...AND THE BEAT GOES ON! The GRAND ILM DISCO POLL results are revealed!

I think "Weekend" is the first one I voted for to place. What a stunning bridge into the chorus.

Wish I'd have had room for "Forget Me Nots" on my ballot, but had to give it up to "Haven't You Heard."

Actually much prefer the original Phreek version, too, btw. The Levan mix seems to hectic and the Class Action one too spare. I prefer the full-on Patrick Adams lushness of the album track.

also i think its cool that the posts tuomas is quoting have their timestamps in finnish

This.

Did any songs lose out because people voted for different versions?

xps I gave Rasputin big points, glad it made it. It's always puzzled how in between their drippy stuff they put out such an undeniable total banger. I don't suppose they had any others tucked away?

Wow @ that Tantra sleeve!

It's always puzzled how in between their drippy stuff they put out such an undeniable total banger. I don't suppose they had any others tucked away?

You might dig He Was a Steppenwolf; it's slower than Rasputin, but definitely has a similar vibe.

It's also my favourite Boney M. tune, even if it kinda steals the chorus melody from "Under the Boardwalk".

'Daddy Cool', while no 'Rasputin', isn't exactly drippy.

('Rasputin' is totally ace, obviously.)

If you're only familiar with the regular version of "Rasputin", I urge you to check out the 12" mix linked to above: IMO, it has one of the finest extended break intros in all of discodom.

you ain't kiddin!

OMG at the 12" version of Rasputin! Heard this song a million times, and only now realized how great it is. The bassline! But really, the song where the "but kazachok he danced really wunderbar" line is not the best thing must be great.

I love that Phreek album cover so much. When I finally get around to framing some of my favourite vinyls that's one I'm going to put up.

Didn't vote for Tantra but happy to see it place and yeah that single cover is quite something too.

"ma baker" by boney m actually got my vote instead of rasputin, and i always got the impression that rasputin was a (successful) effort to replicate ma baker's success. same faux-historical basis, corny voiceovers and great strings. can't say i prefer one over the other though, both excellent tracks.

I think i voted for Gotta Go Home as well as Rasputin but it could have been four or five. Boney M's greatest hits is better than that of almost any band i could name.

81. Heatwave - The Groove Line (1977)
193 points, 5 votes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-3451021-1330878398_zps1711dc97.jpeg

http://youtu.be/Cr6o88OJ8x8

There doesn't seem to be too much discussion on this tune on ILM, but here's a couple of general threads:

Rod Temperton : what should I look for ?

Has any band ever looked as silly as Heatwave in their matching disco outfits?

That's it for tonight, more tomorrow.

Awww poop. And I just got here.

This list is just fantastic so far. I can't wait for the rest.

99.(tie) KC & The Sunshine Band - Keep It Comin' Love (1976)
99.(tie) Bumblebee Unlimited - Lady Bug (Disco Mix) (1978)
98. Giorgio - From Here to Eternity (1977)
96.(tie) Kid Creole & The Coconuts - I'm a Wonderful Thing (Baby) (1982)
96.(tie) Imagination - Just an Illusion (1982)
95. The Jones Girls - You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else (1979)
94. Chic - At Last I Am Free (1978)
93. KC & The Sunshine Band - That's the Way (I Like It) (1975)
92. Village People - Y.M.C.A. (1978)
91. Dan Hartman - Vertigo/Relight My Fire (1979)
90. Jimmy "Bo" Horne - Spank (1978)
89. Dennis Parker - Like an Eagle (1979)
88. Peech Boys - Don't Make Me Wait (Larry Levan Mix) (1982)
86.(tie) Tavares - More Than a Woman (1977)
86.(tie) Loose Joints - Tell You (Today) (1983)
85. Patrice Rushen - Forget Me Nots (1982)
84. Phreek - Weekend (1978)
83. Boney M. - Rasputin (1978)
82. Tantra - Hills of Katmandu (Album Version) (1979)
81. Heatwave - The Groove Line (1977)

LOVE The Groove Line. Think it was when it was used in Freaks and Geeks when I realised what an incredible song it is.

wow, The Groove Line is exceptional - hadn't heard it before. There's so much going on at every moment, it's a full-spectrum assault you can dance to.

just wanna mention that "Spank" is the greatest song ever

"Groove Line" is fantastic. Anything connected to Rod Temperton is fantastic.

wow, The Groove Line is exceptional - hadn't heard it before. There's so much going on at every moment, it's a full-spectrum assault you can dance to.

― Ismael Klata

Yeah that is exactly it, every second of the song as something exciting going on. I'm sure I had it way too low on my list.

