Not to take ourselves too seriously. Certain DISCO records provided just plain fun. We have selected some of the examples of DISCO records that took the listener on some kind of journey. We are calling it all 'ludicrous travels' because some of these examples took the listener to places to discover historical figures that didn't exist, or may have never existed. Some songs celebrate exotic foreign activities. Others take us into the past of certain places like the New York City area. Still others are about getting to places or are musical and lyrical commentaries of places. These were records made for discotheque dancing. What were the artists trying to accomplish?
Warning some of this music is silly. Don't ever forget that DISCO can be silly! It is part of the charm of it all.
| THE LOVE BOAT JACK JONES - 7" - POLYDOR |
| The unforgettable SOUL singer the late ARETHA FRANKLIN recorded the song "Spanish Harlem" in 1971. Some critics suggested that it was about a place that didn't exist, not that section of Manhattan. Here are the lyrics:
It is the special one It never sees the sun It only comes up When the moon is on the run And all the stars are gleaming It's growing in the street Right up through the concrete But soft, sweet and dreamy With eyes as black as coal That look down in his soul And start a fire there and then he looses control I'm gonna beg his pardon, yeah He's going to pick that rose And watch her as she grows In his garden With eyes as black as coal That look down in his soul And start a fire there and then he loses control And I'm beg his pardon He's going to pick that rose And watch her as she grows In his garden |
| SPANISH HARLEM ARETHA FRANKLIN - 7" - ATLANTIC |
| LAURIN RINDER and W. MICHAEL LEWIS basically are EL COCO. We are not playing any of their iconic tracks like "Mondo Disco", "Afrodesia" or "Cocomotion". They released the first EL COCO album in 1975 entitled 'Brazil'. It actually included at least four selections that could be featured in this show. We decided to include the dreamy "Bahia" track celebrating the state in Brazil! |
| BAHIA EL COCO - BRAZIL (LP) - AVI |
| The late JACQUES MORALI created the 'AMERICAN DISCO girls group' RITCHIE FAMILY in Philadelphia, U.S.A. in 1975. We are deliberately not playing their hits: "Brazil", "The Best Disco In Town" or "American Generation". For this show we are featuring the "Arabian Nights Medley" and the "African Queens Medley" because they really capture the spirit of what we are talking about with terms like 'Ludicrous Travels". |
| ISTAMBUL (NOT CONSTANTINOPLE) THE RITCHIE FAMILY - ARABIAN NIGHTS (LP) - ABLE |
| LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (MORE THAN YESTERDAY, LESS THAN TOMORROW) THE RITCHIE FAMILY - ARABIAN NIGHTS (LP) - ABLE |
| IN A PERSIAN MARKET (SHOW ME HOW YOU DANCE) THE RITCHIE FAMILY - ARABIAN NIGHTS (LP) - ABLE |
| We have included part of the lyrics for "African Queens":
Travel with your mind‚ corridors of time Find what's yours and mine, I'll share our history Get down to the roots, seeds upon the fruits Never being told about our legacy (Three queens) Three different shades of love (Three queens) Who gave the world a show (Three queens) Each with a lifestyle all her own All her own‚ yeah Nefertiti, Cleopatra, and the Queen of Sheba And the Queen of Sheba Nefertiti‚ Cleopatra, and the Queen of Sheba And the Queen of Sheba Nefertiti, Cleopatra, and the Queen of Sheba And the Queen of Sheba Nefertiti, Cleopatra, and the Queen of Sheba And the Queen of Sheba |
| AFRICAN QUEENS (NEFERTITI, CLEOPATRA, AND THE QUEEN OF SHEBA) THE RITCHIE FAMILY - AFRICAN QUEENS (LP) - ABLE |
| THEME OF NEFRETITI THE RITCHIE FAMILY - AFRICAN QUEENS (LP) - ABLE |
| THEME OF CLEOPATRA THE RITCHIE FAMILY - AFRICAN QUEENS (LP) - ABLE |
| THEME OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA THE RITCHIE FAMILY - AFRICAN QUEENS (LP) - ABLE |
| QUIET VILLAGE THE RITCHIE FAMILY - AFRICAN QUEENS (LP) - ABLE |
| VOODOO THE RITCHIE FAMILY - AFRICAN QUEENS (LP) - ABLE |
| JEAN-PIERRE CERRONE is CERRONE's brother. To prevent confusion he went under the name MAX BERLIN or MAX BERLIN'S. He produced two amazing albums 'Max Berlin's' and 'Dream Disco' before coming out with 'Worldwide Party' in 1979 which ended up being his most commercially successful effort. The whole album was a constant medley taking the dancer kind of around the world. |
