I'm not talking about singles or hits compilations,I'm talking about full-length albums.What would you consider to be the best,most consistent,most essential disco albums from this era (late 70s)? I was going through my collection and these are some that I came up with...


***'Saturday Night Fever' Soundtrack (1977)---This is the album that defined the whole disco phenomenom,imo.It's more than just a movie soundtrack,it's the soundtrack to an entire era! Forget John Travolta...in this film,the songs nearly steal the show.


***'Bad Girls' by Donna Summer(1979)---Along with her producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte,Donna took disco music to a whole new level.Who could have ever imagined mixing rock with a thumping disco beat,the way Donna does so effortlessly on the hit single "Hot Stuff"? Synthesizer-driven tracks like "Our Love" and "Sunset People" are groundbreaking techno jams that didn't sound like anything else at the time.

***'Ladies Night' by Kool and The Gang (1979)---this is the album that their earlier fans detested.Where was the gritty funk that characterized their previous albums? But,as a disco album,this one kicks ass.The title track is a classic,but there are other gems as well.Tracks like "Hangin Out" and the mesmerizing "Tonight's The Night" were the perfect soundtrack for a night out on the town.

***'C'est Chic' by Chic(1978)---Like Kool and The Gang,Chic was a "borderline" band...not entirely Disco,not entirely soul/funk.But there were many bright disco moments on this album,which can rightfully be considered their best work."I Want Your Love" is simply gorgeous,a hypnotic,swirling disco groove that sounds just heavenly.

***'Too Hot To Handle' by Heatwave(1978)---Once again,I guess it could argued that this band weren't really a disco group.But this album was still one of disco's most impressive moments.The haunting "Boogie Nights" left many people delirious on the dancefloor,and "Ain't No Half Steppin" shines just as brightly.Unlike most disco albums,this one actually features some outstanding ballads,in particular "Sho Nuff Must Be Love".The funky "Super Soul Sista" is another highlight.



Any others?
[This message was edited Fri Dec 19 6:16:04 PST 2003 by DavidEye]

You ass. You know there ain't no others.

Good Morning Stymie

where's your list? There's got to be some others.

France Joli-Self Titled ( Prelude records)
Tracks like Cone to me, Playboy, Dont stop Dancin' were the Hot tracks of the disco era,

Saturday Night Band-Come on dance,dance (Prelude) Classic Single with the album of the same name

Cerrone-Supernature ( Cotillion/Malligator)

whole album Non stop Party from top 2 bottom

Don Ray-Garden of Love ( Polydor) Cerrone Produced but every track a pure ride.

Fat Larrys Band-Self titled (WMOT) Lookin for love is tha top joint on this one..

Karen Young-Hot shot (West End) single with the same name..

Musique-Keep on Jumpin (Prelude) Now im surprised at u David

Theo Vaness-self titled ( prelude) No romance keep on dancin, Bad boy..sentimentally its you, good gawd what a brilliant album

Brainstorm-Stormin (Tabu) wake up and be sonmebody,waitin for someone, lovin is really my game.. such a wonderful and hard 2 get album these days

I never heard that Musique album,but I love their hit single "In The Bush".How's the rest of the album?

The most shockingly disappointing disco album is...


***'A Taste Of Honey' (1978)---the first single "Boogie Oogie Oogie" is one of the most infectious disco jams ever,bouncy and catchy as hell.So why is the rest of the album such a SNOOZE?? :

DavidEye said:

world spin sucked ass.. never made it through tha whole album.. LOL NEVER..

as for the Musique album.. its awesome, Summer love theme... keep on jumpin,the bush, its basically one long infectious ride
[This message was edited Fri Dec 19 6:57:51 PST 2003 by TheRealFiness]

i ain't sure if this one should be added, but i think that shirley and company's shame shame shame is a pretty good album. "love is", "i guess things have to change" and the title track are all pretty hot. just found that album totally by coincidence not too long ago...only costed me $3 bux, too.

the sound of sunshine by the sunshine band is cool too.

Most embarrassing disco album...


***Aretha Franklin 'La Diva'(1979)---now you know it's never pleasant having to place the Queen Of Soul on ANY "worst" list,but I have to wonder...what inspired her to release a crappy disco album like this?? On one of the songs,she actually says..."come on girls...we're disco queens!".Thankfully,not too many of her fans even remember this corny,unintentionally funny album.


