Contributor Post Created with Sketch. Recommended by Ricochet Members Created with Sketch. Hot Tunes?

 

Y’all went and made me do it. You knew I would go to Charmin and outhouses if pressed. So, here we are: disco.

The Rolling Stones went disco with “Hot Stuff” from their 1976 Black and Blue album. The lyrics are simple to trite, and the music a repetitive dance track. It did not make the Top 40, unlike the ballad “Fool to Cry.”

Credit the Stones with trying to give the people what they wanted, but if you want a dance tune titled “Hot Stuff,” you really want to go with the Queen of Disco. Donna Summer recorded an entirely different song, also entitled “Hot Stuff,” on her 1979 album, Bad Girls. Produced by English producer Pete Bellotte and Italian producer Giorgio Moroder (the master of synthesizer pop), “Hot Stuff” was the lead single and became Donna Summer’s most popular song.

The synthesizer and guitar lines are distinctively Giorgio Moroder, but the attitude is all Summer. She smolders without showing up nearly naked, unlike [fill in the latest pop tart here]. Donna Summers began her collaboration with Moroder and Bellotte after meeting them in Europe, where she was performing stage plays, like Hair, (auf Deutsch)!

The same year that the Rolling Stones’ “Hot Stuff” fizzled, Donna Summer was cooking with “Love to Love You Baby,” one of her early collaborations with Bellotte and Moroder.

The lyrics are not more sophisticated than the Stones’ “Hot Stuff,” but imagine them played back to back in a discotheque. Summer was in her element; the Stones, not so much. It is as if the Stones were waving their fans’ lighters, while Summer ignited a disco inferno. In the immortal words of Jerry Reed, “When You’re Hot, You’re Hot [When You’re Not, You’re Not]:”

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  1. Clifford A. Brown Contributor
    Clifford A. Brown

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    Mickey Mouse Disco? Just when I thought this thread could go no lower….

    Oh, you have no idea….

    This quite possibly represents the complete annihilation of High Western culture as we know it.

     

    We did not have television back then, but I vaguely remember hearing this novelty tune on my little AM transistor radio, or possibly at the local youth recreation center on post. So, I knew what to dig up, and where it was likely moldering.

    • #31
    • June 4, 2019, at 8:27 PM PDT
    • 1 like
  2. Steve C. Member

    Steven Seward (View Comment):
    This quite possibly represents the complete annihilation of High Western culture as we know it.

    Let them eat Bach.

     

    • #32
    • June 4, 2019, at 8:50 PM PDT
    • 2 likes
  3. Steven Seward Member

    Steve C. (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):
    This quite possibly represents the complete annihilation of High Western culture as we know it.

    Let them eat Bach.

    Cute! I bet they were influenced by some old Victor Borge videos.

     

    • #33
    • June 5, 2019, at 12:24 AM PDT
    • 1 like
  4. Hoyacon Member

    Jimmy Carter (View Comment):

    You can’t talk Disco without the most sampled song in all of ever… damn, the bass was so awesome then

    There are about 5 disco songs I have to admit to liking and this is one of them. Nile Rodgers actually has talent.

     

    • #34
    • June 5, 2019, at 4:36 AM PDT
    • 2 likes
  5. Misthiocracy got drunk and Member
    Misthiocracy got drunk andJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Jimmy Carter (View Comment):

    Misthiocracy secretly (View Comment):
    Sampled more often than Amen, Brother ?

    Ain’t never heard of this. I heard Good Times referred to as the most sampled a few times over the years, though.

    • #35
    • June 5, 2019, at 9:24 AM PDT
    • 1 like
  6. Misthiocracy got drunk and Member
    Misthiocracy got drunk andJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    Mickey Mouse Disco? Just when I thought this thread could go no lower….

    Oh, you have no idea….

    This quite possibly represents the complete annihilation of High Western culture as we know it.

