STUDIO 54!

RIP DONNA SUMMER

     Wow... talk about timing.  For the past month I've been in a huge Donna Summer mood- and now she's suddenly gone.  I'm speechless.  So here's another gem from the divine Miss Summer, hands down the eternal Queen of Disco.

LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY BY DONNA SUMMER

     Disco legend Donna Summer started her amazing and influential career in August of 1975 with the release of her first single, "Love To Love You Baby".  The song became an instant smash in the clubs, especially the gay clubs.  The single would be certified gold, and was one of the first singles to help popularize the new 12" format. It would be the first of many disco smashes from Donna, and it perfectly captures the essence of the 70s in all their glory.

DOCTOR'S ORDERS BY CAROL DOUGLAS

     One of the pioneering tracks of disco, released in 1974, was "Doctor's Orders" by Carol Douglas.  The song became hugely popular by the end of '74, making it all the way to #11 on Billboard's Top 100 chart and #2 on Billboard's recently launched disco chart.  By 1975, global sales of "Doctor's Orders" by Carol Douglas totaled one million units.  It's irresistible disco, and downright impossible not to sing along with Carol- why she didn't have more hits is beyond me.  "Doctor's Orders" is a personal favorite.  It's a gem!

MOVIN' BY BRASS CONSTRUCTION

     Brass Construction were a disco/funk group of the 1970's who scored a Top 20 hit in 1976 with the irresistibly funky "Movin".  Although only scoring one other Top 20 hit in the US, they were much more successful on the dance charts, including "Movin", which would become a #1 dance smash.  Brass Construction never quite became household names, but that doesn't necessarily mean they weren't influential.  The Bucketheads would sample the tune with their 1995 smash "Got Myself Together", and had other tunes sampled by the likes of Jill Scott and N.W.A.  It is impossible to sit still while listening to this song, and this is quintessential 70s disco/funk. Love it!