| Author | Message | ||
  Chancellor of Soul (harlem_144) 4-Laureate Username: harlem_144 Post Number: 116 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 63.78.189.114 |
Hey SDer's ! On the 28 anniversary of Johnnie Taylor's hit, " Disco Lady"..... I wrote a story on how the song was composed and how it became the first platinum single in music history ! Check it out on my website: chancellorofsoul.com Enjoy !!!! Mike Boone (Chancellor of Soul) | ||
Kev-Lo (7273747576) 3-Pundit Username: 7273747576 Post Number: 57 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 4.237.11.142 |
Hi this Is Kev-Lo good thread chancellor Disco Lady Was indeed a disco It also reminds me of when I was getiing ready to graduate from High School. | ||
Jimmy Mack (luke) 4-Laureate Username: luke Post Number: 112 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 205.188.116.138 |
I never could figure out how it was disco--never once heard it played in any clubs and it aint easy to dance to tho its a groovy record. | ||
1wicked (1wicked) 2-Debutant Username: 1wicked Post Number: 20 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.126.64.72 |
Jimmy Mack: IMHO the term disco is used interchangeably (at times) with danceable R&B...and it shouldn't be. Because a song MAY have been heard IN a disco didn't make it a disco song. I worked retail record when "disco" got hot...and it was all about BPM (beats per minute) & electronics and it was style over substance. Think back to what Bellote & Moroder, Meco, & Gino Soccio were doing. Many R&B artists, writers, & producers went for a "sound" that would get club/disco play...but I'd hardly call it "disco" (as many would call "Bad Luck" & others). | ||
T.L. Harris (tl_harris) 1-Arriviste Username: tl_harris Post Number: 7 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.0.54.208 |
Disco Lady IS truly a great song. Don Davis and Johnnie Taylor's working relationship was great. The whole track is great and it reminds you of how great Johnnie Taylor truly is. T.L. Harris | ||
roger (roger) 3-Pundit Username: roger Post Number: 51 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 217.35.87.17 |
Hello Chancellor. I logged onto your site and found the "Disco Lady" item. A very interesting story. I have a couple of HARVEY SCALES singles from the early 1990's and they are in a very "Deep Soul" vein. I knew that he had written "Disco Lady" and had done the original (demo) version of it, but your article has filled in some of the gaps in my knowledge, thanks. On the subject of whether "Disco Lady" is a "Disco" record, I think that this is an indication of the emotive issues that the term "Disco" still manages to bring to the surface. I can't imagine, for example, that anyone might suggest that "This is My Country" by THE IMPRESSIONS is a "country" record, or that "Portuguese Love" by TEENA MARIE is an example of "Portuguese" music!! To my mind, the roots of "Disco" music were undoubtedly the "Dancable R&B" of the early '70s .. especially the "Philly" music. Indeed I remember when the term first came into common usage (1974) describing "Disco" music to someone as "Souped up Soul". I have no problem with uptempo Soul/Funk music of that era being described as "Disco" .. where I have a problem is when European/Pop/Disco gets described as "Soul", which still occasionally occurs here in Britain!! Incidentally, Iwicked .. is there such a thing as "non-danceable" R&B? Roger | ||
Juicefree20 (juicefree20) 6-Zenith Username: juicefree20 Post Number: 704 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.46.184.162 |
I have to say that this was very big in the NY clubs in 1976. Actually, this song was funky as hell. That bassline & those keys were great! I must say though that this record hasn't stood the test of time very well. Perhaps because it's so low key & restrained for the average "Disco" fan. Because it had "Disco" in its title, it's been pretty much regarded as a "Disco" song & nothing could be farther from the truth. This is a funk workout, plain & simple. To be honest, it was that very Euro/Pop/Disco that spelled the end of Disco, with its overblown arrangements, crappy lyrics & brain dead singing. Its monotonous 4/4 beat, excesses & songs of interminable length, only served to ruin what had been a damn good genre. To answer your question, yes, there is plenty of non-danceable R&B. I'll come up with a list when I get the chance. Juice (Message edited by Juicefree20 on May 10, 2004) | ||
