A History of Dance Music

A Short and Sweet Introduction

The interactive nature of the Internet makes it an ideal tool for show-and-tell.  So here is our take on the history of dance music presented in four (so far) playlists.  For more details on some of these songs/artists, refer to our Musical Treasure Hunt.  To see how disco transformed pop music in the 1970s, go to our Crossover page and click on the Pre-1980 tab.  Regarding songs that failed to go top 10 in the U.S., we checked to see if they fared better in other major music markets:  Japan, Germany (West Germany between 1949 and 1990), the U.K., France, Australia, and Canada.  Note that Billboard magazine did not publish its first club chart until October 1974.  The industry publication allowed multi-title entries (including full albums) to make its club charts until 1991 (indicated by an asterisk below).

 


As you listen to our playlists below (press [►]), tell them Dance Radio Post sent you.

 

A Short and Sweet Introduction

The interactive nature of the Internet makes it an ideal tool for show-and-tell.  So here is our take on the history of dance music presented in four (so far) playlists.  For more details on some of these songs/artists, refer to our Musical Treasure Hunt.  To see how disco transformed pop music in the 1970s, go to our Crossover page and click on the Pre-1980 tab.  Regarding songs that failed to go top 10 in the U.S., we checked to see if they fared better in other major music markets:  Japan, Germany (West Germany between 1949 and 1990), the U.K., France, Australia, and Canada.  Note that Billboard magazine did not publish its first club chart until October 1974.  The industry publication allowed multi-title entries (including full albums) to make its club charts until 1991 (indicated by an asterisk below).

 


As you listen to our playlists below (press [►]), tell them Dance Radio Post sent you.

 

Pioneers 1

 

Philadelphia Story

Founded by an English Quaker named William Penn in 1682, Philadelphia is rich in U.S. colonial history.  The first American library was established in Pennsylvania’s largest city; so was the first American hospital.  During the first half of the 20th century, it was one of the top destinations for African Americans who migrated from the South (especially Virginia).  As tourists visit the city’s many historical sites today, we wonder if Philadelphia is the birthplace of disco.

History is full of parallels.  Just as the FAME recording studio in Muscle Shoals, Ala., was responsible for some of the most memorable soul records of the 1960s, Philadelphia’s Sigma Sound Studios was laying the foundation for what would be called disco in the 1970s.  Unlike the session musicians at FAME, the Sigma Sound Studios house band, MFSB, would be known for its own hit records.  The basic components of the so-called sound of Philadelphia are lush string arrangement, a steady drumbeat peppered with hi-hat cymbals, and soulful vocals.

A part of Cliff Nobles’ group later joined MFSB, which played on many records released on Philadelphia International Records and related labels and imprints.  PIR artists included The O’Jays, Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes, and Billy Paul, among others.  Some members of MFSB left to form The Salsoul Orchestra and The Monster Orchestra.  The former was like MFSB with a Latin flavor and the latter was MFSB with less soul.  MFSB’s orchestral arrangement separated Dan Hartman’s classic “Relight My Fire” from imitators.  By the way, Double Exposure’s “Ten Percent” has the distinction of being the first single to be released commercially on standard 7-inch as well as 12-inch vinyl (12-inch singles were heretofore serviced to club DJs only).

Recorded far from Philadelphia, Elton John’s “Philadelphia Freedom” had nothing to do with Sigma Sound Studios or anyone associated with MFSB.  But this record was dedicated “with love to B.J.K. [Billie Jean King] and the music of Philadelphia.”  Philadelphia Freedoms was the name of the tennis team for which King was playing at the time.  As if to repay the tribute, MFSB recorded its own cover version and actually named its fourth album “Philadelphia Freedom” (1976 was also America’s bicentennial birthday).  John eventually worked with Philadelphia musicians, and the result was the EP containing “Mama Can’t Buy You Love.”

 

Artist [Alternate Name] [Country] Title (Mix) [Play] Label Hot 100 Club

1968
Cliff Nobles & Co. The Horse [►] Phil-L.A. of Soul 2 -

1969
The O’Jays One Night Affair [►] Neptune 68 -

1972
The Trammps Zing Went the Strings of My Heart (Instrumental Version/Tom Moulton Mix?) [►]
- U.K. #29		 Buddah 64 -

1973
First Choice Armed and Extremely Dangerous (Promo Version?) [►]
- U.K. #16		 Philly Groove 28 -
The Intruders I’ll Always Love My Mama (1977 Compilation Version) [►]
- U.K. #32		 Gamble 36 -
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes The Love I Lost (Album Version) [►] Philadelphia Int'l 7 -
The O’Jays Love Train (1977 Compilation Version) [►] Philadelphia Int'l 1 -
The Stylistics Rockin’ Roll Baby [►]
- U.K. #6		 Avco 14 -

