The Groove
Saturday February 10th, 2024 with ELORIOUS CAIN
BLACKS IN EUROPE! part 2 ---- ( a BLACK HISTORY MONTH FOCUS)
We are fully aware of the fact that dozens of African American Jazz, Blues and Rock artists took up residence in Europe in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. We are not including most of them in this show. As THE GROOVE is a DISCO show, we are concentrating on and celebrating SOME of those Black artists that contributed directly to the growth and diversity of the European discotheque industry along with the development and enrichment of EURODISCO music in all of it's various forms and categories like ITALODISCO, NEWFORM, SPACE, the FRENCH SOUND etc.
As EURODISCO became the most influential of DISCO genres. the contribution of Black artists coming from various parts of the world helped make it all the more desirable and powerful. We are focusing on solo artists and groups. Some EURODISCO groups like SILVER CONVENTION, NEW PARADISE, BELLE EPOQUE and TANTRA had black members. We are not including those groups. Also major EURODISCO artists like CERRONE and ALEC R. COSTANDINOS featured black vocalists in some of their productions. We are not featuring them either. We celebrate some of those amazing talents that contributed to the scene in a somewhat chronological order in these 4 shows:
| DONNA SUMMER (1974 - 1976)
It is hard to describe the excitement and insanity of the International DISCO industry in 1975. It was a time of potency. With accelerating standardisation occurring, deejays were spinning an increasingly more focused concentration of beat-structures. It was also the time for visionaries to change things radically. With an African American singer living in Germany and recording EURODISCO, that time had come. She was the late DONNA SUMMER and she already had two minor hits in 1974 with the team of GIORGIO MORODER and PETE BELLOTTE called "The Hostage" and "Lady Of The Night". What this production team did with DONNA SUMMER in 1975 would radically dominate and change the worldwide Disco music industry. The song was a sensuous streamlined EURODISCO track with a simple electronic beat-structure called "Love To Love You Baby". DONNA SUMMER'S writing was suggestive and straightforward. Her sensuous message was draped over the throbbing beat. Upon hearing an early shorter version CASABLANCA RECORDS AND FILMWORKS, the label in the United States, requested it be lengthened. The singer and producer went back into the studio to extend the want further. The final 17 minute version would have a lengthy session of pseudo-erotica. Although we had heard pseudo-erotica before in EURODISCO with "Jungle Fever" by CHAKACHAS back in 1970, DONNA SUMMER's performance had a subtle alluring feel to it that made the whole recording feel completely relieving and revealing. They had created a masterpiece of recording wizardry that illustrated just one part of the vast potential of EURODISCO. Most 'disco people' could not get enough of it. The response to it in various parts of the public was varied. More personally conservative people thought it to be obscene. The EURODISCO industry already had been continuously fighting against a public perception in much of Europe which equated it with pornography. "Love To Love Baby" twisted those conservative perceptions around it's finger like a fat bandage. It was a wonderful musical statement for a hungry medium that soaked it all in. DONNA SUMMER would record more albums with that production team, providing some of the very best DISCO of any style or category! She was called 'The Queen Of Disco'. The initial EURODISCO recordings established DONNA SUMMER as one of the most popular and well known artists in the world. Here are some of her recordings from that period starting off with "The Hostage". We are only playing 8 minutes of "Love To Love You Baby". If one wants to hear the full version here is a link for that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5AztWseIdU. (We shall get back to DONNA SUMMER later!) |
| THE HOSTAGE DONNA SUMMER - 7" - PEOPLE |
| LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY DONNA SUMMER - LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY (LP) - OASIS |
| INTRO: PRELUDE TO LOVE DONNA SUMMER - A LOVE TRILOGY (LP) - OASIS |
| COULD IT BE MAGIC DONNA SUMMER - A LOVE TRILOGY (LP) - OASIS |
| SPRING AFFAIR DONNA SUMMER - FOUR SEASONS OF LOVE (LP) - CASABLANCA |
| ROBERTA KELLY (1974 - 1977)
The European discotheque industry always had certain songs that were so popular that different acts had to do 'allusions to' or blatant cover-versions of them. It happened with "'Mademoiselle Ninette" and "Mendocino" in 1969 along with "Soul Makossa" and "Soleado" in 1974. Also in 1974 there were numerous EURODISCO cover-versions of or 'allusion records' to the enormously popular SU BIDDU production "Kung Fu Fighting" featuring the British singer CARL DOUGLAS. One such 'allusion record' featured an African American singer that ended being produced by the team of GIORGIO MORODER and PETE BELLOTTE. She was a Californian girl who deliberately moved to Germany to pursue her singing career. She was ROBERTA KELLY. She would have several hits like "Trouble Maker" in 1976 and "Zodiacs" in 1977 produced by MORODER and BELLOTTE. |
