As a kid, this was my FAVORITE record label and even though it no longer exists, it's STILL my favorite record label! The reason? It had 3 of my all-time favorite artists: KISS, Parliament and Donna Summer! Founder Neil Bogart started this label in 73 with KISS being the very first act to sign to the label. Followed closely after Kiss, Bogart signed up Parliament. Damn! Later on, after signing Donna, Bogart went on to sign other artists such as the Village People and the rock group Angel. Neil's Casablanca was also one of the major forces behind another one of my favorite movies and soundtracks, "Thank God It's Friday". Neil later started another label called Boardwalk, that had another of my faves, Joan Jett, signed to it. Neil died in 82 from cancer. A movie about Neil Bogart and his days at Casablanca, was written by his son and produced by Gene Simmons. The movie is lurking about, but still hasn't found daylight to be released. Neil was someone who had great vision and instincts and followed them. It usually paid off big for him and the label. Anyway, any of u have any affection towards this fantastic label and it's artists?

actually Neil also founded "Oasis"a label offshoot of Casablanca... which Donna was the only artist on it
[Edited 6/1/05 10:47am]

TheRealFiness said:

Oasis? i wasn't hip to that.

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

It was 20th century....

funkpill said:

Yeah u're right...thanx for the heads up!

blackguitaristz said:

s'what im here for

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

no problem, my friend...

I agree with you Black. Casablanca was a cool label back in the 70's. They were kind of the "alternative" to the mainstream. Neil Bogart was a marketing genius. I always dug the inserts of their records. You could buy a Parliament record and see ads for KISS, Donna Summer, and Buddy Miles (remember "Bicentennial Man"? -lol). I remember catching shit from black folks about digging KISS, and white folks giving me shit about digging Donna Summer, Parliament, and having the "T.G.I.F" LP. My thing was, "don't blame me , blame Casablanca!". There's a new Casablanca label out now but it's NOTHING like the 70's label. (Lindsay Lohan is one of the artists.) Mellisa Ethridge used to work for Casablanca back in the 70's and said EVERYONE at that label did drugs and had skeletons in the closet. There was supossed to be another movie about Casablanca (ala "Boogie Nights") but it never got off the ground. I still have those old records. Have you ever seen the home video "The Casablanca Years"? A cool vid and I think it includes the "Up For The Downstroke" tv commercial with George wearing Gene Simmons "ALIVE" 1975 boots. (lol). Thanks for taking me back Black!!

SPYZFAN1 said:

Whaaat?! The Casablanca years"? Nah, player. I haven't seen that. Look, when I was a kid, it was all about Parliament and KISS. I used to tell anybody that would listen that those two groups were soooo much alike. This was way before I knew that they both shared the same costume designer, the same set designer, etc. I could tell just from looking at Parliament's album covers, especially "Dr. Funkenstein". George is doing Paul Stanley on the cover. Look at Funkadelic's "Tales Of Kidd Funkadelic". Look at the backside of the cover when the baby turns into a rock star. Check out the spikes on the shoulders and the boots (Gene Simmons) and the kid's makeup.

blackguitaristz said:

And don't you know that's George on the cover of the whole Funkenstein Lp????
Front & back..
He was cloning himself!!!

I caught that when I kid, and was wondering, how did he do that???

funkpill said:

Exactly.

lol!1 That's true Black. KISS and P-Funk were 2 totally different planets, but oddly enough they were almost from the same cloth!

Casablanca was also affiliated with Chocolate City Records. The label says "Chocolate City" but at the bottom of the label in small print, it says "Manufactured and distributed by Casablanca Records". A lot of Cameo's baddest albums came out on this label. Starpoint was also on it.

Not only were the obvious groups like Donna Summer, Parliament, KISS, and The Village People on Casablanca Records, I also remember Stephanie Mills, at one time, was on the label when she did "Pilot Error" and Junior when he did "Unison". The Four Tops were also on Casablanca Records when they had their huge hit "When She Was My Girl". There were other artists too, I just can't think of them right now.

vainandy said:

Cher was on there too.....

a thread like this without pictures?










