Piero Scaruffi

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Piero Scaruffi

Scaruffi on alternative versus mainstream

[...] it has become customary to separate "mainstream" music and "alternative" music. If you do what I did (listen to the music without being conditioned by marketing and sales), it is very unlikely that you will end up selecting the musicians who topped the charts, very likely that you will be impressed with countless obscure recordings that were twenty years ahead of their time even though nobody heard them.

[...]

From this "alternative" point of view (one that puts creativity before sales) there were three watershed years in the history of rock music: 1955, when Chuck Berry invented rock and roll; 1966, when Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa, the Doors, the Velvet Underground and others caused a massive revolution in a slumbering music scene; 1976, when the "new wave" and punk-rock caused a similar revolution in a similarly slumbering scene. Each of these golden ages was followed by an era of "re-alignment" in which creativity was replaced by sell-out, as the record industry (and commercial bands) capitalized on the innovations of the previous years.

One could also add 1987-88, the years when Pixies, Fugazi, etc invented indie-pop, and 1996, the year of post-rock, although they are not as clearly marked as the previous ones. -- piero scaruffi

  • http://www.scaruffi.com/history/cpt0.html

    Scaruffi's Selection of Best Disco Albums

    Obviously missing from this list are too many to name, but let's start with Patrick Adams' Musique, Logg, so many Salsoul, Prelude and West End albums. Please remember that this is the choice of a self proclaimed rock-lover. :-)

    1. Giorgio Moroder: From Here to Eternity (Casablanca, 1985)
    2. Gloria Gaynor: Never Can Say Goodbye (MGM, 1975)
    3. Kool & The Gang: Wild And Peaceful (De-Lite, 1973)
    4. Trammps: The Trammps (Golden Fleece/CBS, 1975)
    5. Love Unlimited: Under The Influence Of . . . (20th Century, 1973)
    6. Grace Jones: Portfolio (Island, 1977)
    7. The Jimmy Castor Bunch: Butt Of Course (Atlantic, 1974)
    8. Barry White: Barry White's Greatest Hits (20th Century, 1975)
    9. KC & The Sunshine Band: KC & The Sunshine Band (TK, 1975)
    10. Sister Sledge: Circle Of Love (Cotillion, 1975)
    11. Cerrone: Love In C Minor (Cotillion, 1977)
    12. Silver Convention: Save Me (Midland International, 1975)
    13. Chic: Chic (Atlantic, 1977)
    14. Village People: Village People (Casablanca, 1977)
    15. Cerrone: Cerrone 3 - Supernature (Cotillion, 1978)
    16. Sylvester: Step II (Fantasy, 1978)
    17. Isaac Hayes: Chocolate Chip (HBS, 1975) <
    18. Sister Sledge: We Are Family (Cotillion, 1979)
    19. Diana Ross: The Boss (Motown, 1979)
    20. Donna Summer: The Donna Summer Anthology (Casablanca/Chronicles, 1993)
    21. B.T. Express: Do It ('Til You're Satisfied) (Roadshow, 1974)
    22. LaBelle: Nightbirds (Epic, 1974)
    23. Disco-Tex & The Sex-O-Lettes: Disco Tex & His Sex-O-Lettes (Chelsea, 1975)
    24. Salsoul Orchestra: The Salsoul Orchestra (Salsoul, 1975)
    25. Candi Staton: Young Hearts Run Free (Warner Bros., 1976)
    26. Loleatta Holloway: Loleatta (Gold Mind/Salsoul, 1976)
    27. Cloud One: Atmosphere Strutt (P&P, 1976)
    28. Ashford & Simpson: So So Satisfied; Send It (Warner Bros., 1977)
    29. First Choice: Delusions (Gold Mind, 1977)
    30. Love And Kisses: Love And Kisses (Casablanca, 1977)
    31. Voyage: Voyage; Fly Away (Marlin, 1978)
    32. Michael Zager Band: Let's All Chant (Private Stock, 1977)
    33. Santa Esmeralda: Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood (Casablanca, 1977)
    34. Linda Clifford: If My Friends Could See Me Now (Curtom, 1978)
    35. Taana Gardner: Taana Gardner (West End, 1979)
    36. France Joli: France Joli (Prelude, 1979)
    37. Direct Current: Direct Current (TEC Records, 1979)
    38. Tantra: The Double Album (Importe/12, 1980)
    39. Change: The Glow Of Love (Warner Bros./RFC, 1980)
    40. Kano: Kano (Emergency, 1980)
    41. Hamilton Bohannon: Summertime Groove (Mercury, 1978)
    42. Gregg Diamond Bionic Boogie: Hot Butterfly (Polydor, 1978)
    43. Beautiful Bend: Beautiful Bend (Marlin, 1978)

