Costandinos/Cerrone relationship (in four tracks)

Marcio** · February 13th, 2005, 11:42 AM

Alec R. Costandinos & Cerrone worked together until 1975, but nobody knows what really happened...

* Cerrone- Love In C Minor (This is perhaps one of the most influential pieces in disco history... an early 1975 production, it's years ahead of its time... written and produced by Alec R. Costandinos...)

* Kongas- Dr Doo Dah (Another piece out of the Costandinos/Cerrone relationship)

* Love & Kisses- I've Found Love (Released on Barclay as a french import in 1976, and then on Casablanda in the US in 1977, this was another hugely influential piece... essentially designed as a "go to hell, Cerrone" piece... as Cerrone had discredited him on Love In C Minor)

* Revelacion- House Of The Rising Sun (Cerrone didn't quite learn his lesson when he ripped off Alec Costandinos and he got back at him with a record. Cerrone collaborated with Leroy Gomez on this production... and once it was complete, Cerrone stole the masters and released it on his own label. This pissed off Gomez, and his answer to Cerrone screwing him was Santa Esmeralda's Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood. Both songs are *IDENTICAL* in instrumentation)

from

"Brettlarson"

:)

**Videoskooter** · February 13th, 2005, 12:09 PM

All these posts put Cerrone in a different spotlight, don't they?!

I wonder if he treated Don Ray and André Wisniak the same way???

**Ysl** · February 16th, 2005, 03:36 PM

T'as pas lu le livre de Cerrone ?

**Bernie** · February 16th, 2005, 03:38 PM

Originally Written by Ysl

T'as pas lu le livre de Cerrone ?

Post in English please or I will delete your post(s).

**Videoskooter** · February 16th, 2005, 04:05 PM

Originally Written by Ysl

T'as pas lu le livre de Cerrone ?

No I didn't read the book yet. I'll have to check it out one of these days. Thx again for the tip. Does he admit all these "thefts" in his book???

(BTW-Bernie's right, we can easily speak French here but then the other members can't react-don't forget this is a global forum) :D

**Ysl** · February 17th, 2005, 03:25 PM

No, he doesnt admit too much...he his very proud of himself...

Order it because it is very plesant to read (writen by a Belgian journalist)

There are some very interristing stories in it !!!!

Ysl

**Videoskooter** · February 19th, 2005, 06:36 PM

I met Cerrone in person twice and he's a very friendly man but he really thinks he's the centre of the world. Very amusing though. And to continue the discussion.

It's very possible that he nicked Love in C Minor from Costandinos but...when you listen closely to that album and you compare it with the well known stuff from Alec, you have to say that it's different. So IMHO Cerrone really did participate in this album.

Or am I totally wrong??? :)

**ol'skinflint** · February 20th, 2005, 12:58 AM

you met Cerrone in person? Does he speak English? I thought he didn't speak English since one of his albums credits someone else with translating the lyrics into English. You say he's conceited? About what? And what's this talk of him ripping off "Love in C Minor" from Costandinos? Costandinos is LISTED as co writer!

**Ysl** · February 20th, 2005, 04:32 AM

He surely must speak english as he lived for many years in Los Angeles...

**rhessel** · February 20th, 2005, 07:37 AM

Hi:

Regarding this topic...

Hei Bernie, don't you remember that some time ago (three years or so) I sent you a copy of a Costandinos' interview? Do you still have it?

In this interview he talks about her relantionship with Cerrone.

Cheers.

**Jimmy-Michaels** · February 20th, 2005, 07:56 AM

How can I post a sound file here? Like how others post mixes and stuff, cause I got somethin that will more than show that Love In C Minor is exact to Alec's following productions :lol:

**Jimmy-Michaels** · February 20th, 2005, 08:01 AM

Ahh one other Costandinos dig at mr Cerrone that ill mention..on the Paris Connection LP durring apropriatly "You Lost That Loving Feeling" he breaks into the "C Minor" chorus medley in a diff key and if you listen carefuly on headphones you can honestly hear angry breathing/sighing as it comes on..kinda like hes thinkin "take this you mutha" LOL.

**Videoskooter** · February 20th, 2005, 09:53 AM

Originally Written by ol'skinflint

you met Cerrone in person? Does he speak English? I thought he didn't speak English since one of his albums credits someone else with translating the lyrics into English. You say he's conceited? About what? And what's this talk of him ripping off "Love in C Minor" from Costandinos? Costandinos is LISTED as co writer!

No, we spoke French :D In Belgium most of the people speak 3 languages, so that helps. But he sure speaks English now since his homebase is LA, like YSL says.

Like I said, he's very friendly and doesn't behave like a star but he's also very proud of himself and that also shows when you talk to him. Don't forget that the man is mainly an big event-organiser now who is asked all over the world to conceive and direct great manifestations like the millenium celebrations for example.

The ripping off: many members say that Costandinos wrote the entire "Love in C Minor" and that Cerrone didn't do much on this record. I'm very curious when Jimmy's going to place that sample of Paris Connection.

