Disco music has infuenced many other types of music since its demise. For all the criticism about Disco being phony, the fact remains that it was for the most part created with actual instruments. Disco managed to incorporate emerging technology. Things that we now take for granted such as the extended single, the concept of multiple mixes or remixes (which itself dates back to the 60's Dub scene in Jamaica), the Break, mixing between songs (as opposed to a simple segue) and sampling all came about or were popularized by Disco. It also brought about improvements in sound with the introduction of the twelve-inch single which is still with us today. More importantly, Disco is the foundation of all modern dance music and a force that shook up the establishment and tore down many socio-economic barriers.
What Kinds Of Music?
Everything from Pop, Techno, House, Rap and even Alternative have either covered, sampled or just plain influenced by Disco music. Everyone always likes to find out who or what influenced their favourite artist or group. Listen to some Disco and you'll hear it.
Why Did They Change The Name Disco To Dance Music?
Consider this: why was New Wave changed to Modern Rock/Alternative or Rap to Hip Hop? Dance music, Techno and House are just the logical evolution of the Disco-period.
Are There Different Types Of Disco Music?
Of course, there is Euro-disco (Cerrone and Giorgio Moroder of Donna Summer fame) which itself can be broken down into Hi-NRG (Lisa, Pamala Stanley and the late Patrick Cowley who had influenced such groups as The Farm, New Order and The Pet Shop Boys.) Synth/Industrial . . . (Kraftwerk , Telex, Landscape, New Order and Yazoo). There's even something [Bernie calls] 'conceptual-orchestral Disco' (Alec R. Costandinos and Boris Midney) where the artists used an entire album side or two to build upon a theme as in movements in Romantic or Classical music. It was complete with strings and horns interwoven with synths. The arrangements were very lush and layered.
As a matter of fact, Boris Midney was one of the first to use 48 track recording to compose these works. Of course there's plain old Disco (Lime, Grace Jones, Saint Tropez, Michael Zager, La Flavour and just about anything on the Salsoul, TK or Prelude record labels). Oh, how about Disco with a Funk/R & B feel (Jimmy "Bo" Horne, Cameo, Parliament/Funkadelic, Trussel, Undisputed Truth and Peter Brown) and so on. When one gets down to it , the lines between them all start to blur. In other words, it doesn't matter, just enjoy the music that is Disco!
1972
1973
"Love's Theme", by Love Unlimited Orchestra, an instrumental song, went to the top of the charts.
1974
It's considered the first disco year. Gloria Gaynor becomes the first disco diva, because of the hit "Never Can Say Goodbye". Donna Summer records her first album, "Lady Of The Night". ABBA achieved success with "Waterloo". The first disco hits: SHIRLEY & COMPANY- "Shame Shame Shame", THE HUES CORPORATION: "Rock The Boat", CARL CARLTON: "Everlasting Love", CAROL DOUGLAS: "Doctor's Orders", BARRY WHITE: "You're The First, The Last, My Everything" and GEORGE MCRAE: "Rock Your Baby".
1975
Donna Summer becomes a diva with her classic album: "Love to love you baby". Bands like KC & The Sunshine Band, Earth Wind and Fire, Hot Chocolate, Kool and The Gang, and The Trammps have their first hits. Van McCoy sells millions of copies all over the world with "The Hustle", the first big disco hit. The Bee Gees are back on the charts with "Jive Talkin'". The Euro-Disco movement appears with Silver Convention: "Fly Robin Fly" Some other important disco-hits of the year: MELBA MOORE: "This is it", PEGGY MCLEAN: "Lady Bop", RETTA YOUNG: "Sending out a S.O.S", THE SYLVERS: "Boogie Fever", ABBA: "Mamma Mia", and CARL DOUGLAS: "Kung Fu Fighting".
1976
Motown has its first disco hit: "Love Hangover", performed by Diana Ross, who becomes an instant 'disco diva'. ABBA is #1 for the first time in USA with "Dancing Queen". Ritchie Family, with "The best Disco in town", and First Choice with "Doctor Love", are the first female groups from disco that achieve success. Produced by Gregg Diamond, the ex- X rated movie actress ANDREA TRUE CONNECTION is #1 with "More More More". Tina Charles leaves 5000 volts and goes to a solo career and has the hit: "I Love To Love". Some other important disco-hits of the year: VICKI SUE ROBINSON: "Turn The Beat Around", THELMA HOUSTON: "Don't Leave Me This way", HEATWAVE: "Boogie Nights", JESSE GREEN: "Nice and Slow", BACCARA: "Yes sir, I can boogie", CERRONE: "Love in C minor", KC & THE SUNSHINE BAND: "Shake Shake Shake", and BONEY M: "Daddy Cool".
1977
Disco arrives at the cinema, with "Saturday Night Fever", starring John Travolta. Disco becomes a fever, Bee Gees becomes the biggest disco band of the planet with the hits "Stayin'Alive", "How Deep Is Your Love", "Night Fever" etc. Tecnho music is born with the wonderful "I Feel Love", performed by Donna Summer. Chic records the first album, with the hits "Everybody Dance" and "Dance Dance Dance". Salsoul Records has the first hit: "Runaway", performed by Loleatta Holloway. The first black model, Grace Jones, successfully goes to a singing career with her powerful voice. Three hits in this year, including "La Vie en Rose". Some other important disco-hits of the year: THE EMOTIONS: "Best of my love", EARTH WIND & FIRE: "Fantasy", THE TRAMMPS: "Disco Inferno", CARRIE LUCAS: "I gotta keep dancin'", UNIVERSAL ROBOT BAND: "Dance and Shake your tambourine", ROBERTA KELLY: "Zodiacs", JERMAINE JACKSON: "Let's be young tonight", ODYSSEY: "Native New Yorker", ANDREA TRUE CONNECTION: "NY You got me dancing", BONEY M. "Ma Baker".
