1977 was an amazing year for music. Artists were continuing to enjoy the most creative freedom that they had ever had. It was the year that Billy Joel released , "The Stranger," Fleetwood Mac released, "Rumors," Steely Dan released, Aja, Meatloaf released Bat Out Of Hell, Earth Wind & Fire released, All'N'All, the Commodores released, Commodores and the Isley Bothers released, Go For Your Guns. It appeared that this freedom was going to produce a never ending wave of truly great music that would go on indefinitely.
The movie Saturday Night Fever was released on December 14th, 1977 and it would serve to both resuscitate a trend that was waning and ultimately, lead to it's demise. The movie and soundtrack proved to be a huge success, in spite of the music released from the albums mentioned above.
1978 was an even more amazing musical year as single releases from the above mentioned albums, plus music from Van Halen, Cheap Trick, Patti Smith, and Bruce Springsteen seemed to belie that there was a "Disco," phenomenon. The movie, Saturday Night Fever, grossed over $93 million dollars domestic and $142 million dollars overseas. The soundtrack eventually sold over thirty million copies worldwide and went platinum 15 times.
These statistics proved to be more than the recording industry could pass by.
With all of the great music releases of 1977 and then again in 1978, perhaps, and this is just my opinion, but maybe the case could be made that "Disco," was already on it's way out when the movie and soundtrack were released in late 1977.
The Success of the movie and it's soundtrack sent the recording industry in search of the next big thing. They began to pressure their artists to come up with hits in the "Disco," style. Corporate America was quick to jump on the bandwagon as well, as 1978 saw everything going "Disco." Some radio stations even added the word to their logos. But, major recording artist appeared to ignore the trend as Rock, Funk, and Jazz, continued to dominate the charts.
It wouldn't be until the spring of 1979 that the real onslaught began. Releases by artists such as the Rolling Stones' "Miss You," sparked rumblings of discontent amongst music fans, feeling that their favorite rock stars were about to abandon the music that they loved. Labels began enlisting the aid of in house writers and producers to come up with quick tunes, while creating the bands or groups that would front the music, at a later date. Artists who hadn't had a hit in years released their versions of the "Disco," sound, inviting the criticism that, "Disco," was nothing more than "welfare music,"
What started as music for a good time had become lost in a corporate vision of maximum yield. More and more artists, feeling the pressure from their labels, began adding at least one "Disco," track to their albums. They failed to realized that what they were actually doing, was relinquishing the creative freedom which they had fought for so long to gain. They didn't realize or seemingly care, that this was not what their fans really wanted.
But, on July 12, 1979 they would find this out in a big way. A Chicago radio DJ and a baseball promoter staged an event between games of a double header between the White Sox and the Detroit Tigers at Comiskey Park. Fans were invited to bring their "Disco," records and throw them onto a big pile as they were burned. Things got out of control as people began throwing their vinyl disc through the air. Fights broke out as the whole affair turned into a riot. Much damage was done to the stadium and the White Sox, who were hosting, had to forfeit the second game, due to the amount of damage that was done.
Like the shot heard around the world, radio stations all over the country stopped playing the music and in many cases, they quickly dropped the word "Disco," from their names. By the end of September of that year, there were no, "Disco," records in the top ten.
Usually, when there is discontent over the latest trend in music, it comes from the parents of those who love it. This event, in my mind, marks the first time that the people who actually listened to the music had gotten so fed up that they were moved to violent protest. While I can't condone the actions that took place all those years ago, I can understand the frustration of being forced to accept an unwanted change. However, record burning is too close to book burning. We are much too smart and civilized a people for that. Perhaps, in hindsight, some other choice should have been made. What was also forfeited by the time that day was reached, was control of sound of the marketplace.
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