I Grandi Successi della Disco Music: Disco Fever anni ’70 (ed ’80)

In questa rubrica musicale Funk Outta Here sto cercando di riassumere, in poche righe, i generi musicali che hanno spopolato negli anni ’60, ’70, ’80; vi ho raccontato qualcosa del mondo rhythm and blues, soul e funk. Ora è lo volta della Disco Music.

La Disco in breve

Siamo verso la fine degli anni ’60 e l’inizio degli anni ’70, il pubblico che frequentava locali nei quali ballare e ritrovarsi con gli amici era principalmente black; in quel periodo i generi più popolari erano il funk, il soul, la musica latina e psichedelica, con elementi swing ed afroamericani.
Venne così alla luce la Disco Music.

Il termine disco deriva proprio da “discotheque”, che originariamente in francese significa “libreria di dischi fonografici” (successivamente divenne il nome dei nightclub parigini).

Questo genere divenne talmente popolare e presto accessibile a tutti che fu aperto un club, Studio 54 del 22 Aprile 1977, dove le nottate scorrevano solo a suon di Donna Summer, Bee Gees, Chic immersi in lustrini sfavillanti, luci abbaglianti, baffi folti, capelli cotonati, travestimenti alla Liza Minelli e molto altro ancora.
Lo stile comincia ben presto a diffondersi nell’etere soprattutto grazie alle radio; era il 12 luglio 1974, quarantaquattro anni fa, la stazione radio WPIX di New York stava per mandare in onda il primo programma radiofonico dedicato alla colonna sonora delle notti di Manhattan, che avrebbe fatto ballare il mondo.

Ma, proporzionalmente alla sua popolarità, cominicano a diffondersi anche le critiche (anche da molti musicisti noti, quali Tom Petty, Alice Cooper o, il chitarrista storico dei Pink Floyd, David Gilmour) che definiscono le star della Disco dei burattini col microfono, oltre che il male assoluto e la non-musica, fino a disprezzarli talmente tanto da odiarli.
Nonostante le critiche, il sound non demorde, facendosi largo nel mondo musicale, che, probabilmente (o inconsciamente), all’epoca non era pronto per lui: alla fine degli anni ’70 era il genere che vendeva di più in assoluto, sbancando nel mercato.

La diffusione della Disco nel mondo

Similmente al funk, al rhythm and blues, al soul, al jazz ed altri generi derivati, nasce per le comunità e la popolazione afro-americana ed italo-americana del Bronx, di Manhattan e Filadelfia.
Il genere musicale venne reso noto anche da numerosi film, quali “Saturday Night Fever” (la Febbre del Sabato Sera) del ’77 e “Thank God It’s Friday” (Grazie a Dio è Venerdì) del ’78, che vedono come protagonisti noti esponenti della corrente musicale (come Donna Summer ed il gruppo Commodores).

Si ritiene, inoltre, che sia stato il chiudi fila di una serie di movimenti culturali di massa ideati dalla “baby boom”; nient’altro che quella parte di popolazione nata nel dopo guerra, tra gli anni ’40 e gli anni ’60, in Nord America e che ha contribuito all’aumento demografico Statunitense affiancato all’aumento della produzione di beni di consumo e allo sviluppo economico.

Se vi state chiedendo quale sia stato il brano celibe della disco music, beh sappiate che in molti si contendono il titolo: sono almeno quattro.
Soul Makossa di Manu Dibango, Kung fu Fighting di Carl Douglas, Rock the Boat degli Hues Corporation e Rock Your Baby di George McCrae.

I più noti pioneri della “febbre del Sabato sera” sono di certo loro: Giorgio Moroder, Donna Summer, Chic, Bee Gees, Gloria Gaynor, Cerrone, The Trammps, Sister Sledge, Village People, Kool and The Gang, Kc and The Sunshine Band.

I Migliori Brani Disco Music anni 70 (e inizio 80) che hanno segnato la storia

(secondo Squerz)

*in grassetto, le nostre preferite (anche se son tutte belle)!

