Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
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On Marky's 1975 year end charts , "Crystal Grass" by Crystal World comes in at # 37 for the year . Crystal Grass is an odd concept ( although it does sound like some type of disco drug!) ...... I wonder if it was intended to be "Crystal Glass"? .. but something got lost in the translation .... the song chants operatic lyrics .....maybe ..... "crystal grass and peaceful trees , crystal boats on deep blue seas " ....... :o
---- It's not a bad tune .....easy to see where CJ's "Devil's Gun" got its sound from...
Anyone know anything more about it or the group ?
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DiscoMusic.com Owner / Administrator
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
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Thanks Bernie ! Great response time too! :D
--OK .... Ive obviously got this one screwed up ..... the song is "Crystal World" by Crystal Glass ... but the lyrics seem to be saying crystal grass ....nothing about crystal world ( I think ) .... so go figure ...... Bernie your vault notes say its an early Don Ray euro song .....
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Triple Platinum Record [Level 10]
remicks,
you dizzy queen!!! :D :D :D it's Crystal World by Crystal GRASS!!! :P
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
:lol: :D :lol: oh forget it! :lol: :lol:
Advance Promo Copy [Level 3]
Wow, that's one I haven't heard in a long time. I remember Crystal Grass was an essential cut that the original hip hop deejays like Kool Herc used to play for the break dance crowd.
Underground Hit [Level 5]
Your ACCURATE view wont get over well with a lot of the *ahem* more sensitive types over here. They CONVIENIENTLY dont remember the middle days of disco and the early days of hip-hop were convergent. The cross pollination of tracks was INCREDIBLE, and if you lived in NYC (as I assume you did) back in the day......you would get hip-hoppers and disco'ers at the SAME clubs (Not of course Studio 54 or the Garage which had their own communities and standards of admission), but the early LOFT days (Check with Mancuso- he'll admit to it...), the Zanzibar days, the smaller Jersey and Brooklyn clubs.....MOST of the early 12" disco records I ever purchased were COVETED by hip-hop......songs the *ahem* crowd would be surprised to admit (if they would) like: Hollywood, Rio De Janeiro, Honeybutt, Dancin, Crystal World, Devils Gun etc.Originally Written by tehuti
Bambaataa, Herc, Flash, Flowers....man those guys were JUST as important to the development of DISCO as they were to hip-hop. The *ahem* crowd would just tell you it's just Straight Italians and Gay Males at the start. Not in MY neighborhood.
But then Larry Levan WAS raised in my neighborhood so maybe (LOL :lol: ) my theory has a FLAW or two~!! (But you get my point, man...!)
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
Good thing Paul Jabara wasn't raised in your neighborhood or you'd really been in trouble ..... I guess ....
Your post is all over the place so I'm not sure what your exact ahem point is .... but is anyone here ( ahem or otherwise) bothered in any way by what disco songs hip hoppers did or didn't like ? God love 'em all and more power to 'em.
.....the break dancers that responded to this early euro-disco song had .... ahem , exceptionally good taste :D ......
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Triple Platinum Record [Level 10]
Yeah, I'm confused as to what DonaldCleveland is referring to in his post. Wut up wit dat? :-? :o :-? :o
Underground Hit [Level 5]
If Paul Jabara had been raised in my neighborhood, it would not have changed ANYTHING. Streisand, Diamond, BIGGIE, Jay Z were all raised in my neighborhood. They ALL left. We ALL leave...... :roll:
My *ahem* remarks were directed at those who have a hip-hop (and possibly deeper) BIAS. Yes this is a DISCO board- that is why I am here.
However there are areas where the seemingly different musical forms do meet. And there is a contingent on this board (and I did not name them because their posts are self evident- nor am I trying to stir up trouble with any INDIVIDUALS), who are vehement against hip hop to the point where I wonder....do you like music at all? Do you know the different TYPES of hip-hop? NO form of music is ALL bad. I dont particularly like classical music, though I have heard and own a couple of stirring pieces. Music brings people together, it CALMS the savage breast. You would NOT know that from the anti hip hop posts. That thinly veiled and dismissive usage of the word "bling" has popped up more than one time. And though I DO wonder what is the REAL problem, I just....keep it movin'.
