Why Is Eurodisco Hated?

**Jimmy-Michaels** · June 8th, 2002, 12:42 AM

I've decided to start a thread on why Eurodisco is hated so much by quite a few people?? Here's my scoop. I love the Eurodisco sound, depending on what is concidered the sound. I love the electronic disco music that paved the way for todays club music. Main artists i love of Eurodisco:
Giorgio Moroder
Cerrone
Simon Soussan (Arpeggio and many other aliases)
Alec R Costandinos (although i cant really classify all his work as eurodisco cause its all geners of music, some aint even disco)
Martin Circus
Gregg Diamond (Bionic Boogie and others..)
Boris Midney (although most of his stuff all sounds like the same song, i still like it, different renditions if you may)
Jaques Fred Petrus (Macho,Change, and many other aliases)

I could go on. But do you eurodisco haters relize that if it wasn't for eurodisco, Luther Vandross wouldnt be the star he is today? 2 great eurodisco producers gave him his shot at lead vocals, first was Gregg Diamond with Bionic Boogie, then Jaques Fred Petrus with Change. And it was Change that gave Luther his first exposure to non disco audiences with "Searchin". Anyway, i wanna know what you haters of this great music have agenst it. Now don't get me wrong, i love all the other non top 40 disco stuff too. Espesaly the Bobby/Troc type stuff (which some of it is eurodisco). So, who ever loves it and hates it please leave your oppinions as to why?

DJ Jimmy M

**The Lord of Flatbush** · June 8th, 2002, 03:30 AM

Groups along with artists such as Beautiful Bend, Caress, USA European Connection, Boris Midley projects, Evita Album, Bionic Boogie, Arpeggio, French Kiss, Change, Peter Jacques Band, Macho and Martin Circus were albums that I enjoyed very much.

Much respect to the labels of Marlin, RSO, Polydor Records, Prelude Records and Warner Brothers for providing us with beautiful music. To those artists and labels that weren't mentioned, you're also honored and memories cherished forever.

_________________
THE BEST, KEPT SECRET IS OUT!

[ This Message was edited by: The Lord of Flatbush on 2002-06-08 11:53 ]

**Funky Dude** · June 8th, 2002, 04:39 AM

I too wonder why a lot of people hate Eurodisco music. All I can say is that people have different tastes in music and styles of music genres. I personally love the Eurodisco sound especially groups like:
Telex
Boney M (their 1976 album "Take The Heat Off Me" is the best)
Cerrone
Silver Convention
Giorgio Moroder (I love "From Here To Eternity" and "Utopia Me Giorgio")
Chocolats (They do great latin salsa disco)
Roberta Kelly
and others

And if British disco groups are also considered Eurodisco then there are a lot of great ones I've seen on the old Top Of The Pops episodes and some of my favourites are:
Olympic Runners (I love "Get It While You Can" and the others I've heard from them)
5000 Volts
Tina Charles ("Boogiethon" is my number one favourite)
Delegation
Osibisa
Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (I love "I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me")
and others

**Jimmy-Michaels** · June 8th, 2002, 04:59 AM

Wow, maybe me being from usa might be why i havent heard of any of the europian stuff you mentioned except "Boogiethon" by Tina Charles, which im glad to see someone loves besides me. I play "Boogiethon" alot in mixes. While alot of people would play "Dance Little Lady" i preffer that. Its cool to find out that obscure tracks here were popular and got their well deserved air play somewhere else.

DJ Jimmy M

**Jimmy-Michaels** · June 8th, 2002, 05:03 AM

Wooops!!! I did hear of one other one (which i have, duh, lol) Jimmy James "I'll Go Where The Music Takes Me". However, i had no clue that this was europian. I thought it was pure soul disco along the lines of Harold M. & Bluenotes.

DJ Jimmy M

**Bernie** · June 8th, 2002, 10:49 AM

I would never consider Gregg Diamond EuroDisco! Not even close.

I must add that it makes no difference if the artist came from Europe or not. Europeans created all types of music including funk and soul.

_________________
Defender of the Disco beat,

Bernard Lopez

================================

owner & publisher of http://www.discomusic.com

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[ This Message was edited by: Bernie on 2002-06-08 11:52 ]

**NickNack** · June 8th, 2002, 02:29 PM

On 2002-06-08 05:39, Funky Dude wrote:
Tina Charles ("Boogiethon" is my number one favourite)
Jimmy James & The Vagabonds (I love "I'll Go Where Your Music Takes Me")
and others

I have versions of "I'll Go Where the Music Takes Me" by Tina Charles and "Boogiethon" by Biddu and The Orchestra. I know these were written by Biddu so who did he give them to first? I've never heard the others.