1971

• September – Earth, Wind & Fire
• Theme from Shaft – Isaac Hayes (tanto buon funk)

1972

• Love Train – The O’Jays
• Woman – Barrabas

1973

• The Love I Lost – Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes
• Love Is The Message – MFSB

1974 (il debutto vero e proprio della Disco Music)

• Ask Me – Ecstasy, Passion & Pain
• Be Thankful for What You’ve Got – William DeVaughn
• Doctor’s Orders – Carol Douglas
• Fire – Ohio Players
• Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas
• Pick Up The Pieces – Average White Band
• Rock Your Baby – George McCrae
• You’re The First, The Last, My Everything – Barry White
• Lady Marmalade – Patti Labelle
• Rock The Boat – The Hues Corporation

1975

• I Love Music – The O’Jays
• I’ve Got The Music in Me – Thelma Houston (ft. Pressure Cooker)
• Lady Bump – Penny McLean
• Never Can Say Goodbye – Gloria Gaynor
• Shout – The Trammps
• That’s The Way I Like It – Kc & The Sunshine Band
• The Hustle – Van McCoy – tranqui funky –
• What Am I Gonna Do With You – Barry White
• You Sexy Thing – Hot Chocolate
• To Each His Own – Faith, Hope and Charity
• That’s Where The Happy People Go – The Trammps
• Do It Any Way You Wanna – People’s Choice

1976

• Black Is Black – Belle Epoque
• Daddy Cool – Boney M.
• Disco Inferno – The Trammps
• Don’t Take Away The Music – Tavares
• Feel The Beat (Everybody Disco) – Ohio Players
• Get Up and Boogie (That’s Right) – Silver Convention
• Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel – Tavares
• I Love to Love – Tina Charles
• Knights in White Satin – Giorgio Moroder
• Love Really Hurts Without You – Billy Ocean
• More, More, More – Andrea True (Connection)
• Right Back Where We Started From – Maxine Nightgale
• Sunny – Boney M.
• The Best Disco in Town – Ritchie Family
• TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) – MFSB (Mother, Father, Sister, Brother)
• You Make Me Feel Like Dancing – Leo Sayer
• Young Heart Run Free – Candi Stanton
• Spring Rain – Bebu Silvetti
• Turn The Beat Around – Vicki Sue Robinson
• Hot Line – The Sylvers
• Shake, Shake, Shake – Kc & The Sunshine Band
• Shake Your Booty – Kc & The Sunshine Band
• Nice & Slow – Jesse Green
• Get Up and Boogie! – Silver Convention
• You Should Be Danging – Bee Gees
• Dance and Shake Your Tambourine – Universal Robot Band
• You To Me Are Everything – The Real Thing (ne sa qualcosa, Primavera di Marina Rei?)

1977

• Best of My Love – The Emotions
• Boogie Nights – Heatwave
• Don’t Leave Me This Way – Thelma Houston
• Give Me Love – Cerrone
• I Feel Love – Donna Summer
• I’m Your Boogie Man – Kc and The Sunshine Band
• Ma Baker – Boney M.
• More Than A Woman – Tavares
• Night Fever – Bee Gees (tutto ciò che è Bee Gees va benissimo per la Disco Music)
• Shame – Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King (nota anche per I’m In Love)
• Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees
• I Found Love – Love And Kisses
• Down To Love Town – The Originals
• Native New Yorker – Odyssey
• From Here To Eternity – Giorgio Moroder
• The More I Get The More I Want – Teddy Perdergrass
• Get On The Funk Train – Münich Machine
• Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood – Santa Esmeralda
• Risky Changes – Bionic Boogie
• Everybody Dance – Chic
• Do What You Wanna Do – T-Connection
• Lovin’ Is Really My Game – Brainstorm
• Two Hot For Love – THP Orchestra
• Zodiacs – Roberta Kelly
• Dance, Dance, Dance – Chic
• Look For Love – Cerrone
• I Was Born This Way – Carl Bean
• Love Is You – Carol Williams

