Warning: this is a treatise to defend (some aspects of) Disco. Everyone is entitled to their own sense of taste (as can be seen from the Latin maxim: De gustibus non est disputandum - a.k.a. "there's no accounting for taste.") This is a crucial concept of life and wisdom, and it's well worth remembering. [Yeah, I can be this supercilious even when defending Disco.]OK. Everybody knows that Disco is an easy musical punchline. However, in my extensive music listening, I have come across quite a few disco songs that are worth salvaging (the rest, like any 'pop' genre, can be ground into guano).
Note, one shouldn't lump the whole "Seventies" into the Disco heap. There were many quality music movements in the 70s, and many purely 70s bands, that redeem the decade (put another way, the decade ain't all the Bee Gees). Funk was basically the R&B version of Disco, and a far superior genre.
And 70s Rock bands are some of the best. For example, while Zeppelin acted as unreformed hippies, they were a pure 70s band. Same with Black Sabbath, Elton John (till 1975 he's incredible), AC/DC (even though they're identified as an 80s band, more on that another time; though the same holds for Aerosmith), Queen, Chicago, The Eagles (yeah, I know, but I like 'em), ELO (technically not disco and if you don't think they're good, listen again to "Evil Woman"), Boston, the best of Springsteen, the Doobie Brothers, Jethro Tull, and the heilige ZZ Top.
Anyway, here's the decent disco list (and this website is the final arbiter as to what counts as Disco, and the list is basically in their order; not every song is on this list, but I'm only one blog): - That's the Way I Like It, K.C. and the Sunshine Band
- Stayin' Alive, Bee-Gees [can't use this song to hate on Disco, even if you hate the song, it's very good quality]
- Born To Be Alive - Patrick Hernandez
- Boogie Wonderland - Earth, Wind and Fire [I actually consider this song 'funk' but I'll include it here to (a) pad out the list, and (b) to prove to you skeptics that funk is just Afro-Disco]
- Funkytown - Lipps Inc. [You can still buy shares]
- Take Your Time (Do It Right) - S. O. S. Band
- Dancing Queen - Abba [sorry, it has to be said, even if they are they Mayors McCheese, many of their songs are good]
- Knock On Wood - Ami Stewart
- Ring My Bell - Anita Ward
- Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry [one of my favorites of all time; it's funny because it's true]
- Y.M.C.A. - Village People [It's good, just admit it!]
- Get Down Tonight - KC & The Sunshine Band
- September - Earth, Wind and Fire [The official song of the 9th month; I just love EWF]
- Shake Your Groove Thing - Peaches & Herb [face it, sometimes your groove thing does need shaking]
- Your My First, My Last, My Everything - Barry White [yeaaaah. This is not really disco, either, but I ain't arguin']
- Thank God It's Friday - Love and Kisses [especially the intro]
- Celebration - Kool And The Gang
- Macho Man - Village People [or this version]
- Open Sesame - Kool And The Gang
- Call Me - Blondie [yeah, why not]
- Can't Get Enough Of Your Love, Babe - Barry White
- Brick House - Commodores [Even the Muppets know]
- Don't Stop Till You Get Enough - Michael Jackson
- Theme From S.W.A.T. - Rhythm Heritage [neh-neh-neh, neh-neh-neh...]
- Upside Down - Diana Ross
- It's Raining Men - Weather Girls ["not no more it ain't"]
- Flashdance - Irene Cara [Did I ever tell you that I'm a gen-Xer? Well here's proof]
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