[Edited 6/2/05 1:14am]

funkpill said:

She sure was.In 1979,she recorded a disco album called 'Take Me Home'.

vainandy said:

Captain and Tennille were on Casablanca for a brief time in the late 70s.The Sylvers signed to Casablanca in 1978.The 1983 'Flashdance' soundtrack (which sold millions) was on Casablanca Records.Other notable releases include Lipps Inc's 1980 album 'Mouth To Mouth,which includes the huge hit "Funkytown",and a Teri Desario album from 1979 (featuring her hit duet with KC "Yes,I'm Ready").

DavidEye said:

I love that album and the album cover! Yeah, a lot of it's cheese, but it's tasty cheese.

here's some interesting trivia...


On the 1978 'Thank God It's Friday' movie soundtrack,there is a lengthy song called "Take It To The Zoo" by a group known as Sunshine.This group consists of Donna Summer's three backup singers.Two of them are Donna's sisters and one of them is her cousin.The song was co-written and co-produced by Donna.If you read the credits to Donna's 1978 album 'Live and More' album,she thanks Sunshine and wishes them luck with 'Watchin Daddy Dance'.What is 'Watchin Daddy Dance',you ask??

It's the unreleased debut album by Sunshine! It was produced by Juergen Koppers and Donna Summer,and was recorded in the spring/summer of 1978.The album was supposed to be released in early 1979,but Casablanca felt that they were already flooding the market with numerous disco albums.It's also likely that they weren't thrilled with the album.To this day,it is still collecting dust in the Casablanca vaults,but I'd love to hear it...


'WATCHIN' DADDY DANCE' SUNSHINE (recorded in 1978,unreleased)

Produced by Jeurgen Koppers and Donna Summer

"Sunshine"
"Let's Dance"
"Step Step Away"
"It's Over"
"I'm The One"
"Where I Should Be"
"Saving My Love For You"
"Watchin' Daddy Dance"


Interestingly,Donna used the song "It's Over" (which she wrote) for her 1984 album 'Cats Without Claws'.There are two other songs that were recorded for this project,but didn't make the final tracklist...

"What Are You Saying"
"Jealous Eyes"

One reason why I really want to hear this album is because it features heavy involvement from Donna Summer.She wrote several songs,and co-produced it.Blackguitaritz and I are gonna have to break into the vaults and steal a copy,lol.

RipHer2Shreds said:

yeah,that album cover is priceless,lol.

I was never really a big fan of The Village People.They were fun and campy,but I think all of their songs sound alike....same beat,same disco arrangement,etc.But I have to admit,their 1979 double-LP set 'Live and Sleazy' is GREAT.These live versions absolutely kill the weak album versions! The songs are faster,with more energy and power.The first record is the live disc,the second record is studio recordings,highlighted by superb songs like "Ready For The 80s","Save Me" (presented in two versions---uptempo and ballad) and "Sleazy".Imo,this is the only essential Village People album to own.
[Edited 6/2/05 6:34am]

DavidEye said:

There it is, david! I can dig it!

DavidEye said:

I was waiting on u! Great pics, especially of my girl, Donna!

blackguitaristz said:

Ah now, these were some of the pictures from the years of my childhood in the 70's.

One great thing about Casablanca Records is,many of the albums featured extravagant packaging and other goodies.Donna Summers' 1976 album 'Four Seasons Of Love' came with a very big,fold-out 1977 calendar and an order form where you could buy Donna Summer satin pillows,posters,and T-shirts.Her 1979 'On The Radio' set came with a gigantic poster that is still hanging on my wall to this day,lol.The Parliament and Kiss albums also featured similiar treats for fans.

DavidEye said:

Ahhh, you got to love the 70's.

Hotlegs said:

Oh yeah! The CD era is just not the same

DavidEye said:

It's something about having the smell of wax in your hand and putting it on the turn table that makes it all worth while. Getting your first album was like a coming of age especially if had an artist on it that was sexy as hell back in the day.

Hotlegs said:

indeed