Was "Nathan Jones" a disco song?

[CharmingBastard]

Based on the "Up In A Puff Of Smoke" discussion........

It's 1971. The Supremes release yet another Diana-be sounding lead single from Jean Terrell and company that features a shuffling beat, and a phasing-centric vocal mix that was a harbringer of future dj works. So is this a proto-disco record, or just one of the finest post-Ross singles from the biggest girl group of all time?

Discuss.............

[QUINNY]

Nathan Jones the first Disco record? Not in a million years. Personally, I thought it rather throwaway and a touch lame. Wasn't like a real Motown record.

[Jimmy-Michaels]

I musta missed the "Puff Of Smoke" topic. But i'll throw my 2 cents in LOL...I dont know why and how people think that to be disco..kinda on that same deal as "Right Back Where We Started From"..all of em are typical soul/motown type tracks..couldnt dance to those in a million years (unless your 60's dancin with Dick Clark LOL)

[discosavvy]

I just listened to "Nathan Jones" and it doesn't sound disco to me.

I sometimes like songs with a '60s Motown beat and sound like this. For instance in the sections where "Love Me or Let Me be Lonely" by Friends of Distinction (1970) speeds up with a constant drum beat and a heavy bass it gets pretty fun. But that isn't disco either.

There are however some songs which have an untypical beat sound that I do consider to be disco - like "Honey, Please, Can't Ya See" by Barry White, some Bohannon tracks, "Armed And Extremely Dangerous" by First Choice, "Rock the Boat" by Hues Corporation, "Saturday Night Fiedler", heavily latinized tunes by Charanga 76, and some new "house" tracks. If all disco beats sounded the same it would be boring.

I still say that the first disco tunes were from 1972: "She's a Winner" by the Intruders, "One Night Affair" by Jerry Butler, and "Love Train" by the O'Jays.

[markydefad]

I recently listened to the early post-Miss Ross Supremes stuff....and the record that caught my ear as being "proto-disco" was 1970's "Stoned Love". Such a great beat on that one.

The post-Ross Supremes recorded many terrific songs that Motown just did not care to promote or release as singles. Berry Gordy should be ashamed of himself. He just let them rot on the vine.

As for "Nathan Lane", it's damn fast for the early disco, I'd say. This is around 150 bpm (in the league of "Right Back Where We Started From"--we're thinkin' alike today, Jimmy!!) :lol: I liked the song....Bananarama recorded a good cover in the mid 80s.

[Mario]

My vote (whatever it's worth... ) is that Nathan Jones is not a disco record. It has that Soulsy Mowtown touch which was typical of the early 70's with a touch of leftover "psychedelia" from the late 60's...With the "fading" in and out toward the beginning...and somewhat in the vocals as well...Remember...The early 70's looked and "felt" a lot like the late 60's...If you watch footage of late 60's dancers/performers vs. footage of early 70's dancers/performers, you'll see very, very little difference...Same with the music...See 'Ya... Mario