    CDs

    1. Disco Box [RHINO BOX SET] [Amazon US] [FR] [DE] [UK]
      Disc: 1 1. Love's Theme - Love Unlimited Orchestra Listen Listen 2. Dancing Machine - The Jackson 5 Listen Listen 3. Rock the Boat - Hues Corporation Listen Listen 4. Honeybee - Gloria Gaynor Listen Listen 5. Doctor's Orders - Carol Douglas Listen Listen 6. Get Dancin' - Disco Tex & the Sex-O-Lettes 7. Shame, Shame, Shame - Shirley and Company 8. Never Can Say Goodbye - Gloria Gaynor 9. Get Down Tonight - KC & the Sunshine Band 10. Hustle - Van McCoy 11. It Only Takes a Minute - Tavares 12. Fly, Robin, Fly - Silver Convention 13. I'm on Fire - 5000 Volts 14. Love Machine, Pt. II - The Miracles 15. You Sexy Thing - Hot Chocolate 16. Boogie Fever - The Sylvers 17. That's the Way (I Like It) - KC & the Sunshine Band 18. More, More, More, Part III - Andrea True 19. Young Hearts Run Free - Candi Staton 20. Turn the Beat Around - Vicki Sue Robinson Disc: 2 1. (Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty - KC & the Sunshine Band 2. Get up and Boogie - Silver Convention 3. Fifth of Beethoven - Big Apple Band 4. Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry 5. Car Wash - Rose Royce 6. Don't Leave Me This Way - Thelma Houston 7. Best Disco in Town - The Ritchie Family 8. Disco Inferno - The Trammps 9. Boogie Nights - Heatwave 10. I Feel Love - Donna Summer 11. Keep It Comin' Love - KC & the Sunshine Band 12. Dance With Me - Pete Brown 13. Everybody Dance - Chic 14. Shame - Evelyn "Champagne" King 15. Boogie Oogie Oogie - A Taste of Honey 16. Get Off - Foxy 17. I Love the Nightlife (Disco 'Round) - Alicia Bridges 18. In the Bush - Musique 19. Hot Shot - Karen Young 20. Got to Be Real - Cheryl Lynn Disc: 3 1. Shake Your Groove Thing - Peaches & Herb 2. Y.M.C.A. - Village People 3. Freak - Chic 4. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor 5. Livin' It up (Friday Night) - Bell & James 6. Instant Replay - Dan Hartman 7. You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) - Sylvester 8. I Want Your Love - Chic 9. Knock on Wood - Amii Stewart 10. Disco Nights (Rock Freak) - GQ 11. Love and Desire, Part I - Arpeggio 12. He's the Greatest Dancer - Sister Sledge 13. Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now - McFadden & Whitehead 14. Ring My Bell - Anita Ward 15. Bad Girls - Donna Summer 16. Born to Be Alive - Patrick Hernandez 17. Good Times - Chic 18. Don't You Want My Love - Debbie Jacobs 19. H.A.P.P.Y. Radio - Edwin Starr 20. I Shoulda Loved Ya - Narada Michael Walden 21. We Are Family - Sister Sledge Disc: 4 1. Heart of Glass - Blondie 2. Lost in Music - Sister Sledge 3. I'm Caught up (In a One Night Love Affair) - Inner Life 4. Got to Love Somebody - Sister Sledge 5. Funkytown - Lipps Inc. 6. Celebration - Kool & the Gang 7. Lover's Holiday - Change 8. I Like What You're Doin' to Me - Young & Company 9. Glow of Love - Change 10. Cruisin' the Streets - Boys Town Gang 11. On the Beat - The Brooklyn, Bronx & Queens Band 12. Forget Me Nots - Patrice Rushen 13. Get Down on It - Kool & the Gang 14. It's Raining Men - The Weather Girls 15. Last Night a DJ Saved My Life - Indeep 16. I.O.U. - Freeez 17. Give It Up - KC & the Sunshine Band 18. Change of Heart - Change 19. Fresh - Kool & the Gang

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