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

10. Chic - Le Freak (1978)
531 points, 13 votes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-1915761-1286789578_zps7ca6330e.jpeg

http://youtu.be/h1qQ1SKNlgY (music video)
http://youtu.be/DbzooE7jtiE (12" version)

One, two, awwwww FREAK OUT

― if I don't see more dissent, I'm going to have to check myself in (Matos W.K.), 10. syyskuuta 2009 19:13

even the snares on 'le freak' are a bunch of overdubbed handclaps, its a party in yr stereo

― deej, 1. heinäkuuta 2007 22:32

Le Freak rocked my world.

― Orbit (Orbit), 21. huhtikuuta 2004 4:41

just a memory of being 14 at a 'disco' getting down to le freak and loving it,
before the rot set in and boys had to like only punk/new wave or endure homophobic abuse

― Dr X O'Skeleton, 4. lokakuuta 2008 14:27

It took me a very long time before I could accept Le Freak for what it was, rather than a whole enterprise of very negative childhood associations (something I still struggle with today). Its interesting to consider this in light of how my love of Chic has been made possible by a process of outgrowing the white heterosexual-white-male perspective that I was subject to until somewhat kind of recently (which has an incredibly pervasive influence on taste, but also in what is expected of you, and what is acceptable).

― EDB, 25. marraskuuta 2010 0:07

Allegedly written when they couldn't get into Studio 54. The original lyrics were "aaahhh... FUYCK OFF!!!". I wonder how the smiley smiley ladies who fronted the band would have sang that? Probably with smiles. And aplomb. Lots of aplomb. Buckets of aplomb

― Amiii Stewart (Amiii Stewart), 25. toukokuuta 2005 13:20

That video is fantastic, particularly the bits where he's playing Le Freak in slow motion and revealing all these ridiculously subtle hidden notes

This guy is basically the greatest musician ever

― Bad Fucking Dowie (Sgt. Biscuits), 31. tammikuuta 2011 1:15

TOO LOW

I thought this was going to miss out, very surprised to see it beat Good Times.

At least 2 more Chic Organisation to show up right?

"I want your love" and "lost in music" surely.

9. Diana Ross - Love Hangover (1976)
607 points, 16 votes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-2588545-1292164358_zps51755141.jpeg

http://youtu.be/niEYaeYa72U

And the one sublime ending I do remember, now I come to think of it was some unknown chicago loft-party dj finishing up with "Love Hangover". I could just about have swooned. So much emotion, it was like wallowing in custard.

― Jacob, 14. marraskuuta 2002 14:33

love hangover - diana ross is a stone cold classic

― H (Heruy), 19. heinäkuuta 2003 20:14

I've played out the rest of what was once my second or third favorite song, pretty much, but that electric-piano-and-strings, descending-chords opening (that ten or so seconds before she starts moaning) captures the sleek, urban ennui side of disco as good as anything ever, in my book.

― Eric H. (Eric H.), 12. syyskuuta 2003 22:03

disco that sounds like "love hangover": CLASSIC!
disco that sounds like "disco duck": DUD!

― Mr. Snrub (Mr. Snrub), 17. helmikuuta 2005 3:53

The little guitar lick in the disco second half of Love Hangover is ALL TIME.

― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), 24. heinäkuuta 2013 22:40

Also, the opening flourish is so subtly jaded and discontent.

― Boven is het stil (Eric H.), 24. heinäkuuta 2013 22:44

Wow. Love Hangover is amazing; I cannot believe I've never heard it before.

― Ismael Klata, 24. heinäkuuta 2013 23:28

My no.4. So glad I found it.

This thread has infiltrated my thought so much that I dreamed about it last night. Haxan Cloak at #7, my guarantee.

and your first teacher at no.6

"Le Freak" is the only big Chic Organisation tune which leaves me cold - but hey, "Love Hangover" makes everything all right again.

I've enjoyed this poll but if There But For the Grace of God doesn't place in the Top 100 I'm burning it to the ground.

If all the people worried about Machine voted for it then it should be top five.

I default to the Associates version of "Love Hangover"; it's so glossily queasy.