Chancellor of Soul (harlem_144) 4-Laureate Username: harlem_144 Post Number: 124 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 152.163.252.200 |
Hey Roger ! Thanks so much buddy for your kind words about the story. I think the term " Disco" was drummed up by the press to describe the type of new wave's answer to dance music in the 1970's. To me it's just a word, it's what in the groove that counts . Take care, Mike Boone (Chancellor of Soul) chancellorofsoul.com | ||
Juicefree20 (juicefree20) 6-Zenith Username: juicefree20 Post Number: 722 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 24.46.184.162 |
Chancellor, I don't think that I have to say WHO decided to label all Dance music as Disco! I'm also sure that I don't have to say WHY they did that. Brother, you know the deal on that one! (Message edited by Juicefree20 on May 12, 2004) | ||
Jim Vitti (jim_vitti) 1-Arriviste Username: jim_vitti Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 69.14.36.153 |
Hello Chancellor I just visited your site and read your story about the making of "Disco Lady". It's a good article - however I would like to take this opportunity to correct some of the statements in that story. I first met Harvey Scales that day he walked into United Sound, to meet with Don Davis. I was in studio-A getting ready for a session with P-Funk - we were laying tracks at that time for Bootsy's first album on Warner Bros.-- (Stretchin' Out in Bootsy's Rubber Band). Don called me into studio-B, introduced me to Harvey, and asked me to patch in a cassette machine so they could listen to the cassette tape that Harvey had in his hand. Ther were a few tunes on that tape, one of which was entitled "Move it in,Move it 'round,Sexy Lady". I don't know who the musicians were, I assumed it Harvey's own band, however, Harvey was singing the vocals. It was a semi-funky track with very sexually suggestive lyrics and very good groove. Don really liked it, and thought with a little tweaking and polishing, he could use it for Johnnie Taylor. Don decided to cut the rhythm track - but wanted it to be a little funkier than the original -- but, who to use!!??? Welllll---- since P-Funk was already in the studio and staying in town for awhile - why not --- Brilliant!!! He convinced Bootsy and the guys to cut the track for him. (for a little extra incentive on the side $$$). It was a little tricky to get this done. For instance,the keyboard player is credited to "George Worrell". The track turned out great!!! Now, as to how the title changed - here's the story. While working on the background vocals with Brandy and Ken Sands engineering, they were not happy with the way "Sexy Lady" was fitting with the track. Ken Sands came up with the idea of calling it "Disco Lady"!! It just seemed to flow better, and Disco was all the rage at that time - so why not. Don loved the idea, and later gave Ken a $200.00 bonus for the suggestion. Where all this trip to Spain and campfires and Gypsy Women stuff came from - I'll never know!! I just hope this sheds a little more light on the making of a very good record - for history's sake! P.S. Dave Van DePitte is an arranger not a producer. P.S.S. George Clinton was never very happy with Don for using "his" guys to cut that track! | ||
Chancellor of Soul (harlem_144) 4-Laureate Username: harlem_144 Post Number: 144 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.207.40.18 |
Thanks Jim ! | ||
Chancellor of Soul (harlem_144) 4-Laureate Username: harlem_144 Post Number: 145 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 66.207.40.18 |
Hey Jim......do you have an e-mail address ?? If so ....can I have it ? Thanks ! | ||
Jim Vitti (jim_vitti) 1-Arriviste Username: jim_vitti Post Number: 2 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 69.14.36.153 |
Hey Chancellor My e-mail address is jvitti@wowway.com | ||
Chancellor of Soul (harlem_144) 4-Laureate Username: harlem_144 Post Number: 147 Registered: 4-2004 Posted From: 63.78.189.114 |
Great ! thanks Jim ! |
