Disco in San Francisco, where we do the Frisco disco!

History of Disco

What is disco? Disco was, for many, more than just a form of music. It was a lifestyle. In the 1970s, dance clubs came to prominence and with that, people needed a form of music they could dance to. If it wasn’t for discos, we wouldn’t have ‘da club’ we have today. Musically, disco has many influences, including funk, boogie, latin, salsa, and even rock’n’roll – thought it does not use the lead guitar that rock is based on, instead ironically orchestral instruments like like the flute, electric piano, electric guitars, and electric, syncopated bass. Manu Dibango is credited by many to have created the first disco record, with 1972’s famous “Soul Makossa.” By 1973, disco was taking over the music world, and by the late 1970s, disco was the most popular form of music in the United States.

Disco Sound

The disco sound was engineered by talented producers like Ken, Joe, and Stanley Caryre of SalSoul Records. European disco was also taking over and legendary produces like Giorgio Moroder, father of Italodisco, and producer of much of Donna Summers’ work. We don’t hear a lot about Giorgio Moroder today, but he was the baddest guy of all time, having not just produced some of the most seminal hits of the disco era, but also having scored some of the most famous movies on the 70s and 80s like Scarface, Electric Dreams, Cat People, Flashdance, Smerican Gigolo, Thief of Hearts and The Neverending Story. Tom Moulton, a famous DJ of the disco era, was also a credit to disco’s success, and was the first DJ who created remixes of other artists’ work. We can thank him for the remixes we dance to today!

Disco Culture

Disco did not become a mainstream form of music until 1977, when Saturday Night Fever cahnged pop culture and brought disco to the mainstream and therefore to suburban tweens everywhere. Because disco was so popular, many non-disco artists began to produce disco songs to ride disco’s popularity. Such songs include Barry Manilow’s cheesy hit “Copacabana” and Queen’s famous “Another One Bites the Dust.” Neither of these songs can be considered disco by their pure definition.

By the late 70s, most cities in America had discoteques, nightclubs, and private loft parties where DJs spun music all night long. Disco changed the face of nightlife as the world knew it and disco had taken over not just music and partying but also had an effect on the fashion, lifestyle, and even substance abuse of the era. Drug usage became popular because certain substances like cocaine and amphetamines enhanced the nightclub experience of bright lights and loud music. Disco then became associated with a dangerous and hedonistic lifestyle in the late 1870s when drug abuse became a real problem and nightclubs like Studio 54 became the headquarters for narcissism, abandon, and dangerous addiction.

Disco dies then is reborn

Thus began the disco backlash. Disco declined in popularity, partially because it was overexposed and partically becamse it became associated with so many negative connotations like drugs and the superficiality of the nightclub scene. In the 80s and onward, the disco sound did not disappear however, although the disco lifestyle more or less did. Dance music changed a lot in the 80s, but we are seeing a return in many ways to the disco of the early and mid 70s as an influence in modern day electronic music. Just look at bands like Chromeo or Cut Copy, and it is obvious that boogie plays an important part as a musical influence.

Somewhere along the line, disco became cool again, and club kids everywhere are dancing to disco these days, not just ironically, but for the pure appreciation of the music. Hallelujah, disco is back!

Disco parties

San Francisco has many fun disco parties you can go to with your friends and trashily drink vodka cranberries and dance to disco all night long. This isn’t a comprehensive list, but these are my favorite disco parties in SF because they are filled with young, attractive people who are really into music. No scary 60 year old men nostalgic for the days of Studio 54. These are just hip downtown kids who like to party!

• Gemini Disco
• Ferrari Party
• Paradise Disco
• Ease Out
• Bodyheat