Did You Hate Disco and if so, Why Did You Change?

[garrybcoston]

I've found out, from reading numerous threads, posts, etc., that there are numerous members of discomusic.com that in the past, during the disco era, hated disco, or were even a part of the "disco sucks" campaign in 1979.

So, why did you change? And if you did change, when did you change and what was your view of disco then and what do you think of it now?

Can't wait to hear these responses!

Garry

[kdavid13]

My answer would be peer pressure.

I grew up listening to pop music and by the mid-70's - I was surrounded by my cousins who were listening to Gentle Giant,Genesis,Van Der Graaf Generator and Jethro Tull.I bought everything these groups released because it was to be expected...in order for me to fit in.Everyone in my circle hated disco :icon_evil:...

Then I slowly started to get into electronic music via Vangelis,Tangerine Dream,Klaus Schultze and Brian Eno...so it was only a matter of time before I got into Kraftwerk,too.

On Christmas day 1977 - I was blown away when a friend was showing off his new mega-sound system while playing Kraftwerk's Trans Europe Express then Donna Summer's I feel love.Why did I love it so much ?? I wasn't supposed to... (:icon_eek:) Then I heard Trans Europe Express mixed with Donna's Now I need you...on the radio one morning and I was officially hooked.:icon_exclaim:

That was it - I started buying stuff like Space Project,Rockets,every record Donna Summer had released,I quickly got into Giorgio's stuff and then I got into Casablanca...and it was the start of a great love affair with dance music.Plus living in Montreal (the unofficial disco capital of Canada) - it was pretty easy to get into it.

By the mid to late 70's - I was buying everything on the disco charts.This musical genre has brought me nothing but great joy and some wonderful memories.

[drlove]

Great explanation, Kris . . . peer pressure CAN be a highly potent thing. Glad you expressed your individual tastes on your terms !

* * *

Reminds me of an early '80s conversation I had at a family-owned business where one of my friends was working with me. He said after seeing Rocky, he wanted to box. I replied after seeing Saturday Night Fever, I wanted to dance. LOL!

Really funny part is that my mom overheard me, and said "Don't say that". Ah, societal pressure! (Wish I would've replied "Sorry, Mom, but as Carl Bean sang, "I'm Happy, I'm Carefree, and I'm Gay . . .I Was Born This Way!")

[DyscoSouljah]

Well, there's a thin line between bad Disco and just plain crap.
If an objective listener is faced with the latter, I can understand why some people hate it.
Like all things, getting involved and DISCOvering brings out the truth.

[Trammp Johnson]

I got a new young working mate in the early 80s, and we became friends, and in two months he changed from Ebba Grön(local Swedish act) Iron Maiden, Saxon etc to become a true lover of disco like Spinners, Inner Life, etc ... I'm glad our friendship turned out that way and not the opposite.

Johnny

[Paulo]

I grew up listening to pop music and by the mid-70's - I was surrounded by my cousins who were listening to Gentle Giant,Genesis,Van Der Graaf Generator and Jethro Tull.I bought everything these groups released because it was to be expected.

:icon_biggrin:WOW!! Exactly the same goes for me:

In the 70's I was the regular middle class white boy and (as expected) I grew up listening to progressive rock (Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, Van Der Graaf, Pink Floyd, Emerson, Lake & Palmer...). I bought everything these groups relesed... I still like them a lot!!

Disco was already around in 1975/1976 thanks to Tina Charles, Barry White, First Choice, George McRae and a lot of one-hit-wonders that I can't remember the names... but most of it left me cold. Brazilians used to call it BLACK MUSIC... and this was an offense (those were the days... we still have a lot of racism... but that's another story).

Till one day in 1977 a girl (who is, to this day, still a friend of mine) played me an abbreviated version of EL COCO's COCOMOTION. I loved the melody and ended up buying the album... just to discover that that song was a lot LOOOOOOONGER!!!!!!! Immediatly I was overwhelmed by the terrific instrumentation. That was also prog!!! A rich melody line, full of long instrumental passages, lots of keyboard solos merged with lush strings!! That was Rick Wakeman under acid.

