“I’m in the Mood for Dancing” was released as a single by the Irish pop group The Nolan Sisters (later known as The Nolans) in 1979, and featured on their debut album that year. The track reached the #3 spot on the UK Singles in 1980, and is the most successful song the group ever recorded (it was so successful in Japan that they recorded the tune again in Japanese.) The tune modulates at 1:38, and returns to the original key at 2:15.
Tag: disco
Earth Wind + Fire feat. The Emotions | Boogie Wonderland
From stalwart MotD fan Carlo Migliaccio: “I was listening to Earth Wind and Fire, when I remembered that ‘Boogie Wonderland’ modulates briefly to the relative major, twice: once at 1:38 and again at 3:38.”
The 1979 single, the caboose-that-could at the end of Disco’s multi-year train, achieved a #14 ranking on the Dance chart, #6 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #2 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. It also garnered Grammy nominations for Best R&B Instrumental Performance and Best Disco Recording.
According to AllMusic.com, “One of the few records that paired two full-fledged groups successfully, the combination of EWF and the Emotions worked wonders here and it remains a classic of the period. A virtual call to arms of the disco scene, the lyrics relate the power of the extinct musical form, and although loaded with clichés, it still retains a certain period charm. The fantasy life of disco patrons is celebrated here, and in this way, it was a sort of theme song to the Studio 54 crowd. Musically, it’s a straight four-on-the-floor rhythm with a funk melody, and despite its simplicity — or because of it — it was a huge and accessible record that is still played regularly on oldies R&B radio.”
Cheryl Lynn | Got to Be Real
One of the all-time legends of the disco genre, 1978’s “Got To Be Real” was Cheryl Lynn‘s debut single. Although it’s had huge staying power, the track somehow only reached #11 on the disco charts. A writing collaboration among Lynn, Toto‘s keyboardist David Paich, and master songwriter/arranger David Foster, the tune was inducted into the Dance Music Hall Of Fame in 2005.
The whole-step key change hits early, at the 1:38 mark. But Lynn’s supple soprano continues to carry her through with ease, stretching all the way up to a lofty C6 (two octaves above middle C) at 2:58.
Many thanks to MotD regular Rob Penttinen for the submission!
Chaka Khan | I’m Every Woman
“I’m Every Woman” was Chaka Khan‘s debut solo single in 1978 after many releases with Rufus and Chaka Khan. Produced by Arif Mardin and written by married songwriting team and recording artists Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson, the single went straight to #1 on the R&B charts. The slow tempo of the tune only accentuates how it somehow successfully straddles the line between a disco feel and a heavier funk groove: a full string orchestra duels it out to a draw with an ornate slap bass line.
In 1989, a lighter, poppier version of the song saw a resurrection as a duo featuring Chaka and Whitney Houston; the track reached top 10 in the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
At 2:51, Chaka alternates up and down by a minor third every four bars, over and over, all the way to the fade out.
Van McCoy | The Hustle
“The Hustle” (1975) by Van McCoy was one of the biggest early disco hits. The tune was a global smash, going top 10 in the US, the UK, South Africa, New Zealand, Canada, and most of Europe, then later appearing on the soundtracks of well over a dozen movies and TV shows.
The tune alternates between F major and Ab major (at 1:11 and 1:32, then again at 2:52 and 3:13.) After an intro featuring backup-style vocals but no lead vocal, most of the remainder of the tune is instrumental, featuring some of the most well-known flute and piccolo work in pop music. Happy weekend to all!
Roxy Music | Dance Away
One of our most prolific contributors, mod scout JB, has submitted 1979’s “Dance Away” by Roxy Music. Originally written for a solo album by UK band Roxy Music‘s lead singer, Bryan Ferry, the tune reached #2 in the UK and was Roxy Music’s best-performing single. From AllMusic‘s review: “…the group strips away its art rock influences, edits out the instrumental interludes in favor of concise pop songs, and adds layers of stylish disco rhythms.” The cover design for the album, Manifesto, featuring only mannequins, was also created by Ferry, known as a distinctive frontman second perhaps only to Bowie as the era’s music/visual art/style synthesist.
Starting with a verse built around Eb major, the chorus transitions to F major at 0:50, then back to Eb at 1:10. The bridge begins at 2:00 and transitions to F# major at 2:10, but then an extended percussion break provides cover for an unexpected modulation back to the original Eb major as the verse returns at 2:24.
Donna Summer | MacArthur Park
Donna Summer’s 1977 dance epic ”MacArthur Park” likely represented Peak Disco. Summer’s unmistakeable vocal style is accompanied by full orchestra, harp, and plenty of synths (all part of producer Giorgio Moroder’s signature sound). There are several key changes, the first appearing at 0:26 as a Baroque-inspired string intro transitions into pop ballad, preceding a shift to straight-ahead disco. If you need more, there’s also a 17-minute “suite” version. 😉
John Powhida International Airport | Dirty Birdy and the Funny Bunny
We generally post videos on MoTD, but here‘s a worthy audio-only link! A track by Boston Music Awards multi-nominee John Powhida and his self-described “rock / disco / soul / pop fuzion” band John Powhida International Airport, “Dirty Birdy and the Funny Bunny” (2011) modulates at 2:20.
https://johnpowhidainternationalairport.bandcamp.com/track/dirty-birdy-and-the-funny-bunny
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