Oh, BTW, I LOVE Eurodisco. It took me a while to get into it but once I got there... LOOKOUT!

_________________
Dancin'... A Thing To Free Your Mind

Nicky

[ This Message was edited by: NickNack on 2002-06-08 15:31 ]

[ This Message was edited by: NickNack on 2002-06-08 15:31 ]

**Jimmy-Michaels** · June 8th, 2002, 04:32 PM

Well Bernie, I do understand what you mean about Gregg Diamond. It isn't your normal eurodisco sound. Personaly i kinda think of Gregg Diamond in the soul club disco catogory. But, hey, i just know he's classified in eurodisco so, thats why i included him in the artists i like. As for "Boogiethon" and "Ill Go Where The Music Takes Me" by different artists, i never heard any others than what i know. Maybe the version of "Boogiethon" by Biddu is the same thing i have by Tina Charles under Biddu's name? It is basicly and instrumental track and it doesn't really fit the rest of the music on the Tina Charles LP. What album is Tina Charles version of "Ill Go.." on? I wanna hear that now.

DJ Jimmy M

**NickNack** · June 8th, 2002, 05:07 PM

On 2002-06-08 17:32, DJ Jimmy M wrote:
As for "Boogiethon" and "Ill Go Where The Music Takes Me" by different artists, i never heard any others than what i know. Maybe the version of "Boogiethon" by Biddu is the same thing i have by Tina Charles under Biddu's name? It is basicly and instrumental track and it doesn't really fit the rest of the music on the Tina Charles LP.

I have "Boogiethon" on an Epic 12" from 1977. It is an instrumental with girls doing simple background vocals ---
BOOGIETHON - IT'S A MARATHON --- repeated throughout. It says the cut is from the album titled Eastern Man.

What album is Tina Charles version of "Ill Go.." on? I wanna hear that now.

This is from her lp HEART 'N' SOUL, 1977, Columbia. Same album as "Love Bug/Sweets for My Sweet".

_________________
Dancin'... A Thing To Free Your Mind

Nicky

[ This Message was edited by: NickNack on 2002-06-08 18:08 ]

**Ricardo_Mata** · June 8th, 2002, 05:23 PM

Hi! Based on what I have read on this topic and others about Eurodisco I have to conclude that the main reason for some people to hate this particular kind of music seems to be nothing more than personal taste and a certain disdain for something with a different place of origin from one's own.

Let's think about this logically, shall we? Eurodisco is nothing more than a label applied to disco music produced in Europe. There really are no major differences between this kind of disco and any other kind produced anywhere else, are there? A few more strings and some higher-pitched voices do not merit a whole new category, do they?

After all, if we divide disco music into categories based on the origin of the material we would have to take things a step further and subdivide Eurodisco into country categories: Italian Eurodisco, French Eurodisco, German Eurodisco and so forth. Evidently, we would need to subdivide these subdividsions into other subcategories such as city of origin and then we could have Italian/Rome Disco, Italian/Florence Disco, Italian/Milan Disco, Italian/Napoli Disco, etc.

I suppose we could keep going and then subdivide these categories into each city's neighborhoods or perhaps the day of the week in which it was recorded...

Folks, why don't we just relax and enjoy this wonderful music for what it is? If you like Eurodisco, cool! Bring out your LPS and listen to "Souvenirs" a few times! By the way, that is one of my all-time favorietes!

If you don't like Eurodisco, hey that's fine too! Maybe you should listen to "Souvenirs" a couple of times and develop a taste for it.

In any event, I have to thank all those who made disco music, in Europe and everywhere else, because they made my teenage years pretty enjoyable. And now they are making my adult years pretty nice too!

[ This Message was edited by: Ricardo_Mata on 2002-06-08 18:29 ]

**Jimmy-Michaels** · June 8th, 2002, 05:31 PM

Well "Boogiethon" sounds like its the exact same song. I have it on my promo copy of Tina Charles 1976 LP "Rendevouz" The LP goes as such:
Side A:
Its Time For A Change Of Heart(5:05)
Dr. Love(3:02)..not the same track as First Choice

All Comes Back To You(3:45)
Rendezvous(3:16)
Dance Little Lady Dance(3:06)

Side B:
Amazing Grace(5:52)
When You Got Love(3:25)
Boogiethon(5:45)
Halfway To Paradise(3:40)

This LP is very strange i will say, it isnt all disco except a few songs here and there. Id more call it a pop LP. The only 3 songs i play off it are "Its Time For A Change Of Heart","Dance Little Lady", and of corse "Boogiethon"(my fave off this).