1974
MFSB Featuring The Three Degrees TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) [►] Philadelphia Int'l 1 -
MFSB Love Is the Message (Album Version) [►]
- Canada #37		 Philadelphia Int'l 85 -
The Three Degrees When Will I See You Again [►] Philadelphia Int'l 2 -

1975
The Elton John Band [UK] Philadelphia Freedom [►] MCA 1 -
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Bad Luck (Album Version) [►] Philadelphia Int'l 15 1
The Ritchie Family Brazil (Album Version) [►]
- Canada #9		 20th Century 11 1*
The Salsoul Orchestra Salsoul Hustle (Album Version) [►] Salsoul 76 1*
The Trammps Trammps Disco Theme [►]
- Trammps album: U.S. #159		 Golden Fleece - 5*

1976
Double Exposure Ten Percent (Disco Mix by Walter Gibbons) [►] Salsoul 54 1
MFSB Philadelphia Freedom (Album Version) [►]
- Philadelphia Freedom album: U.S. #39		 Philadelphia Int'l - -
The O’Jays I Love Music (Album Version) [►] Philadelphia Int'l 5 1

1977
Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Featuring Teddy Pendergrass Don't Leave Me This Way (Album Version) [►]
- U.K. #5		 Philadelphia Int'l - -

1978
The Trammps Disco Inferno (Album Version) [►]
- U.K. #16, Canada #6		 Atlantic 11 1*

1979
John Davis and The Monster Orchestra Ain’t That Enough for You (Disco Version) [►]
- U.K. #70		 Sam 89 4
Instant Funk I Got My Mind Made Up (You Can Get It Girl) (12 Inch Disco Mix) [►]
- Canada #13		 Salsoul 20 1
Elton John [UK] Mama Can’t Buy You Love [►] MCA 9 -
McFadden & Whitehead Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now (Album Version) [►]
- U.K. #5, Canada #25		 Philadelphia Int'l 13 10

1980
Dan Hartman Vertigo/Relight My Fire (Album Version) [►]
- Relight My Fire album: U.S. #189		 Blue Sky 105 1*

 

Pioneers 2

 

Electronic Roots

The synthesizer is ubiquitous in the recording studio nowadays.  But back in the 1970s, it was a new toy.  This instrument inspired early adopters such as Keith Emerson (1944-2016), Kraftwerk, Cerrone, and Giorgio Moroder, who would go on to work with Donna Summer (1948-2012) and many others.  Sylvester (1947-1988), Patrick Cowley (1950-1982), and Paul Parker turned the San Francisco Bay Area into a mini-hub for electronic music.

Electronic bands like Depeche Mode and New Order require no introduction.  Just when the backlash against disco took hold in the early 1980s, British synthpop invaded America.  And in retrospect, U.S. radio was more receptive than expected.  Lest we let the U.K. take all the credit for synthpop, we should remember Hot Butter’s “Popcorn” and Gary Wright’s “Dream Weaver” were the first synth-driven top 10 hits stateside, followed by Summer’s landmark “I Feel Love.”

To make the following selection as comprehensive as possible, we included some artists who have nothing to do with dance music.  You’ll also find one-off projects like Daniel Miller’s The Normal and Bobby Orlando’s One-Two-Three and lesser-known groups such as Space, whose albums may have influenced fellow French artists for all we know.  We also made sure to include two of the songs that inspired New Order’s “Blue Monday.”

As long as we’re talking about electronic instruments, we should mention the drum machine, which may be more popular with a wider range of artists than the synthesizer.  Sly Stone was one of the first artists to experiment with this mechanical rhythm device; it’s only apropos that “Family Affair” was the first No. 1 hit to feature a drum machine.

And then there’s the theremin, one of the first mass-produced electronic instruments in the early 20th century (read our notes on its inventor).  Robert Moog (1934-2005) built and sold theremin kits before he developed his signature synthesizer.  The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations” featured an instrument similar to the theremin.

 

Artist [Alternate Name] [Country] Title (Mix) [Play] Label Hot 100 Club

1966
The Beach Boys Good Viberations (2011 Compilation Version) [►] Capitol 1 -

1967
The Beatles [UK] Strawberry Fields Forever Capitol 8 -
Quincy Jones Ironside [►] - - -
Diana Ross & The Supremes Reflections [►] Motown 2 -

1968
Walter Carlos [Wendy Carlos] Third Movement, Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 [►]
- Switched-on Bach album: U.S. #10, Canada #7		 Columbia - -

1969
Robin Gibb [UK] Saved by the Bell [►]
- Germany #3, U.K. #2, Australia #9, Canada #44		 Atco - -
Dick Hyman & His Electric Eclectics The Minotaur [►]
- Canada #20		 Command 38 -
Gershon Kingsley [DE] Popcorn [►] Audio Fidelity - -