"What up wit dat"? Yeah, that's EXACTLY the point right THERE...... :evil:
Read my (original) post till the END (smilies and all) and really my points are evident and not obtuse at all. My post was not "all over the place".
Triple Platinum Record [Level 10]
Get the picture? :o
Yes, we see.
We didn't always hate the hip-hop, the early rap......we do hate what's it's become. I own certain hip-hop records....it crossed the line with the "Gangsta" crap. :evil:
Today--my impression, since I try not to listen to it as much as I can--(sometimes its' forced on me on SNL or the other late night shows) is that it's cliche upon cliches featuring 2 or 3 "guest" performers per single. No melodies..unless they lifted a chorus from some old disco record...just boastin' and braggin' and inane "we thugs" posturing. :roll:
Occasionally a "Hey Ya!" cuts throught he crap--but that's a rare occurence. Give me another "Push It" or "Wild Thing" or "Bust A Move" or "The Show"--I bought those records.
I won't be buying anything by Fiddy Diddy or any of that gang.
Yeah, we resent the Hip-hop crowd making it virtually impossible for real singers or musicians to get a record played today on Urban Radio...without adding rappers and Timbaland beats. I want to hear the likes of Patti Austin, Randy Crawford, Jean Carn, Stephanie Mills & Deniece Williams on the radio again. But that ain't gonna happen now, is it? :x
So our "cynicism" is our defense at the world changing and, in my humble opinion, not for the better--but for the worse.
But that's probably what every generation has said about the generations following it, eh? But the movies and the music and the general "tone" of culture today seems more coarse, crass and "the product" utterly more disposable (JUST FLUSH IT DOWN) than it had seemed in the past. :x
So our use of "bling" as a dismissive term--i.e. ...geared for the kidz of today just means that it's probably not made for us, so why bother?
Underground Hit [Level 5]
Markydefad. I am 42, gonna be 43 this year. Rap first came about when I was 15 years old. Thus, I have known it for WELL over 1/2 my life. It HAS indeed changed- as has everything. 50 cent is part of the PROBLEM. So is Jimmy Iovine. So is Doug Morris. So are the nameless parents who pay for the crap their children consume- without ever dialoging about it.
I buy Rap CDs for my children- clean versions ONLY. Some of those CDs can get damn close to SILENCE, lemme tell ya.
But there is good among the bad....The Game featuring 50 cent "Hate it or Love it" features a VERY prominent sample from the Trammps "Rubberband Man" (Buddah). That song is now driving youngsters to go look for Trammps LPs and CDs (maybe for all the wrong sampling/beatmaking reasons). Tom Moulton now stands to make a nice bit of change due to a contract he signed oh-so-long ago giving him a piece of the song FOREVER (to quote Outkast "forever ever?").
Because of "Fitty", my daughter now REMEMBERS who and what the Trammps are. A Rose can grow through concrete, eh?
And I purchased the import CD of that song MYSELF because it has a clean version, an instrumental version....and to be honest.... I like the song.
I judge those things on a song-to-song basis. I would THINK that any reasonable person if they heard a song they liked...and it turned out to be by P Diddy, I figure they would buy it. At the end of the day you're buying a song, not a philosophy, not a lifestyle (no matter what the marketing experts tell you). Markydefad....you reasonable or not?
You may find solace in the fact that there is an entirely NEW crop of singers/performers with the very values that you seem to miss. Ever heard of Eric Roberson? The Rurals? Raul Midon?
Angela Johnson? Coolys Hot Box? ALL of these performers are organic singer/songwriter types. Some of them (The Rurals) are as strong of a dance act as you are likely to EVER hear. Strong vocalists and performers ALL. I encourage you to seek them out and listen to any accompanying audio clips- you will be surprised. There are "kids" out here doing EXACTLY what you miss about the old days. You just dont know about them. But now....you do :D . Next move is yours.......