DJ Jimmy M

**zeca azevedo** · June 8th, 2002, 11:54 PM

Hi,
I wonder why this topic appeared here on the FORUM (LOL). There's a guy around here saying that he hates EURODISCO... Oops, I said it! I'm guilty!

My answer to the question WHY IS EURODISCO HATED: well, why the hell not? I have lots of friends who don't like REGGAE (I love REGGAE). As Ricardo Mata said, it all about personal taste. However, I don't agree with Ricardo when he talks about "a certain disdain for something with a different place of origin from one's own" - hey, I'm brazilian and I love AFRICAN MUSIC, TRADITIONAL JAPANESE MUSIC, CUBAN MUSIC, SOUL, FUNK, DOO-WOP, COUNTRY, JAZZ, CLASSICAL - music from other countries and continents. I love THE BEATLES, SAM COOKE, BACH, MILES DAVIS, OTIS REDDING, PAUL SIMON, ARETHA FRANKLIN, MOTOWN (TEMPTS, SUPREMES, SMOKEY, VANDELLAS - ALL OF THEM), AL GREEN, THE ROLLING STONES, THE CHI-LITES, THE CARPENTERS, THE WHO, MARVIN GAYE, THE O'JAYS, HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES, DAVID BOWIE, CANDI STATON, PEGGY LEE, BOB MARLEY, DUKE ELLINGTON, STEVIE WONDER, SERGE GAINSBOURG, THE DRAMATICS, STEVE REICH, BOBBY WOMACK, THE PRETENDERS, NEW ORDER, DUSTY SPRINGFIELD, ELVIS, ANN PEEBLES, NAT KING COLE (AND DAUGHTER), JACQUES BREL, BRIAN ENO, LINDA JONES, THE BEE GEES, LITTLE RICHARD, RAMONES, VAN MORRISON, RAY CHARLES, MARIANNE FAITHFULL, JIMI HENDRIX, WILLIAM BELL, BOB DYLAN, ELTON JOHN, LOU REED & VELVET, SAM & DAVE, PETER GABRIEL, sly & the FAMILY STONE, JAMES BROWN, R.E.M., NEIL YOUNG, JOHNNIE TAYLOR, RUFUS & CARLA THOMAS, KRAFTWERK, THE BAR-KAYS, EARTH, WIND & FIRE, EDITH PIAF, LAURA LEE, CHIC, FRANK SINATRA, MEL TORMÉ, ELLA FITZGERALD, THE LIST GOES ON & ON & ON - none of them are BRAZILIANS, you know? I think I'm able to understand other countries' cultures as well as any reasonable person who dedicates a good time to read and research about other cultures, and, of couse, meet friendly people from other countries or even other parts of MY country (BRASIL is a very BIG country, with great cultural differences from east to west, south to north). For me, the topic has absolutely NOTHING to do with "disdain for something with a different place of origin from one's own". Some of my most cherished movies, songs, books, paintings, sculptures, are from various european countries - so, the fact that I hate what we call EURODISCO has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that this music is produced by europeans - I'M COMPLETELY COMPETELY AGAINST ANY KIND OF PREJUDICE!!! I've spent almost 40 years of my life fighting prejudice! Let's not mix things here. I simply don't like EURODISCO - for me, it's kitsch (I like other kinds of kitschy music - as I posted before, everybody loves some crap songs - myself included). I simply don't like the way it sounds, that's it. I don't mean to offend anyone who likes EURODISCO when I say that I don't like this sub-genre of DISCO MUSIC. As one of my favorite musicians said, DIFFERENT STROKES FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS!

BTW, STAYING ALIVE is a masterpiece, with a fantastic groove (reminiscent of SUPERSTITION by STEVIE WONDER) and some of the best lyrics you can find on a pop song. Hey, that's my opinion - DIFFERENT STROKES...

Peace and universal love

zeca azevedo (a lovely EURODISCO hater)

P.S.: I visited EUROPE a few years ago and it was the most beautiful experience of my life.

**Jimmy-Michaels** · June 9th, 2002, 03:48 AM

Well, ok, i guess just different tastes. Im the one who started the post. Anyway, i saw you mention a few of my favorite non disco artists. Bowie, Peter Gabriel and the Stones. Im sure this forum isnt the right place to discuss that music, but, I could talk for hours on Peter Gabriel and the art of his work, rarites and more. Just wanted to say, even though you hate the disco i love, it sounds like you have verrrry good taste in the true art of music.

