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

LOL at the Amiii Stewart commentary above. TS: Love to Love You Baby vs. Ravel's Bolero.

16. Dinosaur - Kiss Me Again (1978)
480 points, 10 votes, two 1st place votes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-388115-1106743423_zpsc60d8184.jpg

http://youtu.be/6O92UBBaiI4

as for his disco moments - the 13 minute russell mix of 'kiss me again' - NOT the version on disco (not disco) - is possibly thee greatest dance record of all time.

― stirmonster, 4. maaliskuuta 2004 8:39

I walked around after a few tonight with "Kiss Me Again" blasting in my ears and it was glorious. It always is glorious, but it made me play all AR music once I was home and , goddamn, he's beautiful.

― Jay Vee (Manon_70), 24. kesäkuuta 2004 4:48

Huh. I heard the World of Echo and other dreamy dub cello stuff first and thought it was great. Then I heard Kiss Me Again, Is It All Over My Face, and Tell You (Today) and really nothing tops those for me.

― walter kranz (walterkranz), 19. elokuuta 2005 1:57

I didn't really "get" the whole arthur russell thing until a few months ago, when I was walking home late one night and listening to the optimo psyche-out mix, and the version of "kiss me again" that dan's referring to came on. it was a revelatory moment.

― spruce bruce (haitch), 19. elokuuta 2005 7:09

About that guitar sound -- the ju-ju and highlife connections are possible but to me it sounds like a downtown-y (i.e. raw and angular a la Arto Lindsay, et.al) style of disco rhythm guitar playing. Am I stating the obvious? This kind of playing has just always sounded New York to me.

― Jay Vee (Manon_70), 19. elokuuta 2005 17:30

I always loved how "Kiss Me Again" seemed to be at least partially striving to sound like a bunch of musicians just throwing down in a room (although of course it's FAR more intricately arranged than that - I re-ripped it to post on my blog a few weeks ago and the multitracking on the flipside in particular is magnificently well-done)

― jamescobo, 21. maaliskuuta 2008 18:03

cooooooool, i was worried we weren't going to see that since it's obviously all MASSIVE CLASSICS from this point on. (for which reason 'rock your baby' surprises me a bit, a nice enough track but i've never thought of it as anything special.)

Great groove on this one.

"Oh baby, is this the woman I want to be?"

cooooooool

OTM (tho I didn't vote for that one; I'll accept it in the "Wheel Me Out" slot)

15. Earth, Wind & Fire - September (1978)
480 points, 11 votes, one 1st place vote.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-969718-1272902137_zpsab357401.jpeg

http://youtu.be/Gs069dndIYk

September is most fun at a wedding.

― Mark, 14. joulukuuta 2009 8:32

yeah, was the year that amongst giants, Chic ran away with it, but over time, Earth, Wind & Fire - September

― PappaWheelie V, 13. helmikuuta 2009 3:30

I voted "September." This marks the first time what I've voted for on ILX actually won.

― Nurse Detrius (Eric H.), 14. helmikuuta 2009 3:09

I often wonder what had happened after a song has faded out. Had the musicians performed an alternate, more solid ending, and decided against it? Did the musicians trail off at their own rate, knowing it was going to be faded and that it wouldn't matter what they did once they'd played enough repeated choruses? Did the musicians start doing funny things for each other in the end, knowing no-one would hear them? There could be an album of good other-endings called "What Really Happened".

― Pangolino (ricki spaghetti), 7. lokakuuta 2004 5:49

As far as I'm concerned, Earth Wind & Fire are still performing "September".

― Pleasant Plains (Pleasant Plains), 7. lokakuuta 2004 6:04

Her name was Lola...she was a showgirl, with yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to...
No just kidding... my theme song would haavvveee toooo beee........
"September" by Earth Wind and Fire

Cheers!

― Lola Falana, 28. kesäkuuta 2003 9:34

Gosh, I wasn't expecting this. Listening to EW&F in context of this poll actually diminished them for me, not sure why but they seemed less impactful than a lot of other acts maybe. Good songs though.

is "September" the best song recorded exclusively for a comp?

It's also the best song.

Probably.

(x-post, or maybe not?)

not crazy about GTGIU but the others in this run rule my world

EW&F seem really buttoned up by comparison to a lot of these other artists. Watching the video helps a lot because it reminds you that there are people behind the music. This is one of those tracks that is almost robotic in its professionalism.

is "September" the best song recorded exclusively for a comp?

Donna Summer has one (coming up?) that may qualify as a contender

when my fiancee Eric and I get married, our dance will be to "September."

14. Cerrone - Supernature (1977)
481 points, 10 votes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-44963-1361889802-8497_zpsf613ab97.jpeg

http://youtu.be/QgGK4qBTwpw (music video)
http://youtu.be/aTWbvxDmiDs (12" version)

Cerrone 'Supernature' vs Houllebecq 'Atomised'

"The potions that we made/ touched the creatures down below..." - and that came out in 1976!

