Jacques Morali - Best Of?

[EricHG23]

I admit for a long long time I kinda ignored the productions of Jacques Morali. I knew the major Village People stuff and they were fun enough but not really what was getting me into disco, also knew Eartha Kitt's Where Is My Man? and again it made me think all his stuff basically existed on camp appeal alone. But the more I get into the Ritchie Family, or realize absolute faves of mine (like Like An Eagle) were by him the more interested I am in his work--and I admit now that I'm getting older I appreciate the camp even of the Village People more.

I admit I also know his Joesphine Superstar album--well I HEARD it once but remember only appreciating for its camp value. Should I give that another listen?

So what tracks, albums, etc would people recommend as essential? Especially would be interested in hearing about rarities.

[Cory Ander]

I admit for a long long time I kinda ignored the productions of Jacques Morali. I knew the major Village People stuff and they were fun enough but not really what was getting me into disco, also knew Eartha Kitt's Where Is My Man? and again it made me think all his stuff basically existed on camp appeal alone. But the more I get into the Ritchie Family, or realize absolute faves of mine (like Like An Eagle) were by him the more interested I am in his work--and I admit now that I'm getting older I appreciate the camp even of the Village People more.

I admit I also know his Joesphine Superstar album--well I HEARD it once but remember only appreciating for its camp value. Should I give that another listen?

So what tracks, albums, etc would people recommend as essential? Especially would be interested in hearing about rarities.

It seems Morali's production approach was different from Moroder's in that Morali and his associates seemed to emphasize the presentation of music and less emphasis was placed on vocals and lyrics. Everyone will have their own favorites but my own Morali production favorites are the entire first side of the Ritchie Family's "Brazil" and the unedited "African Queens" suite. Most of the VP's hits were so overplayed I don't ever care to hear them again, but I do still enjoy the raunchy and less known "Sleazy". You and I share an appreciation for the Eartha Kitt song, and I'm also fond of Patrick Juvet's "I Love America". By the way, did you notice that "Where Is My Man?" is co-written by comedian Bruce Vilanch? Wonder if Morali ever produced Donna Summer or Cher?

[PierreConstantin]

Lesser known songs and acts:

Gypsy Lane - Predictions (1978 lp)
Soul Philadelphia Orchestra - Soul City (1975 7", split in two parts)
The Ritchie Family - Te Deum (forever dancin') 5:05 (from film "La barbichette")
Mimi Coutelier - Boogie Lady 5:14 (from film "La barbichette")
The Lovers - Discomania 6:12
Blanche Carter - My Man 3:12/ Rain 3:00 (1975)

80's:
Rox - self-titled lp from 1981
Julius Brown - Diana 3:53 (West End)
Julius Brown - Party 6:10
Julius Brown - Never Too Late 5:29
Sean Taylor - I Can't Live Without You 6:14
Sean Taylor - Come Back To Me 6:49
Diva - Memories (Theme From The Broadway Musical "Cats") 6:56 (Prelude)
Pia Zadora - I'm In Love Again 3:56
Break Machine - Street Dance 6:27
Régine - Reine de la nuit 3:40
Ray Stephens - Cat's Eye 6:00
Tess - I Wanna Dance 6:20
Lova Moor - Et Je Danse 4:00
Beckie Bell - Let Me Know 5:33
Man 2 Man - At The Gym 3:45
David Dean - Bye Bye Baby Goodbye 6:32

[kdavid13]

I agree about the fact that most of the Village People's well known songs have been played to death but I still find myself playing those more obscure or underplayed Lp tracks like Citizens of the world,I wanna shake your hand,Hot Cop,The women/I'm a cruiser (Medley),Village People,Ups & downs,My roommate,Sodom and Gomorrah,Rock & roll is back again,Save me (Uptempo),Liberation,Can't stop the music (12in) and New York City.

And also David London's The sound of the city (from the Can't stop the music soundtrack).

Ritchie Family's I'll never be able to set you free (from 1980) is my favorite. The complete Ritchie Family catalogue is available on iTunes btw.

[remicks]

*****

For beautiful. full-flavored , unapologetic, glorious disco ....its Jacques Morali :icon_cool: :icon_cool: :icon_cool:


imo....No one put the D-I-S-C-O in "disco" like he did . :icon_mrgreen:


Not rare
but make the point:









******

[BrunoRepublic]

My fave from him is probably the Ritchie Family's African Queens album. I quite like Brazil too, particularly the first side. Give Me A Break is good too, although he didn't write most of that one. He has no involvement on the two subsequent RF albums (the ones released on RCA in the US).