| KUNG FU'S BACK AGAIN PART 1 ROBERTA KELLY - 7" - ATLANTIC |
| ZODIACS ROBERTA KELLY - ZODIAC LADY (LP) - CASABLANCA |
| TROUBLE MAKER ROBERTA KELLY - TROUBLE MAKER (LP) - ATLANTIC |
| AFRIC SIMONE (1973 - 1981)
AFRIC SIMONE is a Mozambican vocalist, composer, multi-instrumentalist and dancer who enriched Europe with his energetic and addictive live performances and records offering his unique blend of musical influences. He enjoyed considerable commercial success throughout Europe with the 1975 spunky exotic song "Ramaya". He continued releasing his Jazzy AFRICAN DISCO until 1981. |
| HEY SAFARI AFRIC SIMONE - 7" - BASF |
| RAMAYA AFRIC SIMONE - RAMAYA (LP) - BARCLAY |
| CHOCOLAT'S (1975 - 1977)
CHOCOLAT'S was an exotic EURODISCO group created by MARCEL DE KEUKELEIRE, SALVATORE ACQUAVIVA and DOMINIQUE KNAEPEN in 1975. One of the strongest influences in the BRAZILLIAN inspired early EURODISCO that BIMBO JET did so well with in 1974, CHOCOLAT'S became an almost eternal ambassadorial act. This was one of those EURODISCO bands like BONEY M. that was really a group or collective of singers and performers representing a conceptual act. In the instance of CHOCOLAT'S, the concept involved an undying love of musical influences from Brazil and tropical Latin America. Many talented Black singers and dancers regularly appeared in the group as nameless members and the personnel often changed! The group has sold over 7 million records and performed on various TV shows and live in venues throughout Europe well into the 1980's. They were a really big deal in many markets like France and Belgium. Some sources claim the group is still out there. |
| BRASILIA CARNAVAL CHOCOLAT'S - BRASILIA CARNAVAL (LP) - ELVER / - 3.01 |
| EL CARAVANERO CHOCOLAT'S - BRASILIA CARNAVAL (LP) - AQUARIUS / - 6.39 |
| TEQUILA CHOCOLAT'S - LES FABULEUX CHOCOLAT'S (LP) - DISQUES IBACH |
| LUC BARRETO (1975 - 1976)
Another song that was so popular in the European discotheque industry that different acts had to do 'allusions to' or blatant cover-versions of it was "El Bimbo" in 1974 and 1975. One such cover-version was by LUC BARRETO - a Black Cuban singer that had settled in Spain in the early 1970's. His version of "El Bimbo" really didn't indicate the level of talent this man offered. He released some beautiful CUBAN albums like the very popular 'Sentimental' series and an endearing EURODISCO album in Spanish called 'CUANDO VUELVA A TU LADO' in 1976! |
| EL BIMBO LUC BARRETO - 7" - BELTER |
| EL MANISERO LUC BARRETO - CUANDO VUELA A TU LADO (LP) - BELTER |
| TINA TURNER (1975 - 1979)
One African American singer that moved to Europe and released some EURODISCO with one of the best producers was often referred to as 'The Queen Of Rock". She was the late TINA TURNER and she had a powerful voice that many Europeans really began to believe was really suited for ROCK music. The American music magazine ROLLING STONE hailed TINA TURNER as "One of the greatest singers of all time"! All that said, one incredible EURODISCO producer; ALEC R. COSTANDINOS could not effectively capitalize on the potential of TINA TURNER's immense talents. COSTANDINOS was responsible for spectacular and dramatic EURODISCO productions like 'Judas Iscariot / Simon Peter' by SPHINX, 'Golden Tears' by SUMERIA and his 'The Hunchback Of Notre Dame' album. With a talent like TINA TURNER he could have created something truly explosive and unforgettable. Other DISCO acts like SANTA ESMERALDA and SHIRLEY & COMPANY had already effectively used commanding "Rock" vocalists. There was so much untapped potential! Yet ALEC R. COSTANDINOS' production of 'Love Explosion' was exceptional by most standards and "Love Explosion" was played in many British and European discos. It barely made it to North America, never to be released in Canada or the United States. Considering the personnel involved, it could have been absolutely huge! TINA would do further efforts in "mondo disco". She would do an amazing ELECTRONIC cover-version of "Ball Of Confusion" with the BRITISH ELECTRIC FOUNDATION on their 1982 album 'Music Of Quality & Distinction (Volume One)'. She also participated in several CHILL/AMBIENT projects like 'Beyond (Buddhist And Christian Prayers)' in 2009, 'Children Beyond' in 2011, 'Beyond (Love Within)' in 2014, and 'Awakening Beyond' in 2017 all with REGULA CURTI and DECHEN SHAK-DAGSAY among other artists. Many dj's programmed those CD's in CHILL raves and music festivals. They have also been programmed at hundreds of yoga events. We actually played "Sarvesham Svastir Bhavatu" from the 'Children Beyond' CD on The Groove during a CHILL/AMBIENT show entitled "Alienation From Reality". Here is a link to that show: https://cod.ckcufm.com/programs/131/45131.html. Although it really had little to do with her involvement with DISCO, TINA TURNER had become one of the most recognizable voices in world by 1990. |
