British Invasion II

[Bernie]

In the last few months there has been a large influx of new members on the forum from the UK. Would you mind telling me how you came upon DiscoMusic.com?

I find the British, and European, perspective on some topics rather intriguing even when it concerns Disco from the USA. Terms such as "boogie" music, which I have never heard before even though I grew up in the New York City area...

Curious if anyone has any thoughts on the differences...

Anyway, I hope our new members enjoy their stay at DiscoMusic.com and I look forward to reading more of your posts in the future.

[Forrrce]

I've hit upon the site several times over the past 18 months while performing searches on specific titles. I finally succumbed to the lure of the forum last week. The UK soul/disco contingent has always had a keen ear for US music and continues to support it. We have our regional differences, hence the 'boogie' thing is 'club' to an American, I was told many years ago. Some compilations of the more sought-after cuts of the genre (if we may call it that) namely 'Boogie Tunes' 1&2 and 'Eyes On The Prize' were released in the UK in the late '80s onwards. I personally collect across the board, with disco ('70s and '80s), jazz ('50s onwards) and soul taking most wallspace.

[Forrrce]

May I also add that with the sometimes obvious differences in US/UK tastes, it makes interesting reading seeing which records were big on whose 'scene'. There are many records that were popular in one town or city, let alone country - and we've all missed things that we may have liked first time around.

[bushbush]

I arrived on this site about 4 or 5 years ago now - but didnt join until now. I felt that my love of disco and any info on it over here is virtually non. Without this site I wouldn't have the astounding Beauty and The Beast. So its just a matter of not having the time to join before but just to read that other people in the uk are aware of proper "disco" and are enjoying it.

[MPS]

I did some searching of some tunes I wanted to find out about, and found this page a few weeks ago. I think I've been here some years ago too, then looking at the top 500 I think.

I'm can't be blamed to be part of the UK invasion, since I'm from Stockholm, Sweden. :) Although the Stockholm club music scene is very UK influenced, I guess. :lol:

[Giovanni]

I'm not a newcomer (Bernie knows me for years now) nor I am from UK.
So, why am I posting here ??????

Just to say that I really appreciate the "cultural" shift that all the english guys added to the board. UK taste for black music has always been slightly different from the US one; english better like funk & jazz over thump thump disco and sophisticated arrangements over simple 4/4 beats.
And, most of all, England is the first place on earth where disco music has become cult. In the 80s, when nobody thought to collect this kind of stuff, they began to search (and find) all the rarities and the best and rare grooves around.
Then the world followed......
.....at last arrived Japan too......
.....and the US still don't understand

[Forrrce]

Giovanni, I think you're being biased and unfair. Who told you we don't like vacuous drivel here too?! Seriously, though, you're pretty spot on with your comments and enough collectors/dealers visiting the US would tell great stories of how the Americans couldn't wait to 'get rid of all that old music'. I realise this was a generalisation, but there must have been truth in it. Our cousins across the water were swamped with goodies and didn't need to worry about the well running dry. Those tales then turned to 'oh, that's what all you English guys are asking for' and ranks started closing. I'm speaking second hand, here - Bernie, etc., what was it really like for you guys?

[Bernie]

Thank you to all that took a moment to reply. It's good to have you all here and contribute your viewpoints.

Since many of you were lurkers for some time before joining, could you please tell me what was it that finally got you to join? Is there anything I can do to make it easier for others to join in the future?

Just to say that I really appreciate the "cultural" shift that all the english guys added to the board. UK taste for black music has always been slightly different from the US one;

Agreed. That also includes the whole European faction as well.

Our cousins across the water were swamped with goodies and didn't need to worry about the well running dry. Those tales then turned to 'oh, that's what all you English guys are asking for' and ranks started closing. I'm speaking second hand, here - Bernie, etc., what was it really like for you guys?

You are right for the most part. We Americans don't realize how good we have it sometimes.

As for the well running dry? Not really. It's just getting more expensive because the Europeans and Japanese are willing to sometimes pay absurd prices. Everyone then starts to think that all Disco 12 inch singles should sell for at least $25.00.

If you look you can still get things on the cheap. I picked up over a milk crates worth of great Disco from '76-86 for about $1.00 a piece.

Once again, thanks for joining the forum at DiscoMusic.com. Looking forward to hearing more from all of you. I welcome any comments or suggestions.

[MPS]

When I realized how many people have knowledge of disco music, I couldn't wait to join to ask questions that I didn't really have anyone else to ask. Also, it was nice to share opinions about disco music, that nobody else would understand/care of :D

[Com King]

I've started interesting myself to disco for a little more than one year and discovered this site quickly, simply because it's the best site ever made on disco .... During one year, I don't know why, but I've never taken a look at this forum, until January 2003 .... but now, I'm really wondering if I'm normal, because I can't leave it :)

I think the true reason is that I'm now on an internship and I have plenty of time on Internet ...


But Bernie, if U are the father of this site, thank U


PS : The fact that I'm in love with Candi Staton has undoubtly played a role in my registration

[DISCODISK]

PS : The fact that I'm in love with Candi Staton has undoubtly played a role in my registration

COM KING are you aware of candis late 60s recording for the unity label ? "now youve got the upper hand" if you collect all her stuff you need this ! theres one on e.bay at the moment [2509069182] its a reissue its about $15 at the moment with just under 3 days to go,its a great dancer always been popular with the northern soul crowd,candis on great form with great brass and guitar an original would set you back $750 +++++

[darrens]

I've been looking at this web site for about 5 or 6 years - if you're interested in Disco you WILL find this site, it's inevitable. I'm sure it comes at the top in search engine ranks.

In terms of disco tastes in this country, it's true that there seems to be a lot more jazz-funk orientated stuff both available commercially and played on the radio. Myself, I much prefer pure disco, both Prelude/Salsoul, and even the really cheesy, silly stuff that you would never either hear, or be able to buy in the UK.

I've discovered that I really like the output by such artists as THP Orchestra, Alec Costandinos*, Ferrara, Paul Jabara, Hott City, DD Sound.... I regularly visit record fairs and have never ever seen anything by any of these artists, presumably they were much more available in the US. Thanks to a popular P2P sharing program, I have been able to obtain a lot of this music.

Maybe one day all music will be available from the record companies by paid download - but until that day, the UK does seem to be devoid of most disco. It's also very rare to hear the non-chart disco on the radio, and there are no regular disco clubs in London that I know about.

In terms of getting people to sign up and post, I think there's nothing more that can be done, other than for the forum to continue to throw up interesting topics that people will want to contribute to.

(* I did once see a US copy of Romeo & Juliet!)

[SandraDee]

I'll always remember when I first found this site 2 years ago. I looked at the top 500 & was gob-smacked. I couldn't believe I'd found other people who liked Voyage, El Coco, Munich Machine etc.etc. It was a life-changing moment & I am eternally grateful to you Bernie! :P Can you believe I'd never physically met another soul who likes this 'pure' disco music b4 I visited this site?! (& I've been around a bit!). I always felt more isolated & strange for liking this music than I did for being gay!!