Customer Reviews

Saturday Night Forever: The Story of Disco

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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!

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....

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.

I purchased the first edition of this book and was very unhappy after reading it and seeing just how much history was left out. The authors did not go into much detail regarding the disco disc jockey's, disco television shows, nor disco radio.

When I heard through discomusic.com that a revised version of this book was out I was thrilled. I thought maybe they cleaned it up and made history right. WRONG AGAIN! They just rehashed the first edition and added a few more photos...and some more wasted words on songs.

No mention of IDRC (International Disco Record Centre and Eddie Rivera), no mention of Disco Step-by-Step Dance show, the first all disco television show, no mention of the New York Record Pool, no mention of Soap Factory Television, a quick blurb of Dance Fever .... slight mention of American Bandstand and Soul Train.

Oh well .... believe me I will not spend another nickel on the next revision...if there ever is one.

Don't get me wrong. This book does have a lot of information and for newbies it is fine but for someone who lived through the disco era I am very disappointed that more research did not go into it so that it would cover the entire realm.

I purchased the first edition of this book and was very unhappy after reading it and seeing just how much history was left out. The authors did not go into much detail regarding the disco disc jockey's, disco television shows, nor disco radio.

When I heard through discomusic.com that a revised version of this book was out I was thrilled. I thought maybe they cleaned it up and made history right. WRONG AGAIN! They just rehashed the first edition and added a few more photos...and some more wasted words on songs.

No mention of IDRC (International Disco Record Centre and Eddie Rivera), no mention of Disco Step-by-Step Dance show, the first all disco television show, no mention of the New York Record Pool, no mention of Soap Factory Television, a quick blurb of Dance Fever .... slight mention of American Bandstand and Soul Train.

Oh well .... believe me I will not spend another nickel on the next revision...if there ever is one.

Don't get me wrong. This book does have a lot of information and for newbies it is fine but for someone who lived through the disco era I am very disappointed that more research did not go into it so that it would cover the entire realm.