Is Toto's Georgy Porgy disco?

Marcio** · June 5th, 2005, 06:40 PM

GEORGY PORGY (David Paich) Toto (1978)
http://www.discomusic.com/records-more/774_0_2_0_C/
Lead vocal: Steve Lukather, Cheryl Lynn
The third single from Toto´s debut album. The song reached #48 on the US Billboard in June 1979.

:P I don't know

**olskinflint** · June 5th, 2005, 08:15 PM

only reached #48. Queen Latifah and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis have all sampled it. Isn't it a bit too midtempo to be called disco, though?

**DJDynasty** · June 5th, 2005, 09:06 PM

Would call it funky Disco type of sound. Was popular during a time Disco was mainstream and was played in sets to a Disco crowd.

**DonaldCleveland** · June 5th, 2005, 09:26 PM

NO. It is NOT a disco record. Trust what your own ears tell you. There are MANY midtempo to ballad records on 12" format (New Edition as an example have a whole RAFT full of extended mixed BALLADS on the 12" format...they are not dance records).
The 12" format was attractive for the same reasons to the soul and jazz and pop crowd(s) as it was for the dance/disco crowd...except for the nightclub part...(and in some cases EVEN THEN).

**NickNack** · June 6th, 2005, 10:39 AM

:lol: Have we come to an unanimous decision of what is and is not DISCO?

Just kidding, y'all.

I'll tell you what it is for me: A very sweet sleaze piece. (OK, "morning music", if you prefer.)

**markydefad** · June 6th, 2005, 01:34 PM

It's "disco" to me. :P It was played at "discos"; I danced to it at "discos", granted in the "morning" hours. DJ Jerry Bonham played it at the last Trocadero Reuion party in SF (Soul Recharge).

"Stairway To Heaven" is NOT disco; "Georgy Porgy" IS.

This is the same argument we had about "Lowdown" by Boz Scaggs...which also featured the guys from Toto as the band. It's a pop/rock/disco hybrid...but it was played in clubs and pressed on a 12", available on "Club Columbia: A Collection of Classic Dance Mixes" or "Disco Dance." ( Apparently, somebody else considers it "disco."!!!!) :P :lol:

**DJDynasty** · June 6th, 2005, 03:27 PM

Was also played on Disco radio stations as well. An acceptable parrallel to mainstream. Accepted by most disco listeners. Doesnt mean its Disco just saying it was incorporated in Disco playlists exposing most Disco listeners to it making it part of the era.

**jamesyirishguy** · June 6th, 2005, 03:30 PM

There is a disco version of georgy porgy on a greatest hits package of cheryl lynn released in 1996. Although i'm sure that's the version u guys are talking bout. As to whether it's a disco track or not mmmmmm. I don't think it's really a disco track but you could play it in a club and get away with it. I think the intro is fantastic the guys voice is cool but as the track moves on cheryll lynn just repeats the same chorus over and over again till it just becomes annoying.

**markydefad** · June 6th, 2005, 03:49 PM

I think Georgy Porgy is cool and elegant low-tempo dance music (around 100 bpm) that would work in a set with Rise by Herb Alpert (isn't that the mix you did Nicky?) or Hang On In There Baby by Johnny Bristol or Walk Away From Love by David Ruffin.

This record charted on the Billboard Disco charts. Stairway To Heaven didn't. :P

But then again...if it isn't 130 bpm, some folks can't conceive a record as working in a disco--but it can, Blanche, but it CAN!!!!!

Back in tha day....WE HAD MORNING MUSIC!!! and we loved it. :D :D :D

**Davicillo** · June 6th, 2005, 04:18 PM

I wouldn't call it 'Disco' as such, but if it hit the disco charts, like many songs by 'non-disco' acts did, it should be included on 'disco hits' compilations (look at Manhattan Transfer). Although it wasn't a hit in the UK (we were graced with the AC tracks), I bought it and I still really like it. As Marky stated, a good down tempo 'dance' track!!

**Mixmachine** · June 6th, 2005, 04:46 PM

In some clubs I used to play this one early in the night during the warm up sets, some folks used to dance to it, Luther's 1979 version with "Charme" (RCA-AFL1-3393) has even more of a Disco sound with strings and all.

**nrgbeat** · June 6th, 2005, 06:15 PM

If it was played in a gay dance club it's disco!!

Now put that in your pipe and smoke it. :P :P :P

**remicks** · June 6th, 2005, 08:01 PM

*****

.......This was one of those '78-'79 glut records . It came out when all the big labels wanted to throw some muscle and try to dominate all areas of music .... including disco , which in some ways they hadn't paid enough attention to . CBS must have issued a memo "GET US ON THE DISCO CHARTS!!!" because all of a sudden almost every one of their artists had some song being released on 12" especially their jazz artists like Al Dimeola and George Duke and any bouncy rock act like Santana and Toto. I used to go to Columbia records (to raid their promos :D ) and slot after slot was filled with this stuff that no one wanted . At least they helped to hide the good ones!! :D .... Whose ever job it was to press Columbia 12ers (especially promos) during this time must have gotten paid by the number of titles selected ...By using this technique though ..sure enough a couple of tunes were bound to cross over and catch on ... such as "Georgy Porgy". But I'll bet you this ..Toto wasn't intentionally trying to make a disco record and it wasn't treated like a true disco record by the label ... no special remixing ...

I'd say it is disco-lite for the reasons mentioned that would make it so .... BUT were I making a disco compilation..... that one would never make it ..... unless it was an intentional " Disco-lite " collection.

