Easy Listening Disco

[discophil]

Hi folks!

Hey, growing up my mother used to work around the house with the local "easy listening", or what today might be called "light rock", station playing in the background. I heard a lot of really good songs that I still love today. I know some of my favorites were covered by disco artists and I'm wondering if the forum community can help me find any others that I may not be aware of.

Here's a list of those type of tunes that I know were covered for disco:

Boney M: "Sunny"
Carol Williams: "More"
Paul Mauriat: "Love is Still Blue"

Some of my other favorites from the era that I don't know if were covered as a disco tune but hope someone out there knows if a cover exists:

"I Love How You Love Me"
"Moon River"
"Somethin' Stupid"
and pretty much anything by Burt Bacharach!

I'm not talking about the covers of 40s tunes, like "Brazil" or "Tangerine". These were songs more from the 60s and early 70s.

Thanks in advance for any help!!!

[needlefingers]

My favorite is this one.

Astrud Gilberto-The Girl From Ipanema(disco version 1977)


Also, Andy Williams did a disco version of Love Story.
YouTube - Love Story (1979) DISCO Version #1 Andy Williams

[needlefingers]

Here's another.


YouTube - Strangers In The Night (1976) DISCO Bette Midler

[drlove]

Fun topic, DiscoPhil,

three that spring to mind in terms of easy listening hits from the 60s/70s remade for the disco crowd are:

MacArthur Park (1968 Richard Harris version covered by Miz Summer in '78)
-and-
Theme From A Summer Place (1960 Percy Faith smash remade by him in '76 not too long before his death)
-and-
Love Story (Where Do I Begin) -- In 1979, Andy Williams recorded a disco version of his big hit from 1971.

[rhessel]

Hi:

Once song came into my mind:

Wow - The Disco Sound of André Gagnon.

Cheers.

[Francois]

Someone did the Theme from Summer of '42 as a disco hit.

Viola Wills' "Stormy Weather" might be more of the '40s style than what you're looking for, but she also did "If You Could Read My Mind" and "Up On The Roof"

Then I suppose you could count all of those "Stars of 45" songs that did Beatles medleys, etc in a disco style. Ditto with some of Meco's works, I guess.

[PierreConstantin]

«Unforgettable» by Leroy Hutson in 1979.
«Walk on by» by Gloria Gaynor in 1975.

[Cdnbob]

Would the following qualify?

How High The Moon - Gloria Gaynor
That Old Black Magic - The Softones
Baby Face - Wing and A Prayer Fife Band
Theme From Summer of 42 - Biddu
Exodus - Biddu
I Could Have Danced All Night - Biddu
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes - Penny McLean
Chattanoogoo Choo Choo - Tuxedo Junction

[originalbigm]

Someone did the Theme from Summer of '42 as a disco hit.

That was Percy Faith and His Orchestra i976:icon_smile:

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Someone did the Theme from Summer of '42 as a disco hit.

That was Percy Faith and His Orchestra i976:icon_smile:

The Bidduh Orchestra's 1975 version is extraordinary, too!



YouTube - summer of 42

[originalbigm]

The Bidduh Orchestra's 1975 version is extraordinary, too!



YouTube - summer of 42

:icon_confused: My mistake Percy Faith did a disco version of Theme from a Summer Place in 1976

[discophil]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I ran across another title yesterday:

"Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" - Boys Town Gang

[PierreConstantin]

"My Body Keeps Changing My Mind" by Karen Carpenter


"Deirdre" by Bruce Johnston

[JussiK]

(Sl)eazy listening disco:
Kai Warner: Going Down To Philadelphia - Herr Warner was a million-selling lounge warhorse who churned out limp versions of almost whatever you can name all thru the 70's. Still, GDTP is a kicking grooving jazzy orchestral boogie track, included in the great Achtung! cd.
Botticelli Orchestra: Botticelli Theme - fab Italian Salsoul/Philly facsimile with an Edda Dell'Orso soundalike female voice
Most of the Fausto Papetti albums from 1975-1981 contain saxed up versions of disco hits. His "Wow" is better than the original to some ears, and check out "So Nice" - that's a killer.
Keep an eye on the Gil Ventura lps from the same period, especially his version of Foot Stomping Music.
James Last had a competent Tangerue/Amant-style disco tune out in 1978 on his Rolling Trinity lp called One More Chance.

