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”

  1. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    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.

  2. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    I think we should start with Fly Robin Fly.

  3. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    Anyone remember Edith Bliss?

  4. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    Cats, let’s have some of that mighty seventies lushness – the TH version.

  5. Roger Avatar
    Roger

    I’m here, but I’m in disguise so nobody will recognise me.

  6. rosie Avatar
    rosie

    Thanks Crossie, Fly Robin Fly is close to being an instrumental

  7. Roger Avatar
    Roger

    Born to be Alive … ?

    155,221,569 views! And counting…

  8. rosie Avatar
    rosie

    And thanks Rabz, for putting on the show.

  9. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    Great link Rabz, completely forgot Patrick Hernandez. Born to be alive was very popular in the suburbs.

  10. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    This was also good Pop Muzak.

  11. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    Not Muzak, Pop Muzik. Autocorrect irritates me.

  12. Rex Anger Avatar
    Rex Anger

    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***

  13. Roger Avatar
    Roger

    Disco in excelsis …

    Disco meets New Wave.

    The child will be called The Human League.

  14. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    And we mustn’t forget the Frenchman.

  15. Bruce of Newcastle Avatar
    Bruce of Newcastle

    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.

  16. Roger Avatar
    Roger

    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.)

  17. Iron Cove Avatar
    Iron Cove

    Hey mr dj can you play the Rolling Stones Miss You, for my love of ‘78, Michelle?

  18. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    The Human League

    When you’re in love
    You know your in love

    Sorry peoples, I wanted the video for the goils – oh hang on … 🙂

  19. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    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

  20. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    You think 155 million views is big, this one had 311 million.

    Boogie Wonderland

  21. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    Don’t let me have all the fun, post your own favourites.

  22. Roger Avatar
    Roger

    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

    Oh, well in that case.

  23. Bruce of Newcastle Avatar
    Bruce of Newcastle
  24. Nelson_Kidd-Players Avatar

    Somehow I totally missed Born to be Alive until I heard it in that be commercial. Great track.

  25. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    Does this qualify as disco?

    Some Girls

  26. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    The Bowie, Soul Train, 1975.

    More funk than Disco, but who gives a rodent’s … 🙂

    The top drawer audio.

  27. rugbyskier Avatar
    rugbyskier

    And we mustn’t forget the Frenchman.

    I think ‘The King of the Divan’ is Belgian. The song always reminds me of National Lampoon’s European Vacation.

  28. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    This one starts off slowly and eventually gets on with it.

    Yes sir, I can boogie

  29. Nelson_Kidd-Players Avatar

    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.)

  30. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    Rugbyskier, even better.

  31. Roger Avatar
    Roger

    More funk than Disco, but who gives a rodent’s …

    Speaking of funk… always filled the dance floor though.

  32. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    Rog, that is pure disco, Squire.

    The funkier, the better.

  33. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    Just found out that a recent remix of Popcorn got 56 million views. I must admit it’s good.

    Popcorn – Remix

  34. Bruce of Newcastle Avatar
    Bruce of Newcastle

    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.

  35. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    Bluddee hell – banned, banned, banned, I tells ya! 🙂

  36. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    Rugbyskier, great combination, disco and psychedelia.

  37. Rex Anger Avatar
    Rex Anger

    Dancing Qveen!

    Errr… Sorry, wrong one. 🙁

    Proper Dancing Qveen! 😀

  38. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    Some more funk, peoples … 🙂

  39. Bruce of Newcastle Avatar
    Bruce of Newcastle

    The funkier, the better.

    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.

  40. feelthebern Avatar
    feelthebern

    The gayest house party ever.
    Sinc would have shuttered the old Cat under the same circumstances.

  41. rugbyskier Avatar
    rugbyskier

    A 2021 homage to disco from a German DJ. The backdrop from the kids choir singing the chorus might be familiar to some.

  42. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    No disco night would be complete without Kelly Marie.

  43. Roger Avatar
    Roger

    And, as dinner calls, I think I’ll bow out on this one.

    Executing those moves in flares is really something.

  44. Rex Anger Avatar
    Rex Anger

    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!