     

    We did not have television back then, but I vaguely remember hearing this novelty tune on my little AM transistor radio, or possibly at the local youth recreation center on post. So, I knew what to dig up, and where it was likely moldering.

    I was given the album as a child.

    My childhood record collection would give you nightmares.

    • #36
    • June 5, 2019, at 9:25 AM PDT
    • 1 like
  7. Misthiocracy got drunk and Member
    Misthiocracy got drunk andJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Jimmy Carter (View Comment):

    You can’t talk Disco without the most sampled song in all of ever… damn, the bass was so awesome then

    There are about 5 disco songs I have to admit to liking and this is one of them. Nile Rodgers actually has talent.

     

    The greatest disco track ever:

    • #37
    • June 5, 2019, at 9:27 AM PDT
    • 2 likes
  8. The Great Adventure! Inactive
    The Great Adventure!Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Misthiocracy secretly (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Jimmy Carter (View Comment):

    You can’t talk Disco without the most sampled song in all of ever… damn, the bass was so awesome then

    There are about 5 disco songs I have to admit to liking and this is one of them. Nile Rodgers actually has talent.

     

    The greatest disco track ever:

    Greatest disco track? Oxymoron

    • #38
    • June 5, 2019, at 10:33 AM PDT
    • 1 like
  9. Clifford A. Brown Contributor
    Clifford A. Brown

    Misthiocracy secretly (View Comment):

    Signature Giorgio Moroder synthesizer tracks. See the 13 minute long “Chase” theme from the movie Midnight Express

    • #39
    • June 5, 2019, at 1:31 PM PDT
    • Like
  10. Clifford A. Brown Contributor
    Clifford A. Brown

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Another pop star hitting the disco trail:

    I promise to stop now.

    Bowie just needed a little help from Giorgio Moroder:

    https://youtu.be/Z9GbGO7CKdQie

     

    • #40
    • June 5, 2019, at 1:47 PM PDT
    • Like
  11. Clifford A. Brown Contributor
    Clifford A. Brown

    Jon1979 (View Comment):

    Steve Allen did a hysterical bit around 1980 where he talked about the poetry of modern music lyrics, and first read the lines, dead seriously, from the Beatles’ “Yesterday”, before transitioning into reading the lines, also dead seriously, from Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” (it used to be available on YouTube, but got taken down).

    I think I have heard this. Now, William Shattner is the undisputed master of destructive performance of popular music.

    So, it was inevitable:

    • #41
    • June 5, 2019, at 1:51 PM PDT
    • Like
  12. Misthiocracy got drunk and Member
    Misthiocracy got drunk andJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    Misthiocracy secretly (View Comment):

    Signature Giorgio Moroder synthesizer tracks. See the 13 minute long “Chase” theme from the movie Midnight Express.

    Meh. Too much like a Kraftwerk track. You can’t dance to that.

    • #42
    • June 5, 2019, at 2:02 PM PDT
    • 1 like
  13. Misthiocracy got drunk and Member
    Misthiocracy got drunk andJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Another pop star hitting the disco trail:

    I promise to stop now.

    Bowie just needed a little help from Giorgio Moroder:

    https://youtu.be/Z9GbGO7CKdQie

     

    Another synth track that can’t really be danced to. i.e. Not really disco.

    • #43
    • June 5, 2019, at 2:02 PM PDT
    • 2 likes
  14. Steven Seward Member

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    Jon1979 (View Comment):

    Steve Allen did a hysterical bit around 1980 where he talked about the poetry of modern music lyrics, and first read the lines, dead seriously, from the Beatles’ “Yesterday”, before transitioning into reading the lines, also dead seriously, from Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” (it used to be available on YouTube, but got taken down).

    I think I have heard this. Now, William Shattner is the undisputed master of destructive performance of popular music.

    So, it was inevitable:

    The only thing keeping Shatner’s critics from lambasting his singing career is is his shabby acting career.

