Brand New in Here: Question about 1980

[Billy72]

I stumbled upon this website while searching the web for disco info. I've always been infatuated with the late 70s early 80s era. I was in elementary school in the late 70s, my parents music was pop radio; and since then, no era has ever replaced it as my favorite. Certain 'voices' are very prominent memories, Michael McDonald (Doobies), Beegees, Earth Wind and Fire, The Commodores, Donna Summer, Ambrosia, Steely Dan, The Eagles etc.

I've always been a huge fan of all the great light rock of the late 70s and early 80s as well. I have always felt I should have graduated high school 15 years earlier, what a shame to have missed it.

1980 was so full of great tunes. Light rock (lots of great duets too), crossover-slick country (pop oriented kind, the only country I like), and the last of the Disco hits. Even though the disco sound was already morphing into a more funky based sound, this year holds many of my favorite Disco tracks.

Just a few Disco hits I'll mention (I could go on and on if I were to include the R & B, pop, and light rock songs): "Take the Time, do it right"; Do you love what you feel"; "Stomp"; "I never knew love like this before"; "I'm coming out"; "Upside down"; AND ofcourse Andy Gibb's "Desire" and "After Dark".

Which LEADS me to my QUESTION: I have always wondered when Disco's ceased being Disco's (as in Mirror balls, and not shunning late 70s string-styled Disco tunes). IN 1980, with all these Disco sounding hits, were the clubs STILL DISCO? I'm not talking about Just NYC, I know there was THE SAINT and others; I'm talking big cities across The U.S. in every state. If there were still Disco's (late 70s style) all through 1980, I guess they died by early 81? Or.....you fill in the blanks please; those that were there.

Thanks. I'm really enjoying all the posts in here.

[needlefingers]

Hellooooo Texas, and Welcome.

While the music changed, many clubs still remained. Somebody just posted here that the Circus disco in Hollywood, CA just closed a week or two ago.

And The Copa in Fort Lauderdale was destroyed by Hurricane Wilma. There is more info in the Clubs section on this website.

Discotheques and Clubs | Disco Music .com All categories

Here is an old thread that discussed the whole transition period. Hope it helps.

http://www.discomusic.com/forums/dis...-die-when.html

[Mixmachine]

By the 80s In Miami/Florida and vicinities, Discos (clubs) got better than ever, more lights , bigger venues, more clubs of all sizes catering to many diverse tastes, Miami Beach began to grow club wise, (to become what it was in the 90's and today) with Mega clubs beginning to move to the South beach area for the first time.

The music was different now of course, but many clubs still played some old school Disco, now considered 'oldies', (mostly the bigger hits)

But after the early 80's transition to the more funky side of Disco, Miami went heavy for "Freestyle" starting in the mid 80s or so, although many clubs also played High-energy and House music at the same time too.

In the 80's,the Miami area still had so many Disco clubs that you could party every night of the week in a different one if you really wanted to. :icon_cool: some people I know, burned out and crashed from to much parting! :icon_eek:

That Disco suck BS they talk about never reached down here!

[Billy72]

Thanks for the welcome, yeah I've been in Texas all my life, grew up in the Houston area.

About Miami, that type of info really interests me, thanks. Its also good to hear about the lights (getting even bigger at the beginning of the 80s), when I would have thought otherwise. I've always heard 'the history' of the disco backlash, and wondered if Disco's BACKED OFF the late 70s glitz out of fear of loosing business; but to hear it didnt reach Miami is amazing.

I've asked this question to many guys (at least 10yrs. my senior), and either they werent into the disco scene, or they werent the type of person that can recall 'year to year' details very well. Not a history buff type like me I mean.

Anybody else that has some info on other metropolitan areas in '80 I'd love to hear it.

[garrybcoston]

As a disco fan from day one, and still are, I will have to educate you that 1980 and 1981 were weird years to say the least and years of great change and transformation for the music industry.

Yes, disco was dying a slow death all through 1980, that is, the music, the scene, the fad, but the discos retained the same look and were renamed "Dance Clubs" or "Night Clubs;" in addition, the word disco, sometime in mid to late 1980 was replaced with "dance music."

Of course the look of the old disco's have now emerged into high tech/high energy techno and electronico clubs.

Disco, that is the whole scene including the music tried to hang on despite the media, newspapers, and the music industry constantly stabbing it with the sharpest knife that I can ever remember. Disco finally gave in around late 1980 early 1981.

The music itself, that is the disco we all remembered in the 70's with full orchestrations and compositions also tried to hang on. The music industry knew that the old disco of the 70's was all but dead and history and was trying desperately to quickly fill the void. Various formats came along such as rock disco, disco funk, revived funk and R&B music, and of course electronic dance music came onto the scene minus the full orchestrations and compositions. There was new disco music coming out reminiscent of the 70's disco comps but it was few and far between. It got to the point where the name disco or discoteque or any other word or anything from the 70's associated with disco was not mentioned; and to play disco music became a sin.

Billboard magazine also ceased its disco column and section, and the hot disco 100 section; this later (sometime in 1981 became dance music or club mix music).

