Cats, due to popular demand, here we are. I’m not even going to pretend that it’s one of my favourite musical genres, but nonetheless, there are some diamonds in the dirt.
To truly understand the rise and (seeming) fall of disco, one needs to understand the Seventies as the era that taste forgot.
Following on from the revolutionary changes in social mores that began in the Sixties and similar to many musical subcultures before, disco was initially an “underground” phenomenon that later slipped seamlessly into the mainstream. To paraphrase, that time “when bank clerks started dressing like Neil Diamond”.
This piece at Reason attempts to put disco in context and this film looks like it might also be worth checking out. Not to mention this riotous event, which I wish I’d been at.
Anyway Cats, don those flares, stacked heels, open necked polyester shirts (chest carpet obligatory), munch on some ‘luudes and boogie on down.
Here’s a piece from the seventies
and a neo disco piece to get you in the mood
Enjoy!
Quaaludes may have been the stimulant of choice for city folks, we in the suburbs had Seaview sparkling wine April Gold and Rhinegold. Well, the girls did.
I think we should start with Fly Robin Fly.
Anyone remember Edith Bliss?
Cats, let’s have some of that mighty seventies lushness – the TH version.
Born to be Alive … 😕
I’m here, but I’m in disguise so nobody will recognise me.
Thanks Crossie, Fly Robin Fly is close to being an instrumental
Disco in excelsis … 🙂
Born to be Alive … ?
155,221,569 views! And counting…
And thanks Rabz, for putting on the show.
Great link Rabz, completely forgot Patrick Hernandez. Born to be alive was very popular in the suburbs.
The Moroder …
This was also good Pop Muzak.
Not Muzak, Pop Muzik. Autocorrect irritates me.
Sorry Cats, but this needs to happen.
Vlad Bae commands it
Dschngis Khan- MOSKAU
Live from 1978 for max Euro-campy cape-swirly goodness. 🙂
***Slav Intensifies***
Cats, YOU SHOULD BE DANCING!
#Yeah
Disco meets New Wave.
The child will be called The Human League.
And we mustn’t forget the Frenchman.
I’ll kick off with two sciency tracks!
Giorgio Moroder – E=MC² (1979)
Mi Sex – Computer Games (1979)
The latter isn’t supposed to be disco but with lasers and a glitter ball it would go very well. In ancient days I liked to head down to Canterbury ice rink, they’d often do that sort of thing to this track. Which helped to hide my embarrassment when I fell over.
Magnifique …
Cats, this is Rabz’s radio show.
Maybe he’ll take requests towards the end of the night.
(By which time I’ll have long since retired with a good book.)
Hey mr dj can you play the Rolling Stones Miss You, for my love of ‘78, Michelle?
Boney M’s Ma Baker.
Did I imagine it that the lead singer was dressed as a Mafia godfather for the earlier clip?
When you’re in love
You know your in love …
Sorry peoples, I wanted the video for the goils – oh hang on … 🙂
No, Rog – this is an open field, I want people to post their favourite disco ditties
That was the purpose of these monthly posts …
Democracy in action
You think 155 million views is big, this one had 311 million.
Boogie Wonderland
Coves – ask and ye shall receive!
Don’t let me have all the fun, post your own favourites.
Oh, well in that case.
Anthem!
Leo Sayer – Thunder In My Heart (1977)
Somehow I totally missed Born to be Alive until I heard it in that be commercial. Great track.
Does this qualify as disco?
Some Girls
The Bowie, Soul Train, 1975.
More funk than Disco, but who gives a rodent’s … 🙂
The top drawer audio.
I think ‘The King of the Divan’ is Belgian. The song always reminds me of National Lampoon’s European Vacation.
This one starts off slowly and eventually gets on with it.
Yes sir, I can boogie
Anyway, how did an Anglo-Aussie trio of brothers manage to rise to the pinnacle of this genre? Did it come down to that bridge?
(The opening beat was said to be inspired by the sound of driving over a bridge in New England. Possibly one of those metal ones.)
