In this section of ‘Through the Ages’ I shall look at the two best disco/dance tunes from the 70’s to the current decade.
70’s
Chic- Le Freak
Whilst watching a documentary on Nile Rodgers, the guitar player and genius behind Chic, he explained the creation of this disco classic. He said it was New Years eve and one of their tracks was proving popular in a particular club, so they thought they should all go as a band to the club and have a good night out. However they were turned away from the club and went straight into their rehearsal room, there Nile Rodgers starting playing guitar with the band repeatedly shouting ‘Fuck Off’….’Fuck Off’ where the song now has ‘Freak Out’, Nile Rodgers and the rest of the band all looked at each other as they knew a classic was just born.
Donna Summer- Love to love you baby
I could of chosen any Donna Summer song to be honest with her amazing and yet oddly sexual vocals over a Giorgio Moroder produced track this was one of the first huge disco hits in the early 70’s and prompted many to call Donna Summer ‘The Queen of Disco’. The orgasmic sound that Donna recreates came about when Girorgio got Donna to lie on the studio floor with the lights out and think of her boyfriend as she touched her self on the knee, saucy. Listen below.
80’s
The S.O.S Band- Take your time (Do it Right)
Released in the summer of 1980 this disco and boogie track doesn’t get enough appreciation in modern times, but the soaring vocals with the trumpet coming at the end of the chorus make for a great track from the Atalanta based S.O.S Band who obtained a number 3 record with their debut single, a disco classic.
Rick James- Give it to me baby
It’s motherfucking Rick James bitch. The colourful Rick James wrote this song after coming home late and his woman wouldn’t have sex with him cause he was too drunk, instead he had a mess around on his piano and what was produced is one of the finest songs of the 80’s with a funky dance beat this track is great for the dancefloor as well as listening at home. The video is also brilliant, because Cocaine sure is a helluva drug!
Honourable Mention
Diana Ross- I’m coming out (Chic Mix)
This track is just brilliant, and the only reason I didn’t choose it is because I had already placed a Nile Rodgers track in this list. Diana Ross’s stock was the lowest it had been in her illustrious career before Bernard Edwards and Nile Rodgers took the helm and brought a disco sound for Ross’s new album. Nile Rodgers got the idea for the ‘I’m Coming Out’ chorus of the song when he went to a gayclub in New York and saw 3 men using the urinal who all looked like Diana Ross, he decided to make Ross into a sort of gay icon. The version below is the Chic version, as the album version was actually edited but this is the funkiest and fullest version of the track that is out there.
90’s
Robin S- Show me Love
This 1994 released track from New York based singer Robin Stone was a massive international hit, reaching top 10 in the UK and the US and has been remixed and sampled several times since. The track is dominated by it’s synthesizer riff and Robin’s vocals on top which make this a 90’s dance classic.
Faithless-Insomnia
By far the darkest dance track on all of this list, it shows elements of trance music as well as more conventional dance music and the beat at 2.47 on the video below is incredible, something to give you nightmares as well as total euphoria on the dancefloor. The track has been remixed and recut numerous of times but the version I have gone for is the 8 minute Forever Faithless version on the Greatest Hits and can be heard…
Honorable Mention
Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch- Good Vibrations
Juxtaposed with Faithless for maybe the first time ever, this shows Mark Whalberg in his finest moment. Particular props go to the lyric ‘Bringing this to the entire nation//black, white, red, brown//feel the vibration.’
00’s
Shapeshifters- Lola’s Theme
Every time I look at the charts and see some Little Mix/Conor Maynard shite at number one, I remember that this nation put ‘Lola’s theme’ into number 1 also. This big track from disco/house duo ‘The Shapeshifters’ has me thinking about the fair-ground every time I put the song on and the video and tune can be heard below
Before they were getting lucky with Nile Rodgers and making ballads with Giorgio Moroder (this list has an unintentional link!) Thomas Bangalter and his mate who’s name I can’t remember made one of the greatest dance tracks in One More Time with the cheesy lyrics auto-tuned and placed on top of a heavenly sounding synth track. The video is also pretty special with it acting as a promo for a visual realization of ‘Discovery’ called Interstella 555, and the Japanese Anime really matches up with this futuristic dance track.
10’s
The Lovebirds- Want you in my soul Ft. Stee Downes
I don’t actually know much about this track or this house track other than it is the solo work of a Hamburg based DJ and it is a sensational dancefloor track, with it’s build up and then Stee Downes vocals soaring over the track, it is the ultimate euphoric, grab your mates and sing track. Enjoy.
Candi Staton -Hallejuah Anyway (Larse Vocal)
This is a re-cut of Candi Staton’s classic ‘Hallejuah Anyway’ and one of the happiest songs I know, no one can be in a bad mood after hearing this track. FACT
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