the very first disco song???

**mixtape** · October 19th, 2003, 07:06 PM

what is the very first disco song??? In my opinion it would be possibly the temptations or james brown.

**originalbigm** · October 21st, 2003, 04:51 PM

An impossible question since the original styles of music played in discos was Soul ,Funk & R&B and even progressive jazz.Your answer is on the right track but to be specific as to a title or artist would be subject to arguement.

**NickNack** · October 21st, 2003, 09:24 PM

mixtape,

WELCOME TO THE BOARD

I agree it's an impossible question (surprised he even got a response) but I think the choice of James Brown is waaay off. I, for one, will never be able to think of him as a "Disco" artist. I've been hearing his music since the 1950's when I was a brat. Disco was no where in sight. As for the Temps, their Cloud Nine album was always a dance marathon for me and my friends. We loved Side 1 and the 9-minute version of "Runaway Child" was heaven. Early traits of disco? Maybe, but so much soul and r&b was in the clubs they're surely not the first.

And yes, James Brown's "Sex Machine" or whatever the title is was played to death in the clubs but again, long way from being first. If I had to pick a song of his from the 1960's that I would have played early on in the club scene it would be his "There Was a Time". I used to have two different versions on 45, both hot.

**Com King** · October 22nd, 2003, 08:31 AM

I heard and read that the commonly accepted first disco song was "Soul Makossa" by Manu Dibango.

In my opinion, the early Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra songs sound really disco.

But maybe are there older songs that can be considered disco.

**NickNack** · October 22nd, 2003, 09:37 PM

Originally Written by Com King

I heard and read that the commonly accepted first disco song was "Soul Makossa" by Manu Dibango.

In my opinion, the early Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra songs sound really disco.

But maybe are there older songs that can be considered disco.

And that's why the question is impossible. There has to be a consensus on what is disco (oh god, not again) before you can decide what the first song what be.

**Rodmann2** · October 22nd, 2003, 10:32 PM

Originally Written by NickNack

And that's why the question is impossible. There has to be a consensus on what is disco (oh god, not again) before you can decide what the first song what be.

I understand that some dance singles were considered disco in the 60's but Issac Hayes's 1971 smash hit 'Shaft' is the earliest example of the typical 70's disco style that I have heard. Bonnie Bramlett's 1973 club hit 'Crazy 'Bout My Baby' is another example of the early disco style.

Rod Mann

**efunk_adelic** · October 22nd, 2003, 11:24 PM

I would think strings had something to do with it... as heard in these songs... I think:

Isaac Hayes - Shaft (71)
Papa Was A Rolling Stone - Temptations (72)
Masterpiece - Temptations (73)
Soul Makossa - Manu Di Bango (73) no strings
Honey Please, Can't Ya See - Barry White (73)

kinda got things rolling along (pre-'74)

Marcio** · October 23rd, 2003, 12:25 AM

I have seen this song on some disco playlists,but it's above all a jazz song...
"Also Sprach Zaratustra" by Eumir Deodato, 1973.
He's brazilian.

**Nano** · October 23rd, 2003, 10:59 AM

In fact, what Deodato made was a dance version of the theme of the movie "2001 A Space Oddysey" (1968) by Stanley Kubrick. The theme "Also Sprach Zaratustra" was composed by Richard Strauss, brother of the "king of the waltz" Johann Strauss, back in the beginnings of the XX century.
Giorgio Moroder also did something with "Also Sprach Zaratustra" in one of his Munich Machine productions.

**peppertree5706** · October 23rd, 2003, 01:51 PM

Not Shaft. It does not have a constant beat, though it is an excellent record.

First ever..."Love's Theme," by Barry White and The Love Unlimited Orchestra. #1 in Feb., 1973.

Then what? I think the next big record that was a disco trailblazer was, "TSOP" by MFSB. That was from April, 1974.
That song, nailed down what disco would be and it was the beginning of a great type of music...Disco.

**Paulo** · October 23rd, 2003, 08:29 PM

An impossible question since the original styles of music played in discos was Soul ,Funk & R&B and even progressive jazz.

That's true. So along with Isaac Hayes - Shaft (71) / Papa Was A Rolling Stone - Temptations (72) / Masterpiece - Temptations (73), I will include Marvin Gaye's WHAT'S GOING ON - 1971....

..."No way, I can hear you say. That's R&B"... Well, I don't know, it has a steady dance beat and those strings...

If there would be such a thing as DISCO 1971/72 then WHAT'S GOING ON would work along with SHAFT and PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE.

I would also pick up 2 songs which were giant hits here in Brazil in 1974 and which for sure have early disco ingredients (although they both beggin with ROCK):
ROCK THE BOAT (HUES CORPORATION)
ROCK YOUR BABY (GEORGE McRAE)

**NickNack** · October 23rd, 2003, 08:35 PM

Originally Written by peppertree5706

Not Shaft. It does not have a constant beat, though it is an excellent record.

It may not be heavy, 4/4 on the floor, but it's constant. If anything inspired Crown Heights Affair to do "Dreamin' a Dream", it was "Shaft".

**efunk_adelic** · October 23rd, 2003, 09:45 PM

how bout these gems:

Mr. Big Stuff - Jean Knight ('71) no strings
Family Affair - Sly/Family Stone ('71) no strings
I'll Take You There - Staple Singers ('72) no strings
Back Stabbers - O'Jays ('72)
I'll Be Around - Spinners ('72)
Could It Be I'm Falling In Love - Spinners ('73)
Love Train - O'Jays ('73)
Keep On Truckin' - Eddie Kenricks ('73)
The Love I Lost - Harold Melvin/Bluenotes ('73)

**QUINNY** · October 24th, 2003, 02:49 AM

So far as I'm concerned the original Disco music was the Motown dance hits from 1964/65 along with a healthy smattering of Ska. Those were records you only heard in a Discotheque, when I was but a mere lad and they were good to dance to.

