We want the disco/funk! Give up the disco/funk!
August 8, 2018 6:55 PM   Subscribe

Do you know any lesser known but awesome 1970s disco/funk songs I can add to my Youtube playlist? Pre-1980 please!
posted by pH Indicating Socks to Media & Arts (34 answers total) 26 users marked this as a favorite
 
Best answer: "Doctor's Orders" by Carol Douglas.

You probably ought to check out the entire Last Days of Disco soundtrack. A lot of it is already on your list, but that'll fill in some gaps. And watch the movie - it's delightful.
posted by kevinbelt at 7:06 PM on August 8, 2018 [1 favorite]


That playlist could really use some Patrice Rushen (2nd link is ‘82 but I’m not sorry)
posted by STFUDonnie at 7:14 PM on August 8, 2018


I dunno if it's lesser-known but maybe Betty Davis, "If I'm In Luck I Might Get Picked Up" (1973)?
posted by MonkeyToes at 7:14 PM on August 8, 2018


"Cabbage Alley" by The Meters.

Shoutout to the King Adrock for turning me on to this.
posted by 4ster at 7:29 PM on August 8, 2018


Dude! I collect soul / funk 45s from that general era. I’m gonna list a few tunes that come to mind:

Bileo

Luther Davis Group

Raphael Munnings

Vessie Simmons

I hope these fit into the right category! Feel free to send me a message if you want more recs!
posted by sucre at 7:30 PM on August 8, 2018


Loleatta Holloway's Catch me on the rebound? It is a favorite of mine, but I feel like no other casual disco listener has heard of it.
posted by Tchad at 7:39 PM on August 8, 2018


I see you have The Brothers Johnson, but how about Get The Funk Outta My Face?
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:43 PM on August 8, 2018


Kiki Gyan - disco dancer (1979)
posted by noloveforned at 7:45 PM on August 8, 2018 [1 favorite]


You should check out the What It Is! box set. Rare grooves from the 60s/70s.
posted by gnutron at 8:03 PM on August 8, 2018


"Lesser known" is relative, of course.

Do kids these days know about Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes?
posted by she's not there at 8:12 PM on August 8, 2018


And Ohio Players seem obvious, but I don't know what you don't know.
posted by she's not there at 8:14 PM on August 8, 2018


Let's get it on, it's time to get down.

Also known as the Soul Train theme, TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) by MFSB featuring The Three Degrees. This more recent extended live version particularly rocks.
posted by Rob Rockets at 8:38 PM on August 8, 2018 [1 favorite]


Pleasure - Glide
posted by fuse theorem at 9:48 PM on August 8, 2018


Is it cheating to suggest Roger Zapp's first band The Human Body?

I have a funky/disco playlist on Spotify which might have some new tunes for you.
posted by vespabelle at 10:16 PM on August 8, 2018


Just a few:
Foxy - Get Off (1978)
Dinosaur - Kiss Me Again (1978)
Tantra - The Hills Of Katmandu (1979)
Change - Lover's Holiday (this is a 1980 track, so it just barely makes your cut)
Evelyn "Champagne" King - I Don't Know If It's Right (1977) - just throw in everything else on the Last Days of Disco soundtrack for good measure

I could go all night with this, if these suggestions are along the right track!
posted by blerghamot at 10:27 PM on August 8, 2018


Vernon Burch - Get Up
Peter Brown featuring Betty Wright - Dance With Me
War - Galaxy
Shalamar - Right in the Socket
Don Ray - Standing in the Rain
First Choice - Love Thang
Herb Alpert - Rise
posted by rhizome at 10:31 PM on August 8, 2018


You are missing The Brothers Johnson Strawberry Letter 22!!! (unless I missed it on your list?)
posted by jbenben at 10:46 PM on August 8, 2018


Kool and the Gang's Jungle Boogie is one of my all-time faves.
posted by S'Tella Fabula at 11:00 PM on August 8, 2018


Cerrone — Supernature
posted by Bloxworth Snout at 3:34 AM on August 9, 2018


Dschingis Khan -Moskau
Candido - Thousand Finger Man
Joe Harnell - Incredible Hulk Theme, disco version
Black Arabs - Sex Pistols Medley
Steely Dan - The Fez
William Onyeabor - Fantastic Man

IIRC, every track on Dimitri from Paris' album Disco Forever meets your criteria. He's released several compilations/mixes of disco and funk, but I believe this was the only one in which all tracks are from the 70s.
posted by heatvision at 3:36 AM on August 9, 2018 [1 favorite]






Also, Flame n King! (I’ve been going to soul music weekenders in south Portugal once a year, and we play records on a boat on Sunday. This tune makes everyone go nuts!)
posted by sucre at 5:55 AM on August 9, 2018


Everything by Grace Jones.
posted by james33 at 6:14 AM on August 9, 2018


What can I do for you? by Patti Labelle (with Meters' drummer Zigaboo Modeliste)

Girl you need a change of mind by Eddie Hendricks
posted by umbú at 6:44 AM on August 9, 2018


I'm no disco expert, but I bought this CD on a whim a couple years ago and have returned to it more than once. Can't recommend any particular track off the top of my head though. As the reviews state, the tracks are vinyl transfers.
posted by lagomorphius at 6:51 AM on August 9, 2018




Ripple - The Beat Goes On
Machine - There But For The Grace Of God Go I
Roy Ayers - Running Away
Harvey Mason - Groovin You
Brass Construction - Movin
GQ - Disco Nights
Loose Joints - Is It All Over My Face
Teddy Pendergrass - You Can’t Hide From Yourself
Martin Circus - Disco Circus
Sister Sledge - Thinking of You
Bohannon - Let’s Start the Dance
posted by p3t3 at 8:04 AM on August 9, 2018


I can't seem to get your playlist to open up on my Ipad, so forgive me if you already have this one, but Cheryl Lynn's follow up to Got To Be Real is called Shake It Up Tonight and it is fan----tastic.
posted by wittgenstein at 9:07 AM on August 9, 2018


Oops - Shake It Up Tonight is 1981 - too late for your parameters.
posted by wittgenstein at 9:10 AM on August 9, 2018


One more that is from 1979 - Stargard's Wear It Out.
posted by wittgenstein at 9:12 AM on August 9, 2018


Disc-o-Lypso is a compilation of Caribbean disco, and there are some similar compilations of African disco.
posted by box at 3:23 PM on August 9, 2018


Brothers Johnson - I'll be Good to You
Sylvester - You Make Me Feel Really Real
Kid Creole & The Coconuts - Stool Pigeon
Vicki Anderson - Message to The Soul Sisters
Al Green - Love and Happiness
The Spinners - I'll be Around
Telly Savalas - Who Loves Ya Baby?
posted by ovvl at 3:29 PM on August 10, 2018


Response by poster: You guys are awesome!!!!

Thanks! I'll be working my way through your suggestions. For the foreseeable future, here's my new playlist on loop.
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 5:25 PM on August 10, 2018


« Older Is there really a drug that gives everyone the...   |   How can I easily read a single Twitter feed on a... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.


Tags

Share