    • #44
    • June 5, 2019, at 3:38 PM PDT
    • Like
  15. Steve C. Member

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    Jon1979 (View Comment):

    Steve Allen did a hysterical bit around 1980 where he talked about the poetry of modern music lyrics, and first read the lines, dead seriously, from the Beatles’ “Yesterday”, before transitioning into reading the lines, also dead seriously, from Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” (it used to be available on YouTube, but got taken down).

    I think I have heard this. Now, William Shattner is the undisputed master of destructive performance of popular music.

    So, it was inevitable:

    The only thing keeping Shatner’s critics from lambasting his singing career is is his shabby acting career.

    I can top that

    • #45
    • June 5, 2019, at 5:48 PM PDT
    • 3 likes
  16. Clifford A. Brown Contributor
    Clifford A. Brown

    Steve C. (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    Jon1979 (View Comment):

    Steve Allen did a hysterical bit around 1980 where he talked about the poetry of modern music lyrics, and first read the lines, dead seriously, from the Beatles’ “Yesterday”, before transitioning into reading the lines, also dead seriously, from Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff” (it used to be available on YouTube, but got taken down).

    I think I have heard this. Now, William Shattner is the undisputed master of destructive performance of popular music.

    So, it was inevitable:

    The only thing keeping Shatner’s critics from lambasting his singing career is is his shabby acting career.

    I can top that

    The Vulcan for the win on the hot list.

    • #46
    • June 5, 2019, at 5:56 PM PDT
    • Like
  17. Steven Seward Member

    This thread is still going?? I expected it to die a well-deserved death over 20 comments ago. Perhaps Leonard Nimoy has pounded the last nail in the coffin.

    • #47
    • June 5, 2019, at 9:06 PM PDT
    • 2 likes
  18. Clifford A. Brown Contributor
    Clifford A. Brown

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    This thread is still going?? I expected it to die a well-deserved death over 20 comments ago. Perhaps Leonard Nimoy has pounded the last nail in the coffin.

    You do know that is waving a red cape in front of the Ricochetti, right?

     

    • #48
    • June 6, 2019, at 12:52 AM PDT
    • 3 likes
  19. Clifford A. Brown Contributor
    Clifford A. Brown

    It is African-American Music Appreciation Month. I might roll out another music post, with a somewhat wider and deeper playlist. I was deadly serious about inviting a R> jazz aficionado to write on hot jazz, or maybe hot jazz and the birth of the cool! 

    • #49
    • June 6, 2019, at 12:56 AM PDT
    • 2 likes
  20. Gary McVey Contributor
    Gary McVeyJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Misthiocracy secretly (View Comment):

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Another pop star hitting the disco trail:

    I promise to stop now.

    Bowie just needed a little help from Giorgio Moroder:

    https://youtu.be/Z9GbGO7CKdQie

     

    Another synth track that can’t really be danced to. i.e. Not really disco.

    Actual comment of a woman forty years ago: “Wow, I had no idea you could dance!”

    Actual McVey reply: “I can’t. You’re drunk”. 

    • #50
    • June 6, 2019, at 1:18 AM PDT
    • 3 likes
  21. Kelsey Shockey Coolidge

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    This is what disco hath wrought:

    As a White Sox fan, I approve this comment.

    • #51
    • June 6, 2019, at 8:44 AM PDT
    • 1 like
  22. The Great Adventure! Inactive
    The Great Adventure!Joined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    I chafe at referring to this as disco, but if it is in that category it is by FAR the greatest song of that genre.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs069dndIYk

     

    • #52
    • June 6, 2019, at 8:55 AM PDT
    • 2 likes
  23. Archibald Campbell Member
    Archibald CampbellJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    This is what disco hath wrought:

     

    Disco wrought that? Or a bunch of drunk morons, egged on by a dumb owner did? This is proof that cities have mouth-breathing rednecks too. (I don’t think “redneck” is necessarily pejorative, but in this case it is, and is apt.)

