Who is Apollo

[Eman]

Hey guys, I picked up an album by a group called Apollo and it's on the Gordy label. It was a Canadian pressing. The sticker on the lp says includes the hit single "Astro Disco" but I've never heard of this. Bought it anyway cuz the cover looked cool with guys coming out of a spaceship. Upon reading the back further there were songs written by Teena Marie? So if anyone has any info I'd appreciate it. Oh the album was sealed and was in the dollar bin at the used record store, but the clerk gave it to me for free since no one bought it...how's that for luck...overall I think it's a good funky album..though I wouldn't say good to dance to...but that's my oppinon.

[The Boogie Doctor]

mate - there is bugger all info about these guys around....good luck! the boogie oogie oogie doctor

[remicks]

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From All Music Guide

Formed:
in Los Angeles

Apollo

• Genre: Disco Funk
• Active: '70s
• Major Members: Larry Robinson, Benny Medina, Cliff Liles, Lenny Greene, Kerry Gordy
• Representative Album: "Apollo"

Biography

Initially called after the mysterious green matter that weakened Superman, this Los Angeles-based band consisted of keyboardist Kerry Gordy (Berry Gordy's son), drummer Lenny Greene (who replaced Chico Ross [Diana Ross' brother]), bassist Cliff Liles (Raynoma Gordy-Singleton's son), Benny Medina (vocals & bongos), and Larry Robinson (guitar).

They built a small club reputation around Los Angeles before Gordy-Singleton aka Miss Ray decided to hone and rehearse them into recording readiness. Motown liked the submitted tape enough to sign them to a deal in 1978. Motown was grooming Switch, another self-contained band around the same time, and Kryptonite faced stiff competition for marketing dollars, not to mention all the other Motown artists.

A legal problem arose when Superman's creators refused to let the hard soul band use the name they created, so they became Apollo. Miss Ray produced their self-titled Apollo in 1979 for Gordy Records, which spawned "Astro Disco" (originally titled "Krypto Disco"), the LP's sole single.

They appeared on Soul Train and other dance programs, and got publicity in the popular music magazines. Things were rolling; they embarked on Japan gig -- two months at a club -- and looked forward to working on a second album, but Motown abruptly pulled the plug and ended any aspirations Apollo or Miss Ray might have had. Who knows why, maybe Berry wanted his son to go to college? Apollo tweaked their lineup and re-emerged as Kagny & the Dirty Rats in the '80s minus Benny Medina, who became a well-respected record executive. ~ Andrew Hamilton,

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[Eman]

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From All Music Guide



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Wherein contains the answer to this long ignored quiz question :

LONG IGNORED QUIZ QUESTION


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Thanks for the info Remicks!
This is the album that the record store gave me for free. The more I listen to it the more I like it. I still like Switch better though!

[Disco Funk]

Hey guys, I picked up an album by a group called Apollo and it's on the Gordy label. It was a Canadian pressing. The sticker on the lp says includes the hit single "Astro Disco" but I've never heard of this. Bought it anyway cuz the cover looked cool with guys coming out of a spaceship. Upon reading the back further there were songs written by Teena Marie? So if anyone has any info I'd appreciate it. Oh the album was sealed and was in the dollar bin at the used record store, but the clerk gave it to me for free since no one bought it...how's that for luck...overall I think it's a good funky album..though I wouldn't say good to dance to...but that's my oppinon.

Some good tracks on the record. If you like Astro Disco, the 12" and I think also the 7" out there are remixes that differ from the LP. Both also feature instrumental versions on the B side.

Disco Funk

[QUINNY]

The sheer repetitiveness and being a Disco Inferno sound-alike certainly didn't help this gain more than passing interest BITD, SFAIK. A bit of an oddball release for Motown, don't ya think?

I can tolerate it more nowadays, but only the occasional spin.