| FRENCH GIMMICK MAX BERLINS - WORLDWIDE PARTY (LP) - MELODI'S / - |
| LE GREEK MAX BERLINS - WORLDWIDE PARTY (LP) - MELODI'S |
| GERMAN STOMP MAX BERLINS - WORLDWIDE PARTY (LP) - MELODI'S |
| BELLY DANCE MAX BERLINS - WORLDWIDE PARTY (LP) - MELODI'S |
| FLAMENCO GROOVE MAX BERLINS - WORLDWIDE PARTY (LP) - MELODI'S |
| MUSIC IS THE LANGUAGE MAX BERLINS - WORLDWIDE PARTY (LP) - MELODI'S |
| BOOGIE IN THE BUSH MAX BERLINS - WORLDWIDE PARTY (LP) - MELODI'S |
| FRENCH GIMMICK MAX BERLINS - WORLDWIDE PARTY (LP) - MELODI'S |
| LET'S REGGAE MAX BERLINS - WORLDWIDE PARTY (LP) - MELODI'S |
| YA' YA' YA MAX BERLINS - WORLDWIDE PARTY (LP) - MELODI'S |
| I LOVE DANCIN' MAX BERLINS - WORLDWIDE PARTY (LP) - MELODI'S |
| ALL OVER THE USA MAX BERLINS - WORLDWIDE PARTY (LP) - MELODI'S |
| The famous model AMANDA LEAR became a wildly successful singer in EURODISCO. We have played different mixes of her iconic "Follow Me" several times on THE GROOVE. She is an amazing singer who is still active!
One of her early hits "Queen Of Chinatown" was not specific as to which Chinatown she was singing about. Here are the lyrics: It was down in Chinatown that I met the opium Queen Babyface girl from Shanghai never smile and never cry. She now rules the underworld down in Chinatown She runs all the opium den down in Chinatown. Bring her your gold bring her your worries And when life gets a bit too dreary to stand Give a ring to the Queen of Chinatown. Go down Go down To the Queen of Chinatown She'll pick you up when you're feeling down. Go down Go down To the Queen of Chinatown And she'll soon blow your blues away. It was down in Chinatown When I met the opium Queen Babyface girl from Shanghai never smiled and never cried. When love isn't what it sounds go to Chinatown When your friends have let you down got to Chinatown. When life is pain When love is sorrow And it gets more than you can possibly stand Give a ring to the Queen of Chinatown. Go down Go down To the Queen of Chinatown She'll pick you up when you're feeling down. Go down Go down To the Queen of Chinatown And she will blow your blues away. It was down in Chinatown When I met the opium Queen Babyface girl from Shanghai never smiled and never cried. Go down Go down To the Queen of Chinatown When your life gets a bit dreary When you're down When you're feeling low Give a ring to the Queen of Chinatown |
| QUEEN OF CHINATOWN AMANDA LEAR - 7" - ARIOLA |
| Brothers CARMELO and MICHELANGELO LA BIONDA are LA BIONDA. Some sources claim that they are the inventors of ITALODISCO or "Italian DISCO". Although that is not accurate, LA BIONDA did release a variety of marvelous EURODISCO recordings both under the name LA BIONDA and the name D.D. SOUND (or D.D. SOUND DISCO DELIVERY). They offered their captivating "Sandstorm" in 1978 taking us into the desert! Here are the lyrics:
Fly with the clouds from the wind In the desert there's a sandstorm Dust in my eyes, in my ears There's a rumour of a sandstorm Moments of a fear drawing near Give me shelter from the sandstorm Sandstorm See how the sun's burning eye In the sky closes tight Bringing night while we wait In the gloom for the sandstorm Fall to the ground all around There's a wind blowing sand Raise your hand to your face But you can't stop the sandstorm Sandstorm Sandstorm Nowhere to run or to hide From the fury of the sandstorm (sandstorm) No one can say how much time We must suffer in the sandstorm (sandstorm) Each of us stands here alone At the mercy of the sandstorm (sandstorm) |
| SANDSTORM LA BIONDA - LA BIONDA (LP) - LONDON |
| ITALDISCO producer CELSO VALLI created AZOTO ( or LUCRETHIA AND THE AZOTO 14,008 in some releases). Under the name AZOTO he released two albums- 'Music Makers Ltd.' and 'Disco Fizz'. The second album became an iconic record with stunning ITALODISCO tracks like "Firefly" and "Exalt-Exalt". Many would argue that the whole album was stunning, especially the wildly popular song "San Salvador". One critic in 1980 questioned whether it was about the capital of El Salvador or a figment of their imaginations.
