Disco
In the late 1960s, a new sound emerged from the urban nightlife of New York City and Philadelphia. This music grew from African-American, Latino, Italian-American, and queer communities who sought escape in dance clubs. The first discotheques appeared in Paris during the Nazi occupation of the early 1940s when jazz records replaced live bands. Régine Zylberberg claimed to have started the first discotheque in 1953 at the Whisky à Go-Go club. By 1960, French expatriate Olivier Coquelin opened Le Club at 416 East 55th Street in Manhattan as a members-only venue. Journalist Vince Lettie noted in 1975 that most early DJs were young men between 18 and 30 years old and often of Italian extraction. These Italian Americans from Brooklyn largely created disco from scratch. The genre developed as a reaction by the 1960s counterculture against rock dominance and stigmatized dance music. David Mancuso organized his first major party on Valentine's Day 1970 called Love Saves The Day. His invitation-only gatherings became weekly events where gay community members could dance without fear of police action. The Loft parties mixed racial and sexual orientations with a common denominator of music. Paul Gootenberg states that cocaine's relationship to 1970s disco culture cannot be stressed enough. The non-partnered dance style allowed people of all races and sexual orientations to enjoy the atmosphere. Disco provided an escape from negative social issues like unemployment, inflation, and crime rates that soared during the start of the 1970s.
Disco features four-on-the-floor beats set by a bass drum hitting once per beat. Syncopated basslines play broken octaves with notes sounded one after another. String sections and horns play linear phrases in unison with soaring vocals. Electric pianos create background pads while chicken-scratch rhythm guitars add texture. Lead guitar appears less frequently than in rock music. Donna Summer's 1977 song I Feel Love used a prominent Moog synthesizer on the beat. This track was one of the first disco songs to use the synthesizer extensively. Recording complex arrangements required teams including conductors, copyists, record producers, and mixing engineers. Mixing engineers compiled up to 64 tracks of vocals and instruments into fluid compositions. Tom Moulton created extended mixes by pressing singles on 12-inch discs instead of standard 45-RPM vinyl. These larger records could hold much longer songs and remixes for DJs. The disco sound relied heavily on orchestral instruments like violin, viola, cello, trumpet, saxophone, trombone, flugelhorn, French horn, English horn, oboe, flute, timpani, and synth strings. Latin rhythms such as rhumba, samba, and cha-cha-cha appear in many recordings. A recording error in Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes' 1975 song Bad Luck established loud hi-hats in disco when Earl Young's hi-hat was too loud. Most disco songs contain major and minor seven chords found more often in jazz than pop music. The genre uses 16th note division of quarter notes creating greater subdivision of the beat. Orchestral arrangements create rich wall-of-sound textures with doubling of parts and additional instruments.
In December 1977 the film Saturday Night Fever released to become one of the best-selling albums of all time. The movie idea originated from a 1976 New York magazine article titled Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night which later proved fabricated. John Travolta portrayed Tony Manero earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. The soundtrack dominated by the Bee Gees risked presenting disco as shrill white pop deviating from diverse origins. Critics said the film mainstreamed disco making it more acceptable to heterosexual white males. Many music historians believe the success extended the life of the disco era by several years. Organized around suburban discotheques the film recast the dance floor as a site for patriarchal masculinity. It targeted suburban and Middle American audiences specifically through straight-dancing couples. The portrayal marked reappropriation by straight male culture turning spaces into areas for men to showcase prowess. Gloria Gaynor released her first vinyl album in 1975 including Never Can Say Goodbye topped Billboard disco charts in November 1974. Her 1978 number-one song I Will Survive became symbol of female strength and gay anthem. Van McCoy's 1975 The Hustle gave names to popular dances while Joe Tex's 1977 Ain't Gonna Bump No More added humor. Earth Wind & Fire's Shining Star reached top five singles between 1975 and 1977 alongside KC and the Sunshine Band hits. Silver Convention's Fly Robin Fly appeared the 18th of October 1975 becoming successful globally. The Hues Corporation's Rock the Boat became US number one single selling over one million copies. Carl Douglas' Kung Fu Fighting sold 11 million records worldwide making it best-selling single of the year.
ABBA emerged as far most successful Euro disco act from 1972 to 1982 singing primarily in English. Their signature smash hit Dancing Queen reached global audiences alongside Waterloo Take a Chance on Me Gimme Gimme Gimme Super Trouper. Munich West Germany producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte made decisive contributions with Donna Summer hits known as Munich Sound. Summer suggested lyric Love to You Baby which Moroder turned into full disco song containing simulated orgasms vocalizations. Final product caused sensation when played in clubs leading to international release reaching charts in many European countries and US at number two position. Nearly 17-minute 12-inch single became standard in discos today. Donna Summer's I Feel Love revolutionized dance music with mostly electronic production spawning Hi-NRG subgenre. Boney M charted worldwide with Daddy Cool Ma Baker Rivers Of Babylon between 1974 and 1986 masterminded by Frank Farian. Silver Convention operated successfully from 1974 to 1979 while Kraftwerk influenced Euro disco significantly. Dalida released J'attendrai in 1975 becoming successful in Canada Europe and Japan adjusting herself to disco releasing dozen songs charting top ten in Europe. Claude François reinvented himself king of French disco releasing La plus belle chose du monde worldwide success posthumously. Cerrone's early songs Love in C Minor Supernature Give Me Love succeeded in US and Europe. Raffaella Carrà greatest international single Tanti auguri popular among gay audiences recorded Spanish title Hay que venir al sur Estonian version Anne Veski performed Jätke võtmed väljapoole. A far l'amore comincia tu reached number nine UK Singles Chart remaining one-hit wonder status.