1978
A rich disco year in songs.
The influence of gay culture in disco
becomes evident with Sylvester, and the
hit "You make me feel", and Celi Bee:
"Macho (A Real Real One)".
Disco is also influenced by gipsy
culture, with SANTA ESMERALDA: "Don't
Let Me Be Misunderstood".
Produced by Jacques Morali, the VILLAGE
PEOPLE have some of the most important
disco hits: "Macho Man" and "Y.M.C.A".
A Taste of Honey wins Grammy 1978 Best
New Artist with "Boogie Oogie Oogie".
Euro Disco movement continues with
Patrick Juvet: "I Love America", Sheila
& B. Devotion: "You Light My Fire", and
USA-European Connection: "Come Into My
Heart".
Aliens were said to be
mondo disco-fans who were the real
money-backers of Studio 54...hey, I just
report, buddy!
Gloria Gaynor is back with one of the
biggest disco hits: "I Will Survive".
Chaka Khan goes to a solo career and has
the hit "I'm Every Woman".
In the movies, "Thank God It's Friday",
makes Donna Summer the biggest disco
star, with the hit "Last Dance".
The movement "Disco Sucks" is organized
by the 'disco enemies' in USA. It is not
successful.
Some other important hits of the year:
KAREN YOUNG: "Hot Shot", MUSIQUE: "Keep
On Jumpin'", DEE D. JACKSON: "Automatic
Lover", CHIC: "Le Freak", DONNA SUMMER:
"MacArthur Park", BLONDIE: "Heart of
Glass", TAVARES: "More Than A Woman",
VOYAGE: "Souvenirs", CHERYL LYNN: "Got
To Be Real", PEACHES & HERB: "Shake Your
Groove Thing", EVELYN "CHAMPAGNE" KING:
"Shame, THE JACKSONS: "Blame It On The
Boogie", FOXY: "Get Off", ROBERTA KELLY:
"Oh, Happy Day", and MICHAEL ZAGER BAND:
"Let's All Chant".
1979
The year of the one-hit disco wonders: ANITA WARD: "Ring My Bell", ALICIA BRIDGES: "I Love The Nightlife", KELLY MARIE: "Feels Like I'm In Love", CHARO: "Dance A Little Bit Closer", TATA VEGA: "I Just Keep Thinking About You Baby", and VIOLA WILLS: "Gonna Get Along Without You Now" Donna Summer has 5 hits in this year, including "Hot Stuff". The youngest disco star, only 16, FRANCE JOLI, has the hit: "Come To Me". In this year, some wonderful duets: DONNA SUMMER & BARBRA STREISAND: "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)", RICK JAMES & TEENA MARIE: "I'm A Sucker For Your Love", and EARTH WIND & FIRE & THE EMOTIONS: "Boogie Wonderland". Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers become famous disco producers. While Chic has its biggest hit: "Good Times", they produced SISTER SLEDGE "We Are Family", and SHEILA & B.DEVOTION: "Spacer". Rap music is born with SUGARHILL GANG: "Rapper's Delight". Now Disco has many female groups, including LOVE UNLIMITED: "I'm So Glad That I'm A Woman", and SAINT TROPEZ: "One More Minute." Lipps Inc. is one of the groups of the year, with the classic "Funkytown". Some other important disco hits of the year: CLAUDJA BARRY: "Boogie Woogie Dancin'Shoes", DONNA SUMMER: "Hot Stuff, "Bad Girls" and "Dim All The Lights", SHALAMAR: "Second Time Around", SISTER SLEDGE: "He's The Greatest Dancer", and DIANA ROSS: "The Boss".
1980The year
of "Fame", that presented IRENE CARA,
and "Xanadu", with OLIVIA NEWTON
JOHN. This is the year of KOOL & THE
GANG, which has the hit "Celebration",
and of DIANA ROSS, that was produced by
NILE RODGERS and BERNARD EDWARD, making
the hits "I'm Coming Out", and "Upside
Down".
Some other important disco hits in
this year: STEPHANIE MILLS: "Never Knew
Love Like This Before", S.O.S BAND:
"Take Your Time", SHARON REDD: "Can You
Handle It", VOYAGE: "I Love You,
Dancer",
A TASTE OF HONEY: "Rescue Me", TEENA
MARIE: "I Need Your Lovin'" and EARTH
WIND & FIRE: "Let's Groove."
1981
Olivia Newton John, after Grease and Xanadu, has her greatest hit: "Physical". Disco starts to lose popularity This year, the so-called 'New Age' movement appears. However, released are BOYSTOWN GANG: "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You", BB&Q Band: "On The Beat", and , CARL CARLTON: "She's A Bad Mama Jama", ODYSSEY: "Going Back to my roots", KOOL & THE GANG: "Get down on it", and "Good Time Tonight"
1982
It's the last disco year. The hit of the year was WEATHER GIRLS: "It's raining men". Other hits: CENTRAL LINE: "Walking to the Sunshine", EVELYN "CHAMPAGNE" KING: "Love Come Down", INDEEP: "Last Night A DJ Saved My Life", PATRICE RUSHEN: "Forget Me Nots". GALAXY: "Dancin'Tight", and DONNA SUMMER: "Love Is In Control".
1983-1985
In these years, disco artists tried to survive, changing a little of their style to fit in with the changes of the 80's. However, disco is dead.
