Educating The Masses

[Boodikka]

Rhessel's "obscure songs" thread was great deal of fun, and got me to thinking about this site's most important raison d'etre....educating the masses about 70s/80s disco/dance music. We, collectively, are a huge point of reference....a point of reference for the entire world, if you think about it. We answer hundreds of queries a year, either from memory or from our extensive collections. As we pass on, our knowledge passes along with us. What we are doing here is important, actually.
Let's brainstorm ideas here as to how we can utilize our vast and varied knowledge of these music genres. I already have one idea. Whenever I create or recieve MP3s through file-sharing, I take the time to add or correct (usually a LOT of correcting)information about each track in the file info section, as well as trivia about the performers, BPMs, related acts, etc. I've already received thanks from AudioGalaxy users for providing this service. Any other ideas?

[markydefad]

Well, I tried to stay away today..... BUT what I've been wondering is if we could collectively use our knowledge to create definitive discographies of artists and house them on the site. I don't know if there's room, but creating an actual library listing all the records released by a certain artist, producer, remixer (Tom Moulton comes to mind). I've seen Graham & Paulo share info on Costandinos, I think, and utimately complete a list of all the projects he participated in. Anyone up for that challenge?

My first project that I wanted to attempt myself was a list of all the "Tom Moulton Mixes" and then I read that interview with him and found out there were approx between 4-5,000. Nevertheless, we could make a pretty nice list, I'd say. The same with John Luongo.

Any thoughts?

[Spacer]

Hi Boodikka!
That's a great idea! I often receive mp3s without any, or with incorrect information about artist, titel or year of the song (via audiogalaxy).
Many thanks to everybody who corrects such information!

Steffen

[Boodikka]

Marky, I'm game to help out on that or any other project that educates. If huge lists are going to strain Bernie's bandwith, we could do it on another website linking back to this one.
Spacer, I'm glad you like the concept of correcting/adding to MP3 tags. I just got tired of reading absolute nonsense in the MP3 file info sections. If those of us using AudioGalaxy on thi site would correct the tags, it would make a great impact over time.

[NickNack]

Hey, I'm down with it. If nothing else, I can sure help look stuff up since NOTHING seems to want to remain in my head.

[markydefad]

Well, I personally love allmusic.com for their discographies, song listings and timings--although a lot of time on the old stuff we are interested they don't have all the stats you want.

Bernie's vault is the prototype--but instead of just skimming the top releases of an artist--digging a lot deeper.

Hey we can be selective on who we include--BUT with the vast record collections amasssed by the participants involved here--I'd guess we could get pretty definitive in our discographies. LP's, 45's, 12" releases, remixes on the remix services, CDs--everything anyone would want to know in looking for a particular song. Maybe an artist a week or so--or is that too much? I don't know--maybe I'm overreaching. I just know if anyone asks a question about a 12" single timing--lots of folks pop up with answers. How nice to have that info in one easy to find source. Especially where allmusic fails us--in the 12" single area especially.

_________________
Make My Feet Wanna Dance!

Markydefad

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: markydefad on 2002-06-13 16:47 ]</font>

[Bernie]

Hi all,

Complete discographies, user reviews & ratings.... This is a goal I've had for the Vault A-Z for some time now. It's the backend, and planning how to realastically organize and collect the data that has kept the plan from being fully implemented.

Space and bandwidth are not a problem at all so I can do it. Perhaps I can rig it where it can intially be started from the forum through an interface that I'll have to create. Like I said, I've been churning through ideas on this since late last year and trying to see what would work. Let me see what I can come up with and I'll let everyone know how we can proceed. It's do-able and I'm up for it.

Hmmmmm.... Brainstormin' and I have something. Let me write it down and work through it. Later.

[Nano]

Hey, that's a wonderful idea! Could list artists, producers and musicians for a start. You could select a name every week on a special topic and all us would answer listing any album we have featuring him/her. That way you can make a cool list easy and fast, with all vinyl collectors in this forum.
I guess we have to let Bernie do his bid first, anyway. He surely seems to have all that's necessary.

[NickNack]

Boodikka, our Goddess, looks like you've done it again. GREAT IDEA! Add to it that we, all of us, can help Bernie improve our beloved site and it becomes all the more glorious.

Damn --- it's nice to have you back. :grin:

[Boodikka]

Nick, I'm blushing here! Thanks, hon! I'm merely the Goddess of Ideas....Bernie is the one with the vast resources who can make this thing go.
Can you imagine this site fully cross-referencd by artist, producer, label, release date, BPM, etc. ? I've started on some of it already, collecting some raw data in the various categoies. I've got a little free time right now to do it, too.
Various people have expertise and knowledge in different areas of these music genres...we should look to exploit this and create discographies, a BPM bible, etc.
I'm raring to go!

_________________
"Is it this sexual RODEO that has you in this STATE?"

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Boodikka on 2002-06-13 20:01 ]</font>

[nonkel808]

Yeah, adding info to the remarks section is a great idea Bookikka!
I already noticed that several mp3 that i downloaded have funny remarks, or website references, etc.... but never detailed info about the song.
With 'Bodyshine' from Instant Funk there was a remark saying: SALUT DE MONTREAL (greetings from Montreal in english)
And with 'Cocomotion' by El Coco, the remark was: DJ SPINELLI, BOSTON, MA USA. Familiar to anyone?

Anyway, i'm gonna start doing that to, adding info.
808,
spreading the disco vibes....

[JussiK]

Boodikka, accurate BPM listings containing not just the obvious would be invaluable to all generations into the groove. Disco of course is a sound library like no other - in just 6 years an incredible wealth of ingenious stuff was created and the fact that these sounds are endlessly recycled proves it. Tell us what to do Goddess, and will shall obey.