Seeing my enthusiasm for big instrumental passages, she showed me the abreviated LE SPANK by LE PAMPLEMOUSSE. Again when I got the album I was shocked by the stunning long saxophone solos, uncommercial melody and keyboard wizzardry. Reading the liner notes of the LP cover I noticed they were almost the same band under different names.

Disco was now in full swing... Then came SALSOUL ORCHESTRA, SANTA ESMERALDA, CERRONE, GREGG DIAMOND, THEO VANESS... and I was officially hooked.

And at the height of my 17 years (in 1977) I stepped for the 1st time into a night-club. Two songs I can remember that first night were ONE LOVE by CELI BEE and I GOTTA KEEP DANCING by CARRIE LUCAS. I was so happy.... and got slightly drunk there.... Unforgettable!

That night-club was COSTA BRAVA in Rio. Great fun!!!:icon_biggrin:

[KBallenger53]

I've found out, from reading numerous threads, posts, etc., that there are numerous members of discomusic.com that in the past, during the disco era, hated disco, or were even a part of the "disco sucks" campaign in 1979.

So, why did you change? And if you did change, when did you change and what was your view of disco then and what do you think of it now?

Can't wait to hear these responses!

Garry

Garry, I'm glad you've brought up this topic, because I thought I was the only one that noticed this too. I'm not going to call out any names, but as the old saying goes: "EVERYTHING THAT'S DONE IN THE DARK, WILL SURELY COME TO THE LIGHT"!!!

'NUFF SAID

[PierreConstantin]

I grew up in Mexico where the only music played on the FM radio in the 70's was (amazingly) disco music while on AM radio it was Spanish-speaking music. Progressive rock was completely ignored there :icon_biggrin: and I still don't know who King Crimson or Van Der Graaf can be . So I grew up listening to disco and what my parents were listening to -piano, opera, etc. So I can say 30 years after that I never really changed in my musical tastes.
But they were two over-overplayed songs I really hated then: Musique's "In the bush" and Marshall Hain's "Dancing in the city" .

[garrybcoston]

I grew up in Mexico where the only music played on the FM radio in the 70's was (amazingly) disco music while on AM radio it was Spanish-speaking music. Progressive rock was completely ignored there :icon_biggrin: and I still don't know who King Crimson or Van Der Graaf can be . So I grew up listening to disco and what my parents were listening to -piano, opera, etc. So I can say 30 years after that I never really changed in my musical tastes.
But they were two over-overplayed songs I really hated then: Musique's "In the bush" and Marshall Hain's "Dancing in the city" .

I also think that because you grew up listening to piano, opera, classical music, which contain real instruments and instruments that were played in disco songs, your ear was already tuned in and ready when disco came on the scene; so those strings, pianos, horns, drums, percussion, and background vocals made you feel right at home!

Garry:icon_cool:

[PierreConstantin]

I also think that because you grew up listening to piano, opera, classical music, which contain real instruments and instruments that were played in disco songs, your ear was already tuned in and ready when disco came on the scene; so those strings, pianos, horns, drums, percussion, and background vocals made you feel right at home!

Garry:icon_cool:

Yes, it's surely true because still now I don't like music with just synthesizers and without real instruments. I think it was a big loss when full orchestras were replaced by synthesizers. 50 (or more) musicains bring warmth and depth to the music.
And yes, it's true that disco and classical music share a common ground (first of all they are not guitar-centered while rock is ) and it's certainly easy to pass from one to the other style. Same ethos I think: any disco lover can potentially like Bach or Verdi.
Nevertheless, I find disco versions of symphonic tunes seldom good. I can't tell exactly why, I just have examples in my mind like an awful album named "Klassiks go disko" (OMG, all those K's :icon_lol:) by Disko Band released in 1976 by Pickwick.

[SandraDee]

I think it was a big loss when full orchestras were replaced by synthesizers. 50 (or more) musicains bring warmth and depth to the music.

Very true. I remember feeling that something was missing after '82 when strings all but disappeared. When I was growing up I just thought that orchestras and syndrums and clavinets and cowbells would always be around; how wrong was I!:icon_sad:

[garrybcoston]

Very true. I remember feeling that something was missing after '82 when strings all but disappeared. When I was growing up I just thought that orchestras and syndrums and clavinets and cowbells would always be around; how wrong was I!:icon_sad:

Same here too "SandyDee," an empty void when the lush and plush luxury of the orchestral disco sound disappeared. I too had been trained, from high school chorus and orchestra, to love and appreciate the orchestral sound of disco and when it disappeared, it was like losing a member of my family.

