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

All these posters being quoted, where are they? This is their moment.

I think Cowley's productions clearly beat Arthur Russell's productions in this poll, so maybe things have changed in 6 years?

rich juzwiak hasn't posted here in quite a while, although he's all over gawker these days.

favorite side effect of this thread is finding out what months are called in finnish.

This list is making me realize how narrow my exposure to disco was and is. I am old enough to remember listening to commercial radio stations devoted completely, or almost completely (I don't really remember), to disco back in probably 78/79, but I'm too young to have been going out clubbing during the disco era. And it's just not something I've dug into deeply.

emil, a youtube playlist is a good idea!

77. Chaka Khan - I'm Every Woman (1978)
196 points, 5 votes, one 1st place vote.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-1419739-1292257429_zps78971d23.jpeg

http://youtu.be/Q8xuUdI1an0

"I'm Every Woman" still sounds like disco perfection... GOD I love that track!

― Eric H. (Eric H.), 16. tammikuuta 2004 3:06

Arif Mardin produced 'Jive Talkin' and 'Nights On Broadway' and 'I'm Every Woman', I think he deserves a round of applause just for those three.

― LondonLee (LondonLee), 17. helmikuuta 2004 17:06

Praga Khan = cheesy techno that lost its sharpness around '92 or so
Chaka Khan = funk/disco goddess
Genghis Khan = mercenary ruler played by John Wayne in notoriously hideous 1956 film The Conqueror
"Khan" = white-suited, granter of O. Henry-esque fantasies

I'd have to go with Chaka. She can outshout 'em all.

― M. Matos, 14. marraskuuta 2001 3:00

Oh now, that one I love.

One of the saddest things ever is that there seems to be no 12" extended mix of "I'm Every Woman" - I'd love for it to just go on and on and never stop... (There is a long remix from the 80s, but that's too housey in a way that doesn't suit this tune.)

Also, even though the comments on this song I found on ILM were mostly praising Nick Ashford for writing it and Arid Mardin for producing it, I think it'd be nothing without Chaka Khan's inspired performance; I can imagine it being totally bland with a lesser singer.

Chaka's heights were so high, that's one of the main things I've learned.

I was the number one vote there. I'm stunned it's as low as it is. The next 76 tracks better be FLAWLESS.

76. Rufus & Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody (1983)
198 points, 5 votes, one 1st place vote.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-163681-1268922360_zpsf5fce82a.jpeg

http://youtu.be/ycnuyo3MLbw (music video)
http://youtu.be/tdavRm23lfY (longer version)

"I Feel For You"--classic.

"Ain't Nobody"--immortal.

― ellaguru, 1. heinäkuuta 2007 20:06

I just listened to "Ain't Nobody" and wanted to revive to say "classic" for Chaka Khan, not just for "I Feel For You" but that too. The keyboard riff on "Ain't Nobody" is so classic; Wikipedia says Quincy Jones wanted this song for Thriller but didn't get it; it would have been amazing on there.

― Euler, 5. heinäkuuta 2008 23:32

generally sending a shiver up my spine is a prerequisite for records to make my (oft-updated)"top-ten-of-all-time"; so here's the current one:
1)"ain't nobody" rufus & chaka khan.

― michael w., 6. syyskuuta 2002 9:13

Yet another vote for "Ain't Nobody"

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), 21. kesäkuuta 2006 12:15

That one might be a bit controversial, as good as "Ain't Nobody" is, I at least don't really consider it to be disco. But it was nominated and people voted for it, so that's that.

Anyway, one of the best synth lines of the 80s, no?

xp Great song, obv, but doesn't pass the "is it disco" smell test by my estimation.

The dance clip at the beginning of the "Ain't Nobody" video is from archival mambo dancer footage that shows up everywhere (at least in Latin music contexts).

(Or a really close imitation of them.)

Writing 1000 words for RBMA about post-Rufus Chaka is the highlight of my writing career in 2013.