DJ Jimmy M

**JussiK** · June 9th, 2002, 04:44 AM

European dance music producers have always put out heavy, often African-influenced funk tracks, not just what is understood as eurodisco. Check out the mercilessly grooving Ducato records or the Afro-influenced bands from France like the Lafayette Afro Rock Band. Or the Brazilian flavoured grinders like Maracena's "Foi A Madame" or the mid-70's funk samba masterpieces found on the "Black Rio" compliation out on Strutt label. Jazz-funk from behind the iron curtain has recently been discovered and re-issued to dj stores. But when it comes to eurodisco at it's most pure (?) I don't think most of Americans ever got to hear the real thing and I don't mean records aimed at the international markets, titles like the Cerrones etc. Hopefuls such as Boogie Doctor, The Lolita Ladies, Sandy, Dingo, The Great Bouzouki Disco Band, Veronica Unlimited, Luv, Santaren and the Lovin' Girls and hundreds of other acts, often produced, penned and composed by the Dutch duo Jaanschen&Jaanschens (sic), never got spins at clubs in the USA not even in gay clubs looking for something exotic and ott. Even several euro sales chart toppers such as Baccara and Dschinghis Khan remained pretty obscure across the ocean. Records beyond these, the truly bizarre undergrowth of the early dance scene should be seeked out not just for the absurd, cheesy thrills they deliver but also as many of the b-sides contain unsettlingly funky or otherwide effective sounds, too. And the good news is there's no end to this stuff. Should you somehow be able to seek out everything - you simply cannot - there's then the early electronic wonders of the Italodisco period to be discovered. For example Klein & MBO did more than just "Dirty Talk". So, when thinking about holiday destinations, remeber the treasures to be found in Napoli, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris and Barcelona. Clubs are excellent, the crowds good looking, the food fabulous, the shopping exciting and the architecture fascinating. Pop over.

**DISCODISK** · June 9th, 2002, 05:15 AM

On 2002-06-09 00:54, zeca azevedo wrote:
hey, I'm brazilian and I love AFRICAN MUSIC, TRADITIONAL JAPANESE MUSIC, CUBAN MUSIC, SOUL, FUNK, DOO-WOP, COUNTRY, JAZZ, CLASSICAL - music from other countries and continents. I love THE BEATLES, SAM COOKE, BACH, MILES DAVIS, OTIS REDDING, PAUL SIMON, ARETHA FRANKLIN, MOTOWN (TEMPTS, SUPREMES, SMOKEY, VANDELLAS - ALL OF THEM), AL GREEN, THE ROLLING STONES, THE CHI-LITES, THE CARPENTERS, THE WHO, MARVIN GAYE, THE O'JAYS, HAROLD MELVIN & THE BLUE NOTES, DAVID BOWIE, CANDI STATON, PEGGY LEE, BOB MARLEY, DUKE ELLINGTON, STEVIE WONDER, SERGE GAINSBOURG, THE DRAMATICS, STEVE REICH, BOBBY WOMACK, THE PRETENDERS, NEW ORDER, DUSTY SPRINGFIELD, ELVIS, ANN PEEBLES, NAT KING COLE (AND DAUGHTER), JACQUES BREL, BRIAN ENO, LINDA JONES

sometimes zeca you surprise me with your taste in music [pleasantly!] surprise me again do you know linda jones"s "i just cant live my life"? for me the best soulful dancer "ever" put to wax as she wails and screams her way through it its very rare[about $200 now] are you lucky enough to know it ?? its not on turbo its warner brothers. where did you visit in europe did you go to portugal i spend a lot of time there

**Giovanni** · June 9th, 2002, 07:42 AM

if it wasn't for eurodisco, Luther Vandross wouldnt be the star he is today? 2 great eurodisco producers gave him his shot at lead vocals, first was Gregg Diamond with Bionic Boogie, then Jaques Fred Petrus with Change. And it was Change that gave Luther his first exposure to non disco audiences with "Searchin".

**Giovanni** · June 9th, 2002, 08:03 AM

if it wasn't for eurodisco, Luther Vandross wouldnt be the star he is today? 2 great eurodisco producers gave him his shot at lead vocals, first was Gregg Diamond with Bionic Boogie, then Jaques Fred Petrus with Change. And it was Change that gave Luther his first exposure to non disco audiences with "Searchin".

