Disco/Gay Culture in the 1970s+

Donna Summer (1948 - 2012)

  • international stardom (with her mix of different music genres)

  • underground dance music — bringing to a wider audience

  • 3 albums to hit #1 (onyl artist)

  • 4 #1 singles

  • 5 grammy winner

  • 8 grammy nominee

  • won grammy for best rock vocal performance (1979)

  • Queen of disco

  • 1976 - first success: “love to love you baby”

    • got 4 grammy awards 1978

Donna Summer “Last Dance” (1978)

  • upbeat tempo

  • sex reference (rock overlap)

  • Casablanca Records (LA) produced by Giorgio Moroder

In Defence of Disco — Richard Dire

  • why does disco need defending?

    • hostility reaction against disco

    • seen as capitalistic (produced by capitalist industry)

    • Dont just dismiss disco as capitalist, we must ask better questions

Disco Demolition

  • context why Dire even wrote his paper on Defence of Disco

  • July 12 1979

  • Anti disco army, during a baseball game at Comiskey Park in Chicago

  • Steve Dahl, who was known for his anti-disco sentiments, had recently been fired from a radio station that had switched to a disco format

  • The event involved Dahl exploding a crate filled with disco records on the field between the two games. Attendees were encouraged to bring their disco records from home to be blown up, and the promise of a discounted admission fee further fueled interest

  • Got out of control: As the records were exploded on the field, fans began to storm the field, and the situation turned chaotic. The field was damaged, and the second game had to be forfeited by the White Sox due to the unsafe conditions.

  • seen as a symbol of the backlash against disco music and its cultural impact

  • some view it as a manifestation of anti-disco sentiment, , while others criticize it for its potential racial and homophobic undertones, as disco was associated with diverse and LGBTQ+ communities.

  • acts of rebellion putting on display

Disco Historically (elements)

  • represent a utopian space

  • where dance floor becomes an ideal community

  • (mid 70s) — dip in public dancing except for gay and black clubs (discotheques)

    • peppermint lounge

  • most early releases by black artists (continuation of black dance traditions)

  • started in clubs in new york city

  • celebration of public dancing and sexual freedom

  • focus on record singles (as a way to get people on the the dance floor)

  • Sweet sound of Philadelphia soul connection

  • soli eurodisco beat (bouncy beat)

  • superf

Saturday night fever - John Travolta — Movie

  • place where music seen in underground space being promoted to straight white America (start of the explosion of popularity)

  • trademark falsetto

  • multi media crossover — free publicity for Disco

  • 130 MIL for Film

  • SOLD 15 MIL, 30 MIL WORLD WIDE

  • BEST SELLING AT THE TIME

  • sexuality put on display

Total disco take over — (1979)

  • going from underground to more mainstream

Village People

  • Casablanca Records (LA) in 1978

  • Morali (producer)

  • new york 1977 - American disco group

  • Gay

  • “YMCA” hit song

  • singles

  • heavy bass

    The original members of the Village People were:

    1. Victor Willis – Policeman

    2. Felipe Rose – Native American

    3. Alex Briley – Soldier

    4. David Hodo – Construction Worker

    5. Glenn Hughes – Leatherman/Biker

    6. Randy Jones – Cowboy

Sylvester (1947 - 1988)

  • male, embraced sexuality

  • 1970 disco artist

  • 1960s “women of the blues”

  • transvestite vocal group “the coquettes”

  • flamboyant act a hit in San Francisco area (over the top)

  • falsetto voice

  • 1988 - Died - age related

“Mighty Real” by Sylvester

  • resistance aspects (connection to rock)

This producer was critical to the recorded sound of 1970s disco.  

  • Giorgio Moroder