Ain't Nobody is not disco. I'll just pretend Space's Magic Fly took its place, as I have doubts it will make this list

yo imma let you finish but "gloria" is the greatest santa esmerelda song of all time OF ALL TIME

So happy to see Menergy place. Love that song so much, especially how the intro sounds like it's going be a Boards of Canada song before it explodes into life.

I'm just gonna share this exquisite contemporaneous MC Lane Explosion cover of "magic fly" again

http://youtu.be/YpB2asybA7I

The O'Jays - Love Train (Tom Moulton Mix) (1973 - original / 1977 - remix)
199 points, 6 votes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-2869597-1304871086_zpsca398507.jpeg

http://youtu.be/__lYfFyP0hk

*cues "Love Train" by the O'Jays, sparks joint*

― hstencil, 25. huhtikuuta 2003 23:59

Classic, and with years of good stuff before Philly got big. Backstabbers and Love Train and several others are wonderful.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), 27. huhtikuuta 2003 20:22

When I heard "Love Train", I was in a certain place and I felt a certain way and the song just rushed into me and stuck somewhere, a joyful glue aneurysm waiting to burst and stick to everything.

― David A. (Davant), 2. helmikuuta 2005 11:09

I kinda like it when an LP-closing single feels a little more self-consciously trivial, happy-go-luckier you might say, than the music that preceded it. "Train In Vain" is like that, and so are "Flash Light" and "Love Train". It's as tho they're saying "Here's one you probably know already, just a bit of silly nonsense really, but we enjoyed recording it. Hope you like it." Has a sort of humanizing effect, in a way...I don't know what I mean...

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), 13. lokakuuta 2005 23:33

Possibly the happiest song EVER??

― Amiii Stewart (Amiii Stewart), 17. toukokuuta 2005 20:12

Sorry, that's 75., obviously.

Yay Philly!

damn straight!!

Amii Stewart otm there

I'm just gonna share this exquisite contemporaneous MC Lane Explosion cover of "magic fly" again

http://youtu.be/YpB2asybA7I

― ☞ (brimstead), Saturday, December 7, 2013 11:24 AM (8 minutes ago)

I had not not heard this version before! A bit more atmospheric and dark. Love it.

Directed my Philly votes elsewhere, but I'm happy to see any and all of it place.

74. John Paul King - Love Is in the Air (1977)
201 points, 6 votes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-2133386-1303595994_zps562c0636.jpeg

http://youtu.be/NNC0kIzM1Fo (music video)
http://youtu.be/H9garIoefS4 (12" version)

My Dad flirted with blues and jazz in the 50s. He played ice hockey. His two favourite songs in the 70s were "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" by Ian Dury & the Blockheads and "Love is in the Air" by John Paul Young (a song I later discovered was very popular with other people's dads, for some reason or other)

― Dadaismus (Dada), 7. lokakuuta 2005 12:25

No, the latter masterpiece is expressly for the boogieing needs of Smooth Uncles worldwide.

― suzy (suzy), 7. lokakuuta 2005 12:28

I also like Love is in the Air by some Scottish guy named Young, though apparently not related, which they produced.

― mizzell, 9. elokuuta 2007 17:27

john paul young. no-one in australia really ever needs to hear this again ever ever ever, but it is quite good.

― haitch, 13. elokuuta 2007 3:59

I swear to almighty God, everytime I walk into a Borders 'Love Is In The Air' comes on, the John Paul Young version I think. It's the kind of song that would go well with some hot crazy homicidal killing spree, but not when I'm trying to buy books. One of these I will crack and mow down the toothless hoardes, making them eat on their Barbara Kingsolver paperbacks. They only have themselves to blame.

― toofattoskate, 7. marraskuuta 2009 21:36

This was one of the few songs in the top 100 I was totally unfamiliar with (though the melody sounded instantly familiar when I played the tune, so I guess I'd heard it somewhere). It's very pretty.

Whoops, sorry, that should read John Paul Young, not John Paul King. Don't know where the "King" came from.

Wish "Menergy" had made it higher. Surprised that some people think it's sleazy - it's no "Walk The Night."