[This message was edited Fri Dec 19 7:11:21 PST 2003 by DavidEye]

DavidEye said:

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I'll have to look for that Shirley and Co. album.

DavidEye said:

sorta like james brown's album from the same year? the only track i've heard off of that one is "too funky in here"...man, that ish was corny...but it's sorta fun to sing like those backup singers.

tooo fun-kay, fun-kay in heee-aaah...

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

yeah I hear ya.The Disco era was an awkward time for many artists who had been around for years and suddenly found themselves having to "adapt" to the disco sound.Remember Elton John's dreadful 1979 album 'Victim Of Love'?

Most underrated Disco song...


"Out Of My Hands" by Dionne Warwick (1979)

"baby can't you see
you were really meant for me
darlin,you and me
could be livin' in ecstasy"

DavidEye said:

and that disco-fied remake of "the letter"...

You took 'em all!

I was going to suggest Donna Summer's "Bad Girls" and "Saturday Night Fever"

I don't know why, but when I think Disco, I think of "Last Dance" and that movie Thank God It's Friday? or whatever it was called. I can't think, I just woke up.

This thread had DavidEye all over it.

Sorry, David I can't help you with this. You know you know all music from the 70s.

DavidEye said:

Really? I always loved "Boogie Oogie Oogie" and figured their album was probably good. Oh well.

The only disco albums I own that I can think of are from Donna Summer so my pick as to be...

"Once Upon A Time". Altough Donna cranked out the hits in the seventies, this one often has nothing worthy enough to be placed on her many of her greatest hits/best ofs. The closet thing to a hit is "I Love You" (which does appear on the new "THe Journey", probably becuase fans think so much of this album), which is shockingly the weakest most atypical disco songs on there. "Rumour Has It" also cracked kind of low on a few charts, and it is a funky ass strong vocal groove! Other goodies include the tragic sounding "Sweet Romance", which is half a dramatic ballad. There are a lot of great pop songs like "Dance Into My Life' (great use of the slow tempo song leading into a thumping dance chorus not to mention that vocoder!). And then there is the the "I Feel Love" inspired electronic side, featuring songs stronger than the hit song of the same year. The beloved by fans "Now I Need You" is techno bliss, with longing and passion in her voice and trippy ass music. Overall, an incredible album with a disco Cinderalla theme.

jbchavez said:

Right!!!That why I had nothing to contribute to it.

Duh!

I think you just about covered them! I was going to suggest "Bad Girls" by Donna Summer, too.

theVelvetRoper said:

One of my fav. albums ever.

DavidEye said:

Because the vast majority of Disco wasn't about albums per se, just a couple of good, (usually) long playing dance songs and filler, mainly.

DavidEye said:

===

ah, but do you know the line after "shame shame shame shame shame shame shame...shame on you...and ___"? At the ripe old age of 35 (as of midnight, and was treated to Rave 2000...yeah, I cried during She's Always In My Hair...one of my faves), I have never known what that said. Just recently realized the words to "I Believe In Miracles"...yeah, you thought he was saying "Wilco" too...for YEARS! LOL. Loved that Shirley & Co song though.


So...what about the "album" from Slave w/Watching You on it? Wasn't "Just a Touch of Love" on it also? Talk about roller skates...

TheBoostress

Albums...you just showed your age! hee hee.

in my experience, "albums" in the late 70s are what led to CDs and more singles. They sucked! Bad Girls was great...On the Radio also but was a greatest hits thingie. I honestly didn't like too many "albums" after Songs in the Key...unless you were from TSOP and that was still a stretch. Then came Soft & Wet...who everyone (including me) thought was a woman.

Have to add that I just saw Rave 2000 on ABC TV and just LOVE that Bambi era doo. Anybody have a live version of Bambi? Will pay you and Prince for that one.

DavidEye said:

Actually, I liked a number of songs off this album: "Disco Dancin'", "Distant", "This Love Of Ours"...overall, I thought it was a solid effort.

Not from the '70s, but I still think these are essential disco albums:

VoicesCarry said:

damn, everybody must've had at least one disco album back then!

what was even more Comical was the spanish version of aint no stoppin us now by Charanga 76..

Rod Stewart, Do Ya Think I'm Sexy.

VoicesCarry said:

I heard clips from that album...it really is that bad! It's bad broadway songs with a slightly remixed uptempo beat. Terrible!