Rugbyskier, even better.
Speaking of funk… always filled the dance floor though.
How about the special effects on this one – video feedback never looked so good
Rog, that is pure disco, Squire.
The funkier, the better.
Anyone for popcorn?
Just found out that a recent remix of Popcorn got 56 million views. I must admit it’s good.
Popcorn – Remix
Lets get out of the seventies for a short while.
The KLF – Justified & Ancient (1991)
The KLF aren’t a classic disco gig, but they loved the stuff so much they had a pure disco side project for a while. This one of course features the lovely Tammy Wynette.
Bluddee hell – banned, banned, banned, I tells ya! 🙂
Rugbyskier, great combination, disco and psychedelia.
Dancing Qveen!
Errr… Sorry, wrong one. 🙁
Proper Dancing Qveen! 😀
The original and the best … 🙂
Rose Royce – Car Wash
Some more funk, peoples … 🙂
Challenge! Hmm, how about this?
Deee-Lite – Groove Is In The Heart (1990)
It really is a fine tribute to the disco era, wonderfully kitschy.
The gayest house party ever.
Sinc would have shuttered the old Cat under the same circumstances.
A 2021 homage to disco from a German DJ. The backdrop from the kids choir singing the chorus might be familiar to some.
No disco night would be complete without Kelly Marie.
And, as dinner calls, I think I’ll bow out on this one.
Executing those moves in flares is really something.
Now you’ve done it, Bruce…
“The train on Plaftorm one is the Last Train to Trancentral. Stopping at all stations. First stop, Funk. Then Hiphop, then all stations to Muumuu.”
All aboard, Cats!
Sacré bleu! How could I have forgotten this epic of the genre?! 😕
Do the hussle!
Rabz I thank you from the bottom of me heart
Good choice Roger.
The original …
My preferred version, for reasons that do not need stating … 🙂
Snap, Milts …
Volare Al Martino
It’s not gay until it’s this gay:
Erasure’s Always.
So gay, it’s got a series of Robot Unicorn games inspired by it…
This is fun, I forgot about this one totally until it turned up on the YT sidebar. Liked at the time and then forgot about for ages. Fine dance funk!
Cameo – Word Up (1986)
Give it up, peoples …
BoN – Cameo were awesome in their day.
I think this Erasure song is even more gay.
Never
@ rubgyskier-
Yes.
Yeah, whatevah, whenevah … 🙂
All this disker makes me feel like doing a Leo…
#GonnaLeoTheNightAway
Word Up is in my go-to iTunes playlist when using the noise cancelling headphones on a Dash-8 flight.
Just for the filmclip
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cZzK32Cfcq8
An alternative version of the Donna Summer classic by Russian gal Yana Fortep here.
h/t Steve Trickler at Adam’s.
He’s the greatest dancer …
Call me- disco /punk?
Ok back to some classic disco. This is another one I forgot about until it appeared on the sidebar.
I hate it when YT can pick me like this.
S’Express – Theme from S’Express (1988)
Almost forgot Lipps. Inc.
Acid house Bruce
Sod that, Mole –the full audio-visual feast is required … 🙂
And despite all this, Cats,
There are some folks who just dont’ feel like dancing…
Candi Staton-awesome- oooh yeah!!!
She shimmers like a California sunset… Early 2000s funk with some nice metaphorical lyrics.
I will survive, Cats …
Isaac Hayes- kool baby kool
Yerpians, attempting to respond to this unexpected new socio-cultural phenomenon …
I am the king of the divan, I tells ya!
Pop Muzak* … 🙂
Mix me a molotov, Squire!
*0ne of my fav0urite ever songs, Cats.
Sorry, sorry, sorry! I’m late. My satin flares didn’t fit and I fell off my platforms!
Save it!
Royalty!
Prince – Uptown (1981)
Had to have a look through to find a disco funky single. My favourite of his is Sign O The Times, but that is more technofunk.
And…we get at extra hour!
Mr dj please,please,please…
The revolting cocks, do ya think I’m sexy
for my 80’s baby Lindy
Calli, grab a glass of bubbly and hit the dance floor.