Triple Platinum Record [Level 10]
Who are the Gamble & Huff, the Holland-Dozier-Holland, the Ashford & Simpson, the Thom Bell, the Stevie Wonder of today, I ask you? :o
Who writes great songs today? Not who samples basslines from old records or samples choruses of Spinners songs or Trammps songs or raids the past, in general, in an effort to make them palatable to today's kidz --is my question. Sorry, but I don't think "I Believe I Can Fly" is a great song. :P
This seems to be the core problem. Too many "TECHNICIANS"--very few "MUSICIANS." They can "lift" and cut and paste...but they can't really "create" memorable music with a shelf-life beyond 3 months.
Now, I've listened to the Jill Scott and Erykah Badu and Maxwell and D'Angelo..and they have some good tracks...but little that's really great, IMHO. :-?
Maybe it's just "generational"...but most of us seem to have "the problem" with today's music--that's why we've retreated to the past to see what else we missed when it seemed soooooooo much better. Even the throw-away tracks seem classic in comparison to what I hear today.
Granted, I haven't heard everything...but it's rare when anything new hits me like a classic Thom Bell arrangement on an old Phyllis Hyman record or even an Elton John record does now.
Double Platinum Record [Level 9]
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...... DonaldCleveland , .... I respect your concerns about what you perceive as the dismissive use of the word "bling" on this board , its not so unlike when someone plays the "ahem" card.... "and though I do wonder what is the REAL problem , I just ... keep it movin' " as well .
I'm just going to speak for myself ... it's not on behalf of any "ahem crowd " here however defined . --- I do have a hip-hop bias ... can't stand (most of ) the music .. ..... but it has nothiing to do with a "possible deeper bias" . "Do I like music at all?" ....yes ... maybe too much ....a multitude of styles too.. ... its just that rap isn't one of them .... nor today's country music ( big fan of country of the sixties/seventies) . ( Hip-hop was fine, years ago as well ... I somewhat liked it during its creative infancy) .. So , yes again, I like music ....but, I only like music --- that I like .
Even disco .... I'd say it's 65 per cent crap ..but that still leaves 35% of it providing me pure listening pleasure. Compare that to the 99.5 % of rap that I find crap .. ........ I 'll stick with the much better odds that disco delivers.
You'll find lots of members of this board , from all camps, who are with you about this and also love rap ...fine by me ..takes different strokes.... But, I don't think its reasonable to expect everyone to like it AND those who don't ...don't deserve to be accused of fostering a hidden agenda ..... " a deeper bias" . Disco music listeners embrace the most diverse array of performers than any other music ever. Period. 8)
------- Some of the performers disco fans revere ...... off the top of my head ..... include Donna Summer, Barry White, Rick James, Gloria Gaynor , Trammps , O'Jays , Chic, Gap Band, George Clinton, Quincy Jones, , D-Train, Grace Jones, Van McCoy, E W& F , Marvin Gaye along with a long list of other Motown artists, Michael Jackson........hmmm .....
I am also not encouraged that the highlight of your daughter's music is the little snippet of someone else's music that this hyped-up "talent" stole, borrowed , lifted, highlighted , and took from this true artist of the past . In fact I find it pathetic and sad .
I'm reminded of a time , now years ago when my neice was much younger and we were all riding in the car listening to some of her music.. songs she really liked . More than once I surprised her that I already knew certain songs , the parts of them that were samples of old songs from my own earlier days . The conversation continued amongst the older folks in the car as we recalled these old tunes " Oh ya , remember that one ..." Finally out of frustraton she blurted out " That's not fair.We want our own music!!" ...... I felt bad for her and her situation......and also much satisfaction that I did indeed have "my own" music . Disco. 8) :D
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No Longer Charting
I'm surprised by this conversation, but I think it may highlight the differences between Europe and the US.
I can turn on the radio and will find a station that plays some music that doesn't bore me to tears with extreme ease, in the UK. I won't find that many specialist 24hr stations outside of London, but surely is is the promised utopia of a station delivering exactly what a perceived core audience wants that is the whole trouble with the overall equation.