1980 and 1981, in my opinion, were dreary, gloomy and sad years for music. The whole industry was going through a complete transformation and change. The sudden and shocking disappearance of disco left a huge void, but the industry survived and disco was finally replaced in 1981 by the British invasion and with all types of music having an electronic/technotronic edge with compositions being provided by synthesizers or electronic keyboards as they were known at the time.

But in our high tech age, any type of music from the past is now vogue. With the click of a mouse or touch screen we can hear and enjoy any type of retro music. Though the fashion and fad is not associated with it, disco music is once again being heard online, in the airwaves, and in the Nightclubs.

Garry:icon_biggrin:

[Billy72]

Thanks for all the info Gary. This is a question that has been on my mind since the time I started clubing in 1990. I'm not trying to contradict anything your saying here, hell, you got the first hand knowledge of what went on, not me. However, I recently read that the disco chart remained with that name until 1985. In fact, I have XM radio, and on the 80s station Kasey Kasem will give the different chart #1s. I've heard him mention the Disco chart in like 84 or 85. THIS IS kinda TRIVIAL (not important to your main ideas), just wanted to mention it.
If you dont have XM, the 70s and 80s stations REPLAY the old shows weekly, its REALLY COOL. However, AS I SAID, Im not downplayin g all your other great info about how the DISCO name was changed in clubs to dance music, I just wanted to mention that I recently read that on the net (about the Disco chart), and heard it on Kasey's top 40 in the 80s. Thanks for the post.

[garrybcoston]

Thanks for all the info Gary. This is a question that has been on my mind since the time I started clubing in 1990. I'm not trying to contradict anything your saying here, hell, you got the first hand knowledge of what went on, not me. However, I recently read that the disco chart remained with that name until 1985. In fact, I have XM radio, and on the 80s station Kasey Kasem will give the different chart #1s. I've heard him mention the Disco chart in like 84 or 85. THIS IS kinda TRIVIAL (not important to your main ideas), just wanted to mention it.
If you dont have XM, the 70s and 80s stations REPLAY the old shows weekly, its REALLY COOL. However, AS I SAID, Im not downplayin g all your other great info about how the DISCO name was changed in clubs to dance music, I just wanted to mention that I recently read that on the net (about the Disco chart), and heard it on Kasey's top 40 in the 80s. Thanks for the post.

Hey Billy; thanks for the correction.

Now thinking back that may have been true on very very few occasions, including Kasey Kasem's show; by 1984-1985, I and others, by that time, had finally finished mourning and accepted disco's death and had moved on; we probably did not care by that juncture what term or word Kasem used for explaining dance music.

The real indicator back then for music were two things: Magazines and certain TV shows. MTV and VH1, which were in their birth and infancy, emerged shortly after disco's death around 1981/1982 and the word disco was certainly not mentioned on those networks, mainly because no dance music as it was called after disco, showed videos on those mediums.

The biggest indicator during discos reign and leading to its death was Billboard magazine. The other magazine or indicator would have to be Rolling Stone which showcased many articles during the 70's about disco music and disco artists; however, if you will check Billboard's history, they stopped using the disco name in the early 80's, sometime around 1982 I believe (I might be wrong but I know it was in the early 80's). Rolling Stone ceased covering disco right after it began it's serious decline probably in late 1978 or early 1979. Most of the TV shows (like Dance Fever, etc.) did not use the word/name "disco" after around 1982, there might have been a few like Kasey Kasem that did in fact hang on.

Around 1981, probably in the spring if I remember, everyone began settling down and accepting disco's death and the new British invasion had took over top 40 and pop music, and the new electronic dance music was sounding off in the dance/night clubs.

Thanks again for correcting me and making me aware of Kasey's show still holding on to the term "disco" through to about 1984/1985.

Garry:icon_smile:

[garrybcoston]

Thanks for all the info Gary. This is a question that has been on my mind since the time I started clubing in 1990. I'm not trying to contradict anything your saying here, hell, you got the first hand knowledge of what went on, not me. However, I recently read that the disco chart remained with that name until 1985. In fact, I have XM radio, and on the 80s station Kasey Kasem will give the different chart #1s. I've heard him mention the Disco chart in like 84 or 85. THIS IS kinda TRIVIAL (not important to your main ideas), just wanted to mention it.
If you dont have XM, the 70s and 80s stations REPLAY the old shows weekly, its REALLY COOL. However, AS I SAID, Im not downplayin g all your other great info about how the DISCO name was changed in clubs to dance music, I just wanted to mention that I recently read that on the net (about the Disco chart), and heard it on Kasey's top 40 in the 80s. Thanks for the post.

By the way I'm old skool, and don't have XM (can't afford it); and....being old skool, I would rather order certain CD's from Amazon and play on my car CD player or multi CD's in the house while I'm cleaning, cooking, surfing internet, or working at home.

I know you new buffs love the super high technology stuff and it is good, real good! Wish I could afford it. I'll bet it's great to be hearing those old shows and other mediums playing and showcasing disco music! Thanks Bill for the info.

