WE WANT THE FUNKY DISCO PLEASE

August 22, 2010 10:40 PM

DISCO music challenge: Disco recording artist, solo guy, one (?) hit in US in 70's (I think) but big in Europe and many albums under his belt, and the recording artist name is like masterblaster or masterbox or blasterbox or something. Suggestions?

Alright, this I heard on one of those random cable teevee channels that played DISCO. And there was trivia. And then I googled it. And then I forgot it. Now I am antagonized by how much I miss hearing that song I forgot by the DISCO artist's name I can't remember. ([Whimpering]) Help?

posted by Mike Mongo to media & arts (12 answers total)

A stab in the dark, but is it Giorgio Moroder?
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 11:30 PM on August 22, 2010

About the closest I can figure is Willie Henderson's Dance Master. The first thing that came to mind was Stevie Wonder's Master Blaster, but it's not really disco and probably didn't do that well in Europe.
posted by crapmatic at 12:30 AM on August 23, 2010

oh wait -- the recording artist name is that? Ok, I'm going to have to toss out Grandmaster Flash.
posted by crapmatic at 12:34 AM on August 23, 2010

Nah...Grandmaster Flash was never disco. Early hiphop.

I think you might be referring to "The Funk Masters" - they had a hit called "Its Over". Pretty popular in the UK, if I recall.

Here is a link to that tune. Is this the song you're thinking about?
posted by feeshbitZ at 1:02 AM on August 23, 2010

[shakes head] No, not so far.

It is the artist's name I am looking for. Masterboxx?

He is Dutch or something.

Under this name—which sounds like a group but is just him—he has releases seven or eight certified-Gold albums internationally...with little to no recognition in the US.

My friend who I was was visiting and is older and wiser than I also sort of scratched his head when the little data blurb came up with the song. We both are really into music and this one had slipped past us. So we were both kind of excited.

But he was stoned, and I was running for mayor of Key West at the time—both forgivable hindrances to short-term memory—and so he forgot and so did I.

Only I didn't forget entirely, and now I am on a Grail of sorts.

And so I call upon the assistance of Hivemind. Help. Help. Help.
posted by Mike Mongo at 6:47 AM on August 23, 2010

Could you be thinking of the contemporary artist named Master Blaster, who is a german pop/trance star. He put out a whole album of early 80s italo disco covers, including his take on My Mine's Hypnotic Tango. It's certainly not 70s or 80s disco, though - you'll notice that upon first listen.
posted by stachemaster at 12:32 PM on August 23, 2010

Forgot to link the Master Blaster discogs page.
posted by stachemaster at 12:33 PM on August 23, 2010

Could you be thinking of the contemporary artist named Master Blaster

No.

Something like masterboxx or something.
posted by Mike Mongo at 9:16 PM on August 23, 2010

DEFINITELY not contemporary. I googled the name at the time, and this person tours. Insanely popular. Could be German. Darn.
posted by Mike Mongo at 9:17 PM on August 23, 2010

Could it be SUPERMAX/Kurt Hauenstein?

An Austrian disco group from the late 70s, they charted in Europe but never stateside. Left-field, synth disco - my favorite songs are African Blood, It Ain't Easy, and Watch Out South Africa. They were the first multiracial band to tour apartheid era South Africa.

Note that this is a group, not a solo performer. Kurt is still touring with a new band.
posted by stachemaster at 7:08 AM on August 24, 2010

Could it be SUPERMAX/Kurt Hauenstein?

OH SWEET JEEZUS YES IT IS!!!!
posted by Mike Mongo at 8:22 PM on August 27, 2010

From the Myspace page:

Supermax to most people is Kurt Hauenstein, multiinstrumentalist and musical visionary – an artist of Austrian origin, whose chameleonic work has reached international cult-status, although the versatility of his creations often left people astounded, but also enchanted, he achieved a legendary status and is one of the most successful Austrian artists since the late 1970ies.

His über-hit "Love Machine" from 1978 took the world in storm, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. Kurt Hauenstein has to this day released 15 albums, most of them being enthusiastically received by critics and audience all over the world alike. Supermax’ complex and characteristic groove-science has always been a somehow demanding, but in the end rewarding issue for the dedicated listener.
posted by Mike Mongo at 8:26 PM on August 27, 2010