Anyhoo, through my own compositions, and some of that orchestral sound which has returned here and there, and of course old disco songs, I can still listen to and appreciate that sound.

Garry:icon_razz:

[djscream67]

I never hated Disco then, I don't hate it now, and I won't hate it tomorrow! :icon_twisted: I was just a youngun when the Disco era was blowing up in the mid 70s, but if I were old enough to know better back then, I'd have to guess Disco haters were really closed minded people and, basically, would rather follow than lead. There were many prejudices made also, say for example that Disco was "strictly" for gays, and if you liked listening to it then you're probably gay too!

Of course I know it's bullshit, but people WILL talk anyway. After all, we in America live under the 1st amendment, land of the free, blah blah blah! LOL.

Even so, personally my first true love has always been classic Rock. I grew up listening to KISS, 38 Special, Blue Oyster Cult, Led Zep and Black Sabbath, ZZ Top, Pure Prarie League and the like (too many groups in this genre to name, but you get the idea). All I'm saying is that if one individual doesn't like, generally, anything about Disco period, don't let your reasons base solely because "all MY friends don't like it either" or "it's way too gay for me", those are cop out excuses. Listen to what you like, but if you don't get it then you won't get it. Rock on party people, and be yourself! :icon_cool:

[The Owl]

My answer would be peer pressure.

I grew up listening to pop music and by the mid-70's - I was surrounded by my cousins who were listening to Gentle Giant,Genesis,Van Der Graaf Generator and Jethro Tull.I bought everything these groups released because it was to be expected...in order for me to fit in.Everyone in my circle hated disco :icon_evil:...

Then I slowly started to get into electronic music via Vangelis,Tangerine Dream,Klaus Schultze and Brian Eno...so it was only a matter of time before I got into Kraftwerk,too.

On Christmas day 1977 - I was blown away when a friend was showing off his new mega-sound system while playing Kraftwerk's Trans Europe Express then Donna Summer's I feel love.Why did I love it so much ?? I wasn't supposed to... (:icon_eek:) Then I heard Trans Europe Express mixed with Donna's Now I need you...on the radio one morning and I was officially hooked.:icon_exclaim:

That was it - I started buying stuff like Space Project,Rockets,every record Donna Summer had released,I quickly got into Giorgio's stuff and then I got into Casablanca...and it was the start of a great love affair with dance music.Plus living in Montreal (the unofficial disco capital of Canada) - it was pretty easy to get into it.

By the mid to late 70's - I was buying everything on the disco charts.This musical genre has brought me nothing but great joy and some wonderful memories.

We must've been separated at birth!

Similar story for me, plus I was a bit of an arrogant snob back in those days too, yet, part of me longed for the fun that people were having when I saw shows like Dance Fever and Soap Factory among others (have to admit, I enjoyed the dancing).

It wasn't until the mid 80's that I took ballroom dancing lessons and learned to loosen up and not take myself that seriously. If only I had done it a few years earlier though is my only regret.

[garrybcoston]

KB...LOL...you've got me rolling on the floor!!! But you're right, the darkness will eventually come to the light or reveal the light. But better late than never yes? I loved Disco the second I realized that's what it was called; but hey, all of us can't be perfect! Great post "KB"

[garrybcoston]

I agree; but there's good and bad disco (most of it good to me). In Junior High and High School I took chorus, music theory, and most of the tunes we heard or listened to had those orchestras in it and I was exposed, so, when disco came along when I was 18 (right on time by the way), it was familiar and I felt right at home as well! I hope "real instruments" come back; and, real instruments not only add what you said, but the "human factor" adds emotion to the music as well. Synths, etc. are cold and boring!

[garrybcoston]

Yeah when the symphonic instruments (strings, congas, horns, percussion, etc.) were being phased out and were omitted, yes, around 1981 or 1982, not only did the music sound empty, but I became empty, like I had lost an old friend!

[garrybcoston]

Late bloomer...but better late than never (as I always say).