Sorry - Ismael nommed "Miss You." I nommed "Emotional Rescue." Still disco.
― KCB (Kent Burt), Wednesday, 11 December 2013 22:10 (ten years ago) link
now I regret not putting up Too Much Blood
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 11 December 2013 22:13 (ten years ago) link
An Officer And A Gentleman ... SOMETHING YOU CAN TAKE THE WIFE TO
― Ismael Klata, Wednesday, 11 December 2013 22:15 (ten years ago) link
Knowing "Funkytown" was written by a Minneapolitan who just wanted to move to New York and thought this city was wasting his time ruined the song forever for me. It just makes me mad now.
― Alfre, Lord Woodard (Eric H.), Wednesday, 11 December 2013 22:21 (ten years ago) link
"Rock With You" is brilliant.
But anyhow, "Disco" is a lazy (but convenient) catchall term amongst those of us old enuff to recall when disco music was a going concern, and too old/bored to bother to investigate the minutiae of techno or ambient or house or garage or toolshed or whatever the hell it's called now. It all leads back to disco anyways. And everything labeled "disco" back then sounded different anyways. "Funkytown", "Night Fever", "I Feel Love", "MFSB" - none of 'em sounded at all alike and had nothing in common, aside from being great DANCE music.
― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), 31. elokuuta 2005 16:40
Great definition. My definition really only has one major rule: pounding dance beat. It's the heart of the genre. Literally, the heartbeat. Only a few of the songs above, chiefly Ain't Nobody and Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' lack that grinding house/disco beat. They are funky rhythms with more complex fills. You can certainly dance to those tunes, but you can't DANCE to them like hard, pounding, sweaty disco kick drums make you dance. The beat, the heartbeat. That is what I'm looking for here. Soaring strings and funky deep bass guitar certainly help too, but I'm just as comfortable with cold, synthesizer bliss or even more traditional rock/funk textures (see Miss You). But that beat. Dat beat.
― octobeard, Wednesday, 11 December 2013 22:28 (ten years ago) link
'Miss You' is ok but meh at it being higher than *insert pretty much anything that's placed lower*
'Native New Yorker' has the magic that makes me feel incredibly jealous of native New Yorkers.
― ewar woowar (or something), Wednesday, 11 December 2013 22:32 (ten years ago) link
― Ismael Klata,
oh man
― the objections to Drake from non-REAL HIPHOP people (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 11 December 2013 22:33 (ten years ago) link
45. Inner Life - Ain't No Mountain High Enough (1981)288 points, 6 votes, two 1st place votes.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-1864383-1314235086_zps1ba89b21.jpeg
http://youtu.be/fF8jL1zyjNE
Can we all at least agree that the Inner Life version is untouchable?
― Eric H., 23. marraskuuta 2008 0:45
Inner Life's version of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" slaughters the original.
― Andy K (Andy K), 9. syyskuuta 2002 16:20
Inner Life - Ain't No Mountain High Enough: disco juggernaut like no other, starts at a gallop and ends up flying through space
― snoop dogey doge (seandalai), 7. marraskuuta 2013 4:30
We can agree that the inner life version is untouchable.
― ♪☺♫☻ (gr8080), 24. marraskuuta 2008 0:52
― Tuomas, Wednesday, 11 December 2013 22:50 (ten years ago) link
Sorry, that should be:
Inner Life - Ain't No Mountain High Enough (Larry Levan Mix)
This was my #1. It has everything great about disco: a rollicking groove, a pounding beat, some soaring strings, a far-out synth solo, and of course the energetic, awe-inspiring diva vocal performance by Jocelyn Brown. Perfection.
― Tuomas, Wednesday, 11 December 2013 22:55 (ten years ago) link
Also my #1, no way are there 44 disco tracks better than this (I know, I know, that's not how it works)...my favourite version is the John Morales 4AM mix but the Levan (and OG album) mixes are monsters too.
― freemen (on the) space (seandalai), Wednesday, 11 December 2013 22:59 (ten years ago) link
I was just listening to this today.
― the objections to Drake from non-REAL HIPHOP people (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 11 December 2013 23:00 (ten years ago) link
Incredibly low :( This is a force of nature.
― ewar woowar (or something), Wednesday, 11 December 2013 23:01 (ten years ago) link
TOO LOW
― |$̲̅(̲̅ιοο̲̅)̲̅$̲̅| (gr8080), Wednesday, 11 December 2013 23:31 (ten years ago) link
***TIMPANI DRUMS***
― |$̲̅(̲̅ιοο̲̅)̲̅$̲̅| (gr8080), Wednesday, 11 December 2013 23:32 (ten years ago) link
This isn't my favourite disco cover of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", but it's almost certain to be the highest placed.
― mike t-diva, Wednesday, 11 December 2013 23:38 (ten years ago) link
The second verse is just among the most transcendent things in all disco. "Remember the day, I set you free..."
― Alfre, Lord Woodard (Eric H.), Thursday, 12 December 2013 04:45 (ten years ago) link
what Soulwax did on NY Lipps with FunkyTown really made me fall back in love with it again.
