Gloria Jones, The Disco Star That Never Was?

[needlefingers]

I found this article about Gloria Jones today...

Metro Times - Music: Sharing 'the' Gloria Jones


She did the original Tainted Love. She also wrote Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet for Gonzalez. That one was a big surprise.

I always knew her version of Tainted Love, but up till today, I didn't really know much about her.

Looking at some of her other work, she seems underrated.

I see she had albums out in the mid to late 70's. And they have some disco songs on them.

Here are some videos of her work

YouTube - Gloria Jones - Tainted Love (1964)

YouTube - Gloria Jones - Go Now - High Definition

YouTube - Gloria Jones - Heartbeat LIVE! (With Billy Preston) 1965

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fRhYwdJo74


I found some 12 inches on ebay...

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53...3Dp3286.c0.m14

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53...3ht_1154wt_941


Maybe she is a lost disco star? By that, I mean someone who could have made a disco crossover. Or did she, and I missed it?

[barbarella]

Hey Needlefingers!
I read your post with interest! I have a Demo 12" single of "Bring On The Love" by Gloria, dated '77, which is backed with "Carnival", an instrumental by Gonzales. I often wondered why Gonzales was the B side.
I think you may well have just answered that! Incidentally, "Carnival" never had any success either, as far as I know.

[SandraDee]

Wasn't she married to Marc Bolan of T-Rex?

[markydefad]

Wasn't she married to Marc Bolan of T-Rex?

She was Marc's girlfriend [not sure if they were actually married] and she also killed him... :icon_exclaim::icon_exclaim:

From AMG:
"In 1974, Jones joined T. Rex (which by that time was fading rapidly) as a keyboardist and backing vocalist. Becoming romantically involved with the singer, she also helped sway him into a more soul/dance-oriented direction. Bolan in turn helped her out on her solo album Vixen, playing guitar and writing songs. After having a child, their time together came to a tragic end when Bolan was killed in a car accident in 1977, with Jones at the wheel. "

[needlefingers]

Bolan wrote some of her songs.

I found one titled Drive Me Crazy(Disco Lady) that has an early/mid-70's feel to it. There is a sample at allmusic.com.

Does anyone remember her disco recordings getting played?

[Disco Funk]

She produced and/or wrote the track below, which was also an instrumental track on the Magic Disco Machine LP from '75

Sisters Love - I Could Never Make A Better Man Than You

Disco Funk

[needlefingers]

Thanks DF. Gloria Jones is a nice find for me. Very talented.

And I love this song that you put up. :icon_lol:

Sisters Love, The - Give Me Your Love / (I Could Never Make) A Better Man Than You (7", Single) at Discogs

[STEPHEN L FREEMAN]

Unless I missed it, I'm surprised not to have seen mention of her (great!) 12" single, on Capitol 1979 - "When I Was A Little Girl"

It wasn't tied to the Disco recording guidelines (so to speak) of the day. And I think that's what makes it so alluring. An emotionally charged lyric, over an arrangement who's transitions, came on more like mood-swings. Which is a big + for the overall song.

[needlefingers]

Thanks Stephen. And I hadn't heard of it either.




Here she is with Marc..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQCHsp7y3d4

[remicks]

*****

Here's a little side trip concerning the BRING ON THE LOVE 12" you might find of some interest :

http://www.discomusic.com/forums/dis...d-capitol.html

******