Length IS Important

[SandraDee]

As an antidote to the recent thread on tracks where the short version is preferable, I thought it was a good idea for people to say where it is essential to play the longest version. You may think that this is probably a pointless exercise as most disco fans prefer the long versions anyway (& I'm sure there have been similar discussions in the past), but I'm especially interested to hear your views on those 15 or 20 minute tracks that go by as though they are only 7 minutes long due to clever arrangements or expert engineering or whatever. (I don't really want to include medleys though as they will 'speed by' more due to the numerous melodies involved.)
One example that springs to mind for me is the LP version of 'My Claim To Fame' by James Wells; :icon_eek: I can never believe that it's over 16 minutes long as it never gets too repetitive or boring, & I usually find Ian Levine's stuff wearing after 5 minutes! (this is probably one of Ian's best efforts IMO). Another is of course 'Romeo & Juliet' by Alec R.Costandinos, likewise I feel that this was the pinnacle of Alec's work. It all seems so effortless & easy when SO much work must've gone into these productions & arrangements.

[Videoskooter]

I've been playing this track massively over the last weeks and it never bores me although it's 13:40 (Moulton/Cowley RMX)

Michele Disco Dance [Patrick Cowley Mega Mix] (12"): DiscoMusic.com

[Disco Funk]

I can get bored if a song runs too long. It depends on the track and what I like about it. If it's too repetitive, it doesn't matter how long it is, I can't stand it beyond 3 minutes. That's why I tend not to listen to the Bohannon stuff after the Stop & Go LP up to Let's Start The Dance. Strangely, I don't mind listening to James Brown for 8 minutes, even though some mind find his music repetitive. I guess the issue is whether a songs becomes monotonous. James at least makes things interesting with various solos and his ad libbed vocals.

I'm not a fan of the euro stuff, so too long is too much for me. I'm more of a Philly disco fan, but they tended to keep things under the 10 minute mark. I think the longest, purely Philly track is Disco Extravaganza, which is about 14 minutes, and I do find it gets repetitive after awhile. Disco Inferno is the longest one I don't mind listening to all the way through at 11 min.

Out of all of the long 10 min plus tunes, this track by Jumbo is the only one I can listen to from beginning to end without hitting the skip button





http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/487_0_2_0_C/

Disco Funk

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Seriously...
I never get bored, sitting through the entire 16'50" of
Love To Love You Baby
Tho' that last bit they tacked-on (around the 15 min mark) is overkill.

Likewise, with the entire 15'50" of
Je T'aime Moi Non Plus
To the very last beat of the fade!
NOTE: the back-up vocals only come in for about 3 seconds, within the entire recording.
I know where it is. Do you? ;o) <---(showing off)

[RetroRuss]

What I notice these days with some DJ's who play disco is that they mix a 'medley' of tunes which (as a purist) I find rather annoying - I was at an event and the DJ cut the record just before the break (the best bit of the tune) and mixed in another (Stomp - BTW) - anyway one of the longest records I know apart from the 1981 remix of I Feel Love is Black Sun by Disco Heat (not on YouTube) This record - recorded in 1979 is 16 minutes 40 secs of pure disco joy & difficult to cut short.

http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/132_0_2_0_C/

[SandraDee]

Black Sun by Disco Heat (not on YouTube) This record - recorded in 1979 is 16 minutes 40 secs of pure disco joy & difficult to cut short.

Sorry RR but I have to disagree about that choice; yes, I do really like the record & thanx for the contribution but I find it terribly repetitive after about halfway. I played it the other day straight after 'Beauty & The Beast' by Love & Kisses & if you do this you will see why Alec's long tracks were so well thought-out arrangement-wise. Talking about Black Sun by Disco Heat, I always remember James Hamilton (in Record Mirror) saying he thought it was the prototype (or words to that effect :icon_confused:) for 'Dancer' by Gino Soccio (one of my faves of all time) so when I eventually got round to hearing it I personally couldn't see the similarity. Great record though, I just think it should be about 8 minutes long.

[kdavid13]

Totally agree about My claim to fame - what a fantastic album !!!