Here are the lyrics: Let me take you to a place I know, Where everything is fine If you get there, even for a night, those troubles of your mind I have been there many times before for I remember Everyone's going to San Salvador, Aha No cares about what day it is or even by the time You can wander down the desky ways??, foolish day or night You can act as a star and smile, and don't you say You're falling in love with your San Salvador, Aha Ooohooo San Salvador, Hear the voices ringing, people singing San Salvador, now the festival is just beginning San Salvador, come and join us in the crowdy streets San Salvador, feel the happiness inside you San Salvador, hear the voices ringing, people singing San Salvador, now the festival is just beginning San Salvador, come and join us in the crowdy streets San Salvador, feel the happiness inside you See the strings of lights surround us facing down to the cafe In Annie's place that you can guess, Las Vegas in every way You catch a smell of a magic night You're going to find it in San Salvador, Aha Let me down the stairs to find a friend by wiggles by your hand?? We look?? love one day From far away you can hear them say another day When magic?? San Salvador, Aha Ooohooo San Salvador, hear the voices ringing, people singing San Salvador, now the festival is just beginning San Salvador, come and join us in the crowdy streets San Salvador, feel the happiness inside you San Salvador, hear the voices ringing, people singing San Salvador, now the festival is just beginning San Salvador, come and join us in the crowdy streets San Salvador, feel the happiness inside you San Salvador, hear the voices ringing, people singing San Salvador, now the festival is just beginning San Salvador, come and join us in the crowdy streets San Salvador, feel the happiness inside you San Salvador, hear the voices ringing, people singing San Salvador, now the festival is just beginning San Salvador, come and join us in the crowdy streets San Salvador, feel the happiness inside you San Salvador, hear the voices ringing, people singing San Salvador, now the festival is just beginning San Salvador, come and join us in the crowdy streets San Salvador, feel the happiness inside you San Salvador San Salvador San Salvador San Salvador San Salvador San Salvador San Salvador San Salvador |
| SAN SALVATOR AZOTO - DISCO FIZZ (LP) - VEDETTE |
| The multitalented actor and singer MURRAY HEAD has written numerous highly successful songs and released numerous records. He played the role of Judas Iscariot in the iconic 'jesus Christ Superstar' rock opera in 1973. All that and he is ironically more known around the world for the 1984 EURODISCO single "One Night In Bangkok"!