The BBC (gawd bless it) caters for virtually the whole music gamut on at least one level.
A station like the BBC's 6 Music, has such a diverse mix of programmes (within its basic rock orientation) that the overall output is phenomenal in real terms. Variety is the spice of life eh?
Even 1Xtra which is dedicated to NEW black music has a healthy diversity to it and I can appreciate a DJ like Benji B (12 midnight - 2 a.m. Friday morning ) who plays lotsa different styles within the one show. All ultra up to date stuff, but interesting a lot of the time, even to this old pair of ears. There's also Soul Power (10 p.m. - midnight Friday) that has some great tunes and Soulful House on a Saturday. It's worth looking at the website if you've never seen it before.
www.bbc.co.uk/1xtra/
Chart Hit [Level 6]
I like others did enjoy the early rap/hip hop records.Records like The Breaks,The Message,Wild Thing etc.were fresh and innovative but it has evolved into crass symbolizm that denigrates woman,glamourizes criminal behaviour and preaches anarchy.
I assume you screen what music videos your children watch because the symbolizm is powerful.What happens when your children start buying their own CD's or they hang out with their peers who may have an Ipod or Mp3 player with the uncensored versions.Are they not curious? While I applaud your efforts unless you keep them locked up 24/7 you can't shield them from all of it.I buy Rap CDs for my children- clean versions ONLY. Some of those CDs can get damn close to SILENCE, lemme tell ya.
True but most of it's buried amongst the crap.But there is good among the bad....The Game featuring 50 cent "Hate it or Love it" features a VERY prominent sample from the Trammps "Rubberband Man" (Buddah).
Well I don't know about your neck of the woods but I see numerous kids wearing the clothes and bling and pimping their rides just like the rappers doAt the end of the day you're buying a song, not a philosophy, not a lifestyle (no matter what the marketing experts tell you).
Well maybe but till one of these can come up with a classic Lp like Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" "Let's Get It On" or Stevie Wonder's "Songs In The Key Of Life" "Innervisions" or The O'Jays "Back Stabbers" "Ship Ahoy" I'll reserve judgement.Maybe I'm out of the loop when it comes to rap but is there a classic rap album? :oEver heard of Eric Roberson? The Rurals? Raul Midon?
Angela Johnson? Coolys Hot Box? ALL of these performers are organic singer/songwriter types. Some of them (The Rurals) are as strong of a dance act as you are likely to EVER hear. Strong vocalists and performers ALL.
IMHO current rap sounds like disco did in it's final days repetitive and homogenous and stale
Gold Record [Level 7]
I didn't know they were Break dancing as early as '74, I first saw professional Break dancers around 76 or 77, this was a duo dance group that called themselves WarLocks or something similar (probably from NYC), they used to put on great dance shows in local clubs doing dance moves that later became popular in the early 80’s.
Advance Promo Copy [Level 3]
I can only trace the origins of hip hop back to about 1973 or 1974. I moved from Brooklyn to The Bronx in February of '72. Somewhere between then and the middle of '74 is when I recall starting to see kids in the neighborhood break dance. But it was a small section of the Bronx. My high school was in Brooklyn and the kids from Brooklyn didn't even know anything about breaking at that time.I didn't know they were Break dancing as early as '74, I first saw professional Break dancers around 76 or 77, this was a duo dance group that called themselves WarLocks or something similar (probably from NYC), they used to put on great dance shows in local clubs doing dance moves that later became popular in the early 80’s.
It may have started earlier than that though. But there were certainly no "professional" b-boys at that time.
Platinum Record [Level 8]
Did the 'robot', which Michael apparently did whenever the Jacksons did Dancing Machine c.1974, get adopted by the breakers, or did it come from the breakers?
Disco Funk
Advance Promo Copy [Level 3]
I can't answer that. But some b-boys certainly used elements of that "robot-like" movement in some of their freestyle moves.Did the 'robot', which Michael apparently did whenever the Jacksons did Dancing Machine c.1974, get adopted by the breakers, or did it come from the breakers?
Disco Funk
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