Disco declined as major trend following infamous Disco Demolition Night on the 12th of July 1979 continuing sharp decline during early 1980s United States. It remained popular in Italy and some European countries throughout the 1980s starting trendy elsewhere including India Middle East blending regional folk styles like ghazals belly dancing. The genre became key influence developing electronic dance music house music hip-hop new wave dance-punk post-disco. Several revivals occurred since 1990s with strong influence across American European pop music. Revival underway since early 2010s reaching great popularity in early 2020s bringing to whole new younger generation. Critics argued film Saturday Night Fever recast dance floor patriarchal masculinity heterosexual courtship aligning with mass market interests. This transformation aligned disco with perceived suburban Middle American audiences specifically targeting straight male culture. The soundtrack dominated by Bee Gees risked presenting shrill white pop deviating from diverse inclusive origins. Many music historians believe success extended life of era by several years before rapid decline began. Political issues like backlash Civil Rights Movement race riots Vietnam War assassinations Dr Martin Luther King Jr John F Kennedy Watergate scandal left many feeling disillusioned hopeless. Start of 1970s marked shift consciousness American people rise feminist movement identity politics gangs shaped era. Disco provided escape negative social economic issues yet Bench Ansfield argues reflected those currents frequent reference fire heat decade cities burning down en masse. Simon Frith highlights sociability roots 1960s counterculture driving force New York underground scene complex ethnic sexual culture 1960s notion community pleasure generosity described hippie.
Disco became key influence development electronic dance music house music hip-hop new wave dance-punk post-disco. Style had several revivals since 1990s influence remains strong across American European pop music. Revival underway since early 2010s coming great popularity early 2020s modern artists continued genre popularity bringing whole new younger generation. Frankie Knuckles helped develop house music in 1980s after being important disco DJ. Euro disco evolved within broad mainstream pop even when popularity sharply declined United States abandoned major labels producers. Through Italo disco played role evolution early house music early 1980s later forms electronic dance including early 90s Eurodance. Motown turned disco with Marvin Gaye Got to Give It Up 1978 despite dislike genre wrote parody. Diana Ross embraced sound successful 1976 Love Hangover self-titled album 1980 dance classics Upside Down I'm Coming Out written produced Nile Rodgers Bernard Edwards Chic group. Stevie Wonder released Sir Duke 1977 tribute Duke Ellington influential jazz legend died 1974. Smokey Robinson left Miracles solo career 1972 releasing Quiet Storm musical programming format subgenre R&B contained Baby That's Backatcha disco single. Mary Wells reappeared charts 1980 with Gigolo disco song while Jimmy Ruffin Hold On To My Love 1980 written produced Robin Gibb Bee Gees. The Jacksons found success Blame It on Boogie Shake Your Body Can You Feel it Epic label after leaving Motown 1975. Isley Brothers released Disco Night Rock Don't Stop 1979 Gladys Knight Pips scored Baby Change Mind Bourgie Bourgie 1980 Detroit Spinners Rubberband Man 1976.
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Common questions
When did disco music emerge from New York City and Philadelphia?
Disco emerged in the late 1960s from the urban nightlife of New York City and Philadelphia. This new sound grew from African-American, Latino, Italian-American, and queer communities who sought escape in dance clubs.
Who created the first discotheques and when did they appear?
The first discotheques appeared in Paris during the Nazi occupation of the early 1940s when jazz records replaced live bands. Régine Zylberberg claimed to have started the first discotheque in 1953 at the Whisky à Go-Go club.
What musical elements define the disco genre sound?
Disco features four-on-the-floor beats set by a bass drum hitting once per beat with syncopated basslines playing broken octaves. String sections and horns play linear phrases in unison with soaring vocals while electric pianos create background pads.
How many disco nightclubs existed across the United States by 1979?
By 1979 there existed between 15,000 to 20,000 disco nightclubs across the United States. Many opened in suburban shopping centers, hotels, and restaurants including The 2001 Club franchises which represented the most prolific chain.
When did disco decline as a major trend following Disco Demolition Night?
Disco declined as a major trend following infamous Disco Demolition Night on the 12th of July 1979. It continued sharp decline during early 1980s United States but remained popular in Italy and some European countries throughout the 1980s.