Reply With QuoteNew York had the glitz and the Pzazz. L.A seemed a lot more laid back to us Brits and Miami rarely got any particular mentions, although we did probably like the music coming out of there more than the glitzy NYC stuff.
I'd go for NYC on balance.
Indie Release [Level 4]
From 1975-1980, I lived in Miami, NYC and Philadelphia.
Philadelphia was mostly anti-disco. Rock stations got a lot of publicity with their disco sucks weekends.
New York had a good disco scene and many good discos, but disco was just one fun thing out of many. So much was going on in New York then, that disco may have passed by some people without their notice.
Now Miami. I think that Miami was the disco capital of America. Disco/Salsa/soul-motown disco and disco clubs was an important part of the Miami culture. Disco was important to our lives and it was a big part of life.
I think that Miami was the disco capital because disco had a prominent place in the lives of people in Miami and in the culture.
On the radio we had three all disco stations. 96X(or disco 96), Studio 107 and WMBM which played a lot of Black artist disco. It was fantastic that a market like Miami could support three disco stations.
Washington DC should be mentioned because I know of no station to play all disco prior to 93 WKYS going disco. Georgetown section had many, many discos up and down the streets.
My vote is with Miami though.
The World? I don't know, I am not yet a world traveller. Where is the disco capital of the world?
No Longer Charting
New York had the glitz and the Pzazz. L.A seemed a lot more laid back to us Brits and Miami rarely got any particular mentions, although we did probably like the music coming out of there more than the glitzy NYC stuff.
I'd go for NYC on balance.
Triple Platinum Record [Level 10]
Doesn't EVERYTHING in the U.S. get it's start in New York City????
"Lost inside adorable illusion...."
No Longer Charting
NYC is like the Liverpool of the U.S.A. loud, proud and cocky. :lol: I personally find them both a little too loud, a little too proud and a little too cocky for my rather demure disposition. Ooh how vulgar! :oops: :lol: :oops:
Oh dear, certain board members will never get to love me now, unless they do have a sense of humour, after all.
Triple Platinum Record [Level 10]
LA is mostly "loud, proud and ultra-cocky" EX-New Yawkers. And Mexicans. :P
"Lost inside adorable illusion...."
Indie Release [Level 4]
Re: Quinny ... hits out of NY.
The big disco labels, Casablanca was from LA and TK was from Miami. K.C. and Sunshine Band, George McCrae and most of the acts on that label were Florida talent.
The point is, that many came out of Florida.
No Longer Charting
Everyone wants to be in Hollywood. So where do weary L.A party people go to to hibernate. What do you call LA people, I wouldn't have a clue. Waiters?
Triple Platinum Record [Level 10]
LA is a "company town"...NOT that much all-night long nightlife here, to tell the truth. Most everything closes at 2:00am. That's why Eddie Murphy has to go "Tranny-troweling" on Santa Monica Blvd. afterhours. :P
New York is "the city that never sleeps". Lotsa stuff goes all night long.
"Lost inside adorable illusion...."
No Longer Charting
What! No parties up in da hills? 2 a.m. is more or less late enough, especially if you have to look good in the morning.
Chart Hit [Level 6]
PepperTree
NYC was the "disco mecca" of the world. Yeah K.C & The Sunshine Band and many others came from Florida however there were just as many acts from NYC or more. We have our share of record labels as well. Let's face it when people think of the hottest discotheques, NYC is the first name mentioned. We had discos like Studio 54, Regine's, The Loft, Paradise Garage, Ipanema's, McKoy's, Pegasus, Roseland, Starship, Xenon, 371, Le Jardin etc......Not taking away credit from other cities but you did post the question and The Big Apple takes the cake. I guess that I'm one of those super cocky New Yorkers
*DISCO DELIGHT*
No Longer Charting
Who have to say everything thrice!!! :lol: just kiddin', I know the board's been playing up lately.Originally Written by HustleBaby
PepperTree
I guess that I'm one of those super cocky New Yorkers
*DISCO DELIGHT*
Test Pressing [Level 2]
My Vote goes to New York, there was a disco on every corner and we had all the big name clubs here, Studio 54, Regines, The Roxy, The Funhouse, The Saint, The Garage, 12 West, Barefoot Boy etc.
\"You should be dancin\' Yeah\"
Indie Release [Level 4]
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Gold Record [Level 7]
The Miami/Ft Lauderdale area never had any shortage of “big’ clubs, early clubs like “The Shanghai” and “The Mix two” were molded from the NYC experience, others like “RumBottoms” and “Limelight” with their million dollar light show and sound systems were second to none, DJ Bob Lombardi (and later Luis Martinee of Exposee ) used to spin there with 4 original 1200 Turntables (shocking at the time) and if you were brave enough to venture to close to the speakers you could loose your dinner in the process, other early clubs like “Mr Pips” “The PlayPen” “Honey For the Bears” “Widow McCoys” “Studio 51” “Pete & Lennys” “Alexanders” “ Scaramuche” and countless other were all top notch at the time and early favorites of the “DiscoTecos” like me.
