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

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

ahhh Kid Creole is fun

Yay! Was my no.3 pick. Such a great song.

I love that this made it to the top ten. It was in mine as well

Okay... we have 5 slots left, and no First Choice? I'm getting worried. I'm also sure I Want Your Love is coming up too.

5. Sister Sledge - Lost in Music (1978)
695 points, 16 votes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-2223670-1385116085-4675_zps8dd34440.jpeg

http://youtu.be/43qB9FpfCR8

For "Lost in Music" alone Sister Sledge destroys that bag of wet hemp.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn (Alfred Soto), 3. kesäkuuta 2006 16:07

It's just not the political angle rock usually took. "Lost In Music" takes a stance re. work which is political in its rejectionism - "Responsibility for me is a tragedy, I'll get a job some other time" - if not as 'constructive' in its criticism as some punk.

― Tom, 29. huhtikuuta 2002 3:00

It's the best song ever, right now, right when it's saying they and I are lost in music. Isn't it?

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), 17. helmikuuta 2005 17:47

What a song to get lost in. Throw your cares away as the bassline struts into your consciousness and slip between the clipped chorus and the vocals - somewhere between ecstasy and anguish.

Nile Rogers penned this (I know...you knew that) - I'm thankful he gave it to Sister Sledge rather than Chic. Those glib, perfect vocals that made Chic so fantastic would have ruined this entirely. The Sledge sisters perform with determination, occasionally verging on desperation - they really are seeking salvation in music, and this gives the song an incredible urgency.

The yearning is balanced by a knowledge that they're clinging onto something, that it can't last forever - "I WON'T GIVE UP MY MUSIC. NOT ME NOT NOW NO WAY NO HOW" - it feels as if they know, sooner or later the party has to end, but they aren't going to admit it, and they don't want to hear you talking about it either.

The hope of transformation hangs in front of you. The driving melody and insistent vocals push it on. There's no turning back.

― Amiii Stewart (Amiii Stewart), 17. toukokuuta 2005 20:42

At the time, I thought "Lost In Music" was plodding and dreary. How very, very wrong I was.

― mike t-diva, 11. elokuuta 2009 16:20

Greatest Chic production: Sister Sledge: "Lost in Music"

Second greatest single of the 1970s: Sister Sledge: "Lost in Music"

Greatest disco single of all-time: Sister Sledge: "Lost in Music"

― Kevin John Bozelka, 2. heinäkuuta 2007 4:18

best a/b side EVER? not to be rockist but i prefer the b side.

This is IMO the best song Sister Sledge or Chic have ever been involved with... The perfect encapsulation of the disco experience as escapism.

I have to say, though, that even though I approve the high placing of "Lost in Music", I was hoping "We Are Family" would place in the top 100 too. I know people might've grown tired of it due to hearing it on the radio and in movies and TV ads so often, but if you can manage to listen to it with fresh ears, it's still one monster of a jam, and a helluva showcase for Kathy Sledge.

Also, very important in its uplifting communality, which I've noticed when it gets played in feminist parties.

Nile's nagging guitar line is so great on this

Yes! 'Lost in music' one of the top 3 Chic productions, one already showed up, the other was my outside bet for number 1.

my #2 (iirc)

greatest "uh huh" in the history of music?

Okay, so I just noticed NONE of the top 10 tunes so far had #1 votes. Did everyone vote for niche disco tunes as their #1? Or are we going to have a near unanimous vote for #1?

The '84 remix is IMMENSE

the STRINGS

Xp. Seems like there haven't been many number 1s at all so far.

lost in music would have made a fine number one.

my introduction to TBFTGOGGI was back in '05: a DJ friend gave me a CDR of a mix he'd done; a very soulwax/optimo-influenced mashup-not-mashup thing that opened with about two and a half minutes of the Machine track then smash-cut into Blur's "girls and boys", to incredible effect.

"AY YI YI YI YIIIII" directly in to "STREETS LIKE A JUNGLE"

4. Thelma Houston - Don't Leave Me This Way (1976)
703 points, 16 votes, one 1st place vote.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/thelma_houston-dont_leave_me_this_way2_zps5322fb95.jpg

http://youtu.be/yioNn7XS-bw

Thelma Houston "Don't Leave Me This Way" has it all.

― avery schreiber, 20. toukokuuta 2004 20:40

no "don't leave me this way," no cred

― butt-rock miyagi (rogermexico.), 16. huhtikuuta 2009 19:23

the Thelma Houston song is a big-time disco classic.

― Tim Ellison, 21. kesäkuuta 2004 23:53

<3 this song for all time!

― Ⓓⓡ. (Johnny Fever), 25. heinäkuuta 2013 20:25

Pretty sure I loved this in 1976, even though I was well into my metal/art-rock high school years. I don't even think disco was yet disco out in the world at large.