Produced by BJORN ULVAEUS and BENNY ANDERSSON from ABBA, "One Night In Bangkok" seemed to be a scathing review of Bangkok's nightlife. It created some controversy with Thailand as it apparently demeaned the city with the lyrics "you've seen one crowded polluted city" and "you can go back to your bars, your temples, your massage parlours". Thailand's Mass Communications Organization banned "One Night in Bangkok", saying its lyrics "can cause misunderstanding about Thai society and shows disrespect towards Buddhism." It was insanely popular all over the planet. Billions were introduced to MURRAY HEAD with it for the very first time. Here are those controversial lyrics: Bangkok, Oriental City But the city don't know what the city is getting The creme de la creme of the chess world In a show with everything but Yul Brenner Time flies, doesn't seem a minute Since the Tirolean spa had the chess boards in it All changed, don't you know that when you Play at this level there's no ordinary venue It's Iceland, or the Philippines, or Hastings Or, or this place One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster The bars are temples but their pearls ain't free You'll find a god in every golden cloister And if you're lucky, then the god's a she I can feel an angel sliding up to me One town's very like another When your head's down over your pieces, brother (It's a drag, it's a bore, it's really such a pity To be looking at the board Not looking at the city) Whattaya mean? You've seen one crowded, polluted, stinking town (Tea, girls, warm and sweet, sweet Some are set up in the Somerset Maugham suite) Get Thai'd, you're talking to a tourist Whose every move's among the purest I get my kicks above the waistline, sunshine One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble Not much between despair and ecstasy One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble Can't be too careful with your company I can feel the Devil walking next to me Siam's gonna be the witness To the ultimate test of cerebral fitness This grips me more than would a muddy old river Or reclining Buddha Thank God I'm only watching the game, controlling it I don't see you guys raging The kind of mating I'm contemplating I'd let you watch, I would invite you But the queens we use would not excite you So, you better go back to your bars, your temples Your massage parlors One night in Bangkok and the world's your oyster The bars are temples but their pearls ain't free You'll find a god in every golden cloister A little flesh, a little history I can feel an angel sliding up to me One night in Bangkok makes the hard man humble Not much between despair and ecstasy One night in Bangkok and the tough guys tumble Can't be too careful with your company I can feel the Devil walking next to me |
| ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK MURRAY HEAD - 12" - RCA |
| TACO is a Dutch singer living and working in Germany. He had a massive hit with a candy coated SYNTHPOP version of the late IRVING BERLIN's "Puttin' On The Ritz". This record takes you back to the New York City area during a virtually mythical time.
Here are the lyrics: If you're blue, and you don't know where to go to Why don't you go where fashion sits? Puttin' on the Ritz Different types who wear a day coat Pants with stripes and cutaway coat, perfect fits Puttin' on the Ritz Dressed up like a million-dollar trouper Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper (super duper) Come, let's mix where Rockefellers Walk with sticks or umbrellas in their mitts Puttin' on the Ritz Have you seen the well-to-do Up and down Park Avenue? On that famous thoroughfare With their noses in the air High hats and Arrow collars White spats and lots of dollars Spending every dime for a wonderful time If you're blue, and you don't know where to go to Why don't you go where fashion sits? Puttin' on the Ritz Different types who wear a day coat Pants with stripes and cutaway coat, perfect fits Puttin' on the Ritz Dressed up like a million-dollar trouper Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper (super duper) Come, let's mix where Rockefellers Walk with sticks or umbrellas in their mitts Puttin' on the Ritz Dressed up like a million-dollar trouper Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper (super duper) If you're blue, and you don't know where to go to Why don't you go where fashion sits? Puttin' on the Ritz Puttin' on the Ritz Puttin' on the Ritz Puttin' on the Ritz Downtown, uptown Get your kicks at the Ritz Dine and wine, but not 'til nine The time is right for us tonight We can move Move to the rhythm We can Move Move I want you to move |
| PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ TACO - 12" - RCA VICTOR |
| Hailing from Sweden, ARMY OF LOVERS were a flamboyant NUDISCO supergroup which has been described as ludicrous and ridiculous by some critics. According to the Computer Internet site called DISCOGS, "The name of the band alludes to a documentary "Armee der Liebenden oder Revolte der Perversen" about the German gay rights activist Rosa von Praunheim." Riding on the crests of the popularity waves of commercial TECHNO of the early 1990's and the emerging NUDISCO boom in Scandinavian countries, they have had several hits across Europe and when they either starred in their promotional music videos or appeared live, they dressed in outlandish costumes with theatrical hairdos and makeup. They were known in various parts of the world for their iconic 1991 hit "Crucified". On their fourth album in 1993 called 'The Gods Of Heaven And Earth' they offered three potential songs that could fit in this show. One of them was called "Carry My Urn To Ukrane".