1970
The Beatles [UK] Here Comes the Sun Apple - -
Leonid Hambro & Gershon Kingsley [US/DE] Rhapsody in Blue (Album Version) [►] Avco - -

1971
Walter Carlos [Wendy Carlos] March From "A Clockwork Orange" (Soundtrack Version) [►] (Artist Version) [►]
- Clockwork Orange soundtrack: U.S. #34, U.K. #4, Canada #27
- Walter Carlos' Clockwork Orange album: U.S. #146		 Warner Bros. - -
Emerson, Lake & Palmer [UK] Lucky Man (Album Version) [►]
- Canada #25
- Emerson, Lake & Palmer album: U.S. #18, U.K. #4, Canada #32		 Cotillion 48 -
Isaac Hayes Theme From Shaft (Album Version) [►] Enterprise 1 -
Sly & The Family Stone Family Affair [►] Epic 1 -

1972
J.J. Cale Crazy Mama [►]
- Canada #21		 Shelter 22 -
Emerson, Lake & Palmer [UK] From the Beginning (Album Version) [►]
- Canada #34
- Trilogy album: U.S. #5, U.K. #2, Canada #5		 Cotillion 39 -
Giorgio [Giorgio Moroder] [IT] Son of My Father [►]
- Germany #47, France #27, Canada #29		 Dunhill 46 -
Hot Butter Popcorn [►] Musicor 9 -

1973
Emerson, Lake & Palmer [UK] Jerusalem [►]
- Brain Salad Surgery album: U.S. #11, U.K. #2, Canada #10		 Manticore - -
Timmy Thomas Why Can’t We Live Together (Album Version) [►] Glades 3 -
The Edgar Winter Group Frankenstein (Album Version) [►] Epic 1 -
Stevie Wonder Superstition (Album Version) [►] Tamla 1 -

1974
Tangerine Dream [DE] Phaedra (Album Version) [►]
- Phaedra album: U.S. #196, U.K. #15		 Virgin - -
Stevie Wonder Living for the City (Album Version) [►] Tamla 8 -
Stevie Wonder You Haven't Done Nothin [►] Tamla 1 -

1975
Kraftwerk [DE] Autobahn [►]
- Germany #9, U.K. #11, Canada #12		 Vertigo 25 -
Mike Post The Rockford Files [►] MGM 10 -
10cc [UK] I'm Not in Love (Album Version) [►] Mercury 2 -

1976
Giorgio [Giorgio Moroder] [IT] Knights in White Satin (Album Version) [►]
- Knights in White Satin album: Australia #43		 Oasis - 8*
Jean-Michel Jarre [FR] Oxygene (Part 4) (Music Video) [►]
- U.K. #4
- Oxygene album: U.S. #78, Germany #8, U.K. #2, France #1, Canada #65		 Polydor - -
Gary Wright Dream Weaver (Album Version) [►] Warner Bros. 2 -

1977
David Bowie [UK] Heroes (Music Video) [►]
- Germany #19, U.K. #12, Australia #11
- Heroes album: U.S. #35, U.K. #3, France #19, Australia #6, Canada #44		 RCA - -
Cerrone [FR] Love in 'C' Minor (Music Video) [►]
- U.K. #31		 Cotillion 36 2*
Giorgio [Giorgio Moroder] [IT] From Here to Eternity (Album Version) [►]
- Germany #29, U.K. #16
- From Here to Eternity album: U.S. #130, Australia #68		 Casablanca - 2*
Kebekelektrik [CA] Magic Fly (Disco Mix by Cucuzzela & Zgarka) [►]
- Canada #69		 Dash - 9
Space [FR] Magic Fly (Music Video) [►]
- U.K. #2		 United Artists - -
Donna Summer I Feel Love (12-Inch Version) [►] Casablanca 6 1*/3*
Tangerine Dream [DE] Betrayal (Sorcerer Theme) [►]
- Sorcerer soundtrack: U.S. #153, U.K. #25		 MCA - -

1978
Cerrone [FR] Supernature (Album Version) [►]
- U.K. #8, France #26		 Cotillion 70 1*
Brian Eno [UK] 1/1 [►] E.G. - -
Kraftwerk [DE] Trans-Europe Express (Music Video) [►]
- France #26		 Capitol 67 -
Kraftwerk [DE] The Model (Music Video) [►]
- 1982 re-release: Germany #7, U.K. #1		 Capitol - 39*
The Normal [UK] Warm Leatherette ("Crash" montage) [►] Sire - -
Parliament Flash Light [►]
- Canada #24		 Casablanca 16 -
Donna Summer Queen for a Day/Fairy Tale High/Now I Need You/Working the Midnight Shift (Promo Medley) [►]
- Once Upon a Time... album: U.S. #26, U.K. #24, Australia #44, Canada #27		 Casablanca - 1*
Donna Summer MacArthur Park Suite [►]
- MacArthur Park/One of a Kind/Heaven Knows/MacArthur Park (Reprise)		 Casablanca 1/4 1*
Sylvester Dance (Disco Heat) (Disco Mix by Jim Stern) [►] Fantasy 19 1*
Jeff Wayne [UK] The Eve of the War (Album Version) [►]
- U.K. #36
- The War of the Worlds soundtrack: U.S. #98, U.K. #5, Australia #1, Canada #76		 Columbia - 77
Wings [UK-US] With a Little Luck (Album Version) [►] Capitol 1 -