Looks like some of you will disappointed and some pleasantly surprised by the remainder of the top 10.

(x-post)

Hmm, eleven classics for eight spaces: I Feel Love, Don't Stop, Mighty Real, Don't Leave Me This Way, Disco Inferno, Grace of God, More More More, Thinking of You, Lost in Music, I Want Your Love, Love Sensation.

"Love Sensation" has already placed...

Oh right, sorry, yes. Ten then. While I'm here, here's a chronological history-of-disco playlist I did last year, updated to include my favourites from this poll.

http://open.spotify.com/user/dorianlynskey/playlist/114QGesTK8G5b9CDC6M8LF

There are way more than eleven classics not yet showing imo

Oh sure, those were just the obvious ones on my ballot. It's weird when you see some of the really esoteric choices further down the rollout.

8. Andrea True Connection - More, More, More (1976)
615 points, 16 votes

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/andrea-true-connection-more-more-more-part-1-buddah-2_zps5fd63e42.jpg

http://youtu.be/IPF4xuqNMn8

Andrea True's musical career is one amazing moment to end all amazing moments.

― gospodin simmel, 26. elokuuta 2011 9:37

Not quite sure where this song lies on the spectrum of crap..I think its truly brill but suspect many feel otherwise.

― new to this, 19. marraskuuta 2002 4:43

This song is hysterical to me because of Ms. True's totally bored, beyond-blasé performance

― Sean (Sean), 19. marraskuuta 2002 21:27

When that key change (?) and the "later sampled by that Canadian band" part come along, it feels like a completely revitalized song. The tempo doesn't really change much and it's only temporary, but it was my immediate thought on this subject.

― Atnevon (Atnevon), 4. kesäkuuta 2004 5:10

Ow yeah - somebody offer to lick ice cream from my hairy chest baby! The Andrea True Connection are playing in the background and I'm ready for love baby.

― Disco Darren, 25. syyskuuta 2004 21:50

"More, More, More" = best disco track ever ever ever

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), 20. toukokuuta 2005 19:11

The Tom Moulton mix of Andrea True Connection's "More More More" is pretty much destroying my soul in the best way possible right now. I love Tom Moulton (have for years now) and love "More More More", but somehow failed to ever know the two had intermingled/crossed paths. Seriously, it's simply the best thing EVAH!

― rentboy (rentboy), 14. huhtikuuta 2006 14:43

228 Andrea True Connection - More, More, More

ROBBED!

This should have been #1 instead of that fucking Beach Boys tripe.

― Kent Burt, 4. joulukuuta 2010 3:33

There's probably a better disco piano song, but this one popped into my head last night and took up residence.)

― Hideous Lump, 8. lokakuuta 2013 5:00

That was the biggest surprise in the top 10 for me... I know it was a hit and was mixed by Tom Moulton and so on, but I had no idea ILX loves it so much! Personally, I think it's nice enough, but I've never truly warmed up to the tune, possibly because of the thing Sean mentions above, i.e. True's bored-sounding vocal performance.

This has been used in tv adverts in the uk as long as I can remember, rendering it an inert lump for me. I hadn't heard the verses before and while they're nice, I find the whole thing completely disengaging. It's a shame that I can't hear it with fresh ears, but I doubt it'd've moved me anyway.

her "what's your name" is better

you mean this song? oh, i think you're right.

but maybe cuz there's more of a rock flavor to it (the semi-prominence of the guitar) and the fact it hasn't been horribly overplayed.

There's a great story about the making of this record in Bob Stanley's Yeah Yeah Yeah. Love the breathy vocal and obviously the piano riff that Len sampled is all-time.

7. Michael Jackson - Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough (1979)
660 points, 14 votes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-2323581-1345898775-2422_zps900c17a6.jpeg

http://youtu.be/yURRmWtbTbo (music video)
http://youtu.be/OIu_GUot_u8 (12" version)

In my world "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" merits a classic on its own. That song is SOOO over-the-top good. Disco's finest moment, for me.

― Mark, 24. huhtikuuta 2001 3:00

Clearly, he's a classic. His songs have staying power, period. I defy you to find a song that gets people moving better than "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" or "Billie Jean."