James of course shaped disco itself with his 1973 Happy Brasilia and the whole 1971 Voodoo party album.
And do not forget Ennio Morricone. His disco output is exceptional: Come Maddalena 12" is not too hard to get but the I Gatti 7" is a bit of a rarity.

[discophil]

What a dope!

Inspired by another thread, how could I have forgotten:

Jupiter Sunset Band - "Stranger In Paradise" ???????

What a great song!

Also, from another thread, found:

Al Martino's 1976 version of "Volare"

[Francois]

And, didn't Frankie Avalon do a disco version of his '50s hit "Venus"? Not even counting Bananarama's version of Shocking Blue's "Venus" (which was a little past the disco era in 1986). Wow, two songs with the same title that not only hit #1 in their first incarnation but were remade into disco/dance versions!

[DiscoMilton]

1) Sunny '76 by the same Bobby Hebb
2) Sunny by Shambu
3) If You Could Read My Mind by Columbus Circle
4) Nights In White Satin by Giorgio Moroder and also Deodato
5) J' Te Aime (Moi Non Plus) by Donna Summer and also Saint Tropez
6) You're Thats Lovin' Feelin' by Paris Connection
7) Pipeline by Bruce Johnston
8) Na Na Hey Hey (Disco Version) by Garret Scott

And much, much more.

[KBallenger53]

I always considered Hamilton Bohannon's: "ANDREA", as Easy Listening Disco because of it's smooth, and mellow orchestrations and delivery. Bohannon used one of Barry White's old tricks by bringing the strings to the front, instead of using them as a backdrop. Sort of gives it that "Elevator Music" effect.

This song is Hauntingly Beautiful, but has a bit of Funky Grit with it. Especially when you get to the break down in the middle of it. It takes you on a Funk Quest, to break out in a Cold Sweat. Then the strings section lets you down easy, to take you on a trip into LOVELAND...

I don't know who ANDREA was, perhaps Bohannon's wife, but whoever she was/is, if she looks anything like the song sounds, she must be a KNOCKOUT!!!

'NUFF SAID

[remicks]

Hi folks!

Hey, growing up my mother used to work around the house with the local "easy listening", or what today might be called "light rock", station playing in the background. I heard a lot of really good songs that I still love today. I know some of my favorites were covered by disco artists and I'm wondering if the forum community can help me find any others that I may not be aware of.

Here's a list of those type of tunes that I know were covered for disco:

Boney M: "Sunny"
Carol Williams: "More"
Paul Mauriat: "Love is Still Blue"

Some of my other favorites from the era that I don't know if were covered as a disco tune but hope someone out there knows if a cover exists:

"I Love How You Love Me"
"Moon River"
"Somethin' Stupid"
and pretty much anything by Burt Bacharach!

I'm not talking about the covers of 40s tunes, like "Brazil" or "Tangerine". These were songs more from the 60s and early 70s.

Thanks in advance for any help!!!

I sometimes decide MOON RIVER is my all time favorite song .... :icon_eek: .


Van McCoy does it ample justice imo with his disco version found on :



(as an aside Van's treatment of SHAFT is also on there. )



*****

[Disco Funk]

Remicks, if you really dig 'Moon River', maybe you'll like this really crazy, but funky cover. I just discovered it recently. (There's an audio sample on the page)

Kurtis Scott - Moon River

Disco Funk

[Disco Funk]

I just came across this when I bought a 70s compilation on Capitol.



Disco Funk

[Old Disco DeeJay]

In the 1st post on this thread Discophil asked for anything by Burt Bacharach.

I guess this fits in as laid back Disco...

YouTube - Gwen Guthrie close to you Extended mix