Disco Savvy
A chronicle of disco music from 1972 to the present

This website, founded at the dawn of the new millennium on January 1, 2001, is a centralized repository of disco information, highlighting the best disco music from the 1970s through today and offering the largest and most chronologically complete year-by-year lists ever compiled of disco songs.

The Year-by-Year Lists

Here you will find extensive lists of disco songs, divided by year, supplemented by chart positions and other details (such as whether the song is a remake). The lists encompass disco sung in many languages -- including English, Dutch, German, Swedish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Serbian, Polish, Russian, Latvian, Greek, Turkish, Japanese, Swahili, Tahitian, Georgian, Hebrew, Hindi, and Hungarian. Over 5800 songs in all! You'll also find details on past disco events, disco-oriented products, and more.

  • 1972-1974 Disco - the first years
  • 1975 Disco - do the hustle!
  • 1976 Disco - disco gets more radio hits
  • 1977 Disco - summer heatwave in New York City
  • 1978 Disco - disco explodes into the mainstream
  • 1979 Disco - disco's peak year
  • 1980 Disco - disco's last big year on the American charts
  • 1981 Disco - disco is still alive but declining
  • 1982-1989 Disco - the last days of classic disco
  • 1990-1999 Disco - examples of the disco revival
  • 2000-2003 Disco - disco thrives in the early 2000s
  • 2004-2006 Disco - disco continues to prosper
  • 2007-2009 Disco - the music of today

    Notable Disco Songs and Artists

    Like with any musical genre, disco has its share of treasures and its share of junk. So which ones are worth your time to seek out and listen to? Here are some disco songs and disco artists that have stood the test of time, performed and produced by superb singers, musicians, and producers.

  • The Best Disco Songs of All Time

  • Brothers Johnson: Light Up the Night, Winners
  • Chic: Chic, C'est Chic, Risqué
  • The Company: The Company
  • Delegation: Eau de Vie
  • George Benson: Give Me the Night, Compilation
  • Jamiroquai: Traveling without Moving, Synkronized, A Funk Odyssey
  • Norma Jean Wright: Norma Jean
  • Shalamar: Disco Gardens, Big Fun, Three for Love, Friends
  • Sheila and B. Devotion: Singin' in the Rain, King of the World
  • Sister Sledge: We are Family, Love Somebody Today, All-American Girls
  • Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Read My Lips
  • Stephanie Mills: What Cha Gonna Do With My Lovin', Sweet Sensation, Stephanie
  • Ultra Nate: Situation: Critical, Stranger Than Fiction

    Other notable artists:
    Barry White • Candi Staton • Charanga 76 • Cheryl Lynn • Constellation Orchestra • Diana Ross • Donna Summer • Eddie Drennon • Fantasy • First Choice • France Joli • Frankie Valli • Jocelyn Brown • Laura Taylor • Michael Jackson • Phyllis Hyman • The Players Association • Rainbow Team • S.O.S. Band • The Salsoul Orchestra • Teena Marie • Thelma Houston • Voyage

    Essays

    Have you ever heard statements like "All disco sounds the same" and "Disco is just meaningless party music"? These essays demonstrate the falseness of these sentiments, and will help you explore the full richness of disco.

  • Disco Message Songs
  • A Diversity of Sounds in Disco Music

    The following Year in Review features detail what happened in the disco world in recent years.

  • Disco 2003: The Year in Review
  • Disco 2004: The Year in Review
  • Disco 2005: The Year in Review

    Further Reading

  • Disco Bibliography: Books

    True disco is not synthetic

    The positive aspects of disco music are often unfairly overlooked, especially since the best disco songs are not known to most people or have been forgotten or miscategorized. First, unlike most other forms of dance music, disco performers generally use real acoustical instruments, including brass (saxophone, trumpet, etc.), strings, rhythm guitar, drums, and piano. There were even several disco orchestras like M.F.S.B., Salsoul Orchestra, Biddu Orchestra, John Davis and the Monster Orchestra, The Armada Orchestra, The Mike Theodore Orchestra, THP Orchestra, The Wonderland Disco Band, Meco Orchestra, Richard Hewson Orchestra, Montana Orchestra, and Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra. Some notable examples of orchestrated disco are M.F.S.B.'s "TLC (Tender Lovin' Care)" and "T.S.O.P.", David Shire's "Manhattan Skyline", Salsoul Orchestra's "Magic Bird of Fire" and "Runaway", and the Armada Orchestra's "Band of Gold", among many others. Occasionally, other disco bands used organ synthesizers instead of real violins, but this was still far better than the excessively electronic dance and rock music of the 1980s.