― clemenza, 25. heinäkuuta 2013 20:29

I like both disco versions of "Don't Leave Me This Way", but I feel the Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes original has an edge over the Thelma Houston version, because the arrangement in the former is so majestic, and because Teddy Pendergrass delivers the desperation in the lyrics more convincingly than Houston. So I was pretty surprised that this was #4, while the original didn't even make it into the top 100. Why?!

boy the Communards version sure is shrill, ain't it?

Wow, finally a 1st place vote.

I was quite sure this was among the classics that missed the top 100 entirely. Trammps/Summer/Sylvester is my bet for the top 3 at this point.

I voted for the Harold Melvin version, but have no quibbles with Thelma's presence instead.

Yes, the 1984 remix of Lost In Music is a beautiful thing.

Hmm, not sure which remix you mean but there was a rubbish one that later made the UK charts that overlaid a clodding 4/4 beat. The greatness of "Lost in Music" is 99% in the uncertainty as to where the 1 is.

I voted for both versions, glad one of them made it, totally deserving of a top 5 spot. (Re don't leave me this way)

re Lost in Music ya I'm a little surprised it's the orig. rather than the '84 remix that's made it, I thought the latter was (rightly) considered definitive. (The CD version I have has that '84 Rodgers and Edwards remix alongside the terrible 'Sure is Pure remix', maybe that's what you're thinking of Jeff?)

Wonder how many #1 votes didn't even make the list.

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

Made it into the top 5 for S1ant's list of top 100 dance songs.

3. Donna Summer - I Feel Love (1977)
705 points, 15 votes, two 1st place votes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v655/lixnixn/R-1407106-1255085975_zpse581784e.jpeg

http://youtu.be/H7r83-y3j2A

OH shit. OH GOD> OH god!!! This has got to be one of the main musical achievements of mankind.

― Sister Reed (Bimble), 21. tammikuuta 2009 10:22

To me, "I Feel Love" still sounds like the future of music.

― The Good Dr. Bill (The Good Dr. Bill), 27. huhtikuuta 2005 22:05

I am currently researching the production of "I feel love" by Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder. I already emailed the master himself, and he was kind enough to send me a weird graphic, but that is not very instructive.

I am particularily interested in the delay effect that he uses to "double" the synth riff, and the other means with which he creates "metrical dissonances", e.g. the echo effects. I wonder how they were produced and I am interested in all other production info or trivia.

― Tilman Baumgaertel (mail at tilmanbaumgaertel.net), 21. syyskuuta 2006 17:25

He sent you a weird graphic? Can we see it?!?

― Am I Re-elected Yet? (Dada), 21. syyskuuta 2006 17:28

Here you go:

Explains everything, doesnt it?

This is his email reply:

"Dear Mr. Tilman
this is the only way i can help you

http://www.thing.de/tilman/i%20feel%20love.jpg

saluti
Giorgio Moroder"

T.

― Tilman Baumgaertel (mail at tilmanbaumgaertel.net), 21. syyskuuta 2006 18:41

yeah, graphic seems to say everything (or, I'd say he delayed the synth line by an amount of time equaling one 16th note, and placed that delay in the opposite channel as the original...hence, synth line sounds like a pattern of 16th notes instead of just 8th notes...pic is much simpler!)

― Dominique (dleone), 21. syyskuuta 2006 19:15

Love Saves the Day has a part where they talk with Moroder about this. He gives an anecdote that Donna Summer was dancing to it in a club, probably next to a speaker that was carrying the right channel, and came back to Moroder saying "You know, something is wrong with this recording!" Moroder told her "I know what's wrong." "(the record) did well all the same."

― grady (grady), 21. syyskuuta 2006 19:48

i feel love is one of my all time favourite records ever. i blame my sister. she played it rather a lot when it came out.

― frenchbloke (frenchbloke), 21. syyskuuta 2006 19:25

Swear to G-d, man: I strap on the headphones, cue up "I Feel Love" and damned if it doesn't sound like the best music EVAH!

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), 20. lokakuuta 2004 10:12

"I Feel Love" is the most popular disco record ever made because it's the one that's been ripped off the most (i.e. by every single trance track in existence) (yes I'm being overgeneralist have fun poking holes in my arguments!)

― M Matos (M Matos), 26. helmikuuta 2003 3:10

I sort of agree with Frank Kogan's post about not being able to identify what it is about Diana Ross's voice you like. With Donna its all there, and its evident, and it lends incredible depth to a song such as "I feel love" which in someone else's hands would have been..less amazing, somehow.

― hobart paving, 19. toukokuuta 2007 13:58

my #1 dancefloor moment ever was at a club in Barcelona on my honeymoon, Jarvis Cocker was DJing and put on "I Feel Love," it sounded amazing and people went nuts. RIP Donna you made great music.

― dmr, 17. toukokuuta 2012 20:49