Once had a love and it was a gas …
Not disco, but the Moroder produced it. Miss Harry at her best.
MF – Pure disco despite what the wiki says. Dance club classic.
calli, at this rate, the extra hour will be barely enough.
Bluddee hell, I was worried that this radio show would not be “well received”.
I was wrong (again). 😕
Ha! For when a mirror ball just isn’t enough bling…you need a crown too.
Gotta move on …
I always knew the Cat was utterly tasteless. But not joyless.
And for those who opine that my demise is near…take that!
Too late for the disco era but voted one of the most frequent earworms of all time.
Atomic came out before Heart of Glass and it was a good move. Hit them with your best shot first is my philosophy.
The first time I heard Atomic I had the same reaction as when I first saw Star Wars. Out of this world. 70s were a fantastic decade, everything was still possible and easy.
Rabz, already linked upthread.
Posted without comment …
Always reminds me of a school trip to NZ in 1980. I also remember going to see Pseudo Echo at the uni refectory early 1986 and they played this as the encore. Just thought they were having a bit of fun but it was a preview of their cover single that they released a few months later.
Crossie – pardonnez moi!
Here’s a heartwarming li’l tale of Vince and Mia, dancing.
There’s a party at the bottom of that old rabbit hole.
The original is excellent, and so is the later version from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack.
Lady Marmalade – Eleventh Hour (1974)
I had good timing, had just gotten home from a rugby club function when this thread popped up. Thanks Rabz and everyone else for making a fun Saturday night.
RS – you are always welcome, Squire.
I don’t normally like x dressers but it’s a great song
You’ll outlive Sir Keith Richards, Squirette – if that’s any consolation. 🙂
for sluts and slags
Do roller skates count?
Err, no lots, unless the exquisite Miss Corley is guiding them.
Worth putting up the Disco wiki. It’s pretty epic. Eighty years of music in one wiki page! I like this one:
Someone send the soundtrack to Elon, it might save his life. 😀
Tabs, you’re a champion. I enjoyed ze music ! Thank you
Sounds slightly more preferable than existing here on Earth.
Gee, thanks Quake. 🙂
Haven’t seen that one. Mesmerizing. R&B pop more than disco, but that’s quite forgivable…
The lights aren’t coming on any time soon, Cats – let’s have some electrickery – it’s bigger than the two of us!
Bus Stop- kewl
Miss Planet, explaining what a woman is, for those collectivist dunderheads among us.
And yes, Cats, it is disco, as far as I’m concerned! 🙂
I imagine it’s a fine line between not fitting and fitting perfectly, Calli! 😉
Something that I wish was disco.
Through the Fire and the Flames as translated by the Synthwave movement:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nwroczL6WLA
Thanks Rabz that was fun
Thanks, Milts – it ain’t over yet – and we have a bonus hour. 🙂
This is not disco, Cats.
So not Disco (again) …
Hey, Yarks – get off the high horse, Squire
Vanishing Point, Squire.
You know you love it. 🙂
Miss Planet – “out the window“, 2018, channelling Primal Scream … 🙂
/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOq_D-iLQWM”>
Tavares
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j_E4VT9cew
ONJ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0JaFvjj_oo
What I always loved about this song was the sparseness. An art in itself.
1983 …
Thelma Houston playout medley from “I’ve got the Music in Me”. direct-cut album.
Jim Gordon and Jim Keltner on drums.
Michael Omartian on Keyboards, etc, etc.
Le Freak, by Chic … 🙂
Tastee.
The best disco (in town)?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVxqHjG11Gw
“Do roller skates count?”
At one point in time, I could dance “The Time Warp” (Rocky Horror) on roller skates…
Well done, Rabz – I didn’t contribute much, but very much enjoyed the contributions of others.
Great show Rabz, and so much I remember now, hearing it again. Thanx.
Yep. I was there. Inter-regnum of husbands between 1976 and 1980.
A lot went on. In between the tears.