1979
Blondie Heart of Glass (Music Video) [►] Chrysalis 1 58
Buggles [UK] Video Killed the Radio Star (Album Version) [►]
- Germany #2, U.K. #1, France #1, Australia #1, Canada #6		 Island 40 -
M [UK] Pop Muzik (Music Video) [►] Sire 1 4
Giorgio Moroder [IT] Chase (12-Inch Version) [►]
- Midnight Express soundtrack: U.S. #59, Canada #54		 Casablanca 33 31
Giorgio Moroder [IT] Baby Blue (Album Version) [►]
- E=MC2 album: Australia #93		 Casablanca - 4*
Space [FR] Just Blue (all cuts) [►]
- Including Just Blue, Symphony, Save Your Love for Me, and My Love Is Music		 Casablanca 60 73/59
Sylvester You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) (Album Version) [►]
- U.K. #8		 Fantasy 36 1*

1980
Kate Bush [UK] Babooshka (Music Video) [►]
- Germany #14, U.K. #5, France #5, Australia #2
- Never for Ever album: Germany #5, U.K. #1, France #1, Australia #7, Canada #44		 EMI America - -
Devo Whip It (Music Video) [►]
- Canada #11		 Warner Bros. 14 8*
Fad Gadget [UK] Ricky's Hand [►] Mute - -
Jon & Vangelis [UK/GR] I Hear You Now (1984 Compilation Version) [►]
- U.K. #8		 Polydor 58 -
Gary Numan [UK] Cars (Music Video) [►] Atco 9 56
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark [OMD] [UK] Enola Gay (Music Video) [►]
- U.K. #8		 Virgin - 34
Prince I Wanna Be Your Lover (Music Video) [►] Warner Bros. 11 2*
Donna Summer Our Love/Lucky/Sunset People [►]
- Sunset People: U.K. #46		 Casablanca - -
Telex [BE] Moskow Diskow (1998 Music Video) [►] Sire - 36*
Visage [UK] Fade to Grey (12-Inch Version) [►]
- Germany #1, U.K. #8, France #3
- Visage album: U.S. #178, Germany #1, U.K. #13, France #2		 Polydor - -
Yellow Magic Orchestra [JP] Computer Game (Theme From The Circus) (Album Version) [►]
- U.K. #17		 Horizon 60 42

1981
Laurie Anderson O Superman (For Massenet) [►]
- U.K. #2
- Big Science album: U.S. #124, U.K. #29		 Warner Bros. - -
Kim Carnes Bette Davis Eyes (Music Video) [►] EMI America 1 26
Patrick Cowley Menergy (1989 Compilation Version) [►] Fusion - 1*
Keith Emerson [UK] I'm a Man [►]
- Nighthawks soundtrack: U.S. #183		 MCA - -
Foreigner [UK-US] Waiting for a Girl Like You (Album Version) [►] Atlantic 2 -
Pete Shelley [UK] Homosapien (Music Video) [►]
- Canada #6		 Arista - 14

1982
Afrika Bambaataa & The Soul Sonic Force Planet Rock (12-Inch Version) [►]
- U.K. #53, Canada #45		 Tommy Boy 48 3
Patrick Cowley Tech-No-Logical World (Album Version) [►] Megatone - 7*
Depeche Mode [UK] Just Can't Get Enough (Music Video) [►]
- U.K. #8, France #31		 Sire - 26*
A Flock of Seagulls [UK] I Ran (So Far Away) (Music Video) [►] Jive 9 8
The Human League [UK] Don't You Want Me (Music Video) [►] A&M 1 3
Icehouse [AU] Hey Little Girl (Music Video) [►]
- Germany #5, U.K. #17, Australia #7		 Chrysalis - 55
Paul Parker Right on Target (12-Inch Version) [►] Megatone - 1
Soft Cell [UK] Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go (12-Inch Version) [►] Sire 8 4
Donna Summer I Feel Love (1978 Patrick Cowley Remix) [►]
- U.K. #21		 Casablanca - -
Talk Talk [UK] Talk Talk (Music Video) [►]
- U.K. #23		 EMI America 75 63
Vangelis [GR] Chariots of Fire – Titles (Music Video) [►] Polydor 1 -
Kim Wilde [UK] Kids in America (Music Video) [►]
- Germany #5, U.K. #2, France #3, Australia #5, Canada #34		 EMI America 25 -
Yaz [Yazoo] [UK] Situation (Francois Kevorkian Remix) [►]
- Canada #31		 Sire 73 1
Neil Young [CA] Sample and Hold (Album Version) [►]
- Trans album: U.S. #19, U.K. #29, Australia #23, Canada #10		 Geffen - -