Here are the lyrics: Clash of the titans when rivers we cross Death of an icon incredible loss Under the banner we march in the rain Like when you carry my urn to Ukraine While the train is in motion Enbalm me in lotion And toast magic potions I drink and I'm dead Raise a flag on the Russian soil Kiss the ground on a mortal coil Slowly progress through Belarus Cannibals cook a slavic mousse Cosmonaut bred in Baykonur Hail contessa hail De La Cour Phosphorate like a beast to bait I cremate I delegate Clash of the titans when rivers we cross Death of an icon incredible loss Under the banner we march in the rain Like when you carry my urn to Ukraine Sacrificing a has-been The death of a virgin A life in the margin No water no bread |
| CARRY MY URN TO UKRAINE ARMY OF LOVERS - THE GODS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH (LP) - STOCKHOLM |
| THE TYRREL CORPORATION was one of England's most amazing bands from the early 1990's. Evidently inspired by the DEEP HOUSE of Chicago and New York, they came up with their own unique and beautiful BRITISH DISCO. They were JOHN WATSON and TONY BARRY and many sources identified them as SOUL singers. Their vocals were rich and soulful.
On their first album from 1992 called 'North East Of Eden' their offered a heart-wrenching song about American life during the great depression inspired by JOHN STEINBECK's 1939 novel 'The Grapes of Wrath'. That novel was made into movie of the same name in 1940 which is considered to be a controversial classic. Here are the lyrics to "The Grapes Of Wrath" by THE TYRREL CORPORATION: The sweat upon his brow and the dirt worked into his hands The dignity of labour upon a man's own land The soil of his fathers passes on down through blood to hand A man's right of birth to reap the harvest from his land The breaking of his back to keep his dream alive To work the change of season his instinct to survive The planting of his seed and to see his harvest grow Gives a pride to a man to reap the harvest that he sows The land of the free, home of the brave The heartland of pioneers, the heritage of flesh and blood And along come the winds that blow through the land With a price to pay for the working man Money talks and changes hands And money reaps the harvest money demands The grapes of wrath They can take away his freedom they can beat him into the dust They can burn his home, run him from his land, and leave him out to gather rust But they can't take away his faith and his honesty and pride And the knowledge that he holds inside One day they'll reap the harvest The grapes of wrath There's hope in a man that nothing can destroy A man will endure anything for the dream that he holds dear And there's pride in a man who knows the truth His faith in the earth he toils for His honesty for the air he breathes The truth of the harvest they will reap The grapes of wrath |
| THE GRAPES OF WRATH THE TYRREL CORPORATION - NORTHEAST OF EDEN (LP) - COOLTEMPO |
| On the ARMY OF LOVERS album 'The Gods Of Heaven And Earth' there was also a song about Israel! It was actually released in Israel where it did well!
Here are the lyrics: Evenu shalom alechem Evenu shalom alechem Evenu shalom alechem Evenu shalom shalom Shalom alechem Diamond market in the ghetto Star of david on my chest Sex is kosher on the sabbath Jewish princess in my nest Like aunt golda high on zion Milk and honey are my drugs Relic box of einstein's hairdo Spring prediction cloud of bugs The heavens cry loud in the open I hear the angels sing Shalom b'israel shalom b'israel Shalom la'olam shalom b'israel Evenu shalom alechem Evenu shalom alechem Evenu shalom alechem Evenu shalom shalom Shalom alechem Evenu shalom alechem Evenu shalom alechem Evenu shalom alechem Evenu shalom shalom Shalom alechem Glory in the circumcision Oops there goes a freudian slip Army of lovers on a mission Forty years of desert trips Drinking from a stinking fountain The kabbala and jezebel Dancing horah on a mountain Party like a bitch from hell The heavens cry loud in the open I hear the angels sing Shalom b'israel shalom b'israel Shalom la'olam shalom b'israel |
| ISRAELISM ARMY OF LOVERS - 12" - STOCKHOLM |
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Great introduction to the songs. I have been to Bangkok and it is quite a shock when you don't know the history ! Thailand was the place for R&R when the US armed forces were fighting in Vietnam. The prostitution goes on today... A word of caution for anybody wishing to travel there...
12:16 PM, March 23rd, 2024