NIGHTLIFE UNLIMITED-NIGHTLIFE UNLIMITED.

dereksmusicblog ♦ March 6, 2013 ♦ 1 Comment

NIGHTLIFE UNLIMITED-NIGHTLIFE UNLIMITED.

Another of the great labels of the disco era was Casablanca Records. Along with Salsoul Records, Prelude, SAM and West End, Casablanca Records established a reputation as one of disco’s premier labels. Casablanca was founded by Neil Bogart, along with Larry Harris, Cecil Holmes and Buck Reingold after they left Buddah Records in 1973. By 1977, Casablanca Records’ roster and reputation had grown, so much so, that Polygram bought 50% of the company for $15 million. Among the artists on Casablanca’s roster were Donna Summer, Parliament, Lipps Inc, Cameo and Stephanie Mills. While most people will have heard of these artists, not as many people will have heard of Nightlife Unlimited, who released their debut album Nightlife Unlimited in May 1979. Nightlife Unlimited would go on to release four other albums, but Nightlife Unlimited was their only album for Casablanca. Unfortunately, Nightlife Unlimited was unlimited just a month before disco’s popularity plunged. That meant that Nightlife Unlimited was lost amidst the debris of disco’s downfall. 

Nightlife Unlimited weren’t an American disco group. Instead, Nightlife Unlimited were from Canada. Like many other disco groups, Nightlife Unlimited’s lineup would change. There were two lineups of Nightlife Unlimited. The first lineup, and the lineup that featured on Nightlife Unlimited were Tony Bentivenga and Johnny D’Orazio, who would feature on both lineups. They were joined by vocalists Louis Toteda and Peter Sciascia on their eponymous debut album Nightlife Unlimited. Three tracks, Disco Choo Choo, Dance Freak and Boogie were written by the four members of Nightlife Unlimited. Precious Moments was penned by Tony Bentivenga and Louis Toteda with producers Peter DiMilo and George Cucuzzella. These four tracks became Nightlife Unlimited.

When recording of Nightlife Unlimited got underway, Nightlife Unlimited were joined by drummer and percussionist Tony Bentivenga and Johnny Dorazio on bass, lead and rhythm guitar. They were joined by percussionist Miguel Feuntes, Phillip Lightfoot on vibes and a horn section that included Kenny Lipman, Sheldon Ginsburg and Tom Rudolf. Adding backing vocalists were The Sweethearts of Sigma, Barbara Ingram, Carla Benson and Evette Benton, plus Peter Sciascia. Once the recording of Nightlife Unlimited was finished, it was released on 21st May 1979. Little did Nightlife Unlimited realize that disco was about to almost die.

When Nightlife Unlimited was released on 21st May 1979, just under a month later, at the Disco Demolition Derby, in Comiskey Park, Chicago, the anti-disco backlash hit and hit hard. Thousands of disco records were blown up, very nearly taking the organizers and stadium with it. After that, disco became a dirty word. Record companies weren’t wanting to release disco records and disco artists became unpopular. Before that, however, Disco Choo Choo reached number eighteen in the US Disco/Club Play Charts. Then in 1980, Love Is You/Dance, Freak and Boogie reached number thirty-three in the US Disco/Club Play Charts. While two hit singles were the best that could’ve been hoped for in the circumstances, the Nightlife Unlimited wasn’t a commercial success. Maybe if fate hadn’t intervened, Nightlife Unlimited would’ve proved a much more successful album. With the benefit of hindsight, is that the case? That’s what I’ll tell you, once I’ve told you about Nightlife Unlimited’s debut album Nightlife Unlimited. 

Opening Nightlife Unlimited’s debut album Nightlife Unlimited is Disco Choo Choo. Straight away, the disco train leaves the station, with a pulsating rhythm, mass of percussion and handclaps. They’re joined The Sweethearts of Sigma’s sweet, soulful and punchy harmonies. Soon, keyboards and blazing horns enter, joining this joyous combination of percussion and pounding disco beat. The vocal is delivered softly, soulfully and subtly, providing a contrast to the thunderous arrangement. For nine minutes, Nightlife Unlimited take you on an dance-floor friendly and hook-laden musical journey aboard the Disco Choo Choo. 