| LOVE EXPLOSION TINA TURNER - LOVE EXPLOSION (LP) - ARIOLA |
| GIBSON BROTHERS (1976 - 1979)
The three brothers, CHRIS FRANCFORT, PATRICK FRANCFORT and ALEX FRANCFORT arrived in Paris, France from Martinique with a new sound in mind. They adopted a new name, the GIBSON BROTHERS. Back in the West Indies they recorded with CLEMENCE BRINGTOWN and called themselves 'MARTINIQUE EXPRESS' and they were known for playing BATUCADA music. EURODISCO producer DANIEL VANGARDE gave them the new name. With their somewhat tropical LATIN sounding EURODISCO they would enjoy numerous hits and appeared live in various countries in Europe. |
| COME TO AMERICA GIBSON BROTHERS - 7" - ARISTON |
| CUBA GIBSON BROTHERS - 12" - POLYDOR |
| OOH WHAT A LIFE GIBSON BROTHERS - 12" - ZAGORA |
| QUE SERA MI VIDA (IF YOU SHOULD GO) GIBSON BROTHERS - 12" - POLYDOR |
| ABETI (1973 - 1988)
The late ABETI MASIKINI was a widely loved and respected Congolese singer and composer who was already a very successful act heard in discos throughout the world even before she would come to France and record with EURODISCO producer SLIM PEZIM. The CONGOLESE RUMBA "belle epoque" may have ended sometime in the early 1960s. but an active international record industry had started supplying CONGOLESE RUMBA along with various other African styles. Discotheques in various countries could easily buy the newest FRANCO and TABU LEY ROCHEREAU record. In the 1970's and 1980's the same clubs could buy ABETI records that were competing with the likes of records by M'PONGO LOVE and M'BILIA BEL. One distributor told us "our industry has kept the "belle epoque" alive all these years!" This international industry was fragile at times. Like the informal disco industry in the 1970's, this RUMBA influenced African industry actually crossed borders and continents selling records oblivious of commercial music and radio industries. Several competing distribution companies eventually disappeared if they didn't get absorbed by the Paris based Sonodisc. The culture was surviving and independent in the most international and intercontinental way! For the most part many RUMBA, ZOUK, and SOUKOUS artists were only available through that African industry. Many records were released in France yet they would not have any impact on the EURODISCO market. Records were often pressed in France and basically distributed in African markets. That type of thing has been going on since the 1950's. What separates ABETI from a long and impressive list of African artists released through Sonodisc is that she had inspired many French dj's and artists, and she ended up recording with SLIM PEZIM. SLIM PEZIM was a guitarist and producer that was very active in French EURODISCO. He was a member of two important groups: The legendary SPACE outfit ARPADYS, and the wildly popular FRENCH SOUND group VOYAGE. He had also supplied his skills to records by artists like MANU DIBANGO, CRYSTAL GLASS, CHOCOLAT'S, CHI-CHI FAVELAS AND THE BLACK AND WHITE BAND and PATRICK JUVET. He was also a key musician in many important CERRONE and ALEC R. COSTANDINOS productions. PEZIM had already produced some EKAMBI BRILLANT, PIERRE DIDY TCHAKOUNT and G. LAWANI material so do the same thing with ABETI was natural! ABETI always insisted on singing in the Lingala language or sometimes in French. Most CONGOLESE RUMBA and SOUKOUS was sung in Lingala. ABETI insisted on singing her EURODISCO in the very same language with which she wrote the songs. She was famous for writing amazing songs about interpersonal relations and social justice. It is rare and precious to hear EURODISCO sung in Lingala. We start with the 1973 single "Bibile" which many French dj's liked because it was TRIBAL and exotic. Many of such dj's used more than one copy of it so that they could repeat so to expand it, ABETI already had two singles released in the United States "Abumba" and "Gamanbele" on the exotic disco label African Music Explosion. Some of ABETI's music had already found it's way into discos in North America before she released albums like 'Visages' that were produced by SLIM PEZIM. After some of the SLIM PEZIM produced material, we will end with her smash hit from 1988: "Scandale De Jalousie". After all, by the early 1980's ABETI was declared by many sources to be "THE QUEEN OF SOUKOUS" ! |
| BIBILE ABETI, - 7" - LES DISQUES PIERRE CARDIN/ DISC'AZ |
| TATA MOBUTU ABETI - ABETI À PARIS (LP) - PATHE |
| USISILIKE ABETI - VISAGES (LP) - BBZ PRODUCTIONS/RCA |
| KUPEPE SUKA ABETI - KUPEPE SUKA (LP) - BBZ PRODUCTIONS/RCA |
| MOTEMA PASI ABETI - VISAGES (LP) - BBZ PRODUCTIONS/RCA |
| SCANDALE DE JEALOUSIE ABETI - 7" - POLYDOR |
| MUSIC KEEPS ME DANCIN' TINA TURNER - LOVE EXPLOSION (LP) - ARIOLA |
Subscribe to The Groove
Back to school in discoland
2:25 PM, February 9th, 2024