― Josie, 28. lokakuuta 2002 8:46

I wouldn't say it ruins the song, but the instrumental break in Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" keeps it from perfection. The song is so brilliant, but the bridge is very conventional disco. The only thing plus I draw is that when it returns to the verses after the instrumental bit I realize just how strong the song is.

― Mark Richardson, 7. helmikuuta 2001 3:00

"don't stop til you get enough" by mj.

1) by the King of Pop/Artist of the Millenium
2) actually is a POPular song
3) lyrics about abandon & desire, innocently sexy & not just a little spooky
4) has a good beat, you can dance to it
5) sounded familiar and from outer space at the same time the first time you heard it

― Fritz Wollner (Fritz), 11. maaliskuuta 2003 19:38

"Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" is based rhythmically on the K.C. formula. I'd listened to and DJ'd with that record 'a million' times before I realised, coincidentally in Miami !

I used to use "Don't Stop..." as a floorstarter/filler cos how can you sit still to it? humbling moments: those times when even it won't work... I mean, how dead is your crowd then? how you gonna get them moving?

― Paul (scifisoul), 20. helmikuuta 2004 18:57

Hearing the demo version of "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" was just really endearing because it was really faaaar more sloppy and homemade than one would expect from someone who would become "The King Of Pop". The demo features his brothers and sisters (Janet included) banging on things in the house...

..also, obvious point, but while Quincy Jones and Rod Templeton's contributions were crucial to the success of those records, Jackson's delivery (as Matos explained very well) and his songwriting (yes, he did do some songwriting) were more crucial.

― donut christ (donut), 14. tammikuuta 2005 3:38

"don't stop til you get enough" video reminds me of this DFW line early in infinite jest where he says something like how the room felt like the bubbles coming up from a recently poured glass of 7-up...just sweet and airy and bubbly and otherworldly...

― otm and his package (M@tt He1ges0n), 29. kesäkuuta 2009 19:19

It's one of the last times in Jacko's career that you hear sheer unbridled joy in his vocals.

― Matt DC, 3. joulukuuta 2010 19:22

it's definitely the mj song that most immediately and consistently makes me want to dance. one time i was at a bakery and it came on and i had to suppress dancey vibes. then a dude came in and immediately started to dance up and down the narrow space in front of the counter. that dude otm.

― horseshoe, 24. helmikuuta 2012 23:32

"Got to give it up" Vs "Don't stop til you get enough"

I still haven't identified the "DSTYGE"/rap mashup I was looking for in this thread:

Song ID

:(

"I want your love" and "lost in music" surely.

― i lost my shoes on acid (jed_), Wednesday, 18 December 2013 08:32 (5 hours ago) Permalink

Yup, they were my 2 too.

DSTYGE is the first song I ever danced to at a disco: back end of 79, when it was a new entry at the lower end of the Top 40. (Historical footnote: the second song I ever danced to at a disco was "The Bitch" by Olympic Runners.)

I like everything about More More More except for the chorus. The other three in the top 10 so far are A++.

Also:

http://i.imgur.com/c3ObHDm.jpg

I'm fine if "Lost in Music" is too ranked Chic, but "I want your love" would be shockingly high here.

"More, More, Meh."

I love most of these, and am mostly liking the unfamiliar cuts as well.

It may turn out that disco is the place where my taste overlaps most with the board's averaged out taste.

Love Hangover, one of many childhood favorites here.

It's odd that we've seen Andrea True but not Claudja Barry here. Maybe Claudja is disadvantaged by not having a more definitive record - but still, what an amazing career.

The next entry should make Dorian happy...

6. Machine - There But for the Grace of God Go I (1979)
686 points, 14 votes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-1309289-1208562402_zpscaa01501.jpeg

http://youtu.be/1BQTlEJ7j5M

also, mad props must be given to Machine (another Darnell thang) for "There But for the Grace of God Go I"--ILM's theme song?

― M. Matos, 15. helmikuuta 2002 3:00

Head, heart AND hips?

"There But For The Grace Of God Go I" by Machine is fucking spectacular on all three counts.