1978

• Born To Be Alive – Patrick Hernandez
• Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? – Rod Stewart
• Got To Be Real – Cheryl Lynn
• I Love the Nightlife – Alicia Bridges
• Instant Replay – Dan Hartman
• I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
• Last Dance – Donna Summer
• Le Freak – Chic
• Macho Man – Village People
• Pride – Grace Jones
• YMCA – Village People
• You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) – Sylvester
• Romeo And Juliet – Alec R. Constandinos
• Make That Feeling Come Again – Beautiful Bend
• If There’s Love – Amant
• Hot Shot – Karen Young
• In The Bush – Musique
• It’s Better Than A Good Time – Gladys Knight (& The Pips)
• One Nation Under The Groove – Funkadelic
• Love Is In You – Nightlife Unlimited
• Boogie Oogie Oogie – A Taste of Honey
• Keep On Jumpin’ – Musique
• Dancin’ – Grey & Hanks
• Chase – Giorgio Moroder
• One Way Ticket – Eruption
• Love And Desire – Arpeggio
• Let’s Get Together – Detroit Emeralds
• Come Into My Heart – USA European Connection
• After Dark – Pattie Brooks
• Spank – Jimmy Bo Horne
• Ain’t Nothin’ Gonna Keep Me From You – Teri Desario
• Come On Dance, Dance – Saturday Night Band
• Disco Circus – Martin Circus
• Rough Diamond – Madleen Kane
• Can You Feel The Force? – The Real Thing
• Everyone’s A Winner – Hot Chocolate
• Heart Of Glass – Blondie
• Let’s All Chant – Michael Zager Band
• Pick Me Up, I’ll Dance – Melba Moore
• Let’s Start The Dance – Hamilton Bohannon
• Perfect Love Affair – Constellation Orchestra

1979

• Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now – McFadden & Whitehead
• Good Times – Chic
• Bad Girls – Donna Summer
• Boogie Wonderland – Earth Wind & Fire
• Burn This Disco Out – Michael Jackson
• Don’t Give Up – The Simon Orchestra
• Do You Love What You Feel – Refus ft. Chaka Khan
• Feels Like I’m In Love – Kelly Marie
• He’s The Greatest Dancer – Sister Sledge
• Hot Stuff – Donna Summer
• I Love the Night Life – Anita Ward
• Keep On Dancin’ – Gary’s Gang
• Knock On Wood – Amii Stewart
• Ladies Night – Kool and The Gang
• No More Tears (Enough Is Enought) – Donna Summer (ft. Barbara Streisand)
• Pop Muzik – M
• Relight My Fire – Dan Hartman
• Ring My Bell – Anita Ward
• Rock With You – Michael Jackson
• Spacer – Sheila & Black Devotion (piccole influenze degli Chic?)
• The Boss – Diana Ross
• We Are Family – Sister Sledge
• This Time Baby – Jackie Moore
• Disco Nights (Rock Freak) – GQ (molto funkeggiante)
• Love Is in You – Nightlife Unlimited
• Touch In The Morning – Marlena Shaw (cover)
• Love Insurance – Front Page
• Move On Up (Up Up) – Destination (cover Curtis Mayfield)
• Don’t You Want My Love? – Debbie Jacobs
• You’re All I Have – Poussez!
• Good To Me – THP Orchestra
• Let No Man Put Asunder – First Choice
• There But for The Grace of God Go I – Machine
• Heaven Must Have Sent You – Bonnie Pointer (Heaven Myst Have Sent You – The Elgins ’66 disco version)
• No One Get The Prize – Diana Ross
• And The Beat Goes On – The Whispers
• Found A Cure – Ashford & Simpson
• I’m Caught Up (In A One Night Love Affair) – Inner Life
• Music Is My Way of Life – Patti LaBelle
• Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! – Abba
• Lost In Music – Sister Sledge
• Cuba – The Gibson Brothers
• Is It Love You’re After? – Rose Royce
• I Got My Mind Made Up – Instant Funk
• Shake Your Body (Down to The Ground) – The Jackson
• Keep On Dancing – Gary’s Gang
• Last Train to London – Electric Light Orchestra
• Tonight’s the Night (Good Time) – Kleeer
• Shine A Little Love – Electric Light Orchestra
• Dancer – Gino Soccio
• Smack Dab In The Middle – Janice McClain
• Gonna Get Along Without You Now – Viola Wills
• You And I – Delegation
• Trip To Your Mind – Hudson People
• You Know How To Love Me – Phyllis Hyman

