- Reference
- In the mid-70s, the pop music audience was divided into two opposing camps. One part fell under the influence of punk, the other decided to spend time more aesthetically and preferred disco. At first, it was mostly American "golden youth", who enjoyed visiting nightclubs where only dance music was performed.
1974 is considered the birth year of disco, the place is New York gay clubs. Then the disco "legalized", penetrating the radio and other "decent places". Explicit sexual coloring, deliberately emphasized by the seductive image of performers and performers, bright shiny costumes and transvestite elements (glam traditions affected) gave disco a unique appeal.
Disco created an atmosphere of celebration, "eternal summer", falling in love, illusory freedom, in which the problems of everyday life were forgotten, blocked by only one desire - to dance.
Disco has its roots in Negro funk and soul, the so-called vocal bands of the 60s, and Californian surf rock. The main distinguishing feature of disco as a musical and stylistic phenomenon is a uniform four-beat rhythm with an emphasis on each of the beats (often emphasized by drum beats). The "classic" pace is considered to be 120 beats per minute (which is almost twice the normal human heart rate). A continuous melodic bass line is characteristic, in which syncopations and "jumping" rhythmic patterns, broken octave moves, and solo elements are frequent. The sound of vocals due to special recording techniques very often acquires an ultra-intimate character (proximity to the listener), emphasized by performing means ("purring", sighs, aspirations, whispers). On the whole, the sound is quite dry, taut, although the arrangements are typical of orchestral counterpoints, string and brass solos, which add "beautifulness" to the overall score.
In the late 70s, more emphasis began to be placed on "fashionable" synth sonorities. The structure of songs often consists of several blocks (with a change in the pattern of bass, melody, tonality, etc.), which does not allow long compositions to bore the listener.
Among the black American bands that have made their contribution to disco music, we can distinguish, first of all, "Soul City Orchestra", which released their famous disc "The Hustle" even before Donna Summer. Taste of Honey was named Best in Style at the 1979 Grammy Awards. It is impossible not to single out the group "Cool and the Gang", which retained, as far as possible, signs of funk in disco music, and "Tramps", which was a sample of disco with a large inclusion of Latin American music - "Latin disco".
On the first wave of the new hobby, a number of white American groups, such as the KC & Sunshine Band, also made a career. Many recognized authorities of black soul, funk and jazz turned towards disco: James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Johnny Taylor recorded records in line with the fashion trend. Despite the assertion made by white rock fans that disco fever is a black-and-homosexual contagion, many well-known white rock and pop artists have begun to release their records, in one way or another, related to disco music. Barbara Streisand made a roll in the direction of this newfangled trend, recording in 1979 with Disco Queen Donna Summer. Barry Manilov, Rod Stewart, Paul McCartney with their group "Wings", "Doobie Brothers" and even "Rolling Stones" did not consider it shameful to start working in this style. Disco parodies also appeared. The first to respond was apologist for surreal cynicism, prank master Frank Zappa, who, following the style of his group "Mothers of Invention", released a record called "Dancin" Fool "(" Dancing Fool "). Jazz musicians also joined disco, making a significant contribution to complication of his orchestrations.Among the famous names here are Eumire Deodato, Bob James, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones.
10 centimeters cubed (10cc)
10 centimeters cubed (10cc)- English pop group from the 70s. Known as an experimental band, borrowing the styles of the 60s and reworking it for a modern sound. Throughout the decade, the group had world hits more than once. The most famous songs of the group: "Donna", "Rubber Bullets", "I'm Not in Love" and others.
ABBA (ABBA)
ABBA (ABBA) - The legendary Swedish pop group of the 70s. The most successful group in Europe. Since 1973 and the song "Waterloo" the group has constantly kept at the top of the charts in the world. The most famous song is difficult to determine, since so many songs are still extremely popular.
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Arabesque
Arabesque - German girl pop group of the late 70s. Thanks to the fashion trend of those years for girl groups and after the recording of the hit "Hello Mr. Monkey" in 1977, the group became known in Europe.
Blondie
Blondie (Blondie) - Pop group of the late 70s from the United States. The bright and memorable appearance of the lead singer of the group and the breakthrough first album "Parallel Lines (Parallel Lines)" raised the group's rating to the first line of the American music charts in 1978. The most famous hits: "Call me (Call Me)" and "Heart in a glass (Heart of Glass)".
America (America)
America (America) - American pop group of the 70s, working in the style of folk-pop. They achieved popularity after only 1 year, after the release of the first self-titled album. The band's biggest hits are "A Horse with No Name" and "Sister Golden Hair".
Bee Gees (Bee Gees)
Bee Gees - A very popular English pop group of the 70s. After the formation, the group worked in the style of rock, but only after changing direction in the mid-70s to dance music, the group really became famous around the world. Greatest hits of the group: "Stayin' Alive", "You Should Be Dancing" and many others.
The Doobie Brothers from Dubai
The Doobie Brothers from Dubai- American pop-rock band of the 70s. World fame came only in the late 70s, after the release of the famous album "Minute by Minute (Minute by Minute)" and the mega-hit "Only a Fool Believes (What a Fool Believes)", which was recognized as the best song of 1979.
Boney M (Boney M)
Boney M - A very famous German group working in the style disco. Gained wide popularity in 1975, thanks to the outstanding talent of the producer and author of most of the super hits of the Frank Farian group. Very popular in Russia to this day.
Mud
Mud - English pop-rock band of the 70s. The main direction in creativity was the power pop style, which was very popular in the early 70s. The peak of popularity falls on the mid-70s and the release of the singles "Traces of the Tiger (Tiger Feet)", "Crazy (Crazy)" and a number of other songs.