1983
ABC [UK] The Look of Love (Music Video) [►]
- U.K #4, Canada #1		 Mercury 18 1
Berlin Sex (I'm a...) (Music Video) [►]
- Canada #4		 Geffen 62 8
Blancmange [UK] Blind Vision (Music Video) [►]
- U.K. #10		 Island - 3
George Clinton Atomic Dog (Atomic Mix-Long Version) [►]
- U.K. #94		 Capitol 101 38
Thomas Dolby [UK] She Blinded Me With Science (Album Version) [►] Capitol 5 3
EBN/OZN AEIOU Sometimes Y (Music Video) [►] Elektra - 20
Eurythmics [UK] Sweet Dreams (Are Made of this) (Music Video) [►] RCA 1 2
Falco [AT] Der Kommissar (The Commissioner) [►]
- Germany #1, France #3, Australia #7, Canada #11		 A&M - 10
Freeez [UK] I.O.U. (Music Video) [►]
- U.K. #2, Australia #3, Canada #38		 Streetwise - 1
Peter Gabriel [UK] Shock the Monkey (Music Video) [►]
- Australia #25, Canada #10		 Geffen 29 26
Marvin Gaye Sexual Healing (Music Video) [►] Columbia 3 12
Philip Glass Koyaanisquatsi – Cloudscape [►] Antilles - -
Herbie Hancock Rockit (Music Video) [►]
- Germany #6, U.K. #8, France #9, Canada #9		 Columbia 71 1
Heaven 17 [UK] Let Me Go (12-Inch Version) [►]
- U.K. #41, Canada #41		 Virgin 74 4
Kashif I Just Gotta Have You (Lover Turn Me On) (Album Version) [►]
- U.K. #79		 Arista 103 28
Kraftwerk [DE] Tour de France (French Version) (12-Inch Version) [►]
- Germany #47, U.K. #22		 Warner Bros. - 4
Men Without Hats [CA] The Safety Dance (Music Video) [►] Backstreet 3 1
Ministry I Wanted to Tell Her (Album Version) [►] Arista - 13
New Order [UK] Blue Monday [►]
- Germany #2, U.K. #9		 Factory - 5*
Stevie Nicks Stand Back (Music Video) [►] Modern 5 12
One-Two-Three Runaway (12-Inch Version) [►] Prelude - -
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers You Got Lucky (Music Video) [►] Backstreet 20 -
Peter Schilling [DE] Major Tom (Coming Home) (Club Version by John Luongo) [►]
- Germany #1, France #2, Canada #1		 Elektra 14 2
Sparks All You Ever Think About Is Sex (Music Video) [►]
- In Outer Space album: U.S. #88		 Atlantic - -
Taco [NL] Puttin' on the Ritz (Music Video [Gary Cooper Version]) [►] RCA 4 37
Thompson Twins [UK] Lies (Bigger & Better Version) [►]
- Canada #12		 Arista 30 1*
Ultravox [UK] Reap the Wild Wind (Live Version) [►]
- U.K. #12		 Chrysalis 71 -

1984
Alphaville [DE] Big in Japan (Music Video) [►]
- Germany #1, U.K. #8, France #13, Canada #67		 Atlantic 66 1
The Art of Noise [UK] Beat Box (Music Video Version 2) [►]
- U.K. #51
- (Who's Afraid Of) The Art of Noise album: U.S. #85, U.K. #27		 Island - 1
Bronski Beat [UK] Smalltown Boy (Music Video) [►]
- Germany #3, U.K. #3, France #8, Canada #9		 MCA 48 1
Dominatrix The Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight (Music Video) [►] Streetwise - 2
Figures on a Beach Breathless (Album Version) [►] Metro-America - 31
Corey Hart [CA] Sunglasses at Night (Music Video) [►] EMI America 7 62
Laid Back [DK] White Horse (Music Video) [►]
- Canada #27		 Sire 26 1
Pet Shop Boys [UK] West End Girls (Original 12-Inch Version by Bobby "O") [►]
- Canada #81 (1986 version: U.S. #1)		 Bobcat - -
John Rocca [UK] I Want It to Be Real (12-Inch Version) [►] Streetwise - 1
Shannon Let the Music Play (Music Video) [►] Mirage 8 1
Tangerine Dream [DE] Love on a Real Train (Risky Business) [►] Virgin - -
Trans-X [CA] Living on Video (Music Video) [►]
- Germany #4, U.K. #9		 Mirage 61 -
Van Halen Jump [►] Warner Bros. 1 17

