Category Archives: Euro Disco
JON SAVAGES’S 1977-1979-SYMBOLS CLASHING EVERYWHERE.
Jon Savage’s 1977-1979-Symbols Clashing Everywhere. Label: Ace Records. Format: 2CD Set. Jon Savage’s 1977-1979-Symbols Clashing Everywhere is the seventh instalment in the compliant series he has curated for Ace Records. This long-running series has been released to critical acclaim, and like previous volumes features a truly eclectic collection of tracks. They reflect just what music journalist Jon Savage was listening to …
THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SUSANA ESTRADA.
The Life and Times of Susana Estrada. Ever since 1939, the brutal Francoist regime had ruled Spain with an iron fist. This came to an end with the death of dictator Francisco Franco on ’20th’ November 1975. After Franco’s death, control of Spain passed to King Juan Carlos. By then, Spain was in a state …
SUSANA ESTRADA-SPAIN’S FIRST LADY OF MUSIC.
Susana Estrada-Spain’s First Lady Of Music. Ever since 1939, the brutal Francoist regime had ruled Spain with an iron fist. This came to an end with the death of dictator Francisco Franco on ’20th’ November 1975. After Franco’s death, control of Spain passed to King Juan Carlos. By then, Spain was in a state of …
THE SEXADELIC DISCO-FUNK SOUND OF…SUSANA ESTRADA.
The Sexadelic Disco-Funk Sound of…Susana Estrada. Espacial Discos. Ever since 1939, the brutal Francoist regime had ruled Spain with an iron fist. This came to an end with the death of dictator Francisco Franco on ’20th’ November 1975. After Franco’s death, control of Spain passed to King Juan Carlos. By then, Spain was in a …
DON RAY-GARDEN OF LOVE.
DON RAY-GARDEN OF LOVE. Although Don Ray played an important role in European disco music, working with Marc Cerrone and Alec Constandinos, Don only ever released one solo album, Garden of Love, released in 1978. Garden of Love was co-produced by Marc Cerrone, who released albums like Love In C Minor, Cerrone’s Paradise and Supernature. …
CERRONE-LOVE IN C MINOR.
CERRONE-LOVE IN C MINOR. Recently, I wrote about Cerrone’s second album Cerrone’s Paradise, released in 1977. The album that inadvertently started Marc Cerrone’s solo career was Love In C Minor, released the year before, in 1976. After this, Marc Cerrone would go on to become one of the biggest selling artists of the disco era, …
CERRONE-CERRONE’S PARADISE.
CERRONE-CERRONE’S PARADISE. During the disco era, it wasn’t just American labels like Salsoul, Casablanca, SAM and TK that were producing disco music. Over in Europe, producers like Giorgio Moroder, Frank Farian, Claude Francois, Don Ray and Cerrone were releasing some of the most cutting-edge dance music. One of these producers, Marc Cerrone started releasing albums …
DISCO RECHARGE-JOHN DAVIS AND THE MONSTER ORCHESTRA-AIN’T THAT ENOUGH FOR YOU AND THE MONSTER STRIKES AGAIN.
DISCO RECHARGE-JOHN DAVIS AND THE MONSTER ORCHESTRA-AIN’T THAT ENOUGH FOR YOU AND THE MONSTER STRIKES AGAIN. By 1978, John Davis had established a reputation in music as a successful songwriter, arranger and producer. Ever since the early seventies, he’d been working in Philly, with groups like First Choice, The Intruders, The Soul Survivors and artists …
CHVRCHES-THE BONES OF WHAT YOU BELIEVE.
CHVRCHES-THE BONES OF WHAT YOU BELIEVE. One of the most highly anticipated albums of recent years was Chvrches’ The Bones Of What You Believe, which was recently nominated for 2014s Scottish Album Of The Year Award. It’s just the latest chapter in the Chvrches’ story. Chvrches are no ordinary band. Far from it. They’ve come …
DISCO RECHARGE-THE DUNCAN SISTERS.