The Gypsy Lane album is quite good, although IIRC he didn't write any of it, he only produced it.

"Like An Eagle" is a classic song, but the rest of the album leaves much to be desired.

The Lovers was a one-off medley project... same concept as "The Best Disco In Town" but not nearly as good IMHO.

I quite enjoyed the Eartha Kitt album, although it's rather one-dimensional.

[Charlie Windle]

Patrick Juvet - Lady Night I love the whole album and give Saint Louis a listen - Josephene Superstar.:icon_biggrin:

[kdavid13]

I love Patrick Juvet's Lady Night album - in fact I just bought it on CD. The Gay Paris (Medley) has always been a favorite of mine.

And Got a feeling from the 1st Juvet/Morali/Bellolo collaboration is also a highlight.

[Dayna]

Patrick Juvet - Lady Night I love the whole album and give Saint Louis a listen - Josephene Superstar.:icon_biggrin:

I LOVE Patrick's "Lady Night" album as well~! It's very very underrated and even seen as obscure to most people in the United States..although the running time of the Lp is very short..It's one of my fav of Morali's..The Gay Paris Medley is my fav too ,Kris~!
It's beautiful.

[drlove]

.... and I'll have to join BrunoRepublic and Cory Ander as Officers in the Ritchie Family "African Queens" LP fan club, as not only do I think that's Jacques M at his very best, but that particular LP (with the stunning "Quiet Village", "Summer Dance" and the aforementioned "African Queens" suite) ends up my favorite disco LP of all time

[EricHG23]

My fave from him is probably the Ritchie Family's African Queens album. I quite like Brazil too, particularly the first side. Give Me A Break is good too, although he didn't write most of that one. He has no involvement on the two subsequent RF albums (the ones released on RCA in the US).

The Gypsy Lane album is quite good, although IIRC he didn't write any of it, he only produced it.

"Like An Eagle" is a classic song, but the rest of the album leaves much to be desired.


I quite enjoyed the Eartha Kitt album, although it's rather one-dimensional.

Is there anyway to get the Ritchie Family stuff on iTunes Canada? All I know is their much edited Greatest Hits.

It's funny, I know most discerning disco fans vastly prefer their early releases, so I find it amusing that what won be over were the 12" of Feet to the Beat and Give me a Break.

I agree that Like an Eagle is a classic (it's insanely good IMHO) and the rest is nowhere close.

He only did the one Eartha Kitt song for a variety of reasons (I think they even ended up fighting) not the full album.

I had no idea he was involved in a second Juvet album--I'm embarassed to say I only know I Love America (I have the album on CD)--but i love what I hear of Lady Night on youtube. Shame the cd seems impossible to find online.

[Disco Funk]

That Gypsy Lane LP was the actual group Morali used to play on the LPs after he stopped using the MFSB guys. Too bad the LP didn't feature any disco music. I was hoping it would have some funky disco, but it's just mostly funk and soul, and not even done well. :(

Another Morali project I discovered recently was The Dynamite Band. He still was using MFSB on this recording. I'm guessing Richie Rome was helping out with the arrangement, since it sounds like his work.



I don't know if it was on iTunes, but there were other mp3 sites that had the Dimitri From Paris remix of Ritchie Family's 'Frenesi'. It's quite different from the original mix, but not done in a way that sounds like it was done recently. I don't know if he found an alternate mix, and re-edited it to put his name on it, or an alternate take, or he's a genius on the mixing board to get it sound like it was done in the 70s. Here's an audio sample.

Frenesi (Dim's remix)

Disco Funk

[kdavid13]

I LOVE Patrick's "Lady Night" album as well~! It's very very underrated and even seen as obscure to most people in the United States..although the running time of the Lp is very short..It's one of my fav of Morali's..The Gay Paris Medley is my fav too ,Kris~!
It's beautiful.

I had ripped the medley from my well worn vinyl Lp - so when I found a used copy of the import CD 3 weeks ago - I jumped on it. It is very short - I would have loved a 2 Lps (Got a feeling/Lady night) on 1 CD type of thing but what can you do ???? :icon_cool:

[EricHG23]

Well the edition of Got a Feeling I bought was a two/fer which included, sadly, his EARLIER non Morali disco album. S uper cheap though.

