Rabz’ Radio Show April 2022: Disco


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!


136 responses to “Rabz’ Radio Show April 2022: Disco”

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  1. rugbyskier Avatar
    rugbyskier

    Almost forgot Lipps. Inc

    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.

  2. calli Avatar
    calli

    There’s a party at the bottom of that old rabbit hole.

  3. Bruce of Newcastle Avatar
    Bruce of Newcastle

    The original is excellent, and so is the later version from the Moulin Rouge soundtrack.

    Lady Marmalade – Eleventh Hour (1974)

  4. rugbyskier Avatar
    rugbyskier

    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.

  5. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    RS – you are always welcome, Squire.

  6. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    for those who opine that my demise is near

    You’ll outlive Sir Keith Richards, Squirette – if that’s any consolation. 🙂

  7. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    Err, no lots, unless the exquisite Miss Corley is guiding them.

  8. Bruce of Newcastle Avatar
    Bruce of Newcastle

    Worth putting up the Disco wiki. It’s pretty epic. Eighty years of music in one wiki page! I like this one:

    The Martian, a 2015 film, extensively uses disco music as a soundtrack, although for the main character, astronaut Mark Watney, there’s only one thing worse than being stranded on Mars: it’s being stranded on Mars with nothing but disco music.

    Someone send the soundtrack to Elon, it might save his life. 😀

  9. Fair Shake Avatar
    Fair Shake

    Tabs, you’re a champion. I enjoyed ze music ! Thank you

  10. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    stranded on Mars with nothing but disco music

    Sounds slightly more preferable than existing here on Earth.

  11. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    Gee, thanks Quake. 🙂

  12. Bruce of Newcastle Avatar
    Bruce of Newcastle

    Err, no lots

    Haven’t seen that one. Mesmerizing. R&B pop more than disco, but that’s quite forgivable…

  13. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    The lights aren’t coming on any time soon, Cats – let’s have some electrickery – it’s bigger than the two of us!

  14. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    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! 🙂

  15. Nelson_Kidd-Players Avatar

    satin flares didn’t fit

    I imagine it’s a fine line between not fitting and fitting perfectly, Calli! 😉

  16. Rex Anger Avatar
    Rex Anger

    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

  17. miltonf Avatar
    miltonf

    Thanks Rabz that was fun

  18. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    Thanks, Milts – it ain’t over yet – and we have a bonus hour. 🙂

  19. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    Hey, Yarks – get off the high horse, Squire

    If you could see what I can see
    Feel what I feel
    When my head is on fire
    When I’m a burning wheel

    Vanishing Point, Squire.
    You know you love it. 🙂

  20. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    Miss Planet – “out the window“, 2018, channelling Primal Scream … 🙂

  21. Iron Cove Avatar
    Iron Cove

    /https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOq_D-iLQWM”>

  22. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    Just be good to me – the SOS Band.

    What I always loved about this song was the sparseness. An art in itself.

    1983 …

  23. Bruce Avatar
    Bruce

    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.

  24. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    Le Freak, by Chic … 🙂

    Tastee.

  25. Kneel Avatar
    Kneel

    “Do roller skates count?”

    At one point in time, I could dance “The Time Warp” (Rocky Horror) on roller skates…

  26. johanna Avatar
    johanna

    Well done, Rabz – I didn’t contribute much, but very much enjoyed the contributions of others.

  27. Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare Avatar
    Elizabeth (Lizzie) Beare

    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.

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