I love the sidelong version of Donna's Try Me I know we can make it - I love the song itself and the way it evolves during the course of 16+ minutes - makes it amazing to me.I also enjoy other sidelong tracks such as Theo Vaness' Back to music and Patrick Juvet I love America.

Another one I love is Carolyne Bernier's Secret agent love - I love the way it starts and then segues into an almost Moroder-lite version.I cannot believe it lasts 16'40 - I never timed it but I could swear it isn't that long... :icon_cool:

[SandraDee]

I agree with the other suggestions, except maybe 'Disco Inferno' which I do find overly long, but again I do love that track. That Michele track obviously benefits from the Patrick Cowley remix where he does what he does so well i.e.trippy, effects-laden mixes. That reminds me of another long track that never bores me: 'Hills Of Katmandu' by Tantra. Like the Michele track, this lasts well because of it's 'trippy' nature, i feel. (& Cowley did a mix of this too, but I prefer the Italian original).

[thommy2458]

Sandy,I'll throw in a few Midney's,1st being "Come Into My Heart" which
is still mesmorizing.And "Make That Feeling Come Again' which has really aged well with me.I would choose Cerrone's "Love in C Minor"(but not "Paradise") and of course,Love and Kisses "I Found Love".All eurodisco!
I'm sure there are other American releases but I'm thinking of songs past the 12 minute mark and I'm struggling to come up with things that aren't medleys.Good topic!

Thom

[SandraDee]

Totally agree about My claim to fame - what a fantastic album !!!

:icon_cool:

Yes, the whole LP is fab isn't it? James & Ian seemed to bring out the best in each other.

[SandraDee]

Sandy,I'll throw in a few Midney's,1st being "Come Into My Heart" which
is still mesmorizing.And "Make That Feeling Come Again' which has really aged well with me.I would choose Cerrone's "Love in C Minor"(but not "Paradise") and of course,Love and Kisses "I Found Love".All eurodisco!
I'm sure there are other American releases but I'm thinking of songs past the 12 minute mark and I'm struggling to come up with things that aren't medleys.Good topic!

Thom

You're right there, I'm struggling to come up with non-Euro tracks of 12+ minutes. How come you don't like Cerrone's Paradise? I actually think it has a better arrangement than Love In C Minor. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore C Minor but I always have enough of it after about 10 minutes but Paradise just builds the longer it's on IMO.

[thommy2458]

You know,it's not that I don't like it-I do-it's just not as memorable to me when I think of his other work.I think the "Give Me Love-Love is Here-Love is the Answer" medley is one of my top 5 disco moments,ever-it still gives me goosebumps.And "Love in C Minor" was so jaw dropping when it was released,it set the bar for eurodisco for years to come.When "Paradise"
followed it was slightly a let down(for me)which he would recover magnificently with "Supernature" of course.And then "Look for Love" and
"Call Me Tonight" are so beautiful and heartbreaking-disco love songs,for sure.But for you,Sandy,I am going to put on "Paradise" right now while I do the laundry-I have a craving to re-listen to this and I'm sure I'll fall in love with it again.As you can see I have a soft spot for Cerrone....

Thom

[Disco Funk]

Yes, the whole LP is fab isn't it? James & Ian seemed to bring out the best in each other.

Yes, this album is definitely a winner from beginning to end. The follow-up wasn't as catchy. It's definitely one of the more enjoyable Ian Levine productions as a whole. True Love Is My Destiny is my fave cut from that LP. Barbara Pennington's album is another Levine production I can play from beginning to end without hitting the skip button. No extended jams on that one, though.

Another interesting long track by Levine is Croissette's Keep It On Ice, although it does get a little repetitive somewhere in the middle of its 16 minute length. The short mix is still very nice and sweet.



Disco Funk

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

... How come you don't like Cerrone's Paradise? I actually think it has a better arrangement than Love In C Minor.

In total agreement, here.

[paul]

Well Sandy, perhaps my favorite ultra lonnnng track is 17+ minutes of "I'm A Man." It just doesn't seem that long to me.

I just love the way it was engineered and edited. The breaks had a uniqueness and sequence that just kept you moving. Really nice work.