[PierreConstantin]

There is a Patrick Juvet "Best of disco" cd with some Morali songs. The selection is so-so because the versions are not the 12" ones, some songs originally segued on the lp aren't anymore and finally "I Love America" is available in two versions but not the full one. On the other part all songs from the lp "Lady Night" are on the cd and the others can be considered as bonuses , the couple "Où sont les femmes ?" and its English re-orchestrated translation "Where Is My Woman" being another highlight. This cd was released in 1999 to support the new track "Ça c'est Paris" (actually very good), mainly for the French/Swiss market where Juvet is only remembered for "Où sont les femmes ?":



http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...SIN=B00004T41B

1. Got A Feeling 3:42 1978
2. Où sont les femmes ? 6:14 1977
3. L'enfant aux cheveux blancs 5:28 1976
4. I Love America 3:48 1978
5. Lady Night 5:12 1979
6. Medley Gay Paris 6:36 1979
7. French Pillow Talk 4:41 1979
8. Swiss Kiss 5:07 1979
9. Viva California 6:28 1979
10. Paris By Night 11:42 1977
11. I Love America (Part 1 & 2) 6:02 1978
12. Where Is My Woman 7:11 1978
13. Ça c'est Paris (Radio Edit) 3:00 1999

http://www.amazon.fr/Best-Disco-Patr...7663294&sr=1-1

[SandraDee]

11. I Love America (Part 1 & 2) 6:02 1978

Pierre, is this an edit of the 12" or a remix or something completely different? I'm intrigued.:icon_confused: I've always wanted a version of 'ILA' with the 12" long intro but without the silly country/rock/funk bits which completely ruin the track for me.

[PierreConstantin]

Pierre, is this an edit of the 12" or a remix or something completely different? I'm intrigued.:icon_confused: I've always wanted a version of 'ILA' with the 12" long intro but without the silly country/rock/funk bits which completely ruin the track for me.

Just the first six minutes of the lp version.

[SandraDee]

Just the first six minutes of the lp version.

Oh so it just has the 'funky' section but fades before the 'salsa' bit. Thanx Pierre.

[Charlie Windle]

Sorry off topic a bit coz he only thanks Jacques on this one, Patrick Juvet - Still Alive, another fab album? Well, I think so but never read anything about it? Transit, Still Alive & Sounds Like Rock'N Roll all great tracks......yes?

Back to topic, Richie Family - It's a mans world.:icon_smile:

[SandraDee]

"Like An Eagle" is a classic song, but the rest of the album leaves much to be desired.

I initially disliked the rest of the LP but I've recently changed my opinion about 'New York by Night' - I really love it now.:icon_razz: Still dislike the rest though.:icon_confused:
A track I really like is 'I Feel Disco Good' by Ritchie Family on the American Generation LP.

[djscream67]

Lesser known songs and acts:

Gypsy Lane - Predictions (1978 lp)
Soul Philadelphia Orchestra - Soul City (1975 7", split in two parts)
The Ritchie Family - Te Deum (forever dancin') 5:05 (from film "La barbichette")
Mimi Coutelier - Boogie Lady 5:14 (from film "La barbichette")
The Lovers - Discomania 6:12
Blanche Carter - My Man 3:12/ Rain 3:00 (1975)

80's:
Rox - self-titled lp from 1981
Julius Brown - Diana 3:53 (West End)
Julius Brown - Party 6:10
Julius Brown - Never Too Late 5:29
Sean Taylor - I Can't Live Without You 6:14
Sean Taylor - Come Back To Me 6:49
Diva - Memories (Theme From The Broadway Musical "Cats") 6:56 (Prelude)
Pia Zadora - I'm In Love Again 3:56
Break Machine - Street Dance 6:27
Régine - Reine de la nuit 3:40
Ray Stephens - Cat's Eye 6:00
Tess - I Wanna Dance 6:20
Lova Moor - Et Je Danse 4:00
Beckie Bell - Let Me Know 5:33
Man 2 Man - At The Gym 3:45
David Dean - Bye Bye Baby Goodbye 6:32

OK, so out of everyone in this list, HOW was Jacques Morali involved in Break Machine's 'Street Dance'? This is news to me. :icon_confused:

[PierreConstantin]

OK, so out of everyone in this list, HOW was Jacques Morali involved in Break Machine's 'Street Dance'? This is news to me. :icon_confused:

He co-wrote and produced the song (Can't Stop productions).

Break machine - Wikipédia

[FrontPage22]

Lesser known songs and acts:


Mimi Coutelier - Boogie Lady 5:14 (from film "La barbichette")

I adore this song. Despite it being terribly camp.:icon_biggrin:

[EricHG23]

Thanks for all your help--since posting this I came across both Patrick Juvet albums on CD cheap in Vancouver--and I *love* them,Lady Night is especially strong.

My copy of Got a Feeling came in a 2fer pack (2cds in one digipack)with his french disco album Paris By Night done with Jean M Jarre included which is great--it's a modern reissue fromBarclay/Universal done in 2009.