Dance, Freak and Boogie closes Side One of Nightlife Unlimited. Pounding beats, percussion, handclaps and sassy harmonies from The Sweethearts of Sigma combine, before the arrangement takes on a tougher sound. Keyboards, growling horns and a haunting, sinister male vocal provide this tougher sound. Chiming guitars and swathes of strings provide a counterpoint to the rest of the arrangement, especially the thunderous drums. Key to the track’s success are the sassy, sensual sound of The Sweethearts of Sigma, as elements of disco, funk, Latin and Euro Disco are fused seamlessly.

Side Two of Nightlife Unlimited opens with the twelve-minute epic that is Love Is You. Gradually, the arrangement unfolds, in the same way many house tracks would later do. Disco provided the blueprint for house, a musical genre where non-musicians used as inspiration, the talent of an earlier generation of musicians. Just thunderous drums give way to percussion, before cooing harmonies from The Sweethearts of Sigma enter. Bursts of blazing horns and then layers of the lushest strings accompany Peter Sciascia’s needy, heartfelt vocal. Soon, a subtle sprinkling of piano, tender harmonies, edgy keyboards and cooing harmonies are dropped in at just the right moment. Each play their part in the arrangement. Pounding drums and the bass anchor the arrangement, marching the track along. By then, a timeless, hidden disco gem has revealed its secrets, subtleties and surprises.

Closing Nightlife Unlimited is Precious Moments. Drums, percussion and hissing hi-hats are joined by keyboards and the bass. Peter’s vocal emotive vocal briefly enters, before The Sweethearts of Sigma take charge. They adding their sweet, soothing and soulful harmonies. Chiming guitars, percussion and the rhythm section join keyboards in driving the arrangement along. The arrangement has been influenced by Euro Disco, which was becoming much more influential by 1979. Peter pleads and begs, desperation filling his voice, and horns growl, adding to the drama. For their part, The Sweethearts of Sigma add soothing harmonies, playing their part in a track where soul, disco and Euro Disco unite, to creating a song that’s soulful, sad and tinged with heartache.

For a debut album, Nightlife Unlimited was a really accomplished and polished album. It combined elements of disco, Euro Disco, funk, Latin and Philly Soul, thanks to The Sweethearts of Sigma. Sadly, Nightlife Unlimited was released at the wrong time. A year, or even six months earlier, and Nightlife Unlimited could’ve been a much more successful album. The problem was, Nightlife Unlimited was released just as disco’s popularity plummeted. So, instead of being a commercially successful album, Nightlife Unlimited has remained a hidden gem of the late-disco period. Soulful, laden with hooks and dance-floor friendly, Nightlife Unlimited is all these things and more. It got Nightlife Unlimited’s career off to relatively commercially successful period, thanks to two minor hit singles. Undeterred, Nightlife Unlimited released four more albums between 1980 and 1984. 

Just Be Yourself was Nightlife Unlimited’s sophomore album, released in 1980. A second eponymous album, Nightlife Unlimited followed in 1981. Two years later, in 1983, I Love The Night In New York City followed, before 1984s Power and Desire was Nightlife Unlimited’s final album. Following disco’s demise, Nightlife Unlimited had to reinvent their music. While the lineup change, they continued to release quality music. However, good as these four albums were, it was Nightlife Unlimited’s 1979 debut album that proved their finest hour. Hook-laden, dance-floor friendly and soulful, Nightlife Unlimited should’ve been a much bigger commercial success. Instead, it was a victim of disco’s demise. Thirty-four years later, Nightlife Unlimited is a real hidden gem of the late-disco period.

NIGHTLIFE UNLIMITED-NIGHTLIFE UNLIMITED.