― dave q, 14. helmikuuta 2003 18:56

The specific aspect about Supernature that I like is the spacey feel to it. It feels like I'm in a journey through space whenever I hear it. Maybe it's because of the trancey synthline in the background (not the main one) and the chilling vocal too.

― dan138zig (Durrr Durrr Durrrrrr), 13. kesäkuuta 2009 10:22

Less glibly, there's a big freaks-like-us anti-social undercurrent in some disco - Cerrone's "Supernature" for instance, with its night- spawned successor race of human/animal crossbreeds. Not surprising, considering its roots.

― Tom, 29. huhtikuuta 2002 3:00

I think "Supernature" must have the oddest subject any disco hit has ever had? I can't imagine why Cerrone decided he should do a disco tune about the revenge of genetically manipulated animals on the humankind, but I'm glad he did!

The video to the tune is also pretty creepy in all its cheapness... Weirdly, I find the most disturbing part to be those short clips of Cerrone drumming in the desert; he has such a distressed expression there.

That sleeve is quite something. This was a last-minute cut from my ballot, still awesome tho.

*puts youtube, cerrone supernature on to-do list*

This isn't the Cerrone I voted for, but it'll do; afaict this guy was a Disco Midas.

Ha it took me forever to find out which album had "the ewf song that goes 'i-ee-i' ".

Hooray for Cerrone! I just love this whole album so much (Love in C Minor and The Golden Touch are brilliant too) I heard Supernature on Radio 2 a couple of months ago and it was really surreal. He had three songs on my list, I'd kind of given up on expecting him to place but so happy he did.

xps Supernature positively sane compared to crafting a disco epic about Grigori Rasputin

Just going back to Earth, Wind & Fire. I think these days they are such an underrated band. As well as the obviously classic hits they were a great albums band too. Spirit, That's the Way of the World, Earth, Wind & Fire, All n All and I Am are all such fantastic albums.

I get the complaint that some find EW&F too glossy but ... um ... I don't know how to tell you guys this, but ... this is a disco poll.

Is there such a thing as lo-fi, distortion-heavy disco?

Under my garage.

maybe some Ze stuff could qualify as lo-fi, distortion-heavy disco?

my #1 has yet to place and i think (hope) it will and it is def more low-fi than most of the last 20 to show up

I am cautiously, but increasingly, optimistic that my Number One will be THE Number One.

I love what Christgau said about EW&F's greatest hits:

all the passion and resonance of black music tradition are blended into a concoction slicker and more sumptuous than any white counterpart since Glenn Miller

16. Dinosaur - Kiss Me Again (1978)

YES! Was starting to get a bit worried about this, thought its lack of general availability might be an issue...

"Supernature" also high on my ballot.

Couldn't gaf about EWF, but hey.

More for me.

if i had got it together to vote, "kiss me again" would have been my no. 1

Somewhat bizarrely I got the Supernature album a couple of months back when we were clearing out the personal effects of my wife's deceased 76-year old aunt. Also got the Wurzels' Combine Harvester, guessing that's probably not going to show up...

At some point I tried to listen to all the Cerrone albums in order, but I gave up somewhere around Cerrone X. III and IV (and maybe Africanism) are the only essential ones imo.

if i had got it together to vote, "kiss me again" would have been my no. 1

― stirmonster, Monday, December 16, 2013 6:19 PM (19 minutes ago)

i think i have you to thank for first hearing "kiss me again"

i just hung my copy of the red vinyl 12" on my wall last week that he autographed for me :D

he = nicky siano, not stirmonster, ha

Argh... forgot Cerrone covers were NSFW. So much for watching this list at work now

use yr bookmarks

At some point I tried to listen to all the Cerrone albums in order, but I gave up somewhere around Cerrone X. III and IV (and maybe Africanism) are the only essential ones imo.

― freemen (on the) space (seandalai)

I only just got round to going past IV this week with V: Angelina, it was pretty terrible. I'm a big fan of his first album too Love in C Minor, it's only three songs but they're all solid.