Garry

[Skywalker]

OK,overhere in the Netherlands, there was no DISCO backlash whatsoever..!!
DISCO went on, at least to halfway the eighties, from that time, music changed here as well, more electronic, more house, more etc.....
Some Disco's still survive to this present day, they only changed their names sometimes..!!
If you want to hear what the Dutch Disco Scene were listening to during the early eighties, go to
WAPS Radio Disco Action I love the 80s
Two former illegal Disco radio stations from Amsterdam; Radio Disco Action, and Wave Amsterdam Power Sound...enjoy!

[Billy72]

I appreciate all that extra info Gary, I enjoyed reading it. That was what I was looking for, your preciseness regarding the time yall realized it was over (early 81). Thats kinda what I was thinking, but all I have is music history, you got the experience.

Also, I hear from ALOT of people saying I can't afford XM. I thought it would be higher too, but I'm sure if you can afford CDs, you can afford XM. In fact the cost of XM per month is LESS that 1 CD! Only 12.95 a month. ALSO, you can get a XM radio at any Wal-Mart for only 28.95! Can't beat it. I listen to old school R & B, Disco, and 70s and early 80s pop, light rock stuff all day; WITHOUT hearing the same damn tracks over and again like on FM. I love CD's but XM reminds me of longforgotten stuff I need to get on CD.

Thanks SKYWALKER. You bring up a good point I thought about after this original post. I always heard (back in the 80s when I was in high school) that Disco never really died in Europe.

[garrybcoston]

I appreciate all that extra info Gary, I enjoyed reading it. That was what I was looking for, your preciseness regarding the time yall realized it was over (early 81). Thats kinda what I was thinking, but all I have is music history, you got the experience.

Also, I hear from ALOT of people saying I can't afford XM. I thought it would be higher too, but I'm sure if you can afford CDs, you can afford XM. In fact the cost of XM per month is LESS that 1 CD! Only 12.95 a month. ALSO, you can get a XM radio at any Wal-Mart for only 28.95! Can't beat it. I listen to old school R & B, Disco, and 70s and early 80s pop, light rock stuff all day; WITHOUT hearing the same damn tracks over and again like on FM. I love CD's but XM reminds me of longforgotten stuff I need to get on CD.

Thanks SKYWALKER. You bring up a good point I thought about after this original post. I always heard (back in the 80s when I was in high school) that Disco never really died in Europe.

You're welcome Billy. I don't listen to much popular music, the music of the present times, I purchase a lot of the old stuff off of Amazon, which is cheaper (anywhere from $2.00 or less to about 12.00 a CD, or more for better quality CD's), which I believe is a little cheaper than XM. But you are right, the actually experience fares better than buying several CD's, and in the long run, it does pay off getting the XM. Maybe I can afford it; I'll have to look into it. I don't listen to radio much anymore, it's tired, and yeah, same stuff over and over and I don't much get into popular music (today).

Thanks for the "heads up" Billy.

Garry

[QUINNY]

Thanks for the welcome, yeah I've been in Texas all my life, grew up in the Houston area.

These guys certainly kept disco and Soul going in the early '80s. If you ever see a copy of Libra - Ride This Pony....grab it!!! IMO It's a brilliant dance track (and I generally didn't go for high energy grooves quite so readily). There must be a few copies lying around in Houston record shop bins, surely?

HCRC RECORDS Houston
302 First Love- Happy Baby / Dry Your Eyes
303 Oliver Sain- Lady Feelgood / ?
1001 William C. Brown III- Shining / Come On And Go With Me 1982
02953 Videeo- Thang (Gimme Some Of That Thang) / Move It
02954 Green’s III- Jimmy Mack / ?
03039 Libra- Ride This Pony Part 1 / Part 2
03196 X-25 Band- Jam It / Black Hole Bop
3258 Videeo- Closet Freak / Same
03279 William DeVaughn- Creme De Creme / Inst.
10140 Transit Authority- You Make My Life So Right / Inst. 12" 1983
31200 Margie Joseph- Knockout! / Pt. 2
31300 Ellis Hall Jr.- Every Little Bit Hurts / Back It Up (Try Again)
31500 Margie Joseph- Move To The Groove / Inst.
31800 Glass- You Are The One / Bedrock
31900 Margie Joseph- Come And Make Love With Me / ?
31901 Anne Lesear- Take Him Back (Taxi) / Inst.
31903 Anne Lesear- Q-Boy / Inst.

[boogyjuice]

Great funk indeed from the HCRC-label
Faves of mine are these :

03196 X-25 Band- Jam It / Black Hole Bop
3258 Videeo- Closet Freak / Same
10140 Transit Authority- You Make My Life So Right / Inst. 12" 1983 << kinda Bar-Kays sounding ( imo )
31200 Margie Joseph- Knockout! / Pt. 2
31300 Ellis Hall Jr.- Every Little Bit Hurts / Back It Up (Try Again) << awesome b-side !
31500 Margie Joseph- Move To The Groove / Inst.
31800 Glass- You Are The One / Bedrock







(1rst track in the mix below is Margie Joseph's "Knockout" )


There are a few other great tracks on Anne LeSear's album like "Tasty" and "Stay Awhile Tonight". I read somewhere that Anne previously had another dayjob than singing at the HCRC-company , and eventually recorded her album & singles.