[jazz_pilgrim]

Boodikka - WHAT A GREAT IDEA !!

I'll tell you why I like your idea - this gives us a real chance to PUT SOMETHING BACK into the disco music scene that we all know and love.

On this Board, we've got a wealth of knowledge across the whole disco spectrum - Eurodisco, mainstream disco, soul, funk, jazz, latin -
and I think it would be really something if we could put all this knowledge to good use.

Ready when you are .........

[Paulo]

This idea could not be better!!!

Mainly because it is amazing the quantity of wrong information you get on other DISCO websites. As Boodika said, the majority of the members of this message board bear much knowledge on DISCO subjects and because of it this discussion board is a great point of reference to the world. But as the board progresses, much information is lost on past pages... and there is much talk here which should be preserved because it is accurate, precious and rare. Besides some books on DISCO, where else could we share this info?? Nowhere in the world, but here.

The COMPLETE DISCOGRAPHY of disco groups is an essential feature and an excelent idea because (outside here) everywhere we go, every site, discographies are always incomplete, always full of wrong titles, non-existent albums, etc...

[Blaxman]

Yeaaah!!!! :grin:

BOODIKKA FOR PRESIDENT!!!!! :grin:

Great idea, let's go people!! :grin:

[Voyage]

That's a great idea Boddika! As for the track infos you're right somethimes they're totally incorrect or weird LOL Thanks for your contribution

This is the BEST disco site and board on the whole WWW. And trust me I've learned a lot thanks to everyone in the board and site.

Voyage

[jazz_pilgrim]

On 2002-06-14 09:09, Voyage wrote:

This is the BEST disco site and board on the whole WWW. And trust me I've learned a lot thanks to everyone in the board and site.

Voyage

Agreed !!!!!!!!

[rhessel]

Hey Boodikka:

This is one of the best idea in the last weeks.

I am here to help. You or any other one will have my support.

Let's start ASAP.

Cheers.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: rhessel on 2002-06-14 12:28 ]</font>

[DotBomb]

Another idea... one to add on to the idea... half the disco out there now is long forgotten... let's include the full mp3s of the records on the website. Take it further then cover art. Give them the obscure B side MP3s nobody would ever hear nor would ever get a CD release. MP3 is a godsend...

[The Lord of Flatbush]

The input from everyone involved will provide dividends. Excellent!

I'm in for any help that you need, folks!

[BrunoRepublic]

On 2002-06-14 13:18, DotBomb wrote:
Another idea... one to add on to the idea... half the disco out there now is long forgotten... let's include the full mp3s of the records on the website. Take it further then cover art. Give them the obscure B side MP3s nobody would ever hear nor would ever get a CD release. MP3 is a godsend...

Not possible at all due to legal issues, and bandwidth would likely be a problem too...

[The Lord of Flatbush]

As the legal issues enter upon us, this project might be difficult to achieve.

Anything is possible if we can find a way.

[DotBomb]

Nice thing here is that there are no legal issues. There's no CD re-issue, we're clear because there's nobody to rip off.

Bandwidth is the only issue here. Besides who cares about copyrights on this old forgotten genre? As long as we don't mirror Saturday Night Fever (Ewwwww) we should be just fine on the legal front. And if an artist asks us to cease and desist... we shall obey. It's that simple.

Further, we're not making money on it... the RIAA couldn't care less.

We're clear for the mp3s

[Nano]

Bernie, this says all. I never saw this forum being so unanimous!
Miss Boudacea, please never leave!

[Bernie]

MP3's are absolutely out of the question folks.

On to other matters...

As I think about things perhaps I should stop being so secretive about site matters and keep everyone in the loop. My fears are that if I talk and something doesn't materialize then I'm going to hear about it and disappoint people.

Since Boodiika has brought up something extremely important and has confirmed that others feel the same way then I'll let some things out to you all.

Since last year I have been on a quest to take the site to the next level. I've spent many, many hours researching, experimenting and brainstorming with others. The site redesign and the upgraded forums are part of that plan. In essence, I want DiscoMusic.com to be a user based community which grows as the user base does. It has to be dynamic.

Registered members will be able to contribute in many ways. They would be able to post and read articles, interviews and leave feedback so that the whole site is a forum and a place to exchange ideas... They'll be able to leave reviews of records, CDs, books and more. An ever-growing discography would finally be realized. It's taken me forever to expand the "Vault A-Z" and I'm nowhere done with it.

One thing that I have insisted on since the quest began last year is that it would all intergrate seamlessly with every section of the site. There would be no loss of data from forums... Here's where the challenge lies. Everyone recalls all the data from the old forums that were lost during the upgrades, I don't want that to happen again since the forums hold a wealth of information that needs to be preserved.

So here are preliminary features of the new site...

• Real-time surveys
• Registered users will be able to post stories, leave feedback and contribute to reviews
• One usernmae and password will work for the entire site.
• Everyone who contributes will get proper credit so that the community knows who's who.
• Various preference settings so users can customize the site experience. Looking into language settings for those that need it, but not sure yet.
• The site will continually change-it will be very dynamic-and I don't mean just the forums.

So, this is just to let everyone know that I am working on it and am happy to hear that we are all on the same wavelength. In fact, I should have something concrete very soon, but I don't want to commit to a day or week. Please don't take my silence as not being interested in your opinions. I just don't want to be bound by my dreams or to give more info than I have to since I'd rather not broadcast my every intention. That's just the kind of guy that I am. Sit tight folks, we're going for a ride!