Here's that cool instrumental cover of "Spank" by Brooklyn Express, from 1981:

http://youtu.be/xIltkM_ipNg

What the hell are those head covering things called that the Boney M ladies wore? They seemed to be very popular with funk/disco artists in the 70s...

They seem kind of Sun Ra inspired.

http://www.oocities.org/realsoul_music/Images/ratyson.jpeg

It hasn't come up and won't but I can't get Change's "Angel in My Pocket" outta my head.

Groove Line is more my speed than most of these (but I'm hearing a bunch of them for the first time).

(Have to check my surprise over some people saying they've never heard it before and remind myself I am old.)

hope you have your mind blown by hearing Rasputin and YMCA for the first time

wonder what change songs are going to show up. feel like "angel in my pocket" has a good chance.

Oops, I think I voted for the wrong version of "Weekend." Both versions are great though.

I voted 'groove line' p high, so much more of a jam than 'boogie nights'. The "leave your worries behind" hook is one of the greatest hooks ever.

already this might be the greatest poll in ILM history, God bless you guys.

I too prefer Class Action's version of "Weekend." Kind of sad I had to cut it off my list to make the 50 now.

very american so far

i dunno, disco is pretty international - i count 7.5 out of 20 so far as uk/euro-driven.

hmm I dunno, at first glance i guessed 75% were american style. doesn't matter anyway, just an observation.

80. Heatwave - Boogie Nights (1976)
193 points, 7 votes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-1421526-1365580036-9428_zpse098d0fc.jpeg

http://youtu.be/Z7g6_n7AW8g

*Dr. C, what is your definition of good disco?*

Swagger + a great melody + unstoppable momentum + hooks, hooks, hooks!

e.g Boogie Nights, Best Of My Love, Staying Alive, He's The Greatest Dancer + Funkytown

― Dr. C (Dr. C), 3. maaliskuuta 2004 18:03

When I was about ten, a friend of mine insisted that the chorus in "Boogie Nights" by Heatwave is "Dance with the boogie guitar." I told him it was "Dance with the boogie/Get down," but he said that didn't make any sense. He didn't know about the expression "Get down!"

― Tim Ellison, 1. toukokuuta 2004 21:53

Listen to Heatwave's "Boogie Nights" for the genesis of the Thriller sound -- that rolling plush electronic bass cushion. Rod Temperton doesn't get much credit, but he does play on both records.

― lovebug starski (lovebug starski), 15. tammikuuta 2005 18:00

fwiw I was like 10 years old when this term was being used in disco ("Boogie Oogie Oogie") and I hated it. Except for Heatwave's "Boogie Nights," Heatwave owns they can do what they want

― available for sporting events (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), 31. tammikuuta 2013 15:08

Santa Esmeralda - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (1977)
195 points, 6 votes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-1546461-1227459217_zps6eef45ef.jpeg

http://youtu.be/Oso0ieD8-tI

Santa Esmeralda all the way! I love the fact that they followed up a debut album that started with a 15-minute disco fantasia on an Animals song ("House of the Rising Sun") with a second album that started with a 15-minute disco fantasia on an Animals song ("Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood"). Or was it the other way around?

― Douglas, 25. helmikuuta 2002 3:00

I don't remember her exact words at the time, but I have a fond image of my mum dancing dreamily to Santa Esmeralda's "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" while wearing a lion costume.

― Thea (Thea), 4. maaliskuuta 2004 4:33

And a lot of those Eurodisco guys like Cerrone and Costandinos and Santa Esmeralda were totally making concept albums, completely pretentious ones, with opera parts and everything. They were about as prog as you can get.

― chuck, 25. elokuuta 2004 22:18

Santa Esmeralda are way, way over-the-top disco--both of their first two albums are based around heavily orchestrated 15-minute disco versions of songs by the Animals. They go downhill after that, but sort of in a good way. I own too many records by them.

― Douglas (Douglas), 18. toukokuuta 2005 18:34

Sorry, that should say:

79. Santa Esmeralda - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (1977)

I'm a big Nina Simone fan, but I gotta say this is by far the best version of "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood".

xpostz - Rod is so good. his music with Heatwave is beautifully intricate - gorgeous harmonies in the service of tight rhythmic songs.

Also, I gotta correct the misinformation in the Santa Esmeralda quotes: neither "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" nor "House of the Rising Sun" are originally by the Animals. The former was first performed by Nina Simone, and the latter is, as most of you probably know, an old folk song. Though undoubtedly Santa Esmeralda's versions of them were informed by The Animals recordings.

Yeah this is an amazing version.

I forgot about this song as soon as I submitted my ballot. Glad it made it, but TOO LOW

blarpfh that should read "remembered this song"

oh man i FORGOT to vote for "The Groove Line," probably would've been in my top 10 :(