I'd put TSOP by MFSB as the real first Disco record and the Gloria Gaynor album with the continuous/segued first side as the real 'light switch' moments. Both sounded sooooo new and sooooo different at the time. I never went overboard about either of them, but I knew things would never be the same again. You could just feel it in yer water. :lol:

**originalbigm** · October 24th, 2003, 07:21 AM

Originally Written by efunk_adelic

how bout these gems:

Mr. Big Stuff - Jean Knight ('71) no strings
Family Affair - Sly/Family Stone ('71) no strings
I'll Take You There - Staple Singers ('72) no strings
Back Stabbers - O'Jays ('72)
I'll Be Around - Spinners ('72)
Could It Be I'm Falling In Love - Spinners ('73)
Love Train - O'Jays ('73)
Keep On Truckin' - Eddie Kenricks ('73)
The Love I Lost - Harold Melvin/Bluenotes ('73)

All examples of R&B or Soul Hits.The Love I Lost was very disco in it's beat and delivery.However all the replies prove my point. Impossible to point to one exactly.Sort of like trying to find the missing link between ape and man.It may prove more interesting to try and focus on the different styles of "disco" and try and pinpoint the first record of that genre.i.e. the philly sound.

**Paulo** · October 25th, 2003, 05:36 AM

Everybody knows what disco is from 1975 to 1980, but when we reach the borders (1973 or 1982) things get blurred. What's disco, what's soul ??

It is difficult to classified, because DISCO was being born as a SOUL offshot.

Of course all songs mentioned in this topic were soul numbers. If disco had not happen, they would be classified today as SOUL.... But since DISCO existed, obviously there would be early 70's soul songs which already have disco elements.

That's why I love the idea of having a very elastic definition of what disco was in the very beggining (or in the end).

So all those songs mentioned are soul numbers, but they are also in the root of 70's disco music... they are disco.

**Nano** · October 25th, 2003, 01:21 PM

My definition of "disco", at least in the beginnings, is soul/funk songs that were specially aimed to the dancefloor (longer, no solos, instrumental drum breaks to make the mix easier...) Certainly "TSOP" is one of the first to fit the bill. I guess MFSB was not a band conceived for touring: they were just too many.
The other leg are the machine-leaden beats that made things even easier for disco dee-jays: Silver Convention, Giorgio Moroder and, first and foremost, TK Records with Harry KC's productions.

The sequence could be like this:
1) Around 1972-73 Philly Sound has imposed his sophisti-soul and some indie labels begin to experiment with rhythm machines.
2) Both parties realize their more steady-beat driven songs ("TSOP", "Rock your baby", "Fly Robin Fly") become hits at discotheques, where people dance to the records in absence of the artists, and that dee-jays -the guys who put the records- tend to blend one song into another.
3) They begin to produce aiming to that market (Trammps, Tavares, KC & The Sunshine Band) and there comes the disco boom.
4) Some funk bands, seeing this market possibilities (or wanting to change with the times?) change slightly their sound to attract disco dancers.

Of course, all this is MHO.

**Outsider** · October 25th, 2003, 01:38 PM

"Bad Luck" - Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes

:evil:

**peppertree5706** · October 25th, 2003, 01:39 PM

Dance, Dance, Dance, by The Beach Boys from 1965 had the disco beat. Through the whole record. You can record a BPM on it and it would be a disco beat.

The Beach Boys... They just are not disco. No matter how good their song is, people will not put them in the disco class.

But check out, Dance, Dance, Dance and give it independent thought. It is a fine record.

**markydefad** · October 25th, 2003, 02:54 PM

I've always said it was "Theme From Shaft" by Isaac Hayes (1971)--THE link between the downtown funky street sound of Sly Stone ("Family Affair") and the sleek uptown orchestral string sound of Barry White ("Loves Theme").

Granted, it doesn't have a drum beat until Isaac starts the vocal ( around 2:00 into the song)--BUT IT'S THE SOUND OF DISCO!!!! :D

First time I ever heard anything like it--VERY INFLUENTIAL on musicians and producers of the time. Witness Norman Whitfield's "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" from the following year.

If you can't hear it-- you must be deaf. :P

**NickNack** · October 25th, 2003, 09:18 PM

Originally Written by markydefad

I've always said it was "Theme From Shaft" by Isaac Hayes (1971)

IT'S THE SOUND OF DISCO!!!! :D

I think Jim Burgess might have agreed with you since he did the 10-minute mix on "Shaft II" in 1978. All the original touches, plus extras.

**originalbigm** · October 26th, 2003, 09:02 AM

Originally Written by markydefad

I've always said it was "Theme From Shaft" by Isaac Hayes (1971)--THE link between the downtown funky street sound of Sly Stone ("Family Affair") and the sleek uptown orchestral string sound of Barry White ("Loves Theme").

I will concede that Marky is correct in that this was the earliest record that represented the sound that disco eventually evolved into.

**efunk_adelic** · October 26th, 2003, 10:32 AM

Isaac Hayes says: "Damn Right!" :D

**originalbigm** · December 20th, 2003, 12:08 PM

Just another addition to the thread

"Some disco and soul historians argue that disco was born in Philadelphia when Jerry Butler recorded the extremely danceable and highly syncopated "One Night Affair" under Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff's direction in 1972. But whether or not disco was actually created in Philly, the city undeniably made many outstanding contributions to the genre."- AMG review

**NickNack** · December 20th, 2003, 12:39 PM

I just re-read this thread and realized another touted "first disco" song is missing from our list. Eddie Kendrick's 1972 "Girl, You Need A Change Of Mind". Over 7 and 1/2 minutes of dancing joy and a club favorite.