― piscesx, Thursday, 12 December 2013 05:21 (ten years ago) link
This is good. I've never heard it before.
― _Rudipherous_, Thursday, 12 December 2013 05:48 (ten years ago) link
I marched and slept through today's reveals but this is obvs all great stuff. Apart from 'Funkytown' which I have mixed feelings for. Had I known that 'Give Me The Night' was set to do so well I'd have nommed 'Love x Love' which imo is just as good - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr1qEOYsaok
― Merdeyeux, Thursday, 12 December 2013 06:09 (ten years ago) link
I share the widespred ambivalence about Funkytown.
― _Rudipherous_, Thursday, 12 December 2013 06:13 (ten years ago) link
"More Than A Woman" (Bee Gees), "Why", "Give Me The Night", "Funkytown" and "Native New Yorker" (even if you people do make a compelling case for this one) all set off my "top 50, really?" sensors way more than "Miss You" or say "Rock With You" (both in my top 10). The Stones creating a brilliant disco single is a thing to be celebrated not scorned.
Didn't vote for Inner Life because I prefer the original. A stupid reason since this is obviously brilliant too.
Could someone knowledgeable and benevolent create a list of all the important djs included on the list so far along with their productions? It would help organize all of these (wonderful) discoveries. A+ poll.
Anyway, something like this*:
Patrick Cowley: Menergy, Sea HuntArthur Russell: Is It All Over My Face, Tell You Today...
*Those two are easy since there are no multiple projects involved
― g simmel, Thursday, 12 December 2013 06:25 (ten years ago) link
Okay, Ain't No Mountain is truly magnificent - I didn't know it before, but it would've made a worthy no.1
― Ismael Klata, Thursday, 12 December 2013 08:34 (ten years ago) link
Sure!
PRODUCERS
Greg Carmichael & Patrick Adams: Lady Bug, Barely Breaking Even, Ain't No Mountain High Enough, Weekend (the Phreek version, which was produced by Adams only).
Harry Wayne Casey: Keep It Comin' Love, Get Down Tonight, Spank.
Chic: At Last I Am Free, My Feet Keep Dancing, He's the Greatest Dancer, Why.
Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff: You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else, Love Train.
Dan Hartman: Vertigo/Relight My Fire, Love Sensation.
Quincy Jones: Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', Rock with You.
REMIXERS
Tom Moulton: Love Train, Love Sensation.
Larry Levan: Don't Make Me Wait (he also produced this), Weekend (the Class Action version), Is It All Over My Face?, Ain't No Mountain High Enough.
― Tuomas, Thursday, 12 December 2013 08:48 (ten years ago) link
(x-post)
44. Alicia Bridges - I Love the Nightlife (Disco Round) (1978)296 points, 8 votes.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-1913973-1301599125_zps58c7a85d.jpeg
http://youtu.be/0O9OmyV7BhY
Never really liked the song, but LOVE the way she says "AaaaaaCK-SHON"
― dave225 (Dave225), 7. lokakuuta 2002 18:20
Alicia Bridges' "I Love the Nightlife (Disco Round)" sounds country on the verses & then goes disco on the choruses.
― Josefa, 27. tammikuuta 2009 18:18
I love the nightlife easily encompasses not only everything about disco but everything in civilization that is built around the experience of transient pleasure in a crowd of like-minded pleasure seekers.
― Vic Perry, 1. elokuuta 2012 5:5
― Tuomas, Thursday, 12 December 2013 09:02 (ten years ago) link
(xpost) wow. knew about K.C., Jones, Gamble/Huff and Rodgers/Edwards but the rest is invaluable information. thanks!
PS Get Down Tonight didn't place yet (I hope it will) so you probably meant That's The Way
― g simmel, Thursday, 12 December 2013 09:10 (ten years ago) link
xps Ain't No Mountain reminds me most of the extended jungle remixes from the early-mid 90s for the likes of NuYorican Soul ('Black Gold Of The Sun') - I forget who the remixers were, 4Hero is a name that rings a bell? Anyway I had no idea that those records had disco antecedents, so this is valuable and intriguing information.
― Ismael Klata, Thursday, 12 December 2013 09:24 (ten years ago) link
Yeah, sorry, I always mix those two in my head.
― Tuomas, Thursday, 12 December 2013 09:28 (ten years ago) link
i love this song!
― flopson, Thursday, 12 December 2013 10:25 (ten years ago) link
wow, i expected to have no idea how this poll would look in the end but i at least assumed "Funkytown" would do way better than it did.
― some dude, Thursday, 12 December 2013 12:14 (ten years ago) link
43. Candi Staton - Young Hearts Run Free (1976)298 points, 9 votes.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/candi-staton-young-hearts-run-free-warner-bros-2_zpsae909dff.jpg
http://youtu.be/SBcJR3jJ_zo
"Young Hearts Run Free" is clearly one of the better disco records.
― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), 31. heinäkuuta 2004 1:19
Also, I want to thank that show for shining a whole new light on "Young Hearts Run Free" for me. I never realized the circumstances surrounding that song with regard to her irl struggles, which makes it mean a hell of a lot more.