― Patrick, 23. huhtikuuta 2001 3:00

Give or take something by Chic Inc., Machine's "There But For The Grace Of God Go I" is the greatest disco single of all-time (and totally stage-ready too...Chita Rivera still could've played Carmen Vidal in 1979...maybe even now).

― Kevin John Bozelka, 17. joulukuuta 2007 21:10

"And year after year the kid has to hear the do's the don'ts and the dears
And when she's ten years old she digs that rock 'n' roll
But Papa bans it from home"

from "There But For The Grace of God Go I" by Machine (August Darnell's pre-Kid Creole disco project) the phrase "she digs that rock n roll" is hopeful, but sung mournfully as if the kid knows papa will snuff out that glimmer of light too as soon as he recognizes it and the "papa bans it from the home" line is that defeat: all quick and clipped and resigned over that huge stomping beat. it always gives me chills.

― fritz, 1. huhtikuuta 2002 3:00

Interesting liner notes revelation: supposedly the "...gaining weight and losing sleep" line from "TBFTGOGGI" was originally "popping pills and smoking weed". Damn!

― nate detritus (natedetritus), 10. tammikuuta 2004 2:18

I really had no clue at all about this era, did I? Jesus, this is great. Political disco. Dr Buzzard's August Darnell involved again. The righteous venom in the killer "Let's find a place they say, somewhere far away, with no blacks, no Jews and no gays" line.

― Alba (Alba), 7. syyskuuta 2004 0:50

Okay, so it had fantastic vocals, it built irresistably to the half-screamed "THERE! GO! I!" at the end and it managed to combine perceptive lyrics about the foolishness of trying to find happiness by running away from other people with a tune that just..soared away...

BUT could they waggle their hips and point in the air whilst intoning the words LIGHTNING and FRIGHTENING and pouting seductively??? HMMM??

Probably.

Fuckers.

― Amiii Stewart (Amiii Stewart), 17. toukokuuta 2005 2:48

"There But For The Grace Of God Go I" is probably the greatest song that I always forget to bring up whenever I start rambling about greatest songs ever. It's like they couldn't decide whether they wanted to make a serious record or have the most over-the-top fun-sounding party possible on wax, so they did both. It's probably got some historical weight too, depending on how fond you are of Ze.

Not that I think about any of that whenever this shows up randomly on my iPod, however. God, what a song.

― James.Cobo (jamescobo), 17. toukokuuta 2005 3:58

I listened to Machine's "There But For The Grace Of God Go I" repeatedly for at least an hour the day I bought it. This was the 7" single version (which replaced "no blacks, no jews, and no gays" with "where only upper class people stay") so it was only about 3 minutes long. 3 minutes over and over during an hour-plus block = many, many no "no blacks, no jews, and no gays."

For years it was the first song I heard every year because I would play it exactly at midnight at my new year's eve parties. But because we were giving each other happy new year hugs, I'd have to play it again so we could dance to it.

Never got ridiculous even to this day. Here, I'll prove it to you by playing it AGAIN right now. "Aye yi yi yi yi yi yi yi YIII!"

― Kevin John Bozelka, 9. toukokuuta 2007 20:19

woah

Best record. Well second-best. My no.2

never heard of this tbh

It's excellent (I voted for it) but nowhere but ILM would it chart so high.

actually prefer the Kid Creole version, but Machine is obv classic too

Kid Creole on SNL: http://youtu.be/EuCxNlWWe3g

I didn't vote for this because I thought I didn't really like it. listening again and I DO like it but stand by it not being in my top 50, not sure it would crack my top 100 tbh. that bit that todd terry sampled just came on, didn't realise that was from this.

also just dawned on me that 'mainline' won't place.

I've watched that clip before, and I can't understand why anyone would prefer it to the Machine version, it sounds so MOR and pastichey... But then again, so does most of Kid Creole that I've heard.

(xx-post)

Anyway, I agree with Alfred that only on ILM would "TBFTGOGGI" place so high, but that's what's so great about it! It has both that killer groove and the biting social commentary, and neither feels out of place.

it sounds so MOR and pastichey.

and the dancing is ridiculous. I can tell they hadn't honed their performing chops (as Kid Creole) yet.

YESSSSS

really had lost hope this would place