If you wished to, in Miami you could party until 5 AM every night of the week to many different types of music, and the so call “Disco Sucks” campaign never reached down here, while others burned records elsewhere we were oblivious to this fact and opened even more “dance” clubs and party harder, early to mid 80’s clubs like “Manhattan” “Parallel Bar” “Faces” “Casanovas” “ Infinity” were packed with dancers of all ages, expensive, exclusive private clubs like “Cats” “Regines” “Ensign Bitters” attracted a more affluent world clientele, and if you liked “Salsa” and Reggae” clubs we had many of those too..
In the mid 80’s, when South Beach first became a popular club destination, Mega Clubs like “1235” “Club NU” “OVO” and many others brought the party to the beach, by the 90’s SoBe was so crowded with clubs that one could literally step out for air and walk back into the wrong club if you were not careful, SoBe to this day still is considered one of the hottest club destinations of the world, you’d be hard press to find places where you can dance all night and enjoy a beautiful sunrise while having breakfast by the beach..…
So guess who gets my vote…. :)
Platinum Record [Level 8]
Reading the Bernie's interview with disco DJ David Mancuso, the disco DJ Mecca was is NYC at Loft.
...
No Longer Charting
OK I admit I do speak collectively, but as one of a fewregular British contributors at times, I never know if you irregulars are going to respond. I'll try to be more personal in future. Why do you get so uptight? Chill man, chill.
As for glass houses.....Someone as demure, humble and insecure as myself, who's never attempted to tell you off or been personally insulting to you, can only say one thing in response. What the f*** do you mean? :evil:
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
I also think hands down, New York is the place in the states. As much as I hate to give it to the over inflated egos that I call friends in the "Ap", NYC was definitely a trend setter as well as a "all night thing." I'm not sure who has bigger egos, New Yorkers or Texans.
Anyway, what about cities like Sao Paulo, Paris, Rome, etc.?
Perhaps, the question as it pertains to the states should be, who come second.
Find them and destroy them!
Platinum Record [Level 8]
The fact is that during the 70's and very early 80's there was no place on earth as exciting as New York. Energy, drive, artistic innovation, you name it. Everything crashed down with Reagan of course and look at the sad state of things now in the former Party Capital Of The World - and dare I say this, America in general.
During the late 80's and all thru the 90's London seemed to rule along with Berlin, though Barcelona and Madrid were almost as cool and during the summer, for many it just had to be Ibiza. Now? My mates in the know who live for dance music swear by Paris, still. The maddest, druggiest no holds barred h/c club scene? St.Petersburg right across the border from where I live. Aware that everything as they know it could collapse any time, due either to a civil uprising, a nuclear disaster or a terrorist attack of epic propotions, they live like there's absolutely no tomorrow.
Indie Release [Level 4]
To HustleBaby,
I want you to know that in all things, my loyalty is to New York. I am a Brooklynite from Sheepshead Bay and I think New York is tops in everything.
I am also realistic. I lived in Miami in the seventies until Sept., 1977, when I moved to Philadelphia. I spent many of my weekends in the seventies with relatives in Brooklyn. I spent holidays in Miami Beach with my parents. (I live in Austin, Texas now.)
Because of the volume of people in the city, sure there would be many discos. But could you avoid the subject of disco? Yes. Many guys were into the Yankees or getting ahead on Wall Street. They could have survived without giving disco a thought. New York offers so much, and if you wanted to avoid disco, you could.
Not so in Miami. In 1977 and 1978, if you were to ride an MTA bus on Miami Beach, you could hear the old ladies complaining to each other about that "disco thing." I imagine that disco was preached on the pulpit in Miami churches. There was no way to avoid disco in Miami. It was all over. You bought donuts at a disco donut shop and got your hair styled at a disco hair solon.
The discos were all over. Every part of the area had discos across the street from each other. Miami Beach hotels converted lounges to discos. Big Daddy's Lounges all became discos with a flagship lounge at Flanigan's by the airport and up by Biscayne and 163rd street.
There were three full time disco radio stations. NY only had WKTU and some disco on WBLS.
And you could dance all night until day. Unlike New York, there are no curfews on alcohol under Florida law. In Ft. Lauderdale, local law had a 2AM close. But in Miami, everyone was open until 5AM and some places until 7AM.NY shuts down at 3:30AM unless there is an after hours license, then it is 4:30AM,
Someone mentioned Rum Bottoms and Limelight. Well Rum Buttoms became The Limelight in 1977. They were in Hallendale and there was no required closing time. Limelight had 40,000 lights in all kinds of sequences. To this day, when I hear certain disco songs, I picture the Limelight sequence to it. Sunken dance floor-full legnth basketball size with polished stainless steel floor. 40 lit disco balls, hundreds of spotlights, mirrored wall and the occasional CO2 fog. A sound system that could vibrate your tie clip. Man powerful. They had three bars and the deejay worked behind one way mirrored wall.