  45. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    Sacré bleu! How could I have forgotten this epic of the genre?! 😕

  46. Iron Cove Avatar
    Iron Cove

    Rabz I thank you from the bottom of me heart

  47. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    Good choice Roger.

  48. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    Snap, Milts …

  49. Rex Anger Avatar
    Rex Anger

    The gayest house party ever.
    Sinc would have shuttered the old Cat under the same circumstances.

    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…

  50. Bruce of Newcastle Avatar
    Bruce of Newcastle

    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)

  51. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    Gay?!

    Give it up, peoples …

  52. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    BoN – Cameo were awesome in their day.

  53. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    Rabz says:
    April 2, 2022 at 8:12 pm
    Gay?!
    Give it up, peoples …

    Never

  54. Rex Anger Avatar
    Rex Anger

    @ rubgyskier-

    Yes.

  55. Rex Anger Avatar
    Rex Anger

    All this disker makes me feel like doing a Leo…

    #GonnaLeoTheNightAway

  56. rugbyskier Avatar
    rugbyskier

    Word Up is in my go-to iTunes playlist when using the noise cancelling headphones on a Dash-8 flight.

  57. Thefrollickingmole Avatar
    Thefrollickingmole
  58. johanna Avatar
    johanna

    An alternative version of the Donna Summer classic by Russian gal Yana Fortep here.

    h/t Steve Trickler at Adam’s.

  59. Bruce of Newcastle Avatar
    Bruce of Newcastle

    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)

  60. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    Almost forgot Lipps. Inc.

  61. miltonf Avatar
    miltonf

    Acid house Bruce

  62. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    Sod that, Mole –the full audio-visual feast is required … 🙂

  63. Rex Anger Avatar
    Rex Anger

    And despite all this, Cats,

    There are some folks who just dont’ feel like dancing…

  64. rugbyskier Avatar
    rugbyskier

    She shimmers like a California sunset… Early 2000s funk with some nice metaphorical lyrics.

  65. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    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.

  66. calli Avatar
    calli

    Sorry, sorry, sorry! I’m late. My satin flares didn’t fit and I fell off my platforms!

    Save it!

  67. Bruce of Newcastle Avatar
    Bruce of Newcastle

    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.

  68. calli Avatar
    calli

    And…we get at extra hour!

  69. Iron Cove Avatar
    Iron Cove

    Mr dj please,please,please…
    The revolting cocks, do ya think I’m sexy
    for my 80’s baby Lindy

  70. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    Calli, grab a glass of bubbly and hit the dance floor.

  71. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    Once had a love and it was a gas

    Not disco, but the Moroder produced it. Miss Harry at her best.

  72. Bruce of Newcastle Avatar
    Bruce of Newcastle

    Acid house Bruce

    MF – Pure disco despite what the wiki says. Dance club classic.

  73. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    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). 😕

  74. calli Avatar
    calli

    Ha! For when a mirror ball just isn’t enough bling…you need a crown too.

  75. calli Avatar
    calli

    I always knew the Cat was utterly tasteless. But not joyless.

    And for those who opine that my demise is near…take that!

  76. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    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.

  77. Crossie Avatar
    Crossie

    Rabz, already linked upthread.

  78. 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.

  79. calli Avatar
    calli

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

  80. 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)

  81. 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.

  82. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    RS – you are always welcome, Squire.

  83. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    for those who opine that my demise is near

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

  84. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

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

  85. 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. 😀

  86. Fair Shake Avatar
    Fair Shake

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

  87. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    stranded on Mars with nothing but disco music

    Sounds slightly more preferable than existing here on Earth.

  88. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    Gee, thanks Quake. 🙂

  89. 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…

  90. 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!

  91. 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! 🙂

  92. Nelson_Kidd-Players Avatar

    satin flares didn’t fit

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

  93. 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

  94. miltonf Avatar
    miltonf

    Thanks Rabz that was fun

  95. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

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

  96. 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. 🙂

  97. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

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

  98. Iron Cove Avatar
    Iron Cove

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

  99. 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 …

  100. 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.

  101. Rabz Avatar
    Rabz

    Le Freak, by Chic … 🙂

    Tastee.

  102. Kneel Avatar
    Kneel

    “Do roller skates count?”

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

  103. johanna Avatar
    johanna

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

  104. 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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