1985
A-Ha [NO] Take on Me (Music Video) [►] Warner Bros. 1 -
Alphaville [DE] Forever Young (Music Video) [►] (Special Extended Mix) [►]
- Germany #4, Canada #62		 Atlantic 65 32
The Art of Noise [UK] Moments in Love (Music Video) [►]
- U.K. #51		 Island - -
Book of Love Boy (Music Video) [►] Sire - 7*
Dead or Alive [UK] You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) (Music Video) [►]
- Germany #2, U.K. #1, Australia #3, Canada #1		 Epic 11 4*
Harold Faltermeyer [DE] Axel F (Music Video) [►] MCA 3 1*
Philip Glass Mishima/Opening [►] Nonesuch - -
Jan Hammer [CZ] Miami Vice Theme (Music Video) [►] MCA 1 23
Mr. Mister Broken Wings (Music Video) [►] RCA 1 -
Whodini Friends [►] Jive 87 25*

 

Pioneers 3

 

Outliers

Artists sometimes do things that defy convention or expectations.  Ever since Walter Murphy put classical music over a dance beat, this kind of musical marriage is no big deal.  But opera and dance mix is another matter.  Leave it to Malcolm McLaren (1946-2010) to do just that—and do it well.  Or how about dancing to Shakespeare?  We dare say France’s Alec R. Costandinos managed to pull it off.

While Kraftwerk’s “The Model” is close to being a ballad, Yaz’s “Only You” has to be one of the first electronic ballads.  There’s something about Vince Clarke’s in-your-face synthesizer and Alison Moyet’s impassioned vocals.  As A Flock of Seagulls would say, this is definitely a space age love song.  Sure, Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away” would become the first electronic ballad to hit No. 1 in 1986.  But Moroder’s electronic arrangement is almost tame AC fare compared with Clarke’s.

“I’ve Seen That Face Before (Libertango)” is that rare combination of reggae, tango, and electronic.  It was a hit in a few European countries, which would explain why director Roman Polanski featured it prominently in his 1988 film “Frantic.”  On top of this unusual single, few artists are as much an outlier as Grace Jones.

 

Artist [Alternate Name] [Country] Title (Mix) [Play] Label Hot 100 Club

1978
Alec R. Costandinos and The Syncophonic Orchestra [FR] Romeo & Juliet (Acts I & II) [►]
- Romeo & Juliet album: U.S. #92		 Casablanca - 1*

1981
Grace Jones I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango) (Music Video) [►]
- Germany #16, France #4
- Nightclubbing album: U.S. #32, Germany #8, U.K. #35, France #5, Australia #19		 Island - -

1983
Yaz [Yazoo] [UK] Only You (Music Video) [►]
- U.K. #2
- Upstairs at Eric's album: U.S. #92, Germany #14, U.K. #2, Canada #49		 Sire 67 -

1984
Malcolm McLaren [UK] Madam Butterfly (Un Bel dì Vedremo) [►]
- U.K. #13, Canada #20
- Fans album: U.S. #190, U.K. #47, Canada #24		 Island - 19

 

Pioneers 4

 

Key Figures

 

Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte

 

Artist [Alternate Name] [Country] Title (Mix) [Play] Label Hot 100 Club

1976
Roberta Kelly Trouble-Maker (Album Version) [►] Oasis - 1
Donna Summer Love to Love You Baby (Album Version) [►] Oasis 2 1

1978
The Three Degrees Giving up, Giving In (Dutch TV appearance) [►]
- U.K. #12, Canada #88		 Ariola - 12

1979
Elton John [UK] Victim of Love (Album Version) [►]
- Australia #38, Canada #46		 MCA 31 55*
Suzi Lane Harmony (Album Version) [►] Elektra - 1*
Suzi Lane Ooh, La, La (Album Version) [►] Elektra - 1*
Sparks The Number One Song in Heaven (Music Video) [►]
- U.K. #14		 Elektra - -

1980
Blondie Call Me (Album Version) [►] Chrysalis 1 2*

1982
David Bowie [UK] Cat People (Putting out Fire) (Music Video) [►]
- U.K. #26, Australia #15, Canada #13		 Backstreet 67 14
Madleen Kane [SE] You Can (Album Version) [►] Chalet 77 1*

1983
Irene Cara Flashdance...What a Feeling (Music Video) [►] Casablanca 1 1

1984
Adam Ant [UK] What's Going On (Metropolis montage) [►]
- Metropolis soundtrack: U.S. #110, Germany #50		 Columbia - -
Berlin No More Words (Music Video) [►]
- Australia #23		 Geffen 23 6*
Freddie Mercury [UK] Love Kills (Music Video) [►]
- Germany #25, U.K. #10		 Columbia 69 44*
Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder [UK/IT] Together in Electric Dreams (Extended Version) [►]
- U.K. #3		 Virgin - 20
Bonnie Tyler [UK] Here She Comes (Music Video) [►]
- Germany #43, France #32		 Columbia 76 -