For the record, Luther Vandross was already well known before these releases, since he produced and released a self titled album in 1976. The album is a good piece of soul and includes the classic "It's good for the soul".
Vandross was one of the most requested vocalist during disco sessions at the end of the 70s, like many other singers (The Waters, Jocelyn Brown, Loleatta, etc) and session men (how many records you have featuring Paulinho da Costa on percussions? or Ray Parker jr on guitar? etc etc).
We all know that many disco records were nothing more than studio acts put together by producers. Patrick Adams had to invent a line-up for the Musique after their successfull first album. Rinder & Lewis produced lots of records under different names. Mauro Malavasi was the man behind so many italian funky disco acts, etc etc.

To get back to the topic: I think that most of the people in this board don't know the real Eurodisco, since most of the real Eurodisco tracks never had a US release. I completely agree with my friend Jussi, the real Eurodisco is not known in the US, and, believe me, Jussi knows a lot upon this matter!!

**Outsider** · June 9th, 2002, 09:22 AM

I don't know much about Eurodisco, so I won't get into that, but I have to agree with those who say that liking it not is simply a matter of taste. I've said this countless times before, but we all like music that appeals to our individual tastes. What one person thinks is good music, another person will think it's crap. That's the bottom line.

**Jimmy-Michaels** · June 9th, 2002, 03:29 PM

Well i know Luther got kinda discovered as an artist to the artists from David Bowie on his 1975 LP "Young Americans", but Luther had his first lead vocal in the spotlight on Bionic Boogie's "Hot Butterfly" LP. Then Change gave him his main notice in the music world as an artist. As for the "real" eurodisco that you said wasnt released in the US, pleeeeeeeeeeeese pretty pleeeeese give me some artists and titles of tracks cause i wanna hear them.

DJ Jimmy M

**Giovanni** · June 9th, 2002, 04:51 PM

I am european but my style is american funky disco, but probably have heard many more eurodisco tracks than anyone living in the US for the simple reason of living in Europe.
I am not a fan of eurodisco, but I am sure that Jussi can give you lots of titles. I have a playlist that Jussi sent me with so many typical trashy eurodisco tracks (and you know he loves everything that is decadent

)

**Jimmy-Michaels** · June 9th, 2002, 05:17 PM

Well i looooove those "trashy" eurodisco tracks as you put it. Put up the play list. I wonder if i know any of them. I love it!! It just has so much energy to it.

DJ Jimmy M

**BrunoRepublic** · June 9th, 2002, 07:52 PM

I think what a lot of people are referring to as "Eurodisco" (i.e. Midney, Costandinos, Cerrone, etc.) would be better called "Symphonic Disco" or "Conceptual Disco". To me, Eurodisco is more about what Jussi described. It's much more pop-oriented and is very catchy. One one hand, it's usually quite disposeable, but on the other hand, it really captures the spirit-of-the-times... at least if you live in Europe.

My opinion: I love symphonic disco because of its grandness, its splendor, and most of all, because of its beauty. Very few people are talented enough to produce something so extravagant that you will hear something new in it each time -- or something that is 20 minutes long, yet never seems overextended or redundant. When I hear one of the great works by Costandinos, I feel truly humbled because so much went into this music... and I doubt we'll ever see any more productions that are as opulent and rich as these in our lives.

Anyway, Symphonic Disco is completely dead today, whereas Eurodisco lives on -- stronger now than ever before.

**Jimmy-Michaels** · June 9th, 2002, 09:40 PM

Good point. Alec is one of my favorite artists of all geners of music for this reason. Maybe some of his stuff is eurodisco to the term, but not much. He is more an artist in the full meaning of art than dance floor music. For instance, "Beauty And The Beast" has some parts in it that would make me wanna dance but, i'm mor wrapped up in the story being told. Now Sumeria, thats just a whole nother thing. Probably has to be my 2nd favorite LP of all time. My first is Pink Floyd The Wall.

DJ Jimmy M

**jazz_pilgrim** · June 10th, 2002, 01:41 AM

To me, Eurodisco means the electronic synthesized music coming from the Continent -for example Moroder etc. I don't think Eurodisco is totally based on geographical location, more on musical style. For instance, the British disco/soul/funk music sound has always had more of an American soul/funk "feel" to it.

Examples would include
REAL THING - Feel The Force
HI TENSION - Hi Tension
LYNX - You're Lying
JUNIOR - Mama used To Say

Indeed, in the Seventies soul/funk club scene in England, we always looked to black American soul/funk music for our inspiration. I suppose the biggest US record of them all on our scene had to be MAZE with "Joy and Pain"

What I'm trying to say is this. The reason why I don't like Eurodisco, in general, is purely down to personal preference - I grew up with the American soul/funk sound rather than the Euro electronic sound from the Continent.

But, even for me , there are exceptions. I remember, when voting for the Top 500, putting Munich Machine in my Top 5.