Bob Scaggs disco?

**mixtape** · February 6th, 2005, 11:52 AM

Would you consider the Boz Scaggs tune "low down" a disco cut?

**Bernie** · February 6th, 2005, 11:56 AM

Not really, but it was scheduled to be included in the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack until Scaggs' label, Colubmia refused. They're still kicking themselves for losing out on appearing on one of the best selling soundtrack albums of all time.

**mixtape** · February 6th, 2005, 12:03 PM

Thanks Bernie! Hmm..... I love this tune for some reason. :-?

**QUINNY** · February 6th, 2005, 12:25 PM

It had elements of Disco in it (e.g. the hi hat rhythm pattern) and was certainly played in some discos, BUT it wasn't really Disco as such.

Loved that record though!!!

**efunk_adelic** · February 6th, 2005, 12:42 PM

Originally Written by QUINNY

It had elements of Disco in it (e.g. the hi hat rhythm pattern) and was certainly played in some discos, BUT it wasn't really Disco as such.

Loved that record though!!!

hypnotic, funky & pop all put together... love this record also.

**DoctorDisco** · February 6th, 2005, 02:06 PM

I played this song back when it was in vogue, even in discos. I don't really consider it disco music however.

**marc0** · February 6th, 2005, 03:18 PM

Originally Written by DoctorDisco

I played this song back when it was in vogue, even in discos. I don't really consider it disco music however.

Same here. Then again, I made peeps dance on Tony Orlando's Don't Let Go.

**usagi-san** · February 6th, 2005, 04:08 PM

But it got to be on the "Looking For Mr. Goodbar" soundtrack, what an honor. When that came out I thought the name was odd; how could they make a whole movie about trying to find a candy bar, when it was always easy to find for me, even though I preferred a 3 Musketeers.

**Giovanni** · February 6th, 2005, 06:48 PM

'Lowdown' could not be considered disco but what a great track!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**markydefad** · February 6th, 2005, 08:35 PM

I'd say "YES" it is....and it will appear on the Disco charts in 1976. :D
If it was played in discos and it was, what's the problem? :-?

Labels, schmabels........
Don't be a "Hater" :P :lol: :P :lol:

**QUINNY** · February 7th, 2005, 03:26 AM

Marky: Obviously it was played in discos and doubtless it wouldn't have ended up sounding as it did without the influence of Disco all around it, but this was hardly an attempt at disco by Boz Scaggs. Unlike those of Rod Stewart or the Stones, for example.

So maybe what we're trying to say that it was Disco, but with a very small d.

BTW: Did Burundi Stephenson Black or a re-released derivative ever make the disco charts, or something from Ipi Tombi? They were certainly played in some clubs, but they could never be called Disco in a million years.

Not bitchin', just pointing out the greyness. :D

**buckaroo** · February 7th, 2005, 05:12 AM

Steely Dan did some funky R&B influenced stuff much like Boz Skaggs ("The Fez", "Peg", "Black Cow") but you can't really call 'em disco tracks. Can ya?

**originalbigm** · February 7th, 2005, 06:51 AM

I agree with Marky.We all have a tendency to forget that there was an R&B/Funk side to disco.I as well as some of the " elders" here incorporated it as a regular part of our playlists.The question would have been better phrased did Lowdown have the "disco " sound.Then I'd agree no.It was pure R&B. It was a huge hit here when first released.

**Editmaster JT** · February 7th, 2005, 10:52 AM

What about "Rock With You"? The songs are pretty interchangeable.

**markydefad** · February 7th, 2005, 01:52 PM

"What Can I Say?".....

1) If it was produced in the general area of 1974-1982.

2) If it has a danceable disco beat. (100-140 bpm).

3) If it was played in discos- you HEARD it ;you DANCED to it.

4) If you have EVIDENCE it charted on the Billboard Disco charts in NYC, LA, Detroit, Atlanta, Chicago, etc.

5) Then I'd say it was DISCO. :D

Listen to the opening track of Silk Degrees, "What Can I Say"...and then tell that record is not consciously produced in the state-of-the-art LA disco style of 1976. Smoother and slicker than some, it's LA session guys who would later form Toto...Remember "Georgy Porgy"?... (tell me that's NOT DISCO)...but it makes ya wanna dance. Both "Lowdown" (conveniently timed at 5:16 for optimum dancefloor attention from DJs) and "What Can I Say" (sadly just 3:01 in length) were bundled together on the Record World chart (peaking @#12). Just "Lowdown" is listed in Billboard--but it charts from the end of May, 1976 to the end of September.