1985
Limahl [UK] Never Ending Story (Music Video) [►]
- Germany #2, U.K. #4, France #7, Canada #7		 EMI America 17 10

2013
Daft Punk [FR] Giorgio by Moroder [►]
- France #54		 Columbia - -
The Creators Project Giorgio Moroder Interview [►] - - -

 

Jacques Morali (1947-1991) and Henri Belolo (1936-2019)

 

Artist [Alternate Name] [Country] Title (Mix) [Play] Label Hot 100 Club

1976
The Ritchie Family The Best Disco in Town (Album Version) [►]
- Germany #22, U.K. #10, Australia #3, Canada #15		 Marlin 17 1

1977
The Lovers Discomania (12-Inch Version) [►] Marlin 100 6
The Ritchie Family Quiet Village (Album Version) [►]
- African Queens album: U.S. #164, Australia #66		 Marlin - 1*
Village People San Francisco (You've Got Me) (Album Version) [►]
- U.K. #45, Australia #15
- Village People album: U.S. #54		 Casablanca 102 1*
Village People In Hollywood (Everybody Is a Star) (Album Version) [►] Casablanca - 1*

1978
Patrick Juvet [CH] I Love America (Album Version) [►]
- U.K. #12
- Got a Feeling album: U.S. #125		 Casablanca - 5*

1979
Dennis Parker New York by Night [►] Casablanca - 47*
Village People Y.M.C.A. (Disco Mix by Michael Hutchinson?) [►] Casablanca 2 2*
Village People In the Navy (12-Inch Version) [►] Casablanca 3 14*

 

Gregg Diamond (1949-1999)

 

Artist [Alternate Name] [Country] Title (Mix) [Play] Label Hot 100 Club

1976
Andrea True Connection More, More, More (Album Version) [►] Buddah 4 2

1977
George McCrae Love in Motion [►] T.K. - 4*

1978
Gregg Diamond Fancy Dancer [►] Marlin - 7*
Bionic Boogie Dance Little Dreamer [►]
- Bionic Boogie album: U.S. #88		 Polydor - 1*
Bionic Boogie Risky Changes (Album Version) [►] Polydor - 1*

1979
Gregg Diamond Bionic Boogie Hot Butterfly (Jim Burgess Remix) [►] Polydor - 8*
Gregg Diamond Bionic Boogie Fess up to the Boogie (Gregg Diamond Remix) [►] Polydor - 8*

 

Marc Chantereau, Pierre-Alain Dahan, and Slim Pezin

 

Artist [Alternate Name] [Country] Title (Mix) [Play] Label Hot 100 Club

1976
V.I.P. Connection [FR] Please Love Me Again (12-Inch Version) [►] Morningstar - -

1978
Voyage [FR] From East to West (Album Version) [►]
- U.K. #13
- Voyage album: U.S. #40, U.K. #59		 Marlin - 1*
Voyage [FR] Lady America (12-Inch Version) [►] Marlin - 1*

1979
Voyage [FR] Souvenirs (TV appearance?) [►]
- U.K. #56
- Fly Away album: U.S. #47, Canada #38		 Marlin 41 1*
Voyage [FR] Let's Fly Away (TV appearance?) [►]
- U.K. #38		 Marlin - 1*

 

Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards (1952-1996)

 

Artist [Alternate Name] [Country] Title (Mix) [Play] Label Hot 100 Club

1978
Chic Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah) (Album Version) [►] Atlantic 6 1*
Chic Le Freak (Album Version) [►] Atlantic 1 1*
Norma Jean Saturday (Album Version) [►]
- Norma Jean album: U.S. #134		 Bearsville - 10*

1979
Chic Good Times (Album Version) [►] Atlantic 1 3*
Sister Sledge He’s the Greatest Dancer (Album Version) [►] Cotillion 9 1*
Sister Sledge Lost in Music (Album Version) [►]
- U.K. #17		 Cotillion - -

1980
Diana Ross Upside Down (Album Version) [►] Motown 1 1*
Diana Ross I'm Coming Out (Album Version) [►] Motown 5 1*
Sheila & B. Devotion [FR] Spacer (Music Video) [►]
- Germany #9, U.K. #18		 Carrere - 44

1981
Debbie Harry Backfired (Music Video) [►]
- U.K. #32, Australia #23
- KooKoo album: U.S. #25, U.K. #6, Australia #16, Canada #17		 Chrysalis 43 29

1983
David Bowie [UK] Let's Dance (Music Video) [►] EMI America 1 1

1984
Duran Duran [UK] The Wild Boys (Music Video) [►] Capitol 2 27
INXS [AU] Original Sin (Dream On) (Music Video) [►]
- Australia #1, Canada #20		 Atco 58 13
Madonna Like a Virgin (Music Video) [►] Sire 1 1