    Not all disco sounds the same

    Furthermore, disco music is generally uplifting and inspiring, providing a much-needed contrast to the dull and angry racket of many hard rock, heavy metal, alternative rock, techno, and rap songs. With its driving beats, grooving basslines, funky horns, and harmonious strings, disco conveys feeling and energy better than many other genres. ...and provides a diverse range of sounds: Disco is primarily influenced by soul and funk music, but can also utilize elements from jazz, blues, calypso, soca, sca, classical, Latino, and rock music. Effective instrumentation combined with effortful singing had stellar results, as demonstrated by the timeless disco songs by Sister Sledge, Michael Jackson, Gloria Gaynor, George Benson, Phyllis Hyman, Donna Summer, and others. Disco music, when made properly, can be fun, classy, innovative, and exciting.

    Not just party music

    It's true that up-tempo disco music is perfect for any celebration. But, more than mere party music, disco can have deep, meaningful lyrics and can be listened to anywhere, anytime. Quality disco is great for, among other things, relaxing, dancing, exercising, driving, or rollerskating.

    An abundance of talent

    Some disco artists and groups have frequently performed live in concert, including Chic, Donna Summer, Diana Ross, Sister Sledge, Earth Wind and Fire, Shalamar, Black Ivory, Tavares, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, Musique, Pattie Brooks, Sylvester, Barry White, Jamiroquai, Odyssey, Rose Royce, Hot Chocolate, GQ, McFadden and Whitehead, France Joli, Candi Staton, Viola Wills, Carol Williams, and Evelyn "Champagne" King. Versatile 1970s disco artists who have had considerable career longevity well into the 1980s (and in some cases 1990s and 2000s) include Gloria Gaynor, Cissy Houston, Donna Summer, Cheryl Lynn, Loleatta Holloway, Martha Wash, Barbara Pennington, Miquel Brown, Barry White, Shalamar, Jody Watley (of Shalamar), Jean Shy, Sarah Brightman, and Kool and the Gang.

    However, the majority of disco artists were solely studio singers, and when disco was made carelessly by producers and companies that were more interested in making money than making quality music, the results were mindless repetition, boring lyrics, and headache-inducing instrumentation. And radio stations in the 1970s tended to play too many inferior disco songs. A listener would be barraged by "Ring My Bell", "YMCA", "Macho Man", "Disco Duck", "Knock on Wood", "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy", "Get Dancin'", "Funkytown", "If There's Love", and other mindless and unharmonious mass-produced trash in between the gems. And as disco phased into over-synthesized pop, HI-NRG, house, and other forms of music, the emotion, art, and style that typified the best acts of disco was lost. Electronic keyboards and synthesizers have their place but they were used to an excess in the 1980s. Often, keyboards and synths are good as supplements to real instruments, but not as replacements. One by one each real instrument was replaced; first the violins went, then the bass guitar and trumpet, and finally the guitar.

    Fortunately, the original disco sound came back in a big way beginning in the 1990s, spawning hundreds of new disco recordings by such artists as the Brand New Heavies, Jamiroquai, and BsB Disco Club.

    The best disco concert footage:

  • The Best Disco in Town - this 2-disc DVD showcases live performances by disco artists from 2003, including Chic with "Good Times", "Le Freak", "We Are Family", "I'm Coming Out", "He's the Greatest Dancer", "I Want Your Love", "Dance Dance Dance", Shalamar with "I Can Make You Feel Good", "There It Is", and "A Night to Remember", Rose Royce with "Car Wash" and "Wishing on a Star", Tavares with "More Than A Woman" and "Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel", The Real Thing with "Can You Feel the Force?" and "You to Me are Everything", Kid Creole and the Coconuts, and Alexander O'Neal. Only viewable in PAL format in Europe, Japan, South Africa, and the Middle East (Region 2 encoding).
  • Chic - Live at Montreux 2004 - features the legendary band Chic performing such hits as "Everybody Dance", "Good Times", and "I Want Your Love". Only viewable in NTSC format in North America (Region 1 encoding).

    The best disco compilations:

