Disco & Seymour Stein
For decades, people have maligned disco music. This week, Jim and Greg take an in-depth look at the genre from its origins in marginalized communities to its height of popularity. They'll also explore groundbreaking artists like Sylvester, the Bee Gees and more. Also, Greg talks to Sire Records co-founder Seymour Stein about signing acts like the Ramones and Madonna.
Seymour Stein
Seymour Stein is a living legend in the music industry: Breaking into the record business when he was only a teenager, Stein co-founded his own label, Sire Records, in 1966. Sire went on to sign superstars like Madonna and bring musical movements like new wave and West Coast hip-hop to a wider audience. Earlier this summer, Stein announced his departure from Sire and Warner Bros. and released a tell-all memoir. Greg revisits his 2015 conversation with Stein in front of a live audience at the Hard Rock Hotel in Chicago, under the auspices of the Lake FX Summit + Expo.
Disco
Boasting one-of-a-kind artists like the gender-bending Sylvester to the expansively creative Donna Summer, disco is sorely underrated. At least, that's what Jim and Greg argue in their retrospective of the genre. Disco did more than give us catchy, dance-ready tunes: it championed marginalized voices, especially those in the Black and LGBTQ communities. Jim and Greg outline major moments for the genre, from its R&B roots, to the infamous Disco Demolition night in Chicago, to its influence on genres to come.
Featured Songs
- Earth, Wind & Fire with The Emotions, "Boogie Wonderland," Boogie Wonderland (single), ARC and Columbia Records, 1979
- Madonna, "Like a Virgin," Like a Virgin, Sire, 1984
- Talking Heads, "Road to Nowhere," Little Creatures, Sire, 1985
- The Beatles, "Love Me Do," Love Me Do (single), Vee-Jay Records (Tollie), 1964
- Belle and Sebastian, "Seymour Stein," The Boy with the Arab Strap, Jeepster, 1998
- Talking Heads, "Take Me to the River," More Songs About Buildings and Food, Sire, 1978
- Richard Hell and the Voidoids, "Walking on the Water," Blank Generation, Sire, 1977
- The Ramones, "Blitzkrieg Bop," Ramones, Sire, 1976
- The Ramones, "I Wanna Be Sedated," The Road to Ruin, Sire, 1978
- The Ramones, "It's Not My Place (In the 9 to 5 World)," Pleasant Dreams, Sire, 1981
- Focus, "Hocus Pocus," Moving Waves, Sire, 1971
- The Pretenders, "Brass in Pocket," The Pretenders, Sire, 1980
- The Pretenders, "Message of Love," The Pretenders II, Sire, 1981
- Linda Ronstadt, "When Will I Be Loved," Heart Like A Wheel, Capitol Records, 1974
- Talking Heads, "Psycho Killer," Talking Heads: 77, Sire, 1977
- Ice-T, "O.G. Original Gangster," O.G. Original Gangster, Sire, 1991
- Mighty Sparrow, "Jean and Dinah," Heat Wave, BLS Records/VP Records, 1994
- Ice-T, "Race War," Home Invasion, Rhyme $yndicate/Priority Records, 1993
- Madonna, "Material Girl," Like a Virgin, Sire, 1984
- Madonna, "Everybody," Madonna, Sire and Warner Bros., 1983
- Chance the Rapper, "Favorite Song (feat. Childish Gambino)," Acid Rap, self-released, 2013
- Juluka, "Scatterlings of Africa," Scatterlings, Warner Bros., 1982
- The Bee-Gees, "Stayin' Alive," Saturday Night Fever: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, RSO, 1977
- McFadden & Whitehead, "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now," Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now (single), Philadelphia International, 1979
- Shirley and Lee, "Let the Good Times Roll," Let the Good Times Roll (single), Aladdin, 1956
- Shirley & Company, "Shame, Shame, Shame," Shame, Shame, Shame (single), Vibration, 1974
- Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, "Don't Leave Me This Way," Wake Up Everybody, Philadelphia International, 1975
- Thelma Houston, "Don't Leave Me This Way," Any Way You Like It, Motown, 1976
- Sylvester, "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)," You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) (single), Fantasy Records, 1978
- Sylvester and the Hot Band, "Southern Man," Sylvester and the Hot Band, Blue Thumb Records, 1973
- Gloria Gaynor, "I Will Survive," I Will Survive (single), Polydor, 1978
- Barry White, "Let the Music Play," Let the Music Play, 20th Century, 1976
- Rose Royce, "Car Wash," Car Wash: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, MCA, 1976
- The Love Unlimited Orchestra, "Love's Theme," Love's Theme (single), 20th Century/Pye International, 1973
- Donna Summer, "I Feel Love," I Remember Yesterday, Casablanca, 1977
- Chic, "Good Times," Risqué, Atlantic, 1979
- Sugarhill Gang, "Rapper's Delight," Rapper's Delight (single), Sugar Hill, 1979
- Blondie, "Rapture," Autoamerican, Chrysalis, 1980
- Queen, "Another One Bites the Dust," The Game, EMI & Elektra, 1980
- Dessa, "Fire Drills," Chime, Doomtree Records, 2018
- The Bad Man, "Staring at Your Telephone," Aint Clean, self-produced, 2017
- Salem Wolves, "Shake," Shake, MegaHex Records, 2018
- I Am, "Roky Erickson," Gremlins Have Pictures, Pink Dust, 1986
- Colter Wall, "The Devil Wears A Suit and Tie," Imaginary Appalachia, Young Mary's Record Co., 2015
- Phantastic Ferniture, "F*ckin 'n' Rollin," Phantastic Ferniture, Polyvinyl Records, 2018
- The Bad Man, "Purple Nose Dog," Aint Clean, self-produced, 2017
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