So what was it-- if it wasn't disco? :-? ( classy, cooler and more sophisticated than some records of that era--but moving into that genre that would become "morning music" or "sleaze" in NYC.)

Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life" isn't disco.
Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven" isn't disco.
The Eagles' "Hotel California isn't disco.

But "Lowdown" certainly is.

It's listed in the back of Jussi's book of disco releases from 1976...and it's on the Disco-la-Fortune 500 titles in the back of Mel Cheren's book.

Boz was obviously not a "disco artist" --but some of his records would qualify as danceable ("Miss Sun"; "Jojo"; "Hollywood")--None more so than "Lowdown."

As far as Steely Dan goes, listen to "The Glamour Profession" on "Gaucho." That's their "disco" cut. The rest are danceable rock--but I woulda played "Time Out Of Mind" or "Hey Nineteen" in my disco, if I'd had one. :P

The "cherry-picking" of records that were played in discos and doin' the revisionist-thing and saying that they weren't--because they lack some "ingredient" is silly. IF they were popular records played in discos they qualify in my book.

There is this tendency to disqualify anything that was also a radio hit. Not fair. Records could be and often were--BOTH: Radio hits & Club hits.

OK, that's all I'm gonna say. :P

**Videoskooter** · February 7th, 2005, 02:19 PM

I'm with Marky. I always considered it disco. And like Bernie already pointed out: it was selected for SNF. I think it's another case of personal interpretation. IMHO "Boogie Shoes" from KC wasn't that Disco either and some members even consider the Bee Gees as NOT disco (except the interns at Universal of course :) )

**QUINNY** · February 7th, 2005, 02:23 PM

Marky: Is that ALL the high priest of Disco music.com is gonna say? :lol: :lol: :lol:

I'd agree that anything played in discos was disco music. That can't be denied on one level, but surely the point of this thread's creator was to ask us sages of the disco groove whether or not we considered LOWDOWN to be Disco music? Note the difference between disco music (music played in discos anywhere/everywhere in the world, including very localised hits) and Disco music (music made specifically for dancing often to a sometimes very short-lived, dynamic formula), which is something completely different.

We agree to disagree.

**markydefad** · February 7th, 2005, 03:01 PM

I'm all for being inclusive as opposed to exclusive. Include Boz--don't exclude him. Give Boz a place at the "disco table." He made a minor contribution but deserves a seat in the pantheon--albeit in the 400th row!!!

It's just my opinion.

**efunk_adelic** · February 7th, 2005, 04:04 PM

think of it this way.... you are in restaurant... they're playing nothing but today's Grunge music.... you are just dying to hear something with a beat.

Don't tell me you wouldn't be tapping your feet.

**nrgbeat** · February 7th, 2005, 04:09 PM

Hey, maybe we can debate this topic for 20 pages like we did the gay influence on disco thread. :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x

**nrgbeat** · February 7th, 2005, 04:12 PM

I'll agree with Marky. "Lowdown" is disco though I wouldn't consider Boz Scaggs a disco artist and he may not intentionally have written it for discos.

**QUINNY** · February 7th, 2005, 06:05 PM

Sooooo, My Sharona was Disco music (it was played in some discos after all and it did have a solid, danceable 4/4 beat) and heavens forbid Marky, Disco didn't die in '79 when all that nasty RAP came on stream, or all the electro dance music that soooooo many around here have slagged off gawd knows how many times as NOT being Disco music!!!

Glad we sorted that one out. :lol: :lol: :lol:

**paul** · February 7th, 2005, 06:23 PM

And since I stirred up so much **** on that thread nrgbeat, I'll try and do the same here. :D Can 12incher come out and play?
Dammit Quinny, I just scrolled down and noticed you mentioned the incendiary My Sharona. :D I was gonna mention the same thing :lol:

**QUINNY** · February 7th, 2005, 07:09 PM

Fight fire with fire. That's my motto. Or maybe it's "light the blue touch paper and retreat to a safe distance."

Either way I'm feeling a tad hot and uncomfortable, errr......from the approaching flames.