Guru-guru (Guru-Guru)
Guru-Guru (Guru-Guru) - German group that entered the world stage in the mid-70s. The main direction in music is kraut-rock (a mixture of rock and electronic dance music). One of the few groups - centenarians who are still working in the same composition.
The Jacksons five (The Jackson 5)
The Jacksons five (The Jackson 5)- Pop group of the 70s from the USA. The group consisted of 5 brothers. Among them, the youngest was the later famous Michael Jackson(in the center). The band's most popular songs are "Support Me (I Want You Back)", "The Love You Save (The Love You Save)", "There Be Bad (I'll Be There)" and others.
Dr. Hook
Dr. Hook- US pop-rock band that gained recognition in the early 70s. A distinctive feature of the group was considered satirical lyrics and theatrical performance at concerts. Their songs "Sylvia's Mother" and "The Cover Of Rolling Stone" are known all over the world.
- English pop-rock band of the 70s. The peak of the group's creativity is the mid-70s. The group released a large number of albums and many world famous hits, such as "Ticket to the moon (Ticket To The Moon)" and "Requests America (Calling America)".
ZZ Top (ZZ Top)
ZZ Top (ZZ Top) - Famous American blues band that achieved popularity in the 70s. A distinctive feature of the group is the image (huge beards and cowboy outfit) and sarcastic lyrics.
Caravan
Caravan (Caravan) - An English band that achieved popularity in the late 70s. A bright masquerade of costumes and a theatrical performance on stage during concerts distinguish the group. Especially loved in Russia. Their hits "Samurai", "Moscow" and others are very famous.
Wings
Wings (Wings) - English pop-rock group of the 70s - the project of the legendary Paul McCartney and his wife Linda. Thanks to the worldwide fame of the ex-Beatle, the group had success throughout the decade.
- American disco group of the 70s. Glory came after recording the song "Fatal you baby (Rock Your Baby)" in 1974. Their songs were certainly present in discos and were very popular.
Maybe (Can)
Maybe (Can) - German pop rock band from the 70s. She worked in the styles of kraut-rock and experimental rock. A very large role was given to solo on keyboard instruments. The peak of the group's popularity falls on the beginning of the 70s, when the Japanese soloist Kenji Suzuki joins the group. The group's most famous hits are: "Vitamin C", "Spoon" and "I Want More". The group is one of the progenitors of electronic music.
Roxy Music
Roxy Music- English pop-rock band of the 70s, working in the style of art-rock (Pure music and vocals. The main musical instrument is a synthesizer). Glory to the group came after the recording of the hit "Virginia Plain", which immediately climbed to number 4 in the English chart in 1972. The group's most famous hit is "Love Is the Drug".
Eagles
The Eagles are an American pop-rock band of the 1970s that brought together country, pop and soft rock. One of the most successful bands of the 70s and 80s. The group released a lot of hits that topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. Third in the world in terms of commercial success. The most famous hits "Hotel California (Hotel California)", "Witchy Woman" and many others.
Carpenters
Carpenters (Carpenters) - A very famous American duo in the 70s, consisting of sister and brother Carpenters. The melodic and soulful songs of the duet were very different from the fashionable, at that time, heavy and defiant music. The most famous songs of the duet are: "Yesterday once more" and "It takes a lot to be closer to you (They long to be Close to you)"
Throbbing Gristle
Throbbing Gristle- English pop group of the 70s, which laid the foundation for the development of the industrial style. Complex musical parts on keyboards and various specials. effects in the mid-70s quickly gained popularity among the people. Their defiant and provocative lyrics caused a furious protest from the critics of those times, which gave even more popularity to the group.
Power plant (Kraftwerk)
Power plant (Kraftwerk)- German musical group of the 70s, who made a very big contribution to the development of electro-pop and techno-pop styles. The first to use voice modulation through a synthesizer. The abundance of special effects at concerts gave the group's performances a special flavor. The most famous compositions of the group: "The Robots" and "Tour de France".
Faust
Faust (Faust) - German group of the 70s, working in the style of kraut-rock. The group has become the personification of the German kraut all over the world. The group became famous only 5 years after its creation, as the kraut rock niche was very competitive. But in the mid-70s, she received the status of a German rock legend.
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac- Famous Anglo-American pop group of the 70s - 90s. World fame came to the group in the mid-70s, after recording the breakthrough album "Fleetwood Mac". The most famous hits of the team: "Rhiannon", "Dreams", "Don't Stop" and many others.
Bread
Bread (Bread) - American soft rock band of the 70s. They played in a rock style bordering on dance music. The first success came after the release of the hits "Baby I" m A Want You", "Everything I Own" and "Guitar Man", which received worldwide recognition.
A-HA (A-HA)
A-ha (A-ha)- a pop-team from Norway, created by three friends. Paul Voctor (guitar), Magne Furuholmen (synthesizer) and Morten Harket (vocals). All three have been fascinated by the idea of creating musical groups and performing in front of the public since their school years. And finally, at the end of 1982, the trinity unites ...
Alphaville (Alphaville)
Bad Boys Blue (Bad Boys Blue)
Bananarama (Bananarama)
Blue System (Blue System)
Culture Club (cultural club)
Depeche Mode (Depeche Mode)
Duran Duran (Duran Duran)
Erasure
Eurythmics (Yurithmics)
Expose
Five Star (Five Star)
Five Star (Five Star)- An English pop group that achieved worldwide popularity in the mid-80s. The group was formed in 1983 by manager Buster Pearson, who decided to create the English version of the famous American team Jacksons Five. The group included five of his children. Denise(main soloist) Doris...