1985
Kim Carnes Invitation to Dance (Music Video) [►] EMI America 68 13
The Power Station [UK-US] Some Like It Hot (Music Video) [►] Capitol 6 17
Nile Rodgers Let's Go out Tonight (Album Version) [►] Warner Bros. 88 38

2013
Various Artists The Chic Organization Megamix [►] Rhino - -

 

Gino Soccio

 

Artist [Alternate Name] [Country] Title (Mix) [Play] Label Hot 100 Club

1978
Kebekelektrik [CA] War Dance (Album Version) [►] Dash - 9*

1979
Gino Soccio [CA] Dancer (Album Version) [►]
- U.K. #46, Canada #6
- Outline album: U.S. #79, Canada #14		 RFC 48 1*
Gino Soccio [CA] Dance to Dance (Album Version) [►] RFC - 1*
Witch Queen [CA] Bang a Gong (Album Version) [►]
- Canada #80		 Roadshow 68 8*

1981
Gino Soccio [CA] Try It Out (Album Version) [►]
- Closer album: U.S. #96		 RFC - 1*
Gino Soccio [CA] What You Feel Is Real - Hold Tight (Album Version) [►] RFC - 1*

 

Jacques Fred Petrus (1948-1987) and Mauro Malavasi

  

Artist [Alternate Name] [Country] Title (Mix) [Play] Label Hot 100 Club

1979
Peter Jacques Band [IT] Walking on Music (Album Version) [►] Prelude - 6*

1980
Change [IT-US] A Lover's Holiday (Album Version) [►]
- U.K. #14
- The Glow of Love album: U.S. #29		 RFC 40 1*
Change [IT-US] Searching (Album Version) [►]
- U.K. #11		 RFC - 1*
Change [IT-US] The Glow of Love (Album Version) [►]
- U.K. #14		 RFC - 1*

1981
The Brooklyn, Bronx & Queens Band
[The B.B. & Q. Band] [IT-US]		 On the Beat (Extended Version) [►]
- U.K. #41		 Capitol - 3
Change [IT-US] Paradise (Album Version) [►]
- Miracles album: U.S. #46		 Atlantic 80 1*
Change [IT-US] Hold Tight (Album Version) [►] Atlantic 89 1*

 

Bobby Orlando

 

Artist [Alternate Name] [Country] Title (Mix) [Play] Label Hot 100 Club

1981
Barbie & The Kens Just a Gigolo (1989 Compilation Version) [►] ARS - 45*

1982
Bobby "O" I'm so Hot for You (Dance Mix by John "Jellybean" Benitez) [►] "O" - 17
Divine Native Love (Step by Step) (12-Inch Version?) [►] "O" - 21
The Flirts Passion (Music Video) [►]
- Germany #4		 "O" - 21*
The Flirts Jukebox (Don't Put Another Dime) (Music Video) [►] "O" - 28*
Roni Griffith (The Best Part Of) Breakin' Up (Album Version) [►]
- U.K. #85		 Vanguard - 2

1983
Bobby "O" She Has a Way (John "Jellybean" Benitez Remix) [►] "O" - 10
Waterfront Home Take a Chance (On Me) (Album Version) [►] Bobcat - 14

1984
Pet Shop Boys [UK] One More Chance (Original 12-Inch Mix by The Magnificent Kordak) [►] Bobcat - -

1985
Bobby "O" With Claudja Barry Whisper to a Scream (1993 Compilation Version) [►] Meno Vision - 27
The Flirts You & Me (Music Video) [►] CBS - 1

2005
Bobby Orlando Sorrow (Bass in Your Face Mix) [►] Radikal - 8

 

Vince Clarke

 

Artist [Alternate Name] [Country] Title (Mix) [Play] Label Hot 100 Club

1981
Depeche Mode [UK] Dreaming of Me [►]
- Germany #45, U.K. #57		 Sire - 47

1982
Yaz [Yazoo] [UK] Don't Go (Music Video) [►]
- Germany #4, U.K. #3, Australia #6
- Upstairs at Eric's album: U.S. #92, Germany #14, U.K. #2, Canada #49		 Sire - 1

1983
Yaz [Yazoo] [UK] Nobody's Diary (Music Video) [►]
- U.K. #3
- You and Me Both album: U.S. #69, Germany #15, U.K. #1, Australia #21, Canada #33		 Sire - 1*
The Assembly [UK] Never Never (Music Video) [►]
- Germany #19, U.K. #4, Canada #49		 Sire - -

1986
Erasure [UK] Who Needs Love Like That (Music Video) [►]
- U.K. #55
- Wonderland album: Germany #20, U.K. #71, Australia #89		 Mute - 8*

2006
Depeche Mode [UK] Just Can't Get Enough (Dirty South Mix) [►] Virgin - -

 

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