There was nothing like the Limelight. They also hosted live shows by all the great disco acts. Everynight they were playing music until 5AM.
I can name another twenty discos that I used to visit. New York was great for disco, but disco was part of the fabric of society in Miami as it was nowhere else in this country.
I think that for disco, Miami was the natural seat of disco activity.
Acetate [Level 1]
I would reckon Milan in Italy made some great italo records in the early 80s after disco had 'died' in the states...
Here in Europe disco just went on and on, even in the charts (My-Mine, Ryan Paris, Tapps, Righeira, Etc Etc) until the late 80s.
The Usa-Disco did not break through that much here in Europe (not even in the clubs), and i am only getting to hear a lot of NY stuff nowadays because of the P2P networks.
The NY Disco-sound seemed a bit to 'funky' for the europeans i think, as we always went for the more electronic 'euro' sound....
Giorgio & Gino Soccio & Bobby-O all did great things, but the rest came from Europe (italy, germany, holland, spain)...
Advance Promo Copy [Level 3]
GOD I MISS THE 70'S. I PROBABLY WENT TO EACH OF THE DISCOS PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED IN NYC. WAITING IN THE CROWD TO BE ACCEPTED INTO STUDIO 54 WAS NON-SENSE. I WAS ABLE TO GET IN BECAUSE OF SOME OF MY CLIENTS. BUT BELIEVE ME, THERE WERE OTHER CLUBS WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A GREAT TIME WITHOUT THE WAIT.
Chart Hit [Level 6]
PepperTree
Miami may have had the beachfront hotels, sunrise views and warm climates but it didn't have the energy and the "magic" that NYC had in the 70's. Back then we were overwhelmed with discotheques which was a good thing. Unlike today, if one club is too crowded or unsatisfactory, we have to take a taxi to find another. In the 70's this was unheard of....there were discos at your reach: down the block, around the corner and across the street. Believe it or not, my mom told me about a disco that she used to hang out at- by day it was an office after sundown it was transformed into a discotheque (it was in the Harlem State Building on 125th street). Mom, my aunts and others told me about the zillions of after-hour clubs throughout the five boroughs.... well except Staten Island because they never partied there. And you know the after-hour joints sold liqour all night. They also told me about the weekly specials that the discos offered on selected days of the week "wednesday night/thursday night specials"- damn it seemed like these places never closed. It didn't matter whether you were a wall street banker or a porter, by night everyone dance at the same places. Did I mention the little parties in community centers, dance studios etc....NYC was
HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*DISCO DELIGHT*
Indie Release [Level 4]
HustleBaby:
All right. My home town New York had great disco. I remember that in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, a movie theater (the only one in the neighboorhood) was transformed into a disco. It was awesome in my town. Yes.
You stated how "magic" New York was then. Do you know that the nickname for Miami is "The Magic City?"
My case for Miami is not a strong one. Disco was highly visible and a part of life. NY may have been the disco capital. I am familiar with both cities and spent a long time living in both places. My personal experiences all reflected positively on Miami. New York is a consideration for capital too. I see reasons to argue for both.
After hours: Isn't that a license to sell until 4:30AM in New York?
Chart Hit [Level 6]
Pepper
I'm not knocking Miami for I envy the things that it has: hot climates, sizzling nightlife and gorgeous men :D !!! Miami definetely has magic unfortunately for NYC, ours disappered when disco was demolished. We still had our clubs in the 80's like the Red Parrot, Silver Shadow, Limelight "20th st", Palladium, Tunnel, Bentley's, 1018, Roxy etc......but it wasn't the same. I took a trip to Miami back in 1992? and I had a good time. I can see myself living there though I can do without the hurricanes.
P.S. - Liqour sold 4pm and after is illegal in NYC regardless of the business. As a matter of fact, when I'm in any club, the last call for drinks is usually between 2:30 - 3:00am.
*DISCO DELIGHT*
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
No, not to sell. As HustleBaby said, it's illegal to sell alcohol in New York after 4 AM. "After hours" implies a place that remains open after normal closing times. These have always been a mainstay in New York since, I don't know, 1920's or 30's. Back then, most if not all were illegal because they remained open so they could sell more alcohol. "After hours" also used to mean a little bit "seedy". All that changed by time the "disco palaces" were in vogue. A lot of these were legal because they had no liquor license and didn't intend to sell any. Being 'private - members only' clubs meant they werent' open to the public after the usual closing time.
To be honest, for a good after hour to survive somebody had to know somebody so that the cops would just leave you the f@#$ alone :D .
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