  • Superstars of Seventies Soul - this 3-CD package includes "Good Times", "Take Your Time (Do It Right)", "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine", "The Love I Lost", "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes", and other disco favorites, plus stellar soul classics like Teddy Pendergrass's "Close the Door" and the Chi-Lites' "Have You Seen Her", and funk greats like "I'm Every Woman" by Chaka Khan and "Give It To Me Baby" by Rick James. Other featured artists include Sister Sledge, the Spinners, A Taste of Honey, Eddie Kendricks, Marvin Gaye, and the Commodores.
    Superstars of Seventies Soul
  • Disco Classics: The Greatest Disco Anthems - includes "Stomp!", "I Love America", "Relight My Fire", "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Inner Life, "Runaway", "Dr. Love", and more
  • The Disco Years, Volume 4: Lost in Music - includes "Good Times", "Spacer", "High Society", "He's the Greatest Dancer", and more
  • Boogie Nights: Classic Disco Anthems - includes "We Got the Funk", "Can't Fake the Feeling", "Act Like You Know", "Good Times", "I Hear Music in the Streets", and more
  • Hold Up - includes "All American Girls", "I'm Here Again", "Make That Move", "Love is You", the rare soul classic "Looking Up to You", and more
  • Disco Spectrum, Volume 1 - includes "Let Me Down Easy", "I Don't Want You Back", "Take Some Time Out (For Love)", and more
  • The Greatest 80's Soul Weekender - includes "Check Out the Groove", "Searching", "Can You Handle It", "And the Beat Goes On", "Jump to the Beat", "Ladies Night", and more
  • 80's Groove Sessions - includes "There But for the Grace of God Go I", "I Can Make You Feel Good", "I Knew That Love", "Never Too Much", "Check Out the Groove", and more
  • Disco Sessions - includes "I Really Love You", "Act Like You Know", "Let's Get Together", "K-Jee", and more
  • Disco Connection Volume 2: Authentic Classic Disco 1974-1981 - includes "Everybody Dance", "He's the Greatest Dancer", "Everybody Loves a Good Thing", "Hi-Jack", the original "Bourgie Bourgie" instrumental, and more
  • Kenny Dope Presents Roller Boogie 80's - includes "I Hear Music in the Streets", "Just a Touch of Love", "Rock Your World", "I Like What You're Doin' to Me", the garage classics "Funky Sensation" and "Heartbeat", the funk hit "Watching You", and more
  • Bobby and Steve: Past, Present and Future - The Anniversary Collection 1984-2004 - includes "Saturday Night, Sunday Morning", "You Know How to Love Me", "The Boss", the disco-house tracks "Deeper in Love", "Welcome to the Real World", "This Means That", "Breathe", and "Like a Butterfly (You Send Me)", and more
  • Kings of Disco - includes "I'm in Love", "Skate Dancer", "It Looks Like Love", a reggae-flavored cover of "I'm Caught Up", and more
  • Spirit of Disco - includes "Come to Me", "There But for the Grace of God Go I", "Right in the Socket", "You Are, You Are", "Dance With You", and more
  • The Disco Box - includes "It Only Takes a Minute", "Young Hearts Run Free", "I Want Your Love", "I Shoulda Loved Ya", "I Like What You're Doin' to Me", and more

    Disco movies and documentaries:

  • Roller Boogie starring Linda Blair (1979, DVD format)
  • Saturday Night Fever (30th Anniversary Special Collector's Edition) starring John Travolta (1977, DVD format)
  • Thank God It's Friday with Donna Summer performing "Last Dance" (1978, DVD format)
  • Disco Godfather (1979, DVD format)
  • Disco: Spinning the Story with Gloria Gaynor (2005, DVD format)

    Find your movie at MoviesUnlimited.com.

    Super disco singles:

  • Cocomotion by El Coco
  • There But for the Grace of God Go I / Marisa by Machine
  • Come to Me by France Joli
  • Gonna Get Over You by France Joli
  • Murder on the Dancefloor by Sophie Ellis-Bextor
  • New Kind of Medicine by Ultra Nate
  • Cosmic Girl by Jamiroquai
  • Canned Heat by Jamiroquai
  • Love Foolosophy by Jamiroquai
  • No Time by Just Jack

    Recommended links:
            Other disco and music research sites: Another site that agrees with our premise that disco is still a contemporary genre, and which also has very good recommendations of classic disco, is DiscoStyle.com, so it's the top pick. Also excellent are DiscoMusic.com with its super databases and forums, Disco-Disco.com with its interviews and samples, Disco Museum with its extensive label discographies and artist tributes, and Disco Funk with its terrific A-Z artists database. Ed Dolista, who hosts the Australian radio show "Disco Fever", has a good site called Disco Fever. If you're interested in 1970s music in general, you will want to visit The Lost 45s with Barry Scott and Return to the '70s with Scott Cutty.
            Disc jockey services: Are you holding a party or special event and need a quality DJ to spin the best disco, funk, and electro-dance tunes? Check out Fastrax Entertainment and Mobile DJ Service, based in Long Beach, California, USA!
            Miami Beach Vintage Clothing and Fashion
            Vintage clothing: Miami Beach Vintage Clothing and Fashion has an ever-changing selection of 1970s clothing including disco dresses, polyester shirts, jackets, and more.
            Record services: Need to restore your records? Why not transfer them to CDs using Magic Sound Restoration!
            Disco on the radio: To listen to some fine disco music on licensed streams and radio programs, the places to be are DJ Lee's DiscoInternet.com, Diva Radio's Disco Music Paradise, Barry Walters' RadioioDisco, World Disco Radio Community (Radio WDRC), and WAPS Radio Disco Action. If you like disco AND soul/funk/jazz, you'll also want to hear Virgin Radio Groove, Back to the Old School, Soul Movement Radio, The Soul Spectrum, 105Classics, Diva Radio's Funk Music Paradise, and Solar Radio.

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