― Johnny Fever, 28. helmikuuta 2013 23:06
Lots of old soul shouters made great disco records -- Candi Staton's "Young Hearts Run Free" is inexplicably perfect.
― briania (briania), 1. lokakuuta 2004 19:11
Is there a more joyful song about being stuck in an unfulfilling relationship? Candi complains "just can't break awayyyyyy" and her voice, and the music soars. Instant happiness, as long as you don't think too much about what she's singing.
― Amiii Stewart (Amiii Stewart), 24. toukokuuta 2005 14:59
― Tuomas, Thursday, 12 December 2013 12:36 (ten years ago) link
Classic example of a song I enjoyed (and DJed at weddings) for years without listening to the lyrics and then realised, damn it's bleak. Disco is so good at these.
― Deafening silence (DL), Thursday, 12 December 2013 13:02 (ten years ago) link
Yeah, apparently the song was written about the abusive relationship Staton was in with some pimp guy at the time.
― Tuomas, Thursday, 12 December 2013 13:08 (ten years ago) link
this Carly Simon song is crazy, never heard this before
― some dude, Thursday, 12 December 2013 13:09 (ten years ago) link
Candi's perennial ubiquity at wedding discos shall forever be a source of mystery to me...
― mike t-diva, Thursday, 12 December 2013 13:17 (ten years ago) link
The Alicia Bridges instrumental track is generi-disco but even as a kid her diction astounded me; I'd never heard vowels pronounced that way.
― the objections to Drake from non-REAL HIPHOP people (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 12 December 2013 13:25 (ten years ago) link
AC-SHON!
― a fifth of misty beethoven (cryptosicko), Thursday, 12 December 2013 13:28 (ten years ago) link
OOOOOWWWWW YAAAY
― the objections to Drake from non-REAL HIPHOP people (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 12 December 2013 13:29 (ten years ago) link
My wife introduced me to the Carly Simon tune just a month ago and it's been stuck in my head since. Never knew about it. Was pretty amazed to learn it's '82.
― andrew m., Thursday, 12 December 2013 13:33 (ten years ago) link
Homer: "I hate that song."Marge: "I do too."
OTM.
― Alfre, Lord Woodard (Eric H.), Thursday, 12 December 2013 14:10 (ten years ago) link
what Soulwax did on NY Lipps with FunkyTown really made me fall back in love with it again.― piscesx, Wednesday, December 11, 2013 11:21 PM (Yesterday)
― piscesx, Wednesday, December 11, 2013 11:21 PM (Yesterday)
this is OTM, don't want to bog this poll down with 00's edits but:
http://youtu.be/UYESHbg36vshttp://youtu.be/GO7ux5oWSOQ
― |$̲̅(̲̅ιοο̲̅)̲̅$̲̅| (gr8080), Thursday, 12 December 2013 14:54 (ten years ago) link
glad candi stanton made it, it slipped in as my #50, after tuomas emailed me to inform me that "aint no mountain" was on my list in two different places hahaha
― |$̲̅(̲̅ιοο̲̅)̲̅$̲̅| (gr8080), Thursday, 12 December 2013 14:56 (ten years ago) link
42. Patrice Rushen - Haven't You Heard (1979)301 points, 7 votes, one 1st place vote.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/img_340837_3663423_0_zps026d5281.jpg
http://youtu.be/QHxc3e2TJXc
Weird, I had a similar *devastated by music* moment in the car last week listening to Patrice Rushen's "Haven't You Heard" from the Levan "paradise" dbl CD. I had recently heard a gospel cover of "Haven't You Heard" that converts the "I've been looking for you" into an address to Jesus, and it was so bizarre-yet-comforting to return to the sexual and secular original and have it sound 10 million times better . . .
― Drew Daniel (Drew Daniel), 20. huhtikuuta 2006 22:08
Last week I played this song approximately 80 zillion times.
― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), 20. huhtikuuta 2006 23:26
the new lcdss single kinda reminds me of a weird amalgam of the last three tracks on the first disc of the larry levan comp, but little tops "haven't you heard" by patrice rushen with which i regularly piss off my surfer neighbors.
― josh. (disco stu), Wednesday, 25 October 2006 00:20
― Tuomas, Thursday, 12 December 2013 17:12 (ten years ago) link
Disco Stu himself!
― Ismael Klata, Thursday, 12 December 2013 17:16 (ten years ago) link
I love I love the Nightlife.
― _Rudipherous_, Thursday, 12 December 2013 17:16 (ten years ago) link
This poll made me realize I need more Patrice Rushen in my life, so I bought all of her disco albums.
― Tuomas, Thursday, 12 December 2013 17:21 (ten years ago) link
(Thankfully they're now available as two 2CD comps; a few years ago I tried looking for them and came up with nothing.)
― Tuomas, Thursday, 12 December 2013 17:23 (ten years ago) link
Young Hearts Run Free and I Love the Nightlife are classics which don't generate much enthusiasm in me. they have to be here but maybe top 50 is pushing it. Haven't You Heard sounds good, didn't see that one coming.
― g simmel, Thursday, 12 December 2013 17:25 (ten years ago) link