Crazy Disco Madness

Gloria Gaynor’s brilliant live performance of “I Will Survive” on a 1979 episode of “The Midnight Special.”

From 1979, Gene Chandler performing “When You’re #1.”

The 1979 LP from Gene Chandler, “When You’re #1.” Click here for more on this artist.

From 1979, Roy Ayers’ somewhat ridiculous version of the old standard “Take Me Out To The Ball Game.” From Wikipedia (and there is an embedded version of the 1908 original recording): ”Take Me Out to the Ball Game” is a 1908 Tin Pan Alley song by Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer which has become the unofficial anthem of baseball, although neither of its authors had attended a game prior to writing the song.^[1] The song (chorus only) is traditionally sung during the seventh-inning stretch of a baseball game. Fans are generally encouraged to sing along, and at some ballparks, the words “home team” are replaced with the team name, as is the case with the Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Miami Marlins, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers and several other Major League Baseball teams.

From 1979, Roy Ayers performing “Fever.” From Wikipedia: ”Fever” is a song written by Eddie Cooley and Otis Blackwell, who used the pseudonym John Davenport. It was originally recorded by Little Willie John in 1956. It has been covered by numerous artists from various musical genres, notablyPeggy Lee, Elvis Presley, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Nancy Sinatra, The McCoys, The Blues Band, Boney M., Amanda Lear, La Lupe, Madonna, Beyoncé Knowles, Fishtank Ensemble, The Jam, The Cramps, Wanda Jackson, Bette Midler^[1] and even Suzi Quatro.^[2]

The 1979 LP from Roy Ayers, “Fever.” I hadn’t listened to this since I’d ripped the vinyl several months ago, but it’s not bad.

From 1979, Candido performing “Dancin’ & Prancin’.”

The 1979 LP from Candido on Salsoul Records, “Dancin’ & Prancin’.”

From Wikipedia: Early in his career, Camero recorded in his native Cuba with fellow jazz musician Machito. He moved to New York in 1952 and started recording with Dizzy Gillespie. During 1953-54, he was in the Billy Taylor Trio and in 1954 he performed and recorded with Stan Kenton.^[2][3]

He also enjoyed success during the disco era of the 1970s, most notably with the Babatunde Olatunji-penned track “Jingo” from his Dancin’ and Prancin’ album, which he recorded for Salsoul Records in 1979. The album has also been acknowledged as an influence and precursor to house music, predating the emergence of the genre by over 5 years. ^[4]

Camero was honored with the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award in 2008.^[1]

Happy 420!!! From 1979, here’s Major Lee Vincente performing “Let Me Take You Higher.” 

From 1979, the Disco single “Let Me Take You Higher”/”You And Me” from Major Lee Vincente.

For my lovely spouse Guy, who will get quite a chuckle out of this Disco cover of the song by Stan Bronstein/Hal Wilson. From 1979, here’s Area Code (212) performing their ridiculous and sublime version of “Daddy.” Click here for Julie London’s version.

The 1979 LP from Area Code (212), “Extensions From Area Code (212).”

For my friend Kelly, here’s Dante’s Inferno’s 1979 performance of “‘T Ain’t Nobody’s Biz-ness If I Do.” From Wikipedia: ”Ain’t Nobody’s Business” or “Tain’t Nobody’s Biz-ness if I Do” is an eight-bar vaudeville blues song that became an early blues standard. It was written in the 1920s by pianist Porter Grainger, who had been Bessie Smith’s accompanist, and Everett Robbins. The song was first recorded October 19, 1922 by Anna Meyer with the Original Memphis Five.^[1] Other early versions include Sara Martin(with Fats Waller on piano) (December 1, 1922 OKeh 8043), Alberta Hunter (February 1923 Paramount 12016), and Bessie Smith (April 26, 1923 Columbia 3898). Porter Grainger’s lyrics to the song were copyrighted in 1922,^[2] thus they are now in the public domain.^[3]

French artist Lizzy Mercier Descloux’s 1979 Disco cover of the Arthur Brown song, “Fire.” Click here for the original version.

The 1979 LP from Lizzy Mercier Descloux, “Press Color.” Click here for more on this artist.