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).
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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 |
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| Cliff Nobles & Co. | The Horse [►] | Phil-L.A. of Soul | 2 | - |
1969 |
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| The O’Jays | One Night Affair [►] | Neptune | 68 | - |
1972 |
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| The Trammps | Zing Went the Strings of My Heart (Instrumental Version/Tom Moulton Mix?) [►] - U.K. #29 |
Buddah | 64 | - |
1973 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes Featuring Teddy Pendergrass | Don't Leave Me This Way (Album Version) [►] - U.K. #5 |
Philadelphia Int'l | - | - |
1978 |
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| The Trammps | Disco Inferno (Album Version) [►] - U.K. #16, Canada #6 |
Atlantic | 11 | 1* |
1979 |
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| 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 |
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| Dan Hartman | Vertigo/Relight My Fire (Album Version) [►] - Relight My Fire album: U.S. #189 |
Blue Sky | 105 | 1* |
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 |
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| The Beach Boys | Good Viberations (2011 Compilation Version) [►] | Capitol | 1 | - |
1967 |
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| The Beatles [UK] | Strawberry Fields Forever | Capitol | 8 | - |
| Quincy Jones | Ironside [►] | - | - | - |
| Diana Ross & The Supremes | Reflections [►] | Motown | 2 | - |
1968 |
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| Walter Carlos [Wendy Carlos] | Third Movement, Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 [►] - Switched-on Bach album: U.S. #10, Canada #7 |
Columbia | - | - |
1969 |
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| 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 |
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| The Beatles [UK] | Here Comes the Sun | Apple | - | - |
| Leonid Hambro & Gershon Kingsley [US/DE] | Rhapsody in Blue (Album Version) [►] | Avco | - | - |
1971 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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* |
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 |
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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