DISCO RECHARGE-THE DUNCAN SISTERS. It’s been a while since the last instalment of the Disco Recharge series. That was when Tantra’s The Collection was released in July 2013. Since then, releases have been scheduled, but cancelled at the last minute. Meanwhile, readers have constantly emailed me asking what was happening with the Disco Recharge series? …
COSMIC MACHINE.
COSMIC MACHINE. After the initial optimism of the liberated, swinging and psychedelic sixties, the events of Altamont Free Concert, meant many people were pleased to see a new decade dawn. As the sixties became the seventies, music started to change. It was revolution rather evolution. This was a long way from 1962, when The Beatles …
CHVRCHES-THE BONES OF WHAT YOU BELIEVE.
CHVRCHES-THE BONES OF WHAT YOU BELIEVE. One of the most highly anticipated albums of recent years is Chvrches’ The Bones Of What You Believe. What makes the rise and rise of Chvrches so remarkable, is Chvrches were founded just two years ago in 2011. Everything has happened so quickly for Lauren Mayberry, Ian Cook and …
INNER LIFE-INNER LIFE I.
INNER LIFE-INNER LIFE I. From 1978 onwards, things were changing at Salsoul. The Salsoul Orchestra played a huge part in Salsoul’s success. They were much more than musicians, with many of its members songwriters, arrangers and producers. This included the Baker, Harris, Young rhythm section, Ron “Have Mercy” Kersey and Vince Montana Jr. So when …
FIRST CHOICE-HOLD YOUR HORSES.
FIRST CHOICE-HOLD YOUR HORSES. By the time First Choice signed to Gold Mind Records in 1976, they’d already released three albums since forming in Philadelphia 1972. First Choice would go on to release three albums for Gold Mind Records, a subsidiary of Salsoul Records. Their first release was 1977s Delusions, which contained two tracks that …
THE BEAT GOES ON: SALSOUL CLASSICS MIXED BY TOWA TEI.
THE BEAT GOES ON: SALSOUL CLASSICS MIXED BY TOWA TEI. Recently, there seems to be no end of disco compilations being released. Every week, it seems, another batch of disco compilations hits the shops. Many people have been wondering why? Luckily for them, I can put them out of their misery. This is officially the …
DISCO RECHARGE-TANTRA-THE COLLECTION.
DISCO RECHARGE-TANTRA-THE COLLECTION. The name Celso Valli means different things to different people. No wonder. In just six years, seamlessly, his musical career was transformed. Having joined Italian prog rock band Ping Pong, in 1971, the transformation of Celso Valli began in 1977, when he released Pasta and Fagioli. This was one of the first …
DISCO RECHARGE: THP ORCHESTRA-THP NO. 2 TENDER IS THE NIGHT AND GOOD TO ME.
DISCO RECHARGE: THP ORCHESTRA-THP NO. 2 TENDER IS THE NIGHT AND GOOD TO ME. By 1978, when the THP Orchestra entered the studio to released their third album, THP No. 2 Tender Is The Night, the Canadian production team of Ian Guenther and Willi Morrison had just joined disco’s elite. Their previous album, Too Hot …
BACK TO MY ROOTS: DJ NORRI’S SALSOUL MIX.
BACK TO MY ROOTS: DJ NORRI’S SALSOUL MIX. Nine years after the release of The Salsoul Orchestra’s debut single Salsoul Hustle in 1975, what had been disco’s premier label, closed its doors for the final time. Having released 100 albums and 200 twelve inch singles, Salsoul Records had enjoyed a longevity few other disco labels …
MURO-DIGGIN’ SALSOUL BREAKS.
MURO-DIGGIN’ SALSOUL BREAKS. Despite closing its doors nearly thirty years ago, interest in Salsoul Records has never been higher. A new generation of music lovers are rediscovering what was undoubtably disco’s premier label. So too, are a new generations of DJs. Realizing that Salsoul Records’ illustrious back-catalogue is a goldmine for killer tracks and elusive …