     

    • #53
    • June 6, 2019, at 10:11 AM PDT
    • 1 like
  24. Archibald Campbell Member
    Archibald CampbellJoined in the first year of Ricochet Ricochet Charter Member

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Another pop star hitting the disco trail:

    That’s way too late for disco, though it is dance music.

     

    • #54
    • June 6, 2019, at 10:13 AM PDT
    • 1 like
  25. Kelsey Shockey Coolidge

    Archie Campbell (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    This is what disco hath wrought:

     

    Disco wrought that? Or a bunch of drunk morons, egged on by a dumb owner did? This is proof that cities have mouth-breathing rednecks too. (I don’t think “redneck” is necessarily pejorative, but in this case it is, and is apt.)

     

    It was more Steve Dahl, but ownership got what they wanted (a full stadium).

    • #55
    • June 6, 2019, at 10:54 AM PDT
    • 2 likes
  26. Clifford A. Brown Contributor
    Clifford A. Brown

    Steven Seward (View Comment):

    Steve C. (View Comment):

    Steven Seward (View Comment):
    This quite possibly represents the complete annihilation of High Western culture as we know it.

    Let them eat Bach.

    Cute! I bet they were influenced by some old Victor Borge videos.

     

    P.D.Q. Bach was a separate classical music comedy enterprise. It was based in the underlying joke of “undiscovered” classical music. “Professor” Peter Schickele put on works attributed to the forgotten Bach, P.D.Q. — a play on C.P.E. Bach and the enormous progeny, 20 children total, by his first and second wife, of J.S. Bach.

    • #56
    • June 6, 2019, at 2:13 PM PDT
    • 2 likes
  27. Clifford A. Brown Contributor
    Clifford A. Brown

    The Great Adventure! (View Comment):

    I chafe at referring to this as disco, but if it is in that category it is by FAR the greatest song of that genre.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs069dndIYk

     

    It absolutely does have that rock solid 4/4 beat. You would definitely see people do the hustle to it. For those unaware, the hustle was a pairs dance with definite footwork, like swing, but in a different time signature. Like some other new dances, it even had a song titled “Do the Hustle.”

    Pretty peppy, huh? Gets your toes tapping and might put a smile on your face when you are stuck in traffic. Yes, it is just a bit of froth, but enjoy the bubbles for the moment.

     

     

    • #57
    • June 6, 2019, at 2:29 PM PDT
    • 1 like
  28. Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… Thatcher

    As a man of taste, if not wealth, I assume instead of Hot Tunes you meant to refer to Hot Tuna.

    • #58
    • June 6, 2019, at 2:56 PM PDT
    • 1 like
  29. Steven Seward Member

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):P.D.Q. Bach was a separate classical music comedy enterprise. It was based in the underlying joke of “undiscovered” classical music. “Professor” Peter Schickele put on works attributed to the forgotten Bach, P.D.Q. — a play on C.P.E. Bach and the enormous progeny, 20 children total, by his first and second wife, of J.S. Bach.

    I discovered a while back that Peter Shickele also did serious music compositions. The pieces I listened to were pretty good!

    • #59
    • June 6, 2019, at 4:07 PM PDT
    • 1 like
  30. Steve C. Member

    Gary McVey (View Comment):

    Misthiocracy secretly (View Comment):

    Clifford A. Brown (View Comment):

    Hoyacon (View Comment):

    Another pop star hitting the disco trail:

    I promise to stop now.

    Bowie just needed a little help from Giorgio Moroder:

    https://youtu.be/Z9GbGO7CKdQie

     

    Another synth track that can’t really be danced to. i.e. Not really disco.

    Actual comment of a woman forty years ago: “Wow, I had no idea you could dance!”

    Actual McVey reply: “I can’t. You’re drunk”.

    Was there a second date?

    • #60
    • June 9, 2019, at 11:48 AM PDT
    • 1 like

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