1980

• Ai No Corrida – Quincy Jones
• Give Me The Night – George Benson
• Funkytown – Lipps Inc
• Funkin’ For Jamaica – Tom Browne
• It’s Raining Men – The Weather Girls
• Love Sensation – Loleatta Holloway
• On The Radio – Donna Summer
• Party On – Pure Energy
• Xanadu – Olivia Newton John
• Celebration – Kool and The Gang
• I’m Coming Out – Diana Ross
• Upside Down – Diana Ross
• Let’s Go Round Again – Average White Band
• Walking On Music – Peter Jacques Band
• Fever – Sylvester
• Stomp! – The Brothers Johnson
• Back Together Again – Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
• Take Your Time (Do It Right) – S.O.S. Band
• Call Me – Blondie
• Got To Love Somebody (Today) – Sister Sledge (simil Good Times degli Chic)
• Searchin’ – Change
• Love Injection – Trussel
• Jump To The Beat – Stacy Lattisaw
• You Got What It Takes – Bobby Thurston
• Use Your Body & Soul – Crown Heights Affair
• Janice (Don’t Be So Blind To Love) – Skip Mahoney
• Sexy Eyes – Dr. Hook

1981

• Body Music – The Strikers
• Lady (You Bring Me Up) – Commodores
• On The Beat – The B.B. & Q. Band
• Your Love – Lime
• Can’t Hold Back (Your Loving) – Kano
• Let’s Groove – Earth, Wind & Fire
• Physical – Olivia Newton John
• Shake It Up Tonight – Cheryl Lynn
• Super Freak – Rick James
• A Night to Remember – Shalamar
• Body Music – The Strikers (qualcuno ha detto The Gap Band?)
• Gonna Get Over You – France Joli
• Double Dutch Bus – Frankie Smith

1982

• Can’t Take My Eyes Off You – Boys Town Gang
• Get Down on It  – Kool and The Gang
• I’m So Excited – The Pointer Sister
• Just An Illusion – Imagination
• Last Night A DJ Save My Life – Indeep
• I Can Make You Feel Good – Shalamar
• I’ll Do My Best – The Ritchie Family
• Let’s Go Dancing – Kool and The Gang
• In The Name of Love – Sharon Redd
• Babe, We’re Gonna Love Tonight – Lime
• Do Ya Wanna Funk – Sylvester ft. Patrick Cowley
• Hold Me Tighter In The Rain – Billy Griffin
• Act Like You Know – Fat Larry’s Band

1983

• Ain’t Nobody – Chaka Khan
• Jump (For My Love) – The Pointer Sister
• Another Life – Kano
• Vamos a La Playa – Righeira
• Love Town – Booker Newberry III
• I.O.U. – Freeez

1984

• High Energy – Evelyn Thomas
• Fresh – Kool and The Gang
• I Am What I Am – Gloria Gaynor
• Smalltown Boy – Bronski Beat
• Together In Electric Dreams – Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder
• Somebody’s Else Guy – Jocelyn Brown
• Love Explosion – Donnell Pitman

1985

• Tarzan Boy – Baltimora
• You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) – Dead Or Alive
• Conga – Gloria Estefan
• Rhythm Of The Night – DeBarge

1986

• Venus – Bananarama
• Can’t Live Without Your Love – Suzy Q

Mi scuso se ci sono date errate e/o doppioni di canzoni.
¡Lista in continuo upgrade!
Buona Disco!

Disco Never Dies.

Grazie a DiscoMusic per alcuni spoiler e a Panorama.