During the 1970s disco was the sound track to the lives of millions. Its hedonism, drive, and sweet, catchy melodies made dancers worldwide experience the bliss of complete abandon. This book traces its entire history, from the underground dives of New York to the glittering clubs of Rome. Along the way, the book provides instruction on how to do the hustle and the bus stop; explains the gay subculture central to disco; explores disco fashions, movies, clubs, and drugs; and tells the fascinating stories behind not only the American hits but the Eurodisco masterpieces, the soft-porn divas, and the mysterious producers behind the shimmering sound.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Sexy, funny, and fact-packed, this book is irresistible." -The Independent -- The Independent
"an almost immaculate document of a moment of 'total hedonistic excess,' and strongly recommended to lovers of life everywhere" -- Jon Savage, Mojo
"an almost immaculate document of a moment of 'total hedonistic excess,' and strongly recommended to lovers of life everywhere" -- Jon Savage, Mojo
About the Author
Alan Jones is a film-fueled freelance journalist. He has written for Vogue and The Arena. Jussi Kantonen is an architect, disco deejay, and former Latin Hustle Dance Champion of Finland.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Giving Disco Its Due,
By
This review is from: Saturday Night Forever: The Story of Disco (Paperback)
As a child of the '70s who was not disco shy back in the day, I thought I knew disco ... that is until I read an earlier edition of this book. The wonderful world of Eurodisco is at SNF's core, a world that remained quite underground in the U.S.A. Thus, this ain't the Bee Gees, folks (nor Disco Duck), and cover chanteuse Donna Summer is only a starting point. If, like me, you thrill at the thought of discovering obscure musical delights, making new musical connections and exploring a secret scene that -- 30 years on -- has barely been uncovered, this book will rev your engines. It also works overtime to dispel those pesky rumors that disco sucked; that it put musicians out of work; that it was homogenous, mindless, faceless; and that it is dead. The authors also do an admirable job of connecting disco genres to their various geographic and demographic sources, as well as connecting the music and movement to larger themes such as art, fashion, theory, lifestyle and even interior design. The book is very particular to its authors and their biases (or, at least, personal histories), but that makes it a lively and thought-provoking read. Couple this book with the wonderful Last Night a Deejay Saved My Life, and you have a crash course in the secret music of the night!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Joel Brodsky photography is most appropriate here....,
By Insight (Midwest) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Saturday Night Forever: The Story of Disco (Paperback)
All other reviews aside, what I appreciate most about the book are the photographs by Joel Brodsky, appropriately chosen for this project, as he is known for creating the photos for hundreds of album covers....
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Almost the fully story,
By blondeguy10 "blondeguy10" (South Africa) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Saturday Night Forever: The Story of Disco (Paperback)
A brilliant well researched, and entertaining account of disco - ok I have seen some of the other reviews bemoaning about some of the exclusions, however dont let that put you off. I guess the 'whole story' still needs to be written but this is a first class valiant attempt.And puts the whole era (which I was to young to appreciate) into perspective. It deserves an extra star just for the chapter on Amanda Lear, finally getting the recognition she is due.
Definately recommended for all disco lovers.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
In the beginning there was a little Parisian bar called la Discotheque in the Rue Huchette where you could order your favorite le jazz hot record along with your Pernod. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
disco environment, disco cuts, disco market, roller disco, disco album, disco group, disco version, disco floor, disco record, disco sucks, chart hit, disco inferno, disco era, gay disco, disco sound, disco hit, title track, night fever Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Saturday Night Fever, Village People, Donna Summer, Star Wars, Giorgio Moroder, Northern Soul, Casablanca Records, San Francisco, Grace Jones, Ritchie Family, Bee Gees, Amanda Lear, Andrea True, Jacques Morali, Love You Baby, Thank God It's Friday, Gloria Gaynor, Let's All Chant, Big Apple, Got Tu Go Disco, Tamla Motown, Jackie Collins, Loleatta Holloway, Los Angeles New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
In the beginning there was a little Parisian bar called la Discotheque in the Rue Huchette where you could order your favorite le jazz hot record along with your Pernod. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
disco environment, disco cuts, disco market, roller disco, disco album, disco group, disco version, disco floor, disco record, disco sucks, chart hit, disco inferno, disco era, gay disco, disco sound, disco hit, title track, night fever Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
New York, Saturday Night Fever, Village People, Donna Summer, Star Wars, Giorgio Moroder, Northern Soul, Casablanca Records, San Francisco, Grace Jones, Ritchie Family, Bee Gees, Amanda Lear, Andrea True, Jacques Morali, Love You Baby, Thank God It's Friday, Gloria Gaynor, Let's All Chant, Big Apple, Got Tu Go Disco, Tamla Motown, Jackie Collins, Loleatta Holloway, Los Angeles New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 96
books:
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6
books
cite this book:
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- Saturday Night Fever by Bee Gees on 5 pages
- Love Is by Carolyn Brown on page 133, and page 191
- The World is Full of Married Men by Jackie Collins on page 163, and page 164
- The Empire Strikes Back (Step-Up Movie Adventure Adventure) by Star Wars on page 75, and page 88
- Romeo and Juliet (Folger Shakespeare Library) by William Shakespeare on page 99, and Back Matter
See all 96 books this book cites
- The Fabulous Sylvester: The Legend, the Music, the Seventies in San Francisco by Joshua Gamson in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- The Fabulous Sylvester: The Legend, the Music, the Seventies in San Francisco by Joshua Gamson in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- "You Better Work!" Underground Dance Music in New York City by Kai Fikentscher on page 19, and Back Matter
- Understanding Popular Music by Roy Shuker in Back Matter
- Unfinished Business - The Life and Times of Danny Gatton (Book) by Ralph Heibutzki in Back Matter
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