**Jimmy-Michaels** · February 20th, 2005, 05:06 PM

Video: Ya misunderstood, I wasnt gonna place a sample up of the Paris Connection thing..was just mentioning that

If someone would give me somewhere to host a file, I will post a megamix that shows about all this stuff...but with nowhere to host a file..i cant post **** :lol:

**dj phillip esparza** · February 20th, 2005, 05:28 PM

would putting and audio interview on this site break any artist copy right laws?sure would like to hear one with bernie,cerrone and alec on a three way call.even maybe have some questions by some members from the discomusic forum.just some food for thought.no pressure bernie

**marc0** · February 20th, 2005, 06:35 PM

Originally Written by DJ Jimmy M

Video: Ya misunderstood, I wasnt gonna place a sample up of the Paris Connection thing..was just mentioning that

If someone would give me somewhere to host a file, I will post a megamix that shows about all this stuff...but with nowhere to host a file..i cant post **** :lol:

"edited", give your username and share only one file, the one you're talking about.

**Jimmy-Michaels** · February 20th, 2005, 10:16 PM

email me at clubdisco1979@yahoo.com

**marc0** · February 21st, 2005, 10:03 AM

As soon as the lady downstair leaves for work, Ill crank up the Logitech Z-2200 (subwoofer is way too strong for her) and listen to that cut.

**Jimmy-Michaels** · February 21st, 2005, 06:34 PM

If theres a way you know how to post that file here that would be good for this thread

Let me know what ya thought of it and also, how obvious it was that Costandinos did many things to prove he was behind the tracks of "C Minor"? lol, that megamix uncovers all and stands it all out.

**STEPHEN L FREEMAN** · December 8th, 2007, 01:50 PM

Originally Written by Marcio**

Alec R. Costandinos & Cerrone worked together until 1975, but nobody knows what really happened...

Although it's been awhile since the nonsense of this thread was posted, I'll ask anyone currently stumbling across it, to ignore it, in it's entirety. French Disco had far too powerful an effect on Disco music, as a whole, to be remembered in such distorted and fabricated ways. Here are some actual FACTS...

Prior to 1976's "Love In C-Minor", Alec and Cerrone were only associated together on the first KONGAS L.P., in 1974, for Barclay. (Remixed by Salsoul in 1978, as an inexpensive way to cash-in on the French Disco craze. Since they licensed it from Barclay, and not Cerrone.) Cerrone was a founding member of 'Kongas', where Alec (Credited as writer under the name R. Rupens... Then as Alec R. Costandinos, on the Salsoul release...) wrote lyrics for 3 tracks. None of which were co-written by Cerrone. Any collaberations between the two, whether real or imagined, was probably due to Alec's having been under contract, as an artist and writer, with Barclay, for about 10 years, at that point.

Also, the original 'Kongas' line-up never recorded together again. Most of the band, who did the actual song-writing, split-off to form 'Kikrokos'. Which had absolutely no creative connection with Malligator. (And if you read their LP's liner notes and credits carefully, they make that point very clear.) The 'Kongas' that recorded the "Why Can't We Live Together" 12-inch and the 'Africanism' LP, consisted mainly of the established stable of French studio musicians, credited on the back of everything at that time, by Cerrone, Alec, Don Ray, Alan Hawkshaw, etc...

CERRONE "Love In C-Minor": Was recorded in Sept & Oct. of 1976. It was originally "A Cerrone Production", as Malligator Productions DID NOT exist, until AFTER the original UK release, on Atlantic Records. All subsequent releases were credited as 'Malligator Productions'.

KONGAS "Dr. Doo-Dah": Written by Cerrone and Don Ray. Not Costandinos.

LOVE & KISSES "I Found Love...": The original pre-release was an edited single version of "Accidental Lover" (on both sides), on Barclay, in March of 1977. Produced by Alec for his company, Rei-Vera Productions. Which, as an independent label in the UK, and licensed as a susidiary of Barclay in France, simultaneoulsy released the complete L.P. in April of 1977. Casablanca signed and released the LP in July of 1977. (after Costandinos had already completed and released 'Sphinx' & 'Sumeria', in the UK on RAAL, and France on RAAL/Polydor. His US releases were done out of order.)

REVELATION's "House of The Rising Sun": Santa Esmerelda's version was recorded & released in the summer of 1977. And arranged by Jean Claude Petit, as an obvious follow-up to "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"(arranged by Don Ray), from very early in the year. Revelation's version was recorded in Nov. & Dec. of 1977 (months after Santa Esmerelda's), arranged by Don Ray, and faithfully duplicates Jean Claude's imitation of Don Ray's previous work. (This is no big SCANDAL! It's just how pop-music works. When something makes money, you cash-in on it.) As for Cerrone... He had little to do with Revelation's version, outside of paying for the studio time, and Leroy Gomez had nothing to do with either production.

Originally Written by DJ Jimmy M

Ahh one other Costandinos dig at mr Cerrone that ill mention..on the Paris Connection LP durring apropriatly "You Lost That Loving Feeling" he breaks into the "C Minor" chorus medley in a diff key and if you listen carefuly on headphones you can honestly hear angry breathing/sighing as it comes on..kinda like hes thinkin "take this you mutha" LOL.

Okay, this one really cracks me up! It's completely bizarre BS. Alec sang none of the vocals on the "Paris Connection" LP! (Although, had he recorded this as a 'Love & Kisses' LP, with Alec, Sue, Sunny, Stephanie and Joanne doing the lead vocals, I believe it would have been hugely successful, in the US!) Much less would he, or Danny Goldschmidt, or Ray Khnenetsky have had their vocalist do "angry breathing/sighing"! :icon_lol:

So, for anyone searching for the history of French Disco, I advise you to believe about 10% of what's been posted on the Net, over the years. Even the standard bios that circulate about Alec are all incorrect. And Cerrone??? Well... That's an entire column, in itself. Just compare his accounts of his career, alongside those of the people who did the work for him. You'll find that nothing matches-up.