Proto-Disco

My pal Carlos and I are DJing a disco party on June 19--to which you are all invited to attend--and I've been thinking a lot about dance music--mostly what I'd call "proto-disco," stuff from 1973 and 1974 that really helped kick-start the movement toward a new form of dance music but hadn't yet been branded with the dreaded D-word.

The records of this kind that really stick out for me are The Hues Corporation's "Rock the Boat," George McCrae's "Rock Your Baby," Gloria Gaynor's "Never Can Say Goodbye," MFSB's "TSOP," and The Jackson Five's "Dancing Machine." These records, some spare and some very complex, can boast elements of Latin music, acid rock, Philly soul, and even electronic music, and are among my favorite singles of the 1970s.

Got some favorite disco tracks? Let me know. Maybe I'll add 'em to the set list.

Here's a hilarious video of the Hues Corporation. I love the lead singer's almost manic toe-tapping and the far-out dance moves of the backup singers, who look like veteran soul singers who've been around the block once or twice before finally getting their chance to hit it big!

Peace and Love.