz, shaddap yo face! Middle age? Humbug! You're in your best years mon ami!



Remmy, that's one of the worst albums the Godfather has ever recorded! You see, that's what happens when record companies wanted to jump on the Disco bandwagon! I've bought this CD a few years ago and I've played it twice!

Johann Strauss is the original Discoman! Period! So Disco comes from Austria!

Viel fahrvergnügen :icon_mrgreen:

Official Videoskooter Advice:: If people don't like Disco or if they don't understand why somebody digs Disco?

SCREW 'EM!

I love it Videoskooter, I love it! You go guy, you go!

Garry

[garrybcoston]

Tell me about it....almost anything from the SEVENTIES that I didn't appreciate back then is becoming more attractive to me now...currently thinking about buying some of the better AC/DC, Kiss, Nazareth, James Gang, The Sweet, etc......stuff I didn't give much thought to back then...now I'm wondering if there might be good dance tracks on some of them!!!

Us Discoers must not forget that all music genres were touched by disco when it was at its height and zenith; so most other genres will have that disco touch and feel, et. al., strings, some horns, 4/4 beat and even the off beat high hat cymbal in come compositions; and oh, don't forget all that percussion and the congas! You will hear it I would say in 80 to 90% of all the music genres and compositions during that era.

Garry

[Dayna]

In my household growing up all they listened to was Country music and looking back now I always knew when my mother wanted to have sex with my father "Shudder the thought" :icon_eek: because she would play Engelbert Humperdinck.
But I would always listen to WTMP the black radio station whenever I got a chance and ALWAYS watched soul train..I bought 45's like Clean Up Woman by Betty Wright,Mr Big Stuff by Jean Knight ,The Isley Bothers,The Brother Johnson etc . I progressed from R&B to funk then from funk to Disco.. The first Album I ever bought was Simply Carrie-Carrie Lucas..Then it was on.. Disco Diva 4ever...and of course ran off to work in a Disco at a very young age.. so even though the odds were against me I knew good music when I heard it..even living in a redneck southern town.

[SandraDee]

when my mother wanted to have sex with my father "Shudder the thought" :icon_eek: because she would play Engelbert Humperdinck.
.

Englebert 'Hump'erdinck! :icon_mrgreen:

[Dayna]

Englebert 'Hump'erdinck! :icon_mrgreen:

:icon_lol:hehe.Good one Ms Dee..............................................

[wever]

In my household growing up all they listened to was Country music and looking back now I always knew when my mother wanted to have sex with my father "Shudder the thought" :icon_eek: because she would play Engelbert Humperdinck.
But I would always listen to WTMP the black radio station whenever I got a chance and ALWAYS watched soul train..I bought 45's like Clean Up Woman by Betty Wright,Mr Big Stuff by Jean Knight ,The Isley Bothers,The Brother Johnson etc . I progressed from R&B to funk then from funk to Disco.. The first Album I ever bought was Simply Carrie-Carrie Lucas..Then it was on.. Disco Diva 4ever...and of course ran off to work in a Disco at a very young age.. so even though the odds were against me I knew good music when I heard it..even living in a redneck southern town.

omg! i'm still jealous because u could have contact with that music....here in Spain there's never been a black radio, and of course nowadays is the worst time for it. i wish i was nearer from your funk culture!!! and to have been bornt earlier , to have the chance to go at THAT discos....
i don't know how to explain how discofunk and funk blows my mind as no other music in the world! more than any kind of electro or anything which i really try to understand, and i like some house tunes but still have not the same effect as 70s funk!
i'm really gettin mad with all this music! hahahaha :icon_lol:

oops!!!i forgot to tell you that now i "hate" some disco tunes cause they're like "cliche" ones...you know, when u say disco everybody thinks the same!!! there was much more than just village people (the only 2 u know!) and the same u can hear in every single disco compilation!!! u know what i mean?

[Dayna]

oops!!!i forgot to tell you that now i "hate" some disco tunes cause they're like "cliche" ones...you know, when u say disco everybody thinks the same!!! there was much more than just village people (the only 2 u know!) and the same u can hear in every single disco compilation!!! u know what i mean?

Oh I feel you on that.. Although some those songs were great tracks You can always count on these to be on a generic compilation.
Funky town
YMCA
I Will Survive
Boogie oogie Oogie
Get Down Tonight
Ring My Bell
We Are Family
Celebration
Le Freak
The compilations are getting much better with more obscure songs,I blame the bulk of music buyers because they refuse to step out of the box and listen to something new versus something they have heard a million times and can sing Karaoke too.......