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)
80. Heatwave - Boogie Nights (1976)
79. Santa Esmeralda - Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (1977)
78. Patrick Cowley - Menergy (1981)
77. Chaka Khan - I'm Every Woman (1978)
76. Rufus & Chaka Khan - Ain't Nobody (1983)
75. The O'Jays - Love Train (Tom Moulton Mix) (1973 - original / 1977 - remix)
74. John Paul King - Love Is in the Air (1977)
72.(tie) Michael Jackson - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' (1982)
72.(tie) Evelyn "Champagne" King - Shame (1977)
71. Class Action - Weekend (1983)
70. Patrick Cowley - Sea Hunt (1981)
69. Chic - My Feet Keep Dancing (1979)
68. Luther Vandross - Never Too Much (1981)
67. Sister Sledge - He's the Greatest Dancer (1978)
66. "D" Train - You're the One for Me (1981)
64.(tie) Space - Magic Fly (1977)
64.(tie) Bee Gees - You Should Be Dancing (1976)
63. Change - Paradise (1981)
62. Eddie Kendricks - Girl You Need a Change of Mind (1973)
61. Universal Robot Band - Barely Breaking Even (1982)
60. Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive (1977)
59. The Crusaders featuring Randy Crawford - Street Life (1979)
58. Loleatta Holloway - Love Sensation (Tom Moulton Mix) (1980)
57. Loose Joints - Is It All Over My Face? (Larry Levan Mix) (1980)
56. Donna Summer - Bad Girls (1979)
55. Gino Soccio - Dancer (1979)
54. Indeep - Last Night a DJ Saved My Life (1982)
53. Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover (1979)
52. Bee Gees - More Than a Woman (1977)
51. George Benson - Give Me the Night (1980)
50. Carly Simon - Why (1982)
49. Odyssey - Native New Yorker (1977)
48. The Rolling Stones - Miss You (1978)
47. Lipps, Inc. - Funkytown (1979)
46. Michael Jackson - Rock with You (1979)
45. Inner Life - Ain't No Mountain High Enough (Larry Levan Mix)(1981)
44. Alicia Bridges - I Love the Nightlife (Disco Round) (1978)
43. Candi Staton - Young Hearts Run Free (1976)
42. Patrice Rushen - Haven't You Heard (1979)
41. ABBA - Dancing Queen (1976)
40. Skatt Bros. - Walk the Night (1979)
39. A Taste of Honey - Boogie Oogie Oogie (1978)
38. Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah Band - Cherchez la femme / Se si bon (1976)
37. Anita Ward - Ring My Bell (1979)
36. Sheila & B. Devotion - Spacer (1979)
35. Donna Summer - Last Dance (1978)
34. The Joubert Singers - Stand on the Word (1985)
33. Gloria Gaynor - Never Can Say Goodbye (1974)
32. Gloria Gaynor - I Will Survive (1978)
31. Emotions - Best of My Love (1977)
30. Cheryl Lynn - Got to Be Real (1978)
29. Earth, Wind & Fire - Fantasy (1977)
28. Bee Gees - Night Fever (1978)
27. Grace Jones - Pull up to the Bumper (1981)
26. Donna Summer - I Feel Love (Patrick Cowley Megamix) (1980)
25. Diana Ross - I'm Coming Out (1980)
24. Blondie - Heart of Glass (1979)
23. Chic - Everybody Dance (1977)
22. McFadden & Whitehead - Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now (1979)
21. Vicki Sue Robinson - Turn the Beat Around (1976)
20. Chic - Good Times (1979)
19. Marvin Gaye - Got to Give It Up (1977)
18. George McCrae - Rock Your Baby (1974)
17. Donna Summer - Love to Love You Baby (1975)
16. Dinosaur - Kiss Me Again (1978)
15. Earth, Wind & Fire - September (1978)
14. Cerrone - Supernature (1977)

Thanks for that, gr80.

Youtube playlist so far: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfjjJkTR2EM1TJTMHGJJdu4KdFxZlOJDM&feature=mh_lolz

Cerrone another of my high picks, good to see it place well. A fair amount of this stuff now is a bit too much of the big pop disco for my tastes, but can't really fault any of it - they're pretty much all great songs, just slightly less in my niche.

seeing Fantasy here made me dig out The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 1. it's quite obviously immaculate

is "September" the best song recorded exclusively for a comp?

great question! was this ever discussed? it's pretty much unsearchable.

Best Song Recorded Specifically For a Compilation

As much as one wants to laugh at "Supernature," it's just so good and never ceases to amaze. If anything I thought it would place higher here.

But what's going on with Cerrone V through Cerrone X? The only track that I can recall is "Hooked on You."

13. Taana Gardner - Heartbeat (1981)
497 points, 12 votes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-77606-1315152293_zps3495baca.jpeg

http://youtu.be/LLUzATAWfJE

8 bars of heartbeats, 8 more of handclaps, then the BADDEST- ASSED DRUM INTRO EVER comes in, followed by the second-best bassline ever (after Chic's "Good Times"). Wow.

― M. Matos, 26. heinäkuuta 2001 3:00

Taana Gardner is really my favorite... with all of this retroism going 'round, why can't we have more basement-disco-funk with basslines from heaven?

― Aaron Grossman (aajjgg), 7. lokakuuta 2002 17:49

another thing which tends to get lost in time, but should be of interest, is which records where made hits by being spun in clubs, and which made it big through radio play. i would guess that Taana Gardner's "Heartbeat" is an example of the former, for example, while David Bowie's "Let's Dance" probably is not, but it's hard to tell for sure.

― Jeb, 2. kesäkuuta 2007 10:50

Yeah, Taana Gardner's "Heartbeat" is one of the greatest singles of all-time.

― Kevin John Bozelka, 27. marraskuuta 2007 18:42

At first, anchoring a disco tune to a human heartbeat may sound like a questionable idea because the BPM is so slow, but you can't deny it works here.