*****

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

et tu remicks? :P

You surprise me!!! So you think Toto had Cheryl Lynn sing the soulful chorus on "Georgy Porgy" because they weren't trying for a little "dance crossover?" David Paich, of Toto, produced and co-wrote songs for Cheryl's debut (including "Got To Be Real.") Granted, they both recorded for Columbia---but I always thought that "Georgy Porgy" was an attempt to get back that Boz Scaggs "Lowdown/What Can I Say" groove that made those songs club faves. However, in 1979, when "Georgy Porgy" was released--there was a glut of product and the end of disco was in sight---so it made only a moderate ripple...but is beloved by many.

**QUINNY** · June 7th, 2005, 03:07 AM

A great record, but truthfully not a Disco record (more like down tempo blue eyed soul). I used to programme it coming out of a slow session to get people used to the idea of bopping around once again. Some danced, some still smooched, which suited my purposes precisely.

Don't like the Charme version as much. The rhythm track sounds lumpy in comparison to Toto's and it doesn't have the lilt/swing of the original.

**buckaroo** · June 7th, 2005, 09:33 AM

Eric Benét and Faith Evans did a decent cover a few years back, but isn't it a little too slow to be disco?
Toto, Boz Scaggs and Steely Dan all seem to be in that sort-of-soulful-R&B-ish type category.

**Nano** · June 7th, 2005, 05:47 PM

Originally Written by markydefad

This record charted on the Billboard Disco charts. Stairway To Heaven didn't. :P

AFAIK, "Stairway to Heaven" didn't chart in any singles list because Led Zep didn't let the Atlantic guys to release that track as a single. But I get your point, Marky. However, it's more of a white soul thing, like some Boz Scaggs/Steely Dan material (which I love).
Let's remember all these Toto guys -and also Cheryl Lynn- were session players first and foremost. I think that explains it all. Like having "On the line" and "Georgy Porgy" on THE SAME ALBUM.

**markydefad** · June 7th, 2005, 06:45 PM

But, my point, is that at this time (late Seventies) artists were still tailoring certain tracks from their "non-disco" LPs to be played on the dancefloor--it was a way to get some "radio action."

After the Rolling Stones & Rod Stewart had successes with this crossover effect, the likes of Hall & Oates, Steely Dan & Toto added the "dance track" to their current LPs too. Some of these charted--some didn't. But now, whenever they're mentioned--people say "that's not disco." Well, it was intended for the dancefloor...so I disagree.

**remicks** · June 8th, 2005, 01:07 AM

****

I'm still not so convinced , Marky, that Toto was trying to make a disco record. It'd be great to be able to ask them !! :)
.... Maybe they just wanted to use Cheryl Lynn on the record because they knew and liked her voice . Maybe the label suggested/requested it ..part of hyping up its roster with special appearances .....maybe it was in her contract to repay Toto with a performance.... Maybe Cheryl was recording next door and dropped by .......???

Then again, maybe when all was said and done ..Toto had a disco-length, five minute plus song that featured Cheryl Lynn and CBS said "Hey , it must be disco!" stuck it on a 12" and this time some of us got hosed!!
I need to relisten to this cut ... I remember dismissing it as not disco back then .. and I'm learning that if you have too ask if something is disco...nine times out of ten ... it isn't ....

Yes, they did play "Georgy Porgy" at the Troc reunion ..they also at an earlier one played "LOTTA LOVE" by Nicolette Larson ...on Warner Bros. .....another major label that went disco crazy in'78-'79 , putting any and all their artists on twelve inch ...
Is THAT song "disco" ?

( BTW ...that Nicolette Larson album cover had a picture of her with long naturalized hair , a non-form fitting hippie dress and barefoot ( or big sandels?) ) ...disco ?....

Still , I do like the idea of songs that pushed the "disco" envelope . There were those that just didn't fall into the narrowest of definition...
As far as Toto .... I have to admit too , a night wasn't complete for me at the Troc until I got to do some slidin' across the floor at three or four o'clock in the morning to Toto's "AFRICA" ( was that disco?) . That song along with Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing" both out at the same time .... 8) :D Man ..those were some good songs and some good times .... "disco" or not ...

*****

**buckaroo** · June 8th, 2005, 04:07 AM

Originally Written by markydefad

But, my point, is that at this time (late Seventies) artists were still tailoring certain tracks from their "non-disco" LPs to be played on the dancefloor--it was a way to get some "radio action."...

Yeah, especially when certain MOR artists like Mellisa Manchester were releasing disco-y soulful tracks.

**NickNack** · June 8th, 2005, 06:55 PM

From the liner notes of the cd, "The Best of Cheryl Lynn: Got To Be Real":

While working on Cherly's album by day, David [Paich] toiled with his band, Toto, on their first album by night. He played Cheryl a song he was writing abut a loverboy named "Georgy Porgy". She improvised the nursery rhyme hook with a funky, finger-pointin' inflection. David begged her to sing it like that on the record, an inspired move that earned the studio rockers Black radio airplay while their single, "Hold The Line", scaled the pop charts.

Disco? Not disco? Didn't really think about it. I never took the time to categorize the songs I played in the clubs. If they worked the dancefloor, they were in. This one quickly became an early morning favorite --- sweet sound, sweet tempo, sweet vocals. Everything clicked. It would have been played with or without the 'DISCO VERSION' stamp by Columbia.