Disco: Soundtrack of a Revolution

[Davemac3]

new 3 part series just started on BBC2 10pm Saturdays.   Enjoyed the first 2 episodes (also on iPlayer) 

[Happy Feet]

Just watched part 1, didn't expect to hear " The Carstairs, It really Hurts Me Girl " and interesting the fact that the first tune that was classed as the first real disco record was " Harold Melvin & The Blues Notes , The Love I Lost " ,thanks for the heads up Davemac3 , everydays a school day as the saying goes .

[Seano]

9 hours ago, Happy Feet said:

Just watched part 1, didn't expect to hear " The Carstairs, It really Hurts Me Girl " and interesting the fact that the first tune that was classed as the first real disco record was " Harold Melvin & The Blues Notes , The Love I Lost " ,thanks for the heads up Davemac3 , everydays a school day as the saying goes .

Strange that when The Carstairs was playing, in a section talking about a significant gay scene around Fire Island, somewhere to do with Long Island, the record wasn't actually referred to nor any connection with Ian Levine and how it influenced the dance scene over here.

Impressive pair of programmes though; looking forward to seeing part 3.

[Roburt]

Taped the 1st two shows -- on too late for her indoors (AND she does love her disco).

[Alison H]

I thought all 3 episodes were fantastic.

An amazing insight into Disco that had me hooked during all 3 episodes.

Best music documentary I’ve seen in a very very long time. 

Disco doesn’t suck  

Edited December 27, 2023 by Alison H
Oops not musical, didn’t have Nicky Siano singing lol

[Mark R]

The best docu of its type on the subject to date I think.

I would recommend reading the books Love Saved The Day, Last Night A DJ Saved My Life etc if you haven't already.  It's all in there.

And it was great to see Pt3 close with a mention for house music, or "disco's revenge" as some refer to it.  Explains the significance of the title of this essential album if you didn't know already, which I guess could be considered a concept album of sorts, based around that neanderthal Dahl, his brain dead disciples and their antics.

Cheers,

Mark R

[Johndelve]

"Just watched part 1, didn't expect to hear " The Carstairs, It really Hurts Me Girl "..

 

......and I certainly didn't expect to hear Ann Peebles' "Part Time Love"........

[Geeselad]

I've not watched this and after recent BBC fare I'm hesitant. It's a subject that's already well documented, especially in book form. Looking forward to some detailed coverage of disco's  roots at the sanctuary in San Francisco. I thought 'rock you baby' was considered the first disco record? 

[Happy Feet]

19 minutes ago, Geeselad said:

I've not watched this and after recent BBC fare I'm hesitant. It's a subject that's already well documented, especially in book form. Looking forward to some detailed coverage of disco's  roots at the sanctuary in San Francisco. I thought 'rock you baby' was considered the first disco record? 

I don't think the Beeb filmed this one , historical footage used although there is 2 maybe 3 documentaries covering the disco scene on the iPlayer at the moment & I was also surprised at the claim too , but it came from a guy who was very much involved with the Philly scene at the time , don't want to spoil it for those that haven't yet watched it .

[Mike]

29 minutes ago, Geeselad said:

I've not watched this and after recent BBC fare I'm hesitant. It's a subject that's already well documented, especially in book form. Looking forward to some detailed coverage of disco's  roots at the sanctuary in San Francisco. I thought 'rock you baby' was considered the first disco record? 

surely the thing be to watch it first then comment....

2 minutes ago, Happy Feet said:

I don't think the Beeb filmed this one , 

quote from

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/dec/16/disco-soundtrack-of-a-revolution-review-an-absolute-feast-of-a-music-documentary

This three-part documentary, a co-production with PBS, is the sort of top-quality music doc the BBC just casually and quietly releases, as if it does this sort of thing all the time. But this one really is a feast. It’s a history lesson with an immaculate soundtrack and it is about so much more than disco.

[davidwapples]

Well worth watching it you have a spare hour or 3. Also covers the beginning of house music after disco died. 

Interview with a couple of well.known artists and DJs 

[Soul Shrews]

2 hours ago, Geeselad said:

. I thought 'rock you baby' was considered the first disco record? 

Yes and there is an interview with George about this

1 hour ago, Mike said:

surely the thing be to watch it first then comment....

 

Indeed

[Soulman58]

A very good watch, a mix of sounds, some good some awful, but some interesting characters.  As has been said one of the best docs on the subject.

Would love to see someone release a best of Soul Train series with interviews alongside some of the lesser known acts/tracks

[Imperial C]

Great to hear some of the observations about the liberation of soul and spirit on the dancefloor through the music. For me no better record from the era than T-Connection Do What You Wanna Do, it says it all.  A record to inspire a new generation.

 

[Roburt]

The BBC did us proud showing this series (all 3 hours of it). Last night they did it again; hours of Aretha Franklin footage. Lots of it new to me ... the duets show was eye opening. It's well known that the likes of Rod Stewart & Elton John have always loved soul music. But to see the pure joy they got from singing / playing with Reffa was truly heartening. I was left with the impression that Reffa asked Rod what song he wanted to sing with her; hence "This Old Heart Of Mine. Then, I assume she picked "People Get Ready" as their second joint effort. He obviously loved singing a Curtis classic with her.  

BTW, so many black owned US TV stations had their own music shows back in the 60's / 70's. So thousands of soul singers, groups got to be on TV, even if only in their local area. TROUBLE WAS ... those shows weren't considered as 'historically important' back in the day, so just about all the footage was recorded over & is thus lost to us all.

One such show ... from BALTIMORE in 1967 ...  the local group name checked in the show's blurb was Denny & the Hitchhikers. Denny left them, so they recruited Kenny Hamber to be their replacement lead singer, moved to New England and landed a record deal (in the 70's) with ABC. 

Edited December 29, 2023 by Roburt

[Soulman]

I have to say the BBC have done the music scene proud (and probably given many people an insight into the evolution of the LBGTQ scene and racial struggles too) with a superb selection of documentaries and historic concerts. Well done Auntie Beeb