I watched this biography of "The Godfather of Disco" Mel Cheren (West End Records/Paradise Garage) last night - really interesting. Lots of NYC queer/disco/AIDS history intertwined there for those curious.

http://youtu.be/KuBGPj-klT8

"Love Is In The Air" is such a dreamy song. The top 20 better really be something, bitches.

The first song I've disliked :(

first result i nommed iirc

didnt think this had a chance outside of the bottom 10-20!

Why do you hate love, Alfred?

the week i first discovered love is in the air i was on a date and as we walked by this record store i said "would you mind if we stopped in here? i promise i'm not browsing, i just want to check if they have this one record" and i went straight for "Y" in the "DISCO" section and there was a copy of the 12" with a $4 price tag on it

http://i.imgur.com/qciyzwC.jpg

72.(tie) Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (1982)
207 points, 5 votes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-196049-1240168445_zps0b3e349e.jpeg

http://youtu.be/BB-IwOwUR9o

Wanna Be Startin' Something is the greatest song of all time.

― groovemaaan, 25. huhtikuuta 2007 21:29

MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA MAMASE MAMASO MAMAKOSA

― The Reverend, 26. huhtikuuta 2007 0:29

listening to "Wanna Be Startin' Something" god the breakdown at the end is so great

― matt h. (M@tt He1ges0n), 26. kesäkuuta 2009 23:59

amazing, you know oddly i didn't think people thought THAT much of Wanna Be Startin.. so glad that they do. what a TUNE.

― piscesx, 25. helmikuuta 2012 6:3

I never reached the Tavs' version, but I placed the Gees' ^high^. I may have cost this one a good twenty places

I've just played these back-to-back and yes, I've voted for the inferior version (which I still love). Sorry, Tavares.

The first song I've disliked :(

Oh there have been about four or five of them so far for me (one I actually outright loathe), but I'm holding my tongue this time around because it's disco.

MJ-as-disco felt all wrong to me, I couldn't vote for any of his. He is his own thing.

I wrote this about "WBSS" in the Jacksons poll thread, still stand behind every word:

"Wanna Be Startin' Something" was my #2, and it's definitely my favourite MJ single of all time. Everything about is just perfect: the way it starts full-force (thus mirroring the chorus lyric), no intro or anything, with that ridiculously catchy bassline; the way the verses just repeat the same things over and over again, but the way Michael emotes them manages to give each line poignancy; the way the production and arranging on the tune is so impeccable, so aurally pleasing it practically shines; the oddball lyrical injections only MJ could pull of so convincingly ("you're a vegetable", wtf?); the mama-se mama-sa mama mako-ssa coda that (controversy ahoy!) he pulls off with more soul than Manu Dibango ever did in the original. I just love every second of this tune!

Again, awesome song, but it's kinda disco with an asterisk, unlike "Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" (which I presume is still to place).

Yeah I felt fine voting for "Don't Stop..." but couldn't vote for "Wanna..." even though they're like twin godheads controlling the universe with irresistible compulsion.

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

― From the Album No Baby for You! (Matt P), Friday, December 6, 2013 11:15 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

"A Lover's Holiday" should win every poll ever but I have a feeling I'm gonna be disappointed on this front.

I will have to be content if "Angel In My Pocket" or "Paradise" place, I suppose.

HOLD TIGHT

I didn't see "Angel in My Pocket" on Tuomas' spreedsheet; that's the only reason I didn't vote for it.

from WIKI

The coda at the end of the song comes directly from Cameroonian saxophonist Manu Dibango's 1972 disco song "Soul Makossa". Dibango sued Jackson and settled out of court for one million French francs, agreeing thereby to waive future rights to this recording but not future use of the material.

news to me!

I agree Tim F, We need some Change!

Yeah I felt fine voting for "Don't Stop..." but couldn't vote for "Wanna..." even though they're like twin godheads controlling the universe with irresistible compulsion.

OTM unto perpetuity.

72.(tie) Evelyn "Champagne" King - Shame (1977)
207 points, 5 votes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-850672-1175931301_zps6ce41f1c.jpeg

http://youtu.be/2_oGq1USOIo

Can't really find any discussion on this tune on ILM, but maybe you can say something about it?